Legion: GameLit RPG Fantasy Read online

Red Mana 75

  Blue Mana 30

  Green Mana 20

  “There we go. I have 30 Blue Mana. How many do I need to put this Mana into my saber?”

  “A thousand.”

  “A thousand?” I exclaimed. “What? That’s like 200 wolves.”

  “Well, then, I guess you’d better get started.”

  I sighed in disappointment, the Core looking a lot crummier than it did just a few seconds ago. Gage chuckled and patted me on the arm to console me. It was strange coming from a man like him. I guess the beard and tattoos all over his muscular arms were just for show.

  “Sorry, kid. I know how it is. You’re a new recruit. Ready to run through those Junctions and take on the world. Finding your first Core is always special. But you’ll have to go on a lot more missions in order to get an upgrade. See all of my engineers in here? We’re all hard at work crafting weapons.”

  He walked over to the side of the room and pointed at a table. On top of it was a small steel device that looked like a microwave without a door on it. “Put the Core in here.”

  I followed his instructions and watched as a red light went over the piece of rock. The digital display lit up to show me the information.

  Common Mana Core

  Type: Weapon

  Bonus: Increase damage by 2%

  “The analyzer identifies exactly you’ve got. Feel free to come on by and use it for whatever else you find.”

  “A thousand Blue Mana for 2%…”

  “Sometimes that’s the difference between killing a Shadow and failing a mission.”

  “I guess… Thanks, Gage.”

  He gave me a smirk and slapped me so hard on the arm it stung. “I’ll see you around, kid.”

  “Core’s not much… Might as well see what else I found…”

  ~ ~ ~

  The contrast between the Crafting Bay and the Med Bay was impossible not to notice. The lights were more soothing. There was no constant whir of machines. The smell was a lot more pleasant, like a ventilator was sucking up everything that would offend someone. There was even some ambient music playing in the background that made me relaxed.

  I walked around the Med Bay until Dr. Marchal walked up to me and bowed her head.

  “Private Aldridge,” the blond doctor smiled. “It’s good to see you again.”

  “You remember me?”

  “I’ll be honest. There are a lot of cadets on campus. But it’s easy to remember an Adept. I’m the one who collected your compatibility results, remember?”

  “Right… We’ll see if I can do what everybody expects of me.”

  “Stay focused and I’m sure you will. Adepts aren’t completely uncommon but every one I’ve seen has never failed to meet their lofty expectations. Now, is there something you needed? Are you injured?”

  I shook my head. “I just got back from my first Junction. I collected some Red Mana. You mentioned leveling my stats with it. How exactly would I do that?”

  “It’s a simple process. This way.”

  Dr. Marchal led me over to the side of the room where there was a free station. The digital screen took up most of the wall with only the small silver compartment for a chair right underneath it. She scrolled through the display with her finger then pointed at it.

  “You can use any station here in the Med Bay. If you want to level up, all you have to do is hold your communicator up to it.”

  I followed her instructions and my communicator flashed with information. The display on the wall said ‘analyzing’ upon it until my information showed up.

  Liam Aldridge

  Level 1 Private Cavalier

  (50 Red Mana until next level)

  Hit Points 100

  Endurance 50

  Strength 7

  Speed 8

  Durability 9

  Control 8

  Red Mana available: 75

  Would you like to increase your level?

  “Increasing your level gives you an ability point. You can use it to increase one of your main stats.”

  “Nothing for hit points or endurance, huh?”

  “Understanding Red Mana is still a new science. We’re working on it.”

  “Right. I guess I should level up then.”

  “I should mention that your stats will change upon changing your class. A Vanguard will always have higher durability than others. A Zealot will always have the greatest strength but low speed. It’s important to consider where you put your stat points, especially as an Adept who may be changing classes at one point.”

  “So… If I increase my durability as a Cavalier, it’ll be even higher if I decide to be a Vanguard.”

