Chapter 39
David D. Chestermill
The fucking brat. All buddy-buddy with Mr Tyrell now.
Being replaced stung. Being replaced because the alternative was objectively better stung even more. David knew he wasn’t really being replaced, but it sure felt like it when Michael had told him he would be using Mr Tyrell’s contacts to acquire more weapons.
David could do nothing but agree with the boy. When Michael left, the old man final...
2024-06-21 09:56:35 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 38
Three mighty orcs barred Michael’s way into the forest. They were the tallest he had ever seen, veritable mountains of muscle and gleaming tusks, filled with powerful magic. Since Fae lacked an aura, he could see their networks with his magic sense, peering into the depths of their magic to gleam at their power. Even though his irritation and anger at seeing his plans of relaxation go up in smoke was great, he could only appreciate the level of power these orcs commanded. J...
2024-06-19 14:27:59 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 37
“You were right Dave,” Michael said as soon as the call connected. “Someone’s been farming the first floor. A lot.”
“Shit,” came the reply, muffled by the weak signal, “no, no, that’s actually good. At least we know there isn’t another entrance close by. But we need to move quicker than planned.”
“Can we do something to prevent access?”
There was a sigh. “Legally? The land isn’t yours yet, it’s not like you can stop anyone fro...
2024-06-17 16:17:32 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 36
“Finally some loot that’s not garbage,” Michael said chipperly. Travis made a face of surprise and then frowned, clearly so lost in thought he hadn’t even heard what Michael had said.
“That one over there,” Michael said as he pointed at a shining square thing, “is your loot. Congratulations.”
It smelled like alien magic, not only in its makeup and strange shape, but also because—for the first time—Michael was looking at loot not destined for hi...
2024-06-14 22:04:43 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 35
Travis Tyrell, CEO of PetroLink Global
Travis Tyrell followed behind Michael Lexington, the boy who was now his guide and protection while he dove in the depths of hell itself.
The second room had been, according to the boy, a breeze. Travis would be inclined to disagree, on a general basis, however it was true that compared to how poorly the first room had gone things had been much better the second time around. The difficulty was much greater, b...
2024-06-13 09:53:36 +0000 UTC
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Sorry for the late chapter, i had a busy day
Chapter 34
One water bullet and he would have been dead. One little squeeze, dead. One simple distortion bubble and his head would have popped like a melon. One brief activation of candle light and he would have burned up like a man made of straw.
Enumerating all the ways he could have killed Phillip did not help Michael’s peace of mind. In fact, it only contributed towards making him more stressed, agit...
2024-06-12 21:39:32 +0000 UTC
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I saw many new faces joining in the last couple of days. Thank you for your support, and enjoy today's chapter!
Chapter 33
The driver was there, waiting for Michael in the parking lot. Michael had tried to convince him not to bother, that the dojo was only a few minutes away and he could go there by himself, but the burly man insisted. Looking at him, Michael noticed that he was wearing sunglasses even though it was dark outside, earpiece tight in his ear, and ther...
2024-06-11 09:55:56 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 32
Travis Tyrell, CEO of PetroLink Global
“Good job, Linda,” Travis said, casually throwing his jacket onto the hanger by the door.
His secretary grimaced at the sight of such an expensive piece of clothing being manhandled with utter lack of care. She was about to scold him like she usually did, descending in their usual bouts of lighthearted banter, when she noticed his steady gait and lucid eyes.
“Yes,” Travis said, “the cancer is ...
2024-06-10 09:01:22 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 31
“Give it to me straight,” said Mr Tyrell after the procedure. He had been awake the whole time, giving feedback about what he was feeling, which had been in line with what Michael felt when he healed his own injuries. The only difference was the sensation of something shrinking, probably the cancer being destroyed before the surrounding tissues were repaired, but they wouldn’t know more until Dr Kavins had his way with Mr Tyrell. It was another clause in their ...
2024-06-09 13:54:07 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 30
Michael lazily went through the report he got from Dr Kavins, comfortably sitting in the back of his car. To think I own a car like this, and that someone drives it for me.
The report was, according to the doctor, the most dumbed down explanation of the condition of tomorrow’s patient that could be produced, but reading through it was slow going. Michael didn’t understand most of the words—despite the doctor’s best intentions—as cancer was not an easy...
