《Golem Master》 Prologue Pepper¡¯s eyes sprang open when his ears heard the alarm ring to life. He immediately threw the blankets off his body and leapt out of bed. He staggered to the door in his haste and crashed into the doorframe. His body ricocheted all down the hallway until he finally arrived in the living room. I knew I should have set my alarm for much earlier! Pepper mentally scolded himself. His mind replayed the scene from the previous night as he looked down at his holodex. He had told himself he wouldn¡¯t need an alarm to wake up on time. Yet here he was scrambling to find the controller for the holoscreen. The holoscreen was already on but was currently displaying one of the world news channels. His head snapped from side to side and he scanned the room until his eyes locked onto the controller. He dashed across the room, snatched up the remote, and began to punch away at the buttons. ¡°Pepper Walker, what did I tell you to do last night?¡± His mother Courtney¡¯s voice rang out from the kitchen. She didn¡¯t even give him time to answer before she appeared in the archway between the dining room and the living room. She placed her hands on her hips and began to turn a slight shade of red, her anger visibly plastered across her face. ¡°I told you to take out the trash last night, did I not?¡± ¡°Mom! It¡¯s a Pantheon League quarter-final match!¡± He pleaded his justification with his arms outstretched towards the holographic screen. ¡°I¡¯ll care about a Pantheon League match once you care about taking out my trash! How about that?¡± Pepper saw his father, Trent, step behind her and wrap his arm around her shoulder in an embrace. Though his dad tried to speak softly to her, his voice was loud enough that Pepper could still just about hear what he said. ¡°Babe ¡­ you¡¯re only going to have him storming through this house for a little more than a year. You know he¡¯s going to bolt from this place as soon as he can. So maybe just ease up on him a bit and let him enjoy the match.¡± Pepper turned his attention back to the screen and plopped down on the couch, but his peripheral vision still caught the motion of his father leaning in and planting a kiss on his mom¡¯s cheek. His father then walked in and took a seat in the recliner next to the couch. Though his father had done his best to cool his mother¡¯s temper, she still raised her hands in frustration. ¡°Fine. Do whatever you want, I guess. Not like I have any say in things anymore!¡± she said over her shoulder as she turned and walked out. Pepper swiped a glance at his father, and he could see the slightest shake of his head. Trent let out a long sigh and completely ignored the comment. Then the advertisement on the screen ended and the theme music began. Pepper¡¯s attention was locked onto the screen like a cruise missile. The introduction flashed classic scenes of famous matches throughout the years. The montage ended and transitioned to the two announcers, who were standing side by side. ¡°Well, hey there, everyone. Thanks for tuning in to today¡¯s epic match! I¡¯m JD Glasscock, and, of course, I am joined by the best cohost in the world, Mr. Nick Bosloe.¡± JD smiled as he turned his head to look at his coanchor. JD was a little squirrely, to say the least. He sometimes had a few twitches to him here and there, but his Californian free spirit was always warm and welcoming. JD and Nick were two faces Pepper had grown up with. No matter who was facing off in the arena, these two had been the commentators since he had first set eyes on the games. ¡°Well, a good morning to you as well, JD, and what a tremendous match we have for you all today!¡± Nick¡¯s warm British accent greeted everyone who tuned in. He was a bit shorter than his American counterpart and contrasted with JD¡¯s short gray hair with a completely bald and shaved appearance. The two commentators were polar opposites of each other. But after ten years of doing the job, they had perfected their balancing act. JD was the more openly comical commentator, whereas Nick was the precise and balanced communicator. ¡°Now for those of you who don¡¯t know ¡­ you must have been living under a rock! Because when this matchup was scheduled back on the calendar months ago, everyone on the planet started talking about it!¡± JD followed up and switched between the camera and his cohost. ¡°Absolutely, JD. When we talk about the Golem League, these two masters are now household names. We have Brandon Benard with the ever-comical golem name of Panda Cakes. And, of course, we have James Dean with his Iron Ram 250.¡± The camera transitioned away from the two hosts and switched to an aerial view of the arena. The Asia Isles. It was one of Pepper¡¯s favorite arena locations. Set in a shallow bay near the Malaysian island of Langkawi, the water was a brilliant blue color. Scattered throughout the arena were massive boulders and rock formations that jutted upwards from the ocean. JD¡¯s voice started back up as the camera continued to float through the arena. ¡°Yeah, this matchup has been really fun to talk about. You have a massive martial arts panda bear on one end.¡± JD paused and began to chuckle. ¡°And a giant ram that loves to smash into things on the other. How can it get more epic than this? You know what I mean?¡± Nick chuckled slightly in response. ¡°I know what you mean.¡± Pepper moved just a little bit further onto the edge of the couch. His eyes shifted off the screen for a brief second. Though he had gone over the stats a dozen times before, he still tapped his holodex wristband and scanned the two golems¡¯ information. ¡°The fact that they¡¯re in the Asia Isles just makes this matchup even better!¡± he exclaimed. Pepper was so intently attuned to the match and his holodex that he didn¡¯t notice his father¡¯s gaze or the slight smile he had as he watched him. ¡°Who do you think is going to win?¡± Pepper dashed a glance at his father for a split second but then turned back to the two screens. ¡°I mean, I got to root for my boy Brandon and Panda Cakes. That decision is easy, but man, I don¡¯t know about Iron Ram. James has taken down some mighty contenders, and this is do or die for him. If he loses this match, he¡¯ll be relegated down to the Immortals League.¡± As if Pepper was a commentator himself, the very next item of discussion was that same topic. Nick continued his train of thought as both Pepper and his dad watched. ¡°And JD, don¡¯t forget, Mr. James Dean has found himself in a do-or-die position with this match.¡± The camera feed shifted to the far edge of the arena and the viewers got their first look at the two massive golems. The Iron Ram looked like it was made of gold rather than iron. The golden color reflected in the sunlight, covering the ram¡¯s head and the large horns that protruded from it. As the golem walked forward, the camera picked up on the small spurts of compressed air that shot out from under its metal armor plating. ¡°Well, everyone thought James and the Iron Ram 250 were going to be taken out in their last match against Tom Rodrigo and his Astro Ape. But as we saw, that certainly wasn¡¯t the case!¡± JD let out a rumbling chuckle yet again as he beamed with a large smile. ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s so great about the Golem League. Every matchup has the potential for a new Golem Master to rise up the ranks or be sent home packing and back to the drawing board.¡± The camera panned over to showcase the large panda golem walking across the edge of the arena. The bear moved forward with its traditional long wooden staff in hand. A red braided fabric handle was at the shaft¡¯s center, and Pepper could just make out deep carved inlays at each end of the staff. A large conical straw hat was upon the bear¡¯s head, and the golem kept its head angled down to cover its face. It was dressed in a traditional black Japanese kimono with specific emblems embroidered in red down the sleeves. ¡°And here are our two Golem Masters getting into position now,¡± Nick said as the screen transitioned into a split screen. Brandon Benard was shown on the left while James Dean was displayed on the right. The two competitors waved to the camera, which hovered above them as each stretched and began their pre-match routines. Pepper¡¯s mouth gaped open as he analyzed everything about Brandon¡¯s setup. ¡°He isn¡¯t wearing the Reaper 3000 full helmet display!¡± His head snapped down to look at the holodex display, which remained suspended just a few inches off his wristband. Pepper swiped his right index finger across the holographic display, which allowed him to flip through the pages of data. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal about that?¡± his father asked. ¡°Well, it¡¯s just surprising. I mean, there was an interview on John Douglas¡¯s RuneCast podcast. Brandon said he was using it and training with it specifically for this match, but he isn¡¯t wearing it today! Why would he switch his setup at the last minute before a match like this?¡± Pepper¡¯s voice almost sounded panicked as his curiosity started to get the better of him. Nick¡¯s voice came back through. ¡°And there is the countdown timer. We have thirty seconds to go!¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Pepper ignored his curiosity and quickly shifted his gaze back to the match. A countdown timer appeared in the center of the screen. It had a vintage combat video game text design¡ªa homage to the video games of old. As the timer ticked away, the arena¡¯s runes started to glow with life. Their essence locked the two golems and their magical attacks within the confines of the area. A shimmering blue and purple light pulsated in an orb shape that now covered the area. It almost immediately faded into a translucent appearance so everyone could watch the action. Pepper balled his fists and began to pump them up and down slightly. His eyes widened as he eagerly took in every detail of the initial startup. He began to mutter under his breath, ¡°Come on, Panda! Come on ¡­ you got this!¡± The timer ticked down, and as it hit one, a loud acoustic horn roared to life. Pepper had always imagined it was the sound of a dwarf battle horn being blown, and it meant the match had begun. Immediately the Iron Ram 250¡¯s armor pulsed outward. The metal pieces twitched and flicked with life as they quickly adjusted. The golem¡¯s internal power cores were now allowed to send their power to the motors and gears of its multiple accessories. Water sprang upward as the Iron Ram¡¯s air compression defense canisters fired off. It was blanketed by a wall of ocean water for a moment while its eyes glowed a blazing hellfire red. In a split second it dashed to its left and began to move from a slow trot to a gallop. Nick¡¯s voice called out in the broadcast, ¡°And here the Iron Ram goes! James looks to be utilizing the same tactic today against Panda Cakes as he did against Tom and the Astro Ape.¡± JD echoed, ¡°I was thinking the same thing, Nick, and to be honest, it¡¯s not a bad tactical approach. If it worked once for you, there ain¡¯t nothing wrong with trying it again. Does it take a lot of energy from your core at the beginning of the match? Yes, but that isn¡¯t necessarily a wrong choice if it brings you the victory!¡± The camera panned out to show both golems. Panda Cakes¡¯ initial power-up came from its eyes. A deep purple glowed so bright that it illuminated the underside of its straw hat. In a precise movement, it raised its staff straight up towards the heavens. It remained still for a second, then slammed the bottom of the staff onto the arena floor beneath the ocean. Water shot upward from the impact, but that was a side note compared to the staff¡¯s reaction. The deeply carved inlays now glowed with the same intense purple light as the panda¡¯s eyes. The magical energy began to pour itself into the staff from the golem¡¯s core. The staff was lifted and slowly began to twirl in a circular pattern in front of the golem. The movement was slow at first but then grew, with every circular twirl becoming faster and faster. The purple light radiated from the staff with more intensity and soon streaked around to the point it looked like a continuous circle. ¡°JD, what do you make of this? I can¡¯t recall Panda Cakes ever starting out with¡­ well¡­ whatever this is!¡± Nick¡¯s voice exclaimed with shocked excitement. ¡°You know, to a certain point, I am not surprised. This is exactly what Brandon is known for! He mixes things up, comes up with approaches that many have never tried before, and it really throws his opponents off.¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right in that, JD.¡± The Iron Ram completed a circle around the immediate area in front of it and went for its second turn. All the while, Panda Cakes continued to spin its staff in the same repeated motion. The suspense of the match continued to build until it finally reached a breaking point and the Iron Ram changed course. Nick¡¯s voice erupted with intensity. ¡°And here comes the Iron Ram charge we¡¯ve seen so many times before!¡± The ram rushed forward in a direct line for its opponent. The ocean water kicked upwards as it furiously bolted towards its target. Its armor flared out, and yellow static electricity flashed and sparked all around its horns. JD followed his counterpart¡¯s lead. ¡°And just like we¡¯ve seen before, James is gonna power up this attack with his electrical elemental spell rune. But¡­ I¡¯m more shocked at Panda Cakes. He¡¯s just standing there acting like this is just a normal day at yoga class or something!¡± The large panda golem remained in place. The Iron Ram continued to close the distance until it reached roughly a hundred feet from its target. The metal armor opened around the ram¡¯s legs, and it activated its gravity rune. The magical power responded immediately and aided the golem by propelling it forward. Pepper¡¯s arms froze in midair as he gasped. Fear grabbed hold of him, and he felt as if he was watching the match in slow motion. The Iron Ram was soaring through the air in a direct line towards Panda Cakes. To his amazement, he watched as the panda immediately sprang to the left with a leaping sidestep. Panda Cakes flung its staff far to the left in perfect unison with its countermove. The golem wrapped its hands around one end of the staff, then twisted around and brought the staff arcing down. The entire motion was done with such precision and speed that the staff looked more like a laser sword than a magically powered shaft of wood. It was perfectly timed with Iron Ram¡¯s attack. Pepper watched as the purple light streaked clean through the ram¡¯s neck. The golden-horned head fell to the ground as the golem¡¯s body continued forward and landed in the water. The announcers¡¯ voices cried out in unison, but their words were jumbled together with amazed cheers. Pepper and his father both yelled in excitement. Nick finally found his words. ¡°My goodness! He cut the head straight off the beast, didn¡¯t he!¡± ¡°I¡¯m at a loss for words, Nick! Man¡­ what an¡ª¡± Nick cut off his counterpart while the camera panned around and placed itself just behind Panda Cakes. The Iron Ram, off in the distance, had taken shelter behind a large tooth-shaped boulder. ¡°JD, the ram is still moving! This fight isn¡¯t over!¡± The ram got back to a gallop and leapt out from behind the large rock formation that had protected it for a moment. ¡°That can only mean one thing, Nick¡ªthe controller rune is still intact! We know from the previous match against Tom that James had the controller rune placed in the neck area. It just goes to show that when you¡¯re in the Pantheon League like James, you make strategic updates after every match to keep your opponent guessing.¡± Make strategic updates. Change up the design. Adjust rune placement. Don¡¯t be predictable. Pepper repeated the advice in his head. He did his best to mentally etch the words down. The truth was that he had already written down those steps ten times. He even had a sheet of paper with those exact words pinned to the wall in his work shed. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to guess what James¡¯s next move would be. The Iron Ram 250¡¯s main attack was its powered headbutt attack. But with the head gone, what will he do? he asked himself. The ram charged again. This time it leapt from side to side, not keeping a straight vector. But still closed the distance fast. The armored head and horns of the golem was where the majority of its reinforced weight had been. Its overall weight was now significantly reduced, allowing it to reach a much faster speed without having to use its gravity rune. ¡°It looks like Panda Cakes is now having to truly go on the defensive, Nick!¡± JD called out. The panda shifted its stance into a wider base. Its staff was now angled straight out as if it were a blunt-tipped spear. The headless Iron Ram attempted to navigate the defensive position but was now prevented from getting any closer. Every move the ram made was immediately countered. Nick¡¯s voice followed the action closely. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s going to be able to get close enough to land a strike from one of its armored legs. We¡¯ve seen James use a bucking donkey kick attack before in his match against Shami Stovall and others in the past. But he¡¯s just having no luck at all, is he?¡± The ram continued to try to hop, jump, and weave its way closer to the panda. But everything it tried was easily countered. The reach of the staff was too great to overcome. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Nick. This new strategy just isn¡¯t working for James. He¡¯s going to need to do something to¡ª Oh my goodness!¡± JD didn¡¯t have time to finish his comment before Panda Cakes went on the offensive. The ram mistimed its side jump and found the panda¡¯s staff perfectly placed under its belly. The panda hoisted its staff up, and with it came the Iron Ram. The ram¡¯s body flailed in the air for a brief moment while Panda Cakes quickly adjusted for its follow-up attack. A quick rotation and shift of the hand placement on the staff and the weapon slammed down from above onto the suspended opponent. The ram slammed into the ocean floor. Water sprayed up and coated Panda Cakes, which stood over its opponent. The panda raised the staff overhead and began to swing its death blow. The Iron Ram 250 spun around instantly and evaded Panda Cakes¡¯ attack in the process. ¡°What an incredible move by the Iron Ram!¡± Nick shouted. Pepper and his father both exhaled loudly as the intense movement gripped them in suspense. Pepper¡¯s leg was shaking almost uncontrollably as he tried to ease the adrenaline that surged through him. He searched his memory bank for all the previous runes he could recall James utilizing in previous matches. He¡¯s gonna try an energy beam ¡­ it¡¯s the only rune he has left at this point. All the while they watched as the Iron Ram kicked its way to safety. The ram had a far greater speed and agility than Panda Cakes and utilized it to its advantage. Pieces of the ram¡¯s metal armor were starting to fall off as the heavy weight and strain caused them to fail. The ram turned around and lowered itself slightly. A few remaining armor slots adjusted themselves for the gun turrets to open and take aim at its opponent. An electrical buzz and sparks of energy began to pulse around the remaining parts of the ram. ¡°Iron Ram 250 is starting to charge itself. That can only mean one thing,¡± Nick said in a hopeful tone. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened as his hands shot up and froze beside his head. He watched as Panda Cakes began to spin around. The hand of the golem shifted on the staff. The panda then shifted itself with a forceful twist and launched the staff through the air like a spear. The purple engravings at both ends of the staff surged with electrical waves of energy. Pepper thought it looked like a solid beam of purple that raced across the arena straight towards the ram. The ram¡¯s gun turrets were on the verge of being fully charged and about to fire, but not before the staff slammed straight through the center of the golem. Panda Cakes¡¯ attack had dealt a critical blow, as it had ruptured the rams power core, controller rune and elemental rune in unison. The end result was a small explosion from the golem¡¯s center mass. The remaining armor plates blasted free and scattered across the arena, causing water to erupt all around. ¡°And there you have it, ladies and gents! There you freaking have it! Panda Cakes does it again!¡± Nick erupted in celebratory cheers for the young Golem Master. ¡°What an insane ending, man! Just¡­ wow! I did not see that coming, man¡­ Intense! Freaking intense, was it not?¡± JD echoed his counterpart¡¯s enthusiasm. Pepper sprang to his feet and screamed out to honor the victory his favorite Golem Master had just achieved. He punched his fist in the air and was so caught up in the moment that he didn¡¯t even notice his father¡¯s warm smile. Trent chuckled at his son¡¯s passionate reaction. It was Pepper¡¯s dream to become a Golem Master. Trent¡¯s only wish was that one day his only surviving son would be given the opportunity to live out that dream. Chapter 1 - Day Dream ¡°Yes! I can¡¯t believe that! Holy cow! Did you see that¡­ like did you¡­?¡± Pepper exclaimed. His mom¡¯s voice immediately cut him off. ¡°I did see that! Just like I see you¡¯re finally going to take out the trash!¡± Pepper¡¯s dad practically shuddered as the full bag of trash was plopped down just outside the kitchen¡¯s entry way. His eyes were wide, and with a sarcastic look of concern, he motioned for Pepper to get a move on with fulfilling the request. Pepper rolled his eyes in a huff and did as his mother asked. The trash can rattled behind him as the full canister¡¯s wheels dug into the gravel along the side of the house. His mind replayed every detail of the match, and he imagined himself being in control of the legendary Panda Cakes. The scene that played out in his mindscape was so immersive that he completely tuned out the world around him. On his return to the side of the house, his hand found a small broom. But in that moment it wasn¡¯t a broom; it was Panda Cakes¡¯ enchanted staff. He spun it round and round in the air in a circular motion, the same way the victorious golem had. His mouth raspberried, squeaked, and whined with audible sounds while his imaginary staff swished through the air. Pepper wasn¡¯t just fighting one golem in his mindscape, though; he was fighting all of them! Lars Machm¨¹ller¡¯s Dark Dragon, Stephen Landry¡¯s Yeti, Jakob Tanner¡¯s Silver Swordsman, and even¡­ Kevin Sinclair¡¯s Cyberpunk Orc! Pepper fought them ferociously in his mind as he spun around in his backyard. An arena all of his own. The battle raged not just to legendary status but to an epic celestial status, as if the gods themselves were on the edge of their seats within the heavens, watching him deal blow after powerful blow¡­ That was until he heard the distinct Canadian voice of his neighbor call out to him. ¡°Whatcha doing there, Pep? Please don¡¯t tell me your on them there magic mushrooms like the other kids and all? Aye?¡± He instantly dropped the broom and felt his face flush with embarrassment. A slow spin around and sure enough, there was his neighbor leaning over the four-foot fence. It wouldn¡¯t have mattered if the fence was six feet, though. Ryan DeBruyn had made it a point to tell him during a street game of basketball how his 6? 6? frame was going to dunk on him worse than the Great Depression. Pepper did his best to get rid of the compounding pain the shame was now causing him. His feet scuffed across the yard as he drew close to the fence. He propped his left arm up on the ledge. ¡°You know I don¡¯t touch that stuff, Ryan.¡± ¡°You knows, I see you shaking your head and rolling your eyes there¡­ but let me tell yuh. Them things ain¡¯t no joke, now, you hear? I had my good friend Bill Baxter in college, that kid¡­ ohh boy. Yeah, that there kid had a future, a real future, I tell you. That was until he started popping them shrooms as if they were caveman gummies.¡± Pepper felt his face flex and contort with confusion, but Ryan was so entranced with his thousand-yard stare that he didn¡¯t even notice. Pepper had no idea what caveman gummies were and at this point was too afraid to ask. The fear of what rambling story Ryan would share next was a major cause for concern. ¡°I promise on all the golems I hold dear I won¡¯t take the magic shrooms.¡± He gave a firm and confident nod but added a balled fist across his chest in salute to his vow. Ryan leaned back and scowled at him with an arched eyebrow of analysis, then shot his right hand out with such speed that Pepper practically leapt out of his skin. ¡°A real contract would be a gentlemanly shake, don¡¯t you think?¡± Pepper snorted but couldn¡¯t argue with his neighbor. Ryan was certainly an odd duck at times, or a Canadian goose for that matter, but he was a good sport and always seemed to be honest with Pepper. He would not consider Ryan a confidant by any means, yet there was this sense of reassurance that Ryan could be trusted. Pepper latched onto the hand and gave it a firm shake. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Oh, I suppose that will doer there.¡± He saw the far edge of Ryan¡¯s mouth arch with a playful smirk, a devious yet innocent expression all rolled into one. It was then that Ryan gave him a nod. ¡°Hey! Here ¡­ I think I finally got this recipe down good this time. Give ¡¯er a try, aye?¡± His hand shot back behind the fence and the distinct pop of an aluminum can could be heard. Pepper¡¯s soul sank into a bottomless pit of misery. His taste buds screamed in horror as they recalled the last time they had suffered the trial flavors of Ryan¡¯s concoction. A red can appeared over the fence as Ryan handed it to him. His eyes ran over the iconic cartoon duck emblem with its feathered thumb pointed straight up. Ryan had been so excited when he¡¯d come up with the design. Pepper didn¡¯t have the heart to tell him how childish it made the whole thing look. Quackariffic Red! was written across the label. Pepper¡¯s throat closed and he had to fight his instincts. He opened his mouth and off he went. But he paused. The red liquid that normally tasted like battery acid and cough syrup¡­ didn¡¯t. Not this time at least. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. His eyes widened and he snapped his gaze over to Ryan, only to see his neighbor¡¯s gigantic smile nodding back in return. ¡°I told you, I told you, did I not? I¡¯m pretty sure I told you. I got it right this time!¡± The sensation was sweet, cold, refreshing, and¡­ certainly unexpected. His spirit danced and a wave of relief came over his shoulders at the fact he could actually enjoy the beverage. ¡°Ryan! You really did do it!¡± he exclaimed, taking another sip. ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know, see. Cos I told you I did. Haha! Good things are coming, Pep; good things are coming.¡± Ryan nodded but then instantly froze in a dramatic fashion. The reaction was so instantaneous that Pepper caught it and froze himself in suspense. Ryan¡¯s wrist shot up and he looked at his watch. ¡°Oh, great moose and squirrel! Pepper, you have got like two minutes before your bus gets here to sweep you up there for school!¡± The next two minutes were nothing but a blur as Pepper rushed through the house like a Bible Belt tornado. He grabbed his backpack and threw clothes on without even noticing what they were, if they matched, or how he looked. His feet were moving faster than his brain. All he knew was that by the time his feet came to a skidding stop at the bus stop, the airbrakes on the vehicle hissed loudly. He was out of breath as he stepped up and made his way to his favorite seat. His head rested on the back, and he took a sip of the gifted drink. At this point he was relieved he had not spilled the beverage in the process of getting ready. The next stop belonged to the one and only Brent Daniels. Pepper could see Brent¡¯s excitement through the bus window. By the time his best friend had hit the center aisle, his face was wide open in overly dramatic joy. ¡°You watched the match, right? Please tell me you saw it, P-Dub!¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smile and roll his eyes at the nickname. Brent had given it to him years ago. He still chuckled at it, though. ¡°Of course I saw it!¡± ¡°Did you see the after-match interview? How about the stat pages? Did they drop yet?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t had a chance to check. Ryan distracted me outside by striking up a conversation. He did give me a new flavor though¡­ Quackariffic Red. Want to give it a try?¡± Brent¡¯s expression was one of pain and disgust. ¡°No way! I¡¯m not falling for that again.¡± Pepper chuckled and leaned the can towards him. ¡°This one actually isn¡¯t that bad, seriously. I¡¯m not playing you this time. I swear.¡± ¡°Yeah, no thanks! I think I would rather drink tuna fish juice than sip on that.¡± ¡°Be careful what you say, Brent. I might have to go find some fish juice just to make you eat, or rather drink, your words.¡± Pepper winked as he adjusted his favorite hat on his head. Before the two knew it, the bus had arrived at the next stop. Pepper did his best to ignore the spectacle up front. But Tamin Leanord knew how to make an entrance. Pepper was certain that Tamin¡¯s sole intent was to be the center of attention in every possible way. Pepper finally caved and glanced down the bus aisle towards him. Tamin took his time finding his seat. Pepper rolled his eyes as he finally discovered that Tamin was flaunting his latest purchase to everyone else. Or at least what his father had purchased for him. ¡°Are you serious? The Trinity Bracer HoloCube?¡± one of their fellow classmates exclaimed. ¡°Heck yeah, it is! It was just released three days ago. A 3 by 4.5-inch display in 16-bit color! And of course I had to get the pro model, which comes with the 3D optic integration option.¡± Tamin flaunted his purchase. His words practically dripped with privilege. While the majority of men and some women had gone off to fight in the Rift Wars, Tamin¡¯s dad had stayed behind. One by one the Leanord family had begun to buy all the local businesses in the area¡ªa real monopoly over the town, which they happily reminded everyone of with every encounter. Pepper rolled his eyes and tried to turn his attention back to Brent. ¡°Well, well, well, figures the runts would be in their usual spot,¡± Tamin said as he drew closer than Pepper wished. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the scowl on Brent¡¯s face. Rather than shifting his attention towards the center aisle, Pepper instead chose to keep his gaze locked ahead. He could at least see the smug expression on Tamin¡¯s face out of the corner of his eye. Tamin knelt and leaned over far closer than Pepper felt comfortable with. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Peepers¡­ I won our last match, and I am going to do it again at our next fight.¡± He despised the nickname Tamin had given him. Tamin knew it got under his skin like a dagger, and he utilized it every chance he got. ¡°The count is 7¨C4 last, I recall. I¡¯ve beaten you before, Tamin, and you can bet on the fact that I plan to do it again.¡± Pepper said through gritted teeth. ¡°We¡¯ll see about that, runt.¡± Tamin finished with a slight shove against Pepper¡¯s head. Pepper balled his fists and fought every urge to lunge after his nemesis. Brent held up his hands in an effort to remind him that it wasn¡¯t worth it. Pepper was not afraid to go toe to toe with Tamin, but he knew he was on thin ice. Principal Richey Stephens had informed him he had been given his final warning and no further incidents would be tolerated. Pepper¡¯s eyes remained locked onto Brent, who was looking sympathetically at him. ¡°You think you¡¯re going to have Mala ready in time for the competition?¡± Pepper shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know if he¡¯ll ever be fully ready. There are so many things I still want to do to him, but I just don¡¯t have the money for all the upgrades.¡± ¡°How much have you spent again on him?¡± ¡°Too much!¡± A notification chimed on Pepper¡¯s holodex, and both he and Brent turned their attention towards his wrist. His eyes lit up when he read the small notification that told him Brandon¡¯s post-match interview had just been posted online. A second chime rang out and the follow-up notification told him that Panda Cakes¡¯ golem stats were now available to view. Pepper reached to activate both displays but stopped when he felt the school bus come to a halt. He looked out the side window to discover they had already arrived at the school. Dang it! I won¡¯t be able to see the episode now, he told himself, watching the line of students filing into the school like a trail of ants. ¡°Come on. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Dean doesn¡¯t care if we watch Golem League videos during his class. We¡¯ll just watch it in there,¡± Brent reminded him in an optimistic tone. The two then stood up and filed down the center aisle. Chapter 2 - Status Academy Pepper was practically itching with anticipation. He had already tried to look down at Panda Cakes¡¯ new updated stat screen. The intermixed crowd of students made it practically impossible as they were herded into their classrooms. Pepper and Brent arrived at their desks on the left side of the room. Mr. Charles Dean was already standing up at the front of the classroom and greeted the majority of the students as they entered. The room was rumbling with conversation. To Pepper, though, who was trying to focus on his holodex, the only problem was the nagging voice of Tamin that kept interrupting his thoughts. Pepper glanced over to see Tamin boastfully bragging to a new round of students and flaunting his new Trinity Bracer HoloCube. Pepper finally sighed and let go of his frustration. He swiped his finger down and was just about to read the stat screen when Brent gave him a warning tap on the leg. Mr. Dean¡¯s stern glare scanned the room and he dry coughed to get everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Pop quiz.¡± The entire class sunk in their seats and the room filled with the sound of disgusted sighs. Pepper dashed a quick glance at Brent and the two rolled their eyes in unison. He folded his arms on his desk and turned his gaze towards his instructor. ¡°Okay, first question,¡± Mr. Dean said but then took a long-drawn-out pause. His experience of being a teacher made him well versed at knowing the precise moment to continue. The hammer fell and Mr. Dean¡¯s demeanor instantly changed. His hands shot out in front of him as he exclaimed, ¡°How epic was that match earlier?¡± The class had a mixture of emotions. Many sighed in relief, others chuckled at the joke, but the multitude broke into various conversations. Pepper was about to go back to focusing on what he cared about when one of his classmates¡¯ voices caught everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Mr. Dean? Is there any chance we could watch Brandon¡¯s interview?¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes lit up with hope. His head snapped over to Brent, who had the same expression as he did. They both crossed their fingers and held their breath in anticipation. ¡°Can we watch the interview? Who do I look like?¡± Mr. Dean leaned back slightly and pointed towards himself. He executed another perfect paused performance and then finished, ¡°I look like the coolest teacher in this school, because of course we can watch the interview.¡± The class cheered and Mr. Dean quickly went to work to turn his holoscreen on. Pepper balled his fist and gave a fist bump to his best friend. The room was filled with an electrified joy¡ªthat is, until the classroom door cracked open. Every head snapped to the door. The students held their breath and their eyes widened when they saw Status Academy principal Richey Stephens and vice principal Joel Harvey enter. There was nothing but an expression of pure disapproval and disappointment on Principal Stephens¡¯ face. Pepper took note of Mr. Dean and for a split second, he actually thought his favorite teacher was done for. That was, until Mr. Dean couldn¡¯t contain himself any longer and let his giant smile return. The staff laughed at the ruse they had played on the class. Principal Stephens gave Mr. Dean a nod. ¡°Come on, Charles, let¡¯s see this interview.¡± Mr. Dean pumped his hand back defensively. ¡°Calm down and just give me a second.¡± The holoscreen turned on and Mr. Dean quickly navigated through the device options and loaded up the Golem League application. He clicked on the interview icon and the screen flashed through the transition. The introductory theme music started, and Pepper leaned back in his chair to get into a comfortable position. The camera focused on a young woman. Her eyes were a warm milk-chocolate brown that popped against her light skin. She had dark curly hair with a faint tint of purple highlights. ¡°Hey, everyone, welcome to another episode of the Golem League¡¯s After-Action Interview. I am your host, Erika Leon-Guerrero, and the person with me today certainly needs no introduction. A huge congratulations to you, Brandon, on what many are calling a perfect match.¡± The camera angle slowly widened until Brandon sidestepped into view. It was then that you could really see the height difference. The Golem Master towered over Erika, but they smiled at one another. Brandon¡¯s arm was wrapped around his partner, Rosario, and the two were both beaming with pride at the achievement of another victory. Brandon kindly leaned over to get closer to the microphone that Erika tilted towards him. ¡°Well, thanks, Erika. That is very kind of you to say. I don¡¯t know about a perfect match. James Dean, man, that guy has been around the League for a long time.¡± Mr. Dean quickly chimed in over the interview. ¡°No relation¡­¡± Part of the class giggled but everyone quickly turned their attention back to the screen. Brandon had a warm smile on his face as he continued to answer the question. ¡°I remember watching all James matches as I was down in the club circuits and trying to climb my way up to the top. He is a real legend and true Golem Master.¡± Erika tilted the microphone back to herself. ¡°Not only are you a Golem Master but a master of humility.¡± She paused for a brief moment, and Brandon chuckled. ¡°Well, Brandon, you certainly made this match look easy. What was it that you did to make sure you came out victorious here today?¡± ¡°Oh man, that is a great question, Erika.¡± Brandon reached his hand up and wiped some sweat off his brow. ¡°I mean, I train a lot. Well, we all do, not just me. I watched James¡¯s last two matches on repeat. I felt I had to have a bold and really daring strategy to take him by surprise. I knew he was probably watching my matches and wanted to do something that nobody had seen before. And, well, I guess it worked!¡± He ended with a laugh and shrugged his shoulders. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°There is a lot of talking going around about you not using your Reaper 3000 for today¡¯s match. Why the switch at the last second? What is the story there?¡± Brandon¡¯s face displayed a sad expression, but it soon changed to one of relief. ¡°Yeah. I mean, first, I gotta give a shout out to the team over at Reaper. I¡¯m blessed to be sponsored by them, and they have been awesome to work with. They hooked me up with the Reaper 3000 and I had been training with it non-stop. The only problem is that it just isn¡¯t my style. I didn¡¯t feel I could really connect with Panda Cakes like I needed to when going up against James. Two nights back I made the decision that I had to go back to the Reaper Black Widow. Thankfully, those guys didn¡¯t even question it and got me swapped out and ready to battle here today.¡± Erika smiled and brought the microphone back to her. ¡°Sponsorships are such a huge part of the Golem League, especially here in the Pantheon League, or tier, so to speak. There are rumors abuzz that we may see a new item on the way?¡± Brandon smiled and turned to glance down at Rosario. Pepper could just see the small nudge Rosario gave on Brandon¡¯s side. He turned back to the camera and let out a big exhale before he announced, ¡°Yeah, I guess we can make it official. I have partnered up with Primal Energy, and you¡¯ll soon see Panda Rage on the shelves.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exciting¡ªcongratulations, Brandon!¡± Erika said. She then without delay launched into her next question. ¡°Okay, well, I would say you are certainly going to need that extra energy, for your next opponent. What can we expect to see in that matchup?¡± Brandon shook his head. ¡°Honestly¡­ I¡¯m not even thinking that far into the future. For now, we¡¯re just going to celebrate another victory. We¡¯ll start hitting the drawing board later and see what changes we need to make to Panda Cakes.¡± ¡°Well, it certainly is a well-deserved cause for celebration, and Brandon, I know I and all your fans around the world can¡¯t wait to see you and Panda Cakes return for another epic matchup.¡± The video ended and the classroom rumbled back to life. Mr. Dean then surprised the class and immediately clicked open the stat screen for Panda Cakes. Pepper lunged forward in his chair, his hands latching onto the front lip of his desk.
Golem Name Panda Cakes
Gladiator Brandon Benard
Command Interface Reaper ¨C Black Widow
Height 59? 8?
