It’s what she would have wanted, I tell myself.
“What do you mean the scepter has changed?”
I turn away from Sam – out of sight, out of mind. Lothar drops to a knee and I show him the grip of the scepter, which now has carved cubes with numbers on it that can swivel.
“It’s for coordinates,” he says almost immediately. Wolf barks, still not sure what has happened to Sam.
“I know, Wolf, I know. Just … we’ll deal with that in a moment. We’ll see her again, dammit.” I choke back a sob. “I know we will, dammit. Lothar, what are the coordinates to Tritania?”
“Eight, sixty-seven, fifty-three, zero, nine.”
“Eight, six, seven, five, three, oh, nine,” I mumble as I get the cubes in place. “Okay. How do I activate it?”
Lothar considers this for a moment. “My guess would be it has something to do with algomagic, which Sam had but you do not possess.”
“What about my rage ability? Is that algomagic?”
“Brilliant idea, Oric! Your rage, given to you by the Obelisk, is most definitely a form of algomagic. Do it. Activate your ability, see if it works.”
“But I can only activate it once per day …”
“I believe you mentioned back in Tael that it lasted longer than you expected. Is this correct?”
I instantly recall the long overnight journey for which I was fueled mostly by my rage ability and the stamina-boosting Jatla root. “That’s right, it has been lasting longer.”
“Then do it, rage, and open a portal.”
“Um … ?” I glance up at the eager giant.
“What are you waiting for, Oric?”
Rage.
“Well?”
“Let me try again,” I say, steeling myself.
RAGE!
My veins pulse, my muscles enlarge, a million voices scream inside my skull. Everything is jittery now, my vision pane flashing at its edges. I lift the scepter, and as soon as I do, blue energy spreads down my arm.
The blue energy meets the cubes on the grip of the First Artifact. The cubes fill with light, each filling completely before the energy moves to the next cube. The energy passes the cubes, moves down the shaft, and bubbles at the bottom of the red ruby.
A black hole materializes before me, blue energy from the scepter attached to its perimeter.
I take a step back, and the portal enlarges. I take a few more steps away, and it’s now big enough for Lothar to theoretically crawl through.
Wolf goes bonkers. He barks, his tail tucked between his legs, and his ears pressed back as he moves away from the portal.
“I’ll test it,” Lothar announces.
I look up at him incredulously. “Are you sure?”
“Someone has to do it, and since this was based on my suggestion, I will be that person.”
“How will I know if it works?”
“You won’t, until you enter yourself.”
I nod at Lothar, proud to know him, proud to be friends with someone so brave. “I’ll go to Tael, I’ll get Gadsaa, anyone else that wants to go. Your parents. Any giant, you have my word, Lothar.”
“Thank you, Oric. You’ve been a great friend.” He smiles faintly, his eyes flickering behind his oval glasses. “I’m glad to have known you.”
The scholarly giant approaches the portal, which has started to suck in whirling snow and any debris in its vicinity.
The wind moving past my head is weak now, but I have the feeling it will pick up in intensity the longer the portal is open. I can still feel my rage ability, but something about it is different, hollow even.
I don’t feel the anger I’ve felt in the past, but I still feel as if my nerves are on fire.
“Goodbye, Lothar!” I call after him.
“Save as many as you can,” Lothar says with a sad smile on his face. “You are, after all, the Last Warrior, the last hero of this dying world.” He turns back to me and lifts his hand to wave. “Please, once you get to Tritania, find me.”
With that, Lothar ducks into the vortex and his body filters away.
(^_^)
I lower the scepter and the portal shrinks in size.
The way it shrinks reminds me of water going down a drain. I don’t know how long the portal will remain, but something tells me it is tied to the fact that I still have the First Artifact equipped.
The soil next to me begins to morph.
I draw my blade, ready for anything. Wolf barks wildly as roots lift from the ground, forming the body of a slim woman. Armor grows over her body, her disco ball eyes take shape, and the back of her helmet elongates until she resembles a humanoid insect.
“It’s you.” I instinctively lower my weapon.
I hear the screech of a griffin overhead. One glance up and I see, clear in the early morning light, that a griffin is descending from the sky.
“There isn’t much time,” the Obelisk says, her voice that of a million whirring insects.
