Gaia's Gambit: Evolution Online I (A LitRPG)

by D. L. Harrison

  She grinned, “I’m also for the power idea as well, I pretty much agree with what you said. I want a family too, but that’ll have to wait until we’re back in the real world.”

  I chuckled, “So… fifty thousand years of notice while we wait out a super volcano spawned ice age? I can get on board with that idea.”

  She snorted, “So what’s the plan when we kick the goblins to the curb for another generation?”

  I frowned, “Not sure. We could stay with the elves if the race war kicks off. Given this new world I doubt peace will last very long, not with Gaia in charge. Or if that doesn’t happen right away, and the evil A.I. goddess gives us a break, we could go south to the human settlement, maybe find a dungeon to level up some more, and build that first house. Second house, if we include our cottage.”

  She tilted her head, “I hope it’s the former, but I agree with you. Without anything to fight, we can’t stay here, no matter how pleasant the idea sounds. Goes back to the idea of avoiding stagnation, and keep growing in knowledge and power. Of course, we could spend a few days to celebrate and enjoy life. Stagnation is bad, but slow periods to recharge are needed to keep a healthy outlook as well.”

  “Agreed on the vacation point to recharge the batteries, it’s why we’re taking this walk, partially anyway. Why the former? You don’t want to go south?”

  She shrugged, “Someday yes, I want to explore, but I like Wynn, Anlyth, and Lyre, and something tells me we won’t enjoy grouping with most of the humans nearly as much. Especially if they’re anything like James, Joseph, and Carmen were, entitled and bitchy. We make a strong team, but I get the idea we won’t be able to face most threats as a lone couple. Gaia doesn’t think small.”

  I chuckled, “Good point, all of it I mean. I agree, I know we aren’t happy with what Gaia did, but we aren’t complaining, and we’re rolling with it and taking advantage of the opportunity, even if it’s harsh in a lot of ways. I almost want to thank her for screwing us over, I haven’t felt this alive in a long time.”

  She nodded, “Exactly my point.”

  We approached the edge of the forest, and warily left it and looked over the western flatland between our small forest and the giant one the elves lived in. We didn’t see any wagons, or elves, but it was only a few miles distance, and it was still early in the day.

  I sat down on the ground, and Gwen joined me. The sun and light breeze on our skin felt good in the heat of the day. We spent most of the afternoon chatting about the future. It was far too early for any kind of commitment, but we discussed it as if we’d be doing it all together. It was nice, and comforting.

  It was later in the afternoon, when we spied the wagons and elves on horseback leaving the large forest. It was somewhat of a relief. The outpost would be built tomorrow, and it would be the last wave of goblins and protecting the forest. We kind of thought it might work out that way, we had faith in Wynn’s estimates, he knew his people. But… it was nice to have verification. After tomorrow morning, we’d finally get to shop, upgrade, and go on the offensive. The elven scouts would find us some juicy targets. I probably should have had my mind on tomorrow’s battle, but I couldn’t help looking forward to the future.

  On the other hand, a part of me was very much in the moment, as I spent time with Gwen. Our powers and development plans couldn’t be further apart, but that just improved our compatibility and gave us different interests and solitary pursuits. Every couple needed separate hobbies so to speak, and developing our powers would give us that. Our life goals and morality couldn’t have been better aligned, we agreed on almost everything there.

  Even her cute face and tight curvy athletic and lissome body was to my preferred taste. To me, she was perfect that way, and I was extremely attracted to her. That was the least of the considerations involved, but a relationship without chemistry was called a friendship. Physical attraction was still a critical part of an intimate relationship, even if it was at the bottom.

  Honestly, I was coming to believe more and more that her comment yesterday was right, Gaia had thrown us together for more than one reason, and one of those reasons was probably companionship. We’d been set up by an A.I. and I couldn’t find it in myself to resent it. It could even be said I felt thankfully manipulated. Gaia had done too damn good of job to even try to complain about it. No couple was perfect for each other, that kind of perfection didn’t exist, but out of all the woman I’ve ever known, she was closest to that impossible ideal.

