“I believe you, scared man turned elv. Come, if I cannot go home yet, then I shall be the harbinger they predicted. I will kill them all.” Gryff said with an evil grin and stepped through my portal.
THE END OF BOOK 3
CHAPTER 1
There is a point in a man’s life where taking the time to reflect is important. I was deceived and tricked on the path to this moment. A new beginning in a place called Vin gave me more than what had been ripped away. I struggled, learned, fought, and loved as my life went from one adventure to the next. At the end of it I was stuck in a small isolated realm for an unknown time until an elv who claimed to be a man pissed himself at my rescue. There was a new future ahead of me and a family I desperately wanted to go back to.
∞∞∞
All the excitement I had built up from that sniveling elv’s rescue transitioned into a sinking gut sensation of horror. After stepping through a portal I found myself not on a planet named Yariw; I was instead inside another purgatory. This one was far more utilitarian and sparse. A creature swam in an elevated pool with clear panes of glass. When my mysterious host noticed me, a large smirk revealed a mouth full of toothy sharp teeth. I watched as the creature went up a rocky incline that led to a landing platform above the water.
The blue-skinned humanoid had three torsos; where human lungs normally rested there were oval spaces you could stick a hand through. I froze in contemplating the implications of my being here. A lot of scenarios passed through my mind and I did not like any of them. The alien walking my way was freaking me out a bit. The water that dripped from its body vanished before the droplets could touch the floor.
A rapid check of my core left me flustered; my magic was gone as something was inhibiting it. The orbs swirled in a circle around a translucent central container that swirled a baby blue liquid. My colored magic was gone, but my core still held power. I found myself perplexed. I realized I had zoned out in contemplation when the alien clapped webbed hands in front of my face.
“I go by many names. Most work beside one. I am not the creator. I am known as the supervisor, warden, observer, manipulator, and the list keeps going. I will be brief. I already went over your file, the Prox universe manager sent me the details. You are a demigod who was tricked, duped, and manipulated to get your universe closed. After your noble sacrifice, you were separated from those you call friends and family for two years. You were stuck in purgatory that you should never have been freed from. You are now about to be unleashed alone and without any assistance… No, you had help but it was a weak elv as your kind calls them. Your skill is your magic but we do not allow magic like that here. Everything goes off of skills. That sounded confusing, I guess that is the best place to start,” The alien said while walking to a bowl with vibrant colored fish in a tank.
His webbed hand shot into the tank and shortly after he slurped down a squirming fish.
I knew the manipulator was a him because he was naked and well there was a tiny tucked penis and swinging set of big balls.
A long forked tongue licked the exterior of his mouth.
I felt my anger and rage of the situation rising.
“You encountered gods from the master universe; a place that I manage. Did you notice all of them had skills or unique talents?” he said and I nodded.
The manipulator was a few paces away while walking around a circular table trailing a claw over the surface.
My urge to kill was climbing.
“Perfect. That is how it works here. You start with a small core that can hold five orbs. You kill enough powerful monsters or gods slash demigods and you can acquire more skills. There are tiered classifications of orbs. For example, you have an orb circling your body that can make tools from rocks. Classification: Common. Surprisingly you have a hydra where I only inserted ten thousand of these creatures across the master universe about ten million years ago. Only five thousand would drop orbs of which nearly three thousand are still unclaimed. Classification: Legendary. Look at the coloring tint of the orbs. Eventually, you will figure the system out. Everything I read about you said you were smart and resourceful.”
“Can you send me home?” I asked cutting directly to the question that was burning me up from the inside.
A webbed hand shot up with a tsk tsk.
“Yes,” he replied and I wanted to throttle his scrawny neck. Before I was two steps into closing the distance my body went limp and my face greeted the floor with a loving smack. “Again not surprised. Even if you got the jump on me, ripped my head off, and then ate my heart I would still respawn. My contract was given to me by the creator. No there was no physical interaction, merely a choice written in blood in a blank white room. I stepped on the writing with this option because eternal torture did not sound pleasing. Anyway, I have said too much. I do get lonely being all powerful.”