“I don’t know if it worked,” I tell her, my heart heavier than it’s ever been. With both Sam and Lothar gone, I’m completely alone, again.
“It has worked, Oric, you’ve done it.”
I bow my head, my hair falling into my face. “I don’t know what I’ve done.”
“You’ve made it possible for this world to continue in another place, a stronger world, Tritania, a location that has ample space for the citizens of Unigaea. Now I need you to fly, I need you to save as many people as you can.”
“And Wolf?”
“You can meet him there, in the next world.”
I whistle and Wolf comes running. My hand goes on his head, and I scratch him behind the ear. It’s hard to look at him, hard to accept what it is I’m about to do.
“You ready, boy?” I ask, entirely afraid of what happens next.
My voice quivers as I say his name once more, as I tell him how good of a dog he is, as I let him know that no matter what, no matter how, we will be reunited again. “You’re my best friend,” I tell him, tears streaming down my face.
He pants as he takes me in, his blue-green eyes filled with love for me.
I lift the scepter and the portal grows in size.
Wolf whines; I refuse to look down at him, knowing all too well that this could be the last time I’ll see him.
Who really knows? A new world, new rules, new location – there’s no telling what the future will hold, and if that future actually includes a reunion with Wolf.
“How will I find him?” I ask the Obelisk, who stands beside me now.
“You will find him, Oric; your souls are connected, and no matter the size of the Proxima world, souls as tethered as yours always find each other.”
“Get in,” I tell him, my hands trembling.
Wolf barks and drops into a playful stance.
“Get in, dammit, I’m serious, Wolf. I have some people to save.”
I fall to one knee and he joins me immediately, licking the tears from my face.
“I’m serious, Wolf, get in the damn portal!” I laugh through my tears. “My god! There’s something I thought I’d never say to you.”
He barks again and again as the griffin circles above.
“Wolf, I’ll find you. First thing I do. Now get in, dammit!” I choke back a sob and get back to my feet. “Go on, boy, you can do it.”
As the griffin flaps its wings, Wolf takes a few steps closer to the vortex.
“Do it, Wolf, dammit, do it now!”
The big Tagvornin canine, the best companion I’ve ever had, takes one last look at me and trots into the portal.
He’s gone in a flash.
A sinking feeling in my chest nearly brings me back to my knees.
“You’ll find him, Oric,” the Obelisk assures me.
A cold wind blasts against my face as the griffin lands behind me. The majestic lion eagle snaps its beak and whips its tail at the ground as its wings settle.
“And this is my ride?” I ask the Obelisk.
“It is.”
I take a deep breath. “And what about you?”
“Do not worry about saving me, Oric. An NVA Seed must remain with its world. If I leave, all of Unigaea will implode.”
“I’ll fly to each city getting as many people as I can. I’ll start with the Tagvornin camp, Drachma, Metica, Tael, Tin Ingot, Mohar, Karuna, Stater, Solidus. Any place I can get, I’ll go.” I sniff, steel myself, and look the Obelisk square in the eyes. “You have my word.”
She looks down at the bodies of Florin Talonas, Sam Raid, and the two Drachma Killers. “I’ve given all NPCs free will. Some may go, others will stay.”
“That’s fine,” I say as I place my hand on the griffin’s feathered neck. The beast is instantly calmed by my touch. With a single eye locked on me, it lowers its body and I mount up, the First Artifact now at my side.
“Good luck, Oric, and thank you.”
“Good luck to you,” I say as the wave of emotion I just experienced is replaced by the will to succeed.
The griffin lifts into the air; the bodies below grow smaller with each flap of its wings.
I’ve never felt surer of something in my life. I’ve also never felt more frightened. One look over my shoulder and I see the Red Plague moving on the horizon, a wall of utter annihilation put here to destroy Unigaea.
But circumstance put me here to save it.
Predestined randomness.
I can’t help but laugh bitterly at the thought as the griffin flies higher into the sky.
Thanks again, Oric.
You’re welcome, Obelisk.
The end.
Continue reading for more information about the next Last Warrior book. The Unigaea trilogy may be over, but there is more in store for Oric and Wolf!
Back of the Book Shit
I’ll keep it brief, because I need you to review this book and if not this one, at least the first book in the series.
