Invictus:Memoirs of a otherworlder
on a mission
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gait,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
-William Ernest Henley
Prologue
The fortunate or unfortunate story of a youth called Erik Hartmann, my story, whatever your opinion may be after reading this, started when I was 18 after a series of events which made me feel like someone really wanted me dead that day, which would actually turn out to be true when I met the condescending bastard who wanted to play with my life.
I saved a child from a runaway truck in the morning almost getting myself runover, later in the afternoon I was going to the mall and while passing by a construction site when dozens of steel beams fell all around me, mere centimeters from my face scaring the living shit out of me. I decided that was enough excitement for the day and went home.
At home my favourite way to kill time was to play videogames and reading light novels.I wish I read some xianxias before my death.Life would have been much easier.
My favourite game was a Grand Strategy-RTS-style game.I was a history buff and admired those historical figures who accomplished great feats, not necessarily good feats but great.
At midnight I went to sleep and unbeknownst to me there was a small meteor with my name on it.
BOOOM!
You get the picture, right? It was a fiery death but pretty much nobody cared besides me. It was as if
that day I was a certain red-shirt.Unfortunately my enemy wasn't a stormtrooper, otherwise I would have survived.
The darkness engulfed me.
When I regained my consciousness I was surrounded by darkness.It was neither hot nor cold.
Just an absence of everything.Somehow I immediately knew I was dead.
„Hmm, is this how death feels?“
„This feels really weird since I can't move or do anything.“
„Am I going to have to have spend the eternity in this place?Aren't there any lights around here?“
„Hello? Is anyone here?Where are the damn lights, I can't see anything?!“
I was unusually calm for a person who recently figured out he is dead.Maybe it's this spaces fault?
I couldn't muster any feelings or anything noticeable.I was completely indifferent.
Then, a change happened.
There was a flash of bright white light.
After I finally managed to open my eyes, I almost died again.
I was in the middle of a battlefield full bits and pieces of corpses and ocasionally nearly intact ones.
If I could have thrown up, I would have but still somehow a trace off indifference would have shown on my expression, If I had any. That state of being was the weirdest time in my lives.
A sound was heard behind me.
„Ahem.“
I turned around so fast, that if I had neck, it would have broken.
I got another shock instantly.
I rubbed my nonexistent eyes to confirm what was in front of me, was not a hallucination.
There was a at least 3 meter tall man in full bronze armor with a bronze helmet and giant bronze hoe sitting on top of a small mountain of corpses like it was somekind of throne or something.
A hoe?Who brings a hoe to a battlefield?At that time it didn't feel strange at all to me that the first thing I was nitpicking on was him bringing a hoe here.
„Who... WHO ARE YOU?!?!?“ Yep, after that I started freaking the fuck out.It was something instinctual,like when a prey meets a predator.Before I could open my mouth again, the man spoke.
Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
„Welcome to my humble abode mortal.Kekeke, I hadn't had the time to clean up you see, I was playing with army but since you have finally come we can finally start.
"As for who I am, I go by many names like Ares, Mars and many more, but the most important thing is that I am the god of war and farmers“.
Oh, so that's why he has a hoe.NO!Erik, focus on the big guy with the hoe.!ARGH.Godammit.
„I have decided to grant you your desire, since your status was not much different from a peasant, at least that's what my lawyer said.“ Wait?Who is your lawyer?NO, that's irrelevant now.
„My desire?“What do you know about me?
„Your desire for domination,conquest , for control over all, to stand on the top and since I am the god of war what more do I need for my champion, and well if you it's not big deal, at least for me.If you don't disappoint me, I may even give you another chance after your death.“Eeeh, I know I wanted to do something great enough to be remembered in history but world domination? Man this is getting out of control I better stop him before it's too late.
„Your...Your CHAMPION?!??!?!?“ Damn, why the hell am I stuttering right now!
„Yes, am I not CLEAR ENOUGH PUNY MORTAL!!!“ Just because you are a god doesn't mean you can shout at me.
„Yyes Ssir!“Crap, I'm totally intimidated.I don't think I can escape from this.
„Good, now we can proceed.You will be sent to a world which is similar to the medieval times on Earth, but they have magic.“What?Magic?It exist?Crap, how can I even survive then?
„Magic?“
„Yes,magic, is there a problem?“
„No, no, no Your Excellency,I am just saying that I don't know any magic, I will get immediately killed if fight with a magician.“
„Hahaha, so you are afraid.And you should be, no good warrior is fearless.But that is why you are my champion and my champions get special abilities.“
„Special abilities?“
„Yes, usually I let my champion choose his abilities, but you cannot.“
„What? WHY?!“
„Kekeke, do you remember that Grand Strategy-RTS game you often play at home?“
„Yees,why?“
„And do you remember when you were playing online and accepted a challenge from AresMars475
and after you won, you called him a noob?“
„What?When was that?Wait, THAT WAS YOU?“ FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!This bastard killed me because of a fucking videogame!
„Hahahaha, now who is a noob.“ What the hell is wrong with this guy?!?!??!?!?
„So now you will get the abilities from the game and conquer the world so we can see if that was a fluke or not.“ Eh, well that's not so bad, at least I am familiar with them
„So you will get a headquarters, a set amount of points and a squad of combat engineers in the beginning, also I will plant you in the middle of a forrest and give you a month or so for a quick tutorial and after that you are on your own.“
„With points you will be able buy everything your army needs, from food to ammunition, but of course if you find materials for stuff, you can build it yourself.“
„Your technology level will start from 1946 and by killing, conquering and occupying territory you will earn points to unlock more weapons,more technology and if you want, you can summon famous warlords, generals, strategists and such but they will be costly.“
„Wow, that's cool, but you still killed me because of a damn game.“
„Haha, who told you to be arrogant in front of a god.“
„Well, it's time for you to go now.Hahaha, have fun Erik, try not to die immediately.“Yeah fuck that guy
„Oh by the way, did you know, I can read your thoughts?“ FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCKKKK!
If someone told you one day that playing videogames would end your life and then save your life, would you believe them?