Gestation

by John Gold

  “What’s wrong with that? We got so much loot that there was enough for everyone!”

  All hell broke loose. The arrivals turned out to be gold dragons in human form, and they were there for vengeance.

  The four were all at Level 3000, and in terrible moods.

  With their first spell, they turned everything within a hundred meters to ash. Their next attack, this time a combined effort, created a blue sun twenty meters above the earth. Buildings, tents, people in armor, everything went up in flames like dry straw, burning away in seconds. Then, the dragons started clearing the castle. They torched everyone who was there for the party, both in that castle and in the clan’s other castles. It was an organized attack on the clan and its lands.

  After the dragon faction took on the Golden Hand, everybody realized how serious their mistake had been. The castle was under siege for a week. The dragons were circling cities looking for their enemies, so the local populations started kicking out everyone in the clan. They feared the wrath of the dragons far more than that of the young god, of course. Being cursed or killed is hardly a choice, but they went with the former.

  The dragons didn’t want to raze the fortress, even though they could have done so if they had wanted to. The massacre of the Golden Hand was enough of a warning to anyone who might dare raise a fist at a dragon.

  “Merlen, stop worrying. We just weren’t expecting it, so we weren’t prepared for it. I knew I could take out two dragons. The problem was that the other two would have crushed my avatar. Our reputation suffered in the city, but we still have just as many believers. We’ll get back on track as soon as we can rebuild our reputation. Little things like this don’t change what we’re working toward.”

  “Little things?” Merlen stared angrily at the god. “Leon, we have invested so much money building our reputation, hiring warriors, and completing quests. We even had humanitarian aid missions going! Now, all that is wasted because we got ahead of ourselves.”

  “But that’s not why you’re mad.”

  “I’m afraid we’re ruined! As soon as the dragons lift the siege, the other clans will move in for the kill. There are civil wars going on all over the world, and the locals don’t get involved. They have their own problems. Humans and elves are going at it, with a whole village slaughtered in the periphery. Dwarves and orcs are at each other’s throats. We have dragons and war. Leon, it’s about to start, and we can’t pull together enough strength for a powerful hit. As soon as the dragons leave, they’re going to come after us. The only reason people are staying away from us now is because of the dragons, but they’re going to leave us weak and helpless. Our enemies won’t pass up an opportunity like that.”

  “And we’re ready for them, Merlen.” Leon got up. “I put together a group of master swordsmen and intelligence mages. Twenty of the warriors will be equipped with obsidian weapons, and we’ll be able to put down any magic cast at us since they’ll get the kind of debuffs that will make them think twice about trying it again after we kill them. It takes an ocean of divine energy to quickly get rid of debuffs like that. I’d rather resurrect ten people than get the debuffs of one killed like that. That’s our trump card when it comes to fighting young gods and mages. We’ll be fine with the rest.”

  “War means expenses. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  The young god nodded confidently.

  “I’d invest much more if it meant achieving my goals. We haven’t gone through any more than ten percent of the plan, and I don’t see any real danger. Merlen, you’re not looking at the big picture. We don’t have problems; we have an opportunity to fight this war on our terms.”

  A silence hung over the room. Merlen went back to his numbers, truly believing in Leon’s plan and looking for something to tell him that he was right. Numbers always soothed him.

  Just then, a servant walked into the room and handed Leon a message.

  “What’s up?”

  “The dragons are going to lift the siege in a week. We’re going to discuss what we owe them in an hour outside the fortress.”

  “Finally.”

  “Let the allied clans know. We’re starting the bloodiest war this world has ever known.”

  Leon got up and looked out the window. The shadow of a dragon flying above the castle blocked out the light for a second, and Merlen caught a glimpse of a predatory smile on the god’s face.

  “The dragons are going to be on our side.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  In the city of Denev, right near the market, there was a structure with a long canopy. That was where all kinds of different pets and animals for riding were sold, and the local kids had been playing there for the past year. The boys and girls loved riding the creatures, feeding and watering them, and earning some money by taking care of them. The older kids, on the other hand, spent their time out in the country, where they boosted their animals’ skills and levels.

