Shadow In Madness: Spite the Dark: Book 2 (LitRPGProgression) by Aaron Renfroe

Author:Aaron Renfroe [Renfroe, Aaron]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pivot Press, LLC
Published: 2024-03-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20: Show of Force

I’ve done everything I can to make you a weapon. There is nothing that I regret more. Before you go, I just want you to know this. I think…I think it’s time for you to figure out who you are. This is going to sound like crap, coming from me. I know I didn’t give you many choices. Things have changed. Kaden, maybe it’s time for you to reflect on who you really want to be. ~ Vasilis

***

“You take the lead,” Billy said as they approached the Boundary. “Like I said, this is your story. I’m just a cameo.”

Although he’d only spent a few minutes in the other man’s company, Kaden couldn’t help but feel a strange pang of loss. It felt like Billy represented something absent from his world until now: hope. “Until we cross paths again?”

“Until then, yes.”

If there is a then, Kaden added mentally as he returned to the grim reality of his life.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the Boundary.

He appeared on the edge of torguul territory, once again having to try not to slip on the loose gravel. It was bright, and the air was warm and humid, although there were no signs of dampness on the ground or rocks.

“This place looks like some sort of quarry,” Billy observed, emerging from behind. He had both of his arms folded behind his back, an expression of serenity on his face.

“From what I understand, the torguul specialize in stealing and adapting the technology of other races. I think they are using this Domain to extract ore. Or maybe just undermine the nix, somehow.”

“See, that confuses me. You said this place was something called hyperliminal, right? How is everything we see here more theoretical than real? What do buildings or mining have to do with anything?”

Taking the lead, Kaden walked back through the winding, rolling hills toward the torguul base. “I had a version of this discussion with Totilithon. The Madness can seem theoretical, or virtual, but it’s real. It’s just not real in a way we naturally comprehend.”

“That’s fair. There’s a lot that still confuses the hell out of me. Literally everything with those damn Prime worlds and their horses falls into that category.”

Kaden paused, glancing over his shoulder. “Do I want to know?”

“Absolutely fucking not.”

“Figured.” He chuckled.

“What’s funny?” Billy asked.

“We both curse like sailors.”

They both laughed at that.

A few minutes of walking later, they came into view of the compound. Torguul scuttled around it like nightmarish scorpions, moving with a speed and athleticism that belied how slow they’d been to try and recapture him.

Walking until one of the scuttling aliens noticed him, Kaden shouted. “Swarm Leader Vortigon, I would speak with you again.”

Four torguul appeared among the winding rafters and bridges. Using a combination of limbs and the scorpion-like stingers projecting down their heads, they climbed down the metal scaffolding. The group raced forward, their mocking laughter crackling through the air as they rapidly closed the distance.

“We gave you respite before, but not again,” one at the front called.

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