DeadSouls: Retribution: A LitRPG Adventure by M Damon Baker

Author:M Damon Baker [Baker, M Damon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

We kept ourselves hidden within the lengthening shadows of brush and tall trees, tracing a secretive path alongside the roadway until the watchfires atop Altmorr’s towering walls finally blinked out of sight. Sneaking across the vacant trail under the cover of night led us into Greenfields’ open prairie, and we marched over its gentle slopes at a brisk pace, putting as much distance as we could between us and those who would be—or already were—pursuing us. Our desperate flight brought the chase and its gruesome consequences into keen focus, and the discussions we’d engaged in during the daylight hours were banished as our moods fell into deep despair, mirroring the impenetrable darkness around us.

When the first hints of pale light illuminated the distant horizon, we began searching for a safe refuge to wait out the coming day. The exposed plains were no place to be caught out in the open, and while we might’ve gotten a step ahead of the bounty hunters, it wouldn’t be long before the region was plagued with roving bands of greedy players eager to drag our bloody corpses back to Altmorr. Advancing under the cover of night and taking shelter during the day wouldn’t be enough to ensure our safety, but it was the best we could do under the circumstances. Our search ended when we came upon a shallow vale tucked between a pair of low-rising hills. While far from secure, it offered the only concealment for miles around, and we made camp within its confines as the sun rose above Greenfields’ verdant pastures.

After pitching our tents and scheduling the watches, we settled in for what promised to be a long and sleepless day. Between the bright light, deadly pursuit, and the losses we’d so recently suffered, no one wanted to rest. Pretending to choke down a meal while the rest of our companions shuffled around aimlessly, Karyina and I spoke to each other in hushed whispers.

“We need to practice without drawing too much attention,” I began the clandestine discussion, referencing our growing ability to wield incredible magic, a skill that might be our only saving grace if we were discovered by a group of powerful players.

Or the next time we fought the developers.

With our mission unfulfilled, there was no question that we’d have to try again. The only issue was how we could possibly win. While my shield had saved us from certain death, none of our spells were able to penetrate the developers’ techno-armor. Perhaps some combination of magic would be up to that task, but there was no method of testing that theory. The only way to find out would be to face Viktor and Nadja once more—a challenge that’d already cost the lives of at least three of our friends.

“Not now,” Karyina replied, casting a surreptitious glance over her shoulder. “I don’t think they’re ready for another ‘miracle’ just yet.”

Considering how often our experiments shifted into startling territory, her discretion was well-founded. We might’ve patched things up, but there was no denying the lingering tension hanging over our group.

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