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Mistrunner 2 - Chapter 41 - The Price of Procrastination

Echo is gone, fled to my enemies for sanctuary. Wash is dead, turned over to the Coyotes in order to maintain the peace. And Ashleigh got herself killed by some upstart in the Emporium. As a result, I’ve begun to lose my grip on the Specters. They are only a hair’s breadth from mutiny, and war is the only thing keeping them in line. I don’t know what to do.

Nora Lancaster

The sub-level was not what I had expected. Upon step...

Chapter 279 - Sneaking Out

A couple of weeks later, Zeke was sitting on his cot in the barracks, his back against the wall as he said, “I’m going tonight. I don’t think anybody will even notice I’m gone.”

“Do not be so sure, my friend,” Jasper responded. “People have noticed you, now. They know you are stronger than you look. The incident with the golem told everyone that you have a penchant for survival.”

Zeke shook his head. After word of his escape from the living statue had spread, he�...

Chapter 278 - Loophole

Zeke hammered the living statue’s knee, hoping to find some minor weakness. Even throwing the thing off balance would have been a victory. However, he found no such vulnerability when his weapon hit home. Instead, it felt like he’d just hit an entirely immovable object, which wasn’t far from the truth. His hands violently vibrated, and a few cracks appeared in his bones, but he was already channeling [Metallurgical Repair], so they only lasted a split second before they were healed.

Weekly Check-In (4/23/23)

I'll confess - I didn't get quite as much work done this week as I would've liked.  I kept up with my schedule (barely), but the biggest feature of the last few days has been lethargy.  I don't think I'm sick, per se, but the combination of my meds and my chronic medical condition (leukemia) sometimes leaves me without a ton of extra energy.  But on the bright side, I'm feeling a bit better, so I'm sure I'll be able to tackle this next week with the vigor to which I've become a...

Mistrunner 2 - Chapter 40 - Mad Scientist

I hate some of the things I’ve had to do. But that’s how the world works. There’s only so much room at the top, and if you want to be the one in charge, someone has to fall.

Nora Lancaster

As soon as I was out of Bourbon Street, I stepped into a corner convenience store – deactivating the surveillance camera inside – and headed straight for the bathroom. Upon my entry, the attendant didn’t even look up from h...

Mistrunner 2 - Chapter 39 - Cages

Loose ends can’t be left hanging. As terrible as it can sometimes be, they must be trimmed, or else the whole thing will unravel. Heather was one of those loose ends, and though I wanted to keep her around, I knew it wouldn’t work out well. So, I did what I had to do. Still, it keeps me up at night.

Nora Lancaster

I crawled across the floor until I reached the end of the bar. Then, I poked my head out, took aim, and ...

Chapter 277 - Moving Up in the World

Zeke gripped his cheap cudgel, his senses trained on the tunnel before him. With it being at least a hundred feet from one wall to the other, it was wider than most of the other tunnels he’d experienced. It was also laced with silvery ore and studded with green-and-red gemstones that flickered beneath the light of the miners’ mana torches.

“Any idea what kind of dangers we can expect?” asked Zeke, refusing to tear his eyes from the tunnel.

“Rats,” grunted the other gua...

Chapter 276 - Regicide

Pudge crouched as he crept through the corridors of the hive, his skill [Concealed Steps] keeping him from being seen by the constantly patrolling warriors. A series of clicking footsteps announced the arrival of another group, and he flattened himself against the wall as they passed him by. Then, he continued to explore, mentally mapping the entire complex until he finally reached the large atrium where he had first appeared. Once he knew the layout – or more importantly, the location of h...

Mistrunner 2 - Chapter 38 - Long Overdue

I lost a fight today. First time that’s happened in years. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. It’s like I feel less and less like myself every day. Thankfully, it was just a spar, but I can’t help but wonder what’ll happen next time I get into a real fight.

Nora Lancaster

“We need to get out of here,” Patrick said, pacing back and forth across the compound’s common room. “It’s not safe.”

�...

Chapter 275 - The Ixilak Hive

Pudge stomped down on the Ixilak warrior’s bulbous torso, feeling its body explode from the force. Golden blood, furry carapace, and the monster’s innards erupted into the air, splattering across the interior of the hive. The bearkin pivoted, the claws of his feet digging into the ground to keep from slipping, and launched a ball of [Hellfire] at another of the insectoids, engulfing it in the black-and-red flames. The force of the attack drove it into the honeycomb walls, where it spent t...

Chapter 274 - Natural Treasures

Zeke asked, “So, what’s with the humming?”

“Oh,” said Jasper, who’d finally recovered enough to hold a proper conversation. The pair were sitting at the kitchen table, having just finished a meal comprised mostly of monster meat Zeke had added to a stew. “That. A terribly story, my friend.”