  “That’s correct. Play to your strengths. Balance out your weaknesses. You’ll also have squadmates to fight alongside you to compensate. The choice is yours how you level up.”

  “Hmm…” I scratched my chin and sighed. “And I thought it’d be an easy decision.”

  Dr. Marchal laughed softly and put a hand on my arm. “Every level you gain makes you stronger, regardless of what you decide to upgrade. It’s simply a matter of how you choose to improve yourself. Make your style on the battlefield your own.”

  The stats on display were all enticing. Every one of them was useful, even control. I figured I would increase my strength since it was the lowest stat I had. I swiped my finger on the display and selected yes.

  “Your communicator will lock onto your wrist. It needs to inject the Red Mana into your body to apply the level up. The discomfort is jarring for some.”

  The dull piece of gray metal began to vibrate like a cell phone. I watched as the screen on the wall indicated the acceptance of my level up. Suddenly, my communicator tightened. It squeezed around my arm so tight I thought my blood vessels would burst. I sighed softly through gritted teeth. But then the strangest feeling occurred. A warmth resonated from my arm and spread through me like it was coursing through my veins.

  “It’s… hot. Like my blood is on fire.”

  “That’s the Red Mana. It’s accelerating your cells and applying the bonus to you.”

  My communicator loosened around my arm. I looked down at my new stats and saw my strength increased.

  “You can level up at the station here in the Med Bay or use a universal tablet located all over the campus for your convenience. Make sure you level up often so you can challenge the more difficult Junctions. One level might not seem like a difference now but you’ll see it on the battlefield.”

  My level had only increased by one. But I swore my body was different. And that was enough for me to work a satisfied smile onto my lips.

  ~ ~ ~

  The atmosphere in the dormitory dining hall wasn’t much different from the one in the Nerve Center. The smell of fresh food filled the air, joining the loud chatter from all of the Omegas and recruits. There weren’t any LOD officials or employees present, so everybody in the room was young.

  After my first successful Junction and wandering around the Nerve Center, I figured I would head over for an early dinner. Quentin was more than eager to join me.

  “What have you been doing?” I asked.

  He shrugged as he took a bite of his cheeseburger. “I was just hanging around the Central Square. You know, they gave us some starting credits but I figured I’d save it. So… I just sat around and took a nap. It’s pretty nice around here. I could get used to this campus. Climate controlled. Free food. A room to stay. Not to mention the scenery is pretty nice.”

  He looked over at the table next to us where some female recruits were chitchatting with one another.

  “Which reminds me, how was it? You have fun with Nina?”

  I couldn’t help but laugh, hiding my smile behind a forkful of mac and cheese. “I wouldn’t call going through a Junction ‘fun.’”

  “You know what I meant. She asked you to come along with you. That’s why I didn’t wanna go. You know, be the third wheel and all that.”

  “Right. And I suppose it’s
got nothing to do with you not being able to move.” I poked his arm and he jerked it back.

  “Hey! I’m soft and mushy right now…”

  “I didn’t know what to expect but we did all right. It was a low-level Junction. Three wolves came at us. We fought ‘em then we destroyed the Obelisk.”

  “And then?”

  “And then we left and the Junction closed.”

  He put his burger down and leaned forward across the table. “That’s it? You mean to tell me nothing else happened.”

  “Um… I found a Core and leveled up.”

  “Aren’t you wondering why Nina asked you to go through a Junction with her?”

  “I wondered and I asked her.”

  “And?” The eagerness in Quentin’s eyes made me laugh so hard I had to stop everything I was doing.

  I fell forward in my seat, rubbing my fingers against my forehead. “I came here to be an Omega and here I am gossiping like a damn schoolgirl…”

  “It’s not gossip. It’s… tactical information.”

  “Right… Well, I hate to disappoint you but Nina didn’t tell me anything. Not that it matters. We closed a dimension, I found a Core and I gained a level. That’s what’s important.”

