Chapter 30. Buying some time.
I slowly walked back into the passageway as I took stock of my situation. I had regenerated back to six mana before we attacked the orc, so I had four remaining and could cast Psionic Jolt twice more. Given the orcs charging at me were your normal, garden variety, muscle-bound killers, I doubted they could resist my psionic damage.
Casting Psionic Jolt at the lead orc, he collapsed and tripped up the one running behind him. The group of orcs slowed ...
2023-07-13 21:02:13 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 29. Battlefield loot and run.
“Watch what you touch, fool!” An orc demanded, his voice rising above the other bickering orcs enough that Sharnlynn and I could hear.
The ground around us rumbled, and for a moment, I was terrified that the passageway would collapse around us. It was only a few moments of shaking before things settled down, and the angry orc’s voice returned. The other orcs seemed to have shut up for the time being.
“You ignored my warni...
2023-07-13 12:50:43 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 7.
In the morning, after getting the troops fed, Sabine and Hamilcar led them back out for more training. The guardsmen and the mercenaries worked in groups, fighting mock battles in narrowly laid out sections of the field. Sabine wanted them to get used to fighting in close quarters, which was the likely scenario they were about to face.
It took the men some time to get used to the weapons they had been issued, but by noon, they were performing in a manner that Sabine w...
2023-07-13 01:25:56 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 28.
“Get to cover,” Sharnlynn whispered.
“Did they spot us?” I asked as we both slid behind the crumbled wall of a ruined building.
“Not likely, Ettin’s have horrible long-distance sight. If anything, it smelled the blood from the orcs we killed. If we’re lucky, they’ll take the corpses and leave. Now, be quiet, Ettin’s also have exceptional hearing,” Sharnlynn replied.
As the two-headed giant approached, I could feel the ground shake with...
2023-07-13 01:02:42 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 27. We meet again.
This summoning was odd, I didn’t find myself in Rico’s Place, and instead was back inside the void. The system prompt had mentioned something, it had said that a summoner link had been activated, whatever that was. I also had full autonomy, and I was very curious what that meant.
Sadly, I wouldn’t have my dagger with me, but I would have my magic, if I could figure out how to use it. A blue portal opened in the void, and without he...
2023-07-12 20:14:19 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 26. Pawned off.
“Who is it?” I shouted as I stepped out of my bedroom and approached the front door. While I tried to sound intimidating, my efforts weren’t that effective.
“Rico Kline, it’s Mrs. Tran, I need to speak to you about your apartment,” the shrill voice of my landlord said. From the way she was pounding on the door, I had thought it might be a home invasion robbery at first. Confirming through the peephole that it was the diminutive elderly landlor...
2023-07-12 18:32:46 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 25. You’re a wizard Rico.
Please conduct any final business before being returned to your world of origin.
I returned to Rico’s Place, surprised to see that Minerva was still gone. If I was doing my math right, I should have reached rank three after my last summoning. Before I dug into my status or the new loot, I followed Minerva’s advice and retrieved my dagger from the loot chest. Sure, I was supposed to be sent home after this, but the system t...
2023-07-12 12:58:35 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 24. Arena.
Your summoning parameters are as follows:
1. You are being summoned by the Sorcerer Duram.
2. Summoning tier, 0.
3. Summoning rank, 2.
4. Rewards level, minuscule.
5. This summons is combat related. Prepare accordingly.
6. Forced compliance is active. Limited autonomy is active.
7. The armory has not...
2023-07-11 20:39:44 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 23. Worst Case Scenario.
I stepped through the portal into water up to my knees. It was an underground cavern of some sort, and the air had the salty tang of the sea to it. The place was dark, and the overpowering smell of dank seawater was mixed with the smell of rot and decay. This was definitely somewhere I didn’t want to be.
“Hsssim sha’ krabat,” my summoner commanded in a language that didn’t understand yet. The compulsion present in the summoning bond let...
2023-07-11 17:57:35 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 22. Step on it!
As I stepped out of the portal, I tripped over something at my feet. Doing a face plant onto some rocky soil wasn’t a good way to start the summons or get a strong performance rating. Before I could stand back up my summoner, who was also the person I had just tripped over, began to frantically shout orders.
“Stop the giant!” My summoner, still lying on the ground, screamed as he pointed behind me. Drawing my dagger as I turned, a shadow loomed over...
