Legion: GameLit RPG Fantasy Read online

  LEGION:

  A GameLit RPG Fantasy

  By RIKER KANE

  PUBLISHED BY RIKER KANE, 2019

  Copyright © 2019 Riker Kane.

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  About Legion

  Prologue

  1: Restart

  2: Welcome to the Vegas District

  3: Orientation

  4: Red, Blue, Green

  5: The Captains

  6: The New Recruits

  7: A Hard Decision

  8: Pandora

  9: First Lessons

  10: An Unexpected Challenge

  11: Junction… Unofficially

  12: Level Up

  13: Cavalier

  14: Junction… Officially

  15: Team Spirit

  16: Friends and Foes

  17: Is That a Bird?

  18: The Drawing Board

  19: Loot Bonus

  20: Like Balancing a Checkbook

  21: The One and Only Nina Higashi

  22: When It Rains, It Pours

  23: Burgers, Fries, and a Knuckle Sandwich

  24: A Prelude to War

  25: The Emerald Basilisk

  26: Raid Results

  27: An Omega

  28: The Line Between Existence and Extinction

  29: Power Spike

  30: ?????

  31: Curiouser and Curiouser

  32: Long Shot

  33: Showdown

  34: Revelations and Preparations

  35: A Favor for a Favor

  36: In The Stars

  37: All Quiet in the Central Square

  38: The Operation

  39: Control

  40: Last Chance for Romance

  41: Roll Call

  42: An Affair in the Central Square

  43: The Reset Button

  44: Heart & Soul

  45: A Job Well Done

  46: All Hands on Deck

  About Legion

  Legion is a video game-inspired, GameLit action-adventure story with fantasy and sci-fi elements. It takes place on present day Earth in an alternate reality. There are some very light LitRPG elements including leveling and stats. There are also some romance and harem elements involving the female characters. There’s action, violence, language, and some sexual scenes. Legion is intended for mature readers.

  Prologue

  In the late 20th century, Earth is at peace.

  But the unimaginable happens without warning.

  Thousands of great mythical beasts appear from mysterious portals of energy in the sky. An unprecedented attack on humanity takes place all across the world.

  Earth rallies and mobilizes all of their forces against the threat. The invaders are defeated and the assault is halted, but not without great cost. Hundreds of thousands are killed. Entire cities are left in ruins. And those alive are forced to figure out the mystery of what happened.

  The world’s greatest minds come together. Every nation pours their resources into the advancement of the science and technology needed to explain the attack, since dubbed ‘The First Event.’

  Tireless research quickly leads to an answer. Scientists discover the attacks originate not from a distant place but another dimension entirely. Further research indicates future attacks remain a likely possibility.

  State officials convene and come to an immediate consensus. Humanity’s greatest threat is this newly-discovered dimension: Pandora.

  In order to prepare for the threats coming from Pandora, the Legion Omega Defense is established. At facilities all over the world, soldiers train in combat, equip themselves with powerful weapons, and level-up their physical attributes. All in an effort to enter Pandora and defend the innocents on Earth.

  The unsuspecting attack from another dimension left the world devastated. Now it’s up to the Omegas to step into Pandora and strike back.

  1: Restart

  2020. Nevada. USA.

  Cutler Valley. Temperatures were already somewhere in the hundreds even though it was only the start of summer. Not a cloud in the sky was out to block the sun, making it even less bearable. Whoever decided to found a city in the middle of the Nevada Desert was either an idiot or they had the foresight to know air-conditioning would be invented.

  Somehow, people were willing to wander around in the heat. I guess they didn’t have much of a choice. Underneath the sweltering sun, people walked down the sidewalks to get where they needed to be. The traffic rolled through the streets like every other weekday.

  Cutler Valley had all of the amenities of every other city. Places to eat. A few places to drink. Schools. Plenty of office buildings to find a job. But not much else. It was the small town you’d be in only when you were on your way to somewhere more important.

  It wasn’t surprising I grew up here. An uninteresting guy living in an uninteresting city. Considering what I was about to get myself into, I was maybe the craziest person in the entire town.

  I stared out of the window of the restaurant before looking at the piece of paper in front of me.

  Liam Aldridge,

  We would officially like to inform you of your acceptance into the Legion Omega Defense. The chance to become an Omega is an honor bestowed on few. As part of the second wave of recruits to our newly established District, you will be the foundation of our next generation of Omegas. The Legion Omega Defense will provide you with a unique opportunity for growth, strength, and personal accomplishment.

  LOD Officials will be in contact with you shortly to arrange transportation to our newest, state-of-the-art facility. Congratulations again on your acceptance. We look forward to seeing if you have what it takes to be an Omega.

  Please retain this letter for admission and identification.

  The Legion Omega Defense

  “The first and last line between existence and extinction”

  Stamped at the top of the letter, there was a gold-foil seal in the shape of a star. I ran my fingers along it and let out a soft sigh through my nose.