Weight 14.5 tons
Material Granite Stone
Power Core Dual: Thor ¨C Cursed Deity, Platinum Cores
Main Weapon Combat Staff
Runes 1. Centaur ¨C Power 2. Centaur ¨C Controller Rune & Interface 3. Centaur ¨C Elemental Spell 4. Centaur ¨C Elemental Defense 5. Centaur ¨C Elemental Offense 6. Ronin ¨C Energy Refinement ¨C 25% 7. Ronin ¨C Energy Refinement ¨C 25% 8. Ronin ¨C Energy Refinement ¨C 25% 9. Ronin ¨C Energy Refinement ¨C 25% 10. Ronin ¨C Energy Precision ¨C 25% 11. Ronin ¨C Energy Precision ¨C 25% 12. Ronin ¨C Energy Precision ¨C 25% 13. Ronin ¨C Energy Precision ¨C 25% 14. Dark Dwarf ¨C Elemental Energy Shield 15. Quintek ¨C Gravity Force Push
His eyes quickly skimmed right past the data he already knew, but they came to a screeching halt at the power core. He reread the entry and felt his mouth fall open. ¡°Dude¡­¡± Brent muttered. Pepper turned to see Brent was in disbelief. He didn¡¯t even need to ask; he knew they were focused on the same thing. ¡°Dual: Thor ¨C Cursed Deity, Platinum Cores.¡± Brent snapped his head back to the screen and quickly went back over the details. ¡°Wait¡­ I thought you had to have a rune which enabled you to have two power cores?¡± ¡°I guess you don¡¯t,¡± Pepper replied. He began to sift through the multiple articles, forum posts, and technical spec data he had read over the years. To his best recollection, Brent was right. Everything he could recall reading made mention of a rune that needed to be utilized in order for a golem to operate two power cores. Yet¡­ there was none listed on Panda Cakes¡¯ stat sheet. ¡°How much power does the Cursed Deity generate again?¡± Brent asked. The question pulled Pepper back into the moment. He closed his eyes and tried to mentally focus on the technical data description listed on the Thor company website. ¡°I want to say the MPC is rated at 5,800 kW.¡± ¡°Holy cow, P-Dub! That means that Panda Cakes had like¡­¡± Brent paused and started to maneuver his fingers around while his eyes danced in all directions. ¡°That means Panda Cakes had 11,600 kW per power core when you add in the energy refinement runes!¡± Pepper shook his head for a moment but then stopped and reared back. ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Yes, it does. Twenty-five percent four times. That is 1,450 kW. Add that four times and that gives you double the amount¡ª11,600 kW.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t,¡± Pepper countered. He leaned his head forward and shook it in disbelief. He knew his friend and didn¡¯t waste time. He brought his wrist over and began to type away on his holodex. ¡°Okay, yes, you are not wrong in the fact that if you add 25 percent of the 5,800 four times, you will indeed get an additional 5,800. But what you are forgetting is that it is not adding 1,450 kW each time, it¡¯s compounding the amount of energy overall. That means that Panda Cakes didn¡¯t have a power enhancement of 11,600 kW¡­ but a power rated at 14,160 kW per core!¡± Brent brought his hands up and made a gesture of his head exploding from the information. ¡°That is insane, P-Dub.¡± ¡°Not only that, but the energy precision runes also allowed Brandon to ensure there was no energy to bleed off in his attacks. James¡¯s Iron Ram 250 received the full force of that power with every attack that Brandon landed.¡± ¡°No wonder that combat staff cut through that metal armor.¡± ¡°Like a blow torch through butter!¡± ¡°More like a dang lightsaber.¡± Brent followed up. They both sat there for a few seconds and kept looking over the stat screen. Pepper couldn¡¯t believe Brandon had risked so many of his rune slots in devoting them to the strategy he had utilized. He didn¡¯t have any more time to ponder the matter, as Brent continued. ¡°Can you imagine taking on Tamin with that much power?¡± ¡°I wish¡­ Knowing that spoiled brat, his family probably would have bought him the same setup.¡± Pepper huffed and rolled his eyes at the thought. It was then that a reassuring voice reminded him of a truth he had forgotten. ¡°Well, then it is a guaranteed win for you.¡± Pepper felt his forehead scrunch in confusion. ¡°Why do you say that?¡± ¡°Because¡­ he can¡¯t beat you when it comes to skill, P-Dub. You are by far the best Golem Fighter in our club. Once you have Mala up and running, you¡¯ll be invited to try out for the Regional League in no time.¡± Pepper smiled at the compliment. His heart warmed from the encouragement and reassurance of his closest friend. ¡°Thanks.¡± There was no time to savor the kindness, as a breaking news bar began to scroll across the screen and took them all by surprise. Chapter 3 - Rocket Burger I can¡¯t believe it. James Dean is retiring. Pepper adjusted his hat and then looked down and kicked the stone at his feet. That means that Dimitrios Gkirgkiris, Michael Chatfield, or maybe even Benjamin Kerei could easily be promoted out of the Immortals League to fill James¡¯s spot. Pepper could not even recall what had happened at school once the breaking news announcement had appeared. There was a wave of gratitude that washed over him for the fact that he¡¯d been able to watch James¡¯s last match in the Golem League. He quickly daydreamed about what it would be like to get his poster signed by James. The moment lasted for a little bit longer until the foul, unpleasant stench of death hit him. He turned his gaze to the left and looked intently at the demon skull. The body was still decomposing. It had come to its final resting place in the center of an old convenience store. The building had been crushed under the weight when it collapsed, and now the scene was a crumbled pile of debris. The giant horns stretched out from the sides of its skull. There were two hollowed-out eye sockets, and every time Pepper passed by, he swore the skull watched him. His feet shuffled across the blacktop of the roadway and finally came to a stop. There was what felt like the slightest of tugs on his shirt. His chest leaned ever so slightly towards the pile of ruins. Pepper¡¯s eyes narrowed in on the skull, and his imagination soon filled with the scene of a dark battlefield. The neighborhood he walked through was now nothing more than scorched earth and scattered flames. Pepper finally shook his head and worked to pull himself out of the mindscape. It was so easy for his mind to wander off. The evidence of the Rift Wars was still scattered throughout the planet. His town was no exception. It was thirteen years since the first rift portal had opened and the war had begun. Pepper was only three years old when that occurred. He was nearly five when the war ended. He could not recall much of it. What little he could was merely the moments when he was rushed into his grandparents¡¯ basement by his mother. The explosions and sounds of war raged above them, but thankfully he never saw it with his own eyes. The aftermath, the remnants, that was on full display for everyone. His holodex started to beep at him, and the reminder he had set earlier caused his heart to speed up. Not again! He picked his feet up and began to jog. His vision was already locked onto his destination as the sign for Rocket Burger spun around in its rotating fashion. Pepper swung the door of the fast-food restaurant open and rushed inside. He dashed through the passthrough at the side of the main counter and hurried into the back room to throw on his work apron. He was just about to exit the small room but watched the small frame of his manager block his escape. ¡°Really? Late again, are we?¡± KT said. Her disappointed expression cut through him even more with her Australian accent. ¡°I told you last week, love, if you¡¯re late again, I have to write you up.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t my fault,¡± Pepper challenged and finally took a step forward to move past her. KT stepped out of his way but was on his heels. He quickly washed his hands and turned to jump onto the grill. ¡°Nope, don¡¯t you dare think you can escape the window.¡± His shoulders slouched and his head arched upwards. ¡°KT, come on. You know I hate the window.¡± ¡°And you know I hate you being late. It isn¡¯t necessarily about the job, love, it¡¯s about¡ª¡± Pepper didn¡¯t even let her finish the statement. ¡°Taking responsibility. I know ¡­ You tell me like a thousand times.¡± ¡°Well, perhaps than you will finally apply it.¡± She leaned towards him with a scowl. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ James Dean announced he is retiring.¡± KT shook her head in surprise, blinking rapidly in confusion. ¡°What does that have to do with you being late?¡± Pepper tried to justify his thoughts, but KT waved her arms and cut him off. ¡°Nope, not happening, love, and we don¡¯t have time for this. Get to the window and start taking orders.¡± Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Pepper sighed and turned towards the dreaded position. He took a step only to be chastised by the small manager. ¡°Excuse me!¡± His skin jumped and he whipped back around. He quickly formed a relieved smile when he saw her arms extended. He stepped back towards her and gave a warm embrace. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re late or not. I still love you, okay?¡± KT didn¡¯t appreciate his non-verbal response and gave him a tight squeeze. ¡°You know I still love you, right? Let me hear the words.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°I know you do, KT. You got love for all of us.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t none of you forget it either.¡± She finished with a smile. Pepper dragged his feet across the floor and took over the order taker position in the drive through window. He lowered his head and let it thud against the glass. Only 382 Flex more and we can buy a new power core. We can do this¡­ it¡¯s not that¡ª ¡°Hello! Are you there? Is this thing even on?¡± A woman¡¯s voice chirped in his ear. Pepper squinted in anguish at her pitch. The overly loud volume in the headset caused a slight ringing in his ear. His hand rushed to lower the volume before he continued. ¡°Welcome to Rocket Burger. What can we get you for lift-off?¡± ¡°I need a number 7, bacon rocket, and then a number 4, mega moon burger.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes crossed as he went through the script he had said a thousand times before. ¡°Would you like to upgrade your order to a mega mission size?¡± ¡°No, regular is fine.¡± ¡°Okay, that will be 14.50 Flex¡­¡± ¡°On second thoughts, why not? Let¡¯s go ahead and mega mission size it.¡± He pounded his fist down on the counter. He rolled his eyes and let out a loud sigh while his free hand started to punch through the multiple screens. I gotta start all over, got to start all over. The dumb point of sale system couldn¡¯t just have an easy back button¡ªnope, I have to cancel and then redo the dumb order ¡­ all over again! ¡°Okay, so a number 7 and a number 4 mega mission size. Did you say what you wanted to drink?¡± ¡°Oh dear, what does Stu want today? I just want a tea, but go ahead and give me the citrus rocket fuel for the number 4.¡± It doesn¡¯t really matter which number meal gets the drink, but sure¡­ the number 4 extra-greasy, super-sized meal will have the citrus rocket fuel that has no actual citrus in it at all. ¡°That will be 19.75 Flex. Go ahead and drive up to the first window.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ see you there.¡± Pepper watched with sadness as the vehicle began to pull towards his window. He noticed a new vehicle pulling up to the menu board. He greeted it but asked for a moment while he finished with the present customer. ¡°Sure thing, Peepers!¡± Tamin¡¯s voice said in his headset. Pepper peered through the drive through service window and glared down at the vehicle. The next few minutes were his own personal hell¡ªTamin making him suffer through all the pointless questions he could think of. Pepper hit his head so hard against the drive through window that there was an audible thud. He finally made it through the rest of Tamin¡¯s harassment and watched as the sports car rolled up to his location. His heart sank as it slowly pulled up. Yes, dealing with Tamin was a dreadful experience, no matter the circumstances. But it was the person sitting in the back seat that caused him a new level of heartache. Andrea Brewer. Her bleached blond hair and crystal blue eyes made his heart melt every time he saw her. She had a warm ivory tone to her skin, and every once in a while, she would wear her glasses rather than contacts. They had shared a class last year, but he couldn¡¯t tell if she realized it. Every day he admired her but didn¡¯t dare risk expressing his feelings towards her. He now felt that his heart was a melted pile of goo. But what made it worse was the feeling that Tamin was standing over his melted heart and stomping on it from above. Pepper did his best to bite his tongue and simply do the job he was paid to do. ¡°That will be 11.95 Flex.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just put it on my tab?¡± Tamin boastfully countered. ¡°You know that isn¡¯t how we do things here, Tamin.¡± ¡°How does it feel knowing you work for me, Peepers?¡± He balled his fists and did his best to keep them below the windowsill. He let out a sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t work for you, Tamin.¡± ¡°Well, my dad owns the restaurant, and everything that my dad owns, I practically own. So, in a way you kinda do.¡± ¡°Pretty sure I kind of don¡¯t. Now how about you pay the 11.95 Flex and get out of here?¡± ¡°Well, see, here is the thing¡­¡± Tamin didn¡¯t have time to finish before, without warning, Pepper felt himself being firmly moved out of the way. KT quickly arrived to his rescue and leaned halfway out the window. ¡°The thing is, you¡¯re being a brat like every other time before. Now look here, Tamin, we don¡¯t have time for your silly games. We have a job to do. Now, I am pretty sure your dad doesn¡¯t want me to call him again and inform him his sixteen-year-old son is acting like a five-year-old child. Your father pays us to serve customers, and every time you do this, you impact our ability to serve them. Now either pay for the order or be gone.¡± KT was gone just as fast as she had arrived. Pepper noticed the line of cars that had now stacked up in the drive through. Thankfully Tamin turned red with embarrassment. Andrea and whoever the girl was in the front passenger seat started to giggle at the scene that had just unfolded. Tamin didn¡¯t say another word and reached his arm out to tap his Holocube against the payment reader. Chapter 4 - Run To Safety The sun had already set, but the clouds were glowing a hot pink color. They were a perfect contrast against the deep blue heavens above. The faint scent of the pine trees filled Pepper¡¯s nose as the sidewalk brought him close to the tree line. He tilted his head back and took a few long deep breaths. His feet ached from standing all day. He let out a moan as he rolled his head in a circular motion. Almost there¡­ just another paycheck or two and then I¡¯ll have enough for my upgrades. Pepper looked ahead to the next intersection. He decided there was no point in waiting to have his dinner at home. He turned his small backpack around and retrieved the Rocket Burger meal he had made for himself before leaving work. That was one great thing about KT¡ªshe let all the employees have free meals. Regardless of what Tamin¡¯s father had to say about it. Pepper began to take a few bites out of the double bacon cheeseburger. The cheesy and greasy goodness covered his face, and he used his zip-up hoodie sleeve as a napkin. He had just leaned in to take another large bite when the warning alarm roared to life in the distance. ¡°No!¡± he cried out. His head snapped from side to side. The audible ring of the danger tone began to grow louder as newly stationed speakers came to life near him. Pepper¡¯s eyes locked onto the next intersection, and he saw the red LED light on top of the stop light start pulsating into the evening sky. The speaker rang out and he dropped the food bag, spilling tater tots in front of him. Pepper launched himself into a sprint. He aimed for home, but then he heard the electrified tearing sound of the rift portal opening up. Though the portal was a mile away from him, its massive size and the energy emitted by it was great enough that the whole neighborhood knew when any activity occurred there. He was closing the distance to the intersection when the explosions from the massive defensive turrets fired off. Cannons fired in rapid succession and the ground thudded under his feet as he tried to pick up his pace. He cinched his backpack tighter and was about to kick his run into the next gear when the intersection erupted into a massive fireball. The sound of twisted metal and thudding chunks of blacktop and earth filled his ears. His eyes widened in fear, and he skidded to a stop. He blocked his face from the intense heat of the fireball and turned around to shield himself. Pepper¡¯s hands began to shake. His memory replayed the scene of the schools therapist. She had stood in front of the school assembly and taught them how to cope when a demonic attack occurred. Take long deep breaths, focus on a single focal point, rub your fingers into the palms of your hands to physically feel something, then take the first step. Pepper¡¯s hands felt slick from the grease of the fast food. But it started to work. He stayed focused on the red car parked at the side of the street across the intersection. The plasma flames that burned in front of him had now died down enough that he could make it across. He took a step forward and then another. The thud of the pavement underneath his feet gave him the motivation to get back into a sprint. The imprisoning fear that had come over him began to fade away. Pepper made it past the next intersection before another explosion erupted, this time behind him. He didn¡¯t dare turn around to look but remained focused on the direction of home. He had closed the distance until only the final block remained before the firing stopped and the all clear tone sounded. Pepper staggered to a stop and leaned over, resting his hands on his legs. The adrenaline began to ease and the exhaustion of the intense moment started to wash over him. He stood up and looked behind him. He gasped at the sight of a line of houses on fire. An entire neighborhood block had been destroyed. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Pepper stood there for a minute and took in the sight, then turned and started to walk home. He had not seen any explosions near his house. That reassured him that his family were okay. Additionally, his mom had insisted that they build a safety bunker under the house. It had taken Pepper¡¯s dad two years to build it to his mom¡¯s satisfaction. He finally arrived home and could hear his mom wailing and yelling. His father acted as a buffer, the same way he had all those times before. Pepper chose not to walk in the front door but rather walked down the side towards the backyard. He turned the corner and found his younger sister, Megan, sitting on the back stairs. ¡°Hey, Meg.¡± She slowly turned her head towards him. Her eyes were red and bloodshot. There was a slight sniffle in her voice. ¡°Hi, Pep.¡± He walked over and stood in front of her. He had to reach down and pick her up, but once he did, she wrapped around him like a spider monkey. His hand slowly rubbed her back. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°I am now,¡± she muttered back. ¡°You want to come help me in the workshop?¡± ¡°Yes please.¡± She squeezed him and then sniffled on his shoulder. Pepper normally had a firm rule of no family members allowed in the workshop. But every once in a while, like tonight, he made exceptions. That and it never seemed to work, as he felt his family was constantly invading his workspace. There was an old recliner chair in the corner of the room. It was a part of their old couch set from two years back. Pepper had had to plead with his dad to let him keep the recliner for the workshop. It was his favorite spot in the world, and tonight it was Megan¡¯s tower of safety. He gently lowered her down onto it. ¡°All right, let me grab you a blanket.¡± ¡°Pepper?¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Can I sleep with Mala?¡± He looked down at her giant brown eyes and sighed. Quickly glancing over at his workbench, his eyes locked onto the twelve-inch clay figure he had carved years ago. It was a replica of what he hoped to one day actually build. The golem he would use for fighting in the Golem League. But at this moment, it was going to be the defender of a princess against monsters and nightmares. Megan wrapped her arms around the hardened clay and clung tight. Pepper wrapped a worn-out blanket around her and did his best to tuck her in. He made his way over to a small refrigerator and grabbed a drink and two individually wrapped mozzarella sticks. A quick glance back at Meg and he saw she was struggling to stay awake. Though it wasn¡¯t her bedtime, the trauma she had endured had appeared to speed up the process. Pepper turned on some music and started to look over his golem while chomping down on the cheese. His stomach grumbled, and he hoped the small snack would do the trick. He reached over to grab one of his chiseling tools and noticed a movement behind him. His dad had just leaned against the door frame by the time he had turned around. He nodded down towards Meg. ¡°Thanks for watching over her.¡± ¡°Meh, it¡¯s no big deal. Kinda comes with the position of being older brother.¡± Trent smiled. ¡°That is something your older brother would say.¡± Pepper lowered his head. He just didn¡¯t feel comfortable looking at his dad. The topic of his older brother was hard for both of them to talk about. It was also part of the reason he wanted to leave home. He wanted to become a Golem League gladiator and show his brother that he could achieve the dream. ¡°How¡¯s Mom?¡± he finally asked, breaking the awkward silence. His dad shook his head. ¡°I dunno, son¡­ I just don¡¯t know what to do anymore. I feel like I¡¯ve tried everything, but even everything can¡¯t bring back that which was taken from her. Taken from us.¡± Pepper tapped his tool in his hand, not knowing what to say. He finally turned to the only thing he did know. ¡°You going to be able to make it to my next club matchup?¡± The question seemed to help distract his father¡¯s thoughts. A small smile appeared on his face. ¡°That¡¯s in a few days, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, down at the fairgrounds. I should be in arena 3.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to make it, Pep.¡± ¡°Sweet.¡± ¡°You okay if she stays here with you tonight? Or do you want me to take her inside?¡± Trent motioned to Meg, who was knocked out in the recliner. Pepper sighed. ¡°Nah, she can stay. I¡¯ll hook up my camping hammock and crash here with her.¡± ¡°Okay, son. Thanks again, and I am glad you made it home safe.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Dad.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Pep.¡± Chapter 5 - Yeti Rock Pepper¡¯s wrist began to buzz with a notification. He slowly peeled his eyes open and saw the morning sun¡¯s rays. They were streaking in through the workshop windows. There was a small purr from Meg, who was snuggled up tightly with him in his hammock. The night had brought just enough of a chill that she had awakened and sought the comfort of her older brother. [:::] Immortals League match beginning soon. [:::] Pepper tapped on his holodex and finally glanced at the notification that awaited him. He read the message and began to think back over the League schedule and who was competing. It took a few seconds for his brain to awaken, but he soon recalled it was a matchup between Stephen Landry and Shami Stovall, two of his favorite gladiators. Pepper quickly dismissed the notification and tapped through the device. He chose the option to turn on the holoscreen in his workshop. The wall above his workbench illuminated as the screen activated and remained suspended in the air. He immediately realized that the angle of the screen was not going to be a comfortable one for him to watch. He tapped away on his holodex and accessed the options. A quick adjustment, sliding his finger through the controls, and he watched the screen float from one side of the room to the other. He finally released his finger, which set the screen in its new position. ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± he said under his breath. The Golem League theme music came on and the familiar voice of Nick Bosloe filled the workshop. ¡°Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to another exciting match in the Golem League. I know I am excited for this one, folks, as we head to the Immortals League, where we have Stephen Landry facing off against the one and only Shami Stovall. But of course, before we get to the match I need to welcome my cohost, the ever-exciting JD Glasscock.¡± The screen zoomed out to include JD. ¡°Well, thanks, Nick, and what a great day for a Golem League matchup¡ªam I right or am I right?¡± Pepper had a slight chuckle, as JD had shown up for the event wearing a button-up Hawaiian shirt and khaki cargo shorts. Nick, on the other hand, was wearing a dark navy-blue suit with a white collared shirt and a bright red tie. Nick chuckled and looked back at the camera with a slight shake of his head but a large smile on his face. ¡°You are certainly right, JD, and we are here at the Golem League, never having a dull moment.¡± JD quickly tilted his head and snapped back and forth between his cohost and the camera. ¡°You know, for all you folks at home¡­ in case you are wondering, yes, I am wearing sandals.¡± Nick paused for a moment and his expression contorted as he tried to maintain his professional demeanor. ¡°Seriously¡­ they feel amazing. It¡¯s great,¡± JD finished. ¡°Well, JD, now we¡¯ve got that out of the way, let¡¯s get to today¡¯s match. I mean, though you are quite the fashion icon, I think that is really what the fans are wanting to see today,¡± Nick said as he did his best to keep the train on the track. ¡°You know, you bring up a great point, Nick. Now for all you at home, go ahead and follow me on League Chat, the official Golem League social media platform, and there you can get all my great fashion tips and tricks.¡± JD pressed his lips together and his eyebrows shot straight up. The dead serious expression remained for a few seconds before he started to laugh and then continued. ¡°But you¡¯re right, Nick. The fans are here to see an epic match, and that is exactly what they are going to get! Because we have two classic gladiators facing off, and there¡¯s no way this match isn¡¯t going to be a good one.¡± ¡°Well, you are certainly right there, JD. Now, neither of these two gladiators are new to the League. And we, of course, have watched them both rise and fall in between the Pantheon and Immortal Leagues. So when we say experience, we certainly mean it,¡± Nick said and quickly turned to his counterpart. ¡°Oh, for sure, Nick. I mean, let¡¯s be real about the League¡­ now, we all love it, you know? But when we talk about the Pantheon and the Immortal, these are the cream of the crop. You know? There is only a ten-foot height difference between the two leagues, but you still have fifteen rune slots allotted to your golem. Finally, we¡¯re talking five tons less in overall weight in the Immortal League.¡± ¡°But, JD, that is a serious weight difference,¡± Nick chimed in. ¡°It is, but it really isn¡¯t, Nick. I mean, we see gladiators and their golems get promoted and relegated between these two leagues every year. When you are in the top two tiers, you¡¯ve already got your system down and you¡¯re dialed in to what works best for you.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re certainly right about one thing¡ªwe do see our gladiators jumping back and forth often throughout these two leagues. It seems to come in waves where our gladiators come out swinging and having an epic year of success and the League is shaken up.¡± ¡°And that is what makes the Golem League the best in the world. Am I right or am I right?¡± JD finished with a laugh. Nick was about to segue into the next portion, but JD shot out his hand and continued. ¡°Now, I have to say¡ªand I know this might shock some people¡ªbut my money is on Stephen Landry today.¡± A shocked expression came over Nick¡¯s face. ¡°Really? You think Stephen is going to pull out the win over the amazing Shami? Do tell.¡± ¡°I mean, Stephen has been around this league for a while, he has had his ups and downs, but this yeti golem he has made and used this year¡­ I mean, one, it is a yeti, and that is just cool beans right there. Two, the electric guitar battle-ax combination. How cool is that? And finally¡­¡± JD reached into his chest pocket and retrieved a pair of sunglasses. He quickly put them on, and the orange and purple blended gradient was the exact same as Stephen Landry¡¯s yeti. ¡°How are these yeti shades not the coolest thing in the Golem League?¡± Pepper started to chuckle and shook his head at the commentator. Nick was doing the same thing. ¡°Well, JD, though I don¡¯t necessarily disagree with you, there is something to be said about Shami Stovall and her death wraith. I mean, utilizing a powered chained lantern as a weapon is awesome to watch. The golem is just frightening to see in its grand spectacle.¡± ¡°That is what makes this arena such a fitting place for this matchup as well. I mean, here we are in Netherfield Arena. The lush green rolling hills in East Sussex of the United Kingdom is such a great location for this. A death wraith going up against a giant yeti on a cloudy, rainy, grim day. Epic,¡± JD exclaimed. ¡°Well, I know our fans are ready for this matchup, so let¡¯s not waste another minute and get right down to the action, shall we?¡± Nick proclaimed. The camera split to a view that looked out at the arena. The angle was from a lower position and pointed upward towards the sky. The golems looked even larger as the billowing clouds above forced the Golem League to shift perspectives for the viewers to enjoy. The gray sky flashed with lightning, and the rumble of thunder only added to the intensity. There was a faint purple glow from the arena runes as they glowed to life. The rolling green fields of Netherfield looked slick from the intermittent rain. Off to the left of the arena came a giant earth crawler. The massive platform carried Shami¡¯s death wraith as the tracked wheels inched their way to the golem¡¯s starting position. Pepper could just make out the slender figure sitting on the edge of the crawler. He instantly recognized Shami and watched as she swayed her leg back and forth. The camera cut to a drone feed and the view hovered around Shami. She was lifting her operator helmet and placing it on her head. ¡°Still going with the Black Magic helmet by Tonic Industries,¡± Pepper muttered. The view continued to hover, but Nick¡¯s voice chimed in. ¡°And here we see Shami Stovell and her death wraith being carted to the edge of the arena.¡± ¡°This is just gruesome, man,¡± JD added. Pepper watched as Shami tapped the side of her glove and a pink glow emitted from under her helmet visor. Faint pink and blue lights illuminated her gloves. Her fingers started to go to work, and a few seconds later, a deep blue light flickered within her golem. The blue light soon faded into a warm yellow glow. A loud noise cried out across the arena¡ªa sound that spoke of nightmares and darkness. The death wraith began to hover a few inches above the crawler¡¯s platform. It continued to slowly float upward, suspended in the air, and then moved forward into its starting position. The drone streaked from the left of the arena to the opposite side. There, at the other end of the rolling hills, was a figure. He was cloaked in a dark hood and a leather jacket. Pepper smiled and imagined Stephen walking directly off the stage of a metal concert and into the arena. The drone arrived just in time to catch the red flare appearing from Stephen¡¯s ocular operator glasses. He kept to his traditional Hyper Inline model that was made by the company simply known as Rage. Stephen¡¯s gloves also illuminated and maintained the deep red coloration. Then, in the background, with the thunder roaring overhead, came the distinct sound of thudding footsteps. Stephen¡¯s golem was already powered up, and it marched forward. Its head crested the hill and you could see the white hair accents carved into the granite stone. An American flag¨Cpatterned bandana was wrapped around the golem¡¯s forehead. A giant pair of sunglasses covered its eyes, and in its hands was a massive electric guitar. The weapon was a guitar and battle-ax combination. The edges of the guitar body were shaped like a dual-bladed ax. The neck and head served as the ax¡¯s handle. Stephen flicked his wrist in a rotating motion and the six red energy strings pulsated to life along the weaponized instrument¡¯s neck. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The camera glided around to the side to show the massive golem dropping a giant box-like item beside its operator. The yeti continued marching to its starting position, while it began to act like it was playing the guitar. Without delay, the song ¡°Seven Nation Army¡± began to blare out from the item that Pepper now realized was a giant speaker. ¡°Now this is how you make an epic entrance! You know what I mean?¡± JD said. Pepper lay in his hammock and bobbed his head slightly along with the beat. He smiled and vibed to the song, which he had not heard before. The countdown timer appeared on the screen, and he cracked his knuckles in anticipation. His mind tried to tune in to what he believed was in the mind of Stephen Landry. ¡°Let¡¯s clash these golems!¡± Nick bellowed as the match began. Shami¡¯s death wraith dropped its chained lantern down, and warm yellow and orange energy glowed from it. Every edge of the lantern looked like a sharp spike ready to puncture its opponent. The wraith started to twirl its weapon around. The movement started out slow but continued to twirl around and soon generated more speed. It quickly evolved into a single line of warm yellow that streaked across the sky. ¡°Oh, I am worried, JD. I think Stephen should have countered and rushed in to not allow Shami to make the first move like this,¡± Nick said. He had hardly finished his sentence when the lantern streaked across the sky. It looked like a laser being shot towards Stephen¡¯s yeti. The golem sidestepped just in time and the lantern flew past it. Stephen quickly countered the attack and brought his guitar ax down. Shami attempted to avoid the strike and commanded her golem to recall the lantern. Her wraith quickly snapped its weapon back, but the ax blade had arrived already. Red and orange sparks of energy shot upwards. The chain was pummeled into the earth, but the wraith continued to adjust. It finally snapped its weapon free and the lantern returned to its owner. ¡°Holy cannoli, talk about catching a lucky break! I don¡¯t know how that chain didn¡¯t get severed, but great red velvet cake, is Shami lucky that didn¡¯t happen.¡± JD¡¯s voice erupted with shock. ¡°You know, JD, that is something we didn¡¯t really talk about. The Netherfield Arena has large black granite boulders scattered all throughout it, but they rarely ever come into play. Today they might actually make a difference!¡± Nick replied. Shami¡¯s wraith started to float off to one side and began to swing its lantern back round. The golem adjusted and launched the lantern high into the arena. The height and angle was so great that Pepper thought it might actually touch the top portion of the arena¡¯s barrier. The yellow line of energized chain fell back towards its target. Stephen¡¯s yeti lifted its guitar ax to block the attack. The lantern¡¯s chain slammed down and started to wrap around the neck of the guitar. The yeti countered the attack and began to adjust its hips. A quick twist and turn and the yeti began to pull the wraith towards it. ¡°Oh dear me!¡± Nick cried out. ¡°Watch this, watch this, watch this!¡± JD spat out in haste. The wraith flew across the arena, headed straight for the yeti. The yeti let go of the guitar with its left hand and started to wind up for a clothesline attack. Stephen¡¯s golem leaned forward as the wraith closed the distance. But at the last second, Shami commanded her golem to duck. The wraith didn¡¯t stop, though, but used the momentum to soar past Stephen¡¯s yeti. The wraith snapped its lantern back. Stephen¡¯s golem only had one hand on its guitar ax and failed to secure it under the strain of Shami¡¯s power. The ax went flying across the arena and bounced off the wall. ¡°This isn¡¯t good! What is Stephen going to do?¡± Nick asked. ¡°Well, for one thing, he certainly isn¡¯t going to be able to play a follow-up song,¡± JD replied. Nick chuckled. ¡°Well, I think there are bigger concerns than that.¡± ¡°I dunno, man¡­ I could really go for Gorillaz, ¡®Feel Good Inc.¡¯ You know what I mean?¡± Pepper shook his head with a slight laugh. He imagined what JD and Nick would be saying during one of his matches. He turned his attention away for a second as Meg adjusted herself in the hammock. The motion caused the two of them to sway slightly. Pepper brought his hand over and adjusted Meg¡¯s hair on her face, then turned back to the action. Stephen¡¯s golem started to run towards its guitar ax. The camera panned around, and Pepper could see Shami¡¯s wraith chasing it down from behind. The wraith launched the lantern back at the yeti. The weapon slammed into it from behind, and the yeti staggered forward. It was able to keep its balance and kept running. Shami launched a second attack but was surprised when the yeti spun around and grabbed hold of the chain. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, and he watched as the yeti reached up and grabbed hold of the chain with its free hand. The giant sasquatch roared and shook its head. The golem tightened its grip and snapped the chain in half. It let go of the chain and the wraith quickly recalled it. Shami¡¯s wraith now only had a heavy chain to use as a physical weapon. Stephen¡¯s golem, having severed the lantern, now tossed it lightly in its hand. ¡°My goodness! This has taken a surprising turn to say the least!¡± Nick commented. ¡°A hard right turn headed straight into epic coolness, if you ask me, man,¡± JD replied. A dark chuckle came from Stephen¡¯s yeti. It took a firm step forward and launched the lantern like a baseball. The wraith easily dodged the attack, but Pepper was sure the act was more to send a message than a threat. The yeti began to take forceful steps forward while the rain continued to pelt down on the golems. Lightning bolts flashed high above the arena and the thunder rumbled like battle drums. The entire scene made the yeti¡¯s power walk look even more ferocious as it closed the distance to the wraith. Shami¡¯s wraith started to snap her chain upon the yeti as if it was a whip. The end of the metal chain smashed against the yeti¡¯s stone skin. The force was so great that Pepper could see particles of rock chip away. This is insane! Pepper thought. He isn¡¯t at all concerned about his runes being damaged from the attacks¡­ Where could he have placed them? The yeti¡¯s upper torso was gashed and sliced open by the time it reached the wraith. Shami started to dash her wraith from side to side in an attempt to avoid the yeti. But it appeared to only delay the inevitable. ¡°This is not good for Shami! She looked to have been on the offensive, but now she can¡¯t seem to gain the distance she desperately needs,¡± Nick stated. ¡°Well, Shami is now struggling due to her power consumption.¡± ¡°What do you mean, JD?¡± ¡°Well, she is clearly using an anti-gravity rune, which allows her golem to fly. That constant draw on the power core is a hard thing to sustain. With that rune constantly having to be powered, it means there is less energy available for her other attacks. Stephen doesn¡¯t have that problem.¡± ¡°A great observation and insight as always, JD.¡± ¡°It will be interesting to see what Shami does.¡± The yeti reached its hand out and grabbed hold of Shami¡¯s wraith¡¯s cloak. The wraith tried to float away; the cloak started to tear and rip. Stephen anticipated that and side-hopped his yeti. A quick adjustment and the yeti now had a firm hold on the wraith¡¯s shoulder. Stephen brought his golem¡¯s free hand up and began to pummel the wraith¡¯s body. The attack lasted a couple of rounds until the yeti finally grabbed hold of the wraith. The sasquatch lifted the wraith over its head and ended by pile driving it into the earth. Sparks of yellow energy sprang from the wraith¡¯s body. The yellow and orange light flickered for a brief second. Pepper was questioning whether or not the power core had actually reset itself. Stephen¡¯s yeti leaned back and started to pummel its chest like a gorilla. A bellowing cry rang out from the golem as it called out to the crashing thunder and lightning above. The yeti then turned and took a step in the direction of its guitar ax. Shami¡¯s wraith refused to leave the fight. Its clawed hand reached out and latched onto the yeti¡¯s leg. Stephen didn¡¯t even react at first but kept his golem moving ahead. The yeti continued for a few steps, but having to drag the wraith¡¯s body was too slow and cumbersome for Stephen¡¯s wishes. Stephen turned his golem around, but not before the wraith got a firm slash in. The wraith¡¯s claws shredded the yeti¡¯s calf muscle. The yeti¡¯s red energy flickered, and the golem looked to be delayed in responding to any commands. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me, Nick! Don¡¯t you freaking tell me that is where the runes are ¡­ that¡¯s brilliant, man,¡± JD commented. ¡°Well, it certainly appears that Stephen¡¯s yeti is in trouble,¡± Nick replied. The wraith didn¡¯t stop or hesitate. It took another round of clawed swipes at the yeti¡¯s calf area. Chunks of rock flew off the golem¡¯s frame, and with a final slash, a small explosion of red energy shot out from the yeti¡¯s leg. ¡°She¡¯s done it, JD! She appears to have ruptured one of the yeti¡¯s major runes!¡± Nick cried eagerly. The light from Stephen¡¯s golem went out and the massive yeti fell forward and landed with a crash upon the earth. The drone camera panned around to show Stephen with his head pointed straight up. His hands were down at his sides, and he finally lowered his head and shook it from side to side. ¡°Yo, that is straight up a fight we need to discuss, Nick. Erika ¡­ Erika, where you at, girl? Get in there and get us that interview,¡± JD commented. ¡°That isn¡¯t a half bad idea, JD. Folks, we¡¯re going to take a quick commercial break, but stay tuned, because we certainly cannot wait to get these two epic gladiators¡¯ thoughts on this match. Don¡¯t go away,¡± Nick followed up. A commercial for the Tonic Industries Black Magic Helmet came on. Pepper chuckled. Yeah, like that wasn¡¯t purposefully placed, he thought. He started to make his way out of the hammock, carefully navigating the weight distribution so Meg wouldn¡¯t teeter off. She moaned and started to rub her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Yeah? Do we need to get you some breakfast?¡± ¡°Mmhhmm,¡± she replied. Pepper smiled at her cute appearance. She still clung onto the blanket they had been wrapped up in. He turned his attention back to the screen to see Erika standing on the right side of the screen and Shami and Stephen standing next to each other on the left. Stephen¡¯s right arm was wrapped around Shami¡¯s shoulder in a side embrace, and the two had big smiles on their faces. ¡°Well, I am here with two golem gladiators that need no introduction,¡± Erika said with a wide grin. ¡°What a match, you guys!¡± Stephen was shaking his head. ¡°Yeah, I got to give it to old Shami here. I thought for sure I had her, man. You know, but go figure¡ªshe pulled out a win at the last second.¡± Stephen gave her a firm squeeze with his arm. He then let go of his embrace and crossed his arms in front of his chest, shaking his head slightly. ¡°I have to say, in the Golem League, it is so great to see how there isn¡¯t a whole lot of opponents, but rather friends who face off with each other. What is that like?¡± Erika asked. Stephen started. ¡°Oh, for sure, man. I mean¡­ who better to lose to than your friend, am I right? And not only that, I don¡¯t really see it as winning or losing¡ªmore like you beat me this time but I am coming for you next time.¡± Shami laughed. ¡°Well, yeah¡ªI mean, the majority of us have all come up the ranks together. We all started together and know exactly what it¡¯s like to compete at these levels. Many of us train together and help one another out behind the scenes. Heck, we even talked about switching golems for today¡¯s match.¡± Erika¡¯s expression changed to one of shock. ¡°No way!¡± Shami and Stephen chuckled, and they looked at each other with a shrug. Stephen rolled his head. ¡°Yeah¡ªI mean, why not? Like, how cool would that be for two gladiators to come out and just switch golems and go at it with no prior training or experience?¡± ¡°So what training did you do to pull off this victory, Shami?¡± Erika excitedly asked. ¡°None.¡± Shami laughed bashfully. ¡°If we¡¯re being honest, my husband and I were playing video games just before the match and I got all caught up in it. You know? And then I looked at the time and was like, ahh crap, I have to go battle Stephen. So, you know, I just winged it.¡± Stephen laughed when he saw Erika¡¯s mouth drop completely open and she leaned forward in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re joking!¡± ¡°Heck, no! I mean, I¡¯ve been winging it for a while now, and look at how far it has gotten me.¡± She smiled widely. ¡°If something works, don¡¯t change it.¡± Pepper merely chuckled and shook his head himself. They make it seem so easy. ¡°Pep.¡± He turned his head down and looked at Meg. ¡°Yes, my lil Meg monster?¡± She playfully smiled. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ let¡¯s get you some breakfast. Come on.¡± Pepper reached down, scooped Meg up into his arms, and began to carry her inside. Chapter 6 - Shoot For The Stars ¡°Well, surprise, surprise. Look who is alive and well but too self-centered to let his own mom know he¡¯s alive.¡± Pepper paused from getting the items set up to make pancakes. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Don¡¯t take it personal, don¡¯t take it personal. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°I bet you are, Pep¡­ I bet you are.¡± His mom skirted around him and grabbed her glass from off the counter. ¡°I figured Dad had told you last night when he got back inside.¡± ¡°Nope¡­ but pretty sure a mom would much rather hear it directly from her son. Especially seeing how the block just down the street was destroyed last night.¡± Pepper balled his hands into fists out of view of his mom¡¯s prying eyes. He started to go back to making pancakes for Meg but took another deep breath and turned towards his mom. ¡°Would you like some?¡± ¡°No. But at least it is nice of you to ask. I just wish it happened more often.¡± He ignored the backhanded compliment and poured the pancake batter onto the griddle. His gaze landed on his dad¡¯s coffee cup. It was then that he realized this was the normal time his dad enjoyed the warm bean juice. ¡°Where is Dad?¡± ¡°He got called into work.¡± Pepper shook his head. ¡°They can¡¯t keep doing this to him. He has already given more to that grocery store than anyone else.¡± ¡°They¡¯ll probably work him into an early grave. Might as well, since everyone else around here seems to be dying on me.¡± Courtney paused, and he caught her nodding out the window. ¡°You remember Miss Higgins?¡± His brow scrunched slightly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t she one of my teachers?¡± ¡°Your first-grade teacher to be more specific. I would think you would remember her. Seems like the only thing you remember these days are just golem details and facts.¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t true,¡± he countered. ¡°Well, maybe you can prove me wrong and take a vested interest in this family. But I won¡¯t hold my breath.¡± Pepper piled the pancakes onto a plate and went to deliver the breakfast to his little sister. When he returned to the kitchen, he started to prepare his own breakfast. ¡°So what about Miss Higgins? What is going on with her?¡± Courtney huffed. ¡°Well, nothing, cos she¡¯s dead.¡± Pepper snapped his head towards her, and she raised her eyebrows at him. ¡°Yeah¡­ she lived just down from us on the road that was destroyed in the attack last night. She is just one of the many victims.¡± Pepper turned back to his breakfast and flipped his cakes over on the griddle. ¡°Well, I guess that sucks to be her, then, huh?¡± ¡°Well, it could have easily been you, Pepper. You need to think about these things.¡± ¡°Can I just get a break?¡± Courtney¡¯s eyes widened and she had a sarcastic look on her face. ¡°Oh, you need a break? Take a number there, Pep. We all wish we could catch a break. You think life is hard now? Try losing two children and surviving the constant threat of demons pouring into your neighborhood.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, Mom, and you know that,¡± he countered. ¡°Oh, and what did you mean?¡± ¡°You tell me to get a job. I get a job, but you always want me to be home. You tell me to have a career. I choose my career, but it¡¯s a waste of time and money.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t get a chance to finish, as his mom cut him off. ¡°The golem games are not a career, they¡¯re a fantasy!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Golem League, Mom, League¡­ for the ten thousandth time.¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Well, some of us wake up to our realities and work to earn everything we have in life. Others¡­ such as yourself¡­ well, I guess I will take a number 7 ultra-mega size.¡± He grabbed his plate and didn¡¯t hesitate as he turned to leave. He called back over his shoulder as he headed out the back door, ¡°That isn¡¯t even a size option!¡± ¡°Now where are you going?¡± she yelled back. ¡°I have martial arts training with Nate!¡± Pepper had only made it about four steps and two bites when his heart skipped. He turned the corner to see his neighbor Ryan standing at the fence facing him. Pepper had to take a second not only to get his heart settled back down but also to swallow his bite without choking. Ryan was wearing a bright red tie, but rather than being around his neck, it was tightly wrapped around his forehead. The ends of the tie were dangling beside his face and his hands were firmly pressed together. He bowed towards Pepper in the traditional martial art form. ¡°You have chosen an honorable path, young grasshopper.¡± Pepper shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you heard all that?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. I don¡¯t think your mom there realizes just how much her voice carries. Specially when she leaves that there kitchen window open.¡± Ryan motioned with his head. Pepper looked over his shoulder and then shook his head. ¡°Well, guess there is no need to fill you in on the details.¡± ¡°I mean, I love a good gossip just as much as any teenage girl, you know.¡± Pepper narrowed his gaze at Ryan. His neighbor now had a thousand-yard stare and a concerned expression on his face. ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­ you know, I feel really bad for Miss Catherine. She just doesn¡¯t see how Mr. Daniel Berback is playing her like a fiddle, you know? Toying with her heart like a three-dollar yo-yo.¡± ¡°Where do you get this stuff, Ryan?¡± The question brought Ryan back into the moment and he rolled his eyes. ¡°Oh, you know, it¡¯s all on that there League Chat. I swear you kids just have no sense of privacy and you just post the most insane things. Sure do, you know?¡± Ryan paused and then amplified his expression of concern. ¡°You are all crazy.¡± Pepper looked down at his feet and noticed a pebble on the sidewalk. He shoved it off to towards the base of the fence they now stood at. He didn¡¯t look at Ryan when he asked, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Oh, wow there, Pep. That sure be a loaded question now, ain¡¯t it? Let¡¯s see here¡­¡± Pepper realized his error and quickly intruded to correct his question. ¡°Wait, let me clarify. What do you think I should do? You know, about wanting becoming a Golem League Gladiator and one day, hopefully, a Golem Master..¡± Ryan smiled. The look on his face told Pepper that he knew the original intent of the question. His kind confidant was merely playing with him. Ryan took a deep breath and tilted his head from side to side. ¡°Pepper, did I ever tell you I was an athlete?¡± Pepper had to think for a second. ¡°You might have mentioned it before, but I can¡¯t recall all the details.¡± ¡°Sounds fair enough there. I didn¡¯t listen much to my elders when I was growing up, you know. Well, let¡¯s just say¡­ I had the pleasure of being an athlete.¡± ¡°Basketball?¡± ¡°Oh goodness, no; I played a real man¡¯s sport. Volleyball.¡± Pepper continued to tilt his head and let out a small chuckle. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Yeah, you know. I am practically as tall as one of them golem things you talk about, so I figured I would put the height advantage to good use, you know. Well, there were many people that doubted me.¡± Ryan returned to his thousand-yard stare and slowly drifted into a quiet state for a moment. ¡°Well¡­ did you get to play? You know, professionally?¡± Ryan had pressed his tongue against the side of his cheek. His eyes widened and he nodded. ¡°That I did, young Pep¡­ that I did. You know¡­ I got hurt, though. That was what caused it all to end. The dreams, the passion, all of it. A screeching halt like a car running into a brick wall. I don¡¯t know if you know this, but, uhh, brick walls don¡¯t flex.¡± Pepper wasn¡¯t ready for the quick transition. He didn¡¯t even know what to say at that point. ¡°Gosh, Ryan¡­ I am sorry to hear that.¡± ¡°Me too. But you know what, Pepper? Though my career didn¡¯t really go the way I thought it would, I wouldn¡¯t trade it for the world. There are some people who try for their whole lives to make it. Make it to the big show, so to speak. The thing about it is that they can look at themselves in the mirror and know that they gave their all towards the effort. Sometimes life deals us a bad hand of cards to play in the big game. For me, I didn¡¯t take it for granted and savored every second that it lasted.¡± ¡°Okay ¡­¡± ¡°Pep ¡­ close your eyes.¡± Pepper did as his neighbor asked, and soon Ryan¡¯s voice continued. ¡°Now I want you to imagine the tunnel. It¡¯s dark, a little gloomy, smells like rotten food and motor oil.¡± Pepper cracked his eye open and showed a confused look to Ryan. ¡°Hey now, don¡¯t be ruining the vision there. Just go with it, just go with it.¡± Pepper closed his eyes again and let out a long sigh. ¡°Okay¡­ now you start to take your first steps forward. There is a bright light awaiting you at the end of the tunnel. You begin to hear the roar of the crowd¡ªthe cheers that are calling out your name and that of your clay statue thing. You enter the arena to see yourself standing before thousands of people. All there to see you become the Grand Champion of Dragons.¡± ¡°Golem Master.¡± ¡°Yeah! That too, aye.¡± Pepper laughed and opened his eyes. ¡°Hey, I wasn¡¯t done there! You still have to see your face blown up on the jumbo screen for it to really set in.¡± ¡°I think I got the picture, thanks, Ryan.¡± A serious look washed over Ryan¡¯s face. His eyes locked onto Pepper¡¯s and he leaned slightly forward. ¡°Pep¡­ the journey is worth it. Don¡¯t give up.¡± Chapter 7 - Ohana Pepper jumped onto his 12-speed mountain bike and began to make his way towards Nate¡¯s gym. The sight of the destroyed street in his neighborhood was hard to pull away from. The scent of burnt wood was still in the air as he rode past it. He couldn¡¯t help but think about how close he had come to being harmed in the attack. He was further held up by the convoy of military vehicles slowly rolling towards the rift portal. A fresh supply of new vehicles was arriving, while the damaged vehicles that had defended his small town were being exfiltrated. A young soldier, not too much older than him, finally stopped the convoy and waved him through. He was a few minutes late for his training session by the time he rolled into the parking lot. Pepper saw some workers who had just finished installing Nate¡¯s new sign on the strip mall. Ohana MMA. He smiled at the bright red design Nate had chosen. Pepper had just finished getting off his bike when he saw Andrea Brewer¡¯s car roll slowly into the parking lot. He immediately turned around and tried to cover his face. He thought for a second and didn¡¯t know why he felt so embarrassed to be seen in front of Nate¡¯s. He normally didn¡¯t mind telling others that he trained with Nate, but the thought of just having a conversation with Andrea caused his cheeks to flush. He shook his head and scolded himself for being so shy. He chained his bike up to the bike rack and then turned towards Nate¡¯s door. In the corner of his eye he caught movement and couldn¡¯t help but dash a quick glance. He saw Andrea heading into the pharmacy two storefronts down from him. Her blue jeans were complemented by a powder-blue hoodie. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that she had lifted her hoodie up and had also put on a ball cap. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go, bro bro!¡± Nate¡¯s voice cried out from inside. Pepper whipped his head around and looked through the glass to see Nate standing in the center of the wrestling mats. His almond skin had a slight shine to it. Pepper was sure it was due to a light sweat from the calisthenics that he had already been performing. A fresh bead of sweat rolled down Nate¡¯s shaved head as he gave Pepper a mischievous smile. Pepper didn¡¯t hesitate any longer and made his way into the dojo. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Sorry does not change the result. Hurry up, P-Dub,¡± Nate replied, his extended arms emphasizing his desire for Pepper to move faster. Pepper rushed over to the locker room and quickly changed into his training gi. He exited the locker room and returned to the mat, taking up a position opposite Nate. There was the flash and chirp of a police siren outside in the parking lot. He turned his head but was immediately reprimanded by Nate. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Pepper almost stuttered his reply. ¡°I was looking¡­¡± ¡°Nothing outside these walls matters right now,¡± Nate said in a firm but reassuring voice. ¡°You have already let exterior forces cause you to be late. Which has now affected our time within this dojo¡ªtime dedicated to you, your development, and your goals. This poor planning will cost you.¡± There was a slight tingling sensation on the back of Pepper¡¯s neck. He could feel goosebumps beginning to form on his arms. He bit down on his tongue, as he feared Nate¡¯s next set of instructions. ¡°Burpees.¡± I knew it! He wanted to let out a long sigh of distaste but knew the negative reaction would only make things worse. He didn¡¯t wait but immediately began the exercise, and by the time he reached twenty repetitions, he was already starting to sweat. Nate had him continue to perform the exercise until he had lost count. ¡°Come. Let us start with your sequences,¡± Nate instructed. Pepper put on the MMA gloves that Nate handed to him. He quickly rolled his head and wiggled his arms in an attempt to get them relaxed and rejuvenated before the exercise began. ¡°One-two. One-two. One-one-two,¡± Nate ordered. Pepper went into his jab combinations and punched the training pads on Nate¡¯s hands. The two danced combatively around the mats as Nate led him through an entire series of different striking sequences. Due to Pepper¡¯s tardiness to the lesson, Nate also threw elbows, knees, and kicks into the sequence. The initial corrective training of burpees at the beginning had made Pepper¡¯s body sore and exhausted for the rest of the training session. There were no excuses in Nate¡¯s gym, though. Only action and results. By the time it was all over and done, Pepper was covered in sweat. He panted heavily and finally got the relief he desired. ¡°Okay¡­ that is enough for today.¡± Pepper plopped onto the mat in exaggerated style and let out a long huff. ¡°Finally.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t even that bad. I went easy on you,¡± Nate finished with a sarcastic expression and took a seat on the mat next to him. He slowly sat up to join his teacher. ¡°The sign came out really nice.¡± ¡°Yeah, it did. I had my buddy Max design it. He does really good work. KLE Custom Imaging. He is the one who also does all our shirts and other apparel items.¡± ¡°You decided to not go with Craven MMA, though, huh?¡± Nate scrunched his face and smiled playfully. ¡°It was a hard choice, but at the end of the day, this isn¡¯t about me.¡± He waved his arm and motioned around the room. ¡°This is about us¡ªthe family and community I want to build. I want everyone who walks in through those doors to feel Ohana when they come in. It doesn¡¯t matter what your name is. You are all Ohana.¡± Pepper smiled and nodded. ¡°I get that.¡± ¡°You feel ready for your next match? When is it?¡± ¡°I feel ready. The real question is whether or not my golem will be ready.¡± ¡°What is wrong with¡­ what is it, Mala?¡± Pepper smiled and saw the sincerity in Nate¡¯s eyes, his teacher doing his best to remember the details he had previously shared. ¡°Yeah, I mean, Mala is what my current golem will eventually turn into as I get up into the higher leagues. But¡­ that is only if I get promoted out of the local club and into regionals and so forth.¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Ha! You¡¯ll get there, P-Dub. I have no doubt about that. You¡¯ve been an excellent student, and your skills have greatly improved.¡± ¡°Skills sometimes don¡¯t matter, Nate¡­ the quality of the golem also comes into play.¡± Nate raised a finger and quickly tapped on his holodex. The holoscreen on the far wall flashed to life and Nate quickly pulled up a video. A small figure appeared, and Pepper immediately saw that the individual had no arms or legs. He watched as the figure waddled from side to side using what appeared to be tiny wings that were only the size of a finger or two. It was these small wings that the individual was using as best he could for his feet. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The person was on a skateboard rolling down a street. The video then cut to a shot of the tiny figure surfing in the ocean. ¡°Pretty sure skills matter a lot to Nick,¡± Nate said, dancing his eyebrows up and down. They both smiled, and Nate turned the holoscreen off. There was a slight pause but then he changed the subject. ¡°You and your family okay from the attack?