I couldn’t breathe and was dying. At least my death would cease his ramblings. My functions returned and I eyed a couch that must have recently materialized. I shifted from the floor to the comfy couch in acknowledgment of my defeat.
“And there is the resourcefulness. I have a mission for you. Even have something I can exchange. I need a third faction,” he said and paused. I furled my brows and contemplated trying to strangle him again. “You know there are two factions warring here. Make it three and when the third manages to attain equal or higher power you will be sent home.”
“Tell me more about the way this universe works. You have piqued my interest. Not agreeing yet,” I said wanting more information before I launched into negotiations. “Start with how orbs are acquired.”
“No,” he giggled in reply.
“Then what can you tell me.”
The creature walked over to me and spread his hands. Clear orbs rose from his palms to hover in front of me; they each had a small red circle and inside of them was an image of me casting magic as I had on Vin. A tiny image of me swirled a portal inside the translucent container that was weak and sloppy. There was an image of me lifting a rock too big for a normal human and tossing it hundreds of feet. Next I was healing a smoking hot alien with flowered hair I did not know. I saw myself giving a boost to surging troops that aligned against foes in golden capes. I was starting to realize each of these orbs reflected a magic from Vin and the Prox universe. This was why my magic was gone. There was no Prox magic besides these orbs.
Shit. A finger landed between my eyes as I zoned out. The alien gave a toothy grin while I regained my focus.
I peered into a clear orb with me having an ogre sign a contract. Next was a growing tree soaring into the air with a house being lifted from flood waters. I saw myself casting swirling flames consuming a forest creature fifty feet tall that ate an orc as we fought. In a different orb my arms generated an icy rain of death against goblins desperate to flee. And the final orb was me casting a tornado to sink a pirate ship. I loved seeing me cast magic and I went to encase them all when my body froze.
“Reach level one hundred and I will let you send a message home. I already mentioned once that I have revealed too much. My contract with the creator…” He huffed and snarled in his own frustration. “Pick one…”
I snatched physical superiority and held the orb focusing on the awesome image of me tossing massive rocks. I, of course, zoned out in my fascination and was kicked in the chest by a mysterious force and sent flying through a black portal.
∞∞∞
Wherever I arrived was far from the manipulator’s plane. My vision was black for about a minute. When the haze cleared I saw a skyline littered with soft fluffy clouds. The planet had a bluer tint than any I had been on recently and I observed other planets in synchronous orbit around a single sun. Three moons hung over the planet and I noticed a hawk dart from right to left.
A pat down of my body revealed my scaled armor had been exchanged for the same set Sara had left me in on Vin. Even my shield I had replaced long ago was on my back. The canister of jav
elins forced my backpack to bulge awkwardly and I sighed in relief that it made the trip with me.
A brutish voice caught my attention and I spun my head to the right to observe a busy village of ratfolk. Long grey tails, slender bodies, and three-clawed hands. The fact that a random man laid on a road that led into the village seemed to not concern them. I peeled myself off the ground and gazed around. My surroundings said I was in a rice paddy farming community that happened to be run by rats.
I sighed and looked for that elv from earlier. I spotted him on the same road I was on fading into the distance between two clumps of trees. A glance down at my hands revealed the physical superiority orb with my fantastic self inside. When I sent that orb in; all five spilled out and the sixth was rejected.
“Well shit,” I muttered as I bent over to start replacing my orbs.
I tossed Kor back inside my body first. I decided to leave out the battery power as I ingested the growing tree, lightning, physical superiority, and rock tool orbs. My bag was on my back, the straps had frayed and the lock didn’t work right but it survived my time with Kor. I tossed the extra ball in there with my most prized possession, a calendar of my wives. It was a painful reminder and the ultimate motivator. The peek into my core revealed it was indeed swirling five balls. I activated my physical superiority orb and felt my translucent center send tendrils into the enhancement skill. I then ran for Barry. I made it halfway there when suddenly my run slowed from super speed to normal.
