《The Chain Golem》


 Chapter 1

    This is always the worst, first day at the new school. The day where everyone else is friends, except for you. Well, it¡¯s not like I go around trying to be friends with people, but even loners should have at least a few right? Right?! Ah, whatever, at least I¡¯m used to it. I still remember when it first happened. I had gone around trying to find someone, anyone, that would talk to me, but no one did. It was like I didn¡¯t exist, though to them I probably didn¡¯t, with their noses always buried in their smartphones. What, do I sound bitter? That¡¯s because I can¡¯t use electronics. They always short out near me, and no one wants a friend that breaks their phone when they are close by. It¡¯s not like I don¡¯t understand why they use their phones. I mean, it¡¯s basically all the worlds information at the tips of your fingers.


    I¡¯m awakened from my thoughts when someone runs into me, or maybe I ran into them. Luckily I have one of those zip up binders, so none of my stuff falls out. They aren¡¯t so lucky, a lot of papers spill onto the ground. The other person scrambles to pick them up, so I hurry up and join them. It¡¯s only fair since I¡¯m the reason they fell in the first place, I think. When all the papers were picked up I hand them to the person I collided with. I finally see who the person is, and I¡¯m surprised that they fell at all. Standing in front of me is a guy about six foot six, with a head of curly red hair.


    ¡°Sorry¡± The guy says to me. ¡°I¡¯m pretty clumsy¡± He seems genuinely sorry, so I don¡¯t hold it against him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, I wasn¡¯t paying attention to where I was going. Hey, do you know where room 127 is?¡± Might as well get directions while I¡¯m at it.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s where you¡¯re going, I have that class too! Just follow me¡± Wait! That¡¯s the way I just came from! Don¡¯t tell me I was going the opposite way. ¡°By the way, my name¡¯s Tommy¡± My guide tells me.


    ¡°I¡¯m Mark, I¡¯m new here by the way¡± Now that introductions are out of the way, it¡¯s only a matter of time before this guy finds out my secret and leaves. Might as well get this over with. ¡°Sorry about your phone¡± And he leaves in 3, 2- ¡°What phone?¡± -1? What do you mean what phone? Who doesn¡¯t have a phone these days, well except for me.


    ¡°Do you not have a phone?¡± ¡°Nope, why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that¡­ I don¡¯t get along well with electronics, they always break around me¡± God, I sound so self deprecating, I mean, it¡¯s not really my fault I was born like this. Maybe my ¡®parents¡¯ are finally getting to me.


    Why do I sound resentful when I say that? It¡¯s simple, my parents hate me. Why. Well¡­ I may have killed my grandfather¡­ Don¡¯t freak out, it¡¯s just that my grandpa had a pacemaker and well, you can imagine what happened next. Of course, that didn¡¯t stop dear old mom and dad from taking his considerable wealth and living like royalty. Oh wait, conversation, right.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡± Here it comes¡­ ¡°awesome! It¡¯s like you have a superpower!¡±...what? Is this kid alright in the head? I mean, I guess some people would think of it like that, but it really is a curse. Imagine being a murderer before you¡¯re even an hour old, it¡¯s not nice.


    ¡°Oh, here¡¯s 127. Hey, there¡¯s an empty seat next to me if you want so sit there!¡± Tommy gets really excited easily huh, but he seems nice enough. I accept his offer and walk into my first class of this school, English. Who would have thought I¡¯d be greeted with a familiar face, unfortunately it¡¯s not a friendly one.


    ¡°What are you doing here you freak!¡± With long black hair cascading down her back, and flawless skin with no blemishes to be seen, my ex-best friend and now enemy. Sara Withers, a fitting last name to go with her terrible personality. I thought she moved away years¡­ oh. Just my luck I run into her again.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Hi Sara, great to see you here, how have you been. How¡¯s the folks?¡± When in doubt, sarcasm, sarcasm hard.


    ¡°Don¡¯t try and change the subject you demon! What is it you¡¯re doing at this school?!¡± Believe it or not, we used to get along great. She was the first person who didn¡¯t care about my curse. We''d go hang out at the park and just, talk. I will admit, I had a crush on her. But then it happened. Saras family isn¡¯t rich like mine, and she had a part time job as a model. She saved up for a year to buy this really expensive game console, and in her excitement, forgot why I didn¡¯t have many friends and showed it to me. She ended up blaming me for it breaking, and stopped talking to me altogether, except for when she and her friends tormented me at school. Let¡¯s just say, I got over my crush really fast.


    ¡°Hey, are you even listening to me?!¡± She¡¯s still talking? If I¡¯m a demon then she must be a banshee. How do I respond, well, honesty is the best policy.