2023-07-11 13:41:21 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 21. Cores, Coins, and Consequences.
“Welcome back, and congratulations, I believe that is your best performance yet,” Minerva said.
“Thanks, that one was rough, I was protecting a kid,” I said. Despite whatever filter the system imposed on my brain, the stress of protecting a child from a swarm of hungry zombies stuck with me.
“From reviewing your performance, I can see that you managed to save her. Take pride in your efforts, had it been any other tier z...
2023-07-11 00:33:32 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 20. Odd Companions.
The sounds of feeding ended abruptly when the little girl gave a squeaky-sounding cry. She was being brave for the situation she had found herself in, but I couldn’t expect what looked like an eight-year-old girl to remain completely quiet when faced with whatever was lurking around at the other side of the door.
The thing outside let out a loud moan. It was a horrifying sound that was repeated by several other creatures both inside the building and...
2023-07-10 19:28:28 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 19. Kick, Punch, Summon.
I tapped on the arm that was holding me in a choke. Immediately, the pressure released, and I took a deep breath to clear my thoughts. Looking at the clock on the wall, I could see that my free lesson was over.
“If you decide to join the dojo, you’ll learn several choke escapes. So, from what you learned today, is this something you’d be interested in continuing? We have adult beginner classes every Monday and Wednesday, and we could even d...
2023-07-10 16:35:03 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 6.
Sabine broke up the training early in the evening, letting the men eat and have some additional rest. She doubted that they slept well when inside the stockade, and if she wanted to do some additional training before the battle tomorrow, she had to cut things short tonight. Several of the men felt a bit more comfortable around her and asked about both Skrix and Orren.
She kept up the same story they had used with Councilor Emmet, that Orren had hired her and Skrix as ...
2023-07-10 14:41:42 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 18. Voices Carry.
“Sorry, I don’t have time to talk,” I said, trying to ignore the crazy homeless lady in the alley that was talking to me. Instead of letting me pass, she trotted over and stood in front of me, blocking the sidewalk. I recognized the woman after getting a closer look at her, the bowler had she wore gave it away. It was the same lady that had accosted me while I was waiting for the bus to work yesterday.
“Did they take you yet? Yes, I can tell the...
2023-07-10 14:22:00 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 17. Cashing In.
“The stove!” I shouted to myself as I realized what had happened.
Before I left, I started pre-heating the oven. I hadn’t put the pizza in yet, but I belatedly remembered the last time that I had baked a frozen dinner, I had spilled the sauce all over the heating element. Kicking myself for forgetting to clean it up, I quickly turned off the stove and opened the apartment window in an attempt to clear out the scent of burnt Salisbury Steak gravy.
2023-07-10 12:14:30 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 16. Rank and Resolve.
“Before you ask any additional questions, I must explain your rank increase and the process for returning home from your personal space. As you rise in the ranks, you will become eligible for more difficult assignments. While rising from rank zero to rank one is a tiny step, it could result in new summoning types,” Minerva said, stopping for a moment to see if I had any questions, well, that’s what I was going to interpret the pause as.
“Bef...
2023-07-09 21:17:16 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 15. Fitzfazzle.
I stepped into the portal without hesitation. This time, I felt prepared. I was armed and I thought that I was starting to get the hang of this.
Your summoning parameters are as follows:
1. You are being summoned by the mage, Fitzfazzle.
2. Summoning tier, 0.
3. Rewards level, minuscule.
4. This summons is combat related. Prepare accordingly.
2023-07-09 20:12:56 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 14. Almost There.
In a flash, I was back to Rico’s Place, as I called my little home away from home. Spinning around, I expected to find Minerva, but it looked like she was gone. Do the advisors get to go on breaks? How many summoned beings was she advising at one time? They were more questions I would have to pester Minerva with when she returned.
“What a rip-off,” I said as I looked at the gauge that was supposed to signal when I could return home. It was sitting...
2023-07-09 19:25:37 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 13. Fetch and Carry.
The familiar blue portal appeared in the room, and I stepped through, ready to put my new dagger to the test.
Your summoning parameters are as follows:
1. You are being summoned by a magical device.
2. Summoning tier, 0.
3. Rewards level, minuscule.
4. This summons is utility related. The chance of combat is considered very low, Prepare accordingly.
2023-07-09 18:56:30 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 12. Watch Your Step.
