Rachel’s elbows burned and ached from all the hours pressed against the stone windowsill. But in one hand, she held the candlestick she’d ripped off the wall. It felt like some kind of steel: curved, heavy. She kept scraping it along the stone, sharpening it, bit by bit. She wrapped a shawl around her other arm and held it over the candlestick as she ran it across the stones, over and over: schick, schick, schick.
Clint would die trying to save her, if that’s what it took. She knew that as surely as she knew her own soul. But she wasn’t going to sit around helplessly waiting.
When Clint got here—not if, when—she would be ready to fight like hell beside him.
So she sharpened and stewed through Hell’s infinite night, preparing for the battle to come.
BEFORE YOU GO…
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads! Reviews are the #1 way to help new readers find my stuff.
For updates on new releases, check out either:
www.shoringupfragments.com
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Thanks!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Back in the spring of 2018, I responded to a prompt in the /r/WritingPrompts community that was silly and unapologetically fun: you die in a car accident after saving your girlfriend and wake up in your own room with Death beside you saying, Okay, hear me out. I’ve been playing this video game, and I want to try something...”
That prompt gave me the first chapter to this book and the kick-start to one of the greatest privileges of my life. If you picked up this story at any time on Reddit and subscribed, upvoted, commented, just read along — thank you. This book is only possible because of your support and enthusiasm. When life and health issues gave me hell (haha) you were still here, and that means more to me than I can ever describe.
Thank you to the past and present /r/WritingPrompts mods, readers, prompt-wizards, and writers, for teaching me how to love writing again.
Thank you to all my current and former Patreon supporters who made it possible for me to take time off work to lose myself in an online serial. I will always treasure you for getting lost there with me.
Thank you to all my friends who offered invaluable support, writing company, edits, critiques, and help on graphics: Nick, Lilwa Dexel, G.S. Sidhu, Elou Carroll, Sooty, Aman, my word-herder buddies, and all the cool kids in the coolest clubhouse there’s even been (you know who you are). You all kept me going when I didn’t think I could pull any of this off.
Thank you especially my brilliant editor and friend, Jana Stojadinovac. If there’s a typo in here, there’s a 100% chance it was my fault, not hers!
Thank you to my family for understanding why I live like a hermitic bat-creature when I’m deep into a new draft. Special thanks to my mom who made a Reddit account just to follow my silly video game story and badger me when I didn’t post an update on time. Extra special thanks to my dad, who took my insane idea of converting our old chicken coop into a writing studio and turned it into something more beautiful than I ever imagined.
The last thank you is the most important: thank you, whoever you are, for sharing a few hours of your life with me and these characters I’ve grown to love so much.
Cheers until the next one (and the next and the next and the next...)
With all the love I have,
E.C. Static
/u/ecstaticandinsatiate
STATS APPENDIX
For brevity’s sake, I am including a full stats list only for the first time we meet a recurring character. Otherwise, I only list changes in individual stats. For every character’s full stats, broken down by chapter, visit www.shoringupfragments.com/stats.
Stats Rules and Overview
Leveling Up
Every level adds +10 to base HP or NRG and +1 to ATK, DEF, HP Regen, or Stamina.
Every level adds +50 XP to base XP
XP for kills stack if the kills are performed within 10 seconds of each other; e.g. a Penta Kill, is worth the total sum of the XP bonuses (375 XP):
Single Kill = 25 XP
Double Kill = 50 XP
Triple Kill = 75 XP
Quadra Kill = 100 XP
Penta Kill = 125 XP
NRG Loss
There is no NRG lost when walking
Jogging/light running consumes 3 NRG/min.
Sprinting consumes 10 NRG/min.
Combat consumes 5 NRG/min.
HP Loss
Every time Character A successfully lands damage on Character B, Character A’s ATK stats receive a multiplier depending on what body part they hit.
Headshots apply x10 ATK and provide a 50% crit chance
Damage in/around the heart apply x5 ATK
Damage to the rest of the torso apply x3 ATK
Damage to the pelvic area (that’s right ... dick shots) apply x2 ATK
Damage to limbs apply x1 ATK
Additionally, sustaining an injury to the torso or surviving a headshot activates the Grievous Injury effect, which
lowers base HP regen. to 0 until bandaged
health will not regenerate past 66% of the base stat until wound scars over (up to 48 hours)
causes -5 HP/min and -5 NRG/min (notable exception: if a character reaches 0 NRG, they pass out until the Grievous Injury times out; during this time, they no longer gain or lose HP)
Injury to the limbs or pelvic area does not trigger the Grievous Injury effect, but characters will continue to lose 1 HP/min until the wound is bandaged.