    ¡°Not even a bit, come on Tommy, let¡¯s go sit down.¡± I bring my stunned guide to the desks and have him point out our seats. I get out a pencil and a clean spiral notebook and wait for class to start. Sara seems like she was going to start shouting again but luckily the bell rings just as the teacher walks in. The Banshee sits down immediately and acts like nothing happened.


    The teacher himself seems to be pretty old, but not out of shape. He looks like an old army vet. He carries himself like someone who has seen combat would. Not like I know anybody like that but I assume this is what they would look like.


    ¡°Alright class, time to start roll, raise your hand when I call your name. Tommy Anderson¡±


    ¡°Here!¡± My former guide waves his hand energetically. No one seems phased so it looks like the¡¯re used to him by now.


    ¡°Simon Mithel¡± ¡°Here¡± ¡°John Thomson¡± ¡°Present¡± ¡°Kyle Strong¡± ¡°Yo¡±¡­


    ¡°Sara Withers¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Wow, she¡¯s even acting pretentious towards the teacher. I guess not much has changed.


    ¡°Now that that¡¯s settled, on to the actual work¡± Wait, he didn¡¯t call me, he did get the email that I would be here right? ¡°Um, Sir?¡± I say respectfully, trying to get his attention.


    ¡°Yes, what is it kid?¡± He says to me without turning away from the board. ¡°You forgot to mark me as present¡±


    Still not looking at me he says in an authoritative tone ¡°No I haven¡¯t¡± What?! He never called my name, how would he know if I was here?


    ¡°Sir, you must have made a mistake, you never called my name¡± The teacher puts down his pencil, and I hear Sara chuckle evilly. Don¡¯t tell me this is one of those teachers who won¡¯t admit they¡¯re wrong! Those are the worst.


    ¡°And what¡¯s your name boy?¡± He looks like he¡¯s trying to intimidate me. The whole class, even the banshee Sara, is dead quiet. To bad for him I¡¯m not scared easily. I look him dead in the eye and respond.


    ¡°Sir, my name is Mark Tylers, not ¡®boy¡¯¡± My dad calls me that, and I only let him because I can¡¯t stop him, I won¡¯t let this old man do the same. No one else dares to even breath right now, the tension so thick even a knife couldn¡¯t cut it.


    The teacher stares at me for a while, and then¡­ chuckles? ¡°Okay Mark, have it your way, but stop calling me ¡®Sir¡¯, I haven¡¯t gone by that title for a while. Call me Mr. Atlas like everyone else.¡± A fitting last name for such a man. When everything has calmed down Tommy leans in and whispers frantically.


    ¡°What was that?! How did you do that?¡± Tommy seems to be looking at me with awe, but I don¡¯t get what such a big deal is. ¡°What¡¯s the problem¡±


    ¡°He called you by name! He doesn¡¯t do that with anyone, not even the principle!¡± Wow, really. I must have gotten on his bad side then. Oh well. ¡°He said he¡¯ll only do that for people who earn his respect! And you got it on the first day!¡± Wait really?! Maybe he isn¡¯t such a bad guy after all.


    And that is how I found my favorite class of the school.

 Chapter 2

    The day past relatively quickly, I had no more classes with Tommy, which was slightly disappointing. No one else was nice to me, it seems that Sara already told the rest of the school about my ¡®superpower¡¯ as Tommy likes to call it. I kept getting glares in class, and everyone gives me a wide berth in the hallways. So nothing new, this is the treatment I received in all my other schools as well.


    Walking ¡®home¡¯ isn¡¯t that hard, I made sure that I memorized the route before I went to school. It¡¯s not like I can get anyone to pick me up if I get lost, and even if I did I couldn¡¯t call them either. Rounding a corner I can see my house in its full glory, and by that I mean its crappiness. Despite being rich my parents wont even try to spend money on a house for their only son.


    Since I keep getting expelled from schools I have to move around often. My parents couldn¡¯t be bothered to get me a decent home when I won''t be living there for long. But I mean, the shack isn¡¯t too bad, it¡¯s not like I had anything I could put in a nice house. TV, nope. Computer, nadda. All I have is books.


    Ah books, the only thing I could get my parents to spend on me. The rest of my stuff I scavenged. If you were to look around my house you would find a large bookshelf filled with all kinds of books, a fireplace that I use to cook my food, and a kitchen filled with canned food. I don¡¯t have a fridge so all other food would spoil.