2024-06-08 17:18:46 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 29
Drullkrin’s plan was something that, had this been the real world, would have turned Michael’s stomach. Perhaps this was how wars were fought, but the disregard for life was almost frightening. Drullkrin was willing to send his soldiers to their deaths, almost as if his fellow forest folk, Fair folk all, according to his own words, were worth nothing in the face of victory.
The charge was called, the banner-leaders taking the lead and battle horns blowing. Michael s...
2024-06-07 17:36:37 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 28
“This beauty,” said the middle-aged, pudgy man as he showed off a very strange-looking sniper rifle, painted red and gold with all sorts of stickers and trinkets added to it, “is the Thunderstrike XLR-99. It comes loaded with custom-engineered, .50 BMG armor-piercing rounds that can punch through steel and concrete with pinpoint accuracy up to ten clicks away. Barring the wind, of course.” He finished with a flourish and a grin, to which Old Dave snorted.
“Wel...
2024-06-06 20:25:31 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 27
“Restrictive Cardiomyopathy, or RCM.” Dr Kavins said, “an incurable heart disease. Do you think your… nanomachines are up to it?” he asked, speaking about nanomachines with a bit of a sour taste in his mouth.
The doctor had been briefed about magic, as well as disciplined by Carmela after yesterday’s attitude, but for the sake of security they were talking about it as if they were indeed a not-very-legal testing facility administering a miracle...
2024-06-06 08:21:45 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 26
“Are you ready?” Old Dave said. “Carmela is waiting for you inside.”
They were in front of a large building, a private care facility in the middle of nowhere. It was one of those places for the rich, away from prying eyes, surrounded by a lush garden. Sprinklers were making sure the grass and bushes stayed green, while everywhere else the summer heat had already turned most of the ground brown.
Even though it was afternoon, nobody was around, the huge faci...
2024-06-05 22:07:33 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 25
When Michael reached the bottom of the long, winding stairs leading down the tree, he found that it was day. The roaring fire of last night was now a bed of coals and timid embers, and most of the unruly mob of forest folk was asleep and snoring. Sensing something, a few of them opened their eyes with a wince, hungover from the festivities of last night. Some of them had drowned their disappointment at not being able to see Michael maimed and tortured with alcohol, while othe...
2024-06-05 08:41:32 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 24
[
(Common) Crude Body Enhancement 1
I see the heavens above. My mind reaches out, touching but a glimmer of their radiance, enough to burn me with the fire of power.
· Flood your body and mind with mana, following a crude approximation of the Fae network. All your base statistics will be increased proportionally to the mana expended, but you will also take
2024-06-04 09:21:46 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 23
Michael opened his eyes to a world of pain. His head hurt where he had been struck, his [Distortion Sphere] useless against surprise attacks at its current level. He couldn’t see them, therefore he couldn’t react to them.
His hands were bound, his clothes bloody, and his head was swimming. There were lights all around, the nighttime forest filled with eerie dancing points of painful brightness. And the noise! There was a roaring bonfire in front of him, and all arou...
2024-06-04 08:34:13 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 22
David D. Chestermill
David’s day began like usual, at 7am sharp, when his alarm woke him up from a fitful sleep.
No, not like usual. He sat on his bed for a few moments, noticing how he wasn’t assailed by little aches and pains. His mind was not as foggy as it should be, and he felt well-rested and full of energy. He wondered, for a moment, whether he was still dreaming, but then his mind kicked into gear, bringing a grin to his ...
2024-06-03 21:11:31 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 21
Michael turned suddenly, ready to face off against whatever threat the dungeon had thrown at him. Even though he was strolling through a very nice forest, he had not forgotten where he was, and was on high alert. Except that the so-called threat was a little winged creature, looking at him with fearful eyes. Its face and features were humanoid but resembling those of an animal, like a crossing between a fox and a person, save for its wings.
It’s only cute because ...
2024-06-03 20:03:14 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 20
The next day was a delving day. It would take a while to set up things for the healing business, and Michael was low on Coins, needing to top up his stash. His mana pool was a comfortable 15 Copper, grown by three since last time he checked, but his supply of coins was down to 23, too little to be comfortable. An extensive heal on someone other than himself could consume up to thirty or more coins, by his reckoning, so he absolutely needed to refuel at the dungeon.
Besi...