CHAPTER 1
Clint (Level 1)
Active effect(s): Beginner’s Luck (undetectable to other players for 5 mins)
Starting stats:
HP: 100/100
NRG: 100/100
XP: 0/100
ATK: 1
DEF: 1
HP Regen: 1 HP/min
Stamina: 1 NRG/min
CHAPTER 2
Clint (Level 1)
No stats change
The Kid (moderator)
A mystery for now, but revealed in Chapter 27
CHAPTER 3
Clint (Level 1)
Active effect(s): Beginner’s Luck expired
Stats change:
ATK: 1 (base) + 2 (Trusty Bat) = 3
CHAPTER 4
Clint (Level 1)
Stats change:
ATK: 1 (base) + 25 (Beretta M9) = 26
Malina (Level 12)
Active effect(s): none
Starting stats:
HP: 180/180
NRG: 130/130
XP: 250/650
ATK: 4 (base) + 45 (CZ Bobcat G2, 28-gauge) = 49
DEF: 3 (base) + 15 (Simple Kevlar Vest) = 18
HP Regen: 5 HP/min
Stamina: 3 NRG/min
CHAPTER 5
Clint (Level 1)
Stats change:
HP: 100 - 5 (fell on his own ankle, lol) = 95/100
NRG: 100 - 15 (3 minutes of combat) = 85
XP: 0 + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) + 50 (Quest Complete) = 125/100 (increase to level 2)
ATK: 1 (base) + 40 (AR-15) = 41
Malina (Level 12)
Stats change:
HP: 180 - 10 = 170/180
NRG: 130 - 15 (3 minutes of combat) = 105
XP: 250 + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) + 50 (Quest Complete) = 450/650
CHAPTER 6
Florence (Level 19)
Active effect(s): Queen of Hell (+10% to all skills).
Note: allows current HP/NRG level to regenerate beyond the base stat limit
Starting stats:
HP: 240 + 24 (effect bonus) = 264/240
NRG: 150 + 15 (effect bonus) = 165/150
XP: 575/1000
ATK: 5 (base) + .5 (
effect bonus) + 30 (Antique Pistol) = 35.5
DEF: 4 (base) + .4 (effect bonus) + 40 (Level IV Ceramic Body Armor) = 44.4
HP Regen: 7 (base) + .7 (effect bonus) = 7.7 HP/min
Stamina: 3 (base) + .3 (effect bonus) = 3.3 NRG/min
Jeffery (Level 15)
Active effect(s): none
Starting stats:
HP: 220/220
NRG: 120/120
XP: 25/800
ATK: 4 (base) + 40 (AK-47) = 44
DEF: 5 (base) + 25 (Specialized Kevlar Vest) = 30
HP Regen: 7 HP/min
Stamina: 2 NRG/min
Boots (Level 14)
Active effect(s): none
Starting stats:
HP: 190/190
NRG: 140/140
XP: 300/750
ATK: 8 (base) + 40 (AR-15) = 48
DEF: 3 (base) + 25 (Specialized Kevlar Vest) = 28
HP Regen: 5 HP/min
Stamina: 1 NRG/min
CHAPTER 7
Clint (Level 2)
Stats change:
XP: after level up, now 25/150
DEF: 1 (base) + 2 (Steel-Toed Boots) + 15 (Simple Kevlar Vest) = 18
CHAPTER 8
Clint (Level 2)
Stats change:
XP: 25 + 25 (No Shit Sherlock) = 50/150
CHAPTER 9
Atlas (Level 18)
Active effect(s): none
Starting stats:
HP: 240/240
NRG: 140/140
XP: 225/950
ATK: 7
DEF: 5
HP Regen: 5 HP/min
Stamina: 4 NRG/min
CHAPTERS 10 & 11
Clint (Level 2) and Malina (Level 12)
No stats change
CHAPTER 12
Clint (Level 2)
Stats change:
HP: 100 - 10 = 90/100
XP: 50 + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) + 25 (Single Kill) = 150/150 (increase to level 3)
Malina (Level 12)
Stats change:
XP: 450 + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) + 25 (Single Kill) = 550/650
Jeffery (Level 15)
Active effect(s): Grievous Injury effect activated (-5 HP/min and -5 NRG/min — base HP regen reduced to +0 HP/min until wound is bandaged)
Stats change:
HP: 220 - 200 (Grenade, chest damage) = 20/220
CHAPTER 13
Rachel (Level Unknown)
Her stats are a secret, for now...
