PrimeVerse: Dose of Chaos: A GameLit / LitRPG Adventure

by R K Billiau

  The blackness started shifting; first an orb, then a pyramid, then a star, then other shapes, shifting over and over, faster and faster and a wave of energy eManated off of it like visible radiation. The energy took form like a swarm of gnats, filling the zone with biting, stinging motes of chaotic energy. The villagers, floating in the air attached to leashes of energy, began to scream as one. The voices were at first screams of pain and terror, then the screams changed to all of them talking at once in a horrifying voice.

  “Chaos has arrived!” the voices shouted, then the helpless villagers were back to screaming as their bodies mutated. They turned a bright gray, almost silvery color, their bodies shrinking to the size of a large child. Teeth rained down on us as new sharp ones burst through their gums. Their fingertips grew sharp talons that retracted and extracted uncontrollably. Their clothes were destroyed in the process, leaving them all in system provided rags like loin clothes and togas.

  Their heads expanded, their ears lengthened, and their eyes doubled in size, their sclera turning black. The worst was yet to come however, as when they were finally done mutating, each one of them grew a massive tumor on their side that grew and grew until it ripped off and continued growing into a perfect duplicate of the original. Then it happened again, and what had been ten humans was now thirty… something else’s.

  World Event! A Chaos Node has been created, Chaos has taken root in the world!

  New player race discovered! Gromlins are now a playable race, what will you choose when you reincarnate?

  Racial traits unlocked!

  Human racial trait - Versatile: Humans are versatile and can learn just about any skill if they really try. Time to swap out Personal and Secondary skills reduced 50%, once per level may change all skills at any time.

  Warning: party members invalid, party disbanded.

  Gromlins, they had been turned into gromlins. What the hell was a gromlin? My stomach was in knots. I tore my eyes from the scene to see the children on the ground, huddled together and pointing, crying and sobbing at their parents in the air. Thinking quickly, I sent a new party request to Madison, Kai, and Graham. Shit was hitting the fan, and we were going to be separated.

  “Graham! The kids!” I shouted, pushing Graham and breaking him from the horror of the moment. He looked at me, his mouth hanging open, then snapped it shut, replacing the fear with a fierce look in his eye.

  He shouted something and ran towards the kids. He was beaten by Madison, who had already run to them and was gently prodding them into motion. “We have to go, guys, we can be brave,” I could hear her saying, comforting them. “This is really scary, but we will try to fix this.”

  I spun around, looking for Cora. I couldn’t find her until I heard her laugh above me. Looking up, I saw her caught in the web of chaos, floating in the air and smiling her wicked smile at me.

  “Hudson!” she shouted, “You may have beaten me before. But I will have what’s mine, what I deserve!” She held her hand up, pointed at me, and a ball of black energy collected there, spinning in her hand until she spread her fingers wide and the ball became a bolt flying straight for me. I didn’t have time to dodge, only to watch as the energy collided with my face, flipping me onto my back and slamming me into the dirt. I screamed as I was burned and frozen by the energy of the chaos, and my health dropped by a full twenty-five percent.

  Cora laughed again, watching me writhe as she gathered the energy for another bolt. I quickly cast my Mana Orb and smashed it into a shield just in time for the bolt to crash into it, dissolving it into a swarm of locusts that flew off, taking a massive chunk of my Mana with them.

  I ran, not wanting to tempt my fate with a super-demon-Cora any longer. Kai, Graham, and Madison had scooped up as many kids as they could and were shepherding the rest of the distraught group out of the depression that had once housed the beautiful Mana node.

  The area sprouted plants that grew and died, then grew again and formed pods that erupted into birds that flew away. Lava flowed in rivulets that cooled and formed into veins of ice that shattered the earth, sending rocks flying. We pulled away from the scene, getting out of the haze of chaotic energy as the parents, now gromlins, were being released from the floating energy, dropping to the ground and convulsing as they settled into the changes.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Cora asked, as she gently glided to the ground at the edge of the depression. Her eyes were as black as the ball of chaos, and she raised her hand to charge another bolt. “You don’t think you get to just leave, do you? You wouldn’t want to separate children from their families, would you?” Then she laughed, a horrible sound as the chaos filled her with pleasure. She fired her bolt of chaotic energy at the group of huddled children, but Madison jumped in front of them, deflecting the blast with a quickly formed Mana shield.

