The ritual of challenge usually only had two or three Aspirants stepping forward to take out disagreements on each other; Thomas had thirteen opponents moving forward.
“That’s what I wanted to hear, boy!” Edvard grinned and stepped back, clearing the ring.
“I claim the right to stand beside my Battle-Brother,” came a voice from Thomas’s right, and he looked over, shocked at seeing Coran still standing beside him.
“Granted.” Edvard replied, and he nodded to a corporal who stood next to the iron bell.
“This day, Thomas, Slave-Aspirant, fights to advance his soul. He fights for the right to stand as a full Aspirant Soldier in the service of Nimon, hoping to one day earn his place as a Legionnaire of the Third Legion. His Battle-Brother, Coran Steelswitch, claims his right to stand with him, as he faces thirteen Disputers. This bout will be decided before the eyes of the Death God.”
The bell was rung three times, its iron celebration filling the air, and everyone gathered felt the attention of a God settle on them. The air grew heavy and oppressive, colors seemed to dim, and the sun vanished behind a veil of dullness. The aspirants shivered, feeling the touch of Nimon for the first time.
Thomas looked over at Edvard, watching the man shiver in ecstasy at the presence of his Dark God, before they locked eyes. Edvard gave him a nod of approval, and the final, fourth clang of the bell filled the air, before being drowned out in the growls of bloodlust that rose from the thirteen men and women surrounding Thomas and Coran.
The pair moved fast, shifting to stand back to back, Thomas grabbing the large square shield that he’d been using back up from the floor and gripping the worn leather bands.
“Thanks, Coran,” he muttered to his friend, and got a grunt in reply.
Thomas had worked his ass off to get this chance. He might never be free again; he’d accepted that when he’d sworn his Oath to Nimon, but at least he wasn’t being beaten and tortured daily anymore…well, no more than anyone else.
He’d resigned himself to Nimon’s service, knowing the only way he’d ever be free to walk the world again would be if he could reach the rank of Legionnaire Specialist and become a Stalker, or by becoming a Legionnaire and serving his full term of thirty years.
The only way he could do either of those things was by kicking everyone else’s ass here.
A scream from his left was all Thomas needed to hear as they all started in on him, the first running and smashing his sword down into the middle of Thomas’s shield, only to have it shrugged off. A wooden Gladius took the eager beaver in the chin, lifting him off his feet to collapse moaning on the floor, two teeth lighter.
Thomas didn’t wait for the idiot to fall. He knew enough to know two things; the fool was out of the fight, and the real fighters would be coming as soon as he was distracted. He ducked instinctively, feeling the passage of the arrow that missed as it flew overhead, its thick cloth-wrapped tip would leave a nasty bruise if it hit, and he didn’t need the pain.
Thomas straightened, lashing his sword out to deflect the next sword, then kicked its wielder in the balls hard enough to lift him from his feet. The catman let out a high-pitched yowl of pain as he collapsed, and Thomas grinned. He lived for this shit.
End of Book Two
The LitRPG Guildmasters
Who we are: The LitRPG Guildmasters is a group of dedicated LitRPG and Gamelit authors trying to spread the word of our favorite genres. By working together and introducing new people to amazing books we hope to expand the genres that we love. Sign up to the LitRPG Guildmasters Newsletter and follow us on Facebook to keep up to date on our latest work.
LitRPG Guildmasters Titles:
Altered Realms: Ascension by B.F. Rockriver
Brightblade by Jez Cajiao
Condition Evolution by Kevin Sinclair
Ethria: The Pioneer by Aaron Holloway
Grim Beginnings: The Ashen Plane by Maxwell Farmer
Primeverse by R.K. Billiau
Radioactive Evolution by Richard Hummel
Shattered Sword by TJ Reynolds
Tower of Gates: Hack by Paul Bellow
Watchers Test by Sean Oswald
Cipher’s Quest by Tim Kaiver
Or find all kinds of amazing LitRPG at www.amazon.com/litrpg
LitRPG!
I’m often asked for personal recommendations, so if this book has whetted your appetite for more LitRPG, please have a look at the following, these are brilliant series by brilliant authors!
Ascend Online by Luke Chmilenko
The Land by Aleron Kong
Challengers Call by Nathan A Thompson
SoulShip also by Nathan
Endless Online by M H Johnson
Silver Fox and the Western Hero, also by M.H. Johnson
The Good Guys/Bad Guys by Eric Ugland
LITRPG!
There's one LitRPG page that’s probably the first one I found, and hopefully it'll be a great starting point for you all if you've never read any before, its Aleron Kong's group: LitRPG!!!
There’s also a few really active Facebook groups I’d recommend you join, as you’ll get to hear about great new books, new releases and interact with all your (new) favorite authors! (I may also be there, skulking at the back and enjoying the memes…)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGsociety/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPG.books//
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LitRPGforum/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gamelitsociety/
Reviews…
I was blown away by the amount of people that took the time to leave review for me on my first book, Brightblade, and it means so much to an indie author to read them, so thank you all.
Please, please leave a review for me if you like the book, it’ll make it much more likely that Amazon and others will promote, discuss and show my book to other people, that in turn leads to greater sales, and gets me a step closer to being able to write full time for you all…
All you
