Rogue Evolution by James Hunter & Eden Hudson

Author:James Hunter & Eden Hudson [Hunter, James & Hudson, Eden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: men's adventure video game adaptations wizard, action horror dark epic metaphysical dungeon core, wizard mage shapeshifter warrior thief assassin, cyberpunk apocalyptic dystopian quest gamelit
Publisher: Shadow Alley Press
Published: 2020-04-22T16:00:00+00:00

Elemental Adolescence

THE THORNY SPHERE WAS quickly blackening, the wood growing ever more brittle. Each time the gargantuan Jackal pounced, its branches groaned and bent a little more. From inside came the horrible pained shrieks of a man on fire.

Roark wasn’t sure whether to hope Randy burned first or was crushed. Neither would be a pleasant way to die.

“Randy!” Kaz cried, running toward the blaze, eyes wide with panic. “Do not be afraid, Kaz will save you!”

“Bloody hell.” Roark shoved his pity to the back of his mind and broke into a run, casting a speed-enhancing spell on himself. He would feel bad for Randy when the quest was completed. For now, he had to stop Kaz from killing himself.

He slammed into the Mighty Gourmet while they were still fifty yards from the burning thicket. Even at that distance, the heat from the flames felt like a forge stoked to the verge of blowing up.

“Be sensible, Kaz,” Roark yelled, shaking Kaz to get his attention. “We’ve got to attack while the Jackal’s distracted. Stealth attacks are worth twice as much damage.”

“But that is our friend in there.” Kaz waved a thick hand toward the burning briar, which offered scant protection to the hero within. “Randy will die if we don’t help him!”

“We’ll all die unless we act now,” Roark snapped back. “We have a bloody job to do, Kaz. Casualties happen—you know that. It comes with the territory.”

The hulking Knight’s bottom lip trembled. “Kaz does not like this side of Roark.”

The words hit Roark like a punch to the gut. Without thinking, he’d echoed Danella. Casualties happen. It comes with the territory. Let’s not stick around and become the next ones. How often had she said as much to him when friends and contacts died, murdered at Marek’s behest? And how often had he bristled at her pragmatism in the face of such cruel, casual injustice? The advice wasn’t wrong, but it felt dirty somehow. Ignoble. There is nothing dishonorable in survival, Danella’s voice whispered in the back of his mind.

He swallowed the guilt and pushed ahead. “That’s an argument for another time, Kaz. If we fail, your quest is locked forever, and Randy will have been sent for respawn for no reason.”

The Greater Hellstrike Jackal reared back for what would certainly be its last strike. Already the thorny sphere was crumbling to ash.

Kaz wouldn’t look Roark in the eye, but he gave a scowling nod and hefted his Legendary Meat Tenderizer.

The angry Knight turned to go on the attack, but stopped suddenly. He squinted his huge eyes at the fire.

“What—”

Before the Jackal could pounce again, the fiery ball of thorns exploded, and the spiked shell of a Young Turtle Dragon backed out of the inferno, dragging Randy by the feathered wing.

Kaz’s eyes lit up, and Roark felt the weight of a thousand worlds drop away from his shoulders.

The Greater Hellstrike Jackal bellowed. Mac dropped the Arboreal Herald and squared off with the titan canine, roaring in defiance.

“Kaz, now,” Roark hissed.

With a sharp nod, the Mighty Gourmet shot toward the Jackal’s unprotected flank.

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