  Madison gasped as the chaos bolt hit her shield, then traveled through it like it didn’t exist, changing color and form into a spray of green acid that splashed against her. She screamed, and I could only imagine what kind of debuff she had gained, thinking back to when Cora had been struck in the face by the acid from the spider princess. “Madison!” I shouted and did the stupidest thing I think I have ever done.

  I charged Cora, who was already preparing another powerful bolt of energy. I dove in front of the bolt, spreading my arms wide to absorb the whole blast while I screamed, “Run, I’ll hold her off!”

  I lost track of what happened next as my debuff bar filled up; Bleed, Acid, Poison all struck me at once and I felt as if my insides were being eaten by rats. I looked down to see the reason I felt this way; my insides were now my outsides, and I collapsed to my knees.

  Cora grinned that terrible grin and pulled a village spear out of her inventory, sauntering up to me, her hips swaying like she couldn’t control her attempts at seduction. It didn’t have much effect on me because of the whole insides being outside thing. I saw out of the corner of my eye Madison and the rest running off, and I prayed they would get away in time.

  “Oh Hudson, so gallant. What a fool you are. They can run all they want; I’ll just have my new army hunt them down.” She raised her hand, pointing at the large group of gromlins rising from the ground, their forms finalized.

  “Rise! Chase them down and bring them to me!” She yelled at them and the group stood on shaky feet, some taking off after the children, others still unable to move yet.

  She chuckled and seemed to be enjoying this moment fully. “My master will have this world soon, Hudson,” she said as she raised the spear, placing it under my chin. “I have been given a gift, a gift of true power. You will never beat me again.”

  I spit, the glob of bloody red saliva splashing against the dirt by her feet. “Yeah? I got a gift too. I may just surprise you,” then with the spear tip underneath my chin I slammed my head down, shoving it through my mouth and into my brain, killing me instantly.

  Chapter 40

  The Adjudicators temple. It felt like forever since I had been here. I had a lot of questions for the Adjudicator, but I knew I would not have time to ask. I wished there was a way I could talk to him without, you know, dying.

  Evidently the Adjudicator could tell I was in a hurry as it lounged on its throne in front of the giant stained-glass window. It turned its head to wink at me, and I saw on the window he had up a scene from my time with Madison.

  Damnit. I had forgotten to tap my tattoo that would prevent it from watching things I didn’t care to share. I sighed as I embraced the light and shot the Adjudicator a glare that got a sly smile in response. I wasn’t too embarrassed, considering nothing overly personal had happened, but I’d try to remember for next time. Assuming there was a next time.

  At the map for the respawn selection, I quickly checked my flashing notification. I had gained a point in Toughness and Physique. Whatever that bolt of energy did to me, it was powerful. I picked my respawn spot, and in a rush of inspiration I pinched the map to see if I could rotate it and sm
iled as the world turned. I moved my selection point six feet above ground and selected the respawn button.

  The world swirled around me and came into focus as I fell through the air right above Cora.

  “…hat the f…” I heard her say before I executed a snap kick Kai would have been proud of, my heavy boot catching her in the back of the head and sending her stumbling over my corpse that was still skewered to her spear.

  Sucker Punch!

  Critical Hit!

  I grinned at those two system messages, glad that I had kept on the battle alerts for Sucker Punch.

  “What were you saying?” I gloated over Cora as I cast a Mana Orb and compressed it. I pulled back to throw, but she rolled onto her back, an already formed chaos bolt in her hand. My throw went wild as I barely dodged the attack. She had the upper hand with those powerful bolts of energy. How had she even gotten those powers?

  I had a sinking suspicion an Archon was involved, and it worried me that psychos like Cora could become vassals.

