Sleeping Player (Project Chrysalis Book 3) by John Gold (novel24 TXT) 📕

see a whole flock of wyverns flying by. They’re heading toward the equator, where there’s more wildlife and it isn’t so cold. We have to eat as we run and put off sleeping until we get to the city.

Thirty-six hours later, we get to Gimza and rent a room in the tavern where the trial is supposed to take place. We sleep until the next day. Femida climbs out of her living armor and refuses to take another step until she gets a shower and eats, and the only thing worse than a hungry Femida is Slender watching her in the shower. He always tries to scare her, and he’s always successful.

Isaac takes some lipstick and writes a note on the door of the bathroom: Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. Femida comes flying out with just a towel wrapped around her, cursing like a stevedore, and reaches for her sword, though Slender disappears into the shadows faster than she can go to town on him.

The living armor pretends he’s a clothes tree, and all the conjecture, wild threats, accusations of voyeurism, and the wish for a quick death get piled on me. Isaac is enjoying the view of Femida half-naked, not to mention the fact that he got off scot-free. Slender peeks out happily, and I’m the only one sitting on the sprouting floorboards.

“Everybody wait here! I’ll be back for you when the trial is over, Fem. Hey, you, clothes tree—don’t let her out of the room.”

There are two more hours left before the beginning of the trial, but I decide to go see the barman. For the third time, I recognize Hunters in everyday life, and for the third time, they’re working in a tavern. Two waiters are teaching a third how to move and place his feet without making a sound. I think I can tell what training they had in mind for us after the first trial.

The barman, noticing where I’m looking, just smiles and asks if I need anything. I give him the code phrase, and he takes me down personally to the mobile portal I remember.

Once again, teleportation flashes, and I find myself in the room where the participants are gathering. It’s the same square, underground bunker with an arena in the middle. This time, I see a veritable ocean of children, a motley group of players, and lots of judges. If there were around four hundred people there for the probation period last time, there are far more this time. The administrator is talking about the skills the Hunters offer from the podium. I have to listen standing up, as the seats are all taken.

The trial is going to take place in Katain. The League of Hunters is putting together an unprecedented effort to offer military aid to the population there, and Hunters from three continents will be participating in diversionary operations across Katain. The best clans in the world will be launching an attack on all fronts, with most of the gods taking command in the main battles with the demons. Still, that isn’t enough to win. The average difference between the demons and the players is 330 levels. In other words, participating for most players means certain death, which is why only the strongest groups will be fighting. The attack itself was cooked up as preparation for the war with the demons, and to provide cover for the evacuation of everyone living in far-off villages without portals. The job handed to the Hunters and those going to the trial is to destroy mobile antiportal installations.

I notice Urius, who had been in charge of the trial in Ovidius, among the judges.

The swordsman’s glance slides across me, though without recognition.

As the judges are explaining the idea behind the League of Hunters, I send Femida the low-down on what we’re going to be doing.

Grab your things, head over to the auction, and activate the invitation for the liberation mission in Katain. As soon as you get there, let me know. I’ll tell you where the fun’s going to happen.

The supervisor is wrapping up his speech.

“…all you need to do is survive for twenty-four hours and destroy the target we give you. As soon as we get the exact locations of the antiportal installations, the operation will begin. You’ll all be distributed into groups of approximately equal strength.”

From what the people on the benches next to me are saying, the trolls, ogres, orcs, and goblins requested aid, offering to unlock their races for players in exchange. The young gods remaining after the death of the trinity jumped at the opportunity and hired the entire League of Hunters. Lunar is probably doubling their yearly income just from the commission on all of this.

A hubbub breaks out, some people offering their wares even here. I get a notification that Ekron added me as a friend.

If you’re ever in the neighborhood, just keep on walking.

No such luck. The entire world is about to get together for a party with the demons in Katain, so I’m not going to be able to keep on walking.

You’re going, too?

I have probation with the Hunters. See you there? Maybe, see how we match up?

Freddy vs. Jason?

Hey, I’m Jason! Let me know when you’ll be in Katain, and I’ll stop by. Okay, I’m off to get my ski mask and machete ready.

Things start moving, and the first players head through the portal. It’s there that Urius and I glance at each other. He still doesn’t recognize me, though I can sense his fear. I assume his group is in for a serious battle, and he’s local, so he has a dog in the fight.

The portal takes me to Raban Plateau. The sky and clouds are blood-red, the air is hot and dry, and there’s some creature screaming nearby. The demons are moving quickly through Katain. Somehow, it feels like