Sages of the Underpass by Aaron Michael Ritchey

Author:Aaron Michael Ritchey [Ritchey, Aaron Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: MMO litRPG role playing steampunk quest gamelit, men&#8217, s adventure video game adaptations young adult, coming of age sword sorcery dungeon core demon, action dark epic metaphysical vengeful myth asian, Chinese manga wuxia xianxia martial arts kung fu, supernatural fantasy magic occult legends thriller
Publisher: Shadow Alley Press
Published: 2019-10-21T16:00:00+00:00

The Moneymaker

ANDREW MET BARTON HENNESSEY at the restaurant at the bottom of SoulFire’s corporate offices. Five stars, thank you very much. Barton was trying to get an appointment with Monique Lamb, but she was beyond busy, as every good CBA should be. Andrew had heard rumors that the Chief Battle Artist had only fought in some Division Two lesser-known schools and wasn’t much of an Artist. He supposed the title really had more to do with publicity than actual fighting, and yet, a part of him didn’t like that his company’s CBA wouldn’t survive five seconds on the tiles.

Barton was on the phone with someone, and he held up a finger. Andrew had to endure sitting there, waiting, while he ordered drinks and food. He tried not to listen, but that was impossible. Barton was on with someone from the League of Battle Artists. The conversation had to do with the new BCBA being a Division Four qualifier.

When the agent finally shut off his phone, he was smiling. “Well, we got it. The BCBA will be hosting at least one Division Four qualifying event. It might not be this year, but the BCBA has a big future. Let me call Matthew.”

Andrew didn’t like being put off, once again, and he ordered another glass of wine. Either Barton was comfortable enough for him to be an asshole to Andrew, or Andrew’s status was meaning less and less. Andrew figured it was the latter.

He had the level-five cambion, still in the containment unit, and he’d been talking with an apothecary in the City, one not on SoulFire’s list of approved providers. No, Dr. Wolfe was into some shady stuff. The apothecary was working on a vape for him, a way of doubling the cambion’s power. That much prana would push Andrew into the upper belts—Neptune, Caelus, maybe even Saturn.

There were risks, however. He could burn out his prana or crack it. Cycling powerful daemons was dangerous enough, even under an apothecary’s direction. That, and Wolfe said that the tinctures could become addictive. It wasn’t exactly prank, but it sounded close enough.

Throughout his life, Andrew had controlled his wine intake. He’d controlled his lust, for the most part, so what was a little eJuice compared to those things?

He might not need that in any case. Not if their next project came together like he hoped. He ate through his prime rib and asparagus quickly, a bit too fast, and maybe a bit too angrily.

Barton, finally, got off his goddamn phone. “Sorry, Andrew. Matthew’s excited. And he’s fine with whatever we decide.” The agent laughed. “And I’ve decided. For the next Quarterly Con, we’re going to do traditional Artists versus the Unrepresented.”

Andrew gulped his wine a little too eagerly. He had to wipe his mouth. “You’ve decided. Luckily, we’re both in agreement. Do you have Artists in mind?”

“The Premiers,” Barton answered. “They’re wanting another chance. And if they can win, it would mean more capital we can use to get other Artists into the group.

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