  “You! I hate you!” she screamed, spittle flying from her mouth in a most undignified way. “Everything was great until you came along and screwed up my plans!” I exaggeratingly wiped a few drops of her spit from my face. It probably wasn’t the best use of time, but I hoped the theatrics would annoy her.

  I cast another orb, chucking it right into her chest. I had no idea if she had gotten a boost to her expendables, but hoped she would run out of HP soon.

  “Just keep monologuing, I’ll let you stand there all day and yell at me,” I said.

  She growled, her clothes scorched where I had hit her, and winked at me. “Oh Hudson, I was only distracting you.” She smiled like a creepy jack-o'-lantern and gestured with her head to something behind me. I spun around, and the claw that would have hit me in the back of the head instead raked down my face and I screamed.

  The attack hadn’t done all that much damage, only about five percent of my health, but it had scratched across my eye, adding a Pain debuff at near max level, along with a fifty percent Blind debuff as my left eye was damaged. It showed an eye symbol with half of it missing.

  The gromlin that had attacked me didn’t stop there and latched onto my leg, climbing up my body to bite and scratch. I shoved and kicked at the thing, trying to free myself, it’s gray skin tough and leathery against me, and I was not successful. It clung to me like a four-legged octopus, and if I Managed to free one limb, it’d be back on me before I could free another, anchored in with its long claws.

  Each attack did minimal damage, but they were adding up fast. One particularly vicious bite popped a debuff icon of dirty brown bubbles, and my HP bar turned brown. I didn’t have time to check what it meant, and I cast a Mana Orb, compressing it down and shoving it into the gromlins face as it snapped at me like a vicious dog with a full set of shockingly pointy teeth.

  The orb detonated and the ugly thing screamed, holding its face. That was my opportunity to grab its huge noggin and fling it away.

  I took a moment to breathe, which was stupid because the huge group of gromlins was now mostly recovered from their transformation and coming right for me. I nearly peed myself as the horde approached. They moved as a group, all creepy black eyes on me; the hunters versus the prey.

  I didn’t stand a chance. I was of half a mind to run; I was sure I could outpace them and their stubby little legs. But I couldn’t risk them catching up to my friends.

  My mind raced to figure out my plan. There were just so many of them and only one of me.

  I facepalmed as I realized my stupidity and quickly brought out a wolf core, summoning an ally. I added the slow effect to it, grinning at the blue wolf that appeared. I kicked it into attack mode and it launched into the closest gromlin, rending with its teeth and slowing it down. That was one out of the way. Twenty or so more to go.

  Slavering horde was the best way to describe the gromlins as they surrounded me, oversized tongues lolling out of their sharp-toothed mouths. I couldn’t tell if any of them were the actual villagers or their duplicates and wondered how Cora could control them so effectively.

  I glanced at Cora, who was watching with glee on her face. “It seems death isn’t the way to keep you out of the fight. Maybe I’ll just have my new friends eat your arms and legs and leave you a bloodied, helpless torso. You can lie out here alone until you die from starvation, while I fulfill my masters plan.”

  An arrow sprouted from her shoulder and she screamed, stumbling.

  “Who said he’s alone?” a voice shouted from behind her. I leaned over to see Ryan, the real Ryan I hoped, with his bow out, another arrow nocked and ready to fire. My spirits lifted knowing I had some help, then immediately fell as whatever Cora had been doing to control the gromlins around me stopped working and they leapt into attack, a gurgling, biting, scratching mob.

  My wolf was still attacking and maiming gromlins, but his health bar was dropping faster than mine.

  “Shoot the gromlins!” I shouted, hoping Ryan could hear me. He must have, because one gromlin on me was ripped off by an arrow that plunged straight through it. I was trying my best to use Martial Arts to attack the things, having lost all semblance of being able to concentrate enough to cast a spell.