  My attention turned to the small brochure resting underneath it. On it was a younger man in a black military uniform who looked like he was in decent shape. He held a longsword over his shoulder with a big grin on his face while his other hand pointed forward like an old Uncle Sam poster. The text on the bottom of it stood out more than anything.

  ‘Choose your class. Raise your weapon. Level up. Save the world.’

  I was so distracted by it the voice next to me made me shift in my seat.

  “Hey.”

  I looked up and saw my brother smiling at me. There was always an unintentional smugness in the way he grinned. It didn’t hurt that his teeth were as gleaming white and straight as could be.

  “This mine?” He pointed at the paper cup with a straw poking out of it.

  “Got it just for you, bro. Strawberry as usual. You know, when it comes to shakes, vanilla and chocolate are always better.”

  “I only like it ‘cause it’s pink.” He chuckled as he took a seat in front of me.

  “I’m kinda surprised you made it.”

  “For this? How could I miss it?” The smile left his face as he sighed. “My brother’s last day as a civilian… Glad he invited me out for a shake while he had his last meal…” He leaned back while he sipped on his shake.

  Adam always had a way of looking like the coolest guy in the room. The slick-backed, blond hair compared to my brown. The blu
e eyes women just loved to stare into while mine were a boring brown. The goatee with a neatly trimmed tuft of hair on that pointed chin of his. Even when he shaved, it was hard to tell he was my half-brother. But it wasn’t the way he looked. The guy exuded charisma. I guess that came with the territory when you made a living as a model.

  He sprawled his arms across the back of his seat, making sure the people could see the flaming cards and pin-up girls he had tattooed on his biceps. A couple of brunette coeds gave him a glance as they walked by but Adam was so used to the attention, he ignored it.

  “This is it, huh? You’ve decided to spend your last day as a civilian in a McDonald’s, polishing off a Big Mac and some fries.”

  “I was thinking about renting a yacht and throwing a celebration bash with some Instagram models but I realized I don’t have a yacht, I don’t know any Instagram models, and I don’t know the first thing about throwing a party.”

  “A Big Mac is more satisfying than any of those things. Trust me.”

  We shared a laugh. I took another bite of my burger while he picked at my fries.

  “Did you talk to mom and dad?” he asked.

  “I did.”

  “And?”

  “Dad just kinda gave me a shrug, if you can call it that. Mom said I can do what I want. That was that. You know how they are. It’s just as much a story to them as it is to us. Too bad I’m not as athletic as you. Could’ve been a model, too.”

  “The world’s got too many fashion models. People like you are the ones who make a difference.”

  “…Yeah…” I looked down at the letter while I took another bite.

  Adam turned out toward the streets and shook his head. “My brother is gonna be an Omega…”

  “Maybe.”

  “Not yet. Not the wildest thing I’ve ever heard. Succeed or not, you know I’m proud of you either way.”

  Adam shot a look at me. His lips twisted like he was trying not to laugh but I could see the sincerity in those blue eyes of his.

  I picked up my hamburger and took a chunk out of it while Adam swiped the letter. His eyes scanned the text as he shook his head. “My little brother got accepted.”

  “Ha!” I said with a mouthful. “They let anybody in these days. The golden seal at the top is just there to try and impress people.”

  “I don’t care about the seal. Being an Omega… That’s an opportunity. A real chance to do something… special.”

  I took another bite of burger and shrugged. “That’s exactly what the letter says.”

  He gave me a smirk and put the paper down. “You know I would never patronize you. Omegas do important work.”

  I turned toward the window and looked out into the streets. “How long has it been since the First Event? Forty years or something? Even our parents were barely alive when it happened. The YouTube vids start looking like bad CGI when you watch ‘em long enough. It’s serious. I get that. I know a lot of people died but you could say the same for any war. And we haven’t even heard of another attack threatening us.”

  “There hasn’t been another one because of the Omegas. They’re the ones at the forefront, making sure something like that never happens again.”

  “This other dimension… It doesn’t seem like much of a big deal these days. Everybody’s got more important things to do.” I glanced down at the paper. “That letter might say I’m the last line of defense but I wonder just what they’re dealing with…”

  “Some retired Omegas get their recognition. They’re not celebrities but they’re respected like any veteran. They must be doing something right.”

  He picked up the brochure underneath the letter and thumbed through it. “‘Choose your class. Level up. Save the world.’ They make it sound pretty cool. That sword this guy is holding is pretty snazzy. This thing looks more like video game box art than a military recruitment ad. Is that why you’re doing it, bro?”

  I didn’t answer, instead taking another bite while my brother continued to wait for an answer.

  “Come on.” He leaned forward across the table and narrowed his eyes at me. Adam always thought he had some sort of ace detective skills. I didn’t have the heart to tell him his inquisitive look made me wanna laugh more than anything else.

