Slayer

by Riker Kane

  SLAYER:

  A GameLit RPG Fantasy

  By RIKER KANE

  PUBLISHED BY RIKER KANE, 2019

  Copyright © 2019 Riker Kane.

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  About Slayer

  Prologue

  1: Blood, Sweat, and Leers

  2: Jade

  3: The Truth

  4: One-Percent

  5: Initiation

  6: Warm-Up

  7: Levels

  8: Viridian Vale

  9: More Than A Fight

  10: Day Job

  11: Deep In The Vale

  12: Cooldown

  13: A Problem Of Ego

  14: The Grand Terrapin

  15: Drinks & Drama

  16: No Days Off

  17: The Fork In The Road

  18: Shades Of Jade

  19: Two’s Company, Three’s A Crowd, But Four…

  20: Heat-Seeking Missile

  21: Alisa Does The Math

  22: The Thing About Jade

  23: Bob & Weave

  24: Ride The Landslide

  25: Closer

  26: Sorbet

  27: Who’s This Guy?

  28: To The Beat Of A Different Drum

  29: Moving On From Moving On

  30: The VIPs

  31: The Undead Depths

  32: Habits

  33: The Alisa Bonus

  34: Homestretch

  35: Secrets & Promises

  36: The Challenge

  37: The Duty Of An Omega

  38: Sparring Session

  39: Final Warning

  40: Calm Before The Storm

  41: Journey’s End

  42: What Really Matters

  43: Sneak Attack

  44: Journey

  45: The Main Event

  46: Unleashed

  47: Consequences

  48: Clarity

  49: What Life Has To Offer

  About Slayer

  SLAYER is a hero origin story taking place in the same universe as the LEGION series. SLAYER is a standalone story, though there are some references to the LEGION series. The LEGION series can provide more insight into the universe, such as the leveling mechanics and the world the battles take place in.

  SLAYER is a video game-inspired, GameLit action-adventure story with fantasy and sci-fi elements. It takes place on present day Earth in an alternate reality. There are some light LitRPG elements including leveling and stats. There are also some romance and harem elements involving the female characters. There’s action, violence, language, and some sexual scenes. SLAYER is intended for mature readers.

  Prologue

  In the late 20th century, Earth is at peace.

  But the unimaginable happens without warning.

  Thousands of great mythical beasts appear from mysterious portals of energy in the sky. An unprecedented attack on humanity takes place all across the world.

  Earth rallies and mobilizes all of their forces against the threat. The invaders are defeated and the assault is halted, but not without great cost. Hundreds of thousands are killed. Entire cities are left in ruins. And those alive are forced to figure out the mystery of what happened.

  The world’s greatest minds come together. Every nation pours their resources into the advancement of the science and technology needed to explain the attack, since dubbed ‘The First Event.’

  Tireless research quickly leads to an answer. Scientists discover the attacks originate not from a distant place but another dimension entirely. Further research indicates future attacks remain a likely possibility.

  State officials convene and come to an immediate consensus. Humanity’s greatest threat is this newly-discovered dimension: Pandora.

  In order to prepare for the threats coming from Pandora, the Legion Omega Defense is established. At facilities all over the world, soldiers train in combat, equip themselves with powerful weapons, and level-up their physical attributes. All in an effort to enter Pandora and defend the innocents on Earth.

  The unsuspecting attack from another dimension left the world devastated. Now it’s up to the Omegas to step into Pandora and strike back…

  ~ ~ ~

  13 years after the First Event…

  The golden-orange leaves fluttered through the sky as the breeze blew them away from the treetops. A car zoomed by on the streets and sent another gust of wind to scatter more leaves across the sidewalks in a mess nobody walking by could avoid.

  The young brunette woman sat next to the window and stared out into the distance. There was nothing for her to look at, which was exactly what she needed. She was alone with her thoughts, humming a made-up tune while she enjoyed a pint of ice cream.

  Her spoon dug in to grab another heaping bite but to her disappointment, she hit the bottom of the cardboard without even realizing it. Another frustrated scrap of the bottom of her ice cream was followed by a resigned sigh. She set everything down and began pushing herself up from her rocking chair just as someone entered the room.

  The tall man walked over, juggling a new pint of ice cream in his hands. “I knew you’d be finished by now. Got you a fresh spoon, too.”

  She giggled and took the pint from him before snuggling back comfortably on the soft cushions of her wooden chair. “I don’t know how you timed that.”

  “Timing is everything.”

  He stood next to her, looking out toward the empty view of the street by their house. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll get to raking up all of those leaves when everything’s shaken out.”

  “I’m not too worried about the leaves. They make our street more interesting. Gives it some character.”

  “Newmire’s got enough character. More character than most people can handle.”

  “Not us though.” She pushed a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth as she smiled at him.