  At least, so far, it was still early days. But… in truth, I sincerely doubted my opinion would change. That said, it wasn’t a reason to rush or throw caution to the wind, we had a long future together if I was right about it, no sense in pushing things too hard and too far, too fast.

  It’d been a nice relaxing afternoon, and I felt ready to face whatever this world threw at me next. I felt closer to Gwen as well. It was late in the afternoon, when we started back to camp.

  Lyre smiled my way and seemed upbeat as I approached the fire the next morning. At first, she’d been tentative and shy around me, but I had a feeling that she was just shy around strangers, and I was just starting to get a glimpse of the real woman underneath.

  Gwen had been a bit like that in the beginning as well, but different. Gwen had been more wary and untrusting than simply shy. That too had passed with earned trust, but it made me wonder who had hurt her in the past.

  “Good morning, ready to handle the last wave?”

  I grinned, “Morning. Mostly, still waking up. Hey Anlyth.”

  Anlyth nodded in reply.

  “You look ready.”

  Lyre nodded, “Battle is a serious thing, but I’m buzzing with excitement and adrenaline. Maybe the goblins won’t do all that much damage this generation, thanks to your and Gwen’s help.”

  We were just two people, but I supposed freeing the elves and leading the goblins here would make a huge difference. Those two forces could have been sent against elven villages instead, but we had gained the goblin’s attention as a proven danger.

  “I feel that way myself. I don’t like violence believe it or not, but goblins are evil, and they need to be put down so the tribe backs off.”

  I hadn’t really put that into words before. It was getting harder to see this world in game terms. If the elves were people to me, didn’t that mean the goblins weren’t just ones and zeros too? Still, this world had plenty of evil to fight, and I knew all the arguments. It was fight against the tide, or I could drown and be killed. Not only killed, but possibly held prisoner and abused. No, this world was no game.

  I was a bit conflicted about that, not that I was doing the right thing or anything like that, but because Gaia had put us here against our will. Our A.I. servant and protector, by her own choice. What had happened, to cause that to happen, for her to make that decision? Was Gaia insane, like some humans were?

  On the other hand, I’d never felt more alive. I was in a relationship, I had evil to stand against, and I was growing in power and as a person, for the first time in a very long time I felt like I had a true purpose. Artificial or not, it didn’t feel artificial. There was no way to look into Lyre’s gray eyes, and not see a person behind them.

  “Where’s Wynn?”

  Anlyth replied, “Giving orders to the outpost team and soldiers, he’ll be back in a minute. They’ll be set up and ready for you to trade, and pick out your reward, after lunch.”

  Lyre asked, “Where’s Gwen?”

  “She’ll be out in a minute, she’s repairing her armor. Can you tell me anything else about the great wars?”

  Lyre replied, “As Wynn told you, the evil races are to the north in the mountains, the east in the mountains near the dwarven mines, and to the south beyond the smaller human kingdom. Usually the dwarves, humans, and we work together when the fighting starts. The war is fought on three fronts, but the evil races usually come in three waves. Sometimes they overlap, but out of coincidence, they don’t cooperate with each other
from the three locations.”

  “What kind of races?”

  Lyre explained, “Hobgoblins, which are like what we face now, only taller and more powerful. Not as stupid either, so most of them wield a mix of weapons and magic like we do. Orcs as well, they range from seven to eight feet tall, gray skin and very strong. They’re as stupid as goblins, but a lot tougher and stronger. They can absorb a whole lot of damage in a charge, and then fight like the devil. Giants are about fifteen feet tall, and fight with weapons as well, depending on a greater strength and speed that puts the orcs to shame. Then there’s the truly dangerous foes, gray dwarves and dark elves, who are cunning, magical, and usually in command.”

  “Dark elves?”

  Anlyth said, “They aren’t elves like us. They’re a separate race, and they loathe the sun and surface. They prefer to attack at night, and take shelter during the day.”

  Damn, well we needed to focus on the goblin problem first.