  I swallowed my bite down and shrugged. “Just like you said. There are no more wars. There’s no more military. I’ve gotta do my duty.”

  “Oh, bullshit!” Adam said it loud enough to get the attention of some of the other patrons.

  “It’s true.”

  Adam rolled his eyes then leaned back in his seat. His inquisitive stare disappeared. His smile slowly left him. “Tell me the truth, Liam.”

  I shifted my eyes away from him and gulped down some soda to wash down my bite of food. The realization of what I was about to do was finally starting to hit me.

  “I’ve been in college for three years now. Computer programming just like everybody else.”

  “The world we’re living in now, we need as many people like you as we can get.”

  “I graduate, get my degree and I find an office to sit in like everybody else. Good, well-paying work…”

  “No shame in honest work. You should be proud of that.”

  “I have nothing but respect for people who choose to do that. Someone willing to do that is a better person than me.” I turned back to him and it only took me a second to see the difference between us, which made me more confident about my decision. “I got no friends. I don’t have many hobbies. I’m just kinda… here. I’m living with mom and dad. They don’t say it but I know they don’t think much of me.” I let out a sigh. “I’m just taking up space. I guess… I guess I just wanna feel useful.”

  Adam scoffed. “You are useful… You do what you wanna do. Don’t let anybody ever tell you otherwise… You think mom and dad were cool with me when I decided to become a model?”

  “You have the genes for it. You were always getting calls and compliments from people in the industry. You were meant for it.”

  “And maybe you were meant to do this. There’s only one way to find out.”

  I’d known Adam my entire life. But even after twenty-one years, it was always hard to tell him everything even though I knew he’d never judge me for it. Thankfully, he understood that just the same. He knew how I felt just by looking at me.

  “Man… I sound like I’m whining when I’ve got nothing to complain about. I haven’t even left yet,” I said with a laugh.

  “You’re not whining. You just… want something else for yourself. I get it. I respect that.”

  “You’re the only person who would.” I took another gulp of soda and saw the black sedan pull up on the curb just outside. Tinted windows blocked who was inside. “There’s my ride.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea to be stepping into strange, unmarked vehicles.”

  “Everything was arranged officially over a few emails. They knew where to find me.”

  “Then I guess you shouldn’t keep ‘em waiting.”

  We both got up from our seats. He put his hands on my shoulders and looked down at me. Even though I was a decent 5-foot, 11-inches, Adam was still taller. Just another thing that came with being only half-related to a model who got every good gene possible.

  “You ever have any trouble, you gimme a call,” he said. “You don’t feel like it, for any reason, you leave. Not everybody’s cut out to be an Omega. Don’t force it. You’ll find your future somewhere else.”

  I smirked and patted him on the arm. “If I told you I planned on doing this a long time ago, I’d be lying. But… maybe this will be different. I got a feeling.”

  “Me, too…”

  “I promise—”

  “You don’t have to promise me something I already know. I know you’ll do the work. If there’s one thing you’re good at, it’s that… Next time I see you, Big Mac’s on me.”

  He leaned forward and squeezed his arms tight around me. H
e hugged long enough I started to laugh. “Okay, okay, that’s good…”

  He chuckled and tightened his grip around my shoulders before letting go.

  “You gonna be all right?” I asked.

  “Flying back to New York tonight. Got a few shows I gotta get ready for.”

  “Business as usual.”

  I saw Adam all the time even though there was no reason for him to spend much time in Cutler Valley. One of the benefits of having the freedom to fly around, I suppose.

  This wasn’t the first time I had to say goodbye to him. But this time was different. He wasn’t just going. I was leaving. And it was enough to make me hesitate.

  He must’ve noticed how much trouble I was having coming to terms with what I was about to do.

  “Go get ‘em, Liam.”

  Hearing him say it appeared to do the trick and clear the tension in my body. I gave him one last nod then stepped outside. The passenger seat of the black sedan opened up. A bald man in an all-black suit stepped out. A pair of black shades covered his eyes but he was staring in my direction. Judging from his rigid posture and his broad shoulders, the man was big enough I knew it would be trouble if I started anything with him.

  He took a step toward me and put his hands behind his back. “Liam Aldridge.”

  I gave him a nod. He opened the backseat of the sedan. I looked back and saw my brother had his lips sealed around his straw while he grinned at me. I gave him a half-hearted smirk then stepped into the car.

  The door closed and we were quickly rolling through the streets. I looked out toward the people, cars, and buildings, wondering if I would ever get to experience another warm summer day in Cutler Valley.

  2: Welcome to the Vegas District

  The familiar buildings of Cutler Valley disappeared in the distance. The view of the deserts increased as we rolled down the highway among the sparse traffic. With only a couple of roads heading out of town, there wasn’t much for me to look at except for the tumbleweeds and the mountains on the blue horizon.

  The two men sitting in front of me were silent, staring forward like they didn’t wanna lose focus. They were so still I couldn’t even tell if they were breathing.