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ a block near us was destroyed. Mom is frazzled, but she has been for years now. So, everything seems pretty normal to me at this point.¡± ¡°How is your dad?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s just trying to hold everything together. I know work is certainly keeping him busy. They called him in again today. Who knows what it¡¯s about this time?¡± ¡°They going to make it to your next match?¡± Pepper huffed. ¡°I don¡¯t even remember the last time my mom was at a match. She thinks it¡¯s all a waste of time, energy, and money. I don¡¯t think she would come to a match even if I was in the Promina League.¡± There was a confused look on Nate¡¯s face. ¡°Is that a pretty good tier or something?¡± ¡°That is three tiers above the level I am at now.¡± Nate nodded, and his expression took on a more contemplative look. ¡°That is pretty good, young warrior.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes while Nate mockingly emphasized his words. ¡°All right, I¡¯m getting cleaned up.¡± He gave Nate a fist bump and made his way back to the locker room. He took a quick shower and threw his training gi into the dirty clothes bin. He finished drying off and changed back into his clothes. Nate was already training with the next student by the time he started to exit the dojo and the two waved goodbye. All he heard back from Nate was, ¡°Have a great week, bro bro!¡± Pepper stepped outside and practically collided with Summer Miller and her little brother, Jackson. Pepper backpedaled defensively. Summer reached up and placed her hand on her chest, trying her best to catch her breath. ¡°Oh my gosh. Hey, Pep,¡± Summer said as she took a deep breath. Jackson was giggling and began to wave his hands frantically in front of himself. ¡°That was funny, Pepper.¡± Pepper chuckled back. ¡°Oh yeah? You liked that, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Jackson gave a big smile and rolled his head from side to side. ¡°Well, what are you guys up to?¡± Pepper asked, looking between the two. Summer had regained her composure but turned to look down at Jackson. She motioned with her hand to encourage him to answer the question. ¡°Summer is taking me to get ice cream.¡± Pepper glanced at Summer, and she smiled and reached her hand out. ¡°Okay, Jackson, hold my hand. Let¡¯s go get you ice cream.¡± She looked up at Pepper. ¡°You want to join us, Pep?¡± He smiled; his taste buds danced at the thought of getting something sweet after his workout. ¡°Sure, why not?¡± The three walked next door to the ice cream shop and entered. They stood in front of the freezer window and peered down at the selection of flavors. A buzz came over Pepper¡¯s holodex, and he looked down to see a message from Brent. ¡°Yo, P-Dub, what¡¯s good?¡± ¡°Getting ice cream with Summer and Jackson.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t even have time to break away from the message as Brent¡¯s response arrived in a flash. ¡°What! Where? Next to Nate¡¯s? Don¡¯t move! I¡¯m on my way!¡± Great¡­ I shouldn¡¯t have said anything, Pepper thought to himself. The quick conversation pulled him away from the realization he was up next to order. The worker glanced at him with a deadpan expression. ¡°Uh, just peanut butter cup. One scoop is fine.¡± The worker rolled her eyes. The three had their ice creams in hand, and Summer took a firm stance in front of the register. ¡°Okay, that will be 8 Flex,¡± the worker informed them. Summer reached her small plastic payment card out and tapped away on the point-of-sale screen. ¡°I could have bought my own, Summer. You didn¡¯t have to do that.¡± Summer smiled, and her brown eyes looked at him sincerely. ¡°Well, technically this is my mom¡¯s card. And she would insist if she was here. She is still to this day talking about how grateful she is for all your family did for us.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the kind gesture and matched Summer¡¯s smile. She hesitated to look away. But finally she did, reaching her hand up and tucking her rich brown hair behind her ear. She slowly turned, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but feel like she swayed her hips a little more than usual while they walked to a table in the far corner. Her jeans were a rich blue that complemented the hot pink hoodie wrapped around her frame. They had only just sat down at the table and Jackson already had a streak of ice cream on his white shirt. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but think about him and Meg and their similarities with Summer and Jackson. Pepper and Summer giggled at the sight but quickly began to catch up. They had not shared any classes this year and seemed to rarely run into each other these days¡ªa stark contrast when one considered the fact that Summer, Jackson, and their mom used to live with Pepper¡¯s family. Summer¡¯s dad had served in the military alongside Pepper¡¯s older brother. Both were lost in the accident. Pepper¡¯s mom and dad had insisted that Summer¡¯s family move in with them while they got back on their feet. It was roughly a two-year stint, but no one had really kept count. A detail like that was of no concern. The two families had remained close, but life kept the two apart. Jackson could be a handful some days, and Pepper¡¯s mom had continued to develop into more of a recluse. The two had barely started talking when the ice cream shop door burst open and Brent came streaking into the empty seat at the table. ¡°Hi Summer!¡± Summer bashfully smiled back. ¡°Hey, Brent.¡± ¡°Wow, crazy to run into you guys here! I was just thinking I would come grab a snack and boom, here are my two favorite people!¡± Brent continued. Pepper rolled his eyes and shook his head slightly. The position of being caught between his best friend and his best friend¡¯s love interest was certainly not a comfortable one. Thankfully Jackson came to the rescue. ¡°Pepper?¡± ¡°Yeah, buddy?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I have Mala?¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Well, like I have said before, Jackson, Mala isn¡¯t really a toy. He is a prototype. He was made to help me see what my future golem will look like.¡± ¡°But I want him.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°You know what? You should get Summer to take you to see Santa this year. I have no doubt Santa can make you your own Mala statue.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but see Summer shift her head. Her eyes widened with a shocked expression, and there was a mischievous smile on her face. She took a quick bite of her ice cream. ¡°Well, someone is sure going to be busy being Santa¡¯s little helper this year. But just for that, I think I will make sure that trip to Santa takes place. Just to see you work to not let a certain someone down.¡± Crap ¡­ she would do that. Guess there is one other thing to add to my to-do list. ¡°You¡¯re on.¡± Pepper smiled confidently back at her. He shifted his gaze over and rolled his eyes, as Brent was practically drooling on the table. ¡°You okay there?¡± he asked. Brent snapped out of his dazed state. He quickly composed himself and cleared his throat. ¡°Never better.¡± There was an awkward pause at the table, but then Brent asked Summer, ¡°Hey, Summer, you going to come to P-Dub¡¯s next match?¡± Pepper turned his gaze back to her. She seemed to think over the question for a moment and then smirked. ¡°Well, I hadn¡¯t thought about it until just now. But I think I might be able to turn out. I think it will really have to deal with how Jackson is doing that day.¡± Jackson chimed in. ¡°I want to go.¡± The three chuckled, and Summer looked bashfully at the two of them. ¡°Well, so far I would say it looks promising.¡± The two siblings had finished their treat, and Jackson was ready to burn off the sugar high his body was now feeling. ¡°Looks like we need to get moving. It was great to run into you guys. I¡¯ll try to see about the match. If it doesn¡¯t work out, though, good luck, Pep.¡± ¡°Thanks, Summer,¡± Pepper replied. He watched Summer and Jackson leave. The door was barely closed when Brent turned to him. ¡°Did you get a whiff of her hair? It smelled like lavender and heaven!¡± Chapter 8 - Nordons Grocery ¡°Enough with drooling over Summer. What¡¯s up?¡± Pepper asked. Brent was still enjoying the mental place he had gone to, but finally he seemed to snap out of it and return to reality. ¡°Did you watch the most recent fights from the underground?¡± Pepper had given up on watching the unsanctioned matches. Though you couldn¡¯t get in trouble for watching them, if you ever wanted to participate in the Golem League, you could not be a part of them in any way, shape, or form. The underground matches certainly had a host of previous Golem League gladiators who had left and started competing in them. A vast amount of gambling occurred at the matches, and with a very unregulated rule structure regarding runes, they were often raided by police. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for news reports to highlight the number of innocent bystanders injured simply by attending an underground match. ¡°No. I haven¡¯t really seen the need for it. Why?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°Timo Burnham and his samurai warrior had this awesome decapitation finish to their match. Check it out.¡± Brent adjusted his wrist and activated his holodex. Pepper¡¯s was an officially sanctioned Golem League holodex. Therefore it was not an unlocked device that could access outside servers or applications. Brent¡¯s, on the other hand, was an unlocked device that could access unsanctioned matches and internet forums about them. The two watched the match on Brent¡¯s device. Timo was one of those Golem League competitors who had left and begun fighting in the unsanctioned matches. He had only spent two years in the Promina League and hadn¡¯t generated a huge following. But in the underground, that had all changed. His popularity had skyrocketed, and he¡¯d quickly started to rack up victory after victory. ¡°The forums are saying he won over 2,000 Flex for that single match!¡± Brent exclaimed. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but think about how much money that was. He could practically rebuild two-thirds of his golem with that much money. At least, if he still utilized a clay base. His mind continued down the rabbit hole, counting up a rough estimate of Timo¡¯s winnings. ¡°How many wins does he have in the underground now?¡± Brent¡¯s face scrunched and shifted. ¡°Something like fifty-six or fifty-eight victories, I think. That isn¡¯t even including all the money he won in the League and all the endorsement deals, either.¡± Pepper¡¯s own holodex buzzed with activity, and he looked down to see the notification. [:::] Message: Hey, Pep ¡­ if you are not too busy, can you swing by the store and check out these new golems that arrived? One of them is acting all weird, and it would be a huge help if you could troubleshoot it. - Dad [:::] Pepper groaned. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Brent inquired. ¡°I gotta go help my dad out at the grocery store. They have an issue with a new golem or something.¡± ¡°Lame¡­¡± Brent replied. ¡°You want to come?¡± Pepper asked, slowly getting up from the table. ¡°No way. I¡¯ve got better things to do with my time.¡± ¡°Looks like it.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°All right¡ªlater.¡± The boys fist bumped, and Pepper went and retrieved his bike from where he had left it locked up. It was a couple of minutes¡¯ ride to get to Nordon¡¯s, where his dad worked. It was one of the largest businesses that had made it through the war and was the sole source of groceries in the area. He recalled hearing his dad talk about all the places he had applied to once he had left the military. But nobody seemed to give him a chance. When Nordon¡¯s had offered him a simple stocking position, Trent had taken what he could get. That was years ago, and now his dad was one of the managers overseeing the place. Pepper made his way towards the back of the store and pushed through the double doors into the freight area. His dad did not even see him enter; he was busy scrolling through a holopad with produce orders and shipments that were set to arrive at the store. ¡°You rang,¡± Pepper said. Trent seemed to jump out of his skin. ¡°What the heck, Pep!¡± He took a few deep breaths and composed himself. ¡°I have asked you not to sneak up on me.¡± Pepper shrugged. ¡°I wasn¡¯t even trying to sneak up on you.¡± His dad took another few seconds and then motioned with his head. ¡°Over here.¡± Trent guided him around the corner to a long line of service golems that looked to have just come out of a box. At the end of the row was one that stood slightly out of synch with the others. There was a partial lean to one side, and it also leaned forward slightly. ¡°Dang, these are Gleegon Industry SD2000s,¡± Pepper said, nodding his head in surprise. ¡°So you know about them?¡± ¡°I would say I know of them, but not a whole lot about them.¡± Trent used the holopad like his hand and motioned with it towards the golem at the end of the line. ¡°Well, let me rephrase. You think you can figure out what is wrong with this one?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have that guy Eric who does this type of work?¡± ¡°Yes, but Eric is out in Pennsylvania helping out store 712. He can¡¯t get out here for another two weeks, but we already put the old golems on the semi-truck to ship back to Gleegon. These new golems are all I got, and the last thing I need is for one to not be working. I¡¯m already short staffed as it is.¡± Pepper hummed. ¡°What do I get out of this?¡± ¡°Pep, I don¡¯t have time to negotiate. If you could help me out, I would really appreciate it.¡± A female voice chirped to life over the intercom. ¡°Mr. Walker, we need you at checkout stand 4 for a coupon issue.¡± The two looked at each other and Pepper didn¡¯t delay. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± ¡°Thank you. That is all I¡¯m asking. I¡¯ll check on you in a bit,¡± Trent said over his shoulder as he quickly walked away. Pepper reached into his small backpack, found his ear buds, and loaded up some music. The noise was a nice distraction from the work environment he found himself in. He scanned the area and finally found the technical manual buried underneath some of the packing materials the golems had arrived in. He started to flip through it and eventually found the start-up and diagnostic procedure. Step 1, flip power module switch to the on position. Pepper looked around and quickly found the switch on the back of the golem¡¯s shoulder. He reached over and flicked it up. A faint blue and white coloration came from the few gaps in the golem¡¯s construction. Pepper could see the five power lights turn on next to the switch. The golem attempted to adjust itself upright but instead began to jitter around. The movement quickly became more sporadic and even hazardous, and it continued to get worse the longer it was active. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Pepper dodged under one of the arms that swung around. He lunged with his hand and flicked the switch back off. The golem instantly powered down and returned to its contorted state. ¡°That could have been bad,¡± he muttered. He looked around and found the small multitool that had also come with the golems. A quick retrieval of the tool but then the slow and tedious process of removing the front and back access plates. Pepper was just happy that these weren¡¯t League golems, where the runes were hidden to minimize the chances of them being damaged in battle. Service golems were not complex, which made them easier to work on. Pepper was finally able to get the access plates off, and he looked at the golem¡¯s digital organs¡ªan array of cards that looked more like an old-fashioned computer than anything else. He began to count off the cards: ¡°Power, controller, synchronization, stabilizer.¡± He reached in and grabbed hold of the stabilizer card. A firm tug and it detached itself from its seated position into his hand. Pepper reached his free hand in from the back access panel and began to gently disconnect the cables from the stabilization rune. The card was finally completely free, and he brought it in front of his face. The physical card itself was constructed of a black fiberglass layer with silver tracers that went all over the fabricated board. In the center of the card was the large chipset. The chip had a glossy sheen which coated the top semi-transparent layer. Inside, there was a bright luminescent green rune. The ethereal energy of the rune allowed it to glow and shift with every angle Pepper tilted the card. There was something about the rune cards. He could easily sit there and admire the craftsmanship for hours. The two technologies blended together was a thing of beauty to him. He meticulously looked over the card and followed every millimeter of the silver pathways. There was not a single flaw he could see. The entire card looked in perfect condition. Pepper carefully set the card down on a box off to the side and continued the process with each card. The results of his inspection, however, remained the same. Everything was exactly how it should be. Pepper took his ball cap off and scratched his head. I wonder if there¡¯s something wrong with the power core, he thought. He went back to the small multitool and began to remove the front and back lower access panels on the golem. It was in roughly the same area the intestines would be on a person. His eyes widened when he saw the core. This is a Campell Big Mack! He was in disbelief at the discovery, for the core itself was roughly three times more powerful than the one he used in his own golem. To Pepper, the large power core seemed like nothing but complete overkill for what the golem was required to do¡ªan energy supply that was merely wasted, in his opinion, on something as trivial as stocking the shelves, rather than being devoted to competing. He realized he would need more tools in order to properly diagnose the core. He opened his holodex and sent a quick message to his father. He informed him that he would be returning home to get his tools and would be back shortly. The process didn¡¯t take much time overall, and Pepper returned to the job with everything still where he had left it. His father didn¡¯t even reply to his message, and Pepper didn¡¯t think much of it. It was common for his dad to be wrapped up at work and completely forget to reply for hours unless it was an emergency. Pepper began to unload his backpack with the tools he had retrieved and started to connect his analyzers up to the core. The technical manual was open next to him, but he couldn¡¯t find the information he was seeking. He knew he had seen the technical data before regarding the core, and he quickly began to navigate through his holodex. His finger swiped from side to side through the options until he accessed the Golem League archive. There he isolated his search down to the Campell power cores and saw the different models and options: Hauler, Big Mack, Hass, and Workhorse. Campell power cores were rarely used in the Golem League anymore. They were one of the first companies that had learned how to harness the ethereal energy that powered through the portal during the Rift Wars. They were simply utilized at first because they were one of the few options available and people started to experiment. The company soon found their niche, which was in government contracts, more specifically in the defense sector. Almost every golem or armored mech used by the military had a Campell power core. Their rated power level, otherwise known as RPL, was considered the best out there. Within the RPL grading system were three tiers: Unreliable, Dependable, and Trustworthy. Each of those tiers had a level of five on the grading scale, five being the highest. For the Campell Big Mack that was now in his hands, Pepper knew the RPL was rated as Trustworthy¡ªLevel 4. He had not seen or even read of any power core that was rated as Trustworthy¡ªLevel 5. But that was why the Campell cores were sought after by the military. When you needed power, you could trust in Campell. The area that Campell did not succeed in was Signal Response Time¡ªSRT¡ªand Energy Generation Response Time¡ªEGRT. Those two categories were the reason they had not worked out well in the Golem League. The competitive fighters needed energy delivered to their offensive and defensive capabilities instantly. The high speed and intensity of competitive combat required each gladiator to have a golem that could harness the energy needed to react instantly. In a head-to-head fight, golems from the League could easily out-perform a military armored mech or golem, for that matter. The difference, though, was that the military mechs didn¡¯t need servicing after each match. The competitive golems, on the other hand, could easily be compared to Formula 1 race cars. They were delicate, precise creations that needed to be pampered after every match. Pepper finished hooking up his analyzers and initiated a power sequence that only turned the core on enough for him to run diagnostics. His holodex was already synched to his analyzer, so his device would automatically know which technical data to compare the results against. It took no more than five minutes before his testing was done. The results¡­ everything reported back normal. Pepper sighed. He supposed it was a good thing the core was working properly, but he was also saddened at not yet discovering what the problem was. Well, if the rune cards are good and the power core is good, it can only be one final thing ¡­ the wires. Each and every wire now needed to be checked, and Pepper sighed but began the process of doing so. His fingers started to cramp a little as he maneuvered inside the hollow space of the golem. After a few more tests on each set of wires, he finally heard the ¡°test failed¡± chirp come from both his holodex and analyzer. ¡°Finally,¡± he said with a large exhale. He tilted his head down to see which cable it was. His fingers wrapped around the 8 ¡Á 8 GTC 12V power connector. His eyes followed the cable trail from the power core compartment up to the rune circuit compartment. ¡°I gotcha now.¡± Pepper reached for the neon green electrical tape in his backpack and quickly wrapped a small piece around each end of the cable. He still checked the rest of the cables, but everything else came back with a good reading. The power core is top notch, the rune cards are standard mass market supply, but go figure that the company went with less than good quality wiring, he thought to himself while shifting random items around in his bag. Pepper was not necessarily different in that regard, though. It wasn¡¯t like he had money falling out of the sky and could buy all the top-tier parts. In contrast, he was lucky his golem even worked at all. He was just like the majority of club fighters. They had to jimmy rig every spare part and cable together just so they could compete. He finally found the one and only spare 8 ¡Á 8 GTC connector he had left and began the process of swapping the cable. He let out some grunts as his fingers continued to work within the small space, though it was nice having two access compartments that perfectly contained the specific items. The rest of the process now involved cables that were all precisely measured and fabricated. The mass production process made this portion more difficult than Pepper thought it should be. His wire cutters were able to finally cut the last portion of the secure ties free, and he yanked the failed cable with a forceful tug. The wire came free and was now in his grasp as he leaned upwards and took a deep breath. A bead of sweat fell down his forehead and landed in his eye. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He found a fan mounted on the wall by the loading bay door. He flicked the switch to the on position and the device slowly wobbled to life. The cool breeze comforted him, and he closed his eyes as he stood there for a moment. ¡°How¡¯s it going, Pep?¡± He jumped out of his skin. His dad was standing about a foot away from him when he posed the question. The fan noise had veiled his father¡¯s arrival. ¡°Way to scare me,¡± Pepper countered with a sarcastic look. He rolled his eyes and turned to finish his job. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t take me too much longer. I just need to throw this in, reconnect everything, and button it all back up.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s great. So you figured out what it was?¡± Pepper continued to focus on his task while he replied over his shoulder, ¡°Yeah. Just a bad cable connection. Happens all the time. I should only be a few more minutes now.¡± ¡°Awesome. Well, the store is closed now, so how about I bring the truck around back and we¡¯ll go grab some dinner when you¡¯re done? My treat.¡± Pepper smiled. ¡°Sounds good to me.¡± It was only a few minutes later that his dad returned and hovered over him. The proximity of prying eyes didn¡¯t bother him too much. He was almost accustomed to it at this point. Whether it be his dad intruding upon him, Meg, or even Brent, Pepper had learned to roll with it and keep his focus on the task at hand. He performed a quick power-on sequence and the golem powered up the way it should. Unlike the first time, however, the golem stood straight up as it was supposed to. Pepper ran a quick diagnostic check and, in a flash, the holopad reported a clean bill of health. Pepper quickly packed up his tools and followed his dad as the two headed for the door. He couldn¡¯t help but notice the code his dad entered into the security panel: ¡°#8487 Activate.¡± The alarm activation sequence began, and a small beeping sound advised them to leave through the back door. Chapter 9 - Darkness Pepper sat at the table outside Little Italy pizza shop and looked out at the long convoy of vehicles. There were military escorts at the front and back, with large crawlers in the middle. It wasn¡¯t the vehicles that caught his attention, though; rather the pile of demon corpses they carried. Pepper¡¯s dad plopped a paper plate in front of him. It was piled with three large slices of cheese pizza. His dad sat down across from him with his own plate, and the two started to dig in. He noticed the light illuminate on his father¡¯s holodex. Trent looked down and rolled his eyes. Pepper already knew it was from his mom, but he didn¡¯t say anything. His father hesitated, then started to tap his finger on the holographic keyboard and sent his response. There was a look of exhaustion on his father¡¯s face. His satisfied expression when he took the first bite told Pepper that he just wanted a moment to not think about anything. Pepper obliged his analysis of his father¡¯s demeanor and remained quiet. He was surprised when his dad asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Pepper thought and glanced at his dad¡¯s holodex. The last thing he wanted was to open the Pandora¡¯s box of his mother¡¯s issues. He quickly shifted back to what had originally grabbed his attention and motioned with his head towards the convoy. ¡°I was just thinking about that.¡± His dad looked over his shoulder and said, ¡°Oh, what about it?¡± ¡°It just seems interesting. The demons attacked through a rift portal and completely changed our reality. Now, only a few years later, those bodies are the most valuable thing on the planet, and organizations bid for the opportunity to recover and harvest the corpses.¡± Trent chuckled. ¡°Yeah, you kind of have a point there, Pep.¡± His father took a giant bite of pizza. Pepper took a long moment to think and even stared into the distance. Trent didn¡¯t look back at him but continued. ¡°You know, during the war¡­ the last thing I thought about was man¡­ we should chop up these things into pieces and try to sell them on the internet.¡± The two chuckled, and Pepper felt a small amount of relief that his father could joke about the war. ¡°How long did you serve again?¡± His dad still did not look at him. ¡°Until they told us to go home.¡± ¡°Was that hard¡­ you know, to come home?¡± His father¡¯s face twitched slightly. ¡°Yeah¡­ it was. But it also wasn¡¯t at the same time.¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°Well¡­ I had a home to come home to. Many of the guys I served with¡­ they didn¡¯t have anything. They arrived back to a pile of charred ash. At least I had you guys waiting for me. The hardest part I struggled with was sleeping.¡± ¡°Afraid of another attack?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°Well, yeah, there was that. I mean, one day you¡¯re living life like normal ¡­ the next day you see every news station in the country replaying videos of these giant portals opening. All around the world everything being destroyed and these monsters abolishing everything they could. ¡°But for¡­ what, a year and a half, I was gone fighting. You had your buddies standing guard over you every night. You knew they were on watch and protecting you as you slept. Many times, I¡¯d get up during the middle of the night and leave our bunker to just look and confirm that they were still there and everything was okay.¡± Pepper nodded and took a few more bites of his pizza. ¡°I ran into Summer and Jackson earlier today.¡± ¡°You did? How are they?¡± ¡°They¡¯re doing good. We didn¡¯t get a whole lot of time to spend together before Brent barged in on us.¡± Trent chuckled. ¡°That boy has had a crush on her since I can remember.¡± ¡°Yeah. Jackson seems to be doing good, though. He wants a Mala statue, so I need to make him one later this year.¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t forget your sister either¡­ If you don¡¯t make her one, I swear she is going to keep yours. I found it just the other day in her room while you were out at school.¡± Pepper smirked and rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯d think Meg would be more into horses, unicorns, and fairies. Nope¡­ that tiny little human loves the big, ugly, scary battle tiger.¡± The two looked at each other and Trent¡¯s eyebrows leapt upward. ¡°Some chicks like ugly things. Thankfully that means you actually still have a chance to find a chick that likes you.¡± Pepper dropped his pizza slice back on his plate and leaned back. ¡°Ouch! Wow, thanks, Dad¡­ you jerk!¡± His dad couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°But seriously¡­ make that little princess a scary, mean mage tiger or whatever Mala is. If Meg ain¡¯t happy, ain¡¯t nobody happy.¡± Trent finished with a wink. Pepper shook his head, still upset at his father¡¯s joke. ¡°Well, I¡¯m going to need to pick up a few more hours at work to pay for the clay, but I still have a few more months until the holidays and should be able to knock out both of those projects.¡± Trent tilted his head. ¡°I thought you just said the other night that you were going to pick up more clay. Now you need even more?¡± ¡°Well, I have to repair the entire left arm of my golem. And I need to do it fast before my club match. Otherwise I¡¯ll be at a huge disadvantage.¡± ¡°Too bad your golem can¡¯t utilize some of the demon armor,¡± Trent said as he motioned with his head towards the convoy. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and he smirked. ¡°Ha! Mala and I would be unstoppable if that was the case.¡± *** The loud explosion rocked him awake. His eyes immediately caught sight of the flickering glow. Pepper launched himself out of bed and peered out the window. The giant glowing mushroom cloud in the distance instantly caught his attention. Where are the sirens? Why haven¡¯t we been warned? he thought. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. His hands began to tremble as he watched more streaks of red and orange light blaze across the sky. The ground trembled and the house shook as thunderous explosions rocked it again and again. Pepper couldn¡¯t take his eyes from the window, his body frozen in fear. ¡°Dad!¡± he screamed as loudly as he could. But there was no answer. He could feel the tears begin to swell in his eyes, and he cried out again with all the energy he possessed. ¡°DAD!¡± Nothing. Pepper felt the first tear fall down his cheek. His hands were shaking almost uncontrollably now. His eyes widened as they locked onto the fireball that was headed straight for their house. The entire event seemed to move in slow motion; the flaming ball of energy inched closer and closer until it finally arrived. Pepper flew backwards and crashed into his closet doors. Shards of glass peppered his face from his window exploding. He lay there for a minute, covered in the dirt and debris of his home. The chaos of war echoed in the distance, and soon he could hear the screams of people nearby. He called out for his family, but still he did not hear a reply. Pepper finally began to make his way out from underneath the rubble and up to his feet. He staggered through the doorway and had to force himself to keep moving. His mind stuttered in fear as he took in the scene of destruction that he now found himself within. He made his way to where the back door used to be. His legs trembled as he walked down the back steps and looked down at the ground. There lay his clay statue of Mala. He narrowed his gaze to a small braided bracelet Meg had made. His heart shattered into pieces. He felt as if his soul was on the verge of departing his body. The life he knew had come to an end. Pepper stood there and was ready to meet his end. The sound of death seemed to inch closer as more explosions erupted nearby and the earth trembled even harder under his feet. A second later he heard it. The insidious roar of a demon. The deep, dark, cavernous voice of a monster nearby that had come to devour his existence. A fresh river of tears fell down his face and his gaze slowly drifted to his work shed. There was no use in even trying¡­ until¡­ he heard it. The tiny scream that cut through everything else. ¡°Pepper! Help me!¡± Meg! he mentally cried out. ¡°Meg! I¡¯m here!¡± he bellowed into the void and prayed that she heard him. The strength he needed returned. The tears of sorrow were quickly replaced by a glaring look of rage. Pepper leapt into a sprint and charged directly into his work shed. He immediately grabbed his Gladiator Carnage optical helmet and put it on. The gloves that went along with the helmet were next, and he didn¡¯t even waste time tightening them around his wrists. A quick twitch of his wrist and an adjustment of his thumb activated the power sequence. The white tiger¡¯s eyes glowed with the bright blue energy that soared to life within it. The energy pulsed out of the different slots Pepper had designed to vent the heat. His massive golem began to rise. The giant claws of his battle tiger flared open. Pepper activated the follow function and launched himself back out the workshop door. Mala roared and plowed ahead. Pepper had just made it a few feet out of the shed when his golem busted through the front wall. He rushed to the front of his house and into the street. There was no longer a neighborhood to greet him, rather a hellscape. He balled his fists and frantically looked around. ¡°Meg!¡± The only response he received was the roar of the demon brawler. Pepper watched as the massive red-skinned demon walked towards him. Four large horns jutted from its head. It had a metal shackle around its neck with spikes protruding outward. A black chest piece of armor formed a baseplate. On top of the baseplate was an exterior armor comprised of carved bones. The brawler continued to close the distance. Its stance was of such strength that its shoulders swayed forward and back with each step. Pepper could see the bulging of its muscular arms. The demon¡¯s wrists were protected by black spiked bracers that matched the rest of the set. Its lower half was kept safe by a dark metal. The demon chuckled and twisted its head and started to speed up into a jog. ¡°Let¡¯s do this!¡± Pepper cried out. He launched Mala straight into the fight. The golem moved with a speed that the demon was not prepared for. The massive battle tiger began to launch a volley of punches and strikes. The training Pepper had received from Nate was paying off. Mala hacked and slashed at the demon with ferocity, and Pepper poured every ounce of emotional energy into the fight. The brawler was now backpedaling and trying to fend off the attack any way it could. Pepper didn¡¯t let up but quickly shifted Mala around. The tiger performed a sweeping kick and knocked the demon off its feet. The brawler landed on its back, and before it could counter, Mala was bearing down upon it. Pepper continued to pummel the demon, and when the opportunity presented itself, he activated his gravity force rune. Mala¡¯s magically imbued punch landed square on the armored chest plate of the demon. The hit landed with such force that it created a small crater in the ground. The asphalt alligator cracked as the demon sunk further into its resting place. Mala stood over his defeated opponent, but Pepper could now sense the thumping of footsteps. He turned his head and saw a new brawler approaching. Pepper turned around and commanded Mala to start moving into position to engage. The brawler¡¯s hand began to glow, and an instant later it burned with a massive flame. The fire grew into a large basketball-sized sphere and was then flung directly towards him. It raced across the sky, and just as it was about to hit him, Mala¡¯s giant claw swiped it aside. The giant explosion cast flame and debris upwards. Pepper felt the intense heat upon his skin as it did so. Mala roared and clasped his paws together. He began the sequence for his energy beam attack. The blinding white and teal blue light radiated from the center of Mala¡¯s claws. Pepper watched in his HUD as the energy reading shot up to one of its most powerful ratings and he finally commanded the attack to commence. The demon tried to counter with another fireball. Both attacks collided in midair and a giant shockwave clapped. Mala¡¯s energy beam didn¡¯t stop, however. It finished clashing against the fireball but continued onward and pierced through the demon¡¯s armor. Pepper launched Mala up into a powered jump. Pepper activated his gravity force rune while Mala soared through the air. The devastating blow was about to land when Pepper was whipped around. The first brawler was back on its feet and towering over him. Its claw gripped tightly on his shoulder while its fist barreled down on him. In an instant Pepper launched himself out of bed. His feet hit the floor in a panicked reaction, and he went to run for safety. Rather than finding the carpet, his feet stepped on Golem League Monthly. The slick magazine slid from under him when he went to put his weight down. He fell at an awkward angle, but instead of finding the floor, his face caught the edge of his nightstand in the process. His night terror of a dream had awoken him and now the pain in his face brought him fully back to reality. There was no attack. He lay there and rolled from side to side, rubbing his face in an attempt to soothe the pain. Pepper lay there for a few minutes. He finally made it to his feet and looked outside at a pitch-black sky. The only glow came from the amber streetlights. He opened his window to find the only noise was that of some crickets nearby. He brought his hand up and ran his fingers through his hair. A quick turn and he navigated through the scattered items on the floor. He softly turned his door handle, a few steps across the hall, and then another soft turn of Meg¡¯s handle. His head leaned in and he glanced over at her bed. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw her sleeping in peace. Pepper closed the door and began to stagger towards the kitchen. He arrived at the split entrance that led to the right and the left, but the figure standing in the living room startled him. ¡°Mom?¡± She didn¡¯t move. She continued to stand with her back to him, facing the large bay window. He could see that her arms were folded in front of her chest. She didn¡¯t respond, so he continued. ¡°You okay?¡± At last he heard her let out a long breath. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m fine. Thanks, Pepper.¡± Pepper turned and began to walk behind his mom as he retrieved a drink from the fridge. He headed for the back door. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be in the work shed for a bit.¡± ¡°Okay, Pep,¡± was all she said. Chapter 10 - Its Only Just Begun Pepper¡¯s eye had a nice deep blue bruise from the nightstand it had hit the previous night. His fingers continued to poke and jab at the injury, the pain throbbing with every touch. He grimaced. The greater pain didn¡¯t come from his face, but rather his heart and soul. Every minute that ticked down to when the bus would arrive caused even more dread. He had tried to plead with his mom to let him stay home sick. The thought of dealing with her for a whole day was a much better prospect than the embarrassment of facing his classmates. She had refused, of course, and yelled at him to get out of the bathroom and go to the bus stop. His shoulders slouched and he kept his hat down as low as it could go. He tried to avoid any onlookers and kept his back to as many people as possible. He was successful until Brent jumped onto the bus. His friend immediately knew something was wrong. Pepper merely lifted his head and glanced at his friend as soon as he began asking questions. He didn¡¯t respond right away, but Brent¡¯s contorted face said it all. ¡°Did you win?¡± Brent asked. Pepper rolled his eyes. ¡°Nightstand 1, Pepper 0.¡± ¡°Ouch¡­ must have been a pretty bad dream.¡± ¡°Just the usual demonic attack that destroys the neighborhood.¡± ¡°Oh yeah, been there before. I feel like everyone has those dreams. It would make sense if there was just that one initial attack and only those who survived, like our parents, had the night terrors. But, I mean, we have new probe attacks all through the year. Everyone I know has night terrors. People will understand, P-Dub. Don¡¯t beat yourself up.¡± Pepper shrugged. ¡°Yeah¡­ I guess you¡¯re right.¡± ¡°Hey! Did I ever tell you about the nightmare I had where I thought I was a caterpillar?¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Yeah! So¡­ that dream was wild. I could have sworn that I really was a caterpillar. I was just scrunching my butt up and down while I crawled around on this tree. But that isn¡¯t the worst part.¡± Brent¡¯s hand shot out and added emphasis. ¡°So, I start to slowly weave into my little cocoon thing, right.¡± Pepper continued to laugh under his breath at his friend. Brent was wiggling his body around and acting out every small part of the story. ¡°So, I get all up in my cocoon and I am there for who knows how long. But then¡­ in an instant, rather than transforming into a butterfly, I pop out as a birthday cake!¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in confusion. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Yeah! Straight up, caterpillar, cocoon, birthday cake. But that, of course, still isn¡¯t the worst part!¡± Brent leaned in with his eyes locked onto Pepper¡¯s. ¡°I was then placed on a table at a kid¡¯s birthday party. They cut me up into little pieces and all the kids started to eat me.¡± ¡°Eww¡­ that¡¯s nasty, Brent.¡± ¡°Needless to say, I haven¡¯t touched birthday cake since.¡± Pepper tilted his head. ¡°Wait¡­ didn¡¯t you have birthday cake at Meg¡¯s party last year?¡± ¡°Nope¡­ birthday cupcake. Not the same thing, but still the same great sugary frosting!¡± Brent ended with a large smile. Pepper rolled his eyes and smiled. He felt his heart warm in appreciation of his best friend. A familiar annoying voice quickly ended that, though. ¡°Well, geez, Peepers! You lean in for a kiss on your friend Summer and get denied?¡± Tamin mocked. Brent not only launched into a defense of his best friend but of his childhood crush. ¡°Hey, Tamin!¡± Brent stood up and chest bumped Tamin in the center aisle. Tamin was taller than Brent, but at that moment, you couldn¡¯t tell. Brent barked and leaned aggressively into his nemesis as if he was his own personal guard dog. ¡°Pretty sure nobody asked for your spoiled opinion on the matter. But since you want to put your nose into places it don¡¯t belong, how about you try out a piece of this birthday cake? Huh? You wanna? You wanna?¡± Pepper was now coming to the defense of his best friend by, one, holding him back, but two, and more importantly, encouraging him to shut his mouth. The verbal battle was quickly being lost as Brent said the first thing that came into his mind. ¡°Dude, you sound ridiculous right now,¡± Pepper muttered. ¡°I might sound ridiculous, but at least I don¡¯t look like a spoiled brat. Come on and taste these sprinkles!¡± ¡°Brent! Shut up!¡± Pepper continued. The bus driver bellowed out a warning for the boys to take their seats. Their fellow students were all laughing at the ordeal. Tamin brushed his shoulder off and confidently walked to a different section of the bus. Brent was still jittery with passionate energy and was finally convinced to have a seat. ¡°Showed him,¡± Brent said in a confident tone. Pepper¡¯s eyebrows arched upwards in shocked disbelief. ¡°Yeah¡­ showed him how insane you are. That and terrible with verbal comebacks.¡± *** The rest of the morning was filled with Pepper trying to avoid the prying eyes of others. He was easily distracted, however, due to Brent still not letting go of his resentment towards Tamin. His best friend continually found ways to interject it into every conversation. The two sat down at their usual table in the cafeteria, directly in the middle of the room but on the far exterior edge with Pepper¡¯s back against the wall. He found a great deal of pleasure in people-watching. There was something about the practice where he could sit in silence but watch and listen to the commotion going on all around him. Pepper never really cared to be the center of attention, but neither did he appreciate being an outsider. He felt that he just wanted to be a part of something. [:::] A New Episode of RuneCast Is Live [:::] Pepper and Brent started to slowly chip away at their food and then a message arrived on his holodex. Pepper tapped it open and changed the projection configuration so it would be more easily seen by both of them. The two watched the countdown timer and the theme music began. The warm, welcoming, and jolly voice of John Douglas arrived first. The screen then swiped away to show the famed host. John always had on his Season 1 Golem League ball cap. The hat was completely faded and worn down, but the thing was practically a collector¡¯s item now. John quickly adjusted his glasses and ran his hand down his beard. ¡°What is going on, golem fans?¡± the southern gentleman started. He smiled and tilted his head slightly while his hands came up into view and moved around as he spoke into the camera. ¡°I know in our last episode that I said I would have a surprise for y¡¯all. And I will tell you what, I just can¡¯t wait any freaking longer! On today¡¯s episode of RuneCast, we have a special guest. I am excited to welcome the one, the only, the defending Golem Master Champion who controls the most awesome panda bear there is ¡­ Mr. Brandon Benard!¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. There was an audio track of an audience applauding while a second screen appeared. Brandon had on his own ball cap, but his was even more prestigious¡ªan official Golem League Golem Master Champion hat specifically made for him, with only a handful ever produced, purchased by the ultra-select few who could afford them. Brandon adjusted his own glasses and shifted in his seat. ¡°Hey, John, what¡¯s up, man ¡­ that was quite the introduction.¡± ¡°Well, you know I am always excited when I get to talk to my favorite golem gladiators! And, of course, there is no better time to celebrate and get excited when you have on the defending champion!¡± John leaned a little closer towards his camera with a big smile. Brandon waved his hand towards the camera, brushing off the compliment while his smile grew even larger. ¡°John, seriously¡­ there are so many other amazing gladiators out here. I mean, I was just having dinner with James Dean the other night. I¡¯m super sad to see him retire from the League and feel bad cos I was his last match, you know?¡± ¡°That is something that I noticed the other day when we saw the post-match interview with Shami and Stephen. You all really do spend a lot of time together behind the scenes, don¡¯t you?¡± Brandon pressed his lips together and nodded. ¡°Absolutely. I would say you almost have to when you get up at this level.¡± John¡¯s face had a curious expression. ¡°And why is that exactly?¡± ¡°The stress, the pressure¡­ the demand on your time and energy.¡± John shook his head but then smiled. ¡°And here I am being the jerk taking up your precious free time.¡± Brandon chuckled. ¡°Ahh, naw, John. You know I will always make time for you, man.¡± The two smiled on screen while Pepper and Brent chuckled along with them. Pepper leaned his head to one side. ¡°I wonder what it¡¯s like to be interviewed.¡± Brent huffed in reply. ¡°You¡¯ll find out for yourself one day.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes in disbelief and returned his gaze to John, who had just started his next question. ¡°Brandon¡­ I have to say, those rune adjustments to Panda Cakes were incredible. I mean, four energy refinement runes and four energy precision runes? My goodness, no wonder you won, but did you ever take a massive risk.¡± Brandon nodded at the end of John¡¯s statement. ¡°Yeah, I took a massive risk filling up all my rune slots with that. I practically had no defense and was nothing but pure offense.¡± ¡°I was about to say, Brandon, you had elemental defense and an elemental energy shield and finally that gravity force push. Now, I am assuming the force push was added with the intent of defense, was it not?¡± Brandon nodded. ¡°Yeah, that gravity force push was added specifically for that reason. I mean, James¡¯s Iron Ram is a beast, and when it gets going at full speed with all that metal armor, you need something to help give you that standoff distance.¡± ¡°But you added a Quintek gravity rune. Why not stay with one made by Centaur or Ronin? Because they have some really nice gravity runes, and they are also rated with more power delivery, if I remember correctly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re totally right, John, and yeah, those Ronin and Centaur runes are really nice. Their power is much greater than the Quintek, but the thing that the Quintek has over theirs is refresh rate. That was what I was more concerned with. If James had gotten inside my inner circle before I had time to power up the staff, I would need to keep his charges at bay. The Quintek rune would allow me to keep using it, rather than having to wait for the cool-down period of the Ronin and Centaur.¡± John nodded along, and an excited energy came over him. ¡°See! This is what I love and why I love RuneCast so much. I love it when we get down to these nitty gritty details. The planning and scope, that crunchy data and tactical approach. Not many gladiators go into depth in explaining their strategies.¡± Brandon smiled and tilted his head from side to side. ¡°I mean, there are some days where you just wing it.¡± John¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°What? Wing it? In the Pantheon League? You¡¯re joking.¡± Brandon started with a chuckle that built into a small laugh. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Yeah, the Golem League is a professional job and something we have to work hard at. But you still have to have fun at the end of the day. But I won¡¯t lie, there are some matches where you go into it and wing it, or go wild and try something crazy¡ªsomething you¡¯ve never seen done before. If you know you¡¯re already going to make it into the championship bracket at the end of the season but still have a match or two left before it starts, well, then go all out and have fun. Those matches don¡¯t matter if you win or lose, because you¡¯re going on into the championship.¡± John had a big smile on his face. ¡°I think that says it all right there. All right everyone, we¡¯re going to take a quick commercial break with our sponsors. Don¡¯t go anywhere.¡± [:::] Five Minutes Until Physical Education Class [:::] Pepper¡¯s notification flashed across the screen. They both sighed and he closed the podcast down into his holodex. ¡°I guess we can just finish it later.¡± Brent grabbed his lunch tray for him and began to stand up. ¡°What are you doing later tonight?¡± [:::] 384.42 F Deposited Into Your Account [:::] Pepper¡¯s eyebrows danced as he smiled. ¡°Looks like I am headed to the store first thing after school and going to be working on Mala.¡± Brent shook his head. ¡°You can¡¯t call your golem that¡­ not yet, at least.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± He leaned his head back with an argumentative look. ¡°Because Mala is supposed to be a white battle tiger, not a brown clay half-shaped battle tiger!¡± Brent lifted the trays and hunched his shoulders. He gave Pepper a sarcastic look. ¡°Well, have fun in Mrs. Crandall¡¯s class!¡± Pepper yelled over the background chatter. ¡°I will!¡± he replied. *** ¡°Let¡¯s go! Get moving! Two laps around the track!¡± Mr. Beaulieu yelled across the field. He stood in the center of the football field. His black Golem League hat fitted his color scheme. His long bushy black beard made it look like he was in a heavy metal band. He wore a matching black athletic T-shirt, shorts, and shoes. Some of the students felt he came off as cold. But Pepper had never had a problem with him, though. He was blunt, straightforward, but fair across the board. He treated everyone the same and took serious ownership of the physical education program. The PE teacher would let some things slide, but only if it was before or after his training session. There was a slight reflection off his thick black-framed glasses. He twirled his whistle around while holding on to the lanyard. It was a bad day if he started to squelch that thing to life. He could be as stern as Nate inside the Ohana dojo, but overall it was pretty much the same in Pepper¡¯s mind. ¡°Pick up your feet, Miss Cypher! Mr. Watkins, Mr. Middleton, let¡¯s go! You can chit-chat later.¡± Pepper kicked off into a jog. He kept himself in the middle of the track, with a few course corrections to weave around some of the slower individuals. ¡°What happened to you, Peepers? Huh? Your girlfriend tell you no again?¡± Tamin¡¯s voice cut through him from behind. Pepper felt his muscles tighten as he ran. He stretched out his neck but didn¡¯t slow his pace or give Tamin any attention. His eyes remained focused straight ahead. ¡°You can¡¯t deny it, Peeps! I saw you drooling all over her at the ice cream shop the other night.¡± Pepper started to grind his teeth. He felt Tamin¡¯s presence and then noticed a movement out of the corner of his eye. His nemesis was trotting along next to him. He couldn¡¯t help himself; he dashed a glance over and saw the arrogant glee written all over Tamin¡¯s face. ¡°So did Summer say yes to dating you because you are just as special as her little brother?¡± Pepper could feel his face start to flush with anger. He couldn¡¯t help but shake his head and did everything he could to ignore him. His feet picked up the pace, and he worked to get away from Tamin. ¡°Where you going, Peepsicle?¡± Tamin maintained the same pace as him. ¡°Seriously, is that how you land a dime like Summer? You just need to stutter and drool all over your¡ª¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t take it any longer. He angled his left leg out and tripped Tamin in mid stride. He crashed onto the track and rolled over. Pepper reacted without thinking and continued his pursuit. His punch came down and cracked right into Tamin¡¯s face. Tamin curled up into a ball and started to cry out, acting like an innocent victim. A crowd had already encircled them and was cheering them on. Pepper rained down as many hits as he could. ¡°Is that the best you got, freak?¡± Tamin asked, continuing to provoke him. Pepper reared back and landed a solid strike exactly where his first one had landed. He raised his fist again and was about to rain down another hit when he felt himself being pulled off from behind. ¡°I said that is enough, Mr. Walker!¡± Mr. Beaulieu yelled. Pepper had blocked him out. The entire time, all he had heard were random voices that sounded like they were trapped inside a tin can. He struggled to break free and continue the fight. Mr. Beaulieu¡¯s strength was too much for him though. His burly arms were now wrapped around his waist, and Pepper found himself being carried off the field. ¡°It¡¯s done, over!¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not over, Mr. B¡­ it¡¯s only just begun,¡± Pepper replied through gritted teeth. Chapter 11 - The Hot Seat ¡°Sit down,¡± Mr. Beaulieu instructed. Pepper sat down next to Hannah Davis. He noticed she looked him over. Pepper adjusted his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Fighting again?¡± she asked softly. He turned and looked back at her and finally gave her a slow nod. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Surprise, surprise.¡± Pepper glared back at her, then looked down and noticed her freshly painted toenails. ¡°Sandals again?¡± A sarcastic expression snapped back his way. ¡°Yup¡­ one of these days they¡¯ll change the policy.¡± ¡°Surprise, surprise,¡± Pepper mocked back. He shook his head and leaned it back against the wall. It wasn¡¯t the first time he and Hannah had been in this predicament. He thought back over the multiple times throughout the years they had had these short conversations with each other. They were not enemies, but neither were they friends. The only real time they had ever spent together was the time they¡¯d had to do a group activity for spirit day. Principal Stephens¡¯ door opened, and Pepper watched as Will Masters walked out. ¡°No more absences from Mr. Olsen¡¯s math class.¡± Will glanced at the next two in line and gave Pepper a nod. Pepper returned the gesture. He and Will were not friends, more acquaintances. The two competed in the Golem League Club for their area. Pepper had the better record against him, but Will was no pushover either. Mr. Beaulieu was about to discuss his situation with Principal Stephens but was cut off. ¡°Hold on, Steve, this will just take a second.¡± A quick finger pointed over at Hannah. ¡°Miss Davis.¡± She stood up and followed the hand gesture, entering the office. Principal Stephens didn¡¯t even waste time closing the door. ¡°Miss Davis¡­ what have I told you?¡± There was no time for her to even reply. ¡°This school has a closed-toe shoe policy. Now, I don¡¯t understand why you can¡¯t seem to follow¡ª¡± To Pepper¡¯s surprise, Hannah cut the principal off. ¡°I have a right to free speech.¡± There was a pause for a second, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smirk as he pictured the principal¡¯s facial expression as he reacted to the interruption. ¡°Freedom of speech does not apply to nail polish.¡± Principal Stephens¡¯ voice was slowing rising in intensity. ¡°Well, that may be your interpretation, but I have the right to my own interpretation.¡± ¡°There is no room for interpretation when it comes to open-toe shoes and whether or not they are allowed. You can have as much freedom of toenail speech as you want. Just ¡­ n-n-not in the confines of my school!¡± Principal Stephens was practically on the verge of a yell, and Pepper chuckled at the angry stutter he heard. ¡°Sure,¡± was all Hannah replied. ¡°Dismissed.¡± The two reappeared, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice Hannah give him a playful wink as she departed. He nodded back to her and hoped that her getting Principal Stephens all worked up would play to his advantage. But Pepper wasn¡¯t going to hold his breath. He was sure he was done for. Principal Stephens stood in the doorway with both hands balled into fists. He slowly shook his head while watching Hannah depart. A long-drawn-out breath and then he motioned for Mr. Beaulieu to enter. ¡°All right, Steve, what¡¯s going on?¡± The two entered the office and the door closed. Pepper had kept his head leaning against the wall but finally stood up, knowing the instruction to enter the office was going to come as soon as the door opened. He crossed his arms in front of him and then noticed some movement coming from Vice Principal Harvey¡¯s office. The VP walked up to him as he adjusted his maroon Status Academy sweater. He finished and put both hands in his front pockets. ¡°Hey, Pepper.¡± He was caught off guard. The staff almost never used the first names of the students. The only one he knew who did was Mr. Dean, but even that was few and far between. ¡°Hey, Mr. Harvey.¡± The VP¡¯s voice was monotonous and had almost no inflection in it. Pepper hadn¡¯t really looked at him when he had approached, but when he glanced at him now, he felt a little uneasy. The soft blue eyes that gazed back at him appeared genuine. The VP¡¯s dirty blond hair brushed to one side didn¡¯t seem out of place. But the deadpan expression just kept staring back at him. Pepper felt his skin start to crawl as the VP didn¡¯t take his eyes off him. He didn¡¯t even notice him blinking, just staring without emotion¡ªor anything, for that matter. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Pepper finally asked. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°Of course. Are you okay?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± The odd question caught Pepper even more off guard and he didn¡¯t know how to respond to it. He began fumbling his words. ¡°Well, I may have¡­ there was a fight, and I¡­ uhh, yeah.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Mr. Harvey replied. A very long awkward pause remained between them. Then the VP continued. ¡°I got into a fight once.¡± Pepper blinked rapidly and didn¡¯t know what to think of the comment. He then noticed that he was taller than the Vice Principal who was standing before him. Pepper let out a huff of disbelief. The nerve-tingling sensation grew even more within him as Mr. Harvey inched closer. Pepper had already felt uneasy about how close the VP had come to him, but now he felt like his personal space was really being invaded. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t get into fights, Pepper.¡± In a split-second Mr. Stephens¡¯ door was flung open and rescued him. Pepper didn¡¯t even wait for the instruction but simply replied, ¡°Coming.¡± He quickly stepped away from the VP, and when he looked back, he noticed Mr. Harvey had not moved an inch from his spot. Pepper passed Mr. Beaulieu, and the teacher departed and closed the door behind him. Mr. Stephens directed Pepper to have a seat on the other side of his desk. The principal completely caught him off guard when he kicked his feet up onto his desk and leaned back in his chair. Pepper couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°Mr. Stephens, is Vice Principal Harvey okay?¡± A confused look was returned his way, and Mr. Stephens shook his head slightly. ¡°Um, yeah, the last I checked. Why would you ask that?