But Death is Not Forbidden (The Twenty-Sided Eye Series Book 2) Read online

  “I will agree to that,” he said. Turning toward the sleeping children, he continued, “I think, however, that there is something you ought to know. The female's mind is incredibly active for someone who is asleep.”

  Spooky looked over at the sleeping yeti children on their beds in the center of the room. Bork was standing guard over the children but did so as he held and slowly pet a soft furry bunny. Spooky ignored the goblin and scanned the children.

  “Are you suggesting that she is not actually asleep, or is pretending? Taking into account her rhythmic breathing, consistent heart rate, and rapid eye movement, I would have to disagree with that assessment,” Spooky said.

  “No, I'm not claiming that she's awake. What I am saying is that her brain is quite active for someone who's asleep. It just causes me to wonder. What could be happening with her? I think we should tell Joe. This is his castle, after all,” Moes said.

  For just a second, Spooky felt the need to correct him, as it was her castle as well. Then she remembered the protocols she had enacted. She might be queen, but not everyone needed to know that.

  “Thanks for the information, Moes. The angel’s here to take you up for your refill.”

  Moes nodded grudgingly, allowing the stone angel to carry him. He needed to save his energy if he was going to complete this tedious task.

  Instead of following Moes out, Spooky flew over to talk to Bork. Bork stood there holding the bunny with one hand and scratching his red-brown skin with the other. Usually, a goblin’s skin is a brown-green, but the day before both Grork and Bork had covered themselves with fire moss in order to survive the extreme cold. As a consequence, their skin would be inflamed for the next few days. Bork nodded to the approaching fairy.

  “Bork, before Joe went out to hunt, he asked me to create something for you and Grork. He also asked me to give it to you as a gift and inform you that we won't accept anything in return,” Spooky said.

  “Me have gift already,” Bork said, as he patted a pocket where he kept the small rulebook. It hadn't taken Joe and Spooky long to put together an extremely simplified moral code, as well as some rules about the chain of command. Bork had already read it cover-to-cover and said much of it overlapped their holy book. Grork, a slower and less motivated reader, was still working his way through his book. Bork had insisted Grork finish it before doing anything else.

  “Yes, that was also a gift, so I guess I mean the second gift,” Spooky explained.

  Three tiny angels flew in carrying a bundle tied with strings. Bork carefully put the bunny down and accepted the bundle. Calm and polite as he was, he looked up at Spooky for confirmation that he could open it. She gave him the nod, and he pulled one of the strings, carefully undoing the bundle. Inside were a set of uniforms with winter-style camouflage. They were just like the one Joe had originally worn before his body outgrew it. They had been made to fit a goblin, and cover his superior leather armor. This clothing would add the warmth that he would need, without necessitating the terrible mummified look of fire moss. But it was more than an improvement on his cold weather gear; it represented how he now belonged. Bork held it close; a single solitary tear formed at the corner of his eye. Before it could fall, he quickly wiped it away and collected himself. In the goblin community, gifts were not given. Everything was on a barter system. In order to receive, you must give. He had already sensed it would be different here. The bunnies were proof of that.

  “I will leave you to get dressed and continue with your guard duty,” Spooky said, and then flew away without ceremony. The goblin was left alone with the two sleeping yeti children. He looked at the complicated uniform, unsure of how to put it on. Fortunately, Spooky had anticipated this. Three tiny angels stood nearby. One of them pointed to the pants, so Bork picked them up and hoisted them over his legs. They demonstrated where to place the belt and how to tilt the sharp beret on his head. The angels continued to direct him, and before long, he was fully attired. Being a goblin, he was the ugliest individual ever to wear a Russian military uniform. A mirror was brought in. Standing before it, with the curved spine of a goblin, he looked upon his image. He looked good. There was something about a uniform that implied a level of discipline that one could only find aesthetically pleasing. Bork made a fist with his right hand and covered his heart. Bowing his head, he closed his eyes and vowed he would serve this kingdom well. Grork, who had just walked in from a break, saw the gesture and raised an eyebrow.

  GONG

  The Abiogenesis Bunny Generator has made the Noon Bunny.

