*Your Companion Roy Nova has Leveled up*

*Your Companion Roy Nova has Leveled up*

*Your Companion Roy Nova learned the Hand-to-Hand Combat skill*

*Your Companion Roy Nova has Leveled up*

*Your Companion, Roy Nova learned the Dodge Skill*

*Your Companion Roy Nova has Leveled up*

“Holy shit!” Kaleb said out loud turning to stare at his prone companion.

Does Roy get experience just for fighting or did that bug guy he killed give him a lot of Xp. Kaleb wondered as he brought up Roy’s companion page.

Companion Lvl: Assistant

Name: Roy Nova

Origin: Mundane

Sub-type: Athlete Lvl 6

Experience: 1547/2100

Health: 114/152 (+46)

Stamina: 132/132 (+20)

Defense: 22 (DIY Armor)

STR: 15 (+5)

AGI: 13 (+3)

CON: 18 (+2)

INT: 14 (+3)

WIS: 11 (+1)

CHA: 11 (+1)

Stat points Spent: 15/15

Skills:

Endurance Lvl 3

Slugger Lvl 1

Toughness Lvl 2

Hand-eye coordination Lvl 2

(Dodge Lvl 1)

(Hand-To-Hand Lvl 1)

Metalworking Lvl 1

Weaponsmithing Lvl 2

Electrician Lvl 1

Benefits: 50% off at Nova Hardware

Special Note: Legacy Hero

What the shit! Kaleb mentally swore as he looked at his friend’s stats. The damn kid had better Hp than he did. The stats must play a role in getting Hp and stamina, and that is on top of bonuses he got from skills. But when Kaleb thought about it he had gadgets, that is, if he got around to building them.

Opening his own status page Kaleb tabbed over to his gadget page. He had four gadgets slots open: one in each hand, one in his metal arm, and one on his head. He still had two more gadget slots to unlock on his legs. Strangely his guns didn’t count toward the gadget count like his Ice Ray had, but the Taser Egg did. Man, I really have to work on more gadgets. Kaleb thought briefly before a particular loud bang came from the side door.

Turning, Kaleb saw the cabinet he had placed sideways in front of the door slide forward after a hard hit. Running over, Kaleb pushed the cabinet back into place and put his back to the cabinet and door as he shouted.

“Okay Roy, time to get up! We still have to fight our way out of here.”

Roy remained immobile on the countertop as another harsh slam hit Kaleb’s door.

“Damn it, Roy! Did you fall asleep?” Kaleb yelled as tried to not slide on the kitchen’s tiled floor.

Watching his assistant’s prone form, Kaleb could see Roy’s chest lightly rise and fall. Kaleb didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. How the hell could the kid fall asleep here! Kaleb mentally asked the heavens. Another hard impact hit the door followed by a loud cracking noise.

Stolen novel; please report.

Turning Kaleb saw a large gray horn piercing through the door. The horn seemed to be stuck for a few seconds before its owner twisted it free of the door. In the hole made by the horn Kaleb saw a brief flash of gray skin before a furry mouth and sharp teeth replaced it.

“Hide all you want. The Faceless are almost all dealt with and once we are finished with them, we will get in there and tear you both to pieces.” Said the lion-man’s deep voice.

Kaleb wasn’t even listening he simply put his Cybar to the hole and pulled the trigger. The blast widened the hole a little, but the growl of pain that came from the lion-man was worth it. Not given anyone more time to talk Kaleb kept a steady stream of fire until he had fired all 9 shots. Kaleb vented his pistol as he listened to the Phreaks on the other side of the door swear and groan and pain.

“D… Doc?” Roy’s groggy voice asked from the counter.

Kaleb ducked down as he waited for his gun to vent.

“Oh, morning princess. Ready to fight for our lives?!”

Roy seemed confused for a second until a stream of white thread shot out from the hole in the door. Looking up Kaleb saw a face with six eyes and mandibles around a large mouth. Spider-person, great. Kaleb thought as Roy rolled off the counter and crawled over to Kaleb. Along the way Roy bumped into the body of the Bug-eyed guy he had stabbed.

Roy came to a halt while crawling and stared down at the large puncture wound he had caused with the white dagger. Kaleb’s gun finished venting, and he fired out of the hole again. He heard the spider-person hiss and back away as he turned toward Roy.

“Roy?”

“I… killed him?” Roy asked sounding confused and a little worried.

“Yes, Roy. Yes, you did and I hate to tell you but you will probably have to kill or at least injure a few more.”

Kaleb could kind of get it. Roy was an AI and for the AI this was their world. But game realism would not help him right now. They would have to fight their way out of here or at least retreat down to the cellar/prison. Remembering the cellar, Kaleb fired his last shot and vented his pistol before saying.

