Lost Portals

by Bruce X Brown

  My last encounter with a lost portal did not go well. Our team saw Phaze6, an elite player part the Special Forces unit “MarySue”, go through a lost portal. He instructed our unit, Team Kali, to stand guard and report the lost portal to the GMC. We were a low-level team and had no business entering. So, why did we enter?

  Our game master, Priest McKenna, had led our team into the dangerous anomaly despite my protests. He convinced us to go through. Knowing how careless he was, we should have known better.

  “We’ll go in for a moment. We’ll see if we can assist Phaze6. If it’s too much for us, we get the hell out of there fast,” he said. But that is not what happened. Instead, five of us walked in but only two of us returned. Priest and I woke up in Universe Set .0001 near our warehouse where we entered. We had no memory of walking out and no memory of what happened to our group or what happened inside the lost portal. Priest had no powers and no class. Among the missing, were my two closest friends and my little sister, Angel Kali? Phaze6 also did not return. The player characters, Angel and Stokes, are in a coma. Their bodies are currently being sustained in MedBay pods in Game Master Corps Medical Facility 10. Priest and I returned with Phaze6’s broken portal gun. It is being analyzed by the Developer Labs. As far as I know, we are the only people to ever return from a lost portal. Because of this, we have been the subjects of many experiments, tests, and psych evals.

  Since the incident, Priest and I broke up. I moved out of his living quarters and I didn’t speak to him in or out of the system. When Priest kept trying to talk to me in the GMC Medical Facility cafeteria, I snapped. I stabbed him in the chest. I’d just found out some very bad, traumatizing news that was a result of the lost portal and Priest kept trying to talk to me. I blamed him for everything and I snapped. The PsychTechs said it was trauma and that I didn’t know what I was doing, but I knew what I was doing. I was trying to kill him.

  The minds of my sister and best friends are trapped in the system and their bodies are in a coma. There was a possibility of death. And it’s Priest’s fault. I told him don’t go in. And he did anyway.

  I deserve this elven prison. But I’ll be honest. After I am done, I will deserve much worse than prison. I’m not going to let anything get in my way. I am relentless in this quest to find that lost portal again. That is why I lured Priest and captured everyone with him.

  We found a portal mage. As usual, Priest did not tell her or anyone else in the group I captured what’s going on. He has successfully manipulated them. He is very good at that. I always thought that rogue would’ve been a much better class for him. But I guess the system knows best.

  Anyway... the portal mage escaped through a portal. We tracked her into what looks like a town of wood elves. I brought the Priest and his group with us just in case I needed to use them to convince the portal mage to join us. People are way more willing to follow you if the people they care about are involved.

  We tracked her to an Elven town. It’s called First Town. They are ruled by a government called Elven Reich… From what I have seen, there’s some kind of caste system between magic users and non-magic users. My plan was to walk right into the town, get the portal mage and leave. When we walked through the town, we were met with some resistance. The guards were low-level fighters who were completely outmatched. My men were burning down some of the homes and slaughtering many soldiers when I was offered a quest. It said:

  New Quest: Take the Authority of First Town

  You have been given the opportunity to conquer the elven village, First Town. If you reject this quest, retreat back to the portal and don’t turn back. If you accept, stay and face the wrath of the Elven Reich.

  Reward: If you complete this task, you will control up to 80% of First Town; as long as the city thrives you will be supplied with formidable magic users, and the Elven Reich will respect and fear you; at your disposal you will control some wealth of the Elven Reich and you will have the opportunity to have a dedicated portal mage.

  Failure: Death.

  Difficulty: Very Hard.

  Do you accept? Yes. Or No.

  As soon as I accepted the quest, my group and I were met with death from above. Three high-level magic users descended upon us. They quenched our fires with storms, rain, lightning, and a hurricane. They struck down anyone shooting with lightning bolts. They were level 30 magic users. At the time of this recording, I am a level 8 fighter, the strongest in my newly formed group. I stuck my blades in the ground and put my hands up. I told my group to stop firing but they panicked and some of them got themselves killed.