There was a moment of confusion as I emerged into yet another dark tunnel. Torchlight flickered on the narrow walls of the tunnel and five people stood behind me. I could see the link to my summoner. It was a young man in grey robes who was talking to the others.
“I think we’re through the worst of it, let me send one more down the passage just to be sure,” My summoner said. The others replied and it took a few seconds for the linguistic interf...
2023-07-09 18:13:28 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 11. Urghat the Vile.
Well, I guess I’m not going to be split in half instantly. The orc in front of me was a bit different than the first one I met. For one thing, he was a bit smaller. More importantly, he wasn’t holding a giant axe that was about to cleave me in half. Nope, this guy held a gnarled wooden staff with a bunch of stuff like small skulls and strips of leather with sharp things attached to it. He might not be ready to cut me in half, but I was sure whatever th...
2023-07-09 16:34:28 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 10. My Own Space.
My vision cut out as the pain in my head increased. When I could finally see again, I was somewhere different. Every time I had been summoned before; I was floating in nothingness waiting for a countdown timer to tick away. This time, I had my body from the get-go, instead of waiting for the portal to open.
Looking around, I could see I was in a room of some sort. It was a large, rectangular space with rough-hewn, wooden floors and walls. There were no ...
2023-07-09 16:33:43 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 9. Crazy or Not?
“Mr. Kline, you didn’t need to disrobe, this isn’t that kind of examination,”
My mind reeled as I tried to focus on where I was. Then it hit me, I was in the exam room, and the doctor had just walked in to speak with me.
“I’ll step out for a minute and let you get dressed,” the doctor said, trying in that ‘I’m a doctor’ way to make me not feel embarrassed at sitting there on the exam table buck naked when I didn’t need to.
...
2023-07-09 16:33:00 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 8. Graduation Advisor.
The void greeted me again, and I was never so happy to be floating inside of nothingness. I would take this over being eaten by a bunch of spiders any day. My mind raced and I kept waiting for the pain to return, but it seemed like the traumatic experience was over. More information appeared as whatever controlled this whole process rated my performance.
Your final trail performance rating is calculated as Adequate.
Y...
2023-07-09 16:32:21 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 7. Wrapped Up Nicely.
Regaining my feet, I gave the spider a hard kick to the abdomen. I could feel something crack as the blow hit, and spider scuttled back a bit as it sought to put distance between itself and the source of its pain. It dragged the goblin along for the ride, but to my surprise, the little green guy clung tight to monster’s leg and had already chewed through most of it.
My human companion wasn’t looking so well, and the venom the spider had just pum...
2023-07-09 16:31:46 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 6. Into the Dark.
“Your third calibration summons will begin shortly. This is the final trial session and if you are found to be compatible with the system, you will be integrated as a permanent summoned being. You may ask me one question at this time,” the strange voice said.
I thought about what question I should ask. Going on and on about whether or not I was crazy was a fool’s errand. The voice couldn’t answer that, what I needed to ask were specific question...
2023-07-09 16:30:49 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 5. Sick, crazy, or something else.
A moment after seeing the words of the prompt and understanding them, I found myself back in my living room, seated on the couch. Just like at the office, I was again completely nude, and all my clothes were crumpled on the floor in front of me. Frustration mounted as I considered my situation.
“What’s the deal with my clothes!” I shouted. Not only did I happen to be going crazy, or suffering a stroke or something, I also somehow ...
2023-07-09 16:30:06 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 4. Class is in session.
“Your second trial summons has begun. At least three successful trial summoning’s are required to complete the calibration process. You may ask one question at this time,” the voice from the void said.
I was in that weird place once more and the booming voice was as vague as ever. The voice said that I could ask it another question, but what should I ask? Would the voice answer truthfully? Maybe it would be better to ask myself if I was goin...
2023-07-09 16:28:42 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 3. Proper office attire.
“You’re in-luck Rico, I had one of those little travel bottles of ibuprofen stashed away next to the paper clips,” Will said, popping his head back over the cubicle and rattling the bottle in his hand.
“What happened,” I whimpered. My mind was in shock at finding myself back in my cubicle after having just been killed by a monster. Maybe I did have a stroke and my brain was fried from lack of oxygen or whatever it is a stroke did to you...
2023-07-09 16:27:14 +0000 UTC
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