  Another arrow took out another gromlin, giving me a little more room to breathe, but I watched helplessly as Cora cast a black bolt of energy at Ryan, who took the hit like a champ, standing stoically. Or so I thought. The bolt seemed to have frozen him in place, and I cursed. My wolf was dead, my health was rapidly shrinking, my help was frozen, the gromlins stank, and Cora was still gloating. She raised her hand and the gromlins began attacking my extremities. I punched and kicked and grabbed and threw, but there were just too many of them.

  Injuries started wracking up as parts of me were broken or bitten. I was frantic, a Panic debuff popping up. I tried to center myself, shielding my face from the creatures, but my arms were so laden with gromlins, I couldn’t lift them high enough to cover it fully.

  In a moment of desperation, I turned my hands out, arms still covered in the creatures, and focusing my need into it, attempted a Flame spell. I concentrated as hard as I could and pushed it out of both hands at once. My Mana took a huge hit, four times as much as normal, but flames shot out of both hands at once and I used it like a butane torch to fry the disgusting beings off me.

  You have unlocked the skill Dualcast!

  Audeo – your skill Dualcast has been increased to 10

  Sweeeet. I Dualcast Flame over and over until my Mana was gone, which was surprisingly fast. I stood there, chest heaving, gasping for breath, surrounded by burned and blistered gromlins. Charbroiled gromlin was actually an improved scent over their standard aroma. I knew what skill I wanted to put in my last class slot now.

  I heard a slow clapping behind me and turned to look at Cora. She had pulled the arrow out of her shoulder, the blood dripping down her in a macabre show.

  “Well done, well done,” she said, still clapping. “It won’t do you any good, but it's interesting to see you’ve changed almost as much as me. I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting your little friend here to show up. Carl was supposed to take care of him, but I am increasingly finding people are such let downs.” She walked over to Ryan, who was as still as a statue, and ripped the bow out of his hand, putting it in her inventory.

  “Wait a minute... Carl was working with you?” I asked, shocked. “Of course! That makes so much more sense now.”

  “Working with me? No, no,” she laughed, “you’ve got it all wrong. He’s working for me. He’s under my control. Don’t you get it, yet? I can control anyone I want.”

  Why wouldn’t this lady just go away already? I surveyed the situation. I had killed three of the gromlins and injured many, and my wolf had taken out two. There were still a lot of gromlins left, but I wasn’t out of tricks.

  “What do you want, Cora?” I asked. “Haven’t you been terrible enough to everyone yet?”

  “What do I want? Tha
t’s a loaded question,” she sighed theatrically. “Well, at first I wanted to be in charge, you know, to have that stupid tribe obey me. It could have been so great. But now,” she raised her hands to the sky, “now I’ve hitched my cart to a different horse. I am going to take everything from you, like you did to me.”

  “So this is personal now?” I asked as I pulled my flunky core out of my inventory behind my back.

  “It’s always been personal, you ass. This was supposed to be my time. My time to get what I wanted. You took that from me, you and that girl. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about her, or Kai either. You are all going to pay. I will ruin this village, then I will go back for the tribe. If I can’t have them, nobody can. I will dismantle it and send all of you back to the starter zone.”

  In an attempt I hoped would work, I summoned and threw a flunky at her in a single movement. The fastball special spread its glider flaps open to direct its flight, landing square on her face, muffling her shrill scream. I jumped out of the circle of gromlins, using one as a springboard to fly over the others. I rolled on the ground to my feet in time to see Cora throw the flunky off her. Two gromlins leapt towards it but the flunky was faster than them, bouncing around like a hyperkinetic furry ball of... well... not death, it didn’t do enough damage for that, but it attacked every gromlin it landed by, slowing them and allowing me to get away.

  It continued until a black bolt of energy blasted into it, and in what I can only assume was a reversal of gravity, sent it flying straight upward incredibly fast, through the chaos node still floating in the sky and completely out of sight. This battle was gloomy enough, exponentially so with that literal black cloud hanging above me. I unsummoned the MIA flunky and was once again surrounded by gromlins.

  “So many tricks Hudson,” Cora said, a hint of what I hoped was annoyance in her voice. “It won’t do you any good though.” She waved her hands and a majority of the gromlins left, following the path of my friends and the children.