Intellectum
Book 2
By Valery Starsky
Copyright © 2021 by Valery Starsky
All rights reserved.
Contact: [email protected]
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to reality is coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission request, send an email to the above contact.
Translator: Michelle Miller
Illustrator: Alexey Vinogradov
Contents
Chapter 1. Red Alert
Chapter 2. Reaper
Chapter 3. Dark Radiance
Chapter 4. Inexplicable Strike
Chapter 5. Hello, Incredible New World
Chapter 6. Dark Druid
Chapter 7. Invasion
Chapter 8. Packing
Chapter 9. Duel
Chapter 10. Hunting
Chapter 11. Direct Occupation
Chapter 12. Dark Master
Chapter 13. Death and Revenge
Chapter 14. Dark Ghost
Chapter 15. Star Jumper
Chapter 16. Onuga Haz
Chapter 17. Tonas Var the Interpreter
Chapter 18. New Ways
Chapter 19. Fights, High-hat and Negotiation
Chapter 20. Forward to the Distant Stars
Chapter 21. Minstrel of Stone Plateaus
Chapter 22. Range and Zone of Intensive Water
Chapter 23. Mother’s Diaper
Chapter 24. Song and Dance
Chapter 25. Abandoned in the Dark Water
Chapter 26. Hello, Life on the Line.
Afterwords
Other books by Valery Starsky
LitRPG on Facebook
Gamelit on Facebook
Afterword
Chapter 1. Red Alert
In and out, in and out. Alex rushed along the inner diameter of the training ground, pushing the limits of his strength and concentration. In and out, in and out.
“A hundred yards to the right!” the metallic voice of the training AI thundered from above. Alex, running along a large surface drawn in the form of a huge target, suddenly vanished, reappearing a hundred yards to the right.
“Yeah! Phoenix! Phoenix! Come on!” the muffled yet enthusiastic screams permeated the slightly transparent armored walls of the training area. The jubilant spectators in the stands shouted, seemingly not caring about damage to their vocal cords. F*ck all the restrictions! When else could they observe their clan leader’s extreme training?
The emotionless AI shouted over the noisy crowd, announcing its orders in a voice as if banging a deafening drum. “Hit! Grade: ‘excellent’! Attention, Phoenix! I’ve noticed a three-second violation of spatial structures. Cause of complications: not identified.”
Ha-ha. I know that, genius. You better get used to the fact that something is always wrong with me, Alex laughed to himself.
He didn’t know the reason why, when using the portal, disasters always seemed to accompany him. Like right now, when a blizzard, broke out in the vast open space of the seventh hangar. What a show!
The training proved unsuccessful. After only a dozen movements through the portal, Alex wanted to take a break, take a sip of cold water.
The man sighed. Well, no… no way! You won’t even let me take a breath, electronic satraps! He, of course, was right.
“Three hundred and fifty yards to the right with a turn of one hundred and eighty degrees,” Thunder Beast, the main combat training AI, continued the test unabated. “Keep up the pace! Keep up the pace!” the torturing artificial trainer shouted like peals of thunder, escalating the situation and sometimes stunning Alex.
Fucking Beast! I’m worn out. My ears are ringing already…
Alex understood — everything that happened here was not in vain: the extremely high pace, the disorienting. deafening voice, even the crowds of people in the stands — everything made sense.
“Satisfactory rating! Deviation within three yards! Attention – a seven-second violation of spatial structures was noted at the output. Cause of complications – not identified,” the AI continued to rumble. “Get it together, Phoenix! Stay focused! You have fifteen more laps to go.”
“Rrrr,” Alex could only growl through tightly clenched teeth. His body was already trembling.
Smiley interrupted the test with the buzz of an angry transformer, bursting into the seventh hangar with the news, “The Reaper has entered the solar system!”
Alex hesitated for a moment before saying in a hoarse voice, “Show me.”
It’s crazy! I’ll never get used to that, the thought flashed through his mind.
He found himself standing in front of a three-dimensional projection so realistic that he almost felt the need to don a spacesuit.
Alex had previously seen the unforgettable, stunning sight — ships dropping out of FTL. However, this time was different: Not taking his eyes off the projection, he backed away a couple of steps. The space near Neptune suddenly lit up with many wandering flashes before crumpling like transparent cellophane and exploding into multiple hot pieces. A giant ship appeared out of the chaos. Its characteristics made Alex’s blood freeze.
“Thirty-three thousand yards,” he whispered, spellbound, unable to take his eyes off the ship.
The giant ship vaguely resembled a trident with a narrow long central sting. The Reaper turned, aiming at the Earth.
Controlling himself, Alex shouted, “Battle alert!”
Alex donned his spacesuit, his heartbeat pulsing in his ears as if pushing him forward: faster, faster! in the hopes of getting to the small, high-speed ship in the twelfth hangar in three portal jumps. He’d gone through all the training for a reason!
He had memorized the space station’s schematics to the smallest detail. At this critical juncture, with his heart beating in a frenetic rhythm, he first felt his mentor’s power.
He had barely made his first jump when he ended up in the pilot's seat of a small spacecraft. He felt a high acceleration, the work of compensators roaring from the overload not helping much. Despite the severity of the overloads, Alex screamed in delight, echoing the roaring engines.
Earthlings obviously have deviations in the psyche. His vessels seem to burst from the overload, but he’s overjoyed about this, Mentor Jokeiro thought in perplexity.
***
The brisk, clean air was saturated with various pleasant smells. Silence and dusk reigned near a transparent sarcophagus, illuminated from