¡± It was in that split second that Pepper realized he had never actually spoken to the vice principal before. In fact, he couldn¡¯t recall a single time he had ever heard the VP speak. He had been seen all over the school, but hearing him, that was something he had not experienced. ¡°I just spoke with him outside, and ¡­ he just kind of came up into my personal space and started asking me questions.¡± Mr. Stephens swiped his hand towards him. ¡°He¡¯s just messing with you. He¡¯s normally the person doing all the administrative paperwork, so he actually doesn¡¯t get a lot of time to interact with you guys.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s actually a fan of yours. You, Mr. Masters, Mr. Benes, Mr. Pena¡­ all of you who are competing in the local golem league club.¡± Pepper leaned his head back in surprise. ¡°Really?¡± Mr. Stephens¡¯ eyebrows arched upwards, and he nodded. ¡°Oh yeah. He¡¯s a super golem nerd. He loves all the technical data behind them all. I mean, we both are, really. Why do you think we stop in on Mr. Dean¡¯s class all the time? It¡¯s not because we love y¡¯all.¡± He stopped abruptly and motioned with his hands in defense. ¡°Okay, we love y¡¯all, but not like that, or at all, like¡­ we¡­ we care about you all, but we also enjoy watching the Golem League videos that Mr. Dean plays for you guys.¡± He looked really nervous about what he had just said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain. I get it.¡± A large sigh of relief came out of Mr. Stephens. ¡°Okay, good.¡± He paused, rubbed his face, and took a deep breath. ¡°Well¡­ what happened?¡± Pepper slouched his head down and rolled his eyes. ¡°You already know what happened, Mr. Stephens.¡± ¡°Well, yeah¡­ I know what Mr. Beaulieu told me, but I don¡¯t know your side of the story.¡± Pepper lifted his hands defensively. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it really even matter at this point?¡± Mr. Stephens shifted his head back and forth. ¡°No¡­ not really. You¡¯re still suspended.¡± ¡°Figured,¡± Pepper replied and slouched in his chair. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°Well what?¡± Mr. Stephens motioned with his hands for more information. ¡°Did you hit him good, or was it just a graze?¡± There was an eager look on the principal¡¯s face. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smirk. ¡°Yeah¡­ I caught him good.¡± Mr. Stephens started to nod with a grin. ¡°Nice. His eye gonna look like yours?¡± Pepper had completely forgotten about his bruise. He reached up and poked at the wound. ¡°I dunno ¡­ maybe. This is from my nightstand, so¡­¡± The principal seemed confused. ¡°Oh¡­ so that didn¡¯t happen during the fight?¡± Pepper huffed. ¡°Not at all. I tripped him up and then got a few good strikes in as he curled up and started crying out for help.¡± Mr. Stephens shook his head and rolled his eyes. ¡°So what started it?¡± ¡°He was making fun of Summer and Jackson.¡± Mr. Stephens¡¯ eyes dashed from side to side. It looked as if his mind was scrolling through pages of student data. ¡°The Millers?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°They lived with you for a while, if I remember correctly.¡± Pepper chuckled, surprised he could recall such information. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Okay. Yeah, Jackson is over at the annex for his¡­ situational needs.¡± Mr. Stephens paused but then motioned for more. ¡°What did he say?¡± Pepper shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not worth repeating. But¡­ let¡¯s just say he shared his thoughts on Summer, Jackson, and me. I tried to ignore it, tried to pick up my pace so he wouldn¡¯t be near me¡­ but he persisted, so I obliged his persistence.¡± Mr. Stephens shrugged, leaning back in his chair. ¡°That is a fair point.¡± He turned his gaze and looked up towards the ceiling. ¡°I¡¯m kind of surprised you¡¯re not more upset,¡± Pepper added. Mr. Stephens scrunched his face but kept looking up at the ceiling. ¡°Life can be hard, Pepper. You above all people know that¡­ all too well.¡± He quickly glanced at him but then returned to the point on the ceiling. ¡°You know, you did what I would have done. I have no doubt Mr. Harvey would have done the same thing. I¡¯m not upset, but more ¡­ disappointed.¡± ¡°You sound like my mom,¡± Pepper replied. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t mean I¡¯m disappointed in you but in the situation you have put me in.¡± Pepper¡¯s head tilted in confusion. ¡°The situation?¡± Mr. Stephens pressed his lips together and nodded. ¡°Yeah¡­ I have to suspend you. I must maintain the discipline around here. Just like Miss Davis. I can only threaten her for so long; eventually I will suspend her for not following the school code. It¡¯s that simple.¡± ¡°I get it.¡± ¡°Look, Pepper, I think you¡¯re a great kid, and I¡¯m fully convinced that you¡¯re going to be successful at the Golem League. I believe you¡¯ll get promoted out of the club and into the regionals for sure. But you¡¯ve got to help us help you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try, Mr. Stephens.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°Do you want me to call your parents and have them come pick you up?¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and he thought about how his mom would erupt on him. ¡°No ¡­ I was going to go pick up some clay from Rhino¡¯s Supply Shop. I can stop by work on the way and ask for some more hours. Then I¡¯ll head home.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ so what I will do is delay about an hour, but then I will have to call them. I think that should give you enough time to run your errands and then make it home.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mr. Stephens.¡± ¡°See you in two weeks, Mr. Walker.¡± Chapter 12 - Rhino Pepper parked his bike outside Rhino¡¯s and made his way inside. Though he had skipped school once or twice in the past, this was different. There was a mixture of liberated freedom mixed with embarrassment. He turned and was about to start browsing the aisles but stopped himself. He shook his head and knew he would be in there for hours daydreaming. He fought the reality that there was the golem he wished he could build and then there was the golem he currently had. A frustrated sigh and slouched shoulders followed while he dragged his feet to the front counter. He gazed down at the counter display and looked at the golem parts that were showcased inside the glass case. One day, I won¡¯t have to worry about scraping by on my golem builds. One day, Mala will actually be complete. ¡°Welcome to Rhino¡¯s Supply Shop. Sorry to make you wa¡ª Oh, hey, Pepper. I didn¡¯t recognize you at first.¡± He glanced up and saw Ryan Maxwell walking up to the front counter. Pepper immediately focused on Ryan¡¯s shirt though. There, front and center on his chest, was a picture of a man. It was in the design of a classical oil portrait¡ªa man in a military uniform adorned with medals. The expression was one of sarcasm, yet the man also had a demeanor of dead seriousness. Pepper felt judged by the portrait just for looking at it. ¡°Who is that?¡± Ryan looked down at his shirt. ¡°Oh¡­ that guy? He¡¯s only one of the most famous majors ever in military history. Hasn¡¯t Mr. Dean taught you about him yet?¡± Pepper blew a raspberry while shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I would remember that facial expression anywhere.¡± Ryan tilted his head and nodded. His long salt-and-pepper beard and hair always gave Pepper the sense that Ryan should have been a biker. Yet Ryan had the best golem supply store in their entire Golem League region. Ryan adjusted his glasses and narrowed his gaze. Pepper immediately knew what he had homed in on. ¡°It wasn¡¯t from a fight.¡± A stern look came over the shop owner¡¯s face and he looked at his holodex. ¡°Okay¡­ and you¡¯re still supposed to be in school¡­¡± ¡°I got in a fight.¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes squinted even more, and he crossed his arms. His head slowly rocked from side to side. ¡°You got in a fight at school, but your shiner is not caused by a fight, but you¡¯re now suspended from school because of the fight.¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± Ryan slowly nodded. Pepper was taken off guard. ¡°Wait¡­ it does?¡± ¡°Of course it doesn¡¯t, but¡­ it certainly seems like you don¡¯t want to talk about it, so I won¡¯t pry.¡± Ryan¡¯s expression shifted into a smile and he shot finger guns towards Pepper. He placed his hands on the glass countertop. ¡°Well, now that we are past all of that, what brings you in, Pep?¡± ¡°I need to get some more clay to finish my golem off before our local club match.¡± ¡°How much do you need?¡± ¡°Just one container.¡± ¡°You got it.¡± Ryan turned and slowly walked to a back room. Less than a minute later, he returned with a large cylindrical container. ¡°Okay, that is 325 Flex.¡± Pepper¡¯s mouth dropped open. ¡°What? You¡¯re joking, right?¡± ¡°Sorry, Pep, but our supply chain is running really low at the moment. There were portal attacks all over, and the government has been buying up a lot of resources to repair everything they¡¯ve lost and then some. What that means for us small-time folk, we pay more or we get less. Sometimes both.¡± Ryan shrugged. Pepper set his hat down on the counter and moaned while he rubbed his head and face. ¡°Just when I thought I was gonna get to save a few extra Flex¡­ this happens.¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. The shopkeeper appeared to be thinking for a minute and tapped his finger on his chin. ¡°You know¡­ I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯d be interested, but I could always use a hand in the back supply room. I mean, I wouldn¡¯t be able to pay you more than minimum wage, but there¡¯s certainly enough work to keep you busy. That and once you graduate, you could always come on full time. Heck, if things pan out, I might even be able to make you a manager.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart sank while his mind filled with dread. He mentally watched all his dreams ignite into a blaze, the ashes being blown away and fading into the distance. He saw an image of himself standing behind the counter. The routine of filling out forms and talking to others who were pursuing the same dream that he now had. He shook his head and broke his mind free of the thought, giving a quick shake of his head. ¡°Thanks, Ryan. That is nice of you to offer, but I¡­ uhh, well, I got Rocket Burger and also competing¡­¡± Ryan smiled and nodded. ¡°Hey, Pepper, it¡¯s all good. Let¡¯s just put it this way. If you ever need another job or find yourself in a pinch, just say the word and I¡¯ll do what I can to take care of you.¡± *** ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t work tomorrow? You¡¯re the one who literally asked me for more hours, Larry,¡± KT said. Pepper had made his way to the back office and was eavesdropping on the conversation. ¡°I adjusted the schedule to give you the hours you wanted. The hours you requested. You know I try to treat everyone here like family, but you just affected the family in more ways than one.¡± This might actually play out in my favor, Pepper thought to himself. ¡°Fine¡­ I guess you¡¯re right. It is what it is.¡± Pepper heard a loud sigh come from KT. He counted down from fifteen and then made it seem like he had just arrived in the doorway. A playful smile was plastered on his face, but before he could say anything, KT cut him off. ¡°I know you were standing there the whole time, Pep.¡± KT had a hand against her head and was scribbling away on the paper schedule. ¡°Wha¡ª how?¡± KT still did not look at him but pointed with her pencil at an angle off to her left. ¡°I could see you in the mirror the whole time.¡± Pepper quickly turned around and saw she was right. The mirror that was attached to the ceiling to help them see around the corner was in her view through her office window. Smooth, Pep ¡­ real smooth. ¡°So, let me guess¡­ you got suspended from school and want to pick up some more hours?¡± Pepper huffed. ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°Did you forget that you kids post everything on your League Chat, and for some unknown reason many of you decide you want to send me all the videos of what you all are doing?¡± His mind was fading into sadness. He felt like his chances of succeeding in getting his wishes were now diminished. At that moment he felt like he probably shouldn¡¯t have turned Ryan down on his job offer. ¡°Pretty much.¡± She plopped the pencil down on the paper in front of her and sighed. Her gaze turned towards him and she narrowed in on his injury. ¡°Well, I know you didn¡¯t get punched during the fight, so what happened there?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± KT shook her head and wagged her finger quickly, then ended by directing him with her finger to have a seat in her office. ¡°You know better than that, Pepper Walker. Now sit your butt down and spill the beans.¡± Look at what you got yourself into now, Pep. His heart was sinking into his stomach. He started to grind his teeth and bite the inside of his cheek as the nerves took over. Pepper knew there was no point trying to wait KT out. She is relentless and will wear me down either way. Best to try to appease her and say what happened. ¡°I slipped and fell.¡± She shifted her jaw and nodded. ¡°And what were you doing just before this slip and fall?¡± Pepper chuckled. How does she always know exactly what questions to ask? Oh, wait¡ªmom instincts. ¡°I was sleeping.¡± He refused to look at her, but that didn¡¯t work. ¡°Pep.¡± He didn¡¯t respond to her, so she chipped away. ¡°Pepper.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he conceded and looked at her. Eyes of empathy gazed back at him, and she pressed her lips together. She took her glasses off and placed them on her desk. ¡°Everyone has night terrors. It¡¯s something we all struggle with. There¡¯s no shame in saying it, but I understand. I get it, Pep. It¡¯s certainly not an easy thing to deal with, especially at your age. Most kids should have nothing but positive goals and dreams to look forward to. Instead you have portal attacks and the constant question of what if. It¡¯s okay to just say ¡°I am having a bad day,¡± week, or even year. Just don¡¯t give up, okay?¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t stop the emotions that overwhelmed him. Tears filled his eyes, and he felt them rush down his cheeks. He balled his fists as embarrassment was now added into the mix. ¡°KT, I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m scared of the demons, you know, harming me personally. I¡¯m scared of leaving Meg. What if I actually get into the Golem League? Who is going to be here to watch over her?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a lot going on inside there, love,¡± she said softly. ¡°You know, the night terrors can do a lot to mess with our emotions. Sometimes we just need to take a moment and breathe. Have you had a chance to do that yet?¡± ¡°I thought I did¡­¡± ¡°Pep, here is what we¡¯ll do. You go home and take some time to rest. If you want to work, you just show up when you want. Don¡¯t worry about the schedule, hours, all that nonsense. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± ¡°Thanks, KT.¡± Pepper wiped his face free of the tears. ¡°What about Mr. Leanord?¡± ¡°You leave him to me. He may own the place, but I¡¯m the manager and I will do what I feel is best.¡± Chapter 13 - Mechanized Combat Pepper¡¯s hands ached to the point that they were starting to cramp. He had been working on his golem all night. The burning in his eyes had faded while he took a final sip of his Lucky Lightning energy drink. A quick toss of the can and it clanked against the pile of empty ones he had already drank through in his waste bin. He rubbed his eyes to refresh them further and then reached his hand into the small space between his golem¡¯s left shoulder and chest portion. A quick adjustment and his fingers now worked inside the small access slot. He wiggled them around until he felt the cables. The two index fingers did their best to make minor adjustments to the connector. A slight rotation counterclockwise, then angled down just a smidge and¡­ oh, come on! It should be right around there! Why can¡¯t things just work the way I need them to? I swear if this doesn¡¯t connect, I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll¡­ Click. ¡°Finally!¡± A giant sigh of relief came over him. He felt the connection point lock in place on the connector, but the audible click gave him the reassurance he needed. ¡°Good morning.¡± He turned to see his dad leaning against the workshop doorway. He had a coffee mug in his hand and took a quick sip of the bean juice. He was dressed in his Nordon¡¯s grocery uniform, which indicated to Pepper just how late in the morning it was. ¡°On your way to work?¡± ¡°Yeah, in a few minutes. I figured I would check on you, since you decided to avoid the family yesterday afternoon and evening.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t have the energy to respond sarcastically. He continued to finish patching up the final portion of his golem. ¡°I wasn¡¯t necessarily avoiding the family¡­ more trying to avoid Mom¡¯s anger.¡± ¡°Oh yeah¡­ well, thanks for letting me deal with that all by myself.¡± Pepper glanced at his dad, who smiled and lifted his mug towards him in a joking toast of gratitude. ¡°Besides, my order of clay practically wiped out my paycheck. I wanted to start working to make sure I could finish my patch-up job.¡± ¡°Your excuse doesn¡¯t cover your absence, Pepper, nor does it justify you thinking you can do whatever you want. You are still sixteen¡ª¡± Pepper cut him off. ¡°I¡¯m seventeen in three weeks!¡± Trent sighed. ¡°The point I was making was that you still live in our house and need to abide by our rules. What I find even more shocking is that we hardly even enforce the rules on you. We ask you to take out the trash, do dishes twice a week, and be home and in bed before 10 p.m. I would say that is a pretty fair deal you get to enjoy there, Pep.¡± Pepper hated the discussion. Why can¡¯t he understand how important this is to me? Does he not realize how close I am to actually getting a shot at qualifying for the regionals? All I need is one more club tournament championship and then I can be accepted! ¡°You knew I was in the work shed, though.¡± ¡°That is not the point, Pepper. Just like your statues have to abide by rules, so do you and your responsibility to our family.¡± Responsibility to our family? Who does Meg come running to when you and Mom are fighting? Who takes care of Meg just as much as anyone else around here? Ughghg! I can¡¯t wait to get out of here! Trent looked down at his watch. ¡°Crap. I need to get going for work.¡± Pepper turned and blurted out, ¡°Can I have 50 Flex?¡± His dad shook his head with a surprised look. ¡°50 Flex! What for now?¡± ¡°I need 50 Flex to enter the club tournament.¡± Trent lowered his head. ¡°I thought you just said you got paid from work?¡± ¡°I did, but the clay practically wiped me out. They rose prices again, and now I only have 28 Flex left in my account. Besides, I¡¯ve already talked to KT and she¡¯s going to give me some more hours at work over the next two weeks. I¡¯ll easily be able to pay you back when I get my next paycheck.¡± His dad huffed and looked at the ground. He finally checked his watch again and glanced back at Pepper. ¡°When do you need it by?¡± ¡°I have to pay registration fees within the next two days.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± Pepper was about to protest, but his father¡¯s arched eyebrows and glance warned him otherwise. His dad then pointed with his coffee mug. ¡°You help your mom out. Maybe even do some yard work or something. If you can maintain the peace with her and I don¡¯t hear anything negative come up, then we¡¯ll see. All right, I have to go. We¡¯ll talk more about this later, Pepper.¡± His dad left and Pepper wiped his face. The effort was pointless, as his body internally cried out for sleep. He thought for a second about what his dad had said. Uhhh, we¡¯ll have time for that later. Pepper shuffled his feet over to his hammock and rolled inside. His body swayed for a moment while the momentum continued until it finally petered out. He closed his eyes and the exhaustion took hold and brought him into a deep sleep. *** Pepper caught the scent of fresh-cut grass and his eyes slowly opened. His holodex was vibrating, as there were multiple messages awaiting him. He ignored them. Though he had just awoken, the comfort of his hammock encouraged him to remain there. The moment was peaceful, and all he wanted to do in that moment was rest. He turned his holoscreen on and flipped through the different options within the Golem League Network. His curiosity was drawn to the notification of a new match out of the Arabia Alliance League. They were one of six leagues that formed the Promina League tier. It could easily be said that the Promina League was the hardest tier for gladiators to be promoted out of. The local clubs were next. Pepper didn¡¯t pay close attention to many of the other international clubs. There were far too many gladiators to try to keep up with. The majority of the time, when he did watch matches, they were focused around the Pantheon and Immortals Leagues. They were the most exciting and where all the money was really made. The Promina was so vast in size that it was almost more of an international competition. The online forums had a multitude of posts spreading rumors of backdoor deals gladiators had taken to stay in the Promina League and keep representing their country rather than going on for more individual prestige. There were times, such as today, when he found himself going down the rabbit hole of matches from around the world. It was a great way to see what new tactics and techniques others were utilizing in competition. Yet in the long run it didn¡¯t really matter. He was far from being ready to compete with those gladiators. Though there was a long-term dream he desperately wanted to achieve, the harsh reality was that he was stuck in the club scene for the foreseeable future. He clicked on the match and was happy to see that the Golem League had JD and Nick dubbing their own commentary over the match. The two hosts were not there physically, but their voices were post-recorded and added in as an additional audio track. Pepper shifted in his hammock and adjusted his small pillow underneath him. Nick¡¯s voice greeted him first. ¡°Thanks for joining us today, folks. We are excited to bring you the retelevised match coming out of the Arabia Alliance League. Of course, no Golem League match would be complete without my cohost, JD.¡± ¡°Well, not only is it a great time to be with my favorite cohost, but what a great time it is whenever we get to commentate on our international partners in the League. I mean, you gotta love the fact that this network stretches the entire globe.¡± ¡°Right you are, JD, and I have to say, there is certainly a different dynamic to the international scene. Some leagues, such as the Arabia Alliance, have almost this sense of lore and mythical take on the competition.¡± ¡°You are dead on there too, Nick, and let¡¯s not forget the food. I mean, man, I could go for an epic shawarma right now, that¡¯s for sure.¡± JD ended with a chuckle. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Nick responded at first with a nervous laugh. ¡°Well, sure, ethnic cuisine is something one can enjoy when traveling to the different matches, but there is certainly this great depth of interpretive history when it comes to the golems utilized.¡± ¡°Absolutely, but nothing goes better with a golem match than a nice warm shawarma. You fill that sucker with a bunch of lamb and drizzle in that zesty yogurt sauce, the greasy goodness running down your face ¡­ it¡¯s like a Middle Eastern burrito that you just can¡¯t get enough of.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but laugh and continued to listen. He could barely hear Nick¡¯s attempt to muffle his laughter at his cohost. The drone camera view came on next and soared over the vast dune landscape. The Arabia Dunes were quite plain compared to the other golem arenas. Yet the rolling hills of sand made it fun to see gladiators forced to adapt to the environment. There were gray and tan billowing clouds overhead, and Pepper could see that particles of sand were blowing about. There was a faint haze left from the weather. Two platforms hovered towards the edges of the arena. The Dunes were one of the arena¡¯s where the gladiators were flown in and remained on the platforms while the matches took place. The camera then tilted off to the left, and he saw a metallic walker begin to walk into its starting area. Nick¡¯s voice followed. ¡°Here comes our first golem, an iron mechanized walker. From the looks of it, we can see a multitude of rocket pods and machine guns hanging off the side. A formidable opponent by the looks of it.¡± JD dry coughed and then added. ¡°So, this has been a trend that we¡¯re starting to see on the rise. Some gladiators are trying to bridge the gap between traditional golems and military firepower. It¡¯s an interesting concept. Some think it may be the future, but many think it¡¯s just the popular flavor of the week. Some people like lamb shawarma, some people like a nice savory spicy chicken shawarma. But at the end of the day, you know that at least this anchor is going to be fed some epic golem goodness.¡± The camera panned around to showcase the mech¡¯s opponent. A giant serpent began to slither into the arena. The snake was massive compared to the walker. Its copper exterior reflected the light, and each scale seemed to shutter open and close as it went. Pepper could make out that the golem¡¯s features appeared to be modeled after a king cobra. The match countdown timer illuminated on the screen and began to tick away. ¡°All right, folks, let¡¯s get into the action!¡± Nick¡¯s voice excitedly proclaimed. A great horn sounded and the match began. The king cobra lifted its body straight up. The snake¡¯s frame towered over its opponent and left the mech veiled in its shadow. ¡°What a massive display of force, JD! But this has got to be a violation. Golems are only allowed to be forty feet tall in the Promina!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, Nick, but see¡­ this is the thing, and shows the creativity of the gladiator. The rules do state that the golem cannot be taller than forty feet¡­ but the rules do not specify a length limit. Therefore this gladiator found a creative way to make the rules work in his favor. The problem you have, though, is that this golem has to utilize a massive amount of energy to power itself into this position. So we¡¯ll see what happens.¡± The mech immediately began to react and attempted to take advantage of the situation. Every single pod of the mech walker began to fire off rockets. The projectiles streaked across the arena with smoke trails showing their flight path. A wave of explosions slammed into the snake¡¯s belly. Fireballs and black smoke billowed out, and small fragments of metal pelted the sand floor. The serpent then dove straight down at an angle. Its head plunged into the ground and began to slither its way under the surface. Pepper could see that the mech walker was visibly trembling. It began to stagger about, although it kept its balance. The sand of the arena bulged, and he could see the snake¡¯s path angle towards its opponent. The gladiator for the mech walker took notice and continued to turn and face the imposing threat. The path of the bulging sand continued to inch closer until it looked like the serpent was practically underneath its opponent. The cobra¡¯s head surged upwards. It was a direct hit against the walker¡¯s legs and actually launched the mech off its feet. The serpent¡¯s head brought with it a vicious bite as it attempted to crush the mech in its mouth. The walker countered the attack and activated its engine pods. It hovered over to safety while its miniguns roared to life. Tracer rounds streaked across the distance, firing at such speed that they looked like lasers. The snake continued to receive damage to its metal scales, but it still gave chase. The mech flared its engines off again, performing a great jump to safety. ¡°Wow, JD, this match is off to an explosive start to say the least. Such firepower being launched by our armored mech and yet that snake doesn¡¯t even seem to be fazed one bit!¡± ¡°Well, that initial salvo of rockets was impressive, but when you¡¯re taking the route of a mech and utilizing weaponry, you¡¯re limited to how much ammunition you have. What it looks like is that our metal cobra is trying its best to come in quick and knock the mech off balance, but I have no doubt there is a gimbal rune inside which is helping offset that very thing.¡± The metal cobra dove back into the sand and continued its pursuit of the mech. Pepper then saw canister pods open all across the back of the walker. The pods shot out small metal devices that clustered out into the sand around it. Faint red lights flashed from the black cylinders that were now wedged into the arena floor. ¡°Look there, Nick. The mech appears to have deployed a sort of landmine. Now this is an interesting choice¡ªclearly a defensive move.¡± ¡°You¡¯re spot on, JD, and of course we see the billowing sand path of our serpent, who is still clearly giving chase. Do you think those explosives will be enough to pierce through the metal scales, though?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re about to find out. Haha, you know what I mean?¡± The snake continued to weave its way closer. The excitement of the match helped awaken Pepper. His holodex buzzed again, but he continued to ignore the message. The snake slithered straight towards the landmines without caution. Explosions began to erupt all around the mech, but it didn¡¯t waver. It stood its ground and started to fire off its miniguns. Then, with the roar of the machine guns pelting the sand around it, a blazing red light shot out from its right side. ¡°Look at that! It has what appears to be a plasma sword!¡± Nick¡¯s voice cried out. The mech began to wobble forward and activated its engine pods. The walker launched up into the air and then started its heavy descent. The plasma sword angled straight towards the arena floor. The mech started to slowly slash the sand from side to side. Sparks and flame spewed out as if the sword was actively cutting through a portion of the snake¡¯s body. The snake¡¯s path immediately veered off to the side. It looked like it was trying to escape the newly discovered weapon. The serpent didn¡¯t travel far; it quickly turned around and appeared to face its opponent head on. The metal cobra punched through the arena floor, and sand rolled off its head. The snake rose upwards as it had done initially. The golem¡¯s metal began to shift, and Pepper watched as the king cobra¡¯s hood expanded as if it was truly alive. The interior of the snake¡¯s hood did not have the traditional neck ribs one would see in real life. Instead, an intricate pattern of curved lines began to illuminate with a deep orange glow. Pepper thought the pattern looked similar to that of a topographic map, where the lines waved in and out in without any discernable pattern. The snake¡¯s eyes glowed even brighter with the same orange coloration. ¡°Watch out, Nick! This golem is powering up for something big.¡± ¡°Here comes another salvo of rockets! The mech¡¯s trying to thwart whatever it is the snake is planning!¡± The mech launched its attack, and as the rockets ripped across the distance, the snake released its attack. A giant pulsating wave of orange streaked across the arena and flowed directly through the rockets and the mech itself. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened as the rockets immediately petered out and fell lifeless to the sandy floor. The walker began to wobble, and flickers of light were easily seen as it struggled to stay upright. The plasma sword that had been outstretched now disappeared. The king cobra retracted its hood and began to move slowly forward. ¡°JD, the serpent has a chance to end this here!¡± ¡°It sure does¡­ but we¡¯ll see if it can make it to the mech in time.¡± A few sections of the mechanized golem started to turn on; lights flickered but remained lit. The left side came to life and began to fire its machine guns. Their targeting system appeared to have been affected, for the guns merely sprayed rounds all over the place, with only a few actually hitting the cobra. The serpent continued to close the distance. The walker tried to fire off its engines, but to Pepper¡¯s surprise it was the right side that fired off in a sustained manner. The effect caused the mech to roll end over end for a moment, but then it stopped. ¡°Oh dear, this looks to be the end of the mech.¡± The cobra was able to pick up its speed just enough for it to wrap around the mech, and it soon contracted around the walker like a python. The grinding of metal shrieked out as the mech was crushed under the sheer force of the snake. It was only a few seconds later that the mech finally exploded into a giant ball of flame and the match was over. Fireworks launched upwards around the edge of the arena and the Golem League theme music for victory blared. The gladiator¡¯s picture appeared on the screen with a custom graphic of the serpent directly behind them. All the wording was still in a language that Pepper didn¡¯t know, but the two commentators continued. ¡°What a performance there, JD. That snake really showed it is a creature not to be messed with!¡± ¡°One hundred percent. It goes to show that it may not be the cool flavor of the week, but old school tactics won out here today.¡± ¡°So the question I have, JD, why didn¡¯t the cobra start out with that psionic attack to begin with?¡± ¡°Well, that all comes down to power. Psionic attacks are some of the most power-intensive attacks in the Golem League. Well, when you have a massive serpent that needs to move the way it does, that also requires a huge amount of power.¡± ¡°Ah, right you are there, JD,¡± Nick replied. JD¡¯s voice continued. ¡°So, the other thing is¡­ our gladiator knows that there are only so many rockets and ammunition that the mech can carry, at least in this configuration, so what it did was tempted his opponent to fire off an entire salvo of rockets. ¡°So we have energy preservation. But then we see the serpent slowly moving closer and closer, closing the distance to get where it really wants to be. A strategy of attrition and forcing their opponent to compete within their game plan. Then, once the serpent had their opponent where they wanted it, they bring out the psionic attack, which disrupts the controller runes and circuitry and goes in for the finishing move.¡± ¡°Brilliant, JD! Simply brilliant.¡± Pepper nodded along with a big smile on his face. ¡°Dang,¡± he said. He began to stretch and twist inside his hammock, awakening his body to prepare for the day. What time is it? he wondered. Before he could even check the time, he felt the buzz of his holodex yet again. And who keeps bugging me? [:::] You¡¯re late! Where are you? [:::] Chapter 14 - Surprise Pepper¡¯s eyes locked onto his holodex screen and started to scroll down the list of missed messages. [:::] Are you on your way over to the Millers yet? [:::] [:::] Hey Pep, Tami Miller informed us she is throwing a surprise B-day party for Summer. It is at 3 PM. [:::] [:::] Pep give me a call when you get this. [:::] All the messages had been from his dad. A knot in his stomach immediately formed. He quickly tapped back a response. ¡°Just woke up, on my way.¡± Once he¡¯d hit send, he launched himself out of his hammock. Or at least he tried. Pepper¡¯s angle caused him to sway and teeter too far in the hammock. He lost his balance and went tumbling to the ground. ¡°Ow. That sucked,¡± he mumbled. He made it to his bike and went pedaling down the street and eventually made it over to the Millers¡¯ house. He could smell the barbecue from down the street as he closed in on the location. There were a good number of cars parked out front. Pepper was happy to see the great turnout to celebrate the birthday girl. With a quick pitch of his bike against the side of the house, he walked through the side gate and into the backyard. Music was playing, and there was mixed laughter among the people who were scattered throughout the backyard. Pepper¡¯s dad was standing at the grill. He noticed the Nordon¡¯s grocery bag next to it. ¡°Another donation from Nordon¡¯s?¡± he asked. ¡°Well, look who decided to join the living today.¡± ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Pepper mumbled. ¡°No, you¡¯re not. Don¡¯t lie to me like that,¡± his father countered. The hair stood up on the back of Pepper¡¯s neck and he was sure he was done for. He glared at the fence and sighed. A nudge on his shoulder brought him back to see the grin on his dad¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m just messing with you, Pep.¡± ¡°Gotcha.¡± He took a breath in relief. ¡°You got Summer a 30 Flex gift card to that coffee shop she likes.¡± His expression quickly distorted in confusion. He thought for a second and was convinced he had not bought a gift card. ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡ª¡± He stopped when he saw his dad¡¯s smile appear and his eyes flutter. ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± ¡°You knew I would forget, huh?¡± ¡°Oh yeah¡­ I remember what it was like to be sixteen¡­ that and your mother reminded me.¡± Trent winked and gave Pepper another nudge as the two chuckled. ¡°Grab a plate.¡± Pepper reached over to a side table and grabbed a plate. His dad transferred a freshly grilled burger to him, and Pepper finished making himself his meal. He took his first few bites and then chuckled, imaging how JD would commentate and describe his dad¡¯s barbecue skills. ¡°Also, seeing how you are late, Tami announced to all the guests that Summer got accepted into that one nursing school. So you at least have something else to congratulate the birthday girl on when you¡­¡± Trent fake dry coughed twice and then continued with emphasis, ¡°Go talk to her.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes but grinned. ¡°Got it.¡± He didn¡¯t wait any longer and started to walk slowly through the crowd. The familiar voice of his mom drew a quick glance from him, and he saw her sitting at a table with Tami. The two were drinking what looked like wine and laughing at something. His heart sank. He was happy to see her looking and sounding happy, but he only wished he was also the recipient of that version of his mom at home. His eyes homed in on Summer. She was surrounded by some of her friends from school. He approached and waited, not wanting to intrude on the group¡¯s topic of discussion. Pepper was surprised when Summer was the one who took the lead. ¡°Pep, thanks so much for coming.¡± She closed the rest of the distance to him and wrapped him in a hug. ¡°Of course,¡± he replied nervously. ¡°Looks like you got a great turnout.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I mean, I know it was kinda last minute, and honestly¡­ I didn¡¯t even want the party. But my mom insisted. Especially with the news that just came in.¡± Pepper smiled. ¡°Yeah, congratulations on that. That¡¯s exciting.¡± Summer nodded and smiled. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s really great.¡± Pepper looked into her eyes and could see a heavy burden behind the veil. He didn¡¯t want to pry, especially given the situation they were in. He merely put his observation to the back of his mind and did whatever he could to keep the mood lighthearted. ¡°Well, I hope my dad got the right coffee shop for my gift card for you.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You totally forgot!¡± She laughed for a second. ¡°Figures you would. Seems about right for the Golem Champion.¡± ¡°The title is Golem Master.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± She rolled her eyes with a smile. Her hand reached around and gave him a side hug. ¡°Still, whether it was from your dad or you, it means more to me that you are all here.¡± ¡°Hey, Pep,¡± his dad¡¯s voice called out. He turned around to face his dad. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you get a fire going in the fire pit?¡± Summer instantly said, ¡°Oh my gosh, that would be perfect. Do you think you could?¡± she exclaimed. ¡°Sure¡­ I think I can manage that.¡± ¡°Thanks, Pep. You¡¯re the best.¡± She smiled and then glanced back at her friends. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll come hang out in a bit once you get the fire going,¡± she finished and walked back over to her friends. ¡°Sounds good,¡± he replied but was sure she didn¡¯t even realize he had responded. It didn¡¯t take Pepper long before the fire was up and crackling with life. He tossed his paper plate and napkin into the flames and sat in the camping chair next to the pit. He noticed Meg and Jackson running around the backyard. The two had become very close over the years and were a perfect picture of excitement whenever they were together. He watched the two zigzag around the group but then noticed the newest arrival at the celebration. His eyes narrowed, and he felt his heart start to pump faster. Andrea had just finished wrapping her arms around Summer. He didn¡¯t want to stare and was nervous about getting caught looking, yet he was fixated. Her blond hair was highlighted against the black T-shirt she wore. Her rich denim jeans looked like they were painted on. She reached up and adjusted her hair, and her smile beamed as the two girls giggled. Pepper swallowed and felt his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath. He had no idea that the two girls knew each other. His mind raced with a million thoughts, and he had no idea what to do or even say. The safest thing to do was stay at the fire, and that was exactly what Pepper chose to do. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Thankfully, Meg came to his rescue. She walked over and immediately began climbing into his lap. She snuggled up like a cat and simply rested in his arms. Pepper chuckled and began to brush her hair back with his fingers. ¡°What are you doing, goofball?¡± he jokingly asked. ¡°I¡¯m not a goofball, you¡¯re the goofball,¡± she replied. A soft chuckle came over him and he wiggled her in his arms. ¡°Oh really? And why do you say that?¡± ¡°Because Mom and Dad say that about you.¡± He felt a deadpan expression come over his face and he hummed. ¡°Mmhhmm¡­ what else do they say about me?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t say it¡­ they¡¯re naughty words.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Fair enough.¡± He looked down at her and she gazed back at him with her rich chocolate eyes. His mind replayed the night terror that he had experienced. Her voice calling out for his help echoed in the memory. He leaned over and planted some playful kisses on her forehead. ¡°Love you, Meg.¡± ¡°Me too,¡± was all she replied. Meg rested in his arms until she eventually fell asleep. His mom and dad walked over once they were ready to leave. Mom grabbed hold of the sleeping wildling and carried her off. ¡°You going to stay here for a bit?¡± his dad asked. ¡°Yeah¡­ I think so. Maybe not too much longer.¡± Trent grinned. ¡°Not a bad decision¡­ given the situation.¡± His dad looked over at the few girls who remained around Summer and winked. ¡°Come on, Dad¡­¡± Pepper sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t be out too late, and shoot me a message once you start making your way home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The party started to die down a few minutes later. Summer¡¯s mom started to clean up. Pepper stood up and was about to go help when she swatted him away. ¡°No, Pepper Walker, you sit down and enjoy that campfire.¡± He chuckled. ¡°If you say so.¡± ¡°I insist,¡± she said in a playful tone. Pepper then noticed Summer and Andrea walking over to him. His palms started to sweat with nerves. He mentally reminded himself to breathe and not think too much of it. ¡°Hey, Pep,¡± Andrea greeted him. What do I say? What do I say? Do I start with Hi, or what if I went with something cool, like What¡¯s cracking? No, wait¡­ that sounds ridiculous. Cracking? What even is that? Are we rodeo cowboys cracking whips? There is the standard what¡¯s up¡­ but that seems¡­ ¡°Hello?¡± Summer asked. ¡°Earth to space cadet Pepper. Do you read us?¡± He felt his cheeks flush. ¡°Sorry, I was¡­ zoned out there.¡± ¡°No kidding, Pep.¡± Summer chuckled, and Andrea giggled in response as the two sat down across from him. Smooth, Pep¡­ real smooth. ¡°Pepper, you know Andrea, right?¡± Summer asked and pointed with her thumb over to her guest. ¡°Yeah¡­ we have crossed in the halls here and there at school.¡± Andrea chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve also seen you at some of the Golem Club matches.¡± Pepper was rocked. He stared back at her and blinked rapidly. His cheeks were already flushed, but now he felt like they were on fire. ¡°You¡¯ve been to the club matches?¡± She laughed. ¡°Well, I mean, it¡¯s not like there¡¯s anything else to do around this town.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re right.¡± He laughed nervously and was worried that she thought he was a total nerd. ¡°I think I saw you also working at Rocket Burger the other day, right? You were in the drive through window?¡± Pepper felt a crushing weight come over him and all he wanted to do was hide. He didn¡¯t want to admit it. Yup, that¡¯s me¡­ fast-food-working, worthless Pepper Walker¡­ welcome to Rocket Burger. Would you like to upgrade your meal to mega mission size? He turned to look at the fire, not wanting to face her when he admitted it. ¡°Yeah¡­ I pick up a couple hours a week. Going to be a few more now after the¡­ suspension.¡± ¡°Summer, can you come help me with Jackson?¡± Tami¡¯s voice called from the house. Summer looked down and checked the time on her holodex. ¡°Be back in a little bit.¡± Pepper swallowed. Play it cool, play it cool, play it cool. Oh my god, oh my god, oh my¡ª Andrea¡¯s voice interrupted his nerve-racking thoughts. ¡°So, I wanted to tell you. I thought it was cool how you stood up for Summer and her brother the way you did.¡± He snapped his head back over to her. ¡°You did? I mean¡­ you do?¡± Her eyes widened and her lips pressed down into a smile. ¡°Uhh, yeah. Tamin needs to be put in his place every once in a while. He likes to add drama to every situation.¡± She paused. ¡°And besides, I get that Jackson can be a handful sometimes, but he is just as cool as anyone else.¡± Pepper took a deep breath. ¡°Yeah¡­ he is pretty cool. He and my little sister are pretty close.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Practically inseparable when they¡¯re together.¡± There was a quiet pause between them. The fire crackled, and Pepper retrieved a few new pieces of wood and placed them in the fire. The flames were rekindled, and he brushed off some of the dirt that had gotten on him in the process. ¡°Okay¡­ So, Mister Golem Warrior¡­ tell me about this Golem League stuff.¡± Pepper clasped the arms of the folding chair and stared back at her. The movement was so quick that she shot him a confused look. They looked at each oddly other for a moment. Pepper blinked rapidly. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Andrea smiled and sarcastically blinked rapidly back at him. ¡°Yes.¡± She laughed. ¡°It all seems really¡­ complex. Like there always seems to be something going on, and people are just non-stop talking about some fight, match thing taking place. It¡¯s a lot, and I just don¡¯t understand how it all works.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± Pepper said, dragging the word out. ¡°Did you seriously just Owen Wilson me?¡± Andrea shook her head with a look of disbelief. Pepper shot his hand out, trying to recover ground he had lost. ¡°No¡­ sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. I just¡­ I¡¯ve never had to explain it before, and I guess I don¡¯t even know where to start.¡± Andrea rolled her eyes with an overly dramatic expression. ¡°Oh my god, Pepper. How about you just start at the beginning?¡± He laughed. ¡°Easy to say, hard to do.¡± He coughed. ¡°Okay¡­ okay¡­ let me try to break this down.¡± ¡°Finally,¡± Andrea chimed in. Pepper didn¡¯t mind the interruption. She gave him a smile that made his heart melt. Her eyes were gazing back at him, and he only wanted the look she was giving him to last as long as possible. He felt his cheeks start to blush and shook his head to shake the embarrassment. ¡°Well, there are basically five different levels or tiers to the Golem League. At the very bottom are the clubs. These are local clubs that people like me compete in. There are hundreds of clubs all across the country. Then the next level up is the Regional Division.¡± ¡°Okay, hold on.¡± Andrea put her hand out and paused him. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°So, are there any big differences between the two?¡± Pepper chuckled nervously. ¡°Oh yeah. Each level has a lot of differences with the exception of the final two. But in the clubs, your golem is only allowed to be a maximum height of five feet. Additionally, your golem can only weigh one ton. Finally, you are limited to five rune slots.¡± ¡°And¡­ runes are the magical things that were released when the demons attacked, right?¡± Andrea tilted her head. ¡°Yeah¡ªthe Rift Wars. We learned how to use the runes to create the golems.¡± ¡°Gotcha. Okay, continue,¡± she said with a nod. ¡°The regionals allow your golems to be fifteen feet high and weigh 1.5 tons. Your rune slots also get upgraded to seven total.¡± Pepper paused and took a sip. The regionals are also like the Wild West. It¡¯s crazy.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°How so? Don¡¯t you all still just compete?¡± ¡°Yes and no. The regional conferences are broken up into seven different regions, hence the name. They are the Great Plains, the Rockies, the PNW, the Colonies, the Great Lakes, the Southwest Conference, and finally the Southeast Conference.¡± Andrea giggled. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound all wild and crazy. That sounds like a traditional sports league or something like that.¡± Pepper nodded. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, but within the regional tier are guilds.¡± ¡°Guilds?¡± ¡°They¡¯re like clubs or teams. You normally have to try out or even be invited. They allow gladiators to train, prepare, and battle each other outside of the season.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t just fight in your matches like you do now?¡± ¡°No ¡­ that¡¯s what makes that tier super competitive. Just because you¡¯re officially in the Golem League Regional Division doesn¡¯t mean you actually get to compete in the season.¡± ¡°So what season are we currently in?¡± ¡°We¡¯re in the tenth season. Once the Pantheon ends and the Golem Master is claimed, the Immortals will finish and then it¡¯s down to Promina and Regionals. It goes in that order so people know who is relegated and then promoted once the lower tiers finish out.¡± ¡°I have a feeling, like, guilds are totally the way to go.¡± Andrea crossed her arms, tilted her head, and nodded confidently. ¡°Well, it certainly helps. Guilds normally have a high amount of supplies, sponsorships, media presence, and, most importantly, lots of money.¡± Pepper paused and his eyes widened. He was imagining what it would be like to be in a guild and have the full complement of resources within his reach. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be a guild kinda guy.¡± His gaze left the flames and he looked at the confident smile on Andrea¡¯s face. ¡°Why is that?¡± She shifted in her seat. ¡°You¡¯re a lone wolf; you blaze your own path.¡± She paused and he smiled until she continued. ¡°That and you¡¯re a ginger, and we all know you don¡¯t have a soul ¡­ so there¡¯s that.¡± ¡°Wow ¡­¡± Andrea giggled, which led to a laugh. ¡°There¡¯s that Owen Wilson again.¡± Pepper noticed Summer walking back towards them. There was a curious look on her face. ¡°What are you two all laughing about?¡± ¡°Oh, Pepper was just explaining the whole golem levels to me¡ªdoing a terrible job at it too.¡± Pepper dropped his jaw sarcastically but didn¡¯t dare say the word he wanted to. He knew he wouldn¡¯t hear the end of it from either of the girls if he did. He shook his head while the girls giggled. ¡°Okay¡­ okay¡­ I see how it is.¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t let me stop you. What comes next, Pep?¡± Summer asked. ¡°So, next is the Promina. This is like the Olympics of the Golem League. Just like the Regional Division, the Promina has five major conferences: Africon, the Confederation of Europe, the Drakonic Lands, the Nor-So Americas, and the Independent Federation of Nations.¡± Andrea sarcastically emphasized her question. And¡­ let me guess, the golems get bigger.¡± ¡°Uhh, yeah. Duh! Forty feet high at seven tons with¡­ twelve rune slots.¡± Andrea turned to Summer and mouthed ¡°Twelve rune slots.¡± The sarcasm was starting to get to him. But at the same time, he loved having this moment with his crush. ¡°The final levels are Immortals and Pantheon. Both leagues allow for fifteen rune slots. But the golems are set at fifty feet in the Immortals and sixty feet in Pantheon. With such a huge size to work with, it allows gladiators to¡ª¡± Pepper stopped in his tracks. His eyes locked and his jaw clenched tight. Chapter 15 - Breaking News The girls turned to see Tamin walk into the backyard. He was escorted by two other students Pepper recognized from school. Rachel and Grant who slowly make their way towards them. But after a few feet, they stayed back and didn¡¯t come any closer. Andrea stood up and faced them, then looked down at her holodex. ¡°Holy cow, is it that time already?¡± Rachel was wearing high-cut blue jean shorts and a maroon zip-up hoodie. Her dark brown hair was all over to one side. She closed the distance to Andrea and gave her a quick hug. ¡°Hey, girl, I tried to message you. You ready to go?¡± ¡°Yeah ¡­ totally,¡± Andrea replied and quickly twisted back towards him. ¡°It was great hanging out with you, Pepper. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll run into you soon.¡± She then turned to Summer and gave her a hug. ¡°Happy birthday, love.¡± Summer thanked her for coming and the two girls chatted as the group slowly walked back towards the two boys. Tamin glared back at him and the two seemed poised to erupt into conflict at any moment. Each one was prepared to counter whatever the other did. Pepper didn¡¯t want to start trouble, but he had no problem trying to end whatever problem came his way. ¡°Pepper?¡± a voice called out. ¡°Pep, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡± It was Summer placing her hand on his shoulder that brought him out of the trance. He looked up to see that she had returned to the fire and was standing next to him. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°You almost looked possessed. You really don¡¯t like him, do you?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± was all he muttered through gritted teeth. ¡°I should probably get going too.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± Summer¡¯s voice had a sad tone. ¡°You¡¯re welcome to stay longer, you know. You don¡¯t have to take off.¡± His heart was now more bruised than his eye, and his spirit sank even more when he heard the sadness in Summer¡¯s voice. He knew he wouldn¡¯t be much company and just wanted to be alone. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Summer. I think I just need some time alone now.¡± He stood up and wrapped his arms around her, and she gave him a firm squeeze. *** Pepper walked into his workshop and plopped down into the recliner in the corner of the room. He took a few minutes to just sit and embrace the quiet. His eyes glanced over the walls, and he gazed at all the different posters he had tacked up over the years. The original golems that had been in the League with their gladiators in front. Some were fan art that had become popular in the League chat forums, and he had ordered them and pinned them up alongside each other. His eyes finally arrived at the most recent cylinder of clay he had purchased from Ryan. The promises he had made to both Meg and Jackson were now weighing on his heart. He stood up and opened the cylinder. There isn¡¯t enough for a full Mala, but I should be able to get a few of the limbs done, he thought to himself. He gave a quick search through the rest of his supplies until he found a base that would work for him. He then found his metal wire and began to cut the pieces he would need to form the armatures. His hands began to twist the metal pieces together, and the skeletal frame slowly created the statue¡¯s anatomy. ¡°You¡¯re home earlier than I expected.¡± Pepper glanced over to see his dad walking into the workshop. He made his way over to the recliner and took a seat. Pepper turned and faced his dad, but his eyes were still focused on the metal pieces he continued to manipulate in his hands. ¡°Well¡­ the mood was certainly ruined when Tamin showed up.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°They came to pick up Andrea and that was basically the end of everything.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ who is they?¡± Pepper rolled his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ some girl named Rachel and a guy named Grant. They go to school and hang out with Tamin a lot. I don¡¯t really know them.¡± ¡°So Andrea left with the smaller group and not just Tamin?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said, didn¡¯t I?¡± Pepper huffed. His father lifted his hand defensively. ¡°Ease up there, big shoots¡­ I was just asking to clarify and make sure I didn¡¯t misinterpret anything.¡± The room quieted for a moment. Pepper finished the final metal piece he needed to, placed it on his workbench, and folded his arms in front of him. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. Once I get accepted into the Regional League, I am out of this place.¡± ¡°Is it really that bad here?¡± his dad asked. Pepper tilted his head sarcastically and glared at him. His father smiled. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair. I remember when I was eager to leave the nest too.¡± ¡°Oh, Grandma and Grandpa were as bad as you and Mom, huh?¡± Pepper chuckled. Trent smiled. ¡°Nah, they weren¡¯t that bad. As a kid, you always feel like you¡¯re being ruled by a dictator. As a parent, you realize the dictators weren¡¯t necessarily wrong. You then wake up one day and realize, geez, I¡¯m a dictator myself.¡± Trent chuckled. ¡°At the end of the day, I think most parents, if not all of us, just want what is best for our kids. We do what we can, the best we can, but even we fail at that sometimes.¡± ¡°I suppose,¡± Pepper said nonchalantly. ¡°You ready for your club match? It¡¯s next week, right?¡± Pepper turned his head towards his golem. ¡°Yeah. I mean¡­ as ready as I can be. You still planning to be there?¡± ¡°I have it on the schedule.¡± His dad smiled back at him. They both heard the thud of footsteps quickly approaching. A shadow arrived at the doorway first, but then Brent came rushing into the shed. ¡°Dude! Iran is joining the Golem League!¡± Trent tilted his head a little. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to see you too, Brent.¡± Brent snapped his head over to Pepper¡¯s dad for a second and gave him a nod. ¡°What¡¯s up, Mr. Walker?¡± He turned back to Pepper with his arms out in front of him in disbelief. ¡°Dude! How are you not on top of this?¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°I have a match coming up. I haven¡¯t been paying much attention to the League Chat or news. What have I been missing?¡± ¡°Missing¡ªwell, clearly everything! I mean, you¡¯re not even in school. What have you been doing with your day?¡± Brent asked. Trent chimed in. ¡°Yeah¡­ what have you been doing with your days, Pepper?¡± ¡°Very funny, Dad. Besides, it¡¯s only been like two days. I still have plenty of time to get the extra chores done, catch up on League news, and work on my golem,¡± he countered. His dad stood up from the chair. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll leave you guys to it. Don¡¯t stay up too late, huh?¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Pepper replied. Brent could hardly wait to continue. ¡°Okay, goodnight. Anyways! Iran, Mongolia, North Korea, and Vietnam have all announced that they are going to join and participate in Season 11 of the Golem League. The news report said they¡¯re expected to have golems competing in the spring tournament just before the season launches.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Pepper took a deep breath. ¡°Well, I can only imagine that they¡¯re going to enter into the Drakonic Lands conference. That would¡±¡ªhe started to count on his fingers¡ª¡°give them ten different countries to compete against. Yeesh. Talk about some serious competition.¡± [:::] BREAKING: Two countries to leave the Confederation of Europe! [:::] They each looked down at their holodexes. Brent chimed in first. ¡°Yo, what is going on, P-Dub? This is crazy!¡± Pepper turned on his holoscreen and loaded up the news report. Erika was standing in the center of the camera with a scrolling bar down at the bottom that read ¡°Breaking News.¡± ¡°We have even more breaking news for golem fans around the world. Early today it was announced that Iran was joining the Golem League¡ªmore specifically, they are going to join the Drakonic Lands conference.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Called it.¡± He turned back to the video. ¡°But that isn¡¯t the only shake-up that we¡¯re seeing in the League. As of a few minutes ago, both Iceland and Norway have announced their decision to leave the Confederation of Europe and join the Independent Federation of Nations. This move brings the IFN to eight countries total. It goes without saying, but golem fans are sure going to be in for some exciting matches in Season 11.¡± The video ended and Pepper turned the holoscreen off. ¡°Well, that was unexpected,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll say,¡± Brent replied. He turned and looked over at Pepper¡¯s golem. ¡°You fixed the shoulder up?¡± Pepper nodded and plopped down in his hammock. He kept his left leg dangling over the side and used it to rock himself back and forth. ¡°I ran a diagnostic check and then patched it all up.¡± Brent started to press down on the area Pepper had been working on. ¡°It seems to have hardened up good.¡± ¡°Only one way to find out,¡± Pepper countered. ¡°Don¡¯t be a negative Nancy, P-Dub. You are going to get this win.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Brent shook his head and turned towards the work bench. His eyes found the most recently updated stat sheet Pepper had filled out. He retrieved the paper and started to read the information.