  “I guess you’ve got a point.” Quentin picked up his burger and took a bite. His already pudgy cheeks looked even bigger when they were stuffed. He looked me up and down curiously then poked his index finger into my bicep. “How do you feel?”

  I shrugged. “It’s only one level but I feel a little stronger. Haven’t really tested it though.”

  “The first of many levels. Janice’s gonna give us our first missions tomorrow. And we’ve got more class training, too. Just started and we’ve already got a full plate.”

  “The only plate I’m concerned with is this mac and cheese. After that, I’m gonna go to my room and sleep. I really need to get used to waking up early.”

  “That’s very commendable, Liam. You’re a shining beacon for the other recruits. A great example.”

  “Shut up.” I rolled my eyes as he chuckled at me.

  Another day on campus had my hands full. With mission assignments and more training on the horizon, I knew my hands would stay full.

  13: Cavalier

  At 0600, the soft bells ringing through the dormitory were accompanied by the buzz of the alarm on my communicator. After sleeping in early the night before, waking up so early wasn’t the annoyance I thought it would be.

  I stepped into the shower then into my new uniform, leaving the previous one in the chute to be taken and laundered. After grabbing a quick bagel from the dining hall, I made my way to the Nerve Center with the rest of the recruits. Of course, Quentin was nowhere to be found, having probably slept in.

  It was time to work though. Standing in the training lab next to the other Cavaliers, I watched as Captain Hamilton stood in front of us and puffed his chest out. He held his saber up in front of his face.

  “Sharpened to an edge that’ll cut through anything that might try to resist. Just the tip is pointed enough to pierce through the thickest armors. As long as you have the proper strength, that is. Your saber is your offense.”

  The way Hamilton spoke of his saber made it look even more formidable than it was. The blade glistened with a polished shine from the bright lights of the training lab.

  Hamilton sheathed his weapon on his hip then pointed his chin up to look as formal as he always did. “If you continue your training properly, the engineers will craft a blade for you to your liking. The weight. The length. The edge. Even the color itself can be modified to your preference.”

  Hamilton moved closer to the Cavaliers standing in a line. “You will have to make do with the training saber given to you. Now that you have a weapon, today is about proper defense.”

  He stopped in his tracks and tapped the metal on his chest. He pointed at the black Omega symbol branded into it. Underneath it, five-stars were branded the same.

  “This is what you are,” he said. “You are a representative of the Legion Omega Defense. And when you succeed in your Mastery Examinations, you will receive the stars appropriate to indicate your level of skill. I know what you’re thinking. What is the benefit of getting stars and increasing your rank?”

  He put his hands behind his back and continued pacing back and forth. “An increased stipend and other credit bonuses. The chance to travel through high-level Junctions. Better weapons and abilities. Some would say the added benefit is the admiration of your comrades.”

  Having met Rhys, it was easy for me to believe glory was a motivation.

  “But it all comes back to one thing.” Hamilton straightened up and looked down his nose at us. “The Legion Omega Defense exists to protect the innocents on Earth from the threats of Pandora. We haven’t had an invasion since the First Event. It is your duty to make sure it stays that way. You are the first and last line of defense.” Hamilton tapped his fingers against the LOD logo on his chest. “Never forget why you’re doing this.”

  The lab fell silent. Hamilton didn’t say anything as if he were attempting to let his words resonate. Honestly, it did a decent job of getting through to me.

  Douglas gulped next to me like he was anxious. Hamilton smirked and the tension in the room disappeared.

  “Now… As I mentioned earlier, today’s lesson is on defense.” He pointed to the side of the room. “Head to your specified locker near the Junction Room. There you’ll find the armor suited to your specifications. Suit up and get back here as fast as you can.”

  ~ ~ ~

  I held my hands out and looked down at my gloved palms. The top of my hand was covered in the same hard shell as the rest of my body but my palms were covered in a black, almost sticky rubber. That alone was enough to make me gawk in awe but I had to look at the rest of me.

