Stolen Lives: A LitRPG/GameLit Novel (The Underhill Chronicles Book 1) Keith Ahrens (best e reader for epub txt) 📖

but the head remains staring straight for a heartbeat. It then topples onto the carved wooden board as arterial blood fountains up into the air. The spray lessens with each beat of the heart as the body slumps to its knees and falls to the side.

Thorn gasps in horror but continues her spell, matching her cadence to Osmanthus’s.

Skemend turns and chips two fragments from the large crystal with the end of his staff. They crackle with electricity as they fall into his palm. He drops one in his own pouch and deftly places the second into Osmanthus's leather satchel. Osmanthus, caught up in his own spell, doesn't seem to notice.

The acorns begin to glow a warm green, the color of fresh leaves in the spring. The pair start chanting louder and faster. As the cadence builds to a crescendo, a deafening cracking noise stuns the fighters on the east end of the field. Quick as lightning, a huge fissure appears in the wall. Soon, thick branches push through the heavy stone, grinding mortar and rock as they grow. Large chunks of the wall collapse, and daylight shines through the gaps. What few goblins remained atop the ramparts scramble to safety. The unlucky ones fall to their death on either side, landing in the muddy ground below.

15

The grid flashes all around us, but it's different from before. At first, I thought it was another signal to attack, but as I watch a single drugged out, wild-haired woman stumbles into an adjoining square, I soon realize that the grid’s been completely disabled. Nian shoves her back into her designated space, and a fight breaks out among her people.

Chaos erupts as confusion takes the day. Our opponents, the army of Terrestris Laminis, quickly turn on themselves, beginning to kill each other from within their company.

The giant creatures are working their way in our direction, adding to the raging battles all around us.

“Form up, defensive square! Only fight if we're attacked!” shouts Haynes. “Jesse, you’re on point, lead us out of here!”

We do the best we can, but with so many injuries among us, it's slow going. We try to make our way to the edge of the fighting so we can regroup and tend to our wounds.

A huge cracking sound has split the air from the east. Turning, we can see tree branches thicker than a man's waist breaking through the wall. The stone shatters, and large chunks of granite fall to the ground, leaving gaping holes in their wake. Vivid green, broad oak leaves scatter in the winds. The ground rumbles as massive broken boulders plummet to the ground.

'Look to the east,’ Thorn had told us. In retrospect, it was rather obvious, I guess. Jesse comes to the same conclusion and begins guiding us through the battlefield to the demolished wall. Other prisoners from our side seem to be doing the same thing. I can't tell if they have grass blades or not, and I don't really care right now. We have a way out. Now we just have to get to it.

There's about thirty yards separating us from possible freedom while all around us lunatics rage war on anyone and everyone around them. They seem more interested in fighting whoever or whatever is closest to them, rather than finding a way to escape.

I'm using a spear as a crutch and trying to support Nian, who's feeling the effects of blood loss. Jesse continues to lead while Haynes stumbles along next to him, eyes still tearing up from his burns. Des and Thirax flank us, keeping any foes at bay with wild slashes and menacing growls.

I look over my shoulder and see the deformed giants working their way through both armies. Our side is more interested in running, so they seem to concentrate on the idiots that are willing to fight, avoiding the mindless maniacs running amuck.

No matter what way it's put, it’s a slaughter. The massive weapons of the giants are cutting and smashing a path at an alarming rate through any fighter within reach.

My voice fills with urgency. “Hey, we gotta fuckin' move faster, now!”

“I'm trying, Hoss. This ain't a damn walk in the park!” shouts Des from the side.

Nian stumbles and slips in the mud, almost taking me down with him.

“Hold up! I need some help here!” I shout, trying to pull the Gnoll back to his feet. He seems only semi-conscious and not really responding to my urges.

“You just said to get a move on, and now you wanna stop? Make up your damn mind!” Des replies, annoyed.

“Just cover us for a minute!” I reply.

“We ain't got a minute, Son,” states Haynes as he barely parries a wild swing coming for us. Jesse dances in and pokes a neat hole through the attacker's neck from the side. The man falls, gagging on his own blood. This time, there is no flash of white light. Why do I notice things like that at times like these?

“Well, shit. Look at what we have here! You guys going somewhere?” Spike-Hair Linda appears out of the crowded field to block our path. I try to ignore her as I pull a green stone from my belt pouch.

“Linda, clear the way and follow us. We’re leaving this Hellhole, and anyone is welcome to join our group,” Haynes says while standing up to his full height. His voice is firm and betrays no weakness, but the milky haze over his eyes and the facial burns say otherwise.

A black-robed figure steps up next to Linda and pulls his hood back, revealing feline features and light fur matted down from the rain. “Oh, we have no intentions of fleeing, nor are we going to allow you to run.” It pulls two wicked, curved daggers out, the blade handles jutting down from the bottom of its fists.

Without thinking, I heft the spear I’m leaning on and launch it at the cat-creature. It flicks one of its daggers in a parry motion and neatly sends the spear