  Just then, a girl rode up on a big Bengal tiger, both of them purring happily. The animal’s owner walked up to the pair, patted the girl on the head, and asked her a question.

  “Well, Mini, did you like the tiger?”

  “Yes,” the girl replied, eyes shining. “Miss, you have no idea. We got away from a whole pack of wolves, and then we helped some kids. After that, some herbalists ran up and asked us to protect them, so I made myself a wreath while we were doing that. I made one for you, too.”

  The girl placed a brightly colored wreath on the tiger owner’s head.

  “Will you be coming back to take the tiger out?”

  “Of course!” She jumped for joy and ran off to boast to the other kids.

  A procession of two dozen paladins and priests marched through the city just at that moment. At their head was a blue-eyed girl with long, red hair, wearing a simple white dress with blue stripes. A life aura glowed around her. The locals ran over to the holy girl and asked her to heal them, as she could lift any debuff with just one motion of her hand. There was no spell, injury, or disease that could withstand her divine gift.

  There, on the border with the orcs, fights were always breaking out, sometimes with the undead getting involved. The holy girl and her companions had spent the previous month out on long raids clearing the area of the undead and only returning to help the suffering.

  Every time the girl’s procession came around, the animal owner watched her carefully and listened to what she had to say. The owner was a woman with plenty of experience behind her, and what she saw wasn’t a holy girl; it was a girl experienced in love who craved the attention of the public. Little details here and there gave her away. The woman also saw the calculation the girl put into what only looked like good deeds.

  But she was awfully young to be so clever.

  Hannah Quick was the animal owner’s name. Over the previous year, she’d reached Level 350 and earned enough money to buy her own pet. Her experience as a psychologist helped her in the game, too, giving her a way of speaking with both animals and humans. Kids who were problematic in real life became open and happy in the game. Both kids and animals understood emotions, and so it was easy for them to get along.

  It had taken Eliza Donovan a whole year to get her bosses to pay for her study of the in-game reality in Project Chrysalis, which looked at how tough kids could adapt through the game. But she’d finally gotten enough for her zoo and invited all the new kids to come visit her. She’d even paid their fare. Once there, the kids got high-quality emotional and psychological assistance.

  “Ah, Rachel, if you weren’t such a bitch, there would be one more kind boy in the world.” Eliza remembered Anji and the sacrifice all too well. She’d seen the two weeks he’d enjoyed a happy childhood, and she knew who killed it there on the sacrificial stone. One of them was standing in front of her wearing holy clothing as she healed people.

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  It had been a year since the Black Rose clan started working on leveling-up their members. The wise leader had taken his cl
an mates to the toughest dungeons, pushed them to the edge of their abilities, and ensured that even the weakest newcomer became a force to be reckoned with.

  Teamwork, boosted skills, great spots for hunting, and strategies for beating dungeons all made the Black Rose a factory for churning out strong players across all classes and specialties. Starting at Level 300, they focused on building skills in extreme conditions.

  The head of the clan was a Level 670 mage and one of the strongest wizards in the world. He always participated in clan raids and meetings, and legend had it that he never once logged out of the game. None of his clan mates had ever seen him log out in front of them.

  Bernard had founded his clan as soon as the ritual was complete. His brothers and sisters locked up in this world awaited a worthy rival, and he loved each of them, doing whatever he could to free them as soon as possible. In his past life, he’d been a god of war, and he’d known everything there was to know about the art of war. That was why he’d created a factory to turn out the strongest army in the world.

  Progress is an ongoing war, and his clan’s services were going to be in constant need as soon as the balance of power changed. Give two people weapons and they’ll kill each other by themselves. At least, that’s what the gods all thought. The important part was that people become more powerful with a weapon in their hands. The wanderers had proven that the last time, and they’d prove it again. Bernard was just going to pour coal on the fire of war.