  As I sit in my cell, I am not sure who is alive and who is dead. I am unable to reach them on GroupLink. I’m not sure what happened to Priest and the others.

  In the game, my quest stats show a gold bracket labeled: Authority of First Town.

  The gold bracket will track my progress in taking over First Town.

  I don’t know how I’ll do it, but if it’s going to get me closer to getting access to a lost portal, then I will risk everything and everyone. I apologize in advance for what I am about to do. My strategy is to take what is offered until I have the ability to take what I must.

  I would suggest a slower route to securing the Czarzakian Multiverse. One that will not necessitate the merciless killing and manipulation I am forced to do.

  A slower more peaceful way would be to temporarily restrict access to the Czarzakian Multiverse.

  While I continue the lost portal quest sanctioned by the Game Master Corps, I would like to make another formal request to restrict access to the Czarzakian Multiverse to all but mission-essential system users, support and developers.

  I suggest that access is restricted until we have a better understanding of the lost portal anomaly and its impact on players. Even though the appearance of the phenomena is rare, the risk to players exposed to the anomaly is too high.

  I am aware of the impact that this would have on our economy, and social structure as the singularity has become central to our way of life, which is why the access restriction would only apply to the extended multiverse.

  I will record new audio logs should any new important developments occur.

  Game Master 665 out.

  Chapter 23:

  A Warrior Training

  Xavier took Priest’s hand, “Am I gonna be a shapeshifter too? Would love to grow hair. But I’d rather have the ability to save my sister.”

  “The system suggests what class or power best fits you and your talents. Usually, the suggestion is so good you can’t even imagine being anything else, but you can choose whatever you want. Close your eyes,” Priest said. Xavier stared at him for a beat then closed his eyes.

  Priest inhaled mana and sent Xavier into the darkness of a Personal Reality Subset. He clapped to turn on a dim light.

  Xavier looked around, “What is this?” he said.

  “This is how we are going to get your sister back,” Priest said swiping at the air to access a twinkling cluster of icons, apps, and folders.

  Xavier looked at the scrolling icons, “So this is part of the game, huh? What happens if we die here? I mean, if it’s all some kind of game…”

  Priest’s hand hovered over the System Realization icon. He was quiet. Then finally, looked Xavier in the eye, “I never meant for you guys to go through a portal unprepared. I’m sorry… I want to apologize for—”

  “No, Priest,” Xavier shook his head, “This is not your fault. That gang grabbed us, put a gun to our heads and made us go through that portal. How is that your fault? ...Well, we probably shouldn’t have been anywhere near that place drunk and high. And you DID take us there... and you didn’t tell us it would be dangerous... besides that, it wasn’t your fault. It’s them. But you didn’t answer my question. What happens when we die in this game?”

  “Xavier, you guys are non-player characters. That means, for you, this is not a game. I mean, it has game elements but you can die. For you… it’s real. I don’t know what ha
ppens when you die,” Priest said fighting the urge to apologize.

  Xavier looked down rolling the idea around in his head a minute, “How about you? Is this some kind of a game for you? What happens when YOU die?”

  “If I die, I respawn and start over,” Priest said.

  “So, for you... death is a minor inconvenience?” Xavier said squinting at that notion.

  “Recently, the simulation has gotten more serious as these lost portals have made the system a little more… permanent for those who enter them. We’ve been on a mission to figure out what is going on.”

  Xavier closed his eyes, “I have so many questions, Priest. I mean… this is a LOT, man.”

  “Yeah,” Priest said clicking the System Realization icon. “Let’s conquered one quest at a time, shall we? Starting with saving Ebony, Shiori, and Samantha. After that, we’re taking you guys back home. And then we’ll figure it out from there.”