    I don¡¯t have much to do besides read, so I spend most of it doing so. I¡¯ve read all of my 274 books at least several times, it takes a while for me to get another one. Though the books I have are never really what most people would call ¡®classical¡¯. I mostly read LitRpg and Xianxia novels, you know, great heros and godlike beings.


    This is probably what shaped my personality, which I¡¯m not sure is such a great thing. Though, it¡¯s not like I had parents to teach me right or wrong. The way I see it, the strong control the weak. That¡¯s what is wrong with the world, no one is strong, everyone is the same, weak. The only real power is politics, and there is no way I¡¯m touching that.


    It¡¯s growing late, so after a quick can of raviolis, and another read through of the Blue Phoenix, I go to bed. Tomorrow will be a better day, I¡¯m sure it will.


    <hr>


    Clink


    A little further...


    Clink ClinkYou might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Almost there, I can almost see it¡­


    Clink Clink Clink


    Almost, no there are more, how are there more!


    ClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClink


    I just want to see, I need to see!


    ClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClinkClink-


    A pair of eyes, ancient. They see all, they know all¡­ they know me.


    <hr>


    Gasp!


    I wake up, breathing heavily as usual. My back hurts, but that¡¯s probably just my mattress. But that dream¡­ it changed. I¡¯ve never got to those eyes before. Those eyes, it was just a dream but they seemed so real, like while I was staring into them, they were staring into me. Into my soul.


    I guess I have to explain what exactly that dream was huh. Well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s a regular occurrence. I¡¯ve been having it ever since I can remember, it never changed, until now. The dream always starts with me, surrounded by chains, with the knowledge that something important is on the other side. At first I didn¡¯t know what to do, I just sat there as the urgency built up.


    But then I had a thought, ¡®this is a dream, why can¡¯t I just move the chains?¡¯ and so I did. And it was hard. The chains didn¡¯t follow my commands at all, moving sluggishly. I learned that you have to force them, make them move to your will. Even then it was slow, but I got faster. It took me about a year of practice to move the chains smoothly, and I finally got to the point where I felt the thing was, only to find more chains.


    I started to call this the first wall, as this was where the chains started to fight me. It was like they were following someone else''s instructions. It took me over two years before I was able to subdue them. Then I found the second wall. The chains fought harder, but I learned from the last wall what to do, I had to gain complete control before I could pass. It took me less time, only one year again.


    Then the next wall. And the next. The walls were getting harder, exponentially so, the chains more stubborn than the last. But I was getting better, and no matter how hard it was, it took me less time than the one before.


    You may be asking why I was trying so hard, well I¡¯ll tell you, that thing knows. It knows why I¡¯m like this, I don¡¯t know why I think this but I know it. The chains, the electronics, the eyes. They¡¯re all connected, and I will find the answer. Even if it takes me years.


    But enough about that dream, I have to get ready for school. Can¡¯t miss out on all that ¡®higher education¡¯. So after a quick breakfast of cereal, I head off for another normal day.


    How wrong about that I was...

 Chapter 3

    ¡°Today we¡¯ll be learning about hyphens, dashes, and the like¡± Mr Atlas tells the whole class, eliciting a grown from everyone. Especially from me, we already covered this in my last school, but whatever, I¡¯m used to this happening at least once at a new school. And I guess I understand why everyone else is annoyed, at what point besides essays will we ever use this. Mr Atlas does not seem amused.


    ¡°Quit your whining, the only one who actually has a reason might be upset is Mark, and no that does not mean you can get out of notes kid¡± Damn, so close. Well, I guess I could use a refresher anyways...


    ...something doesn¡¯t feel right, I can¡¯t tell but it¡¯s like the air around me is shifting. No not the air, the¡­ I can¡¯t explain, it¡¯s like a sound that you¡¯ve heard all your life suddenly changes pitch. No one else around me seems to notice the change, but it keeps getting stronger, like it¡¯s building up to something. I have to let them know.


    ¡°Mr Atlas, something¡¯s wrong¡± I say as I stand up, the feeling getting more powerful. I can hear it now, a deep humming sound.


    ¡°Mark, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°Yeah demon, start talking sense¡± ¡°Is it your power acting up?¡± Those and more questions, a lot of them more mocking than curious. I can feel it now, a pulling sensation, not in a direction, but like everywhere at once, and inward at the same time.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand, something¡¯s happening, something ba-¡± The world flashes white, and then I black out.


    <hr>


    I slowly come to in a place I don¡¯t recognize. Large white walls going up incredibly high. As I sit up I see that everyone is here, also waking up. We seem to be on a large golden carpet, and a group of people are around us. A bunch of robed people who match the colors of the room, and two people in front of us.


