What do you do when you're given
advance notice that your planet is about to be inducted into a System
in thirty days? When the announcement is made by people whose species
have only been seen in stories and games? When these same people
offer a chance to a select few, those who can afford it on short
notice, to be inducted into the System early and grow in power before
the System even arrives on Earth?
Strange arches show up all over the
world, and no-one quite knows what's going on, although theories
abound. Mike and his grandfather, Collin, try to investigate one of
these arches, setting off a kerfluffle that leads to the people who
have arrived having to announce themselves earlier than intended. The
same incident also gets Mike in trouble with law enforcement as he
posts video of some things the government would prefer not be
released to the general public.
With the announcement that the training
offered will take place on a planet already inducted into the System,
and that only those who can afford the price of an ounce of gold will
be allowed through the portals to the training planet, Mike loses
hope. Collin, who's been a prepper for years, comes through,
surprising Mike with a gold Krugerrand that will allow him to pass
through the portal to train. Dodging the cops, Mike makes it to the
local portal just in time for the first group.
The training is simple, but brutal, and
one of the trainers, a rather unruly orc, seems to take an unhealthy
interest in Mike. That interest turns to hatred as Mike refuses to be
scammed. The conflict between the two has Mike fleeing into the
forest outside of the Safe Zone used for training, a forest that
looks like it has been untouched for thousands of years and is full
of monsters, ruins, and more.
By the time Mike makes it home, he's
gained a class, a group, and has grown in power more than most of the
trainees taking the safer route with the trainers. Things on Earth
are falling apart, with riots and burning cities from the panicking
people who stayed home. On top of that, the arrival of the System
also triggers the arrival of the monsters.
Mike and his group have trained for
this, now it's time to put that training to work.
This story is approximately 160,000
words long and DRM free.
Now available on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F71XXLR2
If you aren't using the US store, just search for ASIN: B0F71XXLR2
Tom