  “You will be able to come here anytime you want by sleeping or meditating. Follow me,” Priest walked through a door.

  When Xavier went through the door, he saw a familiar place, “Where am I?” Xavier asked. “Looks like the mall…”

  Priest walked up to Xavier, “This is a shared training module. It will allow us to discover your—”

  Priest and Xavier looked over to a 6’4 man in black staring at them. He had a baklava covering his mouth. The man’s arms were thicker than most people’s legs.

  “May I help you?” Xavier asked.

  “Aaaaaghh!” the man charged them and grabbed Priest by the front of his shirt picking him up off the ground with one hand.

  Priest gripped the thick forearms and looked over at Xavier, “help,” he squeaked.

  “Let ‘em go,” Xavier said. The man responded by igniting his palm and moving it towards Priest’s face.

  Xavier’s punch to the man’s side made him release Priest who hit the ground and stumbled backward. X’s second punch was hard enough to knock him off of his feet and sent him sliding across the floor. He was knocked out.

  Xavier examined his fist opening and closing his hand. He punched at the air with a lethal jab that was a blur.

  “In your peripheral vision, you’ll see your own stats,” Priest said. “You can see the stats of others as well. It gives you a huge advantage in sizing up opponents.”

  Focusing on any word gave additional data. Xavier could see that “HP” meant health points.

  Priest straightened out the collar on his suit, “This module will help us to figure out your powers and allow you to practice them. Looks like you’re a warrior. You’ll have extra strength and durability. You’ll be able to fight with all kinds of weapons. For now, you need to practice understanding your strength.”

  Ten copies of the same huge baklava faced man came from every direction toward Xavier.

  “This is how we’ll save Ebony. Have fun,” Priest said walking away. “I’ll be back.”

  Priest logged out of the module and opened his eyes. Xavier was lying next to him and appeared to be resting.

  “I’m ready,” Gina said sitting next to him grabbing his hand. He closed his eyes then nodded.

  Chapter 24:

  Lady Blades Audiolog 2 - Escape

  An audiolog from Game Master 665, Lady Blades (Kiera Kali) archived in the GM LitRPG shared reality library

  Greetings Listeners,

  Before I inform you of being moved from my elven cell, I would like to respond to some comments and reviews on my last audio. The GMC allowed a limited release of these audio recordings to some mission essential players with access to the litRPG Archives. Some listeners, have painted me as the ‘bad guy’. To which I would say, that is a matter of perspective… but I see why you might think that. Put yourself in my shoes. Perhaps you would handle the situation differently. I don’t regret my decisions. Some have taken Priest’s side on this. And that I don’t understand. Not only did he lead our team into impossible situations more than once, but he also published the Czarzakian Multiverse Online book as a work of fiction in a pre-singularity reality! All literature from the LitRPG Archives are classified unless they are cleared by the GMC. I suspect that the GMC will come to their senses and remove his GM commission soon. He is reckless.

  I respect your opinions and your perspectives on the matter, so keep the reviews coming. I will continue to share my journey through these difficult quests.

  The last comments I will answer are the following: why did I take the Authority quest if it is impossible? And why didn’t I fight the elven wizards?

  In the Game Master Corps, I was taught that the system never gives a quest that you don’t have a possibility of achieving. Just like the lost portal quest, I took the First Town Authority quest because the risk was worth the reward. When the Elven wizards descended from the sky, I put my swords down and offered my surrender. I knew that the way ahead was not to try to battle three superior forces. The possibility of success would not be achieved through the sword. It would be achieved by the mind, as it always is. So, I surrendered to the moment. I offered no resistance and they took me to a cell where I stayed to meditate.

  I lost track of time and started to record audio logs.

  I opened my eyes when I heard the cell doors being opened.

  Two elven statesmen entered my cell. One was dressed in a black military uniform adorned with metals. His head was shaven. The other was about 4’11 in a tailored double-breasted frock with two vests, “Lady Blades.” He had his arms tucked behind his back, “My name is Fen’Nel Elvenreich. And this is Captain Kalek.”