“Roy. If you can’t do this, then go down to the cellar and lock yourself into a cell. The Brute Clan is coming. I’ll hold them here.”

Roy was still staring at the dagger wound in the bug-guy’s back, but Kaleb’s words seemed to snap him back to reality. Roy swallowed noticeably before moving over to lean against the cabinet next to Kaleb. Kaleb could see that Roy was visible sweating, and he looked a little pale, but he smiled at Kaleb. Twisting his wrist Roy equipped another stun baton from his bracer.

“Last one.” Roy said voice shaking a little.

“And your spikes?” Kaleb asked looking at Roy’s other bracer.

Roy shook his head. “I couldn’t get the spikes to deploy without hurting myself. But I still have a few loaded.”

The spider-person was back spewing white thread down at them as they hid behind the sideways cabinet. Kaleb was about to return fire before he stopped and asked Roy.

“Give me one.”

“What?”

“Spike. Give me one of your spikes.” Kaleb said as a wad of webbing slapped the cabinet close to his head.

Roy pulled his long sleeve shirt back and opened his bracer on his right arm. Once he had it open he pulled a collapsible spike out and handed it to Kaleb. Kaleb quickly snapped the spike out to its long thin form and jumped up, plunging it through the hole.

The spider-person screamed as the spike plunged deep into its eye. Green blood spurted out as Kaleb quickly yanked the spike out. He wasn’t sure how deep he had stabbed but the screaming seemed to show that the spider was still alive. Kaleb ducked back down behind the cabinet and handed the spike back to Roy.

“Thanks.” Kaleb said over the still screaming spider-person.

Roy took the spike and gulped at the green blood dripping off it. Rallying himself Roy turned to Kaleb.

“So what’s next?”

Kaleb glanced at the other blocked door to the kitchen. People were still banging on it, but it seemed like the heavy hitters were on the door he and Roy blocked. Next he looked around the kitchen, but other than dishes, chairs, a table, and an electric stove there wasn’t a lot to use. Kaleb braced as a heavy slam sent Roy and him skidded forward. Bracing against the door again, Kaleb told Roy his idea.

“You move another one of those cabinets against this door and then we wedge the table against it. Then we charge out the other door. It’s closest to the front door and we can make a run for it.” Kaleb whispered trying not to be overheard.

Roy nodded and moved as Kaleb provided covering fire with his pistol. Roy easily slid the cabinet across the tiled floor and lined it up against the door. Kaleb vented his pistol and helped Roy place the second cabinet on top of the first. Kaleb stood and braced his back against the two cabinets. Next came the kitchen table which they wedged against the door. Once finished they stood in front of the second door.

Kaleb drew his magic gun and charged it up. He held the image of a large boulder in his mind as he charged his yellow Mana through the gun. They would need space once they made it through. Kaleb silently nodded toward the second door, indicating for the young man to open the door. Roy watched as Kaleb poured more Magic into the gun. Once Kaleb gave Roy a second nod, the young Nova opened the door and quickly moved out of the way.

Two men with wolf-like features looked shocked as they tumbled into the room. Kaleb released his Magic and braced for the headache as he held his aim steady. A large cannon ball sized chunk of rock rocketed out of the gun and collided with the two wolf-man sending them flying back into the foyer.

Kaleb pocketed his Magic gun and grabbed his three Taser Eggs as he shouted. “Go! Make for the door!”

Roy nodded and rushed out the door, stun baton held out in front of him. Kaleb followed quickly after, ready to throw all three of his Taser Eggs to clear the way. As they entered the lobby, Kaleb almost swore, twelve members of the Phreaks seemed to be waiting for them in a half-circle around the door. The boulder from his Magic gun seemed to have surprised them, but they had expected them. A six-foot rhino-man and the lion guy ran around the corner from the second kitchen entrance as they passed into the looby.

Roy was charging into a group of Phreaks trying for the main door. Kaleb tossed his Taser Eggs toward the door, careful not to hit Roy. He gritted his teeth and followed Roy firing his Cybar pistol into the ring of Phreaks. He heard the lion-man roar behind him as they pushed their way through the ring of guys. Roy’s stun baton helped them immensely, making the Phreaks easy to shove aside. Kaleb gave an involuntary sigh of relief as he passed the front door.

But his elation was short-lived, because in the courtyard the Master was on the ground, wielding a white sword and dagger, surrounded by Phreaks. Kaleb and Roy skidded to a stop as their exit garnered a lot of stares from the edges of the mob. For a brief second all was quiet as they stared at each other, but soon the lion roared again and the mob surged toward Roy and Kaleb.