The time on my tablet read 12:38 a.m., a burst of anxiety ran up my spine to my skull. I had to be up in a few hours to get ready for work, but I couldn’t stop my eyes resumed their rapid movements. A few moments passed and my pulse quickened and my awareness gradually shifted from my surroundings to the action taking place in my mind. I no longer noticed the chill barely kept at bay by the thin blanket I had draped over myself a few hours before. Nor did I notice the faint smell of leather ever present in my favorite reclining chair.
My mind fully engrossed in the actions of my favorite protagonist as he fights for his loved ones in an RPG world. Excitement fills me as he triumphs over the final boss and begins to examine his personal progress and rewards. An amused grunt escapes me as he receives yet another ability with the potential to be overpowered. I tap the screen without conscious thought, turning the page as I had been doing repeatedly for hours.
The End.
Notes From the Author
Thank you everyone for reading blah blah blah. Leave a review…
I exhaled in a short angry burst "Fucking hell". I hadn’t noticed how close the end of the book was and it’s sudden appearance was slightly jarring. The time read 1:40 a.m. as the tablet powered down and I headed to bed. I can’t believe I did this to myself… again I thought as I shuffled down the hallway. I entered my bathroom and glanced at myself in the mirror. Blue eyes gazed back at me from a somewhat handsome face. That might be a bit generous as I’ve never really had compliments on my looks but I liked it so what else really matters. Noticing the bags under my bright blue eyes, now somewhat bloodshot, I thought I’m going to be a frickin zombie tomorrow. Dreading the exhausting day of IT work while dealing with performance review meetings I finished brushing my teeth and headed to bed. Of course I chose this job after quiting my previous game development gig three years prior, so I had no right to complain.
I had interviewed for this job specifically because my previous career had burnt me out. It’s high stress environment and short deadlines were hell and I desperately wanted out. The bills kept me there however. I didn’t have student loans thanks to what my parents left me and my sister after they passed, but I still needed to make enough to live. Thats why I studied computer science in college after all, in the end I only lasted four years before I left for something more manageable. Indeed my current IT job is truly the only reason I even had enough energy to stay up this late reading. I hate working with other people, but I consider it a small price to pay. With that thought I closed my eyes and tried to think of happier things. Like what it would be like to live in a LitRPG world I had read so much about.
I awoke to my phone alarm blaring on my nightstand. My eyes barely opened, giving me just enough vision to hit the stop button. I must have some gunk in my eye I thought noticing the shapes impeding my vision. Opening my eyes a little more fully after giving them a thorough rub I let out a small chuckle. Looks like I’m still dreaming after all I thought as my mind instantly recognized the game prompt hovering in my vision.
Congratulations!
You have been chosen to participate in a new event titled “Mortal Crucible”. Participation in this event is optional. Select your response below to enact equivalent protocols. Yes Yes
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
The corner of my mouth twitched up in a smirk quickly replaced with an expression of confusion as I realized I could feel. I must be lucid dreaming if I can still feel and control myself. Huh first time for everything I suppose. I’ve never had one before but had come across the term a few times in various FaceTube videos. Focusing back on the prompt excitement filled me as I tried to anticipate what my mind might come up with. Well lets see where this goes. I mentally tried to accept the invitation.
Soul crushing pain instantly consumed me. I tried to scream but either my vocal cords were crushed or my eardrums had shattered, it felt like both. My mind tried to analyze what was happening to me and the only thing it could conceive is that somehow microscopic shards of glass had been shoved between all the cells in my body while a pressure continually shifted and jostled me to cause millions of microscopic abrasions and cuts. Maybe my nerves are on fire, it’s a toss up.
Hours later, perhaps seconds, and my mind began to shatter. I could feel myself losing sanity as my thoughts became incoherent even to myself. A shard of my mind began laughing hysterically as it realized my death would come from a dream. Another shard is trying to comprehend the sensations I could feel beyond the pain and in doing so began to itself shatter. Some shards occupied themselves with dreamlike thoughts and ideas that had no foot in reality. The rest were immersed in the pain. Trying unsuccessfully to process it or a way to end it and possibly myself.
Suddenly I felt something solid beneath me, a comforting and familiar sensation. My eyes firmly shut I felt what seemed like grass and dirt on my left side and a slight breeze on my left. I must be lying down I thought as the ghost of pain slowly released me from it’s agonizing embrace. I curled into a fetal position as the spasms slowed and I acquired a small amount of motor control. Eventually I began to understand more of what my senses had been telling me, the warmth of the sun against my skin and the sound of birdsong in the distance.
With sensations I could understand, my mind slowly fell into familiar patterns of thought and I felt comfortable enough to open my eyes. I was greeted by a vast rolling meadow surrounded by giant trees. Surrounded by greenery , both familiar and alien, I was comforted in a way with how natural everything seemed. The peace helped sooth my tattered mind and I felt better enough to attempt sitting up. Groaning with the effort as the last remnants of pain left me, I took in my surroundings more completely.
The meadow stretched about three football field lengths ahead of me. Turning around I found I was at the base of the tree line on this side of the meadow. Feeling a bit exposed I half stumbled half crawled to the base of an enormous tree. It’s size reminding me of the red woods I had visited in Northern California as part of a college visiting trip with my sister. These trees however have a black colored bark that contrasts beautifully with the green leaves. This color should seem strange to me but seeing it I can’t help but think how natural it looks despite its alien appearance. Completely drained from my crawl to the tree I lost my fight against the exhaustion that was setting in and succumbed to sleeps dark embrace.
I awoke sometime later with a ray of sunlight blinding me. “Ah what the fuck” I said, trying to shield my eyes with my hand. As my eyes adjusted and I noticed my surroundings my memories of earlier came back to me. Sleep had done my mind wonders, I can only remember bits and pieces from that experience as my mind suppressed the memories. No doubt I’ll need to deal with that experience sooner or later but I have other problems at the moment. First of all where the hell am I and second how did I get into these clothes? I wondered as I noticed I was wearing a gray short sleeved shirt and black shorts. Both articles of clothing made of a material I couldn’t identify. I remember going to bed as usual with boxers as my only article of clothing. My eyes drifted to my feet as I noticed some type of boot with socks that felt like they might have been made from wool.
With no answer presenting itself I took in my surroundings once again only to notice a small faintly pulsing orb in the top right corner of my vision. My breath caught in my throat and every muscle in my body seemed to tense as it triggered a memory of the prompt I encountered just before my arrival here. Body shaking slightly now I hesitantly tried to click it with my mind.
Hello Traveller!
Welcome to "Mortal Crucible"