  She was as enamored with him as anybody could be. The neatly combed dark hair that always looked like he had a fresh cut. The chiseled jawline with just enough scruff to give him a sort of rugged appeal. Not to mention how good of a shape he was in. Even with a shirt on, she never failed to notice how broad his shoulders were. And she knew just how sculpted the rest of him was underneath. If there was ever a man she would have fallen for, it was Oliver.

  She had no qualms about showing just how much she appreciated him.

  He took a seat near the windowsill to face her and crossed his arms. “How are you feeling?”

  “I feel… content. Why wouldn’t I be? I’m on my second pint of pineapple ice cream and the man I love is sitting right here in front of me.”

  “You do know how to make a man feel special, Cora.” Oliver leaned forward and gently kissed her on the cheek before turning his attention to the view outside.

  She smacked her lips and savored the ice cream as it melted on her tongue. “I’ll probably get on my feet after this. Maybe a nice walk to get the blood flowing again. Stretching things out before dinner.”

  “I’ll make sure my mother makes enough for you this time.”

  “Please, Oliver. I’m eating for two, not an army.”

  “I know, I know. I just wanna make sure our kid gets everything they want…”

  As enamored with Oliver as Cora was, she had his attention just the same. Oliver looked at Cora the same way he did the first time he laid eyes on her. Most people saw an ordinary brunette but he saw something else. Something that made him feel something inside. He didn’t bother trying to explain it to anybod
y because it didn’t matter what others thought.

  He knelt down next to her and gently pressed his hand on her swollen stomach. She giggled and heaped another spoonful into her mouth.

  “I wonder what they’re doing right now.” He rubbed his hand over her belly like he was feeling for treasure.

  “They’ve got a pint of ice cream inside of them. I’m pretty sure they’re just passed out and sleeping.”

  “Spoiling the kid before they’re even born.”

  “Not spoiling. Just letting them know how much I love them… Get some rest now because when they grow up, they’re going to be special.”

  “Oh yeah?” Oliver raised an eyebrow at her. “What do you got planned?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe a doctor. Or an engineer. Maybe a really big-time movie star. We’re in the right neighborhood, just a short drive away.”

  “Hollywood sounds nice. How about a musician?”

  “Hmmm…” Cora twisted her lips as she thought about it. “A pianist. Or a violinist. How about the conductor of an entire orchestra?”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of a rock star. Selling out concerts and having thousands of people bang their heads and chant their name.”

  “Nothing’s ever simple with you.” Cora sighed and ate another spoonful as they shared a laugh.

  He pulled up a chair next to her and rested his chin gently on her shoulder. His hand stayed on her stomach as he massaged her over her shirt.

  “Everything’s gonna be okay,” he whispered.

  They’d talked about it several times before. It never got any easier for Cora but she wasn’t the type to avoid her problems. Especially something as important as what she knew he was talking about.

  “Is this really the best option?” she asked.

  “It’s what I’m good at. Joining the Legion means I’ll be taken care of. Regular stipends. Benefits.”

  “What about… Pandora? Picking up a weapon and fighting monsters… They make it sound like a game when it’s actually war.”

  “War is over. This is… different. They do everything they can to protect Omegas and make sure they’re safe.”

  “It’s not just that.” She put her ice cream down and turned to him. The gentle caress of her hand against his cheek made him sigh. “You’re a great fighter. You can be a world champion. And you enjoy it.”

  Oliver smiled. Another reminder of how much she cared about him was another reminder of how grateful he was. “If I have to be a world champion to support you, it’s not a great career path.”

  “It doesn’t have to be boxing.”

  “MMA pays even less,” he said with a chuckle.

  “It’s not just about the money… I just want to make sure you want to do this.”

  “What I want to do is take care of you and our baby. When I married you, I gave my life to you. You are more important than anything. And now we’re having a child. If you told me to go shovel dog shit, I’d do it if it meant providing for you.”

  “I’d never ask you to do anything like that.”

  “And that’s why I’m willing to do it.”

  They smiled at one another again. The peace and quiet of their living room gave both of them an opportunity to hear their own thoughts. And looking into each other’s eyes, they both knew what the other was thinking.

  Cora put both of her hands on his cheeks and pulled him close for a gentle kiss. “I love you, Oliver,” she whispered onto his lips.

  “I love you, too…”

  Oliver moved his hands over her stomach and a widening grin came across his face. “Are they kicking yet?”

  “Still full of ice cream. They’re going to need as much rest as they can get because when they get out here, they’re going to be a superstar.”

  “Sold out arenas. Crowds chanting. Standing on top of the world. I can picture it now…”

  1: Blood, Sweat, and Leers

  27 years later…

  Newmire, California, 30 miles south of Los Angeles.

  You never focus as much as you do when you’re in a fight. Problems with your family. The bills you gotta pay. The girl who broke your heart. Everything weighing you down. Everything that makes you happy. You throw all that shit out the window because there’s only one thing that matters.

  You versus your opponent. Trying to survive. Trying to exert your will on someone else. You push yourself until your lungs burn and your heart beats so fast it feels like it’s gonna explode. You ignore the blood and bruises. You embrace the stench of the sweat. Nothing else matters.