Now I am not one for cursing. While my life had faded into making hard decisions that most would place in the darker side of life, I tried to get my swearing to a kid-friendly level. This was not one of those times for restraint.
“Fuck!” I seethed with anger. I wanted to be at home. I wanted to retire north of Goblin-Shaman-Harem Island or Livina and bounce kids on my knees. Stick Donnie as Emperor and slam my hot wives full of endless babies. I wanted to drink myself into a joyful stupor and then pee my name in the sand. I exhaled and let it go.
I was Gryff the Harbinger. A new start on a fresh world in the master universe. I would get home and those in my way would die. I grinned as I continued at my normal paced run and caught up to Barry.
“What were you cursing about?” The elv asked.
“Why weren’t you waiting for me?” I said with a snide condescending tone.
“Sara said to go in, get you out, and hope that I survived the process. I did that. I lack the energy to spin a second portal for months now. I am not some all-powerful demigod like you Gryff.” Barry said and restrained my desire to slap him on the back of the head. I then gave in to my desire and whopped him with an open-handed soft smack. “Bollocks, have you gone savage?”
“What? Did Sara say that I would? Without Kor, I probably would have. Learning Horde and having someone to converse with for two years kept me sane. I am thrilled Barry, thank you. Sorry. Never repeat to anyone I apologized to you. Ever,” I said and he gulped with a nod. “Great, I hope we can be friends. I am used to great warriors standing at my side. Maybe a mousy sidekick who pisses himself is exactly what I need.”
“Hey, to be fair, that hydra you call Kor is scary as fuck,” Barry said and dodged my next swipe at the back of his head. “Gryff I get it, you are huge and menacing. If I offend you sorry. Stop bullying me.”
“Fine, I am a bit depressed. I miss my family and I need to get laid. My recent conversation left me frustrated by my lack of power. Do not mistake my venting as a weakness or desire for pity. I am ecstatic to be free and given the chance to succeed. I am merely humbled by the daunting challenge,” I grumbled while my tummy rumbled. “Where are we going?”
“The Chatty Box. The inn I run about half a day’s walk from here,” Barry said and I sighed at being stuck with him.
“Alright lay it on me Barry; teach me about orbs and leveling,” I said while rubbing my hands together.
We were on a dirt road with trees on both sides. Squirrels darted between trees and through the thick underbrush. I yanked a javelin out and checked my translucent core. Sure enough, the tiny liquid pool had recovered about halfway. A pigeon type bird stared at me from a branch and I passed on killing it. Barry gave me side eye, not answering my question yet, as he waited with bated breath. A squirrel spun to our side of a tree. The physical superiority orb flowed power to my arm and my javelin sunk deep into the tree. My satisfactory grin caused a soft cackle to escape my lips. I yanked the dangling lower half of the twitching squirrel body and tossed it onto the road. When I went to retrieve my javelin from the tree it was embedded too far and the angle too poor to pull the weapon free.
“Here take this axe,” Barry said handing me a one handed axe. “You threw that with about ten times more power than I could. Thanks for holding back when you hit me.”
A few minutes later and my javelin was back in its quiver. “My goal is not to kill you Barry. Thanks for the axe, got a bag I can stuff this in?” I asked while picking up the body of the furry rodent.
“You have one on your back.”
“Well Barry, the most valuable thing in the universe is in there and blood can ruin it. So a dead squirrel is not going in the bag.”
“I fear this is important to you in both senses. Bloody my bag, it is empty and my wives will happily clean it. They really are the best. Indie is even pregnant and we got a stipend increase as well as an awesome rhica,” Barry said while opening his sack for me. I smiled sincerely for the first time when he told me of his family.
“I am happy for you. What is the currency here? And Barry, tell me about leveling and orbs or skills.”