  Chapter 2 - Don’t Touch my Rabbit

  One of the Wild Mountain valleys.

  Day two, in the early afternoon.

  The idea of having all of his people wear a uniform came upon Joe the moment he had put his own on in the game. Though Joe believed it was just a game, he had hoped that the many psychological benefits of a uniform would carry over. He wondered if it would end up being his best recruitment tool. There were dangers in creating a nationalistic kingdom with its roots in military discipline, but in his mind, this was a game, and he was going to die soon anyway. So, why not play it like an old-school game of command and conquer? He was going to build fast, and carefully allocate his resources in the direction that would most benefit the security and protection of a large area of land.

  Earlier that morning he had had a long talk with Spooky about his dreams for the kingdom, after which they established the need to protect the children within the castle. At present, though, Joe ran across the valley floor, scanning his surroundings for possible targets or groupings of low-level monsters. Unfortunately, he had not yet seen a mob. As Joe ran, he thought over the morning. When they had returned from rescuing the children, he had had only a few moments to decompress. He had read and he had worked on his own spiritual disciplines. As often happened in his case, during his time of quiet reflection, plans and ideas had sprung into his mind unbidden. He considered those thoughts again now.

  His dream was to build a complex and beautiful kingdom. The ends would not justify the means, but instead his means would be rooted, he hoped, within his foundational values. He had always been a student of history as well as an avid reader, and he understood how, in the history of the world, there had been no utopia. He knew he would not be successful where no one else in history had, but what would it be like to create something extraordinary? He worried, however, that he would not be the strong leader so often spoken of in the great tales of his youth. The stories, both real and imagined, had always involved one shining hope of a hero. He was not that born leader. In his life, he had always been the good subordinate. He was able to interpret what his boss wanted and get it accomplished. But he had never been the boss himself, who developed and implemented a confident vision. Thankfully, this was a game, and there was little risk involved in simply playing the part. In the end, he believed it would not be acting falsely if he chose to have confidence in the limited leadership abilities he had.

  While on the move, he used his Heads-up Display (HUD) to look through his stats.

  Level- 17

  Character- Joe

  Race- Human Machine Hybrid

  XP- 17,218

  Mana- 317

  Hitpoints- 798

  Weight- 2,350 lbs

  Height- 7ft 8in

  Charisma- 36 + 7

  Constitution- 25 + 32

  Dexterity- 16 + 4

  Intelligence- 20

  Muscle/Gears- 24 + 1

  Wisdom- 15 + 1

  Luck- 20

  Gifts

  Empathetic learner

  Sight of the encourager

  Skills

  Alloy big-boned, ConMod + 8

  Creative mechanic: Level 7, GearMod + 1

  Grappler: Level 80, ConMod + 8

  Mind-click: Level 2, WisMod + 1

  Penetrating steel silver claw

  Pierce

  Rock eater

  Rock-woven skin, ConMod + 5

  Sapphire vision, Con
Mod + 2

  Stryker: Level 41, DexMod + 4

  Magic

  Novice Force Magic

  Novice Portal Magic

  Apprentice Mind Magic

  Apprentice Spirit Magic

  Contracts

  Defend capital castle

  Current defense: 2 of 9 - extremely low.

  Lender to Rook

  Protect yeti children

  Servant of Rook

  Contend evil

  Contend Rook

  Achievements

  Aura of Benevolence. Rank 1 ChaMod + 1

  Let My People Go. Rank 1 ConMod + 1

  Stick to Your Guns. Rank 1 + 10% to Pierce

  You Ain't So Big. Rank 1 + 10% attack & defense against higher level enemies

  Disadvantages

  Fear of silence

  Lack of focus

  It had been so frustrating to only gain one level from the fight with the rogues. However, he had gained an item that had raised his constitution by two.

  Uncommon Item: Heart of Fire Necklace.

  Provides warmth where there is none. After extended use, must be recharged with a significant heat source. Love the snow, hate the cold? Have we got a necklace for you. Plus 2 to Constitution. Durability better than average.