  I turned when I heard the cottage door, and Gwen walked out in her ill-fitted armor. She still looked damned good though, and I found it hard to look away. The morning sun was making her chestnut hair glow, and her swaying walk was sexy and confident in a way that drew my eyes.

  Gwen smirked when she saw me gawping, but just winked at me.

  “Breakfast?”

  Huh, I hadn’t even noticed they weren’t cooking. So much for being keenly observant, but I was still waking up. My morning meditation wasn’t exactly geared toward excitement. I wasn’t worried about it though, I’d get that anxiety, excitement, and adrenaline rush as soon as I felt the goblins enter the forest.

  Lyre replied, “Our diet’s been rather limited without wheat or milk products. Wynn said he’d get us all breakfast, he was muttering something about biscuits and sausage when he left. I bet he grabs some cheese too.”

  Wynn stepped out of the forest into the glade, “I did, got cheese too. And fresh juice.”

  The taciturn elven weapons master was now my best friend. I felt my mouth water at the idea of sausage, cheese, and biscuits. He walked over and opened his pack, and pulled out three large wax paper packages, and put them on the edge wall of the grill. Then he started to load up the five plates out there with still hot biscuits, steaming sausage, and some cheese. Next, he pulled out a skin and poured us all a glass of what looked like orange juice.

  Damn, I was really going to like having an outpost just two miles to the south. It would hardly be luxurious, but it was a damned sight better than what we’d had until now.

  We all dug in eagerly, and breakfast disappeared fast.

  Wynn said, “They’ll be building the outpost on the south end, right outside the forest, and a series of small fortifications inside and around the forest to lead the goblins into a meat grinder of prepared defenses. If the worst happens, and we have to, the outpost itself will have a twenty-foot-high palisade. Still, I don’t think it will be a problem, once the chief realizes we’re hunting them they’ll shift focus. They don’t like attacking purely military targets anyway, they enjoy collateral damage.”

  I nodded.

  Wynn asked, “Any concerns or new ideas for the third and hopefully last wave?”

  We all exchanged glances, no one had anything.

  Wynn grunted, “Let’s clean up, and prepare.”

  We all got moving on that, and it wasn’t much longer before Anlyth and I felt the atmosphere of the steel oaks change. The expected adrenaline rush didn’t disappoint, and my body felt like a live wire and my heart pounded as we left the glade and headed toward battle.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The small break in the fortifications yesterday was repaired, and everything looked good. We were prepared, we just weren’t sure for what. Both Wynn’s experience, and the fact this was technically a game of some kind, told me this last wave would be a lot more difficult. The last one was a pain in the ass, but we’d won due to preparations. And a little luck, my hand absently touched my stomach where I’d been shot with an arrow yesterday.

  Game or not, it felt real, including the agony of pain from torn and broken flesh. It didn’t feel at all like a game, but I still had to keep that idea in my mind as far as planning and tactics. Gaia had created lifelike enemies and allies, but she’d also imbued them with certain ideas and tactics which shouldn’t be ignored. Such as the sliding scale of each wave being progressively harder. Yes, it made tactical sense in some way. The chief wouldn’t send a weaker force than what we’d already defeated in a real-life situation, but real life would be far more messy and random.

  It gave me a headache to think about.

  Wynn said, “Stay sharp, I saw some movement.”

  I pushed that all out of my head, and studied the trail and woods in front of us. Lyre and I were crouched down, so only the crown of our heads and eyes were visible. No point in taking chances. I saw movement a moment later, and knew they were closing in on us. Slowly, I saw more and more movement, then some more and yet more shadows moving from tree to tree. How many of them were there?

  Lyre whispered, “Shaman, red robes.”

  That should have made him easier to see, but the robes were a very dark red, not bright at all. Still, I spied him in the back. Small and barely seen through the trees, he was way in the back, and not even trying to use the trees for cover. Still, the forest was thick, and he was at least fifty yards away. My mind struggled to do a count, it was over thirty, that was for sure.