Golem Name Mala
Gladiator Pepper Walker
Command Interface 7 Seas ¨C Explorer
Height 4? 8?
Weight >1 ton
Material Clay
Power Core Forge ¨C Hammer
Main Weapon Not Applicable
Runes 1. Quintek ¨C Power 2. Quintek ¨C Controller Rune & Interface 3. Quintek ¨C Energy Absorption 4. Quintek ¨C Energy Strike 5. Quintek ¨C Energy Shield
Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice how closely Brent inspected his stat screen. He smiled at the sight and felt sad for his friend. Brent had always talked about competing and trying to become a Golem Master as well. His friend had tallied up four wins and forty-two losses before calling it quits. He had given Pepper both his energy strike rune and his energy absorption rune. ¡°The power core still working?¡± Brent asked. Pepper sighed. ¡°It¡¯s still showing the correct ELLS, but the MPC is still under the technical specification.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about that?¡± Pepper looked up at the ceiling. ¡°I¡¯m worried, but there isn¡¯t much I can do. It¡¯s not like I have one of those Campell power cores that the golems at my dad¡¯s work have. I got to use what I can for now.¡± Brent set the sheet down, then jumped up and took a seat on top of the workbench. ¡°It still doesn¡¯t look like a battle tiger.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t have enough clay to finish all the details.¡± ¡°It looks more like a man who was mauled by a tiger.¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t.¡± Pepper scowled at his friend. Brent laughed. ¡°Looks almost as ugly as Tamin.¡± Pepper now joined in the laughter for a moment. ¡°You ready to take him on¡ªknock him out like you did on the track?¡± Pepper recalled the event in his mind. He would have been lying if he¡¯d said that he hadn¡¯t been thinking about it. The suspension had given him plenty of time to reflect on the matter. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that. He didn¡¯t fight back at all. He wanted to get me suspended and he succeeded. I barely even hit him, he just covered up and started crying out like I¡­ I¡­¡± ¡°Like you were a battle tiger mauling him!¡± Brent finished with a laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, P-Dub; my money is on you. I know you will pull out a win.¡± A small knot began to form in Pepper¡¯s stomach. ¡°Brent, don¡¯t tell me you are.¡± ¡°Of course I am. It¡¯s easy money, P-Dub! Heck, I just made 30 Flex today at the underground match. That Timo is on a win streak like no other.¡± ¡°Luck, that¡¯s all it is. Luck.¡± Brent shrugged. ¡°I mean, maybe¡­ I guess you could say there is this small amount of luck that plays into it. But if you just bet on a sure thing, keep it small¡­ you¡¯re going to make easy money.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they all say, don¡¯t you know.¡± Ryan¡¯s voice startled them as he entered Pepper¡¯s workshop. A big smile was on Ryan¡¯s face. He had on a custom ball cap with his duck energy drink mascot on the front and a bright orange jacket. Pepper chuckled internally; it looked like a life preserver. He¡¯d finished off the look with cargo shorts and flip-flops. Pepper shook his head. Ryan¡¯s bottom half looked ready for the beach and his upper half looked ready for fall. The entire outfit was a unique look to say the least. Ryan placed a grocery bag down on the workbench. ¡°You know, Brent, my old buddy Bill Baxter. Yeah, that there man, oh dear, was he a hoot and a half. But, you know, that Bill got caught up in that gambling thing in the college days, yup, he did.¡± Brent chuckled. ¡°He did?¡± ¡°Oh yeah, yeah, see. He started to get upside down in the payments and all. And then, of course, yuh got your college loans and all. I mean, that Bill Baxter, he been struggling ever since. You think you¡¯re ahead, but you¡¯re really behind, don¡¯t you know.¡± Brent had a confused look on his face. Pepper chuckled slightly. ¡°See, Brent, you are really behind rather than ahead.¡± Ryan snapped his fingers and pointed at Pepper while looking at Brent. ¡°See, Big Duck Pepper over there gets it. You best be careful there, Brent¡­ Might wanna consider it while you can. Aye?¡± Brent crossed his arms and shook his head. Pepper read the frustrated expression on his face. His friend didn¡¯t appear to appreciate the scolding he had just received. ¡°So, what brings you by, Ryan?¡± Pepper tried to save his friend from any more embarrassment by changing the subject. ¡°Welp¡­ I figured I would bring my two favorite flavor testers the latest creation from Big D Energy.¡± Brent arched his eyebrow. ¡°What does Big D Energy stand for again?¡± ¡°Well, Big Duck Energy, of course! When you goes down there to the local pond, you know exactly which big duck that is. You sures don¡¯t go messing with it. If you catch my drift.¡± Ryan reached into the bag and grabbed a large can for each of them. Pepper glanced over the can, but there was nothing printed on it. Ryan noticed his inspection and added, ¡°I¡¯m still working on the label. You know that there marketing and whole branding image thing is no joke. But I think I¡¯m close to getting the final image complete for this flavor.¡± Brent was tilting his can and looked nervous to even pop it open. He had a slightly disgusted face, and Pepper was sure he recalled the last flavor he had tried. The immediate pressure of Ryan standing in front of him won out, though. Brent cautiously opened the cylinder and then asked, ¡°What flavor is this supposed to be?¡± Pepper had already opened his can and was about to take a drink just as Ryan answered. ¡°I¡¯m calling it Busting Blueberry.¡± Pepper almost spat out his drink. He quickly swallowed. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a risky name¡­ you know, from a marketing standpoint?¡± A confused look came over Ryan¡¯s face. ¡°What makes you say that? Don¡¯t you like blueberries? I know I love me some blueberries, so much so I want to just bust them open.¡± Pepper chuckled and turned to Brent. To his surprise, his friend seemed to take a liking to it. He noticed Ryan was turning between the two of them, intently reading their expressions. Pepper finally started to nod and replied, ¡°Not too bad, Ryan. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s as good as Quackariffic Red, but that could just be my personal preference.¡± Brent chimed in. ¡°I would actually go with this one over the last one.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡± Ryan had a large smile on his face. Brent shrugged. ¡°The berry flavor is actually really nice. It¡¯s sweet but has a more tart taste to it. It leaves this zing-like sensation on your tongue. It¡¯s not bad.¡± Ryan snapped again and wagged his finger at Brent. ¡°You got it¡­ haha, you got the zing. Oh boy, does that sure make me happy and all.¡± He was beaming with joy at the feedback. Pepper noticed there seemed to be something else in the bag. ¡°What else you got in there?¡± ¡°Well, I figured with your big club match coming up, you might need a little zing.¡± Ryan pointed back over at Brent. He merely rolled his eyes in response. Without missing a beat, Ryan continued. ¡°So I brought you a few extra cans to enjoy. Consider me your first official sponsor on your path of becoming a Golem Master!¡± He finished with a big smile. Chapter 16 - KBVS The rest of the week was a blur to Pepper. He hardly slept that night. By the time he finally drifted off, it felt like his alarm sounded and awoke him to the new day. He had packed everything into his bag that he would need for the match. The energy drinks that Ryan had given him. A few snacks. Tools he may need to make some adjustments. His nerves told him to take another inventory of everything, so he did. Rune power relay analyzer, check. Power core RPL tester, check. SRT meter, check. Epoxy, check. Why do I always feel like I¡¯m forgetting something? Pepper finished going through the list and repacked his backpack. He activated the garage door on his workshop and then realized. Why isn¡¯t Dad¡¯s truck here? He walked back to the house and through the back door, which led into the kitchen. ¡°Mom?¡± There was a far longer pause than he wanted, but eventually she replied, ¡°What is it, Pep?¡± He paused and his eyes caught sight of the five small silver coins on the kitchen counter. There was a yellow note next to them, and Pepper walked over as he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Dad?¡± He immediately recognized his dad¡¯s handwriting on the note. ¡°Good luck¡± was all it said. The five silver coins stacked next to the note were five 10 Flex coins¡ªthe same amount he had asked his dad for the previous week. ¡°He got called in to work,¡± his mom replied from his parents¡¯ bedroom. His heart sank in his chest. ¡°But he was going to take me to my match today.¡± ¡°Well, put the pieces together, Pepper. Doesn¡¯t look like that¡¯s going to happen now, does it?¡± He balled his hands into fists and glanced at the closest door. A temptation arose within him to hit it as hard as he could. ¡°Just order one of your Rover things,¡± she added. Well, I guess that means Mom isn¡¯t coming to the match¡­ again, he thought and rolled his eyes. ¡°Bye,¡± he said over his shoulder. A quick tap on his holodex and he loaded up the Rover Ride application. He ensured he selected the golem tow option, ensuring he didn¡¯t have another incident like the one that had occurred last year. The local drivers were aware of the match going on today and were ready to respond to the few individuals competing. His holodex pinged with an alert that a driver was already on the way to his location. Pepper waited till the driver¡¯s location showed they were only a minute or two down the street before he powered up his golem. He activated the auto follow function and the controller rune took over and followed his command interface, which remained in Pepper¡¯s back pocket. The golem walked up onto the trailer towed behind the truck of his Rover Ride and Pepper went about strapping the golem down. His driver was nice enough to help him out, and the process was over sooner than he had anticipated. The drive down to the fairgrounds and the old national guard armory was uneventful. Brent had messaged him and asked if he was already on his way there. Pepper confirmed, and Brent replied that he would see him soon. The drive didn¡¯t take too long, and Pepper saw what appeared to be a decent turnout for the club match. He counted at least twelve golems in the parking lot, all waiting to undergo the registration process. The driver pulled up close to the end of the registration line so that he wouldn¡¯t have to travel too far. While he waited, another two individuals arrived and positioned their golems directly behind his. The gladiators greeted each other, as the majority of competitors had all competed against each other in previous bouts. A large tractor slowly crawled back to them at the end of the line and towed a large scale off the back end. Each golem made its way onto the scale to ensure it met the requirements. ¡°Hey, Mr. Sisic,¡± Pepper acknowledged as the club regulator approached. ¡°Good morning, Pepper. Again, as I have said before, it¡¯s totally fine for you to call me Jeff.¡± The gentleman was old enough to be his grandpa. A heavily worn and weathered blue ball cap with sweat stains was on his head. The gray hairs of long years and experience were peeking out from underneath. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Jeff adjusted his glasses and started to type away on his holopad. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s see. Pepper Walker,¡± he mumbled to himself while going through the registration screens. ¡°Ahh, yup, there it is, and enter that over there.¡± ¡°So how many do we have today?¡± Pepper asked and shifted his weight to one side. ¡°Oh, well¡­¡± Jeff paused and leaned back slightly as he shifted his gaze down the line of gladiators waiting to register. ¡°Looks like we have sixteen so far if nobody else shows up.¡± He smiled at Pepper, then tilted his head to see better through his glasses. ¡°Not a bad turnout.¡± The old man chuckled. ¡°Just enough to make it interesting, that¡¯s for sure. The Clark County club currently have thirty-two people registered for their event today.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened. Jeff glanced up, saw his expression and chuckled. ¡°That was my expression too when I heard the news.¡± ¡°That has to take forever to go through,¡± Pepper replied. ¡°Well, you figure that the first round will take us easily two hours to get through. That is, if everything runs smoothly, heh-heh, but we all know that never happens. So you can probably imagine that their first round will take them roughly half the day just to get through. If their club matches continue like that, they¡¯ll have to do a two-day event just to keep competing.¡± ¡°You think they¡¯ll form another club if they do?¡± Jeff pressed his lips together. ¡°Well, they certainly could, I guess. Make a North County and South County club or something like that. It¡¯s certainly possible. But if prices keep going the way they are right now, they¡¯ll probably start to see a decline in participants. The same way that we are now.¡± Pepper rolled his head. ¡°That isn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing.¡± Jeff chuckled. ¡°Sure¡­ it helps you get your club wins that you need to qualify for the Regional Invitational Tournament, but that only means who you are going up against stronger competition there. No easy way to skin the cat there, Pepper. The road to victory is one filled with bumps, bruises, and just a little bit of luck.¡± Jeff finished with a chuckle. The elder tapped a few more options on the holopad and then glanced back at him. ¡°All right, Pepper, you¡¯re all set and good to go. Good luck in there.¡± Jeff winked and moved on down the line. Pepper walked over to his golem and slapped his hand against the hardened surface of its shoulder. ¡°All right¡­ we made it through registration, now let¡¯s get you to the waiting area.¡± Just then Pepper¡¯s stomach grumbled. ¡°And then I¡¯m gonna get me a snack.¡± He had to wait a little bit longer, but the match bracket finally came on display for everyone to see. Daniel vs Terry, Tamin vs Buck. Well, that¡¯s an easy win for Tamin, Pepper thought and sighed before continuing. Jake vs Wendy, Reggie vs Matt. Oh, that could be really interesting. DJ vs Clint, Sabrina vs Sean. Sabrina had better win that match. Bryan vs Pepper. Haha¡­ right on! You better bring your A-game, Bryan. Pepper chuckled. Emmanuel vs. Sasha. ¡°Not too bad,¡± he muttered. He felt a nudge and turned to see Sabrina standing next to him. ¡°Hey, Pep.¡± Her hazel eyes and warm smile greeted him. She had on her lucky Season 7 Golem League ball cap, a black polo shirt, and high-cut blue jean shorts. Her holodex sprang to life with a notification. She barely glanced at it and swiped it away. ¡°You ready for your match with Bryan?¡± ¡°Heck, yeah. I was just thinking about that and hoping he gives me a challenge.¡± She rolled her eyes and smiled. ¡°Ahh, you¡¯ll beat him just fine. I just hope he doesn¡¯t beat up your golem too bad. I want to do the honors of knocking you out all for myself.¡± A confident smile remained on her face. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°I don¡¯t know about that, Sabrina. I fully expect you to wipe the floor with Sean, but then you¡¯ll need to take out either DJ or Clint. Both of them have been making serious improvements to their technique. They¡¯ll be tough for you to get past.¡± ¡°Tough? Pep, do I not look tough to you?¡± She stretched her arms out and started to flex. Her teeth practically glistened in the sunlight as she smiled during her poses. ¡°Not only can my golem do damage, but my looks could also kill.¡± The two laughed. Sabrina was one of the few club gladiators he had come to enjoy getting to know. She lived two towns over from Pepper, and the club matches were the only chances they got to see one another. ¡°Sabrina,¡± a voice called. The two looked in its direction and saw Wendy calling her over to another group. ¡°Hold on a second,¡± she replied. Her attention returned to Pepper and a big smile of excitement came over her. ¡°Did you hear what the prizes are for first and second place?¡± Pepper shook his head and smirked. ¡°No. Anything good?¡± ¡°Good? It is pretty a-huh-mazing! First place is an elemental rune made by Brutal Barbarian¡­ and second place is a gravity rune by Dark Dwarf!¡± Sabrina¡¯s eyes sparkled as she finished. ¡°Holy cow! That elemental rune would be amazing!¡± ¡°No kidding! Everything Brutal Barbarian puts out is top tier. Like¡­ these are prizes you would expect to win at a Promina match. Maybe Regional, but certainly not a club matchup. I don¡¯t know who hooked up our tiny little community club, but they are certainly my new best friend for life.¡± Sabrina pressed her fists onto her hips and nodded with a serious expression. The look only lasted for roughly three seconds before she lit back up to her usual optimistic self. ¡°Sabrina! Come on!¡± Wendy pestered. ¡°Uhh, fine!¡± she replied. Her feet started to slowly carry her off, but she turned back towards Pepper. ¡°My fans are calling me. It was great to see you, Pep. We¡¯ll link up later, yeah?¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± he replied with a smile. Chapter 17 - Soulless Pepper got his golem situated in the holding cage. It was a small ten-foot-by-ten-foot space lined by chain link fencing. There was a small workbench inside with a stool he could use while working on his golem. He placed his bag on the workbench and began to empty its contents onto the table. It wasn¡¯t his first time, and he knew the inspector would need to see inside it for the pre-match inspections. The area was filled with commotion as a mix of gladiators and their friends and family all moved about the area. ¡°Gladiators, please be at your holding cage in five minutes. Inspections will begin soon,¡± a voice called out over the speakers above. Pepper was looking at his golem and making sure it was performance ready. He knew it was. He had checked it ten times at home before he had even left for the arena. But an eleventh time never hurt. ¡°Match bracket, kid?¡± a voice behind him asked. He turned around to see one of the volunteers standing at the entrance of his holding cage. ¡°Thanks,¡± he replied, grabbing the sheet. Pepper began to look over the bracket. His mind wandered with possibilities of how each match could go. He quickly abandoned the effort, not wanting to get ahead of himself. He set the sheet down on the workbench as a tall figure arrived and towered over him. ¡°Pretty brave of you to show yourself here¡­ Too bad I¡¯m going to enjoy smacking your golem all over the arena. Heck, I might just leave it in one piece so it will be easier for you to take it home to Mommy¡­ Just make sure you don¡¯t cry this time.¡± Pepper turned around to see the large African American man known as Reggie standing at the entrance of his holding cage. There was a slight shine on Reggie¡¯s shaved head. His big bushy beard made him look like a biker gang member. His arms were crossed in front of him, and Pepper glanced over the dragon tattoo that wrapped around his left forearm and continued all the way up to his shoulder. His other arm was covered with a multitude of different tattoos. ¡°Is that a fact?¡± Pepper countered. Reggie brought his arms down and tugged on the bottom of his black denim vest. A charcoal-gray undershirt was tucked into his black cargo pants, and he had finished his look with highly polished leather boots. ¡°It¡¯s a promise.¡± Pepper smiled and started to laugh. Reggie soon lost his bearings and laughed along with him. ¡°What¡¯s up, Soulless? You doing good, boy?¡± Reggie asked as he leaned in, and the two clasped hands, then embraced. Soulless was the nickname Reggie had given him when they had finally become friends. It was a friendly jab at his ginger status, but it didn¡¯t bother him. In fact, he appreciated the unique name. Reggie was one of the few African Americans Pepper had ever seen. Reggie had moved into the area years back when he was done serving in the military. Reggie¡¯s large figure towered over most people, but he was a rather quiet individual. He rarely spoke to people he didn¡¯t know, but when he did speak, his voice was low and firm. It was through the club that the two had met, and for some reason, Reggie had taken a liking to Pepper. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m good. Ready to get this first match underway. Then I need to take out Sasha, then Sabrina, and then I¡¯ll just be waiting for you at the end, big man.¡± Reggie brought his hands up and started to rub them together as he smirked. ¡°All right, all right. I been working on my technique, so I got a trick or two up my sleeve for you.¡± ¡°You going to need all them tricks to get past me.¡± Pepper smiled and crossed his arms as he posed in a confident stance. He reached up and grabbed hold of his chin. ¡°What¡¯s the record again? 3 to 0 if I recall?¡± Reggie shook his head and wagged a finger at him. ¡°That¡¯s so messed up. I told you I had a stomach flu from eating a hot dog from the concessions stand, so I wasn¡¯t even¡ª¡± ¡°Ahh, come on, Reggie, I¡¯m just playing.¡± Pepper chuckled and threw a pair of air jabs his way. ¡°All right, Pepper Walker, is it? Are you and your golem ready for inspection?¡± A cold and more aged voice called to him as an older man entered the holding area. ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon in that arena, Soulless. We¡¯ll finish this in there.¡± Reggie finished with a wink and pointed to him as he departed. ¡°I¡¯m Pepper, and yeah, everything¡¯s good to go.¡± The man nodded from behind his holopad. A safety vest was over his light-blue polo shirt, and his hand dug into his khaki cargo shorts. He retrieved a piece of hard candy and placed it into his mouth. Pepper could hear it knock around against the man¡¯s teeth. ¡°Splendid. Let¡¯s get started, shall we?¡± The inspection lasted far longer than Pepper would have liked. But that was the case for every gladiator, not just him. The inspection process was what kept everything fair and even, though they didn¡¯t open up the golems to check each and every item inside them. But they did their best to peer into every crack and crevice they could find to see what they could. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°You have your power core, okay¡­ A forge hammer¡­ very good, very good. Okay, young man, please power on your golem.¡± Pepper did as he was instructed. The inspector then took his tool out of his back pocket. He connected it to two of the small wires he found exposed between the back shoulder blade and spine of the golem. ¡°Okay, bring it up to full power now.¡± Pepper did as he was asked. His small power core hummed and energy began to surge throughout the golem. The inspector kept his eyes focused on his device while it beeped away as the meter continued until the core finally reached full capacity. The process continued for what seemed like an eternity. A small green tag was finally placed at the entrance of his waiting cage and the inspector moved on to the next gladiator. Pepper closed the door of his holding cell and placed a pad lock on it. He then went to the same concession stand that Reggie had mentioned earlier, only he chose the popcorn rather than the hot dog. Pepper walked up the entrance tunnel and came to the landing that stood alongside the stands. He scanned the area, and a smile appeared on his face when he saw Summer and Jackson sitting there. He made his way over. ¡°What¡¯s up, guys?¡± ¡°Hey, Pepper!¡± Jackson said with a big smile and an excited wave of both hands. Summer smiled back at him but didn¡¯t say anything. Pepper noticed Reggie sitting by himself and waved for him to join the group. He appeared reluctant at first but finally stood up and made his way slowly down the stands. He sat down next to Pepper and gave a friendly nod to the others. Jackson turned and looked at them. ¡°I¡¯m rooting for Buck! He¡¯s going to win today.¡± A confused look came over Pepper. ¡°Wow. Well, thanks for the support, Jackson.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be a crybaby, Pepper,¡± Jackson countered. Reggie leaned forward to get a clear view of Jackson. ¡°Hey, what about me? I could use a cheer section too, you know.¡± ¡°I only cheer for winners, Reggie! You¡¯ve only won one match ever.¡± Summer covered her face with her hand, but it still couldn¡¯t hide her giggling. She mouthed over Jackson, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Pepper turned to Reggie, who rolled his eyes. ¡°Dang¡­ and I thought I was brutal. Mr. Jackson over here just bringing the heat like nobody¡¯s business.¡± ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, we¡¯d like to welcome you to the KBVS Club matchup. We¡¯ve got a great bracket of gladiators today, and we¡¯re ready to get underway,¡± the announcer¡¯s voice said over the loudspeaker. Pepper¡¯s eyes were fixed on the arena until he caught sight of Andrea walking along the front of the stands. He couldn¡¯t help but stare at her with affection as she went by with Rachel. His gaze followed the two girls until they arrived at Grant, who was sitting some way off on the opposite side of the bleachers. The warm affection turned into a heated jealousy, and he felt his muscles tense up at the sight of Grant. ¡°Pepper, can I have your popcorn?¡± Jackson asked. The question broke his mind free. ¡°Jackson!¡± Summer scolded him. ¡°What?¡± ¡°That is rude. You don¡¯t ask other people for their food.¡± ¡°But he isn¡¯t eating it. He¡¯s just staring at Andrea.¡± Pepper could feel his cheeks flush and now he just wanted to hide in a dark cave. ¡°You know what, it¡¯s fine. Here you go, Jackson.¡± Pepper practically shoved the popcorn into Jackson¡¯s arms, and he slouched over. Pepper stood to leave, but the giant claw of Reggie¡¯s hand landed on his shoulder and kept him planted in his seat. ¡°Oh no you don¡¯t, Soulless! You ain¡¯t getting away from that embarrassment so easily. You getting the smoke just as bad as me today. Haha! Maybe even a little worse than me,¡± Reggie added. Pepper huffed and simply pulled his hat down low over his face. He had completely ignored everything the commentator had been saying over the speakers. By the time he looked up, he saw that Daniel and Terry had moved their golems into position. The announcer¡¯s voice rang out over the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s time to clash!¡± The arena runes flickered to life and the containment dome¡¯s energy rippled across it. It was very rare that the dome was needed. Weapons were not allowed in club matches, hence why hand-to-hand fighting skills were the most important thing a gladiator needed to have a chance of being promoted. Some gladiators, however, were more hobbyists than those who pursued it as a career path. Pepper saw them more as practice, and they quickly fell to the bottom of the pool of competitors. He didn¡¯t let his guard down, though, because every once in a while, those hobbyists got lucky and the other gladiators were reminded just how quickly people could rise and fall in the Golem League. Terry brought his golem out swinging for the fences, hook after hook with a few jabs soon after. Daniel danced defensively around the arena. He slipped every blow that Terry tried to connect with. Terry was quickly gassed by the volley of strikes. The window of opportunity was now open to Daniel, and he took advantage. His golem quickly brought a salvo of punches to the mid-section of Terry¡¯s golem. Each impact thundered; the hardened golem¡¯s blows sounded like two boulders being smashed together by gods. Pepper quickly picked up on Daniel¡¯s pattern. Right, right, left. Right, right, left. Right, left, right, left hook, left hook. He felt his shoulders bob and weave slightly as he imagined himself in the arena fighting against Daniel. Terry instructed his golem to take a sidestep and changed his pattern to evade Daniel. Daniel¡¯s final left hook missed as Terry¡¯s golem finished performing his move. Yet Daniel realized his opportunity. Rather than returning to his current stance, he commanded his golem to step forward. A fast spin and he rotated his golem and delivered a spinning backhanded strike with its right hand. The blow landed directly against Terry¡¯s golems face and shattered its entire right cheek. The giant gash exposed one of the rune circuits hidden within it. The crowd pointed, noticing the opportunity at the same time as Daniel did. The gladiator sent his golem charging forward and faked another volley of punches. Terry reacted by bringing his golems arms up to block, but Daniel didn¡¯t go for the head. Rather, he brought a sweeping kick around and slammed into his opponent¡¯s feet. The golem fell backwards and crashed onto the arena floor. Terry tried to get his golem to move fast enough to get out of the way, but his power core strained, unable to provide the energy needed to escape in time. Daniel commanded his golem to leap upwards and brought it crashing down on his opponent¡¯s head. A direct knee strike which came down with such force that Terry¡¯s golem¡¯s head shattered into pieces and the body went limp instantly. The crowd roared to life and cheered at the great start to the club matches. A loud gong boomed out over the arena and the announcer came back on. ¡°And there you have it, folks! Our first winner of the day!¡± The crowd cheered and applauded while a giant forklift beeped its way into the arena. It scooped up the golem and began to clear the area for the next bout. ¡°Stay tuned for our next matchup as Buck takes on Tamin.¡± Chapter 18 - Tension Pepper and his group watched as the two new golems slowly made their way into the arena. He could see the smug expression on Tamin¡¯s face when he entered with his golem in tow. Once Pepper¡¯s eyes locked onto his nemesis¡¯s golem, he understood why. ¡°Are those¡­ stone fists?¡± Reggie asked. ¡°It sure looks that way,¡± he replied. Pepper kept his eyes intently focused on Tamin¡¯s golem. The match began, and he could see that the gladiator was struggling to maneuver his fighter around the arena. It appeared that the stone hands were a new addition and he had not spent enough time training with them. Tamin¡¯s golem had a slight lean forward and had to hold its hands up at an odd angle. This unusual fighting stance gave Pepper the impression that the golem didn¡¯t have a gimbal rune inside it. This was causing it to compensate for the imbalance of the weight distribution. The match began, and the two new gladiators squared off with their golems in the arena. Buck looked intimidated by Tamin¡¯s rock fists and Tamin took advantage by moving his golem to the center but slowly kept closing the distance towards Buck¡¯s fighter. Buck didn¡¯t challenge Tamin for the center of the arena, rather it looked as if he was merely waiting for an attempt to counter whatever move Tamin would make first. It was good couple of seconds of inactivity before Buck finally launched a salvo of strikes. Jabs began to fly with a good amount of speed, but the accuracy wasn¡¯t there to match. Tamin easily blocked them with his rock fists. What made it even worse was that Tamin¡¯s golem had started to chip away at its opponent¡¯s hands. Buck¡¯s clay fists were now cracking under the stress of impacting the stone. Buck tried to change and go for some blows against his opponent¡¯s ribcage. Tamin was ready, however, and countered with two massive jabs. The first one cracked Buck¡¯s shoulder; with the second chipping away chunks of clay, which pelted the arena floor. The crowd reacted with suspenseful gasps, while others erupted into cheers. Tamin had now pressed Buck¡¯s golem into a corner. The damaged golem did what it could to try to land successful strikes against Tamin, but nothing seemed to work. Buck was too afraid to get in close to his opponent. All it would take was one lucky hit from a stone fist and he would be done for. Tamin finally reached out with a stone hand and, with one quick step, pressed Buck against the arena wall. Tamin¡¯s left hand held him in place as his right hand flew in and with two mighty blows finished the fight. The midsection of Buck¡¯s fighter crumbled and the creature collapsed on the arena floor. ¡°Well, that is going to be hard to beat,¡± Reggie muttered. ¡°What do you think you¡¯ll try to do against him?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°Well, not what Buck did, that¡¯s for sure.¡± ¡°Pretty sure you¡¯re going to wind up just like that anyways.¡± Jackson¡¯s voice chimed in. The two turned and looked at him. He gave them a beaming smile in return as he continued to enjoy his newly acquired snack. By the time Pepper had turned his head back around, he heard fast-paced footsteps come to a screeching halt in front of him. ¡°I made it! What did I miss?¡± Before anyone could respond, Brent continued. ¡°Hi, Summer!¡± He was smiling as widely as Jackson when he ended his greeting. Pepper turned back far enough to see Summer¡¯s empathetic grin. ¡°Hi, Brent.¡± Brent plopped down on a seat in front of Reggie and Pepper but kept his body twisted around to face them. ¡°Yo! I just saw the last few seconds, but man, those stone fists look serious. You think you¡¯ll be able to counter them at all?¡± Pepper looked down at his friend. ¡°Dunno. I haven¡¯t figured out what to do. Even if I tried to use my energy absorption rune, the strength of the stone would crack and crumble my clay underneath it.¡± Reggie distorted his face into a perplexed expression. ¡°Yeah, that ain¡¯t going to be easy.¡± ¡°What about your energy shield, though? You could still use that, right?¡± Brent continued. Pepper tilted his head. ¡°Yeah, you can use the shield, but remember it stays in one place, like a wall. He can just move around it or wait until it dissipates.¡± Reggie tilted his head. ¡°What¡¯s the cool-down period for the rune?¡± ¡°Fifteen seconds.¡± Pepper replied. Reggie shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s too long to make its continued use effective against hardened fists.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my thought as well,¡± Pepper said. There was a slight pause and then he continued. ¡°My only idea is to try and get Tamin to start swinging a volley of punches. Overload his power core and then try to counter him in rapid bursts and then retreat.¡± Reggie lifted his hand and started to massage the back of his neck. ¡°Force him to use his energy elsewhere and then hit where he is weak.¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Pepper muttered. ¡°Too bad you both suck, otherwise that would be a good plan. I¡¯ll still cheer for you, though,¡± Jackson chimed in. ¡°Jackson Miller, you know better than to be mean like that.¡± Summer scolded him again. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Jackson said. Brent nodded. ¡°No, I kinda think Jackson is spot on. You both suck.¡± He finished with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m starting to see why you spend so much time alone,¡± Reggie said softly, then stood up to leave. ¡°All right¡ªtime for me to go get Black Mamba ready for his fight.¡± ¡°Wait! You have a snake golem?¡± Brent exclaimed. ¡°Heck, no¡ªI can¡¯t afford that. That¡¯s just the name I gave him,¡± Reggie replied and waved as he left. ¡°Oh. Man, that would have been cool to see, though¡ªif he did have one, that is,¡± Brent said, then moved up and took a seat next to his best friend. ¡°You worried about Tamin?¡± Pepper laughed and rolled his eyes. ¡°Brent, I have like three matches to get through before I even arrive at Tamin. I don¡¯t have time to worry about him.¡± Brent didn¡¯t believe his friend and gave him a deadpan look while he just stared back. His best friend kept the look plastered on his face. ¡°Okay, fine¡­ yes, I am a little worried about it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought.¡± Brent changed his demeanor and turned his attention to his heart-throb. ¡°So, Summer, what¡¯s new?¡± Pepper sprang his hands out in defense. ¡°Okay then, I will let you two catch up.¡± He rose to his feet and started to wander back towards the holding cages. He heard all three of their voices in unison. ¡°You got this, Pepper!¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°All right, Golem League fans, don¡¯t go anywhere as we prep for our next to competitors, Jake versus Wendy!¡± the announcer finished, and Pepper heard the cheer of the crowd behind him as he walked down the access tunnel into the holding cages. The security guard held his hand up towards him. Pepper flashed his access pass and continued as the guard lowered his stance and waved him through. Pepper had just returned to his cage when he heard Tamin¡¯s voice proclaiming his presence to everyone else in the holding cells. ¡°Y¡¯all should just pack it up and head back home. This KBVS match win is as good as mine!¡± Tamin mocked as he walked down the passageway. Pepper shook his head and bit the inside of his cheek. He hated even hearing Tamin¡¯s voice, and his nemesis¡¯s confidence was nothing more than poison landing upon his ears. But he couldn¡¯t deny the fact that Tamin had brought a huge game-changer to the club. He could feel jealousy build inside him. The KBVS Club used to be the place he could escape everything. Must be nice to buy a win and not earn them like the rest of us, Pepper thought. The sound of the announcer cut in and gave him a welcome distraction. ¡°All right, everyone, we¡¯re ready for our next match! On the left side we have Jack. And on your right is his opponent, Wendy¡­ let¡¯s give them a warm KBVS welcome!¡± The crowd cheered, but not enough to please the announcer. ¡°Oh, come on now, y¡¯all can do better than that! I said let¡¯s give them a massive KBVS welcome!¡± The crowd responded and roared twice as loud. Pepper was about to look up at the screen mounted in the waiting area but noticed Reggie across the way from him. His friend was staring into a small mirror that he had mounted within his golem cage. His finger pointed at the mirror while it looked as if he was muttering under his breath to himself. You got this, Reggie ¡­ I know you do, Pepper thought. He couldn¡¯t help but remember what it was like when he had started competing. Pepper was no rockstar himself and was still struggling on the club circuit, but he certainly wasn¡¯t a new kid on the block either. Soon it will be you and me going to the Regional Invitational, Reggie¡­ just hang in there. His thoughts were interrupted by the crowd roaring with excitement. ¡°And that is it! Jake has pulled off the win.¡± Pepper saw the program assistant walking down the center aisle. ¡°All right, Reggie, Matt, it¡¯s time. Get to your starting areas. Reggie, you¡¯ll be on alpha side, and Matt, you¡¯ll take side bravo.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, Reg! You got it, big man,¡± Pepper called out. Reggie only responded with a pointed finger and a confident smile. Pepper made sure to devote his attention to the screen. It took a few minutes for the club personnel to swap out the competitors, but finally the match began. To Pepper¡¯s shocked amazement, Reggie didn¡¯t merely defeat Matt, he destroyed him. he launched a volley of punches that continued to chip away at Matt¡¯s golem and left it in a crumbled pile for the cleanup crew to attend to. Pepper was all smiles when his friend returned. Reggie maintained his tough demeanor at first but finally cracked and beamed with exhilaration. ¡°Yoo! Soulless, did you see that? Did you see what I did? I was all bap-bap, pop-pop, pow! I gave him the business, you know what I mean?¡± Reggie¡¯s hands were swaying back and forth, reliving the moment. ¡°Haha, I saw, man; I saw.¡± ¡°I knew it! I knew it was going to happen. I told myself, this is the day, and bam! Here I am with my first win under my belt. I¡¯m telling you, P-Dub, this is just the first of many.¡± ¡°No doubt, Reggie. No doubt at all.¡± ¡°Thanks, lil man. You¡¯ve been one of my biggest supporters and motivators since I started. Gosh, yo, this feels amazing! All right, I gotta go and call my little girl. Catch you in a bit, Soulless.¡± Wait¡­ Reggie has a kid? Pepper shook his head as he returned to his cage. He took a seat and tried to pay attention to the other matches. The reality was that he couldn¡¯t. His mind started to worry over everything that could possibly go wrong with his golem. Both DJ and Sabrina won their matches, but both fights were nothing more than a blur to him. ¡°Pepper and Bryan, you¡¯re up next. Pepper will be at alpha starting point, and Bryan, you¡¯re on bravo.¡± Pepper powered up his golem and gave it the follow command. The two exited their holding cages and he was given shouts of encouragement from Reggie, Sabrina, and the others nearby. He soon arrived at the alpha starting point and heard the announcer come on. His stomach was in knots. He quickly grabbed hold of it as the sensation surged upward and he felt as if he was going to puke. He took deep breaths and swallowed. Come on, Pepper. Not now¡­ ¡°All right, everyone, it¡¯s time for our next bout. To the left we have Pepper, facing off against Bryan! Let¡¯s give them a loud welcoming KBVS cheer!¡± the announcer proclaimed. ¡°Okay, kid, head into your starting position,¡± the assistant said. Pepper began to walk forward, then took command of his golem and led it to its starting position. There was a small set of stairs off to his right, which led up to his gladiator platform. His command interface flickered and failed to display properly upon his arrival at the starting position. No! Not now, you piece of crap. His right hand reached over, and he firmly tapped his fingers against the left bracelet of his 7 Seas Explorer. He hated the command interface, but it was the only option he could currently afford. The flicker ended and the display appeared as if nothing was wrong. He adjusted the controls quickly and saw his golem shift from side to side. Thank goodness¡­ That¡¯s the last issue I need to have right now. He saw his power level indicator tick away as the reading hovered just around 114 kW. The announcer let out the final instruction to begin and the match started. The crowd was muffled to him. His eyes were focused on his opponent, who started to move towards him. Pepper¡¯s power level started to rise, and his reader showed 175 kW with the energy rising quickly. He kept his golem in position in order to get the energy level to 315 as quickly as possible. Bryan¡¯s golem started to hesitate as it drew near. Pepper was sure Bryan was aware that he was up to something. His opponent now appearing to be far more cautious and more mindful of his game plan and how he¡¯d utilize his tactical approach. Pepper¡¯s energy level hit 274 kW and he made his first movement. He commanded his golem to move into a side hop and followed that up with some more sidesteps. He quickly got a feel for his golem, and it seemed to move with the agility he¡¯d been hoping it would. Bryan countered his move and shifted to the opposite side. Bryan¡¯s golem lifted his knee and started with a front kick. The attack missed completely and left Pepper believing it was more of an initial test rather than an attack¡ªa way to judge the distance between the two golems rather than believing it would actually connect. The two danced around and continued to counter each other¡¯s movements. Pepper¡¯s core energy level hit 305 and he started a punch attack sequence. His left hand reached straight ahead, and he continued to jab for another two punches. A quick shift after the volley and he finished with a large sweeping right haymaker. Bryan¡¯s golem was backpedaling and remained just barely out of reach of the strikes. Once Pepper had finished his attack sequence, Bryan tilted his golem back and started to lift its knee. Pepper read the golem¡¯s movements as another front kick. He reared his golem¡¯s right hand back. The front kick started to come towards him, and he unleashed the right. His strike landed directly on his opponent¡¯s leg and sent it crashing to the arena floor. The countered force sent Bryan¡¯s golem into a forward-leaning position. Pepper took advantage of his own momentum and twisted his golem around. His golem¡¯s left elbow snapped around at the apex of the twist and cracked against his opponent¡¯s head. Bryan was able to backpedal to safety again, but not before a large crack rippled its way down his golem¡¯s poorly shaped face. There was a roar from the crowd, but Pepper ignored it and continued to pursue his opponent. He commanded his golem to perform another side hop, but this time he tried a sweeping side kick. Unfortunately, Pepper¡¯s efforts failed miserably. He completely missed his target. His golem¡¯s leg swept across from right to left and landed back on the arena floor. The dirt surface, however, was unwelcoming and his golem¡¯s footing failed him. His fighter looked like it was doing the splits in the middle of a combative match. Pepper frantically tried to regain control of his golem and get it back into a ready position. Bryan took notice of the situation and immediately went for another sweeping kick. Pepper adjusted his golem at the waist and the kick flew over his fighter¡¯s head with only inches to spare. He sighed in relief. A quick adjustment and he was able to get his golem to roll backwards and spring up into a leap. The rapid movements and counter adjustments had drained his power core¡¯s energy level, and he would have to get it to recharge in order to activate his energy strike rune. His strategy all along had been to land a massive rune-enhanced blow directly to Bryan¡¯s chest area. The current situation left him thinking that his strategy may need to be adjusted. Bryan started to approach from his right side. Pepper began to retreat, his power core¡¯s energy building back up the entire time. He was able to read Bryan¡¯s golem and felt his opponent was preparing to send another front kick towards him. He chose to act on his guess and dipped his golem down slightly at the waist. Bryan¡¯s golem started its kicking sequence and Pepper reacted. His golem lunged forward and caught the kick in the crook of its left arm. His golem stood upright and now had his opponent teetering back at a disadvantage. The crowd erupted with excitement, and Pepper¡¯s power core level finally reached the 315 kW he needed. He activated his energy strike rune and watched as the faint blue light glowed from his golem. Pepper sent the energy surging down into his golem¡¯s right arm and commanded it to perform a forceful karate chop down on his opponent¡¯s suspended leg. His golem¡¯s strike shattered the leg where the quadricep would be. Bryan¡¯s golem tilted slowly for a second and then fell, defeated, onto the arena floor. ¡°And the win goes to Pepper!¡± the announcer called out. Chapter 19 - Round Two Pepper glanced over the bracket. Tamin was currently dishing out a superior beating to Daniel. There was no doubt in Pepper¡¯s mind that Tamin would be the main competition leading into the third round. A smile arrived on his face when his eyes slowly moved down to the next matchup. Jake vs Reggie. Reggie had been constantly on his holodex since his first victory. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that if Reggie¡¯s luck held out, they could be facing off against each other for the club victory. DJ and Sabrina had the third matchup in the second round while Pepper and Sasha finished off the bracket. He crossed his arms in front of him and rolled his head from side to side. He hadn¡¯t really seen Sasha¡¯s fighting style. His arms rippled, alive with goosebumps. Stick to what you do, P-Dub¡­ Don¡¯t worry about the noise. ¡°And that is it, KBVS fans! Tamin with another crushing victory!¡± The crowd cheered over the volume of the announcer. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started, fans. Sit tight as we get Jake and Reggie ready for our next match.¡± ¡°All right, fam, I got to go and get this work in. You feel me?¡± Reggie chuckled. ¡°You know I will. All right, all right. All love, fam. Bye.¡± He closed out his holodex screen, grabbed his few items, and powered up his golem. He paused briefly when he noticed Pepper watching him from across the waiting area. Reggie smiled and sent a nod Pepper¡¯s way. Pepper responded with returning the gesture. He then brought his fists up in front of his chest and bumped his knuckles together. ¡°You got this,¡± he mouthed to his friend. Reggie nodded and thudded his fist against his chest. He turned and began to walk towards the arena, his black mamba golem walking slowly behind him in the follow pattern. Pepper was about to return to his golem within his cage when he heard a commotion. He turned around to see the KBVS staff standing in between Reggie and Tamin. The two gladiators were yelling at each other. ¡°I¡¯m gonna smash you worse than I just did to Daniel. Loser!¡± Tamin mocked and continued to laugh as the staff shoved him further away from Reggie. Tamin turned just in time to see Pepper glaring at him. ¡°What are you looking at, Peeps? You¡¯re next!¡± Pepper brought his right hand up and tapped his finger against his cheek. ¡°I have no problem giving you another reminder. You just say the word.¡± Tamin smirked and chuckled. ¡°Thanks for playing my game. But victories go to winners, Peepers¡­ Something you¡¯ll never know.¡± His anger rose within him so much that he couldn¡¯t even focus on Reggie¡¯s match. He felt guilty when his friend returned and he wasn¡¯t able to even recall the second win of his career. Pepper did his best to cover up for his failure by asking vague questions. Thankfully Reggie¡¯s excitement was at an all-time high and he didn¡¯t seem to notice. Before Pepper knew it, Sabrina cruised right past DJ, and now he and Sasha were about to begin. He was standing on the gladiator platform and the announcer began the countdown sequence. Pepper called his golem forward and was about to launch a salvo of strikes. But he stopped. Sasha¡¯s golem sputtered to life and then died. The large clay figure crumpled down onto the ground and remained lifeless. He watched as Sasha tried to do a quick system reboot. Then the tapping of fingers against her command interface, which finally led to them being taken off. Her head drooped in embarrassment and sorrow as the crowd gasped in disbelief. ¡°We have a no contest, folks. That means that Pepper is our winner and moving on to the next round,¡± the announcer declared publicly, and he heard a few cheers for him. ¡°Way to go, Pepper! You got this!¡± The familiar voice cut through the crowd. His eyes searched and then narrowed in on Andrea. Her smile beamed towards him, and she clapped her hands in front of her face while giving him another cheer of encouragement. He couldn¡¯t fight the smile on his face. The flushing of his cheeks caused him to give a polite wave and then he lowered his hat over his face. He turned and was afraid to face the onlookers. The safety of the holding cage was more comfortable than being exposed to public speculation. It was the beeping of the forklift rolling by him that helped break his nerves after seeing Andrea focusing on him. He turned his attention to Sasha, who was shuffling her feet on the ground. Her eyes were swollen from the tears that were still fresh on her cheeks. ¡°Hey, Sasha. I¡¯m sorry about that. I totally know how you feel.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ sure you do,¡± she replied sarcastically, her words jumbled together through emotion-filled sniffles. Pepper reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder. The act seemed to take her by surprise. ¡°I¡¯m serious. Two years ago I had a golem where the clay hadn¡¯t been properly cured. My power core overheated, and in the middle of a club match I watched as my golem¡¯s chest literally melted in front of everyone.¡± He let go of her shoulder and crossed his arms in front of him. Sasha wiped her face with her dark gray sweatshirt sleeve. Her cheeks were red, and slight smears of makeup and eyeliner remained. She shifted her weight and rolled her eyes. ¡°That sucks.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Yeah, it did. It took me a whole year to save up enough money to get a new power core and new clay to rebuild my golem. So¡­ I get it. It happens.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± she said and sniffled. ¡°Any idea what the problem could be?¡± ¡°None.¡± Sasha threw her hands up. ¡°I ran all the pre-combat checks and inspections and everything came back clear. I¡¯ve never had a single issue at all.¡± She paused and shook her head but finally turned and looked at him. ¡°This was supposed to be my match. I could feel it. This was going to be my first club win and then I was going to work to get my second victory and would go on to regionals.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t have the heart to be realistic with her. This was Sasha¡¯s first year on the club circuit, and though he didn¡¯t know much about her, he certainly knew how hard it was to compete in the club, let alone anything outside KBVS. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t give up. You¡¯ll get there someday. If you need any help running some tests later this week, hit me up. I should have some time on my hands and can swing by and troubleshoot it with you.¡± ¡°Thanks, Pepper. I appreciate the offer. Good luck to you in the rest of the tournament.¡± Sasha turned and left, and Pepper turned his attention back to the arena. Tamin and Reggie were in the process of getting their golems into position. Tamin¡¯s golem looked spotless. There wasn¡¯t even a scratch on it. Pepper had to admit that the two massive stone gauntlets Tamin had installed were nothing short of impressive. Tamin was not the best combative fighter, but he wasn¡¯t dumb either. Pepper would give his nemesis that much. Tamin certainly seemed to figure out a way to jump past his shortcomings and had now procured what he would need to stand out among others who had actually worked hard to get where they were. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Pepper recalled the first couple of years the two had squared off. Tamin had gotten the early hand on him. But the last year was when Pepper had noticed his own skills improving drastically. The training with Nate at Ohana dojo had helped him be more aware of the approach and mindset he needed. The only problem Pepper now had was not knowing how he would counter Tamin¡¯s current strategy. The cheering crowd pulled him back into the moment and he watched as the match began. To Pepper¡¯s surprise, Tamin instructed his golem to rush straight ahead and go charging into the fight. Reggie didn¡¯t seem to anticipate the aggressive move and looked like he was struggling to figure out his counterattack. Reggie¡¯s golem kept pedaling backwards. He gave a few front kicks to try to thwart his pursuer, but Tamin¡¯s stone fists swatted them down and away. Reggie was now backed up against the arena¡¯s barrier. He launched a few quick jabs and punched away at Tamin¡¯s midsection. Tamin quickly countered with a right haymaker. The stone fist flew across with such force that it smashed straight through the golem¡¯s head. Reggie¡¯s mouth dropped open and panic appeared to come over him. He ducked his golem down and attempted to dash away by dipping under Tamin¡¯s left arm. Reggie¡¯s evasion failed him though. Tamin was able to twist and kicked Reggie¡¯s black mamba square in the back. The golem stumbled forward and crashed to the arena floor a few feet away. Reggie vigorously worked at the controls and tried to get his golem back into a fighting stance. But it was too late. Tamin¡¯s golem began to crush Reggie¡¯s from bottom to top. Massive strikes rained down and blasted the clay into pieces. The sound of victory rang out, and all that was left for Reggie to receive, was a pile of clay shards. Tamin threw his hands into the air. His golem mimicked the gesture, and the two bathed in the glory of the cheers from the crowd. A giant smile was plastered on Tamin¡¯s face, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but grind his teeth. Don¡¯t celebrate too early there, chump¡­ I¡¯m going to finish what I started at school, he thought to himself. ¡°All right, folks, I hope you are ready. Pepper may have gotten off easy in his last fight, but I think it¡¯s safe to say that we are in for a great matchup. Stay tuned, for Sabrina versus Pepper is coming up next!