“Lay it on me,” Zeke responded. “I’m sure I’ve heard worse.”

Jasper sighed dramatically, then pushed his white hair behind a pointed ear. Then, he began, “As...

Weekly Check-In (4/16/23)

Woo!  Another week in the books, and I'm super excited about how everything's progressed so far.  Everything's shaping up well, and I've been spending a lot of time brainstorming various ideas to improve my output.  I hope the extra effort shows.

In Death: Genesis news, I've been writing a really cool arc that I think serves to seriously flesh out the world (and the dwarves).  It's also cool because we've got a lot of progression in store, and that's always fun. &nbs...

Mistrunner 2 - Chapter 37 - Frame Job

They’re all idiots. Echo, for stealing from me. Ashleigh for tempting fate in the Emporium. The morons who thought they could get a quick payday by killing those Cyberdogs. I feel like I’m the only one trying to keep everything together.

Nora Lancaster

I stood atop one of the most central mega-buildings, looking down on the Garden. I was almost high enough to see into the more affluent districts. Almost. But I knew t...

Mistrunner 2- Chapter 36 - Fall of a Champion

The entire world is open to me now. My future is brighter than it’s ever been. So, why can’t I stop thinking of the past?

Nora Lancaster

The hammer whistled through the air, barely missing me by an inch. The so-called Red Terror’s swing was so violent that its momentum sent her spinning around. I could have ended the fight right there; in only an instant, I saw a dozen vulnerable spots. But I restrained myself, dancing backward.

Chapter 273 - The First Trial

Pudge stood before the pyramid, intently studying the structure. Before, when he and the others had been in what Flick called the Mortal Realm, Pudge hadn’t paid attention to things like architecture. Back then, he was too concerned with his animalistic drive. Sure, that was diluted somewhat by the bond to Zeke, but at his core, he still wasn’t completely sapient. That had changed with his ascension to the Eternal Realm, and now, staring at the majestic pyramid, he couldn’t help but be ...

Chapter 272 - Blood Wraith

Zeke strained against his uncooperative muscles, pushing as hard as he’d ever pushed before. But it was useless. The cloud of red energy was too oppressive. It wrapped around his body, squeezing until his mana began to seep from his very skin. And the ephemeral creature readily absorbed it. Nearby, Zeke heard Jasper’s weak, muffled screams, but he could do nothing to help his own situation, much less save the dark elf.

Defiantly, Zeke gritted his teeth and swung his fist, but it was...

Mistrunner 2 - Chapter 35 - The Red Terror

Weakness is not to be tolerated. The moment we show anything less than absolute strength, we lose everything. That’s just how Nova City works.

Nora Lancaster

I sat in the private room, massaging my temples with my knuckles. It had been six weeks since I’d begun my conquest of the Emporium, and in that time, everything had changed. Not only had I fought my way through a dozen battles against proven gladiators, but I’d also continued ...

Chapter 271 - Avarice

Zeke and Jasper reached the edge of the Rainbow Forest after two more days, but thankfully, they weren’t subjected to the volume of attacks that had dogged the initial leg of their journey. Still, Zeke felt his shoulders sag in relief when he saw the series of yawning passages arrayed before him.

There were six of them, all at least ten yards wide and blessedly free of the ubiquitous and multi-colored vegetation that had been the duo’s constant companion throughout their trek throug...

Chapter 270 - The Importance of Adaptation

When Pudge first stepped from the clearing, he stumbled at the sight of the village. Regaining his balance, he couldn’t help but stare. Village might have been a misnomer; the settlement sprawled across the entire valley before them. Even with everything as spread out as it was, it was clearly home to thousands of people.

At first glance, the architecture, which was characterized by rough stone and thatched roofs, seemed primitive, save for the towering pyramid standing at the center ...

Weekly Check-In (4/9/23)

I know everyone's been waiting with bated breath for the weekly check-in, so I'll just jump right into it.  First, I think I'm just going to officially move this thing to Sundays.  That's when I do my editing and scheduling for the coming week, so it kind of makes sense.  And this has nothing to do with the fact that I'll probably forget it otherwise.  None at all.  So stop looking at me like that.

In Death: Genesis news, the second book's release went way bette...

Mistrunner 2 - Chapter 34 - Gladiator

When I saw the video, I felt only a brief sense of elation, the result of knowing that I had won. I’d beaten the unbeatable. I had toppled a giant. And the prize was mine for the taking. However, as I watched them rip him apart, piece by piece, the guilt set in. I can still hear his screams. I can still see his decapitated head staring at me with those accusing eyes. I know that image will stick with me for the rest of my life.

Nora ...