    First is a man that gives off a noble aura, like Mr Atlas does. But where Mr Atlas has the air of someone who has seen many events, this man seems to have caused a lot of events. That and the shining crown and purple robes that he wears brings me to the conclusion that this man is a king. I know, genius.


    Now for the other person. She, well, I can only describe her as a goddess. That¡¯s not because she¡¯s beautiful, though she is. It¡¯s because she¡¯s glowing, not in beauty, though she¡­ I¡¯m not explaining this well am I? Well let¡¯s just say that there is literally a golden glow coming off from her body. She is wearing a red dress, and has blond hair.


    This seems awfully familiar, like I read this somewhere in a book. Wait¡­ don¡¯t tell me this is-


    ¡°Welcome heros!¡± Oh¡­ ok. I get it, I¡¯m insane, my brain broke in class and this is just me being delusional. Well, I mean, if I did go insane, why not roll with it?


    ¡°Where are we?¡± I ask calmly, not to the king, no. I ask the goddess, I would bet my money on her being the real power behind all this. Just a hunch.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Why ask me? Why not the King?¡± The goddess asks me in return. This confirms it, she isn¡¯t even looking at the King, not acting deferential to him at all.


    ¡°You seem much more powerful than him, not the other way around. I think you are more knowledgeable about all this¡±


    ¡°Ha ha ha, I like you kid, you¡¯re perceptive. Yes it¡¯s true, I am in charge here. You can call me Algera, Goddess of light.¡± She confirms it, and I can hear a gasp around me. I forgot that the others were listening to this whole thing.


    ¡°Um, Mrs Goddess? Why did you bring us here?¡± What is that I hear? The stuck up Sara Withers, asking questions, not demanding answers? Now I know I¡¯m insane.


    ¡°Ah yes, the reason for your summoning. Well you see, I wish for you to fight for me.¡± How cliche can you get?


    ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Fight for me¡¯? Who are we supposed to fight?¡± Please don¡¯t say Demon King, please don¡¯t say Demon King.


    ¡°I want you to fight a being known as the Chain Emperor.¡± Well, it¡¯s not the Demon King, so I guess it isn¡¯t all bad.


    ¡°What can you tell us about this ¡®Chain Emperor¡¯¡± Oh, there¡¯s Mr Atlas, asking the important questions. I was wondering this too.


    ¡°He is a being of immense power, a demon-like existence. Wherever he walks, disaster follows¡± Wow, the goddess, Algera, sounds scared of this thing. What could threaten a divine being.


    ¡°We have someone like that too¡± Shut up Sara, don¡¯t you dare.


    ¡°Oh, and who might that be, then?¡± Uh oh, I don¡¯t like that tone of voice¡­


    ¡°It¡¯s Mark, he breaks things just by being near them¡± And there she goes, let¡¯s just hope the literal Goddess doesn¡¯t smite me. I don¡¯t think that is something I want to experience.


    ¡°Oh? Which one of you is Mark then?¡± I have a bad feeling about this, but she¡¯ll find out even if I hide, so might as well.


    ¡°It is me, Goddess¡± She looks at me, and I don¡¯t like the look on her face. She starts sniffing the air around me. Her look worsens even more, into a mix of hatred, disgust, and horror.


    ¡°YOU! How did you sneak in here you monster! This place is warded!¡± This is bad, what did I possibly do to her. Guess I¡¯ll experience smiting after all. What a way to go, summoned to another world, then smited by a goddess¡­ smote¡­ smitten? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter much anyways, I¡¯m gonna die.


    ¡°DIE!¡± Yep here it comes, wonder how this whole smitting thing wor-


    <hr>


    A flash of light, too bright to be natural, swarms around me. But I don¡¯t feel dead, not like I really know what that¡¯s like, but it probably isn''t this. As the light around me fades, I am greeted by an amazing sight. There is a whole world in front of me. It isn¡¯t Earth though.


    There are five continents only, and four of them are centered around one big one. The four are in the north, east, south, and west. The one in the center is at least twice the size of the others. In the middle of that is a large glowing light, I¡¯m gonna bet that¡¯s where I came from.


    The planet is spinning slowly, as time goes on. But hold on¡­ it¡¯s slowing down? Soon it stopped completely. Now it¡¯s going the other way, and I somehow know it is time that is going in reverse. The planet blurs as it turns faster and faster. Years go by in an instant. Suddenly it stops.


    Gravity seems to remember that I exist and starts to pull me down again. I¡¯m falling towards the western continent now. As I gain speed only one thought goes through my mind. ¡®How am I going to land?¡¯ The ground approaches rapidly.


    ¡®Oh shi-¡¯