Gestation by John Gold (love books to read .txt) 📗

It had taken Eliza Donovan a whole year to get her bosses to pay for her study of the in-game reality in Project Chrysalis, which looked at how tough kids could adapt through the game. But she’d finally gotten enough for her zoo and invited all the new kids to come visit her. She’d even paid their fare. Once there, the kids got high-quality emotional and psychological assistance.

“Ah, Rachel, if you weren’t such a bitch, there would be one more kind boy in the world.” Eliza remembered Anji and the sacrifice all too well. She’d seen the two weeks he’d enjoyed a happy childhood, and she knew who killed it there on the sacrificial stone. One of them was standing in front of her wearing holy clothing as she healed people.

∞ ∞ ∞

It had been a year since the Black Rose clan started working on leveling-up their members. The wise leader had taken his clan mates to the toughest dungeons, pushed them to the edge of their abilities, and ensured that even the weakest newcomer became a force to be reckoned with.

Teamwork, boosted skills, great spots for hunting, and strategies for beating dungeons all made the Black Rose a factory for churning out strong players across all classes and specialties. Starting at Level 300, they focused on building skills in extreme conditions.

The head of the clan was a Level 670 mage and one of the strongest wizards in the world. He always participated in clan raids and meetings, and legend had it that he never once logged out of the game. None of his clan mates had ever seen him log out in front of them.

Bernard had founded his clan as soon as the ritual was complete. His brothers and sisters locked up in this world awaited a worthy rival, and he loved each of them, doing whatever he could to free them as soon as possible. In his past life, he’d been a god of war, and he’d known everything there was to know about the art of war. That was why he’d created a factory to turn out the strongest army in the world.

Progress is an ongoing war, and his clan’s services were going to be in constant need as soon as the balance of power changed. Give two people weapons and they’ll kill each other by themselves. At least, that’s what the gods all thought. The important part was that people become more powerful with a weapon in their hands. The wanderers had proven that the last time, and they’d prove it again. Bernard was just going to pour coal on the fire of war.

Margul, the patron of the dragons, had said that the era of war was beginning, and his followers would support one of the young gods. He’d long been wanting to match up against someone from the new pantheon, and so he’d set up a quest to kill one of the dragons.

“What if they aren’t ready yet? The young gods are still weak.”

“Time will tell us what they’re worth, my friend. The young ones can combine forces to deliver a powerful blow.”

“You aren’t afraid to die for good? That’s a violation of Idzumi’s conditions.”

“Why?” The air quivered from the thunder of his reply. “I understand Idzumi’s words differently. He said, ‘die at the hand of a strong opponent.’ ‘Only the worthy will move on.’”

“But not from a bunch of weaklings.”

“Believe me, I’m not going to die if I think they’re a bunch of weaklings. I can wait a little while before testing their strength again if need be. The humans won’t be able to pull my adepts away from me anyway.”

Bernard smiled bitterly. Obviously, the dragons would only bow to one god.

“It’s a shame that Idzumi won’t appear in the world before the first chosen one.”

“Well, he isn’t on Tanatos. Could the chosen one have appeared already, and be somewhere else?”

“You think there’s some loner out in the world at Level 1000, someone nobody knows about?” Bernard laughed heartily. He always felt free and calm with Margul, and he enjoyed the rare moments of happiness their conversations gave him.

Tanatos, the island of the gods, was in the very center of the inhabited world, between four enormous continents and awash in the ocean. It was called an island in lore all around the world, though it was actually a small continent. It was a place of strength, too. Those who lived there were ancient and strong: the descendants of the first titans, dragons, demons, and other powerful beings. There were angels on Tanatos, too. The waters surrounding the island were protected by beasts at Level 1000 and higher, and they were what gave the ocean its name: the Ocean of Terror. That was where the gods had met Idzumi the last time. He’d come from the other side and he explained his arrival by telling them of the coming of the first chosen one to the world.

“Brother, don’t die too early.” Bernard opened up for just a second. “I’m afraid to lose you. There are few I hold close in this world. And now, I’m afraid I’ll be left alone if you’re the last to leave. We’ll wait for the wanderers to get to the island. They’re much stronger. And the chances of a good battle are ten times better.”

The dragon god narrowed his eyes.

“I’ll think about it. I’ll think well, my friend.”

∞ ∞ ∞

There’s a reason I’m sitting on the pier: I need Caris. At least, I need his cartography skill. If what he said was true, I can get a map covering lots of territory, and all in minute detail. I’ll need that in case there’s a problem with the ship now or on the way to the continent.

Caris is supposed to come back a bit before the ship arrives, and that’s exactly what he does.

“Hi, Caris. I was able to pick up the skill of fortifying wood, which I thank you for with all my heart,” I say with a deep bow. “I have an offer