Age of Dragons: A LitRPG Journey by Jonathan Yanez & Ross Buzzell

Author:Jonathan Yanez & Ross Buzzell [Yanez, Jonathan & Buzzell, Ross]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Archimedes Books
Published: 2023-03-03T16:00:00+00:00

23

A MOUNTAIN OF PROBLEMS

To Illume’s surprise, the goats moved faster than horses. They continued to ride west. Plains turning to foothills and back again. Patches of golden wild wheat and tall green grass gave way to short, brown sprouts with grey stone protruding from the ground. In the distance, the shadow of a mountain range loomed, waiting to be explored.

“Hold!” Josh shouted, raising his hand. “HOLD!”

The shepherd came to a stop. Nari and Ingrid immediately followed suit. It took the Cryomancer a few extra seconds to get his mount to slow.

“What is it?” he asked, turning the ram around.

“That.” Josh pointed at the ground with his staff.

There was a deep divot in the ground as if something heavy had walked through. As Illume investigated a little more, he noticed it looked like a bi-toed footprint. Looking ahead, nearly thirty feet away, he saw another divot.

“That has to be old,” Illume said, returning to the group. “Overgrowth like that doesn’t just happen overnight.”

“Actually, it can,” Nari murmured. “At least here it can.”

Illume looked at the programmer with a raised brow.

“It was my first time trying to program realistic grass growing; it just ended up being a little bit accelerated here,” Nari replied.

“Then what are we looking at?” the Cryomancer asked, turning to Josh.

“Troll, judging by the foot size and shape, just entering adulthood,” the shepherd replied.

“I assume they’re highly territorial?” Ingrid asked, hand moving toward hammer.

“They can be. They usually don’t attack from up close, though, keep an eye on the sky,” Josh warned.

“Like that right there?” Nari asked, pointing toward the horizon.

Illume followed her finger. A boulder, large enough to completely crush one of them and their mount.

“Aw crap,” Josh muttered.

“I thought that was my line,” Illume added.

“Scatter!” Ingrid ordered.

Nari, Josh and the Viking dispersed instantly. Illume tried to get his ram to move. It let out several bleats before backing up in a circle.

“Are you kidding me!” Illume snarled, looking up at the incoming stone. “Screw it.”

Pulling his bow from his back and nocking an arrow, he drew, pouring his ice magic into the projectile. Releasing, it shot toward the incoming boulder like an ice missile. Impacting, ice tore through the stone before bursting it into dozens of smaller pieces.

Unable to get the goat to move, Illume summoned his shield and held it up as pieces rained down harmlessly around them. Lowering his defensive equipment, the Cryomancer looked at his team, frustration strewn over his features.

“I hate this ram,” he muttered.

“Ever thought of maybe trying a Chevy, then?” Nari asked.

“By the eye of Odin,” Ingrid muttered. “You could’ve done better.”

“I worked with the setup he gave me,” the elf replied.

“I didn’t… you know what, never mind!” Illume said.

“We need to split up and follow the source of that rock,” Josh cut in, nodding toward the horizon to the south.

“The mountains are in view. Why not make a mad dash to them, get cover and get above its range?” Illume asked.

“Trolls aren’t like other predators.” Josh gave his reigns a wiggle and lurched forward.

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