¡± The clean-up crew quickly attended to the arena. Pepper was about to power up his golem when he heard Sabrina¡¯s voice behind him. ¡°You think you¡¯re ready for this?¡± He turned around to see her standing behind him, her hands on her hips as she took up a dominant power stance in the center aisle. Though she greeted him with a confident smile, he was all business. ¡°No offense, Sabrina, but you are nothing but a speed bump on the road. You may slow me down for a second, but there¡¯s no chance you¡¯re going to stop me from arriving at my destination.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Good. I would hate it if you thought about going easy on me. But fair warning, I don¡¯t plan to go easy on you either.¡± Sabrina turned and walked off. Pepper was tempted to watch her depart, but his mind only thought of one thing: Tamin. He quickly opened his holodex and looked back over the technical specifications for his runes. Rune: Energy Shield Energy Cost: 50 kW Shield Duration: 10 Seconds Rune Refresh Rate: 30 Seconds. I¡¯ve never used this technique before¡­ and I don¡¯t think Sabrina will see it coming, he thought. He swiped over to his next rune. Rune: Energy Absorption Energy Cost: 25 kW Energy Absorption Duration: 10 Seconds Rune Refresh Rate: 30 Seconds. All I need to do is get Sabrina to unleash a salvo of strikes¡ªmaybe two. The energy I would then absorb from her strikes could potentially cut the time I need to power up my energy strike by half! He smiled but quickly erased the expression. ¡°Pepper, you¡¯re up! Get a move on it, kid,¡± a staff member declared. ¡°All right, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls¡­ it is time! Time to welcome in our two semifinalists. On the alpha side of the arena, you have Pepper. And on the bravo side, we have Sabrina! Let¡¯s hear it for our two finalists, KBVS, and of course let¡¯s¡­ get¡­ it¡­ on!¡± The match began, and Pepper took a few quick sidesteps to his left. He closely watched his energy levels rise as his power core worked to increase the output he would need for his powerful rune attack. His plan seemed to be working. Sabrina brought her golem towards him. She closed the distance quickly but then paused as well. The two danced off and countered each other¡¯s footsteps. She¡¯s powering up for a rune attack! Pepper warned himself. A bright pink light appeared in Sabrina¡¯s golem¡¯s hand. It spread outward and strands of the glowing pink light began to wrap around one another, forming a braid. The pink energy continued to flow until the full shape of an energy whip appeared. Pepper chuckled. There were no weapons authorized in club matches. But Sabrina didn¡¯t have a weapon¡ªshe had an energy rune that acted like a weapon. Not only had he not seen her use it before, but she hadn¡¯t mentioned she had this ace up her sleeve either. She¡¯d been saving it for a moment when she really wanted it to be noticed, and my, did she get the reaction she wanted. The crowd went wild and cheered. The roar within the small fairground building seemed to shake the whole structure. Sabrina¡¯s golem reared its arm back and began to fling the energy whip straight towards Pepper¡¯s golem. The time he let her have also aided him. He activated both his energy shield and energy absorption runes at the same time. A quick snap of his wrist and his golem¡¯s right arm reared up defensively. Sabrina¡¯s pink energized whip wrapped around the arm. The pink light pulsed, and there was an electrified static shock that rang through the arena. Pepper watched as his energy meter soared upwards. His defensive tactic was working, and his absorption rune continued to soak up all the energy Sabrina¡¯s power core generated for the attack. Sabrina soon noticed what was happening and recalled the whip. She began to reposition her golem while she waited for his defensive shield to dissipate. The two continued their dance in the arena. Pepper would take a step forward, closing the distance to defeat the whip¡¯s effective range. Sabrina would then take two steps backward and one step forward. The dance continued as both gladiators tried to calculate the precise movements they desired from their opponent. Pepper¡¯s energy shield faded, and he saw Sabrina¡¯s eyes narrow from across the arena. There was no delay before she launched her whip into an aggressive volley of snaps. The arena cracked and reverberated as if a spring thunderstorm were overhead. Sparks of crackling pink energy danced at the end of the whip as it snapped around Pepper¡¯s golem. Thankfully the neon energy allowed Pepper to see the angles his opponent was working with. He was just able to dodge and dance his way around the attack. He continued to take notice of his cool-down timer out of the corner of his eye. The faint green light illuminated to inform him the cool-down had finally ended. His attention, however, remained on Sabrina. She raised her hand, and as she did so, Pepper launched his golem forward. He cut the distance between the two fighters. The pink energy whip came streaking down towards his golem. Mala caught the attack with its clay left hand, but not before Pepper had activated the shield and absorption runes again. His energy meter spiked. The red light of the heat warning indicator lit up on his command interface. Pepper¡¯s heart raced as he relived the moment when he had watched his golem melt in the arena. But he remained steady and continued to command his golem forward. Sabrina¡¯s power core was now being drained by her movements and by Pepper¡¯s absorption rune at the same time. Her golem¡¯s energy levels were too depleted to counter him, and Pepper forced the two fighters against the far wall of the arena. Pepper focused on his rune¡¯s indicator light and as soon as it turned green, he activated his energy strike. He caught sight of his energy meter and it immediately snapped backwards. The rune took every ounce of energy he poured into it through his controls. His golem¡¯s right fist soared straight ahead and blasted into Sabrina¡¯s chest plate. Her clay fighter¡¯s upper torso immediately cracked. The pink energy of the power core poured out of the spaces, and Pepper knew the fight was close to over. His energy strike was still activated, and he brought his judo chop down and severed Sabrina¡¯s golem¡¯s left shoulder clean off. To Pepper¡¯s surprise, Sabrina did not surrender. Her golem leaned forward and landed a mighty headbutt directly on his golem¡¯s chest. She tilted it back and began to send it forward for another strike. Pepper had already anticipated the repeated move and countered by swinging his golem¡¯s right leg backwards. He twisted his golem¡¯s hips and used his opponent¡¯s momentum to his advantage. Sabrina¡¯s golem stumbled to the ground. Half of the crowd gasped and the other half cheered. The roar from the stands was enough to drown out the sound of his fist strikes. Pepper continued to pound the chest plate until it finally broke free and the beam of pink light confirmed to him that the power core was exposed. Out of instinct, he slammed his golem¡¯s fist into the chest and shattered the power core. Once it was over, reality hit him. Oh no¡­ what have I done? Chapter 20 - Apology The arena reverberated with celebration. Pepper scanned the stands and saw the crowd applauding the match. His heart was torn in two. One half wanted to enjoy the moment, the other half was now being pulled into an abyss of regret. ¡°KBVS, we have our finalists! We¡¯re going to take an hour¡¯s break, but be sure to come back for our championship round¡ªTamin versus Pepper!¡± the announcer declared. Pepper turned to leave his gladiator stand. There awaiting him were Brent, Summer, Reggie, and Jackson. Their faces beamed with joy, and they received him with hugs and congratulations. The guilt he was feeling started to fade away, and he now welcomed the victory. ¡°Come on! Let¡¯s grab some food. And¡­ the best part¡­ it¡¯s on me!¡± Brent exclaimed. A new round of cheers rang out from his friends. The group started to shuffle over towards the food cart vendors who lined the parking lot and picnic table area. Pepper was stunned to see a multitude of children approaching him, asking for his autograph. He politely smiled and signed the small program that the KBVS had printed up for the club match. Is this a big deal? Could this be my moment? he wondered while ordering a burrito from Tito¡¯s Taco Truck, or T3 for short. ¡°Brent, you don¡¯t have to buy me lunch.¡± His best friend smiled back. ¡°P-Dub! Don¡¯t mention it. You¡¯ve already hooked me up with some serious Flex coins today. It¡¯s the least I could do.¡± He was about to ask how that was possible, but he caught himself once he realized. A small knot of irritation grew inside him. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, man, that gambling thing is not going to end well for you.¡± Brent blew a raspberry. ¡°Come on, P-Dub, lighten up a little. Celebrate this win for a few minutes before you go all serious on me again. You¡¯ll give Tamin another good beating that he deserves and then¡­ we wait for your Regional Invitation!¡± ¡°I thought you could have done better.¡± ¡°Jackson Miller!¡± Summer scolded her brother from behind the two. Pepper began to chuckle and turned to see Jackson standing behind him. A serious look was on his face and he clutched a cheeseburger and fry basket in his arms. ¡°You wasted too much time and energy dancing around the arena. Get in there, get business done, and be on to the next thing,¡± Jackson said. Pepper smiled. ¡°You know what, Jackson? You certainly have a point. There¡¯s always room for improvement.¡± ¡°There certainly is¡ªa lot of room for improvement in your case.¡± ¡°Jackson Miller, that is enough! Let¡¯s go grab a seat, and you be more thoughtful with your words, Mister.¡± Summer had an embarrassed look on her face. She eagerly pulled Jackson away from Pepper and led him over to a picnic table. ¡°Order 45, order 45, 46, and 47. Your food is ready.¡± The guys grabbed their food and headed for the others. Reggie softly added, ¡°Man, I didn¡¯t realize Jackson was so ruthless. That might have to be his new nickname. You Soulless and him Ruthless.¡± The three chuckled. ¡°Well, what would that make me, then?¡± Brent asked. ¡°Clueless.¡± Pepper spat out the soda he had just taken a mouthful of. Reggie started to laugh, and Brent ignored the two for the next minute as they all took a seat around the picnic table. Reggie was in good spirits even though he had lost in the semifinal round. His holodex was buzzing with activity, and it seemed like every ten seconds he was swiping another notification away. ¡°Well, look who is the popular person at that table now,¡± Pepper joked. Reggie shook his head. ¡°Man¡­ I post on my League Chat that I got two wins today and now everybody is coming out of the woodwork wanting to congratulate me and catch up. Stuff¡¯s crazy, man.¡± ¡°I just put my holodex on silent and pause all notifications for the day. Last thing you want is your wrist buzzing in the middle of a match and having it distract you at a critical moment.¡± Reggie took a bite of his burrito and pointed at Pepper. ¡°You see¡­ that is some finalist wisdom right there.¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Jackson tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Do you know what the actual definition of wisdom is? Because that isn¡¯t something I would associate with Pepper.¡± ¡°Jackson Miller, I swear this is your last warning.¡± Pepper giggled and could see Summer¡¯s face was glowing red from a mixture of embarrassment and anger. She pressed her lips together and shook her head. Pepper tried to cool the tension between the siblings. ¡°Hey, Summer, congrats again on getting accepted to nursing school. You looking forward to it?¡± Summer took a moment to compose herself, but she smiled and turned her attention away from Jackson. ¡°I am. I mean, you remember, Pep, I¡¯ve been practically dreaming about nursing school since before we lived with you guys. I was really stressing at first, though. You know, with the cost of attending and everything¡­ but something really great happened.¡± She paused, and the suspense built among the group as everyone turned and gave her their full attention. ¡°I received word that everything is going to be fully covered.¡± The table cheered for her, and she smiled from ear to ear. Her eyes filled with happy tears, but she was able to hold them at bay. ¡°I was really nervous. I mean, we knew that the American Demonic Defense Act stated it would pay for the education of any child who had a parent die defending the country in the Rift Wars. But you still question if it¡¯s going to go through. So, it took longer for me to hear back than I wanted, and I started to question it all, but now¡­ it¡¯s really feeling real, you know?¡± She smiled and shifted in her seat. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that Summer looked as if a ton of weight had been lifted off her shoulders. He watched her take a deep breath and thought he saw a wave of peace come over her. She shifted her gaze back to Jackson. ¡°I still worry about¡­ things.¡± She paused and nodded towards her brother. His attention was elsewhere, staring at other people, and he didn¡¯t notice her gesture. ¡°But at the end of the day, I have to do this¡­ I know this is the path I¡¯m supposed to take in life. It just feels right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s awesome, Summer. I¡¯m excited for you, and I¡¯m certainly going to miss having you around,¡± Pepper added. She immediately rolled her eyes in response. ¡°Oh, whatever! Pepper Walker, you have wanted to get out of this small hick town from the day we met. You are going to go back in there, win this club match, be invited to Regionals, win that, and will be long gone from these old dirt roads.¡± Jackson turned and looked at the table with a confused expression. ¡°There isn¡¯t a single dirt road in this county! The Demonic Threat Infrastructure Relief Act paid for every county road to be paved. That way the military could move their equipment in and out near the rift portal.¡± ¡°I told y¡¯all¡ªruthless,¡± Reggie said, and the boys laughed. A curious look came over Summer¡¯s face, but she shook it off and took another bite of her food. Pepper looked out over the seating area and saw Sabrina walking through with a group of friends. He quickly wiped his face and stood up. ¡°Be right back.¡± He jogged over to catch up with her as her group of friends had dwindled down to only one by her side. ¡°Sabrina.¡± She stopped dead in her tracks and motioned to her friend to keep going. She turned around with a sad but also resentful look on her face. Her arms were crossed in front of her and she shifted her weight. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Look, I¡­¡± Pepper nervously grabbed the back of his neck and massaged it. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have ruptured your power core like that. As soon as my golem did that, I realized how messed up that was and how far back I just set you until you can compete again. It was stupid and¡­¡± ¡°Soulless,¡± she said in a firm tone. She arched her eyebrow and tilted her head. ¡°Yeah¡­ that. Look, I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re not just a competitor, you¡¯re a friend, and I shouldn¡¯t have done that. I just¡­ I wanted to apologize to your face.¡± She sighed and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Pepper. It sucks, it hurts, but¡­ that¡¯s a part of this sport and this league. I probably would have done the same as you. Not even hesitated but go for the kill. I get it.¡± ¡°Seriously, Sabrina. I¡¯m sorry.¡± She rolled her head and then brought her arm up and gave his shoulder a nudge. ¡°Come on, man. Don¡¯t sweat it. It¡¯s who we are and what we do. Just watch your back, because¡­ I¡¯ll be coming for my rematch sooner than you think.¡± She winked and looked back to where her friends were regathering. ¡°All right, slick, I gotta get back to my friends. See you soon.¡± She pointed to her eyes, then turned her hand around and pointed at him. She smiled and winked as she walked away. Pepper smiled too and felt relief wash over him. There was still sadness in his heart, but certainly not the regret and guilt he had been feeling up until that moment. He returned to the table and looked at Reggie. ¡°Have you told anyone else that my nickname is Soulless?¡± Reggie dropped his burrito on the table. His hand flared back in the kind of defensive motion one would see in old movies. ¡°Me¡­ spread word that a ginger is soulless? Never.¡± The table laughed and Reggie finally added, ¡°Boy, I tell everyone I know that my nickname for you is Soulless. Come on now.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m at least glad she accepted my apology,¡± Pepper replied. ¡°You should be,¡± Jackson interjected. The whole table turned their attention to Jackson, who shoved another French fry into his mouth. ¡°Why do you say that, Jackson?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°Because Sabrina¡¯s golem is worth about three of yours. She spent a lot of money on that thing, and you just set her back a lot.¡± There was a pause for a second, but Jackson just stared at Pepper and added, ¡°Just look at her stat screen.¡± Pepper was now curious and decided to do just that. Her stat screen loaded up and his eyes widened. He felt his mouth gape further open with every nanosecond that passed. Reality set in as his mind added the sound effect of coins being dropped out of an old casino machine. ¡°That power core was a rare pink variation of a Forge Inferno? Her energy whip was made by Celestial Elf, and she had two energy refinement runes made by Campell? How in the world did she ever pay for those?¡± Reggie and Brent shared Pepper¡¯s expression, while Summer seemed concerned but not overly mortified. Jackson playfully flung another fry into his mouth and smiled widely. ¡°Told you.¡± Chapter 21 - Championship Round ¡°All right, everybody, it is time for our final event of the day. We¡¯ve had an awesome day of golem action, but as we all know, there is only one gladiator walking away victorious. Sixteen young enthusiasts arrived here today, all with aspirations of getting to this moment. It all comes down to this. On the alpha side we have Pepper, and his opponent out of the bravo side is Tamin. Come on, KBVS fans, let¡¯s give it up one final time!¡± Pepper clenched his fists tightly. He slammed them together. His knuckles knocked and the impact slowly surged in his hands. He glanced over at his golem. Though the shape was designed more like a human form, he still imagined what it would be like to have a golem fully formed the way Mala, his battle tiger, was supposed to look. We got this¡­ He stepped up onto the stage and glared towards his nemesis. Tamin was already on the opposite platform. He was gesturing to the crowd that a championship belt should already be placed around his waist. The countdown timer began, and Pepper kept his eyes fixed on it. His heart pounded in his chest. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead and he quickly wiped it away. The starting horn erupted, and Pepper watched as Tamin brought his brawler golem straight towards the center of the arena. There was a forward lean to Tamin¡¯s fighter. Pepper knew it was due to the weight of the stone fists and forearms that it carried. The brawler was slow in its movement. It looked more like a staggering walk than the fluid and balanced dance Pepper and Sasha had both shared. Pepper was sure the power core within the golem was working overtime just to keep its arms up. Pepper had his golem sidestepping around the arena, letting his opponent take the center. Now that he was able to see how the golem was struggling to move, he planned to attack the legs. If I can just get it off balance, or even on its back, it will be all mine for the taking! Pepper was a split second away from launching his golem forward when he saw a bright yellow light appear around his opponent¡¯s fist. Tamin¡¯s golem released a pulsing wave of yellow energy, and it streaked towards Mala in a flash. The energy slammed into Pepper¡¯s golem and launched it back roughly eight feet. He has a gravity force push rune?! Pepper exclaimed in his head. He stayed locked onto his opponent, making a quick adjustment of his controls to ensure his golem maintained its balance while it skidded across the dirt floor. His mind raced as he watched Tamin¡¯s golem start to charge towards his. The same bright yellow energy now appeared on the opposite hand. He had no time to react before the hand unleashed another forceful push that slammed his golem back. It crashed into the arena wall, and Tamin¡¯s golem didn¡¯t slow its jog towards his fighter. His opponent came charging ahead with a raised fist, and he could see it about to close in on him. Pepper quickly activated his rune shield and rune absorption. They both activated in the nick of time and Tamin¡¯s golem smashed into the shield. His energy meter rose slowly, as the connecting energy absorbed much less than an energy rune attack. Pepper shifted as Tamin tried to navigate around the defensive shied. He began to slip the punches that Tamin¡¯s brawler flung at Mala. The stone gauntlets affixed to his opponent made its movements far slower than those of an average golem, even those found in the club matches. Pepper ducked down and was able to connect with some quick jabs to Tamin¡¯s midsection. They had little to no effect, at least that Pepper could see. He mentally counted down the shield duration and then backed away as quickly as he could. His evasion didn¡¯t go unscathed, however, as Tamin swiped a left haymaker towards him and connected with his shield at the last second. The blow knocked Pepper¡¯s golem backwards. His fighter¡¯s balance was now off, and it stumbled across the arena to the other side. He just wanted to gain some distance. His mind still raced, and he tried to figure out what he could do to make a difference. He didn¡¯t have a single extra second to spare, for Tamin¡¯s brawler was already closing back in on Mala. Pepper brought his hands up and readied himself. The brawler reared its right arm up and brought a sweeping blow down towards him. Pepper ducked and the punch passed narrowly over his golem¡¯s head. He quickly sidestepped and brought a volley of jabs, then snapped a side kick directly against the brawler¡¯s midsection. Tamin reared his golem around and tried to bring in a backhanded strike. Pepper countered by evading the move and attacking with another strike sequence. He thought he saw his opponent¡¯s ribcage crack. Pepper tried to twist his head to a different angle to see, but Tamin twisted his golem around and came in with a round of hammer strikes. Pepper instructed Mala to dive forward. It did so just to his opponent¡¯s left, and performed a roll which launched his golem back up onto its feet. It was so smooth, it looked like he had performed the sequence a thousand times before. The crowd roared and savored every second of the action. Tamin¡¯s golem spun around and was about to close the distance yet again. Pepper faked out his opponent into believing he was going to throw another round of low punches. Tamin lowered the brawler¡¯s arms to block the blows, and once he had done so, Pepper launched his fighter up and into a tornado kick. The strike blasted against the side of the brawler and its head ruptured. Clay shards flew across the arena floor. Pepper¡¯s heart sprang up into his throat. He quickly went to activate his energy strike rune, but then he saw the yellow light already glowing around the brawler¡¯s hands. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened as he watched the brawler activate its attack while its fist was in an upward arching motion. He watched his golem get launched off the ground. Its body flailed defenselessly in the air. It began to float downward to its waiting opponent, which brought its other fist around and connected directly with his golem¡¯s midsection. The impact made a crack! like giant boulders being smashed together. Tamin then activated the rune still being suppressed in the same hand. Pepper¡¯s golem was launched vertically again and pummeled in the same fashion. Another thunderous crack rang out, and Pepper¡¯s command screen flashed bright red with warnings. Thankfully Mala landed a short distance away from his opponent. Pepper reactivated his shield and started to backpedal once his golem got back to its feet. Tamin continued his pursuit, the same way a predator stalks its wounded prey. Pepper¡¯s power core had generated enough energy to activate his energy strike rune. He had no other idea what to do and figured there was no better time to risk it all than now. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. He charged ahead and saw Tamin smirk as he did so. The brawler¡¯s arms were outstretched, welcoming his daring move. Pepper tried to fake out his opponent again, acting like he was going to aim high, but rather ducked down low into a baseball slide. He thought it was going to work, but then Tamin let his golem¡¯s knee drop to the arena floor. The brawler pinned Mala to the ground and started to slam its fists down on him. ¡°No!¡± Pepper screamed. Tamin mercilessly pummeled his golem and didn¡¯t stop until Pepper was left with a pile of shattered clay chips. He watched as the power core ruptured and bright blue energy shot out. His gladiator controller screen flickered and then zeroed out with a No Signal Detected notification scrolling across it. The victory horn sounded, and Tamin lifted his arms above his head. He and his golem bathed in the cheers of the crowd. Confetti rained down from above, and sparklers activated and sprayed upwards around the edge of the arena. ¡°We have our champion!¡± the announcer declared to the onlookers. Tamin jumped down from his platform and ran along the edge of the arena. He high fived fans who rushed to the sidelines. ¡°I told you! I told you I would win! What now? What you all got to say now! Haha! Champion, baby!¡± Pepper did his best to ignore his opponent and shuffled over to the shattered pieces of his golem. He knelt and rummaged his hands through it all for a moment. There was nothing worth salvaging. The final ceremony commenced, but Pepper couldn¡¯t recall it. He ignored the KBVS staffer who wanted to ask him some questions for their newsletter. Pepper made his way back to his holding cage and packed the remainder of his items into his backpack. He turned to see his friends standing at the entrance, waiting for him. They each gave him a hug and a pat on the back or shoulder, all offering words of encouragement. He thanked them, but the grief of losing was all he could feel. They offered to give him a ride home, but he refused. His forehead rested against the glass of the back window of his Rover Ride. He sighed when he thought about the fact that he wouldn¡¯t need a trailer to tow anything back home. The car eventually pulled up in front of his house. He walked slowly along the side of the house and headed for his workshop. By the time he arrived, his sorrow had turned to anger. Pepper began to throw his tools and scrap pieces all over the small space. He finally flung a wrench as hard as he could and felt a burning pain in his arm as soon as it left his hand. The wrench clanged against the metal object it had hit while Pepper reached up and clasped his arm with his free hand. ¡°Oh, come on! You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± He let out a loud bellowing cry of frustration. His throat burned as he screamed out every ounce of emotion that he could. He plopped down in his recliner, a tear streaking down his face. He looked across the shop and his eyes locked onto what his wrench had hit. There was now a small dent in the ribcage of his metal dog statue¡ªa pitbull. It had a large blocky head with pointed ears and a cybernetic chest piece that wrapped around its entire body. ¡°Oh boy, yeah¡­ I thought I heard a hoop¡¯n and a hollerin¡¯ coming through the area. Looks like the tornado that cluttered up your workshop was what I heard there, aye?¡± Pepper flopped his head back against the back of the recliner and his bloodshot eyes looked up at his neighbor. ¡°I¡¯m really not in the mood, Ryan.¡± ¡°Sure, sure¡­ yeah, that is normally what most people say when things don¡¯t go their way. Yes sir, they do, you know.¡± Ryan had his hands on his hips and slowly lifted up onto his toes. It looked like he was stretching his calf muscles and warming up for an athletic event. Ryan then turned and looked down at Pepper. He was already a giant compared to most people, but he looked even more commanding as Pepper remained seated. ¡°You know, Pep, you got the same sad face that old Bill Baxter had when he found out he was adopted. The kind of face someone makes when the joy is just sucked out of their soul, as if God forced a vacuum hose down your throat and¡­¡± Ryan made a slurping sound. ¡°Sucked it right up there, don¡¯t you know.¡± Pepper shook his head. A fresh tear ran down his face and he looked away from Ryan. ¡°I had it¡­ It was so close. I have worked and trained and practiced¡­ all for him to just show up with the best golem money can buy and smash all my work into pieces.¡± ¡°You know, Pep¡­ sounds like it wasn¡¯t your time.¡± Ryan had barely gotten his statement out when Pepper snapped back, ¡°It was! It was my time, Ryan! This was going to be my time to shine¡ªto get my final win and go on to Regionals. To win there and get into the real Golem League and leave this piece-of-crap town in the rearview mirror! This¡ªwas¡ªmy¡ªtime!¡± The tears were rolling down his cheeks like rivers by the time his speech ended. He quickly reached up and brushed them away. Ryan began to slowly walk over. He plopped himself onto the workbench and used it as a chair. ¡°I used to have this friend of mine¡ª¡± ¡°Bill Baxter?¡± Pepper sarcastically interrupted. ¡°Oh, Bill is a great guy there, don¡¯t you know, but no. Another feller who went by the name of James LaShawn. James was a good guy, a real, real good guy. The type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t happen to have a spare golem lying around, would he?¡± Pepper huffed. ¡°You know, I think he is fresh out of those. But James¡­ well, James was a good athlete. He trained his whole life to be on the Olympic team, and by golly, that man busted his keister to make sure he achieved it, don¡¯t you know. But¡­ he didn¡¯t get it right away.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Yeah, see¡­ James trained so hard that he actually broke himself. He went to the tryouts and was going to be selected until he tore a thingy in his knee.¡± Ryan tapped on his blue jeans where his knee was bent at an angle. ¡°I thought you said he got to be on the team?¡± Pepper asked but immediately noticed Ryan had pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Sorry,¡± Pepper said. ¡°So, James went back home, and the team went on to training and preparing for these games. He was devastated, much like you are here, you knows. He took some time to feel sorry for himself, but then, after a few days, he returned to his routine.¡± Ryan¡¯s hand shot out. ¡°As best as he could with the injury and all.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Well, James kept at it¡ªdidn¡¯t give up on his dream and did his best to be his best. Then one day he got a phone call. A phone call that asked him, would you be able to fly out and join the team?¡± Ryan waved his hand from side to side as he told the story and paused at this point. The moment passed and he continued. ¡°James would replace Tyler Ward, who got injured during practice. A career-ending injury, and when the coach asked the team if there was anybody they preferred to replace Tyler, James¡¯s name was at the top of the list. ¡°You see, Pep. Just because it isn¡¯t your time, doesn¡¯t mean it isn¡¯t your destiny. Who knows what or why you were denied this time? But that doesn¡¯t mean you don¡¯t have an opportunity to still make it. There¡¯s a reason behind everything, and time is the one thing we always seem to question the most, you know. But when you just keep your eyes on that dream of yours and keep pursuing it, that random phone call will one day come. You just wait and see there, big Pep.¡± Pepper took a deep breath. ¡°Thanks, Ryan.¡± His neighbor looked around the room and his gaze focused on the metal dog at the other end. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that there?¡± ¡°Amprage. I normally just call him Amp. He¡¯s modeled on one of my favorite video game characters that I used to play when I was growing up.¡± ¡°Did you make that?¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Yeah¡­ took me about five years to make.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes dashed from side to side, and he recalculated the dates to make sure he was accurate. ¡°Yeah. Five years. A lot of bottle deposits to pay for him too.¡± ¡°Five years and you didn¡¯t give up.¡± Ryan slowly turned and looked at him, a mischievous smile on his face. Pepper looked back at his neighbor and rolled his eyes. ¡°Like I told you before, Pepper¡ªdon¡¯t give up on the journey. It will be worth it in the end.¡± Chapter 22 - Scraps ¡°Okay, so I have an order of the universal nuggies with alien glurp sauce and a chicken saucer salad with French dressing. A large diet root beer and a sparkling stardust delight. Anything else?¡± Pepper asked into his headset. ¡°Nope, that sounds just about right.¡± ¡°Super-D-duper. I¡¯ll have the total for you at the first window.¡± Pepper bumped his head against the wall and moaned in agonized boredom. He rolled his head at an awkward angle and finally rested it at a point where he could watch the vehicle slowly roll up to his window. ¡°Pepper!¡± He turned to see KT making an exaggerated hand gesture. ¡°Super-D-duper? Really? Come on now. You know better than that!¡± She shook her head and walked off. He rolled his eyes and sighed, turning his attention to the vehicle. He was startled to see Mr. Stephens looking up at him. The retractable window slid open and Pepper grabbed hold of his payment card. ¡°Hey, Pepper, how have you been?¡± ¡°Hey, Mr. Stephens. Well¡­ I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard by now,¡± he replied and swiped the payment card through the cash register. A sorrowful expression came over the principal¡¯s face. ¡°I did. I¡¯m sorry, Pepper. I heard you put up one heck of a good effort, though. Has your week gotten any better since the loss?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Not really¡­ I have to rebuild my golem, and that will probably take me months of working here every spare hour I can.¡± ¡°Have you thought about the junkyard?¡± ¡°Why would I work at a junkyard, Mr. Stephens? I already have this job,¡± Pepper replied, handing his payment card back to him. Mr. Stephens let out a sigh and pressed his glasses back into position. ¡°I don¡¯t mean you should work at the junkyard, but maybe you should go check it out. See if Kyle has any spare parts.¡± ¡°Kyle?¡± Mr. Stephens lifted his hand for emphasis. ¡°Yeah, Kyle ¡­ Kyle Wilkinson. He served in the military. I think he might have actually served with your brother for a while. Either way, he got out like a year ago. He bought the junkyard off of Division Street. I ran into him a month or two back and he mentioned how he was selling used golem parts online. Maybe swing by and see what he has. He might be able to give you a good deal.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes darted from side to side and he reached up and massaged the back of his neck. That actually isn¡¯t that bad of an idea, he thought. ¡°Thanks, Mr. S. I will be sure to think about that.¡± ¡°Sounds good, Pepper. I¡¯ll see you next week when you come back to school.¡± The vehicle slowly pulled forward, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but watch it as it went. He was curious when the vehicle paused and he watched KT lean out the window and strike up a conversation. His ears began to itch regarding the topic of discussion. The temptation grew even more when he saw Mr. Stephens appear to point back towards him. KT¡¯s head tilted towards him as well, confirming his suspicion that he was their focus. A chime in his earpiece warned him of the next customer in line. He ignored them for what he could have sworn was only five seconds. But that time was too long. ¡°Hello? Hell-oooh¡­ I would like to order.¡± Pepper grabbed his headset and pulled it away from his ear. The harsh, screeching voice pierced straight into the depths of his mind and made him almost go cross-eyed. ¡°I can hear you just fine. You don¡¯t need to speak so loud.¡± ¡°Oh, you need me to speak louder? How¡¯s this?¡± Her voice amplified to an even more ear-splitting volume. ¡°Stop! Just¡­ You know what? We¡¯re having technical difficulties. Just pull forward and I¡¯ll take your order at the window.¡± The vehicle chime dinged yet again in his ear. ¡°Welcome to Rocket Burger, where our meals will take you straight into orbit. I¡¯ll get you all set for mission launch in just a moment.¡± Pepper leaned out the window, but quickly reared back inside as the woman¡¯s volume of her voice assaulted him. ¡°Just give me two number 4s super grande size or whatever you call it. But give me diet Colas, because we¡¯re watching our weight.¡± A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Pepper shook his head and tried to rattle his brain back into functioning order. His finger punched away on the screen while he heard KT call for Harper, his crew member, to help her clean the deep frier oil drainage bins. ¡°Okay, that will be 12.50 Flex.¡± The woman paid for her meal and Pepper was nothing but elated to pass her on to his coworker at the next window. He turned to look at the next vehicle at the order sign but watched as the vehicle kept rolling slowly forward and finally stopped at his window. ¡°Well, well, well, Peepers¡­ Are you getting used to it?¡± Tamin said with a beaming smile. ¡°Getting used to what?¡± ¡°To this!¡± Tamin waved his arm and pointed to the restaurant. ¡°Your future. Being stuck here in the crap hole of this town. Forever trying to climb up out of the muck and be amongst us¡ªthe winners. The only problem is, you¡¯ll be nothing but worm waste at the bottom of the dumpster.¡± Pepper¡¯s jaw clenched tight, and he wanted to reach through the drive through window and rip Tamin right out of his car. His hands were already white knuckled and ready to dish out another beating. He mentally told himself, Don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it, don¡¯t do it. ¡°Pepper,¡± KT called out behind him. ¡°Pepper, can you help me with this bag of syrup? There seems to be something wrong with the¡­¡± Pepper felt a slight nudge that moved him off to the side. KT had a large bag of soda syrup in her hands and acted as if she tripped. A quick flick of her hands and Pepper watched as the bag surged out like a wave and splashed all over Tamin. ¡°What the heck! You¡¯ve got to be freaking kidding me!¡± Tamin screamed and started to jostle around uncontrollably. ¡°Oh no! I¡¯m sorry, love. I was working on the fryer drain pans¡­ My hands are not able to grip the bags like I thought I could.¡± ¡°My dad is going to hear about this!¡± ¡°Oh good. Please remind him the ice cream machine is still broken and he still hasn¡¯t approved my request to purchase a new one.¡± Tamin sped off out of the drive through, and KT turned and looked at Pepper. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ll need to worry about seeing him any time soon, now, do we?¡± She winked and gave him a slight nudge of her elbow. The rest of Pepper¡¯s shift was normal to say the least. Counting down the minutes until he could leave was the common game he played every day. The unique scent of oil frier grease, raw meat, and cleaning solution was embedded into his pores. The cool breeze greeted him as he made is way out the door and was a welcome relief on his skin. He had already downed a burger and fries for dinner. He slurped up his strawberry milkshake while he walked down the dimly lit sidewalk. He headed for home but stopped at the intersection when he remembered what Principal Stephens had said about the junkyard. His fingers rolled along the desert cup and a tingling of curiosity came over him. It¡¯s not like I have to go to school tomorrow. My shift doesn¡¯t even start until 10:30 in the morning. Screw it! Let¡¯s go! A quick pivot of his feet and he started to walk down the dark street. He wasn¡¯t quite sure how far he had actually traveled, but soon he arrived at Division St. An eerie mist was beginning to filter through the wooded area, but Pepper could just make out some soft warm lights tucked back behind a slight bend in the road. There was a small access road which turned into gravel and dirt. Pepper heard the gravel shift under his feet as he slowed his pace. The closer he got to the source of the light, the more clearly the shape of the compound appeared¡ªa chain link fence and gate with a sign mounted off to the side. Kyle¡¯s Collectables. A vast array of old vehicles and other mechanical items were scattered around inside. Pepper could see that the gate was chained shut with a large padlock in the center. He shuffled up to the lock and gave it a tug. The only result was the metal clanking under the strain. His eyes scanned the fence, and he could see it was worn and weathered. There¡¯s got to be a way in¡­ Pepper¡¯s fingers ran over the rungs of one of the sections as he walked down the far-left side. His body faded into the shadows of the trees. He tapped on his holodex and activated the flashlight function. The tiny beam provided enough light for him to continue his investigation. It was on the far side of the compounds barrier that he discovered a depression in the soil¡ªa place where the water had slowly eroded the ground and now left a gap at the bottom of the fence. He licked his lips and began to crawl underneath. It was only a second or two before he was back on his feet and inside the scrapyard. Pepper slowly walked through the piles of junk until he finally found an area where a multitude of golems lay. Heaps of limbs, heads, and materials lay scattered about. Then he spotted a small area under a makeshift wooden overhang. His eyes could just make out the distinct shape and coloration of some rune cards that had been left on a table. The ones Pepper looked at had all been damaged by the elements. However, he couldn¡¯t help but notice a large pile of golem torsos off to one side. Those appeared to have been saved and were waiting to be worked on. He knelt down and began to inspect the remains. A loose chest piece¡ªwhich he pried open with his fingers with just enough force to glance inside. That¡¯s a controller rune! he thought, and his eyes widened, a spark of hope igniting in his chest. He immediately began to search around for a tool he could utilize to open the plate further. A bright beam of light swept over the area. Pepper heard the distinct sound of a car coming to a stop and then what sounded like a car door opening. The distinct rattling of the gates chain warned him. He was sure it was the gate being opened. His heart raced and fear latched onto him. He didn¡¯t waste another second and bolted back to the fence and quickly shimmied underneath. Chapter 23 - Opportunity Pepper¡¯s week was nothing but a roller coaster of emotions. The adrenaline of doing something he absolutely should not have lingered within him. The fear of being caught. Every noise that was loud enough to be a car door closing or a knock on the door sent his heart into a panic. Sneaking into the junkyard was the highlight of his week. The rest of it was filled with the dread of work. He had been able to pick up a few new shifts but not a lot. Home was nothing but the reality of an empty workshop with no golem to work on. He then realized it was time for his workout at Nate¡¯s Ohana dojo and the lightbulb turned on to the fact that it was exactly what he needed. He thought back to the last workout session and the kind of grinder that Nate had put him through. The thought of sweating out all the nasty fast-food grease actually sounded better than another night being around it. He parked his bike beside of the dojo, but his attention was focused on the police vehicle parked over by the pharmacy. He wanted to know more, and his curiosity was only amplified when he saw a few patrons leave the store, shaking their heads in disappointment. His hand latched onto the dojo door, but he paused and kept leaning ever so slightly back to try to see the cause of the problem. ¡°Pepper!¡± His head snapped round to look inside the dojo. Crap¡­ he thought and pressed his lips together. He could feel an embarrassed look appear on his face. Nate was standing in the center of the wrestling mats. His hands were extended and there was a confused expression on his face. ¡°What are you waiting for? Let¡¯s go!¡± Pepper rushed inside and attempted to justify his hesitation. ¡°There¡¯s something going on¡­¡± ¡°Where?¡± Nate asked, cutting him off. ¡°Out there.¡± Pepper pointed. ¡°Is it important?¡± ¡°It could be.¡± An arched eyebrow was followed by a tilted head. Nate¡¯s shaved head made him look like he came from an ancient lineage of martial art experts. Pepper¡¯s heart sank, while the feeling of being a dishonor to his whole family added to it. ¡°It could be? What kind of answer is that, Pepper? Why do you come here to train?¡± He was too embarrassed to answer. ¡°Because¡­ I dunno¡­¡± A serious look immediately came over Nate¡¯s face and he wagged his finger. ¡°No¡­ no, no, no. We do not do ¡®don¡¯t know.¡¯ We are not a ¡®don¡¯t know¡¯ practice here. What is Ohana?¡± ¡°Family?¡± ¡°Say it with confidence, Pepper.¡± ¡°Family.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ family. And what is the shape of an O?¡± ¡°A circle.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ because our family is what is inside the circle. Those who are not Ohana are outside the circle. They are second¡ªthey are not as important as Ohana. What are these walls?¡± Pepper bit his tongue. He balled his hands into fists. His nerves rose within him and fear took hold of his throat. He didn¡¯t want to give a wrong answer. ¡°The walls are what separates our inner Ohana from those outside it.¡± Nate slammed his hands together and pointed two fingers at him. The clap echoed across the dojo. ¡°Yes! The walls are what separates us. Within these walls nothing else matters than what we are here to do. Outside these walls does not matter.¡± ¡°Yeah, but¡ª¡± ¡°It does not matter, Pepper.¡± Nate placed his two index fingers on the sides of his head. ¡°Clear mind.¡± He lowered his fingers to his chest. ¡°A heart of peace.¡± He pointed straight down. ¡°A firm stance of confidence.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Nate slammed his hands together again. Another thunderclap arrived with them. ¡°All right. Let¡¯s go.¡± *** Pepper¡¯s eyes locked onto Brent¡¯s while he walked down the aisle of the bus. Brent looked like he was devoid of hope in life. That was something Pepper wasn¡¯t used to seeing in his best friend. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Brent plopped down onto the seat next to Pepper. ¡°I put my application in at Rocket Burger yesterday.¡± ¡°You? Working? You really must be sick,¡± Pepper replied and huffed. ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I¡¯m broke¡­ actually, I¡¯m worse than broke. I¡¯m in debt.¡± Pepper rolled his head towards him. ¡°How are you in debt? You buy a secret mansion that I don¡¯t know about?¡± Brent leaned his head towards his friend. ¡°Well¡­ let¡¯s just say I placed a bet on a certain someone to win the KBVS Club match¡­ and now they¡¯re sitting across from me and my wallet is just as empty as his workshop.¡± ¡°I told you to not bet on the matches!¡± Pepper snapped back. His verbal crack at his friend was enough to turn heads in their direction. ¡°Yeah¡­ well¡­ I was doing amazing until that last round.¡± ¡°How far in the red are you?¡± Brent lifted his hands and crossed his eyes. ¡°Uhh, enough to where I could kidnap you, sell your organs on the black market, and then I might have enough to buy a Big D Energy drink from Ryan.¡± ¡°Did I miss anything from school?¡± ¡°Uhh, P-Dub, you know I don¡¯t pay any¡­ any attention in school.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°Is it as bad as you make it out to be?¡± ¡°Is what as bad?¡± ¡°You know, Pep¡­ Rocket Burger. Is it really that bad?¡± Pepper sighed and pondered the question. He wanted to be honest, but he also wanted to be fair. His mind quickly turned to KT and all she had done for him. ¡°You know what, man¡­ it ain¡¯t that bad. It has ups and downs for sure. But you get used to it. That and I¡¯m pretty sure Tamin won¡¯t be showing up any time soon.¡± The two friends were surprised when Tamin didn¡¯t get onto the bus. But Pepper couldn¡¯t deny that his first day back was made even better by not having to see his nemesis at the start of it all. That was¡­ until the bus pulled up and Pepper saw the camera crew. There standing in front of the school was a news reporter, and directly next to her was Tamin. Pepper rolled his eyes and shook his head as he staggered off the bus. He looked past Tamin, but his ears couldn¡¯t help but burn. He listened as Tamin bragged and spewed his greatness in every sentence of the interview. They made their way into Mr. Dean¡¯s class and were greeted with fist bumps upon arrival. ¡°Hey, Mr. Dean, I don¡¯t know if something got screwed up, but I didn¡¯t get any homework assigned to me while I was at home. Is there something I need to do?¡± If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Mr. Dean made a duck face. ¡°Uhh, yeah¡­ there is something you can do. Take your seat.¡± Pepper practically choked on his own saliva. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ homework is dumb. Rated ten out of ten for not being a good time. Now take your¡ª¡± The public address system chirped to life. ¡°Attention, Status Academy students. We will be having a surprise student body meeting in the gymnasium. Please start making your way there now. We will begin in ten minutes.¡± ¡°Saved by the bell,¡± Mr. Dean said. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯re too young, Mr. Walker.¡± The entire school piled into the gymnasium. There were plenty of seats¡ªa constant reminder of all who had been lost in the Rift Wars. A void still not filled by society. Pepper looked around and a smile formed on his face when he saw Andrea. The instant he gazed at her, he knew something wasn¡¯t right. The joy she always seemed to carry around was gone. Her eyes were in a thousand-yard stare and the smile that captivated everyone wasn¡¯t present. Not only that, but she was also sitting by herself. She normally came across as the life of the party. Now her friends were treating her as if she carried a contagious disease. Principal Stephens¡¯ voice cut through Pepper¡¯s thoughts. ¡°All right, all right, all right! Welcome, Status Academy. It is great to be with you all, and I am so excited over this announcement that¡­ well. I knew we just had to come together for it. First, let¡¯s cover the normal stuff. Our test scores are still middle of the pack. We¡¯re not the best in the district; we¡¯re certainly not the worst. But man, do we have that middle locked down.¡± Principal Stephens started to chuckle. ¡°I mean, if there was a winner for being mediocre, holy cow, have we nailed it.¡± There was an awkward silence in the room. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but compare Principal Stephens¡¯ demeanor with that of his mom. The tone of his voice was one he had heard more times than he could count. The speech dragged on far longer than anyone cared for¡ªannouncements regarding the volleyball team, science club being brought back, the new drama club being started, and the retirement of Miss Rosenblum. ¡°All right¡­ finally¡­ the real reason Mr. Harvey and I brought you all together. As you know¡­ we¡±¡ªMr. Stephens pointed to himself and the vice principal in rapid succession¡ª¡°we love us some Golem League action. And we have a few fans in our student body, as well as some competitors who are working to achieve their dream of making it there professionally. Well, Status Academy is blessed to have been gifted with a fully paid trip to GolemCon, the official worldwide convention devoted to the Golem League!¡± Mr. Stephens¡¯ excitement was barely able to be contained within his tiny frame. The student body was stunned. Some were filled with excitement, whereas others couldn¡¯t care less. Brent leaned over and nudged his best friend. Pepper chuckled. ¡°We don¡¯t even know the rules to compete.¡± ¡°Students are encouraged to write a letter addressed to Vice Principal Harvey and myself. We will review the letters and select who we feel is the best person for this opportunity. Additionally, each student may have additional letters submitted for consideration. There is no limit to the number of letters that can be submitted. You have two weeks to enter your submissions. Then we will take another two weeks to read them and make our selection.¡± Pepper slowly turned to see that Brent¡¯s face was overtaken with confidence. ¡°Dude! You got this. I am so writing a letter for you!¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°You have the worst spelling and grammar in the entire school.¡± His best friend¡¯s expression instantly changed into a deadpan appearance. ¡°You really have a hard time receiving positive support, don¡¯t you?¡± Pepper scrunched his face. ¡°Yeah¡­ kinda.¡± There was a pause between the two friends while Principal Stephens finished sharing some last-minute notes. Brent finally leaned over. ¡°Do you think your boss will give me a job?¡± Pepper reflected on his current predicament. He knew he had asked for as many hours as possible, but he couldn¡¯t help but think of Brent¡¯s situation. There was no doubt in his mind that things must be pretty bad if he had gotten to this point. He then thought of Ryan¡¯s offer to work in the supply store. The balancing act that would be required was not one he liked the thought of. The ability to help himself and help his friend at the same time weighed more heavily on his heart, though. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to KT later today and put in a good word for you.¡± Pepper stretched out his fist. Brent reached over and they bumped knuckles. ¡°Thanks, man. You¡¯re the best.¡± *** By the time Pepper arrived at the restaurant he could see a long line that practically stretched to the door. Cars were backed up in the drive through as well. The area was buzzing with activity, and the audible chirps of the cooking timers clashed in a chaotic rhythm. ¡°Get another round of chicken going. Two more baskets of fries. Why is the grill not loaded up? Come on, Thomas, you need to pick up your speed,¡± KT¡¯s voice called out from the back. Pepper noticed the young kids intermixed between their parents. The little league baseball uniforms made him guess there was some type of tournament going on nearby¡ªthe kind of unexpected and unplanned rush that every fast-food restaurant dreaded. He walked back into the prep area and soon saw KT She was rushing about carrying new loads of supplies from the cooler. ¡°Did you forget your uniform?¡± she asked, brushing past him and handing the supplies off. She turned and kept moving at a fast pace. Pepper had to pick up his pace to stay behind her. ¡°I wanted to talk to you about Brent.