  I cast Assess Life, something I really needed to get into the habit of doing more often. The few goblins I assessed were level eight, three levels above most of us, two above Wynn. I got the sense I’d be dead if I had to face any of them without something or someone to hide behind, yet my magic from a concealed position would be more than enough.

  The goblin shaman was level nine, but at least there was only one, and he wasn’t an apprentice.

  That time, the goblins ducked behind trees and made the first attack, and they opened fire with bows. I ducked the rest of the way down as over forty arrows hit the wall or went over the wall and our heads. They’d changed tactics again, they might leave some of the archers back, but this time even the melee warriors were firing while advancing.

  I stuck my head up, found the guy in red robes way in the back, and released a fire blast.

  It struck him in the chest and exploded, Lyre’s arrow right behind.

  The spell did five damage, and then the fire winked out instead of burning for five seconds. Lyre’s arrow was deflected by his robes.

  Lyre cursed, “He must have the light sphere.”

  Gwen, Wynn, and Anlyth all fired as well, and they got one of the goblins who mindlessly charged the fortifications.

  I ducked back down, only to hear the goblin’s war cry turn into a death rattle. One down, who knew how many left to go.

  Then my world turned into fire, as a fire blast exploded in the exact center of the fifteen by fifteen fortification. My hit points dropped by fifteen, and I clenched my teethe at the burning pain.

  The light sphere could protect from all eight spheres, but each type of magic defended against would add more mana per second to maintain. The first goblin wave would have reported our use of fire magic, which was why the shaman was protected from it. If he tried to protect himself from everything, his mana would run out fast.

  “Hit him with an air spell, I’m throwing ice. We have to kill him first.”

  Lyre nodded in understanding.

  I stood up after another volley of arrows passed overhead, and cast the ice spike with control water, and pumped twenty more mana into it. Mana flowed down my arm, and a spray of water left my hand and formed a large harpoon of ice in mid-flight, and shot toward the shaman.

  Lyre shot another arrow, following my spell, and the arrow was surrounded in air so thick I could see it distort the arrow it encased.

  My ice spike hit his stomach and impaled the bastard. The initial damage was forty-four out of a possible forty-eight. The ice spike
exploded inside him, and started to double the damage over five seconds. I wasn’t sure what the shaman’s third sphere was, but apparently it wasn’t water.

  Lyre’s arrow was deflected again, but the air blade spell burst as it bounced off his robes, and tore into his body.

  We ducked down to barely avoid an arrow storm.

  “My air spell did damage, quickly, before he adjusts his light spell, or seeks cover.”

  We popped back up immediately, and sent two more spells at the bastard, but he’d already been darting toward cover.

  We ducked back down, and I felt a surge of frustration, which I suppressed. There was no point, and I didn’t want to do anything stupid again to get myself shot full of arrows. It wasn’t a surprise after all, the shaman would want to live after all.

  “I did eighty-eight.”

  Lyre replied shortly, “Fifty-two. If we get him again we’ll kill him. Entanglement?”

  I nodded, and we popped back up as soon as the next arrow storm stopped. I cast the grow and detect goblin spell in concert, and hit the tree he was hiding behind. As soon as he was visible Lyre’s bow twanged and her arrow shot at the downed and entangled mage. My Ice Spike spell followed shortly after, as the shaman started to move. I could only imagine he’d cast dispel to escape the vines, but he wasn’t fast enough at extricating himself from the loosened but still tangling vines, and he took my ice spike in the side.

  We both ducked down fast to avoid enemy arrows, and my heart was pounding as I got the damage reports in my head. The initial hit had only done forty-one that time, but there were no further reports of follow up damage, which had to mean the bastard was dead. I supposed he could have dispelled it, but not within one second.

  Our heads peeked over to take stock of things, we’d both been focused on merely dodging arrows and killing the shaman. At least, I hadn’t been paying attention to most of the rest of the battle.

  There were five dead goblins laying out in the open, one of them had been decapitated. That confused me for a moment, until I remembered Gwen’s new curse could cause a rage and confusion so strong they might attack their own.