Nexus Runner: A litRPG fantasy epic adventure by Frank Morin

Author:Frank Morin [Morin, Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Whipsaw Press
Published: 2025-11-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter forty-three

Ghosts in the Trees

“You can’t carry everyone. The weight of 22 people will crush you,” Burns objected, even though he’d just seen me rip the tree out of the ground with my bare hands and watched me throw that boulder last night.

“No, it won’t. Haven’t you considered what our strength stats mean? Stop thinking in terms of Earth bodies. That no longer applies to us.”

“We’re wasting time,” Hector warned as the rumbling from the cows grew closer.

“Don’t you at least have the courage to try it?”

Burns nodded sharply. “You’d better be right about this, Lucas. Everyone, spread out. Keep the load balanced. One person on each side jump up in unison. Hurry!”

Some of them still looked dubious, but the sight of over 200 magical murderous bulls charging right at us made for spectacular motivation. In seconds, everyone spread out and started jumping up.

Jane sat closest in front of me, while Hector took the spot right behind my back. Hopefully that wasn’t because he planned to kill me when my plan failed. William sat behind Jane, while Susan jumped up behind Hector. More followed, moving more quickly as they saw I was handling the load.

The weight grew quickly, but I managed, and Burns’s idea of pairing folks front and back helped keep the load pretty well balanced. A couple guys with axes rushed down the length of the tree, limbing off the branches, especially those pointing down.

The weight pressed down harder and harder as more and more people jumped up to straddle the tree. The trunk bent slightly, but it was thick enough to handle the weight. Some people with bows or ranged spells prepared to fire as the bulls charged inexorably closer.

My feet started sinking into the ground, but my body handled the strain well. Jane was watching me with wide-eyed wonder, and Hector whispered, “How are you still standing?”

“When this is over, you should try it,” I grunted.

When all but the 3 Bio Morphs were on the pile, Burns alone remained standing near me. He glanced a final time at the charging bulls, who had closed to within 100 yards. The shaking under our feet was growing stronger and the tree swayed from the stampede.

“By the kraken, you’re doing it. If your spell doesn’t work, we’re all dead.”

“Get on so I can trigger it.”

He gestured at the 3 still clinging to the tree. “What are you waiting for?”

The first Bio Morph shook his head. “No way we jump on that death wagon. We’re taking our chances in this tree.”

Burns tried arguing, but we were out of time. The bulls were pounding toward me, death in their black eyes. The ground was shaking so bad I swayed, which shook the tree draped over my shoulder and everyone clinging to it. Many clung tighter to the trunk and remaining branches, others squeezed their eyes shut in terror, while a few cried out in fear.

“Last chance! Get on now, or you’re on your own,” I shouted.

“We’re on our own.”

So be it. I triggered Phase Walk just after Burns leaped onto the trunk.

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