¡± She huffed and shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you have realized this, but right now is not really a good time.¡± She flung open the freezer door and entered. Pepper propped the freezer door open and stood in the doorway. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Well, if you know, then perhaps we can pick this up at another time?¡± She turned around and started to fling clear plastic bags filled with chicken strips and nuggets towards him. It only took a few seconds and Pepper¡¯s arms were now full. He quickly moved out of her way and followed along as they quickly returned to the kitchen area. ¡°Yeah, but Brent could really use some help right now¡­¡± KT quickly cut him off. ¡°We could all use a little help right now, Pepper. Our staff included, and right now you¡¯re kinda impacting that.¡± He rolled his eyes and sighed. But he couldn¡¯t argue¡ªshe was right. ¡°Sorry.¡± KT handed the next round of food off to Fredrick before she turned and took the supplies from him. ¡°Don¡¯t be sorry. There¡¯s nothing to apologize for, love. You just need to remember that one person¡¯s emergency is not necessarily everyone else¡¯s. It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help Brent or you. I just need to focus on the here and now. Understand?¡± ¡°Yeah. Okay, I¡¯ll get out of your hair.¡± Pepper turned to leave. ¡°Hey!¡± her voice commanded from behind him. Pepper turned around and saw her arms outstretched. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my hug?¡± she demanded with a playful smile. He smiled in return and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°I still love you, kiddo. Don¡¯t you forget that. I¡¯ll see what I can do about Brent.¡± She paused and gave him a loving tap on the back. ¡°Okay, now get out of here or put a shirt on and get on the grill.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later.¡± ¡°Well, fine, be like that, then.¡± She laughed and gave him a playful jab on the arm. *** The walk from Rocket Burger to Ryan¡¯s was a long one. Pepper immediately regretted not having his bike to make the journey easier. He walked in and saw Ryan was helping a customer, so he lingered at the counter and waited. A minute or two later, Ryan and the customer arrived at the counter and Pepper moved over to give the customer more room. ¡°Hey, Pep, I¡¯ll be with you in just a second,¡± Ryan acknowledged and adjusted his glasses on his head. ¡°All right, sir, that will be 534 Flex.¡± The man tapped his payment card against the reader. ¡°You said it was a thirty-day warranty?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. Thirty days is the store warranty, and if the manufacturer has a warranty, we can help facilitate that for you as well. Ronin has a 120-day warranty as long as there¡¯s no damage or active matches you¡¯ve entered. We normally recommend you perform about ten hours of testing through extensive training before entering a match.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± the man asked, reaching for the plastic bag. Pepper noticed the store emblem on the bag¡ªa circular saw blade with a rhinoceros in the center. ¡°We have found that roughly 60 to 75 percent of the faulty Ronins will fail within those ten hours of training. So if you make it past that, I would say you can rest assured you won¡¯t have any issues in a golem match,¡± Ryan said, handing the receipt to the customer. ¡°Got it. Thanks again.¡± ¡°Any time,¡± Ryan said with a smile and then turned to Pepper. ¡°Well, back so soon? Another round of clay or something else today?¡± Pepper rubbed the back of his neck. His heart was already pumping, while a cold shiver ran down his back. ¡°I, uhh ¡­ I wanted to talk to you about your offer.¡± Ryan¡¯s face distorted with a look of confusion. ¡°The offer about possibly working here?¡± His voice arched questioningly due to the shop owner¡¯s expression. Ryan sighed and smiled. ¡°Oh yeah.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Sorry, I deal with so many customers that I forgot for a second what you were getting at. Okay. Well, what were you thinking?¡± ¡°My best friend Brent was looking for a job and applied at Rocket Burger. I figure he could take some of the extra hours I was given and I could balance my time between here and there to make up the difference.¡± Ryan pressed his lips together. ¡°Hmm.¡± The shopkeeper stared into the distance and rolled his eyes, looking like he was contemplating a great number of things at once. ¡°Honestly, I could use a lot of help on the weekends. So I could easily set you up with a Saturday and Sunday schedule. That would give you the weekday evenings to work at Rocket Burger after school.¡± Pepper was certainly grateful for the opportunity. But there was a slight feeling of dread when he thought of all the Golem League matches he would not be able to watch live. His thoughts were quickly put to rest. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Ryan pointed to the corner of the shop. Pepper turned his attention to the area and saw a large screen mounted on the wall. ¡°I stream all the Golem League matches here at the store. So you¡¯ll be able to have them on while you work. There¡¯s also a holoscreen in the back for when you have to fix components.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was as if Ryan knew exactly what he was worried about and knew what to say to put his mind at ease. ¡°Sounds good to me, boss.¡± Ryan chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t have to call me boss. Most of my close friends and larger customers call me Rhino. So you¡¯re welcome to just use that.¡± ¡°Sounds good, Rhino.¡± ¡°All right, Pep. See you Saturday.¡± Chapter 24 - A New Start The rest of the week was filled with exams and finals. Pepper didn¡¯t have a moment to spare, for every waking minute was taken up by either school or work. His grades weren¡¯t terrible, but he had never been known a stellar student. The only thing that motivated him was the thought of having to do another year in high school should he fail. That alone caused him to devote every free ounce of brain power to completing the bare minimum of his assignments. KT was nice enough to hire Brent that same week, and he started his orientation training on Friday. At first Brent was upset that they wouldn¡¯t be spending a lot of time together at work due to Pepper working at Rhino¡¯s. But he quickly got over it when KT reminded Brent that he wouldn¡¯t have had a job if Pepper hadn¡¯t done what he had for him. By the time Saturday arrived, Pepper was already exhausted and ready for another weekend. He was grateful to still have a Big D Energy in his backpack from the club match and popped the can open. The first few sips ran down his throat as he staggered down the hallway. His shoulders bumped along the walls until he arrived in the dining room. His dad was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. ¡°Good morning, superstar.¡± Pepper replied with a moan and a huff. ¡°You just got out of bed and you have already fizzled out. Lame.¡± Pepper arched an eyebrow at his dad. ¡°Ha ¡­ ha.¡± He took another sip of the energy drink. The weight that had been pressing on his eyelids slowly began to fade away. The soreness and fatigue in his eyes soon followed. ¡°Is this what being an adult is? Because ¡­ if it is ¡­ life sucks,¡± he muttered. His dad laughed. ¡°Just wait until you start paying bills. Then you really feel how badly we¡¯re screwed in life.¡± ¡°When exactly does that begin again?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°The moment you pack your bag and head out the door. At least, by my rules. If your mom had had her way, you would have been paying rent the moment you started working at Rocket Burger. So ¡­ aren¡¯t you happy I vetoed her Parental Tax Plan?¡± his dad asked with a wink. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem fair.¡± His dad took a sip of his coffee and smacked his lips with a loud exhale. ¡°And that is why, dear boy, the term taxation is theft is so important to understand.¡± ¡°Pretty sure Mom would have just spent it on wine anyways,¡± he muttered. The moment his statement left his tongue, he noticed how his words turned into a dagger. His father swallowed and leaned back in his chair. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± A raised hand stopped him. ¡°I know you didn¡¯t, Pepper. Let¡¯s just ¡­ let¡¯s just leave it and move on.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± he replied. There was an instant regret, and his weariness was now quickly replaced with shame over what he had openly said. But at least he had held firm in speaking what he felt. Pepper attempted to shift the conversation and make up for the grim position he had placed them both in. ¡°You working today?¡± ¡°Unfortunately.¡± His dad raised his eyebrows, widened his eyes, and showcased a fake smile. He took another sip of coffee and asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s new in the World of Golems?¡± Pepper sighed. ¡°Golem League.¡± ¡°Whatever ¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not too sure. I¡¯ve been too busy with schoolwork to look at the message boards. We should be coming up to the final matches of the year soon. Hopefully I¡¯ll get a chance to watch them at Rhino¡¯s. That and I need to write my submission letter by the end of the week.¡± ¡°Submission letter? What exactly are you submitting for?¡± Pepper tilted the energy drink can from side to side. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal, I suppose. I don¡¯t know ¡­¡± He paused, but when he gazed up at his dad, he saw a curious expression that encouraged him to continue. ¡°There¡¯s this opportunity to travel to GolemCon. It¡¯s the official annual convention for the Golem League.¡± ¡°Okay, well, how does that tie in to you?¡± ¡°Apparently my school was gifted with a way for a student to get an all-expenses-paid trip to it. You have to submit a letter detailing why you should be chosen to attend. I know Brent was really wanting to write me one, and I¡¯ve been struggling to figure out what to put down.¡± ¡°Brent is writing you one? I thought that kid could barely spell his name.¡± The two chuckled and Pepper nodded in agreement. ¡°So is this something where your mom and I could write a letter and submit it to help you?¡± Pepper felt embarrassed. The thought of his dad writing him a letter the feeling worse by the second. He was afraid of his parents¡¯ involvement and didn¡¯t want to feel like he was being given a handout¡ªthe same type of handout that Tamin had received from his dad. There was a serious look on his face while his spirit stood firm in the desire to accomplish his goals on his own. ¡°Pep?¡± ¡°I suppose.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Okay, well, shoot me the details and I¡¯ll draft something up when I get home later tonight.¡± His dad quickly shifted his attention. ¡°Well, good morning, Princess.¡± A large smile beamed on his face. Pepper turned around to see Meg. She had clearly just woken up and was staggering down the hallway in the same way he had. The only difference was that she was still wearing her bright pink princess outfit. Her crown was slightly tilted to one side, and he chuckled. Meg walked over and stood next to him. Pepper already knew what was expected, and he reached down and picked her up. She snuggled into his arms and muttered, ¡°Panda Cakes.¡± Both he and his dad chuckled. Pepper softly corrected her. ¡°You mean pancakes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I says.¡± She leaned her head back and warned Pepper with a serious, defensive look on her face. ¡°You know what ¡­ you did say that. Let¡¯s get you some breakfast.¡± Pepper gave her a slight jiggle and took another sip of his drink. His dad looked down at his holodex and quickly began to shift in his seat. ¡°Crap ¡­ time for me to get going. Thanks for taking care of Meg. If Mom isn¡¯t up before you leave for work, please wake her up and let her know, okay?¡± He sighed but nodded. ¡°Got it.¡± Trent leaned over, gave Meg a kiss, and then took Pepper by surprise by leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. ¡°Oh god! Gross, Dad. What the¡ª!¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Language!¡± his dad scolded and headed out the door. Pepper held on to the tiny princess while he navigated the kitchen cupboards. A quick glance out the window and he noticed his dad conversing with his neighbor, Ryan. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when he saw Ryan standing there in flip-flops with what appeared to be swim trunks in the design of the Canadian flag, a denim vest, and a giant straw hat. The entire ordeal was finished by Ryan handing Trent a can of Big D Energy. The two smiled and parted ways after a few seconds. Pepper thought nothing else of the encounter, for Princess Meg was soon correcting his culinary performance of cooking her breakfast. He spent the rest of the morning with Meg. The tiny princess was quite demanding of his time and attention. That part didn¡¯t bother him, though. He knew his goals and dreams would eventually take him far away from her. It was roughly an hour later that his holodex warned him he needed to leave for work. Pepper slowly inched his parents¡¯ bedroom door open and stepped inside. He walked over and gently nudged his mom awake. She resisted to the point that Pepper had to aggressively jolt her more than he had thought would be necessary. A moan finally came from her, and she mumbled, ¡°What is it, Travis?¡± She rolled her head to the side and started to blink. ¡°Travis, why are ¡­¡± Then she recognized who was standing over her. She stopped, wiped her face with her hand, and looked over at the clock on the nightstand. ¡°I¡¯m leaving for work. Dad is already gone. Meg is watching a show in the living room.¡± ¡°Okay. Has Megan had her breakfast?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°What time will you be home?¡± Pepper hated the question. He bit the inside of his cheek and told himself to be polite. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to get off around 8 p.m.¡± ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll have leftovers in the fridge waiting for you.¡± He turned to leave and had just made it to the bedroom door when he heard his mom say, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pepper.¡± He was confused and not sure what exactly she was apologizing for. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry Travis isn¡¯t still here for you. He loved being your older brother. I know he would have loved to have watched you compete in your golem stuff.¡± Pepper glanced over to the hallway, at the framed photo of his older brother there in line with everyone else in the family. Travis¡¯s photo was not how he remembered him, though¡ªa serious look on his face as he stood proud in his military uniform. Pepper remembered more of the playful, crazy, and chaotic Travis¡ªthe older brother who played pranks, did epic stunts, and somehow didn¡¯t burn the house down in the process. ¡°I¡¯ll see you later, Mom,¡± Pepper replied. He walked out and plastered a kiss on the royal princess before heading out the back door. He anticipated running into his unique neighbor, but to his surprise Ryan was nowhere to be seen when he retrieved his bike. The ride to work was uneventful. Pepper could feel his nerves were on edge, but he tried his best to calm himself by taking deep breaths. The store was unlocked, and he walked inside to see it was just him and Rhino. ¡°Good morning, Pep.¡± ¡°Hey, Rhino.¡± The owner¡¯s large smile calmed him. ¡°Right on time¡ªa good start.¡± Rhino waved for him to follow along. ¡°All right, grand tour. I¡¯m pretty sure you already know the layout of the store. But just in case, here are all our electronic components and tools.¡± Pepper followed along and watched as his new boss guided him through the store. Rhino spoke with his hands, and the whole grand tour seemed a bit over the top. But he didn¡¯t mind. ¡°Here we have power cores, these next two aisles are all our professional runes, then we have consignments and indie cards.¡± Pepper had rarely ever gone down the indie card isle and took a gander at what was available. The vast majority of the products could not be used in the Golem League. The fact was that every rune card utilized in the League had to be from a certified manufacturer. The only exception to that rule was in club matches. But even then, many clubs had incorporated their own localized ruling to eliminate them from use. The one area these cards did come into play was the unsanctioned matches. The underground tournaments had a huge market for indie cards. One could purchase them at a far greater discount than from the certified manufacturers. Pepper glanced over the cards but didn¡¯t spend much time focusing on them as Rhino continued the tour. ¡°Here we have an aisle dedicated to all the golem materials we can order in. The samples allow the customers to feel each type. We have clays, stones, woods, metals. Depending on how much the customer needs, we may have to outsource to another supplier, and that could change the timeframe of availability. But for the most part, we can get our hands on pretty much any amount within two weeks from the date of order. ¡°Here are all the command interfaces for gladiators to utilize with their golems. We have a few lower-end training simulators. Finally, the back aisle here is where our power tools and hand tools are. That way if someone is doing their own crafting work, they¡¯ll be able to find every item they need here.¡± Rhino then guided him around the counter and pointed out a clipboard. ¡°Here¡¯s our inventory list.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the computer tell us our stock? I mean, that¡¯s the way Rocket Burger works.¡± Rhino chuckled. ¡°Yes, the point of sale does keep track of inventory. But this list is for us to physically count the items to make sure we are not victims of theft. I expect this inventory to be done every morning before you open the store and every evening once you close and lock the door. If anything is missing, write a note on the sticky pad and attach it to the inventory sheet.¡± ¡°Sounds easy enough,¡± Pepper replied. Rhino led him into the back area. Pepper was quickly taken aback, as he had not realized how much room the store actually had. Large industrial shelves created long aisles with pallets full of supplies. A long table was off to the left and then a large workshop setup. ¡°What is that?¡± Pepper asked, motioning with his head. ¡°That¡¯s the area where we do repairs on rune cards, power cores, anything and everything a customer wants us to try and fix. We actually do a lot of repairs on indie cards, but we¡¯ll also rent out the space to anyone who wants to do their own repair work.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Rhino nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about theft from them?¡± Rhino rolled his head back and forth. ¡°Well, yeah, but ¡­ if someone is renting out the space, we¡¯ll close off the warehouse and store portion.¡± Rhino walked over, and Pepper noticed the chain link fence that had blended into the metal shelving structure. He closed the gate and flicked the chain and padlock with his hand. ¡°If someone comes in, we just close the gate and lock it up. There¡¯s a small one-stall bathroom off to the right and the exterior access door where they can come in and out as they please.¡± ¡°I¡¯m assuming there¡¯s a way for people to sign up for time so they don¡¯t share it with someone else.¡± Rhino smiled and nodded. He began to open the gate again. ¡°Yup. I¡¯ll get you set up with admin access to the scheduling software. It¡¯s pretty straightforward. Just make sure you close this gate before you leave every night. For now, just shoot me a message when you leave and I¡¯ll remote activate the alarm system. Once I feel comfortable enough, I¡¯ll give you your own code to activate and deactivate the system.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me.¡± Just then, a chime sounded above them. ¡°Looks like we have a customer.¡± Rhino turned and headed back to the store portion. Pepper soon noticed a thin man standing by the counter, on which he¡¯d placed a backpack. He had frazzled short dirty blond hair, brown eyes, and a tired expression. He wore a checkered shirt and blue jeans, but every inch seemed to be covered in dirt and oil stains. He also had a slight covering of soot. His voice took Pepper by surprise, as it was high pitched but warm and inviting with optimism. ¡°Hey, Rhino.¡± ¡°Kyle. I wouldn¡¯t have expected you to swing by this early.¡± The thinner man moved his head back and forth. ¡°Well, I had to run some other errands and figured I would start here and get your feedback on these rune cards I found. If you can give me a good price point on them, I could mentally plan out the rest of my errands.¡± Rhino motioned to Pepper. ¡°Kyle, meet the new guy. This is Pepper. He¡¯s going to be working on the weekends.¡± ¡°Hey, Pepper. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Likewise,¡± Pepper replied. He couldn¡¯t help but notice that Kyle looked at him in an odd and unique way. He felt like Kyle was a robot analyzing every feature of him. Thankfully the moment only lasted a few seconds before Kyle turned back to Rhino. ¡°So, looks like I have a controller and two rune things.¡± Kyle slid the backpack across the glass. Rhino took hold of the bag and began to reach into it. ¡°So, Pepper, you can expect to see a lot of Kyle. But I don¡¯t really want you to appraise anything until I feel you¡¯ve gotten a good handle on things. Kyle owns the junkyard down off Division and will bring in parts he finds when gladiators discard their golems.¡± Pepper¡¯s throat clenched shut and he struggled to breathe. He quickly nodded and crossed his arms in front of his chest. His right hand reached up and began to cover his mouth as he tried to hide from Kyle. Though he wasn¡¯t sure if Kyle was the person who had arrived at the junkyard the other night when he had trespassed, he certainly didn¡¯t want to be recognized in case he had been seen. A new customer arrived and Pepper launched himself at his opportunity. ¡°Hey, welcome to Rhino¡¯s! Let me show you around.¡± He practically speed walked around the counter and navigated as far away from Kyle as possible. Chapter 25 - The Samuri Warrior The burning sizzle arrived first, but the scorching pain on his skin arrived immediately after. The edge of his index finger caught the soldering iron. He dropped the tool but quickly retrieved it and placed it back on its stand. ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Pepper belted out. Rhino was walking by and merely chuckled. A moment later Pepper felt his boss standing over his shoulder. ¡°You already finished working on the 7 Seas. Nice.¡± ¡°Yeah. This Rage Hyper Inline circuitry is ridiculous, though,¡± Pepper replied, shaking his hand. He blew on it, trying to ease the pain of the burn. ¡°Everything Rage puts out is hard to repair. I¡¯m surprised you chose to attempt it.¡± Pepper swung around on his stool to face Rhino. ¡°I haven¡¯t done this much soldering fine metalwork since I built my Amprage replica. It¡¯s going to take me a while to get back to where I once was. But it¡¯s kinda nice to be doing this work again.¡± Rhino huffed. ¡°Well, there¡¯s plenty of work to be done. But like I said earlier, there¡¯s no rush, Pepper. Take your time. I would much rather us put in quality repair work that lasts, rather than hasty repair work that fails the moment our clients get their items back home.¡± ¡°From the looks of it, our work is better than most of the manufacturers.¡± Rhino snorted and giggled. ¡°You can say that again.¡± He patted Pepper on the shoulder. ¡°Well, you¡¯re already making a difference around here. So keep it up, but don¡¯t beat yourself up or burn yourself out in the process. Marathon, not a sprint.¡± The store phone rang and he turned and answered it. ¡°Hey, Scotty. I recognized the number. Sure thing. Let me double check the price of the clay, but I think it should be about the same as last time.¡± Pepper swung back around and focused on the card before him. The metallic inlays and circuitry were becoming more complex with every new design. Pepper had read over some discussions online that talked about how the technology had reset itself in a multitude of ways compared to before the Rift Wars. During the wars, the demonic attacks had taken out the vast majority of advanced computer chip foundries. The infrastructure that remained became the backbone of industry. The young generations that survived the wars bore the responsibility of rebuilding. The military soaked up the majority of technological resources first. But the capitalistic ventures of the Golem League quickly became second. Pepper knew that the skills he was currently using to repair the equipment were a dying art form. Eventually they would not be needed. Companies would produce their products with such speed and cost reduction efforts that it would be cheaper to buy brand new rather than get items repaired. Pepper, though, saw the advantage of one resource that multiple people took for granted¡ªtime. He knew he still had an opportunity to rebuild his golem and get it ready for one final club match. If he could secure a victory in time, he may still be able to get an invitation to Regionals. Pepper focused on the circuit board and gently picked up the soldering iron. He narrowed his gaze and then lowered the bit back down. A tiny amount of smoke rose into the air, and with a slight tilt he brought the bit out of his fresh metallic connection point. He slowly placed the tool back on its stand and reconnected the power cable. A quick flick of the switch and Pepper watched as the board chirped and lit up. Green lights flashed in the pattern that informed him it was initiating a proper boot-up sequence. He sighed with relief and smiled. ¡°Now we¡¯re getting somewhere.¡± He took hold of the plastic molding that encapsulated the circuit board and gave a quick adjustment and rotation of the pieces until they all fit together as designed. The screws, on the other hand, were his next source of frustration, but soon the tiny pieces fell into place. Pepper set it aside and exhaled with a satisfied feeling of accomplishment. He turned around to see the three large bins filled to the brim with parts awaiting repair. The sense of accomplishment quickly faded as he reached over and grabbed hold of the next item. Pepper looked over and saw an old stereo system attached to the wall. He leaned over and turned it on. To his relief, a classic rock station began to play tunes that felt as if they were a natural fit for his situation. The time began to fade as he devoted his attention to the item at hand. The hours flew by in the blink of an eye. Pepper had practically zoned out of everything else. His skill at repairing the items seemed to be his niche. ¡°Holy cow, Pepper. Did you seriously finish all these repair orders?¡± Rhino said, a shocked expression on his face. Pepper was confused about how to respond. He didn¡¯t want to come off as too confident, but he also didn¡¯t want it to seem like the work was easy either. ¡°Um. Yeah. I mean, I guess I just got in the zone and took things one step at a time.¡± Rhino seemed to be taken aback. But there was a giant smile on his face. ¡°This is awesome! Like ¡­ this is beyond what I thought you¡¯d be able to accomplish. Especially on your first day. You know what? I¡¯m going to go grab us some dinner.¡± Pepper was now the one to have a surprised look on his face. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah, why not? You¡¯ve already gotten us caught up by more than a week of repair work. Kyle brought us in a good thousand Flex in consignment sales. He already ordered a new shipment of scrap golems from out east. If he has a good haul from that, we could be beating last quarter¡¯s revenue numbers.¡± Pepper was a bit bashful, not knowing what to think of it all. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad to hear that, and I¡¯m happy to help.¡± ¡°You okay with Tony¡¯s Total Chicken?¡± Rhino pointed and clutched his car keys. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever had it.¡± ¡°Well, strap in, because you¡¯re in for the best chicken you¡¯ve ever had. I hope you like spicy.¡± Rhino winked and turned to leave the store. Pepper stood up from his spot and stretched, his limbs slowly loosening up from being hunched over for hours. He slowly made his way from the repair area to the front of the store. As he walked up and down the aisles, a weird feeling came over him. He had walked them countless times before, but that was as a customer. Now that he was an employee, he felt some extra confidence within himself. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. He continued to walk the aisles and adjust the items on the shelves, aligning the boxes perfectly so they had a nice professional appearance. The roar of a motorcycle caught his attention. He looked out the front window just in time to see the bike come to a stop out front. The rider made his way inside and Pepper greeted him. ¡°Hey,¡± the man started when he entered. He began to close the distance to Pepper and asked as he approached, ¡°Did you guys get any Centaur rune cards in? I¡¯m specifically looking for an energy imbuement rune.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but think he recognized the customer from somewhere. He had replaced the motorcycle helmet with a trucker hat when he had gotten off his bike. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the small salty sweat stains along the edges. His rich brown eyes matched his groomed beard, and a blue checkered flannel shirt and blue jeans with black leather boots finished off his appearance. His hands were in his pockets, and he seemed more reserved than extroverted in nature. ¡°Our Centaur rune cards are right over here. I¡¯m not sure if we have that specific rune in stock, but we can check,¡± Pepper replied. The man followed him over to the area, and Pepper¡¯s mind still raced, wondering how exactly he knew him. He remained deep in thought as his eyes scanned over the different items. The glossy red color scheme of the box caught his attention and the white lettering confirmed the item. He grabbed it and handed it to the customer. ¡°Does this look like the one?¡± The customer nodded and looked over the box briefly. ¡°Yeah ¡­ this is exactly what I¡¯ve been looking for. Can you have Rhino put it on my tab?¡± ¡°Tab?¡± Pepper could feel the confusion come over his face. He had not been told about any type of payment processes for certain customers. ¡°Yeah¡ªTimo Burnham. Rhino lets me put some of my items on a tab and I just pay him at the end of the month.¡± The lightbulb came on in Pepper¡¯s mind. He now realized why the man was so familiar. He was standing before the gladiator who had been tearing up the unsanctioned golem matches throughout the region. Timo had obviously read his expression and rolled his eyes with a sigh. ¡°You know what? Don¡¯t worry about it. I¡¯ll just pay for it now and you can ask Rhino about it when he gets back.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Pepper practically stuttered in reply. He grabbed the box from Timo, walked behind the counter, and punched away at the point-of-sale system. His eyes widened when the price tag came up. ¡°That will be ¡­ 2,684 Flex.¡± Timo took a wallet from his back pocket and quickly swiped his payment card like it was nothing to him. ¡°You¡¯re Pepper Walker, right?¡± Pepper¡¯s voice cracked. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± Timo chuckled as he returned the wallet. ¡°I was at the club match and watched you move up the ranks. You got a lot of skill, man. I was pretty sure you wouldn¡¯t get past Tamin, but you certainly put up a valiant effort there.¡± ¡°Thanks ¡­ I ¡­ I didn¡¯t realize you were there.¡± ¡°I try to keep an eye out at a lot of the local club matches. You ever think about coming and competing in the underground?¡± Pepper¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He was stunned by the question. The looming fear of being banned from the Golem League began to wrap itself around him. He swallowed and cleared his throat. ¡°No ¡­ not really.¡± Timo smiled and huffed. ¡°Got your eyes set on the Golem League, huh?¡± Pepper nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Ha. I don¡¯t blame you, kid. It was fun at first. But then ¡­ then your eyes get opened to all of it. The things behind the curtain. But still, it was fun while it lasted.¡± Timo paused and his gaze wandered away from Pepper, a hundred memories replaying in his mind. He soon returned and looked genuinely at him. ¡°Well, if you change your mind or want to team up with me in the future, let me know. There¡¯s plenty of action for us to get into.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t know what to say, so he simply said the first thing that came to mind. ¡°Thanks. I will.¡± Pepper slid the item across the counter in a plastic bag. He watched as Timo turned and walked out with a confident stride. He got onto his motorcycle and Pepper watched him roar off down the street. The entire scene had played out like a movie. The silence in the store allowed his mind to wander down different pathways. Rhino¡¯s comment about Kyle¡¯s new shipment of scrap parts made him think about all the possible rune cards and options that might be in that shipment. He knew he could get in and out under the fence without any issue. Kyle¡¯s scrapyard is on my way home from Rocket Burger. By the time I get off work, it¡¯ll already be dark enough for me to sneak about. If I take my bike to school and then work, that¡¯ll make my getaway even easier. I can easily crack into the chest plates or other areas of the golems and take the best parts. If I get there and work fast enough, Kyle may not even know what parts he did or did not have. Pepper reached up and massaged his neck and then snapped it to one side. An audible pop occurred as his mind still raced with the idea. He then cracked his fingers and knuckles while the tension built within him. He reached up and began to type away on the point-of-sale system. A quick punch on the numbers regarding twenty canisters of clay¡ªthe amount he estimated he would need in order to rebuild¡ªcame to 6,500 Flex. His heart skipped a beat again and he moaned at the high price tag. ¡°That¡¯s not even pricing in how much it will cost me for a power core and everything else I need,¡± he said under his breath. ¡°This is going to take me forever.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going to take you forever?¡± Rhino asked from behind him. Pepper¡¯s soul practically leapt out of his skin. He grabbed his chest as he tried to catch his breath, and he quickly reached up and cleared the screen regarding the estimated quote for clay. ¡°Holy hell, Rhino. You scared the crap out of me.¡± Rhino laughed and placed the fast food on the glass display case. ¡°I forgot to tell you. I¡¯m level 34 in Ninja.¡± His boss chuckled some more and then continued. ¡°Anything else happen while I was gone?¡± ¡°Timo Burnham came in and wanted to put a rune card on his tab. I told him I didn¡¯t know about any of that, so he just paid with his card.¡± ¡°Nice. Well, speaking of that, I might as well show you that part of the system.¡± Rhino walked over to the screen and began to type away on a few tabs. ¡°Okay, once you get to the payment screen, you¡¯ll see this side tab that says ¡®Customers.¡¯ Click on that and you¡¯ll see the list of names.¡± Rhino started to scroll through a list that looked like it had roughly a hundred names. The screen stopped and Rhino hovered over Timo¡¯s name. ¡°Click on the name and then hit ¡®Apply.¡¯ The order will be charged to his running tab. Timo has been a good reliable client. If he says put it on his tab, don¡¯t even worry about it. But that¡¯s pretty much everyone else on this list.¡± Rhino clicked on Timo¡¯s name and Pepper¡¯s eyes widened when he saw the total bill of 12,326 Flex. ¡°That¡¯s what Timo currently owes us?¡± Rhino nodded like it was no big deal. ¡°Yeah ¡­ that is about his monthly average. He pays it off normally on the first and tallies up about 10,000 plus every month or so.¡± Pepper practically choked on his words but still managed to spit them out. ¡°He buys roughly 10,000 Flex per month?¡± Rhino laughed. ¡°I mean, that is what I just said ¡­ so. Yeah.¡± He started to unpack the food from the to-go bag. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of money to be made in the underground golem league. Timo pays a lot, but he is considered one of the best. I think he brings in close to 30,000 Flex a month fighting in that league.¡± Pepper¡¯s jaw nearly hit the floor. Rhino looked at him and chuckled. Pepper quickly corrected his expression and reached for his food. ¡°That¡¯s crazy. I never would have imagined that there was that much to be made in the unsanctioned league.¡± ¡°Timo¡¯s a great guy. Don¡¯t be afraid to pick his brains either. He may come off as an introvert, but he doesn¡¯t mind talking about golem stuff with people. I see him about every other week, so I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have plenty of opportunities to spark up a conversation with him.¡± Rhino¡¯s eyes lit up and he licked his lips while rubbing his hands in front of him. ¡°Enough about that; it¡¯s time we focus on the real matter at hand. Lunch!¡± Chapter 26 - Sleepover It was late and darkness had set in. Pepper let go of his bike and let it fall against the side of the house. The faint light coming from his workshop caught his attention. His feet shuffled on the patches of grass and dirt that made up their backyard. He slowly made his way across the threshold and was surprised to see Summer curled up in his recliner. Her sniffles cued him in that she was dealing with a wave of emotions. She was wrapped up in his blanket and turned to look at him as he stepped inside. Her makeup was smeared down her face. Her bloodshot eyes spoke of how long she had been there and suffering. She wiped her face and turned away from his gaze. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pepper. I just needed to get away, and this was the one place I knew I could come and escape.¡± Pepper continued shuffling his feet and made his way over to his hammock. He plopped down and let the momentum sway him back and forth. His feet were throbbing from the long day, and having them drift in suspension felt more precious than gold. ¡°You know you¡¯re welcome here any time, homie.¡± Her voice was trembling. ¡°I know¡­ still, I just feel like at intrusion when I show up like this.¡± The truth was, Pepper couldn¡¯t remember the last time Summer had come over to escape life. But that didn¡¯t matter to him. ¡°Like I said, it¡¯s all good.¡± He kicked off his shoes and let out a moan of relaxation. ¡°Holy cow, that feels so much better.¡± ¡°Dear god, Pepper, your feet stink.¡± Summer covered her face with his blanket. He sniffed the air aggressively. ¡°Smells like a hard day¡¯s work to me.¡± Though her face was partially covered, he could still make out her disgusted expression. ¡°It smells like funk, rotten trash, rotten eggs, and vomit.¡± He twisted his head around and found the bottle of Air Out. A quick spray of air freshener and he leaned back in his hammock. ¡°There.¡± Summer sounded like she was about to puke. ¡°It¡¯s in my mouth!¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°You thought you were coming to safety; instead you found yourself trapped in my own personal gas chamber.¡± The two couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Summer finally worked herself up to removing the blanket from her face. ¡°I¡¯ve been through enough today, Pepper. Don¡¯t make it any worse.¡± Pepper noticed a small smile come over her face. ¡°Hey, guess what?¡± ¡°What?¡± she said with a curious look and a small playful grin. ¡°You¡¯re smiling,¡± he said with a snap of his fingers which ended with him pointing finger guns at her. She blushed slightly while her grin formed into a smile. She wiped her face again and sniffled. ¡°Fine¡­ I guess you¡¯re right.¡± She took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling. ¡°You always had a way of doing that.¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°Getting me to smile, even during the hardest of times.¡± He shrugged and the slight movement wiggled his hammock. ¡°Eh, it is what it is.¡± Pepper adjusted himself and leaned over so he could see her a little bit better. ¡°Wanna talk about it?¡± ¡°No¡­ not really.¡± Pepper waited for half a minute. As if he knew her better than herself, she blurted it out and didn¡¯t stop. ¡°It¡¯s just been such a rough week. Jackson has been a jerk all week long. Pestering me non-stop. Going through my things, which normally wouldn¡¯t bother me, but for some reason this week it really got under my skin. Then my mom and I got into an argument over my car and my plans for college. She doesn¡¯t like the fact that I¡¯m planning to move in with my friend Rebecca. She thinks I should live in the dorms for at least a semester or two. Then there¡¯s the whole balancing out a job. I feel like my mom is placing this huge amount of guilt on me right now for leaving. There¡¯s finally an opportunity for me to pursue my dreams, but instead of making me feel supported, she makes me feel guilty for leaving her to deal with Jackson all by herself.¡± Pepper let out a roaring snore sound. Before he knew it, an empty clay canister crashed against his head. The can clanged to the ground, but he couldn¡¯t control his laughter. Though his head was throbbing from the impact, he worked to catch his breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry ¡­ I didn¡¯t mean for it to be that rude.¡± ¡°Pepper Walker, you¡¯re not sorry at all, you dang liar!¡± Summer¡¯s expression of anger slowly faded, and she ended with a slight giggle. The moaning and uncontrollable laughter coming from Pepper didn¡¯t allow her to remain in such a state. ¡°Okay, okay ¡­ I kinda deserved that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re darn right you did.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°I just¡­ I just needed this, Pep. Thank you.¡± ¡°You needed to throw a metal canister at my head? Really? That¡¯s what made you feel better?¡± he said with a shocked expression, rubbing the area of impact. ¡°You know, now that I think about it, yeah¡­ I did need that. Can I throw things at your head more often? Because that really has made me feel a whole lot better.¡± Pepper let out a long exhale and leaned back in his hammock. ¡°You know what? Sure. Whatever floats your boat.¡± ¡°So, what were you up to today?¡± she asked in a soft and tender tone. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ school and work. That¡¯s it¡­ that is all my life equates to now. At least until I can build a new golem.¡± ¡°Well, that doesn¡¯t explain all the dirt you¡¯re covered in. Did you get a new job doing landscaping?¡± Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. He froze and glanced down to see she was right. His venture to Kyle¡¯s junkyard had left him caked with brown streaks of dirt from where he¡¯d snuck under the fence. He panicked but quickly composed himself. ¡°I¡­ uhh, well, I fell off my bike. A car swerved towards me and I had to bail into the bushes.¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, Pepper! Here I am gabbing about my problems and you almost died! Are you okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, really. You shouldn¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t even get banged up. All those rolls Nate has had me perform at the Ohana dojo allowed me to get out without a scratch.¡± ¡°Well, you sure are lucky,¡± she replied. Pepper sighed in relief. His lie seemed to have passed as truth. The fact was that his little excursion into Kyle¡¯s junkyard hadn¡¯t returned any valuable loot. The shipment that Rhino had talked about had turned out to be a bust. That or it hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and the few scraps Pepper had searched through had already been pillaged by Kyle Pepper tried his best to quickly move the conversation along. ¡°You gonna spend the night?¡± ¡°Is that okay? Your mom and dad won¡¯t mind, will they?¡± Pepper turned his head so he could see his friend. ¡°Summer, you lived with us for a while¡ªnumber one. Number two, I¡¯m fairly positive my mom will have no idea you were ever here. My dad will understand, and finally, item C, who cares?¡± Summer smirked and snuggled further into the blanket. ¡°Thanks, Pep.¡± *** The loud alarm startled Pepper awake, and he soon found himself tumbling to the ground, landing with a thud. He coughed and worked to compose himself. He wiped his face and realized that Summer¡¯s alarm had gone off far earlier than his was set for. Summer snoozed her holodex and began to stretch. A long yawn and then she stood up from the recliner and twisted round. ¡°Morning,¡± she muttered. Pepper just moaned in response and slowly crawled up from the workshop floor. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°Six. Why? Don¡¯t you get up this early?¡± ¡°No, you psycho. I still have an hour before I would even need to leave on my bike to make it to school.¡± ¡°Well, it takes longer to get this face ready for a public viewing. Especially after last night. I¡¯m gonna hop in the shower.¡± ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Pepper narrowed his eyes and scowled at her. ¡°You know, you could make us breakfast. Seeing how you have a little extra time this morning.¡± Summer winked and turned to leave. Pepper moaned. Sleep was still heavy upon him. He wiped his face and then smoothed it with his hands. Fine¡­ guess a little bacon and eggs never hurt anyone, he thought. His spirit lifted when he walked into the house and caught the scent of fresh coffee. He immediately headed for the cupboard and reached for the largest glass cup he could find. The quick addition of a few ice cubes and a splash of creamer at the bottom of the glass and then Pepper emptied the coffee pot. He drank the morning bean juice as quickly as possible to awaken himself. By the time he was sipping the final few drops, his dad entered the kitchen. Trent placed his coffee mug firmly down on the kitchen counter. Pepper turned to look at his dad just in time to see him tilt the coffee pot towards himself. ¡°Really? You had to finish it off in one go?¡± Pepper rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll make another pot.¡± He reached for the coffee grounds and quickly began to measure out what was needed for the filter. ¡°You know¡­ they have those individual cup things that you can just instantly make when you want another cup of coffee.¡± His voice held a slight note of sarcasm. His dad matched him in the same tone. ¡°You know¡­ just because they make a certain kind of product doesn¡¯t mean you have to buy it. Sometimes it¡¯s about the process rather than the outcome.¡± Pepper finished resetting the coffee maker and the machine purred to life. He tilted his head towards his father as he finished pulling out the items he¡¯d need to make breakfast. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Do they make luxury cars?¡± his dad asked, sitting down on one of the kitchen barstools. Pepped huffed. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°But do I need a luxury car to get from A to B?¡± his dad asked. Pepper didn¡¯t reply but just shook his head. ¡°Do I have to compete in martial arts tournaments in order to train at Master Craven¡¯s Ohana dojo, or can I just do the training for the mental health benefits?¡± ¡°Okay, I get it. What are you, a drill sergeant or something?¡± Pepper chuckled as he wobbled his head and performed a joking salute. ¡°Well¡­ you brought up the topic. Sometimes you might want to be careful what you wish for.¡± There was a pause, and Pepper began to place the pieces of bacon in the frying pan. Trent then followed up. ¡°You know, Pep there was this guy that was on our base in the military. He was an aircraft mechanic. He was good¡ªreally good, in fact. But his skills went to his head.¡± Pepper turned and looked at his dad as he washed his hands, then shifted to place some toast in the toaster. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°A mechanic has a set of Technical Orders, or TOs for short. They are step-by-step instructions on every single process that needs to be performed during maintenance of the aircraft. Step 1, do this. Step 2, then do that. You never deviate from the instructions.¡± Pepper was now curious as to where his dad was going. ¡°What does that have to do with anything?¡± ¡°Well, unfortunately Sergeant Taylor Cormick began to not follow the TOs. His confidence had become arrogance. One day he went out to do work on one of the aircraft¡¯s wings, specifically the landing flaps. He went to adjust one of the hydraulic mechanisms, and when he did that, he was cut in half. All because he didn¡¯t follow his TO and perform one tiny step before continuing to do the maintenance.¡± Pepper lifted the spatula that was in his hand and pointed at his dad. ¡°Well, good thing I¡¯m not going to be a mechanic.¡± He had a smug smirk on his face and returned to scrambling the eggs. Before Trent could rebuff Pepper¡¯s sarcasm, Summer walked into the room. She was wrapped in a bathrobe and had a towel around her head that secured her hair. ¡°Well, that smells good.¡± She smiled and continued as she homed in on the coffee. ¡°Boy, I could sure get used to this kind of treatment in the morning.¡± Trent pointed his baffled expression towards Summer. ¡°Did my household multiply during the night?¡± Summer giggled. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Walker.¡± She had already poured herself a cup of coffee and snagged a fresh piece of toast. ¡°And she is stealing my coffee? I swear you kids these days.¡± He paused and waited for the perfect opportunity when both Pepper and Summer stood close to one another. ¡°Wait a minute ¡­ you two aren¡¯t dating, are you?¡± A disgusted expression came over Summer¡¯s face. ¡°Eww, gross!¡± Pepper was shocked, and his cheeks flushed red in anger. ¡°Come on, Dad! Seriously?¡± Trent stood up and started laughing. He poured another cup of coffee and slowly walked into the living room. ¡°My work here is done.¡± The two could hear him continuing to chuckle as he went. Pepper handed Summer her plate of food and she leaned back against the kitchen counter. ¡°Thanks¡­ homie,¡± she emphasized and sighed. Pepper took a large bite of eggs and toast and, with a full mouth of food, blurted out, ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sometimes nastier than my brother.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised your mom hasn¡¯t called a thousand times looking for you,¡± he commented and started to place the dishes in the sink. ¡°She did while I was in the shower. I just messaged her back to tell her I was alive and well.¡± Summer took another few bites of her breakfast. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to go do my makeup. We¡¯re taking the bus, right?¡± ¡°We?¡± Pepper said. He quickly changed his voice to mimic his dad¡¯s. ¡°Wow, we certainly are starting to talk like a couple now, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Summer sighed and softly backhanded his shoulder as she began to walk off. ¡°Thanks for making breakfast.¡± Pepper smiled. Not at anything either of them had done or said. He merely thought of how much fun it was going to be to watch her suffer on the bus ride to school. The mental image of Brent drooling all over her popped into his head and he couldn¡¯t wait. Chapter 27 - Dragons The bus came to a stop and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but giggle when he saw Brent¡¯s eyes lock onto Summer. Pepper started to get up out of his seat and move across the aisle. Summer reached for his arm in an attempt to keep him seated next to her, but she failed and quickly acted like she was just shifting in her seat. Brent sprang at the opportunity and crashed into the spot Pepper had just vacated. ¡°Hey, Summer! Wow, I haven¡¯t seen you ride the bus in years. What¡¯s new with you?¡± Pepper still giggled as he looked out of the bus window. He was sure Summer was glaring at him with eyes of hatred and death, and that made him savor the moment even more. The rest of the ride to school was nothing but Brent pestering Summer with questions. She tried to get some revenge by jabbing Pepper in the ribs once they arrived at school. But it only made him laugh even more. She quickly parted ways with them and the two boys continued to walk towards Mr. Dean¡¯s class. ¡°Oh, dude. I forgot to tell you. I met Timo Burnham the other day,¡± Pepper informed his friend. ¡°What? No way!¡± ¡°Yeah, over at the shop. He was really cool.¡± ¡°How could you not tell me sooner?¡± ¡°I guess I forgot. Long days of school and long nights of work. Heck, I don¡¯t even remember if I have homework due or not.¡± ¡°Man¡­ that would have been so cool to meet him. I just watched one of his matches last night. His samurai cut a minotaur right in half! It was epic.¡± They piled into Mr. Dean¡¯s class and took their seats. Brent continued to lay out all the details of Timo¡¯s match. It wasn¡¯t long before Mr. Dean arrived and closed the door. The room slowly faded into a slow rumble. Mr. Dean folded his arms. He paced from side to side and his black tie scrunched up against his sage green button-up shirt. He shook his head and then stroked his beard. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to say this. I¡¯ve been a teacher for a long time, and there are certain moments when you question things. You question your decisions. Why you chose this path in life. If you are really making a difference or not. I had a lot of these questions that I asked myself over the last couple of days leading up to today.¡± The noise in the room went from a rumble to a dead silence while their teacher spoke. Pepper was puzzled as to what could have caused such a reaction. He glanced around the room and felt that everyone shared his confusion. Mr. Dean cleared his throat. ¡°So yeah¡­ I have questioned a lot, but after I saw this, I knew.¡± He reached down and grabbed hold of a stack of papers from his desk. He lifted them up for the room to see and then tossed them back down. ¡°I knew I made the right choice¡­ because you all passed your finals!¡± He extended his arms and cheered. The room erupted with a mixture of cheers and laughs. A sigh of relief came over Pepper. He fist bumped Brent just as Mr. Dean motioned for them to quiet down. ¡°So of course¡­ there is only one way to celebrate. How about we watch this Immortals League match?¡± Before long the holoscreen was on and the theme song was playing. Mr. Dean turned the lights off and Pepper smiled. He was one step closer to being out of the confines of Status Academy. The finals out of the way, he only needed to complete his work study program and write his thesis paper to be graded by a teacher of his choice. He had already chosen Mr. Dean; he was his favorite teacher. The professor was far more critical of the thesis papers a student submitted than anything else, but Pepper still felt he was the best choice. JD Glasscock walked into frame. His hair was slicked back and it looked like he was on a sandy beach. In stark contrast though, he wore bright baby-blue earmuffs. His sunglasses lenses had an orange and pink gradient, and a navy-blue scarf was wrapped around his neck, while a giant soft billowing winter coat was wrapped around him. ¡°I have a question for you, Nick. Why did the snowman call his friend?¡± His coanchor entered on the opposite side of the frame. Nick was wearing a red scarf but still had on a winter coat that complimented his business attire. ¡°I don¡¯t know, JD.