by Tao Wong
I want to protest that we never discussed that, never agreed. I didn’t ask her to come. I didn’t ask her to join me. But that’s a lie. I assumed she would be here. I took her help without question. I could have left her out of this or trusted her with more details. But I didn’t. Not because I didn’t trust her, but because in the System, anything said out loud, any information passed on to others is purchasable. I already risked a lot by checking that Harry would broadcast our fight live. Even more when I had Ali ping the previous targets of the Wolves via an intermediary, telling them to watch.
If the Wolves had learned about the trap beforehand, it would have all been for naught. If I had coordinated directly with the victims, I likely would have failed. In truth, if it were not for how passionate Hondo was about dealing with the Wolves, I would never have taken the risk. Yet I could think of no other way to win. And we needed to win.
Because this was just the start.
Hours later, we’re back with Katherine. The ambassador looks relieved to see us, tension held in her shoulders disappearing. I offer her a half-smile, slumping into one of the proffered chairs while Hondo looks at Mikito and me.
“Thank you,” Hondo says.
“Pardon?” I say, sitting up.
Rather than answer, Hondo walks out of the door—heading to see Oria, I’d guess. I stare at the Weaponmaster’s back, scratching my head absently, amused to note that he’s already got his leg back. Mikito has a wry smile while watching Hondo leave before she turns back toward Katherine and Peter.
“How are things?” I say, the wash of happiness from beating the Wolves now shifting back toward grief as I recall what happened on Earth.
“Stabilizing,” Katherine says. “Rob has decided to continue with the program. We have numerous law enforcement personnel scattering planetwide to look for the attackers. A bounty tax has also been instituted planetwide, and that tax is being used to fund quests to deal with the attackers. These quests have also been passed on to any guild willing to take them.
“Rob is looking at what additional tariffs and other penalties we can levy on those we find connected to the attacks. In the meantime, the Galactic immigrants will be concentrated in a few locations that have volunteered to take them. The Duchess’s location is one of the prime areas.”
I nod, accepting Katherine’s words. We might be stabilizing for now, but if the attacks continue, there’s no guarantee that Rob will be able to hold the planet together. And while he might not be up for reelection for a few years, ignoring the wants and needs of the settlement owners would be an extremely bad idea.
“Security?” Mikito says, picking up on the unanswered question.
Peter grimaces, but he finally speaks up. “We’re looking into a planetary-wide security net and dimensional blocker. And a temporary mercenary corp. The Erethrans have offered to send a fleet of theirs to aid us. For concessions.”
“What concessions?” I ask.
“They want New Zealand,” Peter says.
“Pardon?”
“The country. They want it all.”
Silence descends as I struggle with that idea. I open my mouth, then shut it, then open my mouth again before giving up.
Ali snorts, filling the silence. “Eh, good deal for you guys. Not as if many of their population survived.”
“No?” I say. Come to think of it, I never did visit New Zealand.
“Remote island. Lots of monsters. Including a dragon that you all decided to call Smaug for some reason. That lost you a whole city when he found out,” Ali says with a sniff. “Really.”
“So what? We just take the entire country and give it to the Erethrans?” I frown. That doesn’t sound right.
For one thing, I’m not sure it’s our land to give. Then again, there are monsters there, and without a high enough population keeping them in check, those monsters will keep getting stronger and stronger. Already the Caribbean is a no-go zone. Between the sheer number of monsters, their strength, and the elementals who have taken residence among the hurricanes, it’s a treacherous land. If we leave New Zealand alone too long, it’ll just be another lost island.
Still, it sits badly with me.
“In essence, yes. Rob is speaking with their representatives now. The Erethrans have promised to arrive the moment the agreement is made,” Katherine says, her eyes tight. She meets my gaze and I can see that we share some of the same feelings. But on the other side of the equation is the simple need for security.
Compromise. Politics is all about compromise. Once again, I’m grateful that I’m not forced to take part in it. Perhaps it’s cowardice on my part, but finding that compromise, choosing the least of all evils…
“John?” Peter says, and I blink, looking at the man. “There’s something else we need from you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. As you know, this isn’t over. Not by a long shot. A large number of those who attacked us on Earth have left the planet already,” Peter continues. “And while the guilds might get some of them, the ones who attacked Rob, who attacked Lana, are at least Advanced Classes.”
“I see…” I say slowly, leaning back. “You want me to go after them myself.”
“Yes. You’re out here in the Galaxy already. You’re also…” Peter waves toward my Status Screen above my head.
I get it. As one of Earth’s few Master Classers, I’m in an enviable position of being able to kick ass. Only leveling fanatics like Mikito are anywhere close to breaking the last Level barrier, and even she would have found it hard to do without the Arena. Out here, in Irvina, where the fights are broadcast over a large area, the potential experience increases from the watchers’ tithe is significant.