  Margul, the patron of the dragons, had said that the era of war was beginning, and his followers would support one of the young gods. He’d long been wanting to match up against someone from the new pantheon, and so he’d set up a quest to kill one of the dragons.

  “What if they aren’t ready yet? The young gods are still weak.”

  “Time will tell us what they’re worth, my friend. The young ones can combine forces to deliver a powerful blow.”

  “You aren’t afraid to die for good? That’s a violation of Idzumi’s conditions.”

  “Why?” The air quivered from the thunder of his reply. “I understand Idzumi’s words differently. He said, ‘die at the hand of a strong opponent.’ ‘Only the worthy will move on.’”

  “But not from a bunch of weaklings.”

  “Believe me, I’m not going to die if I think they’re a bunch of weaklings. I can wait a little while before testing their strength again if need be. The humans won’t be able to pull my adepts away from me anyway.”

  Bernard smiled bitterly. Obviously, the dragons would only bow to one god.

  “It’s a shame that Idzumi won’t appear in the world before the first chosen one.”

  “Well, he isn’t on Tanatos. Could the chosen one have appeared already, and be somewhere else?”

  “You think there’s some loner out in the world at Level 1000, someone nobody knows about?” Bernard laughed heartily. He always felt free and calm with Margul, and he enjoyed the rare moments of happiness their conversations gave him.

  Tanatos, the island of the gods, was in the very center of the inhabited world, between four enormous continents and awash in the ocean. It was called an island in lore all around the world, though it was actually a small continent. It was a place of strength, too. Those who lived there were ancient and strong: the descendants of the first titans, dragons, demons, and other powerful beings. There were angels on Tanatos, too. The waters surrounding the island were protected by beasts at Level 1000 and higher, and they were what gave the ocean its name: the Ocean of Terror. That was where the gods had met Idzumi the last time. He’d come from the other side and he explained his arrival by telling them of the coming of the first chosen one to the world.

  “Brother, don’t die too early.” Bernard opened up for just a second. “I’m afraid to lose you. There are few I hold close in this world. And now, I’m afraid I’ll be left alone if you’re the last to leave. We’ll wait for the wanderers to get to the island. They’re much stronger. And the chances of a good battle are ten times better.”

  The dragon god narrowed his eyes.

  “I’ll think about it. I’ll think well, my friend.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  There’s a reason I’m sitting on the pier: I need Caris. At least, I need his cartography skill. If what he said was true, I can get a map covering lots of territory, and all in minute detail. I’ll need that in case there’s a problem with the ship now or on the way to the continent.

  Caris is supposed to come back a bit before the ship arrives, and that’s exactly what he does.

  “Hi, Caris. I was able to pick up the skill of fortifying wood, which I thank you for with all my heart,” I say with a deep bow. “I have an offer for you. I need a map of everywhere you’ve been. I figure you can use your skill as a cartographer.”

  “Everywhere? Kid, do you have any idea how many places I’ve been in my fifty years? Or how much time that would take?”

  He took the bait! I have to set the hook.

  “What would you like in return?”

  The brigadier frowns.

  “You haven’t made me an offer! And you’re asking me something like that? Give me an offer, and I’ll think about it.”

  “I can offer you eighty gold.”

  Caris laughed loudly.

  “Sagie, did you really just ask me to draw up a record of my life for eighty gold? Even the map I drew for you out of the goodness of my heart is worth a hundred. And you’re talking about practically the entire Ocean of Terror!”

  I made a mistake, insulting him with my offer, but I know how I can recover. I pull the black pearl out of my pocket.

  “I imagine we can come to an agreement. Don’t you think so, Caris?”

  He stops laughing, his attention locked on the pearl.

  “Where did you get that treasure?” The brigadier clenches it in his hand. “It’s worth more than our entire village put together!”

  “From the bottom of the ocean. So, will you make me that map?”

  “Yes. Give me the paper. This will take me a long time, and we have to hurry.”

