The Gene of the Ancients (Rogue Merchant Book #2): LitRPG Series by Roman Prokofiev (top books to read TXT) 📕

“What do you mean, God knows where? I’m right here, in the capsule!”

“I’ll break this coffin apart, I swear!” Alena hissed, her face twisted in a grimace of undisguised hate. “You don’t believe me? I will, I’ll take a hammer and smash it into little pieces!”

“Please don’t. It’s expensive, and the loan’s still unpaid. Mechanical damage isn’t a warranty case.”

“I don’t give a damn! Oleg, don’t you feel us growing apart? When did we have a normal conversation? Two days ago? Three? You’ve always there, inside your Sphere, as if I’m some idiot, a maid, a neighbor!”

“Please don’t exaggerate. Yes, today I’ve — “

“You don’t notice anything, and I’ve read a bit about this Sphere! Yes!” She snorted. “Do you know how many families it has ruined? Thousands! People get absorbed, as if they’re addicted. They don’t need anything other than that game! They leave their wives, get divorced. Oleg, I can see that it draws you in, too. Please stop, I beg you!”

Everything that my dear wife was saying was unfortunately true, exaggerated and disjointed, but still true. The enhanced immersion effect that I had experienced first-hand really was more addictive than any drug. Many people left real life for good, escaping into the worlds of Sphere and spending their lives in new bodies, making their secret wishes come true. The supposed damage to society was constantly discussed, and there were rumors that time spent online would be regulated, like in China. So far, the developers seemed to have enough money to keep the matter from reaching the boiling point.

“Is it true that everything is real there, just like here?” she asked, suddenly sniffling. I hadn’t even noticed she was crying! I embraced her, and Alena, as if expecting that, pressed her face into my chest and sobbed soundlessly. I kept consoling her: everything will be all right, we’ll make it... Abruptly, she raised her reddened eyes at me.

“When you didn’t leave for such a long time, I grew worried, started to read things... Sometimes, people had their hearts stopped, something in their brain burst open... And I went to check up on you. And your face, it was so...strange.”

She faltered, looking for a word.

“You have the same expression as when we’re...well... Oleg, what were you doing there?”

The hand comm beeped at just the wrong time. I glanced at the screen. It was a message from Sphere, the alliance chat.

* * *

TO ALL MEMBERS OF NORTHERN ALLIANCE! TO ARMS!

5:30, NEW TOKYO TIME: EVERYONE ONLINE. RENDEZVOUS IN DAN-NA-ARD. EXPECT A BIG BATTLE.

VARANGIANS, BRETHREN: COMPULSATORY ATTENDANCE. THE REST: OPTIONAL. EQUIPMENT AND CONSUMABLES: SEE ATTACHMENT.

“So it’s Dan-na-Ard,” Tao said, musing as he tapped the table with his hand. “They’re going to attack the Bear Pass. That’s to be expected.”

“You bet. We’re building three nestled forts, two Agatosh’s, one ours. Construction will finish at 9:00, 9:15, and 9:30. If they don’t take them by the morning, they’ll never drive us out of the pass.”

“I agree, Mirgus. Have you warned Agatosh?”

“It’s done. He doesn’t need a warning, anyway. We also have two teams on duty there and lots of pawns, ours and the Lady’s. The Servants of Lycus, the Vulgars, the Stone-fingered from Hayvin. They should hold.”

“And they will only have the Brethren and the Varangians?” Tao purred.

“Yes, plus some rabble from the faction. The Varangians have moved their flying frigate to Ardat,” Mirgus added.

“That’s no problem. They pose no danger unless it’s not the entire alliance led by Goodfellow. By the way, what do our spies report? Have they started buying flying ships?”

“The Watchers are trying, but they don’t have a crew for them.”

“The Watchers don’t take part in the war. They’ve even applied for Helt Akor for tomorrow!” Tao snorted. “Let them farm for as long as they want. I’ve talked to Madman and Goodfellow, I know them from the old times. They don’t care about the faction war.”

“So should we do a dispatch in the morning?”

“Yes, tell everyone to assemble. It’s Red Light, attendance mandatory. We need maximum online.”

* * *

The battle started unexpectedly, at dawn. Weapons thundered as a huge ten-cannon Varangian frigate soared in the sky beyond everyone’s reach, raining fire with its largest guns. A pentagram flashed into existence uncomfortably close to the orc bands stationed inside the pass. A host of players — foot soldiers, mounted, and airborne — swooped in on the enemy lines.

Gorth Hagra Agatosh, whose warriors had spent the entire night fortifying their positions, was waiting for this attack. Giant unfinished outposts swarming with scurrying orcs loomed above the burnt soil of Bear Pass. In three hours, the fortresses would be complete, gaining territorial influence, bestowing bonuses on their defenders, and sanctioning the creation of infrastructure: the outer walls, watchtowers with gun emplacements, and the magic shield that activated the Dome. All they had to do was to hold out those three hours.

Drax riders — Agatosh’s own air troops — rushed to meet the birdies. Heavily armored troops put up walls of shields with wolf riders filling up spaces between the squadrons. Arrows kept swooshing just above their heads as ballistae and arbalests fired one volley after another. Wizards, shamans, and black healers of the Lady got covered by elite fighters, preparing to dispel the players’ magic and retaliate with their own.

Tao: Party leaders, what’s your status?

Svoy: Here.

Illeth: In position.

Peacemaker: We’re ready.

Tentacle: !

Snake: We’re ready.

Nestor: Here.

……

Tao: Great. Twelve parties, one hundred and forty-seven people in the raid. Great attendance, thank you all. Mirgus, broadcast scout reports. And activate Bird’s Eyes: I need to see what’s going on there.

Mirgus: There’s six hundred of them, more than we expected. It’s a lot, Tao!

Tao: Do they have Eyrian NPCs with them?