Even so, for all the allusions that we have made, what Peter is asking me to do is to be Earth’s hitman. Their Galactic bounty hunter. It might leave me free to set my own hours, but Katherine at the least knows I’m not one to do things halfway. If I agree, my time researching quietly is gone.
If I don’t…
A memory of friends in a city by the water. Of a lonely mountain range where I woke up over five years ago. A lake and blue boxes that changed my world. Strewn corpses. Laughing faces. And I know, for certain, that more will be lost. If I refuse, I open Earth up to reprisals. Even if I agree, I leave them open. But at least they’ll know that anyone, anything going after Earth will face me at some point.
“Mikito?” I say softly, looking at the Japanese woman.
“You lead. I follow,” Mikito says simply.
I feel that burden sink further onto my shoulders, my chest tightening as she lays it on me. She sits there, weighing me, judging me by her very presence. Asking me to live up to that level of faith she has shown me.
I shut my eyes, the weight of the responsibility that I tried to set aside pressing down once again. Pushing against my forced indolence, past my reserve. It strikes at the core of who I am, who I had to become to survive. I’m back standing over a mass grave, a cooking pot. Lying on the ground as the rain washes over me. As I stand in a forest of crosses.
“Damn it.”
I open my eyes to Peter then Katherine, seeing the pity in their gazes. Pity but no mercy. Katherine knows exactly what she is asking of me, and still, she asks.
“Fine.”
I stand and walk away without a goodbye. I’m sure they’ll send me the information. Send me the details of those who need killing. And then. Well, then I guess I do what I do.
Chapter 19
A week later, we’re headed up the beanstalk again, leaving the city. A week. To train. To recuperate. To study and learn. To run the dungeons until Mikito could gain enough experience to Level up. At that thought, I turn my head and stare at my friend, taking in her new Class.
Mikito Sato, Spear of Humanity, Blood Warden, Junior Arena Champion of Irvina (Upper Samurai Level 1) (M)
HP: 2311/2311*
MP: 1681/1681*
Conditions: Isoide, Jin, Rei, Meiyo, Ishiki, Ryoyo, Feudal B
ond
Galactic Reputation: 16
Galactic Fame: 6,998
My lips press together as I feel once more that weight of expectation and responsibility she has laid on me. I shake my head even as I call forth the Skill.
Feudal Bond (Level 1)
The Samurai is nothing without her master. The master is nothing without loyal servants. The Feudal Bond is a metaphysical representation of this relationship. This Skill provides strength to the Samurai derived from her master. However, this Skill is only in effect so long as the feudal status is in effect between the involved parties. Mana Regeneration reduced by 5 permanently.
Effect: User gains 5% of target master’s attributes.
I sigh, shaking my head. I feel a bit of dread over exploring exactly what this new Skill means and what messed up view of samurai the System has. An alien entity, borrowing on public consciousness and viewpoint, creating an exclusive prestige Class. How could that go wrong?
“John?” Mikito says, alerting me to the fact that I’ve been staring at her.
I flush, shaking my head, and turn aside. That’s a can of worms I’ll deal with another time. For now, it’s good enough to know that Mikito will be a much, much more powerful aide.
We’re going to need it.
For a moment, I glance at my own Status. The fight had not produced much in terms of loot as the other attackers had taken everything. But the experience gain from fighting and defeating three Master Classers, even shared, was significant. Enough so that I’ve gone up another Level and a bit, putting me at Level 28 and giving me another Skill point. I’m holding off on using it as I consider my best options. Aspects of that battle made me deeply unhappy, so I want to think about more deeply about that point before I commit.
We’ve spent a week training, healing, and waiting. Waiting for Harry to get back. To get the right ship. A week, and now we’re off. As we stand on the platform, heading up the beanstalk, the three of us stare at the disappearing city, its massive size soon lost in the clouds. No more Galactic center, no more quiet reading. I have books downloaded, along with a better idea of what to study by myself. Information has been saved, some questions answered. New ones formed. But the world we are in has little time or space for a scholarly Paladin. Not yet.
I’ll be back. There is more to learn, more to understand.
For now, there are rights to wrong. Killers who have run. People in power who think they are untouchable. Groups that think because they’re so big, they cannot fall.
For now, it’s time to get back to work. I look up, watching as we breach the cloud cover, and spot the station that looms above and the stars behind it. The numerous ships that wait, one of which is ready to take us away.
To the people waiting to be killed.
For now, it’s time to go.
###
The End
John and friends will return in
Rebel Star
(Book 8 of the System Apocalypse)
Author’s Note
Stars Awoken is the first book in the new Galactic arc. This book was a bit of a struggle to write as my patrons know, mostly because I kept vacillating on how I was going to write this. In the end, I ended up deleting over forty five thousand words and rewriting entire arcs before I was happy with this book. Some of that material will end up in book eight, Rebel Star, which might make the third arc four books long instead of three. This is also the penultimate arc, one that will contextualize and explore Galactic space more before we approach the end game.