CHAPTER 14
Jeffery (Level 15)
Stats change:
HP: 20 -15 (Grievous Injury) = 5/220
CHAPTER 15
Clint (Level 3)
Stats change:
HP (at beginning of chapter): 100 - 98 (gunshot and Grievous Injury) = 2/100
75 in 5 min. (Pain Killers x3)
Used level up boosts to increase base HP by 20, for a total of 120
Total HP capped at 66% of base (72/120) until Grievous Injury fades)
HP (final): 72/120
NRG: 100 - 25 (combat and Grievous Injury) = 75/100
XP: 0 + 100 (Batter Up!) = 100/200
HP Regen: 1 (base) + 2 (level up boosts) - 5 (Grievous Injury) = -2 HP/min
CHAPTER 16
Daphne (Level 8)
Active effects: All-Seeing Eye (detect all enemies within 500 feet)
Starting stats:
HP: 150/150
NRG: 45/120
XP: 375/450
ATK: 2 (base) + 15 (Hunting Knife) = 17
DEF: 4 (base) + 15 (Simple Kevlar Vest) = 19
HP Regen: 4 HP/min
Stamina: 1 NRG/min
CHAPTER 17
Clint (Level 3)
Stats change:
HP: 72 - 30 (Grievous Injury) = 42/120
NRG: 75 - 75 (Grievous Injury) = 0/100
Causes unconsciousness until Grievous Injury duration ends)
HP Regen: 3 (base) - 5 (Grievous Injury) = -2 HP/min
Florence (Level 19)
Stats change:
XP: 575 + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) + 75 (Triple Kill) + 25 (Single Kill) + 25 (Single Kill) = 775/1000 (occurs off-screen)
CHAPTER 18
Malina (Level 12)
Stats change:
XP: 550 + 25 (Single Kill) = 575/650
CHAPTER 19
Clint (Level 3)
Stats change:
NRG: 1 + 25 (NRG-refilling food) + 6 (base stamina regen) = 32/100
Malina (Level 13)
Stats change:
HP: 180 (base) + 10 (level up boost) = 190
XP: 575 + 25 (Single Kill) + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) = 750/650
Increased to level 13 off-screen, between chapters 18 and 19
XP (final): 100/700
ATK: 4 (base) + 1 (level up boost) = 5
CHAPTER 20
Florence (Level 19), Atlas (Level 18), and Boots (Level 14)
No stats change
CHAPTER 21
Clint (Level 3)
Stats change:
NRG: 1 + 25 (NRG-refilling food) + 6 (base stamina regen) = 32/100
10 NRG (Granola Bar) at end of chapter
NRG (final): 42/100
XP: 100 + 25 (Single Kill) + 50 (Double Kill) = 175/200
CHAPTER 22
Florence (Level 19), Atlas (Level 18), and Boots (Level 14)
No stats change
CHAPTER 23
Clint (Level 3)
Stats change:
NRG: 42 - 20 (2 min. sprinting) + 10 (stamina regen) = 32/100
Malina (Level 13)
Stats change:
NRG: 130 - 20 (2 min. sprinting) + 20 (stamina regen) = 130/130
CHAPTER 24
Clint (Level 3)
Stats change:
NRG: 32 + 15 (stamina regen) = 47/100
CHAPTER 25
Boots (Level 14)
Active effect(s): Buzzed (+25% to all NRG loss)
CHAPTER 26
Malina (Level 13)
Stats change:
HP: 190 - 10 (damage from Florence) = 180/190
CHAPTER 27
Clint (Level 3)
Stats change:
XP: 175 + 200 (Quest Complete) = 375/200 (increase to level 4)
NRG: 47 + 15 (stamina regen) = 62/100
Malina (Level 13)
Stats change:
HP: 180 - 20 (damage from Florence) = 160/190
XP: 100 + 200 (Quest Complete) = 300/700
CHAPTER 28
Virgil (Moderator)
Active effect(s): Can’t Touch This (100% immune to incoming damage from active players)
Starting stats:
HP: 10,000/10,000
NRG: 10,000/10,000
XP: N/A
ATK: ∞
DEF: ∞
HP Regen: 100% HP/min
Stamina: 100% NRG/min
CHAPTER 29
Rachel (Level Unknown)
Her stats are a secret, for now...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
E.C. Static is a sentient AI monster birthed on Reddit and given human form.
...just kidding. Mostly.
E.C. Static is my pen name, backformed from my Reddit username (ecstaticandinsatiate) to create a space for my Reddit serials-turned-novels. You can expect fun characters, occasional poetry, vulgarity, and violence from me under this pen name, whether I’m writing urban fantasy, sci-fi, or litRPG.
I’m most active on Reddit, over at my personal subreddit, /r/shoringupfragments.
My real name is Taylor Kowalski, and I love writing, reading, video games (duh), crocheting, rock climbing, and annoying my cats with my ukulele. You can find some of my traditionally published short stories under Taylor Rae or at www.mostlytaylor.com, if you’re into that kind of t
hing.
9 Levels of Hell: Volume 1 Page 18