Remember, your reviews are what help these books reach other readers.
So even if it’s a short review, it is very much appreciated.
The Last Warrior of Tritania
Yes, you read that right.
This is not the end of the story for Oric and Wolf, but it is the end of their Unigaean journey. Some time next year, I will work to publish a Last Warrior of Triania series, which will take place as soon as Oric has finished transporting people from Unigaea to Tritania.
New avatar, beginner stats, a fresh start over.
If you’ve started reading Fantasy Online, you’ll find Oric and Wolf in the second book going forward. Remember the timeline: Last Warrior takes place in 2069, Fantasy Online in 2075, so there is a six year time difference.
Naturally, The Last Warrior of Tritania will take place in 2069, so don’t let that time gap confuse you.
What to expect from the Last Warrior of Tritania?
Expect some twists, some familiar faces, and the answers to a few questions not included in the first trilogy. I believe these books will be longer, but I’ve yet to start writing them yet so we will have to see.
Backstory imminent
The Last Warrior of Unigaea (yes, Unigaea), will have a backstory published early next year. The backstory will take place soon after Oric has met Wolf. It will be in a LitRPG collection of stories, so look for that at the end of February 2018. I will try to remember to update the link here, if I don’t, you’ll find it on my author profile.
Join us
The Proxima Galaxy Facebook group, like the galaxy itself, continues to expand. Readers in this group have helped me craft together a Wikipedia page, they receive exclusive content (such as free ebooks, early previews, etc), and they are, if I may say, a pretty wild and fun group.
So if you’re on Facebook, join the group and get connected.
I can’t tell you how much your support means to me. I am blessed that I get to write a story about a man and his wolf in an online world and people actually read it. I appreciate the fact that you’ve let me borrow your mind space to tell my tale, and rest assured that the tale is far from over.
Thanks to all my wonderful readers, betas, my editor, narrators, and author-amigos alike. I’ll list everyone out another time. As for now, it is time to write, write, write!
There will be more Oric and Wolf (and Sam and Lothar and a little solar mage who will remain nameless).
Yours in sanity,
Harmon Cooper
Dec 2017
Fantasy Online
Get it here!
Nineteen-year-old Ryuk Matsuzaki and his best friend Tamana decide to start over with new avatars. When Tamana is suddenly killed right in front of him in a Tokyo subway, Ryuk knows there is only one place he can search for answers –Tritania, the world’s most popular online fantasy world. Standing in his way are a mysterious guild known as the Shinigami, and his older brother, a Yakuza crime lord hell-bent on squashing his dreams.
Note: Oric and Wolf appear in Fantasy Online Book Two and continue their adventure in that series!
Join in the conversation!
Is there a place to mingle with other writers and fans of the litRPG genre? Of course there is! Check it out on Facebook here:
I also frequent the LitPRG Society. Click the picture below to join this one or search it on Facebook. This is another great place to meet other readers, authors, and find out about the genre.
Table of Contents
JOIN THE PROXIMA GALAXY
Table of Contents
Map of Unigaea
Chapter One: Existence Check
Chapter Two: The Masking Hat
Chapter Three: Meta Babies and the Gamification of the 21st Century
Chapter Four: Insta-level
Chapter Five: Jagraj the Giant Slayer
Chapter Six: Gorgefest
Chapter Seven: The First Artifact
Chapter Eight: Warp Rider
Chapter Nine: Tea-scapades
Chapter Ten: Skeletal Wolves and the Necromancer that Loves Them
Chapter Eleven: A New Page in the Book of Time
Chapter Twelve: An Orc Pisses Himself and Thus Begins a Preemptive Strike
Chapter Thirteen: Breaking Broken
Chapter Fourteen: Lost in the Periphery
Chapter Fifteen: My Digital Raison D'être
Chapter Sixteen: Tagvornin Erectile Dysfunction and Taelian Socialism
Chapter Seventeen: Mistaken Identity
Chapter Eighteen: Shattering the Game-time Continuum
Chapter Nineteen: Predestined Randomness
Back of the Book Shit
Fantasy Online
Join in the conversation!
The Red Plague: A LitRPG Trilogy (The Last Warrior of Unigaea Book 3) Page 18