  He didn’t need the warmth, but every item that raised your constitution was valuable. Unfortunately, it had not fit around his neck. Joe had been forced to improvise and wear it as a bracelet around his upper forearm.

  It was beginning to feel quite uneventful as Joe surveyed the valley around his mesa. He searched for any unthinking animal or monster that he could use to raise his experience. This frozen wasteland did not have near the number of spawn most games had. He had planned to go out and grind for a couple of hours and then come back and see how much Spooky and Moes had accomplished. He assumed there would be some form of magical protection they could perform to protect the children.

  It was already afternoon, and the few animals he did find were so small and fast they were gone before he could target them. It was his own fault; he had made an error. He had wanted to hunt on his own, just as he had done in his fifties. Spooky had been all but ordered by him to stay in the castle. He hadn’t wanted to leave the children alone with only goblins and a halfling to protect them. He had been surprised she hadn't put up much of a fight. That is, until he looked up. Close to a thousand feet overhead, one of the stone angels watched over him. She had let him go because wherever he went on foot, she could fly within minutes. He wouldn’t allow it bother him, as he might as well be alone with the angel hovering so high.

  When he first started out on the hunt, he was slow and methodical. He had checked every hill and in every borough. After a while, with little success, he decided to pick up the pace. Stretching his legs and expanding his lungs felt good. This new body of his was heavy, but it was strong and efficient. Even though he had found little game, the time had not been entirely worthless. During his jog, he had repeatedly come across a ravine too wide to pass. The first time he had allowed himself to be diverted and took a sharp right, jogging parallel with the gorge. This time, the ravine made a turn and Joe realized he needed to either go over the chasm or backtrack. Joe reached down and unhooked his Mysterious Immovable Looped Bar (MIL Bar) which was attached to the new uniform Spooky had engineered to fit his larger frame. Then, he pulled out his Holdall and removed the thick rope she had specifically made for him. With the attached clip, he connected it to the MIL Bar, and then promptly threw the bar hard up, toward the middle of the ravine. When it reached an optimal swinging point, he engaged its ability to become immovable. He was now the Tarzan of the tundra.

  Swinging across the deep terrain, he felt the frigid mountain air slide harmlessly across his cold resistant face. The swing had been invigorating. So much so, he decided it would fundamentally alter the way he would now move, and even fight, in this new reality. Instead of his measured jog on level ground, he began to seek out elevation. If he was high enough to swing, that was what he would do. He started to cover more ground, and enjoy himself in the process. He imagined that he had become the largest gymnast ever to live. His event would be the MIL Bar. He would use it to swing around enemies and utilize centrifugal force to strike them from a direction they weren't expecting. He had seen several Asian films where a martial artist would use existing poles to perform this very move. Joe's bar could be anywhere he threw it. He could stop his momentum or spin around a focal point anytime he wanted. As long as he kept a grip on the bar he could never be thrown or moved. It was truly a wonderful game cheat. This item, combined with his new mass, made his more vulnerable lower level immaterial. Joe reluctantly reminded himself, however, that there was always a more powerful, agile, and versatile opponent to face. Having wasted enough time, Joe pulled out his compass. Multiple needles were displayed. One needle led to a vein of silver, while another pointed to a hill with the word danger attached to it. Joe smiled and headed in that direction.

  Joe climbed to the top of a small hill and was preparing to swing down when he detected movement in the corner of his eye. At the base of the hill, nearly hidden amongst a large pile of stones, sat a solitary bunny. It was gray and white, well-suited for the tundra it was exploring. Grinning, Joe wondered how it had managed to travel this far out. It was like a little Magellan of the bunnies; a brave furry explorer mapping out its new reality. Surprisingly, it looked quite healthy. The bunny was digging down deep in the dirt, perhaps searching for a root. Close by, an odd pile of rocks, clustered together and forming a larger stone, began to rise near the bunny. It slowly moved directly overhead the furry animal and then slammed down hard. Joe winced. The innocent bunny was now a flattened mound of fur.

  In an instant, his revulsion turned to anger. That had been one of the king's bunnies. He would tolerate the use of a bunny for sustenance, but to destroy one just because it existed was barbaric. Joe mind-clicked the pile of rocks. What showed up in his HUD was red.