  The world all around you disappears except for you and your one goal. You’re stuck in a void and the only way to get out is by succeeding or failing.

  “Hands up, Bruce! C’mon!”

  He was stuck in the void. It wasn’t even how much he was sweating or how tense his body was. I could tell just from the look in his eyes. A narrowed gaze locked on his opponent. His feet bounced back and forth, moving in a rhythm to press forward when he found an opening without even thinking about it.

  “Bruce!”

  I shouted his name again but I couldn’t get through to him. A stiff right jab popped him on the nose and made his head move back. His legs straightened up like a newborn deer trying to learn how to walk. He regained his footing in a split-second but that was more than enough time for his opponent to capitalize.

  “Hands up, Bruce! Chin down!”

  Bruce stumbled back onto the ropes and pressed his arms over his head. But even with gloves on, you could only block so many punches. The thudding snap of the leather against him made his whole body shake. Hard blows to his arms reverberated through to his head.

  His opponent measured a left hand and caught Bruce underneath his guard, catching him right on the ribs and folding him like a ragdoll. Bruce collapsed down to his knees, holding himself up with his gloves pressed into the mat.

  “Shit… All right, all right.” I stepped through the ropes and into the ring. “That’s enough, Frankie.”

  Frankie wasn’t much different from most of the guys and gals at the gym. A young twenty-something who was looking for something more interesting to do to stay in shape. As he wiped the sweat from his forehead, he gave me a shrug.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt him,” Frankie said, his tone more apologetic than I expected it to be. “I was just going for the finish—”

  “It’s all right.” I took a knee down next to Bruce and put a hand on his shoulder. “He’s just fine. Ain’t you, Bruce?”

  The defeated combatant looked up at me. Even with the protective headgear on, there were still some scraps along his cheeks. But I was more focused on the crooked smile, which was all he could give me.

  “Yeah, you’re done for the night.” I helped Bruce out of the ring as the next fighter stepped in for some sparring with Frankie.

  It was the start of the evening but the Bloody Guts Gym was only just getting started. Men and women, young and old, all of them were busy training. Some ran on treadmills and ellipticals. Others did work on heavy bags while others held pads. While some sparred in the rings, others rolled around on the mats to work on their grappling. The grunts and groans combined with the leather smacking together was something I’d gotten used to quickly. But if there was anything anybody had to get used to in the gym, it was the smell. Crowd enough people into one room and it gets hot. When they all start sweating, the combination turns into something deadly for your nostrils. You kinda gag at first but everybody here gets stuck in the void, lost in their own training where even the smell of puke isn’t enough to distract you.

  Bruce and I walked over to the side of the gym where there was some ventilation next to an open window. The young blond kid slicked his sweaty hair over his head and held his mouth open as he gasped deep breaths.

  “Oh, man,” he sighed.

  “You okay?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Only thing hurting is my pride.” Bruce sounded as much as the 17-year-old that he was. He w
as a little on the shorter side and as thin as a rail. Not that it was much of a problem, since he was young enough to fill himself out if he needed. I’d been there before.

  “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” He looked over to the ring where Frankie was sparring. “Frankie’s got such long arms. It feels like he’s on the other side of the ring and all of a sudden I have to block his punches.”

  “Frankie’s good at using his length to his advantage.”

  “His jab feels like he’s just poking me with a spear.”

  “He’s got some range but there’s a way around it.” I moved in front of Bruce. “Stick your arm out.”

  The blond gave me a slightly curious look but stood up and did as he was told.

  “Now…” I took a step back. “Let’s imagine your arm is longer than mine and you could hit me from there.” I extended my arm out. “Imagine my arm can’t reach you but yours can reach me. How do you get around an opponent who has an advantage like that?”

  Bruce thought about it from a moment, his nose wrinkling and his eyes narrowed. But all he could do was shrug.

  “You only need to get to your opponent.” I moved a step closer and bent my arm, moving my fist against his chin. “At this range, it doesn’t matter how much longer his arms are. Now…” I raised my other arm out. “I can unleash a flurry with short punches where someone with longer arms would have trouble swinging. We’re in my comfort zone now. Does that make sense?”

  “…Kinda.”

  I laughed at the confusion in his eyes. “Don’t worry. You just started. You’ll figure it out.”

  Bruce collapsed back into his seat. I moved over to the side of the gym and started reorganizing some of the equipment that had been scattered around.

  “You seem to know a lot, Enzo,” he said. “You must have gotten it from fighting.”

  “Everybody in this gym has fought once or twice before.”

  “How’d you do? I’m guessing you did pretty well.”

  I scoffed at the thought. “I was as average a fighter as you could be.”

  “Really? But you know so much.”

  I laughed even harder at his comment. “It takes more than knowledge to win a fight. Some guys are just bigger and stronger than you. I’m not exactly the most imposing guy in the world…”