  From my toes all the way up to my neck, sheets of light-blue plates gave me a suit of form-fitting armor like something out of a science-fiction movie. I ran my fingers over my chest and realized this was real though. Every line, every curve, every angle, every edge. Every piece of my metal suit was laser-cut with machine precision. It hugged my body tight but wasn’t constricting. Even though it was sturdy, it wasn’t bulky. Somehow, the engineers managed to make a wetsuit made of flexible metal.

  The other recruits next to me were going over their armor with the same kind of amazement.

  “Your armor was designed to protect you against the worst threats of Pandora,” Hamilton explained. “A solid half-an-inch thick. A tempered steel exoskeleton suit. Your bones are the hardest part of your body. Now you’ve got a new layer of skin strong enough to withstand hard blows. Don’t be fooled. You can still move. Take a moment to bend your arms and knees. Flex your fingers. Turn your neck.”

  Somehow, the armor managed to feel secure but not hold me down.

  “Your armor isn’t tempered as hard at your joints to give you maximum flexibility. Flexibility is important if you’re going to move on the battlefield. But it can also be a weakness. A weakness the Shadows in Pandora also share.”

  He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the different spots of my body. “The knees. The elbows. The neck. Even the fingers. Short of splitting a beast’s head open or driving your saber through its gut, disabling something is the next best thing. Be aware of your own weak points and you will learn your opponent has them as well.”

  Brian and Douglas were still flexing their hands to see how well their armor fit them. Paige stood with her hands behind her back. Despite her small frame, she was still intimidating with her armor on. I guess it was just because it was such a big difference from the top and skirt I usually saw her in.

  Captain Hamilton took a step back and pointed at me. “You’re already wearing a Recall Box. Good. Should your life end and your brain function cease to exist, the Recall Box will automatically transport you to the Med Bay for genetic recomposition. Many have fallen in Pandora but they’ve all returned to their feet.

&nb
sp; “You’ve taken a day to learn how to attack. Now you can apply that knowledge without hesitation. Reynolds, Jamison, Costa. Put on a Recall Box. It’s time to do some real sparring.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Paige stood several meters across from me on the polished black granite of the training lab. Her long, dark hair tied over her head, she gave me a focused, brown-eyed stare. She twisted her lips and swallowed, making her throat bob up and down behind her Recall Box. She held her saber out in front of her with both hands and pointed the tip of the blade at me.

  “Your armor was designed to take a blow from your sabers,” Hamilton said. “But a sustained attack will push through anything, even if they don’t appear strong enough. When it comes to being a Cavalier, a superior offense will always defeat a superior defense. That doesn’t mean you should attack recklessly. You learned how to slash, thrust and parry. Learn the difference between relentlessness and patience. Also remember your Recall Box will protect you. Now is not the time to hold back, recruits… Show me what you’re capable of.”

  “Ahh!” Paige charged forward without hesitation. I quickly raised my sword up and turned it sideways to parry two hard slashes, bouncing her sword away. I returned the favor and slashed back but she did a cartwheel back to avoid it.

  “Hmm…” Hamilton said. “A deftness usually reserved for Striders. Impressive.”

  “Let’s go, guys!” Douglas suddenly got into it. “Show ‘em what you’re made of!”

  “Yeah!” Brian joined in.

  To think that Paige looked like a schoolgirl just a few minutes ago made me hold back a laugh. Now she was smirking at me with her saber up, ready to punch a hole through my chest.

  “All right.” I gave her a nod. “Let’s go.”

  I charged forward to meet her and raised my saber up. Our swords clashed in a loud bang that echoed against the silver steel walls of the lab. My gloved palms absorbed all of the reverberations from the collision, making it easier for me to bring my saber down and thrust with it. But again Paige moved her body to the side and stabbed at me. I wasn’t able to move out of the way and took the blade in my left arm. Her saber sheared through the metal just enough to pierce my skin.