  Level- ???

  Monster Type- Rock Elemental

  Mana- ???

  Hitpoints- 1,847

  Joe couldn't see its level, but its hitpoints were higher than Bridcha’s had been, so its level might be also. Joe’s first thought was, why not try what worked before? Running down the hill, Joe reached the pile of rocks and, without it responding, he placed his MIL Bar directly on top. He engaged its immobility and jumped away. The battle was already half won. When facing the yeti chief, this move had turned the tide of the battle. This rock monster would find it impossible to rise up, allowing Joe to more thoroughly assess the situation and destroy the abomination.

  Only, this opponent was not a yeti made of flesh, blood, and stone. This enemy was made of rocks. As if completely ignoring the MIL Bar, the Rock Elemental began to rise. Gathering and assembling its body parts, when it came into contact with the bar, the rocks seamlessly maneuvered around it. This monster was not one solid piece of stone, but rather a larger amalgam of several varieties of mineral, ore, and rock loosely held together. It stood before Joe, with eyes made of uneven rust-red stone and large slabs of granite constructing its chest and legs. Its hands and feet appeared as if made of iron ore. The Rock Elemental stared at Joe; they were of a similar height. Opening its mouth, it growled with the piercing sound of grinding stone.

  Grimacing at the roar, Joe spoke calmly to the monster, “I may have miscalculated. Come here often?” Earlier in the day, Joe had happened to read on the history of Rock Elementals in his Book of Useful Information.

  Rock Elemental-

  These beings are animated Elemental Rock. They are less cognitive beings and more a force of nature. Their origin can be traced back to multiple beginnings. Some came into being by the animation of Elemental Mages, who had forgotten to later destroy their unholy creation. Others came about in response to horrible desecrations of rock committed by evil-aligned biological beings. In response, the very stones had rose up to end the abuse. Whatever their origin, all Ro
ck Elementals have an instinctual hatred toward biological beings.

  The Rock Elemental did not verbally respond to Joe, instead, it began to race toward the large biological curse it faced. Joe abruptly lowered his stance and raised his hands, bracing, as he prepared to engage the rock monster. He wasn’t sure how he would defeat it, but he was going to give it his best college try. Stepping forward, Joe made contact with the elemental as it ran toward him. The impact thrust him backward several feet. This monster weighed considerably more than Joe. If he had not been in his low wrestler stance, the elemental would have knocked him on his back. As it was, Joe did everything he could to prevent the monster from obtaining a solid enough grip to throw him on the ground. The elemental’s iron hands fought to gain purchase of Joe's arms. Gliding and expertly twisting his body, Joe evaded the rock monster’s control as he fought for his own grip of the enemy.

  While Joe’s skin was composed partially of stone, the Rock Elemental’s entire body was made of stone. As a consequence, the Elemental’s hands began to grind down Joe’s skin. The longer he grappled with the living rock, the more likely it was that some of his skin would wear too thin. He wasn't bleeding yet, but it was only a matter of time. Recognizing the danger, Joe attempted to disengage. With as much of a swing as he could afford, Joe punched the rock monster in its rust-red eye. The skin over Joe's closed fist cracked with the concussive force and added the red color of Joe's blood to the rock monster’s already rust-red eyes. The skin on Joe’s hand may not have been tough enough for such a strong impact, but his new alloy bones appeared to be holding up. The rock monster stumbled back.

  Taking the opportunity, Joe broke contact and rolled to the right. He ran for his MIL Bar. Collecting it, he turned back to face the Rock Elemental which had once again begun to charge him. Joe crouched into his wrestler stance as if preparing to meet the charge. This time, however, he held his right arm out far to his side gripping the MIL Bar. Just before the rock monster would have impacted him, he quickly pulled himself out of the way, using the bar to give him the momentum he needed to evade the monster. The elemental turned around in confusion, having run past where Joe once stood. Normally a being Joe’s size would not have been able break from a stand still so quickly. Before it had time to fully assess the situation, one of its feet became caught on the rope still attached to the bar.