As always, I’m grateful for everyone who has followed me on this long, long journey. I hope you have enjoyed John’s journey and the ever-expanding world. If you enjoyed reading the book, please do leave a review and rating.
In addition, I have other series including my A Thousand Li (my cultivation xanxia series), the Adventures on Brad (a more traditional LitRPG fantasy) and the Hidden Wishes (an urban fantasy GameLit series). Book one of each series follow:
A Thousand Li: The First Step (Book 1 of the A Thousand Li series)
A Healer’s Gift (Book 1 of the Adventures on Brad)
A Gamer’s Wish (Book 1 of the Hidden Wishes series)
For more great information about LitRPG series, check out the Facebook groups:
GameLit Society
LitRPG Books
About the Author
Tao Wong is an avid fantasy and sci-fi reader who spends his time working and writing in the North of Canada. He’s spent way too many years doing martial arts of many forms, and having broken himself too often, he now spends his time writing about fantasy worlds.
For updates on the series and my other books (and special one-shot stories), please visit my website: http://www.mylifemytao.com
Or sign up for my mailing list: http://eepurl.com/c35JS1
Or my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/taowongauthor/
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Glossary
Erethran Honor Guard Skill Tree
Mana Imbue
Two are One
Thousand Steps
Blade Strike
The Body’s
Resolve
Greater
Detection
Altered Space
A Thousand
Blades
Shield Transference
Soul Shield
Blink Step
Army of One
Sanctum
Body Swap
Portal
John’s Erethran Honor Guard Skills
Mana Imbue (Level 3)
Soulbound weapon now permanently imbued with mana to deal more damage on each hit. +20 Base Damage (Mana). Will ignore armor and resistances. Mana regeneration reduced by 15 Mana per minute permanently.
Blade Strike (Level 3)
By projecting additional Mana and stamina into a strike, the Erethran Honor Guard’s Soulbound weapon may project a strike up to 30 feet away.
Cost: 30 Stamina + 30 Mana
Thousand Steps (Level 1)
Movement speed for the Honor Guard and allies are increased by 5% while skill is active. This ability is stackable with other movement-related skills.
Cost: 20 Stamina + 20 Mana per minute
Altered Space (Level 2)
The Honor Guard now has access to an extra-dimensional storage location of 30 cubic meters. Items stored must be touched to be willed in and may not include living creatures or items currently affected by auras that are not the Honor Guard’s. Mana regeneration reduced by 10 Mana per minute permanently.
Two are One (Level 1)
Effect: Transfer 10% of all damage from Target to Self
Cost: 5 Mana per second
The Body’s Resolve (Level 3)
Effect: Increase natural health regeneration by 35%. On-going health status effects reduced by 33%. Honor Guard may now regenerate lost limbs. Mana regeneration reduced by 15 Mana per minute permanently.
Greater Detection (Level 1)
Effect: User may now detect System creatures up to 1 kilometer away. General information about strength level is provided on detection. Stealth skills, Class skills, and ambient mana density will influence the effectiveness of this skill. Mana regeneration reduced by 5 Mana per minute permanently.
A Thousand Blades (Level 3)
Creates four duplicate copies of the user’s designated weapon. Duplicate copies deal base damage of copied items. May be combined with Mana Imbue and Shield Transference. Mana Cost: 3 Mana per second
Soul Shield (Level 2)
Effect: Creates a manipulable shield to cover the caster’s or target’s body. Shield has 1,000 Hit Points.
Cost: 250 Mana
Blink Step (Level 2)
Effect: Instantaneous teleportation via line-of-sight. May include Spirit’s line of sight. Maximum range—500 meters.
Cost: 100 Mana
Portal (Level 5)
Effect: Creates a 5-meter by 5-meter portal which
can connect to a previously traveled location by user. May be used by others. Maximum distance range of portals is 10,000 kilometers.
Cost: 250 Mana + 100 Mana per minute (minimum cost 350 Mana)
Army of One (Level 2)
The Honor Guard’s feared penultimate combat ability, Army of One builds upon previous Skills, allowing the user to unleash an awe-inspiring attack to deal with their enemies. Attack may now be guided around minor obstacles.
Effect: Army of One allows the projection of (Number of Thousand Blades conjured weapons * 3) Blade Strike attacks up to 300 meters away from user. Each attack deals 3 * Blade Strike Level damage (inclusive of Mana Imbue and Soulbound weapon bonus)
Cost: 750 Mana
Sanctum (Level 2)
An Erethran Honor Guard’s ultimate trump card in safeguarding their target, Sanctum creates a flexible shield that blocks all incoming attacks, hostile teleportations and Skills. At this Level of Skill, the user must specify dimensions of the Sanctum upon use of the Skill. The Sanctum cannot be moved while the Skill is activated.
Dimensions: Maximum 15 cubic meters.
Cost: 1,000 Mana
Duration: 2 minute and 7 seconds
Paladin of Erethra Skill Tree
Penetration
Aura of Chivalry
Eye of Insight