  “We serve the honorable Governor Ven,” Captain Kalek bowed.

  Fen’Nel approached her and smiled, “I will be one of your guides while you are within the grounds of the Governor’s Quarters. Please come with me.”

  One look at the ‘guides’ stats let me know right away why he had just walked in with no fear of a prisoner uprising. He was an NPC that was powerful enough to be rated a level 12 mage. The fact that a level 12 mage was serving as my guide was very telling. Either he was one of their lower level wizards or he was one of the stronger ones posing as a simple guide. He and the captain walking into the cell was a show of force. I am sure they wanted me to attack just to show what they could do.

  I cocked my head, “Guide?”

  “Yes,” he smiled. “You are a guest here while in the Governor’s Quarters. All guests have guides and servants. It is a custom here.”

  I got to my feet and walked toward the entrance, “What about my companions?”

  “Their fate will be determined by the honorable Governor Ven,” Captain Kalek said.

  “I am afraid the answer to that question is above our station, my lady,” he bowed as I walked passed ducking my head to get out of the cage.

  Once I was out of the cage, I noticed a level 13 mage down the hall dressed like an executioner. I would have to run passed that executioner to escape. More than likely, there was another executioner in the hall. With my swords, I might have had a chance of at least getting to the hall. But based on how the elves escalated in the town, that would be a very bad idea. They’d kill me and I would respawn at the safe house of Universal Set .0001. At this point, a respawn would mean starting from scratch on building a team and seeking out a new portal mage. Staying calm and allowing the game to guide me was the best way. I’d been captured but was still on the First Town Authority Quest. The “Authority of First Town” bracket was empty with a “0%” underneath it. In the system, 0% is still something.

  “If you’ll follow us to your new quarter’s, ma’am. You have been invited to have dinner with the honorable, Ven Elvenreich, the governor of First Town at a time of his choosing. We’ll get you situated in your new quarters and we’ll get you into some decent clothing.”

  I’ll end the audio here. I’ll add more to this archive when I can.

  I will record new audio logs should any new important developments occur.

  Game Master 665 out.r />
  Chapter 25:

  Fire Mage Training

  “Ok,” Priest said to Gina. “What I want you to do is cross your legs and put your palms up?” Now every elf in the Sister Seamstress was watching the show anticipating his next big trick.

  He sat facing Gina and put a hand on her knee. Gina teared up, “I believed from the beginning.”

  Priest smiled, “I know, Gina. Do you know how crazy you have to be to believe any of this shit without evidence?”

  Gina stifled a laugh and accidentally snorted.

  “Close your eyes,” he said breathing in mana. He brought her to an instance of his Personal Reality Subset, a dark room with a single light hanging from the ceiling.

  He turned on the light and swiped to see a constellation of files, icons apps, and folders.

  “Wow!” Gina smiled, “These are apps. Like on a phone.”

  Priest nodded slowly scrolling through the cluster, “You got it. Only instead of a smartphone, it’s what we call a Personal Reality Subset. It’s like a... what you guys would call a virtual reality or computer simulation that you can program, except it’s waaaay more real. Your consciousness is in like a small personal reality. And it can activate your powers by—”

  “Can I do it?” Gina said swiping in the opposite direction and laughing. “This is fun. It’s like a hologram desktop.” Priest looked over at her and smirked.

  “Ohhh, this app is RPDream Subset. What’s a nation-state conflict encrypted? Is that like a war game? Hmm, GMC training courses, Kiera_Old… pics folder it’s locked... must be naughty,” Gina paused to look at him, “Kiera? That was the leader of the gang, right? Is that your ex? A lot of tension between you two. Think she wanted to kill me because she was jealous… I get that a lot from women.”

  She kept scrolling, “Oh wow, Reality Subset App Store. So, you download new realities from there or something?”