The man frowned with a twisted smile and his eyes darted to the dirt trail we stepped on. I think he was perplexed on how to address my question. He reached into his beltline and dug out a purse that had dangled against his thigh. He tossed me the small bag and I opened it. One thing I learned about the master verse was that it was big. More vast than my universe and with a higher population of all sorts of species. That meant the currency had to be rare to not be oversupplied and yet common enough everyone could have some. I was expecting soul stones and then realized that the style of magic from the Prox universe was not used here. There were coins. A big thick gold one, smaller silver ones, and finally tiny shiny ones of metal I did not know. I closed the bag and judged the weight again before tossing it back to the man.
“What is the shiny coin?” I asked and he shrugged.
“Durca is the name. A hundred silver coins equals one durca coin. I wish Sara briefed you on this place. Now that I reflect on my time with Sara, I was blinded by my lust for Indie. I was a tad undersexed and then suddenly thrown into a place with a lot of gorgeous ladies,” the man said while stepping in an odd pattern. He was walking with an exaggerated sway to help get the words out. “I was not told of levels or orbs. I saw you drop yours back up the road. Then I saw them enter your chest. Before I came here I had two powers. Electricity and then portal magic. At least Sara said I could use portals. I looked for a ball inside me and found one orb only. There is a black gate inside the clear ball and the orb is small.”
I reached into the bag and fetched the battery orb. I tossed the container to him and he caught it. Moments later it was gone and he was making zaps with his fingers while grinning like a little boy. A smile crested my lips at his delight.
“Barry, we have a lot to learn you and I. I wish we knew more. Have you not found more orbs? Do you not hunt?” I asked while patting his back in a friendly manner.
“Nicole does our hunting. We don’t need to though. Merchants travel to the Chatty Box on rotation and sell us everything we need. The system is efficient and I wouldn’t even know where or how to hunt. Nicole certainly would. She brings back deer about once a month.”
“Is she the one you tried to contract to me?” I asked while looking down at him.
“Yes, that woman is ruthless. Never smiles and is always frowning at me. She calls me some hurtful names. Indie sa
ys to ignore her because she will one day leave. I guess that is today. If I had to guess she is long gone from the Chatty Box now that she is free.”
My elbow caught his shoulder playfully and he looked up at me with trepidation. “I bet you see her running this way,” I said and his eyes darted to the empty path ahead of us.
“Wager?”
“A gold, they are the least right?”
“Done. Anyway, I have no idea about leveling or obs. I know the merchants barely haggle and the customers pay asking price. The road is bandit free and the residents of Yariw are boring yet delightful. My old life can go tits up. This place is heaven for me,” Barry exclaimed and I was sad yet happy.
The man had what I wanted. His own version of close to perfect. A soft pat on his back was my physical reaction and a soft spot in my heart was my emotional reaction. We walked in silence for the next hour. I was growing bored and started to focus on finding something else to kill when an elbow nudged me.
I looked down at the shorter elv who extended a gold coin. A brown-haired elf in a tight form fitting woodland outfit was running our way. A scowl faded to shock when she saw me closely. I had never seen this elvath before but she raced to me and leaped into my arms. I caught her as she wrapped her long legs around my hips. Blue eyes gazed down at me as I held her aloft and she kissed me deeply. When she tugged at my lip with her teeth I yanked her out of the kiss. I tossed her over my shoulder and swatted her ass five times. She giggled in delight.
“Harder!”
“If you behave, maybe later. Name’s Gryff. I take it you were expecting me.”
“Yes my Emperor. I am Nicole, your humble new wife. We only have a small unit but we have been active. We have stashed two bags of common orbs. Not much besides that and some coins because our orders were clear. Survive to support you. Lily herself greeted us before we departed and blessed us. For a few short days, we possessed magic of untold power only to have it stripped away when we arrived. We have kept our cores orb less. Mainly from a lack of good finds and wanting you to mold us as how you see fit.”
Gryff Boxset Page 121