  He disappears into the cabin of his boat and doesn’t come back until just after the ship shows up. That gives me plenty of time to think about what I’m going to do on my way to the continent, and finally come up with a plan for how to get back to work on myself.

  The most popular specialty for mages is fire, at least, that’s according to the statistics online. When you finish your training and get to the tenth level of magic mastery, you get access to a second specialty. Most people double up on the damage bonus they get by going with the same one. Anyway, the majority of the time, I’ve been attacked physically, with poison, and with fire. I need to be able to defend myself and kill my attackers, so I need to boost my defense and attack. I want to be completely impervious to mental attacks, too. The best offense is a good defense, and the best defense is a good offense. That’s what the ancient gladiators thought, anyway. It’s a principle I can use.

  The enormous six-masted sailing ship arrived right on schedule. It had three decks and a large hold, making it something like an ark. I share my opinion with Caris, getting an answer back.

  “In storms, ships like that are practically unsinkable. They don’t capsize, either. Here’s the map I promised. I wasn’t able to get everything done, but it’s still my greatest work.”

  I take the map and look around to find Zird, where I’m supposed to have my trial with the Hunters. It’s not here! I wonder if the city is too small or if it’s just missing.

  “Caris, do you know where a city called Zird is?”

  “No, doesn’t ring a bell. How soon do you need to get there?”

  “In seven months. I’m trying to figure out where it is. That’s why I needed the map.”

  Caris stood there for a while, lost in thought. Everything about him spoke of an internal struggle.

  “There’s still time left before the ship leaves, so I’ll let you know if I think of anything. Good luck.”


  He heads back to his boat; I make for the ship.

  It costs just ten gold to get to Congul, the nearest continent. Another fifty gets me my own cabin in the nose of the second deck. The ship runs between Katain and Congul, taking the longest route and dropping by the small islands near Heron. Nobody goes any further out into the Ocean of Terror. Judging by the map, the ship goes between the northern continents, the western and the eastern ones.

  I couldn’t be happier. The map is gorgeous. It even includes which way the wind blows at different times of year, not to mention the currents. The coastal areas around all four continents are included, while there is a large black spot in the middle of the Ocean of Terror. The captain tells me that it’s home to monsters who can swallow whole ships, and that nobody’s ever sailed to the center of the ocean and lived to tell the tale.

  I have big plans for the next two weeks, and that’s why I got my own cabin in the bow. That’s where the wind carries all the smells of the sea.

  The ship spends half the day at the island, giving me the chance to run around one more time and pick up the ingredients I need. I grab half a ton of freshly picked herbs.

  Then, after the ship sets sail, the first thing I do is set up a lab for brewing poisons. I’ve spent the last two weeks making concentrated solutions and ointments, after all. I always have a patch of poisonous ointment on under my shirt now, and I need to stock back up.

  The most poisonous fish in the ocean are the brightest ones. There’s even something like a fugu, the most dangerous fish in the sea. And collecting poison is exactly how I’m planning on spending the trip. Poisonous potions, depending on the way they act, can also bring to bear other effects, such as reducing your attributes, paralyzing you, stunning you, and causing hallucinations. My enemies are skillful! I’m better off playing it safe ten times than making one mistake. Plant and animal poisons have different effects, and I’m looking for as many different ingredients as I can to boost my resistance.

  That’s the first part of my plan, and I get started right away.

  Magic scrolls are this world’s best invention. There’s a magic seal on the paper, and only a human aura and the key phrase activate them. The charge they hold depends on the material, though there are occasionally mana storage stones. Those occasions are when the scroll is attached to a holder, with the stones set around the edges. They look like small rolls of toilet paper with two doorknobs on either side made out of gems. In the vast majority of cases, the scroll creates a one-level spell without any effects added—for example, fireballs, fire spears, wind blades, stun, and simple buffs. Complex spells like acid fog, fire tornado, and golem or elemental summoning work use different ideas. They’re complex, interdisciplinary, and multi-level—golems are Life and Land Magic, fire tornados are Air and Fire Magic.