2024-06-03 15:04:11 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 19
[
(Common) Distortion Field 3
Like a sturdy bamboo shield, may my resolve deflect the arrows of adversity, standing firm amidst the storms of fate.
Activate to immediately conjure a small, short-lived region of distorted space-time close to your body, which will act as a localized repulsion field for any incoming physical attack.
The skill will now activate automatically to repel any threat...
2024-06-03 14:20:06 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 18
The first sign that something was about to happen was the sight of two vans with darkened windows pulling up from the road and entering the dusty parking lot at full speed. Through all the dust that was kicked up, Michael could hear many people shouting, and then he saw bustle of armed men emerging from the squat concrete buildings at the other side of the sun-bathed dirt lot, barren and mostly empty. Then there were gunshots, with one of the two cars pulling to the side and ...
2024-06-03 10:03:10 +0000 UTC
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17 – Italian mobbing
“And this… dungeon. Anyone can enter?” Stephan asked after Michael’s long, and somewhat confusing explanation. He really needed to get an official version ready for next time, for he knew there would be a next time, hopefully not anytime soon.
“I think so. That’s what makes it dangerous. People could die in there.”
“Yes, I agree. If you go unawares like you did, a normal person would probably not make it past the second room, let alone ...
2024-06-03 08:22:44 +0000 UTC
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16 – The truth comes out
Michael’s first thought when he woke up was an annoyed curse. Then, he idly mused that Old Dave’s day must begin quite early, if the man was texting him about another job he had for him at 6 in the morning. Trying to go back to sleep and failing—even after silencing the phone—Michael finally decided that it was probably for the best if he got up instead of struggling in bed, trying to win a battle that he could not win.
Did you go on the stra...
2024-06-02 08:03:28 +0000 UTC
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15 – Courier work
I need you to pick someone up from the airport tomorrow. The text said, it’s the woman in the photo. She has been told to wait for you. Take her to the pawn shop and leave. If she tries to make conversation, you can talk to her, but try to be discreet. To her, you are just the driver and bodyguard.
Michael got to the Nashville International Airport pickup area without much trouble, as he was getting used to long drives alone on the road. Thi...
2024-06-01 20:54:11 +0000 UTC
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14 – Training delve
Michael returned to the dungeon as quickly as humanly possible. Actually, he was now quicker than a human, his improved reflexes born from training and from the bonuses his passive skill gave him allowing him to basically sprint the whole way from the car to the dungeon without having to worry about falling on the uneven terrain. If he could see his stats, he knew he would be proud of his growth. His stamina had increased by leaps and bounds, as had his strength an...
2024-05-31 07:45:05 +0000 UTC
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13 – Manufactured trial
Two AM, the club was full to bursting. Michael was standing as menacingly as he could in his corner, scanning the room with his senses, all of them, but seeing nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, the night was going surprisingly well all things considered: he had warned a couple of young boys that smoking was forbidden on the dance floor, after which he showed them the smoking area, and he stopped a couple of other guys from groping the butt of every...
2024-05-30 19:09:01 +0000 UTC
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12 – A night at the club
A man walked in, sharply dressed in business clothes, making a beeline for the counter to order himself some food without paying any mind to any of the people present in the diner, which were not a great deal many at this hour in the afternoon. His watch must cost more than my entire life is worth.
But that was not what had given Michael pause. No, it was the faint aura of magic that he could clearly see surrounding the man when he observed him ...
2024-05-30 12:34:16 +0000 UTC
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11 – Sights in the wild
Walking back to the truck, Michael found himself unable to resist the temptation to experiment some more with magic. Of all his skills, the single flame version of [Candle Light] was cheap enough that it wouldn’t put much of a dent on his now-expanded stock of Copper coins, he thought, and soon a small flicker of flame appeared right above his left index finger.
He looked at it with his mana sense, which he had taken to calling mana sight due to how it ...
2024-05-29 21:43:57 +0000 UTC
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10 – Mana sight
As he crossed the threshold to the boss room, Michael was forced to take a deep breath to stop the rising panic from paralyzing him. Knowing that the danger had been upped was a thing, seeing three gigantic goblins, veritable mountains of muscle and spittle and fangs, all roar at him at the same time was another.
He didn’t have time to think. They immediately started charging at him, all three of them at the same time, aiming for the same spot. His battle sense...
2024-05-29 17:01:42 +0000 UTC
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