Titan: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 4) by Jez Cajiao (beach books .txt) 📗

“I… don’t know?” she asked suspiciously, feeling the amusement in my mind.

“There are skid marks in front of the dog,” I finished enthusiastically, then sighed at the look on her face. “Imagine a cart, one that goes really, really fast, and no horse, okay…” I started to explain to her, before stopping. “Wait; you can see my damn memories. You know what a car is…”

“I do. It still seems weird, though. So, in your world, it was okay to kill lawyers?” she asked curiously.

“Well, no, but generally, everyone wanted to,” I admitted, shrugging dismissively. “They basically make money out of human misery, so while they’re rich, everyone also likes to keep as far away from them as possible.”

“Hmmmm. I can see there’s a lot of context I’m just not getting… is it important?” She tilted her head questioningly, eyeing me with mild concern.

“No, not really…” I admitted, shaking my head. I adored her, but in that moment, I was missing having someone with the same life experiences to talk to.

I loved this new realm; magic was amazing, and the opportunities to lose my mind and seriously hurt people and monsters was actually great. I’d kind of always yearned for this without knowing it. The dreams had been a taste, but each time I woke up, it always came with the pain, new scars, and having to hide all of it, with only the satisfaction of helping people as my reward, or the bone-deep shame of failing them.

Here, I got to gain from the fights in a much more ‘real’ way. I got to improve myself, to grow, to learn, and explore, and hell, I was finally getting sexy time with a stunningly beautiful woman. All of this was unbelievable, and best of all, I was getting closer to Tommy. I knew it. I’d almost been able to feel him at the end, just before I’d left Himnel. I’d sensed he was close, not in some kind of ‘magically bonded twin sense,’ just… I couldn’t explain it. I had kept looking over my shoulder, expecting him to be there.

I’d been forced to leave, going ahead with the plan to raid the city, as we needed everything we could lay our hands on, and I knew we couldn’t delay to keep scouring the city. Mal had his people searching high and low, and all they’d found by the end was that he’d been adventuring with a party that had been mostly wiped out. He’d come back to the city briefly, then disappeared again.

That meant he was still out there, and the injuries and pain in his mana channels that Jenae had sensed had almost certainly been caused by whatever had killed his party.

The fact that I knew he’d survived, and had then come back out, meant he was probably okay. Probably. I’d asked Gaion to come up with some way to leave a message for him, telling him where I was, but I’d not heard anything back since, and it had all gone sideways in the escape from the city.

For me, anyway, as I was out cold, rather than leading a triumphant, escaping fleet.

All this went through my mind as Oracle, my guards, and I walked along the corridors of the ship, before clambering up the final flight of steps and emerging into the corridor that led to the bridge. It was at the far end, with three rooms leading off on the approach. One was the captain’s, one was mine, and I had no clue what the third was originally intended for, as it was ram-packed full of random stolen gear from the stockpile.

We took the door on the right and entered what had been clearly planned as a stateroom for an admiral or a noble.

It was large and square, with no windows; the single room that led off it, presumably intended as personal quarters, had been designed with huge windows that would offer an amazing view as the ship cruised along… if the windows had been fitted.

Also, if they really were as big as my one look suggested they’d be, it was insane, as it’d provide a hell of a target for anyone attacking the ship.

For now, I dismissed it, and we all ignored the steady cool breeze that flowed from under the ill-fitting door leading to that room.

I slumped down into the pile of blankets on the floor that Oracle and I had been sharing and waved my thanks to the Legionnaires, who closed the door and left us alone. A though occurred to me, and I sighed.

“Bane, you sneaky, creepy bastard, are you in here?” I asked, and I felt the characteristic thrummm of his amusement.

“I am, Jax. Is this a time you want me to leave?” he asked, and Oracle grinned at me as he became visible.

“I wish,” I said shaking my head wearily. “I’d love a bit of fun right now, Oracle, but in all honesty, using that power…”

“I know, and I understand. Don’t worry,” she said soothingly, sitting down next to me. I lifted my head as she shuffled around, sliding her legs into position to allow my head to rest in her lap, where she began to slowly stroke my hair, smiling gently.

I closed my eyes for a second, just enjoying the feeling and the closeness, before smiling up at her. The next hour or more passed as I rested and recovered, and we all talked of little things, and told stories of our pasts.

“God, I’d love it if this was all we needed to do for the day… Just relax in here; some sex, some good food, talk some shit with the team over some beers…” I muttered once I felt a bit stronger, closing my eyes and drawing in a deep breath. Then I opened my eyes and stared up at Oracle, and across the room to where Bane crouched.

“Okay, then. Planning time, I guess. Oracle, you’re basically living