¡± JD pointed to him. ¡°Because he was feeling a little frosty and needed some ¡°chill¡± time. Ha!¡± Nick let out a forced chuckled in response. ¡°I see what you did there, JD. A fitting joke for a fitting arena. Ladies and gents, we welcome you to the Frost Arena, just on the outskirts of Breheimen, Norway.¡± The camera panned out to show a massive mountain range. Jagged peaks pointed towards the heavens, while white snow and ice blanketed everything. There was a gusty breeze that swept snow particles around in flurries. ¡°JD, this matchup is certainly one that can be epic, as Lars Machm¨¹ller faces off against Dimitrios Gkirgkiris. Two amazing gladiators who know how to compete but also put on one great show.¡± ¡°You are absolutely right, Nick. Just like an epic chef, it¡¯s not just the flavor of the meal but the plating and presentation that goes along with it,¡± JD followed up. ¡°Now, JD, please don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to make us suffer through another comparison of food and golem fights.¡± JD looked straight into the camera with a deadpan expression. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t bet on it, Nick. I am a frozen popsicle at this point.¡± The camera scanned over the arena and narrowed in on a tall figure in a bright red snowsuit. He stood in the center of his gladiator¡¯s platform at the top of one of the mountain peaks. A spiked purple mohawk confirmed the figure as Lars, and he wore large black goggles. They looked more like something from a steampunk outfit than a snowsuit. A navy-blue mask covered his face, but he stood like a statue, fighting against the arctic temperatures. The camera zoomed out to show Lars¡¯s metal golem. The massive black dragon walked slowly across the valley floor. Its wings were curled inward, but they still grazed the high canyon walls on either side of it. Its bright red eyes blazed with hellfire as it entered the arena. Pepper then saw a smaller figure dressed in yellow arrive on the opposite platform. The helicopter dusted off from the platform while Dimi began to walk to the center. He placed his gladiator command interface helmet on and pounded his fists together. A faint orange glow soon wrapped around his hands, but the camera didn¡¯t show his golem right away. Dimi was on the far right of the screen. A second later, Pepper saw two large claws reach up and sink themselves into the ridgeline of the mountains. The gray head of a dragon quickly appeared and pulled the rest of its body up into view. Its chiseled metal wings extended. ¡°That is one savage frost dragon if I have ever seen one, JD!¡± Nick cried out in unison with the classroom. Pepper and his classmates were now on the edge of their seats. ¡°Dimi has given us a new masterpiece! He¡¯s traded in his traditional berserker and gone with this epic dragon. I¡¯m shaking, Nick! I¡¯m shaking, and it¡¯s not just from the cold but from the excitement surging through my veins.¡± The frost dragon reared its head back and let out a massive roar. The dragon¡¯s battle cry cut through the whistle of the wind that whipped through the valleys. It turned its head down and looked to be narrowing in on its opponent. The countdown timer began. It ticked its way to the start of the round and Dimi¡¯s dragon launched itself forward. The frost dragon glided into the canyon. Its wings extended and a bright blue light began to glow from its mouth. Lars¡¯s dragon reared back onto its hind legs. It stretched out its wings; a portion of the canyon wall crumbled away as the sharpened metal dug in. The bright red energy surged upwards and began to magnify within its mouth. The black dragon opened its mouth, exposing its sharp metal teeth. A giant fireball swirled within its mouth and then launched¡ªdirectly towards its opponent.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°It¡¯s a massive fireball to kick things off!¡± Nick cried out. Dimi¡¯s frost dragon continued its trajectory, quickly closing in on the fireball as it streaked towards it. The frost dragon opened its mouth and released a giant swirling sphere of frozen energy. The attack streaked across the remaining distance. The two spheres of magical energy clashed into each other and erupted. A thunderclap rang out and a shockwave rippled across the arena. ¡°That blast was so powerful that I can feel it up here, Nick. Frosty the Snowman is shaking in his boots over this one.¡± JD chuckled. The frost dragon landed and skidded across the arena floor. It charged forward and began to challenge the black dragon, performing a quick jump and launching a vicious strike with its mouth, as if it were a serpent. Lars¡¯s black dragon tilted its head and neck, evading the strike. The black dragon then twisted and latched its mouth around the frost dragon¡¯s neck. It began to pull its opponent in close, but the frost dragon countered. A quick slash with its front claws raked across the black dragon¡¯s chest plates. Pepper could hear the screech of metal as the two golems clashed. He and his fellow students cringed in unison; it was like nails on a chalkboard. Yet he couldn¡¯t turn away as the two massive beasts clashed in such a catastrophic fashion. The frost dragon continued to slash at its opponent while it was being dragged closer to the canyon walls. ¡°Look out, JD. It looks like Lars might be trying to pin his. A brilliant move if he can pull it off,¡± Nick declared. The frost dragon was slammed into the canyon wall. Rocks and snow fell from above and coated their bodies as they wrestled each other. The black dragon looked like it was powering up to launch another magical attack, but Lars caught sight of the frost dragon¡¯s tail turning around. The tail sprang forward and attempt to strike like that of a scorpion. The black dragon launched one of its wings out and deflected the attack. A quick pump of its wings and it took flight. It let go of the frost dragon¡¯s neck and protected itself by launching a fiery beam of energy. A defensive wall of flame now surrounded the frost dragon, and it retreated to a mountain peak nearby. The frost dragon appeared to snort. Its blue eyes glowed, then it launched an arctic blast out its mouth that snuffed out the flames that tried to contain it. The gray coloration of the golem looked to have changed to a shadowy white. It appeared more realistic than ever before. ¡°Not so fast, Nick ¡­ Lars is trying to bring the heat, but Dimi is trying to bring forth a new Ice Age!¡± JD countered his cohost. The black dragon began a power-up sequence. It extended its wings. A warm glow of orange and red energy rippled over them. The dragon flung its wings forward and launched two spinning disks of energy. They sliced across the arena. With a firm tilt of the frost dragon¡¯s head, metal flaps sprang open and launched a pulsating beam of blue energy. The magical energy quickly formed into a massive wall. The spinning disks slammed into the wall and continued to rotate, trying to cut their way through. Both attacks finally burst, shattered light particles fading down towards the ground. The frost dragon raised its head and let out a massive roar. The built-in speaker performed as expected, for it added to the realism as the war cry echoed within the walls of the canyon. It launched a frost beam towards the black dragon, but that was easily evaded by a small lean to one side. Pepper was sure this magical attack was more of a challenging jest¡ªa dare to return to the valley floor and duke it out fist to fist. A strategy which, he felt, was familiar to Dimi from when the gladiator had wielded his berserker. Pepper¡¯s eyes narrowed in on the fact that the black dragon was not simply standing on the mountain peak; it was generating and preserving energy. With a flare of the black dragon¡¯s wings, it began to descend from on high. A blazing fireball streaked across the sky towards the frost dragon, but Pepper could see that was just a ruse. The frost dragon began to turn and fade the fireball. The black dragon¡¯s neck plating flared out. The gaps in-between the metal exposed an intricate pattern of spherical shapes that now glowed in a deep blood-red coloration. It quickly released a psionic attack, which shot out and bathed the frost dragon. Lars brought his dark dragon down into a landing that slammed into the frost dragon. The frost dragon skidded backwards and lost its footing on the frozen ground. Lars¡¯s dragon reared around, whipped its metal tail across, and let it slam into the body of its opponent. Pepper could see Dimi¡¯s hands shifting around while he tried to work through the disconnection. Lars¡¯s black dragon began to step backward, gaining distance. Pepper¡¯s leg was practically dancing up and down with anticipation and nerves. His hands gripped the side of his desk while the black dragon flared its wings out. The energy wave rippled across and the spinning disks were launched forward. The frost dragon was staggering and trying to keep its balance while its systems struggled to regain a solid connection and communicate with one another. Pepper could see Dimi doing everything he could to avoid the magical attack. The disks cut the distance in a flash but blazed with intensity as they cut the wings straight off the frost dragon. ¡°Oh snap!¡± Brent cried out. ¡°Well, now we have a frost lizard on the field of battle,¡± JD said with a chuckle. ¡°Don¡¯t count him out,¡± Pepper muttered. ¡°There¡¯s still a lot of competition left in this fight.¡± The blue light was flickering through the frost dragon, but it finally came back to a steady pulse. Rather than retreating and regaining his composure, Dimi charged straight ahead. A bright frozen white coloration began to seep upwards from each dragon claw as it raced across the arena. It then brought its front section up and slammed its two front claws onto the ground. The arctic ice blast launched into the earth and shot out towards the black dragon with lightning speed. Lars attempted to launch his golem into the air when he saw what was happening. It looked like the dragon may have gotten a foot off the ground. Then the ice appeared to reach up and grab hold of the golem, preventing its escape. The black dragon was frozen in place. Lars looked like he was attempting to heat the ice with either a fireball or a fire beam. His power core was working to generate enough power for the attack, but there was no time. The frost dragon came charging through as if it had the spirit of a rhino. The frozen attack hardened the black metal and it shattered. Metal shards were flung out and pelted into the snow as the limbless dragon was launched backwards. It crashed to the arena floor, and Lars was now the one to quickly figure out how he would adjust. Dimi continued to march his golem confidently ahead. He did not appear swayed by what had happened merely a minute earlier. ¡°These two are going at it, JD! If you didn¡¯t know any better, you¡¯d say these two were bitter enemies. But that just isn¡¯t the case,¡± Nick¡¯s voice roared into the mic. ¡°These two are good friends, and when you have to face off against one another, you don¡¯t want your friend to hold anything back. Two true competitors. You know what I mean,¡± JD responded. Lars¡¯s black dragon was struggling to walk. Large pieces and metal rods began to scatter below it as it attempted to move around on nubs. It looked as if Lars was trying to keep his golem at a safe distance. The metal flanges on its neck shuttering gave a warning that Lars was preparing for what Pepper guessed was another psionic attack. The frost dragon continued to stalk its prey but soon picked up its pace. The frost dragon adapted to its wingless figure and now appeared to run like a Komodo dragon. A final run and then the golem leapt into the air. Its mouth opened wide with a ferocious bite, inching closer towards its target. A red light surged down the black dragon¡¯s spine. The light traveled towards its tail, while its body began to spin rapidly around. The tail whipped around at the same moment the energy arrived. The combination smashed against the frost dragon, and red energy sprang out in shockwaves. The power-imbued attack launched the frost dragon to one side and sent it slamming into a canyon wall. The black dragon didn¡¯t waste any more time. It powered up a massive fireball and launched it towards its opponent. The attack erupted against the metal rib cage of the golem. The camera drone hovered around, and when the smoke cleared, they could see that the frost dragon¡¯s midsection had been left exposed. It appeared as if Lars saw this opportunity as well. The black dragon lunged towards the weakness. The golem¡¯s head smashed directly into the frost dragon¡¯s midsection, as if it were an ancient battering ram. Snow and rock began to fall on the two golems from above, while the frost dragon continued to be driven into the heart of the mountain. The black dragon reared its head back and began to radiate the red energy it was building within its mouth. The black dragon¡¯s jaws opened and it latched onto the side of the frost dragon. Pepper could see the red energy within it now seeping into the frost dragon¡¯s body. It poured over it like it was molten lava. ¡°This could be it, JD! This looks like it might be it, folks,¡± Nick declared. Blue energy pulsed out of the frost dragon¡¯s eyes, as if the beast inside had awakened from a deep slumber. Its first reaction was to rear its head, and a bright beam of freezing arctic energy poured out and coated the back end of the black dragon. The same sensation that had frozen the black dragon¡¯s limbs in place now appeared to be covering it. Pepper dared not take his eyes off the screen. The black dragon, which was in the lead, was now frozen in place, but it still had a death grip on its opponent. Steam billowed around the two dragons while the clash of fire and ice unfolded before the world. The black dragon reared its head back for a split second but then dove down and latched on again. There was no doubt in Pepper¡¯s mind that Lars was going for a death blow win. Each chomp of the black dragon¡¯s jaws looked like it was trying to dig and melt away at its opponent¡¯s golem to destroy a critical component. It was straining with effort, but Lars didn¡¯t give up on trying to achieve the death blow. Blue light streaked out of every exposed pore of the frost dragon. Its body seemed to shimmer and shake. A white coating appeared on its exterior. The tail began to tilt upward. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened. The classroom gasped. The black dragon was now coated with the same white crystalized appearance. The frost dragon¡¯s tail streaked down and pierced the base of the black dragon¡¯s neck. There was a cataclysmic rupture of blue and red light. The holoscreen flashed as the camera feed was washed out by the brightness of the explosion. A second later the only scene left for them to take in was a large smoldering crater. Giant chunks of steaming metal lay scattered on the snow. ¡°What in the Golem League just happened, JD? I cannot believe it. We have a draw!¡± ¡°Nick ¡­ my man ¡­ if I hadn¡¯t seen that with my own eyes, I wouldn¡¯t have believed it.¡± Chapter 28 - The Announcement ¡°Okay ¡­ I think we can all agree that we need to watch these interviews. Am I right? I think I am right,¡± Mr. Dean said with a chuckle. The rest of the class was still filled with electric excitement. The PA system crackled to life and one of the front office staff members called Pepper¡¯s name. Mr. Dean slowly turned and narrowed a death stare at him. ¡°Well, well, well, Mr. Walker¡­ it appears you have been summoned to the dead zone. Dun-dun-dunnn.¡± He ended with a dark chuckle and eerily rubbed his hands together in front of his face. The class giggled and Pepper felt a wave of embarrassment come over him. He could feel his cheeks flush as he stood up and made his way towards the door. He went for the handle but flinched when it opened just as he arrived. Pepper¡¯s eyes quickly focused on Tamin. High-end designer sunglasses glared right at him. A glossy shine reflected off the lenses, and he couldn¡¯t help but notice that they matched the shine of Tamin¡¯s greased hair. He wore a leather jacket with a button-up shirt and a gold chain around his neck. He stepped forward. ¡°You¡¯re in my way, Peepers,¡± he muttered. ¡°Well, look who decided to bless us with his presence. We¡¯re so happy you were able to make time out of your Hollywood lifestyle for us,¡± Mr. Dean said from behind Pepper. Pepper made way for his nemesis to step into the classroom, but the two still chose to brush shoulders. This didn¡¯t help to calm the seed of anxiety that was slowly growing inside him. There was a cold, grim feeling in the hallways as he went. He entered the front office and was instructed to take a seat in front of Principal Stephens¡¯ office. Though Pepper was no stranger to the front office, he was not used to being there without a known reason. He took a quick glance at his holodex. Battery is full¡­ signal is strong¡­ no unanswered messages from Mom or Dad. ¡°Mr. Walker.¡± Pepper looked up to see Principal Stephens leaning out of his office. He waved Pepper in and then disappeared inside. Pepper stood up and paused. A quick scan of the room and he realized that the front office was empty. He turned around in a complete circle. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready, Mr. Walker,¡± the principal emphasized. There was an unusual harshness in Mr. Stephens¡¯ voice. Pepper could feel his skin crawl, and his heart began to surrender to his anxiety. The seed which had started at his classroom, had now grown into a small tree. He stepped in and was immediately directed to close the door. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the look of sheer exhaustion on the man¡¯s face. The principal had just loosened his tie and undone his top shirt button. There were beads of sweat scattered across his forehead. He removed his glasses and wiped the sweat away with the back of his hand. The uneasiness and quietness in the room finally caused Pepper to ask, ¡°Is everything okay? Are you okay?¡± A long sigh came from the principal. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ll be alright.¡± The answer was filled with such hesitation that Pepper couldn¡¯t help but doubt the man. He countered, ¡°You certainly don¡¯t seem like it. You look like you had your own golem smashed to pieces in front of you.¡± A nervous laugh rang out from the man sitting across from him. ¡°You know¡­ it¡¯s funny you should say that. Because¡­ that golem action. I sure do love it.¡± The principal stared out of the window. There seemed to be no hope in his eyes. The water in his eyes warned that tears could rain down at any moment. Pepper¡¯s anxiety was now simmering down, and confusion quickly replaced it. ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡± The phone on the desk rang. Mr. Stephens reached for it and sniffled before answering. ¡°Go for Richey.¡± There was a pause, and though Pepper tried to listen out of curiosity, he couldn¡¯t hear what was being said on the other end. ¡°Okay, they are ready for him now?¡± Pepper¡¯s ears burned when Mr. Stephens made the statement. The mention left him believing he was the reference. ¡°Sure, sure. Okay¡­ well. Let¡¯s get this done and over with, then.¡± Mr. Stephens hung up the phone and let out another long sigh. ¡°Mr. Walker, there are some people here to see you.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart was pounding. The anxiety which had subsided for a few seconds, returned like a tsunami wave. He now had a hundred questions and felt like he couldn¡¯t even ask two or three, which could put his heart at ease. He wondered if his parents knew about whatever was about to happen. The principal directed him to stand up. He reached for his office door and opened it. There was enough commotion in the front office that Pepper could hear people waiting for him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. He slowly walked forward. His hands were clenched tight. The rest of his body tensed, and he mentally began to prepare himself to react to whatever awaited him. He immediately imaged Master Nate¡¯s voice guided him into the fray. Pepper turned the corner and saw a camera and lights pointed at him. The moment he stood in the doorway, Pepper heard a loud pop. Brightly colored paper confetti floated down from above. Balloons were strewn around the room, and a giant sign proclaimed in an excited font, ¡°You¡¯re going to GolemCon!¡± He felt frozen, as if he was standing in the center of the Frost Arena. The sight of everything was hard to take in. The smiles and cheers of the faculty staff began to thaw him of his shock. It was Mr. Stephens, though, who helped reality sink in. The principal grabbed his shoulders from behind and shook him while congratulating him. ¡°Today, Status Academy is happy to announce that our winner of the GolemCon competition is none other than Pepper Walker! He will be getting an all-expenses-paid trip to the international convention¡ªa once-in-a-lifetime experience that I know I am personally jealous of. Joel, go ahead and inform the rest of the school,¡± Principal Stephens declared. Pepper glanced over to the side of the room and saw the vice principal. A slight cringe came over him as those two blue eyes glared back at him. The vice principal looked more like a stone statue than a person. He slowly walked over to the PA microphone and leaned over. His voice was monotonous and lifeless, but he did as he was asked. ¡°Attention, Status Academy. We are happy to announce that Pepper Walker has been selected as the GolemCon contest winner. Thank you.¡± The vice principal straightened up, turned to his supervisor, and nodded. ¡°Good job, buddy,¡± Mr. Stephens said from behind him. Pepper felt Mr. Stephens give him a pat on the shoulder. But there was a loud resounding roar that came from down the hallway. The room seemed to shudder for a split second. Everyone turned around to see the source when they heard loud thudding steps quickly approaching. A second later, Mr. Dean arrived, skidding to a stop. His arms were stretched out and his fingers clawed. His eyes were wide and held a slight look of derangement. He let out a loud roar of excitement and, with a small bend of his knees, gave off a Viking warrior demeanor. It took everyone by surprise when he grabbed Pepper and picked him up. ¡°Heck, yeah, man! This is awesome. I knew you would win.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and simply replied with the only thing that came to mind. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°All right, all right. We still have an academy to run here,¡± Principal Stephens directed. Mr. Dean lowered Pepper back to earth and gave him a pat on the shoulder as he departed. The staff slowly returned to their duties, but Vice Principal Harvey passed by him and entered the office. Pepper¡¯s reality sank in, but he still couldn¡¯t help but ask the question. He turned and took a step inside the principal¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Stephens.¡± Though he addressed the one, both men looked towards him. ¡°I didn¡¯t think my letter was really that good. Are you telling me that I seriously was chosen over everyone else?¡± The two teachers looked at each other and smiled. Mr. Harvey began to approach and got uncomfortably within Pepper¡¯s personal space. ¡°You¡¯re in the way.¡± How am I in the way? There¡¯s plenty of room for him to move around. Pepper then noticed that Mr. Harvey was actually reaching out to close the door behind him. The reference was directed towards him getting out of the pathway of the door rather than the teacher. ¡°Sorry,¡± he replied. He heard the door click shut and was directed to take a seat. Vice Principal Harvey sat down next to him, and Mr. Stephens leaned back in his chair and kicked his feet up on the desk. The gesture, which could have been taken as unprofessional, actually helped Pepper feel more relaxed and at ease. Mr. Stephens chuckled. ¡°Man, we got you so good.¡± ¡°You should have seen your face,¡± Mr. Harvey replied in his lifeless monotone. ¡°Right, Joel, ha! Classic,¡± Mr. Stephens replied with a snap of his fingers. The principal linked his hands behind his head. ¡°Well, Mr. Walker. To answer your question. Yes, your letter was not that great. In fact, it was pretty bad.¡± ¡°It was terrible,¡± Mr. Harvey added. ¡°Like complete and utter garbage,¡± Mr. Stephens said with a slightly smug expression. ¡°But¡­¡± He leaned forward and took hold of a folder, quickly opened it and began sifting through a multitude of papers. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ we had Miss Summer Miller and her brother, Jackson.¡± ¡°His letter was better written than yours,¡± Mr. Harvey interjected. ¡°Miss Andrea Brewer¡¯s letter.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart fluttered when he heard Andrea¡¯s name. There was no time to daydream, though, as the list continued. ¡°There was Mrs. KT Hanna¡¯s letter. Mr. Ryan Maxwell¡¯s letter. Your friend Mr. Brent Daniels. Your mom and dad wrote very lovely letters. A Mr. Reggie Manning wrote a very nice letter as well. Let¡¯s see¡­ there was, of course, Mr. Charles Dean, Mr. Joel Harvey, and my letter. And finally, the one that really stood out was your Olympic gold medal neighbor, Mr. Ryan DeBruyn.¡± Pepper could feel his eyes widen. Ryan is an Olympic gold medalist!? What the actual¡ª? ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Wow is right, Owen Wilson. He wrote one really impressive letter.¡± I really need to stop saying wow ¡­ Pepper thought. ¡°Well, you seriously threw me for a loop. I was totally convinced you had some type of meltdown going on or something.¡± Mr. Stephens chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s called acting, Mr. Walker. Believe it or not, you are looking at the two students who were the highest award-winning actors in drama class here at Status Academy.¡± ¡°All four years,¡± Mr. Harvey muttered. Mr. Stephens kicked his feet off the desk and reached down towards the floor. He lifted a small spray bottle. A slight jiggle allowed the water to splash from side to side. ¡°A little fake sweat to really raise the tension. Haha! You totally bought it too.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°You got me there. It was a great performance.¡± ¡°Everything is a performance,¡± Mr. Harvey added softly. Though the vice principal continued to give him an eerie feel, Pepper was filled with the warm sensation of love and appreciation. The longer he sat in the office, the more he thought over every name that had been read off to him. ¡°There is only one more thing I need you to do, Mr. Walker. Well, two things, now that I think about it.¡± ¡°Sure. What is it, Mr. Stephens?¡± ¡°One, stay out of trouble. Two¡­ enjoy every moment of that convention.¡± The principal smiled. Chapter 29 - GolemCon ¡°Yeah, I just landed. I have no idea, man; I literally just got off the plane and haven¡¯t even gone to the bathroom yet. Okay, sure, I¡¯ll get you something cool and try to get you Brandon Benard¡¯s autograph. Bye.¡± Pepper ended the call with his best friend. His eyes were locked onto the bathroom icon. He zigged and zagged around slower people that kept getting in his way. He was on the verge of shoving and shoulder checking a clear path but finally made it in time. Pepper washed his hands and splashed cool water over his face. He grabbed the handle of his roller suitcase and proceeded back out into the large walkway of the airport. It was filled with people, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but enjoy the rumbling chatter of the many languages his ears picked up. It was the largest gathering of people he had ever experienced. Yet even with the vast number of people scattered throughout the airport, he could see how much space remained. Denver International Airport was the largest in America, but there were still many terminal hallways that remained empty. He continued to another section, and he couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to the window. There was a vast array of military aircraft and vehicles scattered throughout the airport. Two large walkers were going through a power-up sequence. Pepper watched as the four pilots split and two went to each walker. His mind wandered off and he imagined himself in one of the jumpsuits. The daydream shifted, and he then pictured a recruiter¡¯s office¡ªthe one just off Walter Avenue. He had stopped by it a few times in the past and glanced at the large posters displayed in the windows. He was afraid to talk to his dad about joining up, though¡ªeven more afraid to talk about the topic when his mom was around. The death of his brother was something he still found hard to bring up. If he didn¡¯t bring him up, his mom would accuse him of not caring. If he did talk about him, he got the quick chastisement of ¡°I can¡¯t deal with this right now¡± and the conversation soon ended. The advertisements and recruiting posters said he¡¯d be taken care of. But then there were, of course, the horror stories. His dad¡¯s whispered phone calls that he would eavesdrop on every once in a while. A call in the middle of the night where his dad would have to talk someone off the ledge. Where they would go on for an hour about how nobody would listen to them about the problems they were experiencing. They were just given a weblink to click on and a digital form to fill out, which always went unanswered. He couldn¡¯t help but consider the opportunity. There was no doubt in his mind that he could easily make it as a walker pilot. His skills and countless hours of competing in the KBVS Club scene would be more than enough to get his foot in the door. The two walkers wobbled off, and Pepper finally turned and began walking down the terminal. His eyes returned to the signs pointing in the direction of the baggage claim. A slow ride down the escalator and Pepper saw a small white sign with his name written on it. A large intimidating man stood behind the sign. His figure made it look like a small sheet of paper. He reached up and adjusted his glasses, then ran his hand over his dark mustache and goatee. His black suit, white shirt, and black tie made him look like a bodyguard. Pepper slowly approached. ¡°Hey, uhh¡­ that¡¯s me.¡± The large man towered over Pepper with a smug expression. It didn¡¯t take long before his demeanor cracked and he beamed with a giant smile. ¡°Yo, what¡¯s up, man? Welcome to Denver!¡± Pepper practically sprang out of his skin when the man stretched out his fist. He quickly realized the man was going for a fist bump and returned the gesture. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°My name is Brandon¡ªBrandon Haag. If you have any trouble with anything at GolemCon, just throw my name out there. Everyone knows me and will help you out if you need it.¡± The man was beaming. ¡°Is it really that necessary? It isn¡¯t too chaotic or anything, is it?¡± Brandon gave him a blank stare and then burst out laughing. It took a few seconds for him to catch his breath. ¡°You must have never been to a GolemCon before?¡± Pepper shook his head. ¡°Well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s normally pretty overwhelming for first timers. It¡¯s the largest convention in the world. Fans from all over the freaking planet come to this event. Miss Geneva will give you a map and a schedule. Don¡¯t lose those things, because it¡¯s going to be non-stop. But pretty much the best time of your life!¡± Brandon nodded for Pepper to follow his lead, and he soon found himself walking towards a¡­ limousine. Brandon opened the back door for him and he climbed inside. Pepper took in the entire experience and could not believe he was being treated in such a fashion. The interior window scrolled down and Pepper could see Brandon in the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Do you have a lot of other people to pick up like, well, this?¡± Brandon sighed. ¡°You are my last person.¡± ¡°Out of how many?¡± ¡°A hundred.¡± Pepper felt like he¡¯d been shoved back into his seat. ¡°You¡¯ve been at this all day? How do you have so much energy?¡± ¡°Uhh, dude. How can you not have epic energy when it¡¯s GolemCon? I seriously cannot wait for the opening ceremony tomorrow. It¡¯s going to be epic! There are a ton of gladiators here, and there are rumors of more who may be making an appearance.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s rumored to be here?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°Well, Harmon Cooper always likes to keep people guessing if he is or isn¡¯t going to show up. But that dude always comes! I know he said on his League Chat account that he wasn¡¯t coming this year¡­ He¡¯s here. He is totally here. I can sense it.¡± Pepper chuckled, as Brandon was talking with such speed and excitement that he found it hard to process everything he was saying. ¡°I¡¯ve seen him compete a few times,¡± Pepper replied, but he was being modest. He had seen every Harmon Cooper match. ¡°Yeah, if you get a chance to meet him, do it! Such a cool guy. I¡¯ve already seen Seth Ring walking around the convention area. James Hunter, JoeDan Worley, and the rest of the VetCore Guild were setting up their booth in the main convention hall. Totally cool dudes¡ªyou should meet them. Let¡¯s see. Oh! There was R. A. Cooper, L. M. Hughes, Rose Reynolds and the rest of the Valkyrie Guild running around earlier. Shami Stovall, Michael Head, Michael Chatfield.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Pepper watched as his driver took a sip of an energy drink. He chuckled as he thought about the fact that Brandon certainly didn¡¯t seem to need its contents. His arms shot out and he braced himself as the vehicle swerved in and out of traffic. Holy crap, this guy is a worse driver than my mom, he thought, and a small amount of panic surged through him. He gave a slight sigh of relief when he could see exactly what was in front of him. He quickly found his seatbelt and strapped himself in. ¡°I heard from a friend that David Bushman was already walking around. Stephen Landry, Benjamin Kerei, Rob Gagnon.¡± Brandon continued to ramble on with name after name. A slight buzz from his holodex caught his attention. [:::] I hope you have a great time! ¨C Andrea [:::] His heart fluttered and his mind began to race at a hundred miles an hour. She messaged me! Ahh! What do I do? What do I say? Do I play it cool? Should I call her? Pepper could hardly think straight and started typing away at his response. [:::] Thanks, you too. [:::] He hit send on the message and then froze with the realization that he totally you too¡¯d someone who couldn¡¯t be you too¡¯d. The same way a ticket counter worker tells you to have a safe flight. A movie theater worker tells you to enjoy the movie. Way to go, Pepper! he mentally scolded himself. The car pulled off the interstate and the vehicle made a few calculated turns. Shock came over Pepper when he looked out the window and saw the massive line of people. They wrapped around buildings, in and out of parking garages in a serpentine shape. There was no way of knowing where the line began, and it certainly didn¡¯t appear to have an end anywhere nearby. The vehicle came to a final stop in front of a massive building. Pepper stepped out and took in the huge banners and flags draped everywhere. Every corner of every building had one or the other attached to it. Each banner was printed with one of the many golems he had watched clash in the arena. Music echoed throughout the area with a high-energy pulsating beat. Pepper could easily see himself bobbing his head along to it. The hundreds of eyes that were staring at him from the line, however, left him wanting to crawl deep inside a turtle shell and hide. Brandon came around the corner of the vehicle. ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry about your bag. It¡¯ll be delivered to your hotel room.¡± ¡°How long is this line?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°Ha, I dunno. Maybe, like, twenty thousand. It¡¯s totally going to triple in the next hour or so.¡± Pepper could feel his mouth gape open at the fact that the future line of the convention was greater than the population of his small town. ¡°Seriously?¡± Brandon blew a raspberry. ¡°Yeah¡­ I mean, that¡¯s just for the opening ceremony, Pepper. The convention will easily hit a hundred and twenty thousand people.¡± Pepper was about to fry a brain cell in disbelief but was quickly caught off guard by a woman with bright purple hair. She had a headset on and a giant holopad in her arms. ¡°Oh my gosh, you are Pepper Walker!¡± Her face beamed with smiles. She had on a black polo shirt with the official Golem League emblem embroidered on the left side of the chest. A lanyard was draped around her neck, and Pepper could see her badge was a high-gloss holographic one with the words ¡°Pro Staff¡± written boldly down the side. Pepper didn¡¯t know what to say. He was taken even more off guard when she reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. She braced herself against him as she brought her leg up and glanced at the bottom of her khaki pants and black shoes. ¡°I swear I stepped in something nasty there by the stairs. You might want to watch out.¡± ¡°Um, thanks,¡± he replied bashfully. She removed her arm and looked at him with excited eyes and a beaming smile. ¡°Wow, great! You¡¯re finally here. This is wonderful. Okay.¡± She was talking a mile a minute and Pepper did his best to keep up. ¡°Okay, opening ceremony is in an hour. You need to be over at the tunnel entrance to the field thirty minutes prior to that. We have you partnered with Staff Sergeant William McKay. You will walk alongside him and then stand in line with him while the national anthem is played. The Air Force will fly overhead and then you¡¯ll take a seat. We¡¯ll do introductions and then bring some of our top-tier gladiators out. Once the ceremony is over, you and your military counterpart will go to the ballroom for the social hour. From there, you will have about two hours to go through the exhibitors¡¯ hall before it shuts down for the night. ¡°Tomorrow, you need to be at the top of Orlandini Street. You¡¯ll need to get lined up and ready for the parade. You will be on the Rising Stars float, so be sure to look out for the sign when you get into the staging area. You¡¯ll then have some free time to walk the exhibitors¡¯ hall again if you want, but there¡¯s also a major cool opportunity for you. Rising Stars have a sectioned-off area where you can talk to industry representatives and start to network and build relationships. It¡¯s a great place to get connected with the those on the cutting edge of the industry. So it¡¯s something to check out. Then there¡¯s a nice catered dinner at 8 p.m. inside the Golem League dungeon.¡± She paused and placed her hand gently back on his shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not an actual dungeon, but¡­ you might want to stay away from the fish. Last year it didn¡¯t sit well with many of the gladiators¡¯ stomachs, and so far the rumor is they still did not get fresh fish for this year. Okay, from there we have the afterparty up on the 70th floor of the Villacis Hotel. That starts at 10 p.m. and goes on until you can¡¯t anymore. Okay, any questions?¡± Pepper blinked repeatedly, as he couldn¡¯t even recall what she had just said to him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but¡­ what was your name again?¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, sorry! Geneva Agnos.¡± She waved her hand in front of her as if she was swatting a fly. ¡°I get so carried away with all the coordination that I forget to take a second and remember I skip right over introductions. I¡¯m the marketing director for the Golem League and also the event planner and coordinator for the convention.¡± Pepper felt his body tense and immediately turn into an ice cube. Oh my god, she¡¯s the marketing director¡­ she¡¯s kind of a big deal, Pepper¡­ don¡¯t screw this up! ¡°Okay¡­ so you¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t even have time to finish before Geneva reached up and pressed her headset closer to her ear. ¡°Yes, I know Harmon Cooper is here, Brandon! Who do you think coordinated his room and everything? No, you can¡¯t carry him around like a stuffed animal. I¡¯m pretty sure his wife wouldn¡¯t appreciate that. Him, on the other hand, he might enjoy it, but no!¡± There was a slight pause, but Geneva¡¯s eyes staring off into the distance told Pepper there was more to come. ¡°Look, the official notification was already sent out to Mr. Haseltine. If he shows up wearing another gladiator¡¯s face on his underwear, he¡¯s banned for life. We are not going to have a repeat of last year.¡± Geneva shivered for a second. ¡°Okay, sorry¡ªwhere was¡ª¡± Her hand reached back up and she listened intently to the headset. Her arm swung out and she started to punch away on the holopad with haste. ¡°Yup, okay, I see it.¡± The holographic display screens were processing so fast that they just looked like a solid teal glow to Pepper. ¡°Okay, have them move the golems to the secondary storage location and I¡¯ll be on my way to help deescalate the situation.¡± She looked up at him. ¡°You jokingly refer to Danes as Swedes and they lose their minds.¡± Her eyes widened and she pressed her lips firmly together. The expression erased itself a half second later and her smile returned. ¡°Have a great time, Pepper. If you need anything, just find me or get with Brandon Haag.¡± She reached behind her and brought forward a lanyard and an access pass. She waved and a second later an electric cart rolled up behind him. By the time he had turned around to look at the cart, Geneva was already in it. The vehicle had barely come to a stop before it was racing off again. Pepper took in the sight of his official GolemCon pass. His name was printed along the bottom, but it was what was printed down the side that made him smile even more. ¡°VIP ¨C RISING STAR.¡± He took a moment to soak it all in. He looped the lanyard around his neck and then he realized what he really needed. Where is the dang bathroom? Chapter 30 - Opening Ceremony ¡°Okay, veterans, if you could please line up on the right side of the tunnel, that would be great. Rising stars on the left side here. Okay, let¡¯s go, people¡ªlet¡¯s go,¡± the staff member called out to everyone in the tunnel. Pepper was standing in a line of other rising stars, many of whom openly shared their thoughts and dreams of one day being a Golem Master. He, however, was still amazed at this opportunity. The royal treatment was something he had never experienced before, and it wasn¡¯t something he truly felt deserving of. He caught sight of a long line of people arriving opposite him. The veterans staggered down the tunnel, a unique collection. Some were dressed to impress. Their service dress uniforms were finely pressed and tailored to every inch of their bodies. In stark contrast to them were the veterans who waddled down in blue jeans, a polo shirt, and a ball cap with the words ¡°Rift Wars Veteran¡± embroidered across the top. Pepper saw a man in a wheelchair being guided down, coming to a stop next to him. Another veteran was standing behind him and helping him from behind. The man behind the wheelchair turned and motioned to Pepper. He turned towards him. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Hey, are you, uhh ¡­¡± The man paused and looked at a small note in his hand. ¡°Pepper Walker?¡± Pepper nodded. ¡°That I am.¡± A small smile came over the man¡¯s face. ¡°Okay, great. This is Staff Sergeant William McKay. He is who you are paired up with.¡± He looked back at his note and then turned to the person standing behind him. ¡°You¡¯re Angel Ramon?¡± A warm and radiant voice came from behind him. It had a thick Puerto Rican accent. ¡°Yes sir, that would be me.¡± The veteran chuckled. ¡°Okay, so you¡¯re with me.¡± He turned back to Pepper. ¡°All right, Pepper, if you feel comfortable enough, you can lead Staff Sergeant McKay down and then we¡¯ll just line up in formation.¡± Pepper felt his nerves take hold of him, but he did his best to stow them away. He looked into the eyes of the veteran standing next to him. The man peered into his own with nothing but sheer confidence¡ªa poise that said no matter what happened in the next ten seconds, he was ready to meet it head on. The expression on the man¡¯s face seemed to transfer to Pepper. In that split second, Pepper knew he needed to accept this task and do it without letting anxiety ruin what the ceremony was supposed to represent. ¡°I got it. Don¡¯t worry.¡± He finished with a nod. ¡°Great¡ªsounds good.¡± The veteran gave him a fist bump and then looked back at Angel. ¡°All right, Ramon, you ready for this?¡± ¡°I was born for this, sir,¡± the man said firmly. ¡°All right, everyone, we¡¯re stepping off in ten, nine, eight, seven, six¡­¡± Everyone stepped forward when the countdown finished. Pepper moved over and took hold of the wheelchair handles. The veteran looked sickly pale and his breathing was labored. Pepper began to roll the frail man forward, and soon they were bathed in the light of the grand arena. Thousands of people cheered, their voices so loud that they practically drowned out his thoughts. A giant American flag was being held taut in the center of the field, which looked as if it had once served for football. The line walked until everyone arrived at their predetermined positions, and then they stood facing the giant crowd of fans. ¡°What¡¯s going on, golem fans?¡± The voice was all too familiar. Pepper turned to see none other than JD Glasscock walking behind them into the center of the field. JD had his orange-lensed sunglasses on, with a nice black suit, white dress shirt, and black tie. But he was also wearing what appeared to be a comfortable pair of blue jeans and black Chuck Taylors. He certainly looked far more like a celebrity than he did a golem league announcer. Before Pepper could finish mentally pondering whether or not his coanchor was there, he heard a familiar British voice following JD. ¡°Hello, and thank you for being with us today. We also want to extend a special thank-you to those you see lined up around the edge of the field. Won¡¯t you please give a warm welcome to all the military veterans who made the journey to be with us here today,¡± Nick said. The crowd didn¡¯t even wait for him to finish before they gave a loud roar of appreciation, claps and shrieking whistles all intermixed. Nick cleared his throat briefly and then continued. ¡°Additionally, it is a special day for Staff Sergeant William McKay, as he celebrates his fiftieth birthday!¡± Fifty? But¡­ he looks ancient. Pepper¡¯s disbelief was now louder in his mind than the noise of the crowd. He looked down at the veteran, who was barely able to lift his arm and wave at the crowd. He isn¡¯t even much older than my dad. Yet he practically could be knocking on death¡¯s door at any moment. The frail veteran¡¯s hand and arm trembled as he tried to wave to the crowd in appreciation. It was then that a cluster of black specks in the sky caught Pepper¡¯s attention. He glanced up and to his left and saw seven military fighter jets flying in a V formation. They hardly made a sound until they were directly overhead and then the aircraft activated their afterburners. The roar of the crowd now melted into the reverberation from the aircraft that rippled across his body. His eyes turned towards the heavens, then witnessed a grand display of red, white, and blue fireworks. The pyrotechnics exploded in the sky above and were complemented by golden sparklers that erupted along the edges of the stadium. Pepper was amazed at the grand showcase. His heart pumped with excitement as he took it all in. ¡°Golem fans, let me hear you welcome your defending Golem Master, Brandon Benard, and his partner Rosario Romero!¡± JD informed them. Pepper turned his attention to the famed gladiator standing in the center of the field alongside JD. The couple waved to the crowd, huge smiles on their faces. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the giant sparkle reflecting off the crest Brandon wore¡ªthe diamond-studded Golem Master crest that all previous champions wore. This¡­ this will not be the last time I experience a celebration of this magnitude. I will be a Golem Master, and I will one day be standing there as well. I can¡¯t give up now. One day I will succeed. Pepper turned back to the crowd and smiled. He confidently shot his hand up and waved to the people before him, only this time he imagined he was the one standing in the center of the field. I promise you¡­ all of you standing before me. This will not be the last time you see me here.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Kid ¡­ hey, kid.¡± Staff Sergeant McKay¡¯s voice was finally loud enough for Pepper to hear it. ¡°Yes, sir?¡± He bent over and looked at the frail man seated in the wheelchair. ¡°Please wheel me out of the sun. My skin¡­ my skin can¡¯t take direct sunlight like it once could.¡± The trembling, frail voice was hardly audible. Pepper bit his tongue. He wanted to stay within the moment. Yet seeing the veteran in his current state reminded him that this celebration wouldn¡¯t have been possible if it wasn¡¯t for him and all those like him. ¡°Sure thing, sir.¡± He straightened up and gave a final wave to the crowd before pushing the staff sergeant back towards the tunnel entrance. A staff member quickly approached him with a curious expression. ¡°Staff Sergeant McKay needed to get out of the sun,¡± Pepper explained. The staff member leaned over. ¡°You doing okay, Staff Sergeant? Do you need anything?¡± The trembling voice of the veteran replied, ¡°I could use some water. But please¡­ not too cold. Tap water is fine.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She straightened and looked at Pepper. ¡°I¡¯ll go get him some water, but you can just head directly into the ballroom. The social hour doesn¡¯t start officially until the opening ceremony is over, but there¡¯s no reason you two can¡¯t head in early. It looks like he¡¯ll appreciate the quiet anyways.¡± Pepper nodded and waited for the worker to return. She handed Staff Sergeant McKay a small plastic cup and he gingerly drank what little was there. Pepper was then given a nod by the worker and leaned his head down. ¡°All right, Sarge, we¡¯ll head to the ballroom for you to relax.¡± ¡°Sounds good, Commander,¡± the vet replied. Pepper navigated through the gathering of people. A few minutes later, he was finally directed to the room where the next event was to take place. The ballroom had red, white, and blue streamers, bows, and drapery scattered throughout. A white tablecloth and a large bouquet of colored flowers was on each table. There was some lively jazz music was playing softly overhead. Pepper cautiously made his way around the tables, scanning the name tags at every seat. The more he searched, the more he realized there was a good chance they had been placed at the head table. His guess was confirmed when they arrived and he discovered they were seated at the round top table. James, Jeannette, JoeDan, Angela, Pepper, Angel, Captain Fin, Staff Sergeant McKay. ¡°Well, this looks like us,¡± Pepper said. He quickly removed the chair in the sergeant¡¯s spot and wheeled him closer to the table. Pepper could see he was seated next to the veteran and sat down. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± Pepper turned and looked at Staff Sergeant McKay. Now that they were at eye level and indoors, he could get a better look at him. His entire body looked like it was being sucked inward. The pale color of the man¡¯s skin was eerie and made Pepper¡¯s skin crawl. He was wrapped up in a warm coat and also had a large blanket wrapped around his legs. Pepper gazed into the eyes of the veteran. They were a faded blue, yet a gray coloration seemed to have been blended in and slowly taking over. There was a sense within Pepper that those eyes had not always been this way. Deep behind the man¡¯s gaze, however, was nothing but sorrow. ¡°Sorry for what?¡± Pepper asked. The veteran gently closed his eyes. ¡°I remember¡­ what it was like to be at something you desired, and then ripped away from it.¡± He paused and took a deep, labored breath. ¡°You¡­ you should be out there, enjoying the ceremony.¡± Pepper sighed. His heart did want to be out there. Yet he knew deep down that this was the right thing to do. He couldn¡¯t help but think of what his father and late brother would have expected him to do. In that moment, he imagined how he would want his family treated by a stranger. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ there will be many more like it.¡± He felt a soft warmth in his chest when he saw the veteran smile slightly. The sergeant shook from a rough dry coughed. ¡°Your eyes.¡± Pepper waited half a second for him to continue. But when the Sergeant didn¡¯t continue, he inquired. ¡°What about them?¡± ¡°I remember my eyes having a rich color just like yours.¡± The veteran paused and struggled to breathe. ¡°I can see the excitement and determination in them. It is the same I once had¡­ before¡­¡± ¡°The war?¡± Pepper interjected to help him finish his thought while he still struggled to continue. The sergeant nodded and pressed his lips together. His gaze didn¡¯t leave Pepper¡¯s, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him. It looked like he was in considerable pain. ¡°I hope and pray that you will live far beyond my age and enjoy all that this life has to offer, kid.¡± The veteran finished with another round of dry coughs. He reached up and started to gently dig into a chest pocket of his jacket. He finally retrieved what looked like a throat lozenge. His fingers fumbled with the wrapper, but eventually he succeeded and placed it in his mouth. Pepper knew better than to ask the question. But his curiosity was too great to suppress. ¡°What was it like? The Rift Wars?¡± As soon as the question had left his mouth, he regretted it. For the man turned his gaze back towards him just as a tear spilled out and ran down his cheek. The veteran shifted his gaze towards the flowers in the center of the table. Pepper noticed that he grabbed hold of the blanket around his legs, his hands and fingers trembling. ¡°It was darker than the night itself.¡± A fresh set of tears ran down his face. ¡°I was in the Pacific Northwest. Washington, to be exact. The day the rift gate appeared, the portal opening up, the world was covered in darkness. We all remembered the stories of the day Mount St. Helens erupted¡ªthe giant volcano which billowed ash into the heavens and changed the very landscape of the earth. The day the portal appeared, I thought life itself was on the brink of extinction. Black billowing smoke poured out of the portals and veiled the waves of the demonic hoard it gave birth to. The only source of light was from life itself being consumed by fire. The rippling of flames is still something I cannot look at.¡± The veteran took a pause and coughed. Pepper quickly grabbed a glass and filled it with water for him. He handed it to the sergeant, who took a small sip before setting it down on the table. ¡°For months we did not see the sun. The depth of the shadows was your closest friend as well as your greatest threat. The demons lurked in every void they could find. A hellion around every street corner. Once the day vanished and all you lived in was the bleakness of night, you soon found that sleep was a luxury rather than an option. Our enemies did not need rest as we did. Their attacks surged at every opportunity they found. But that was nothing compared to the screams. ¡°The sound of agonizing pain and suffering filled our ears continuously. For every inch of ground the demons secured, they found a new cluster of victims to devour. We had nowhere to go but back¡­ we would retreat, dig in, and fortify our positions. But it was useless¡­ eventually they would send another wave of hellspawn forward to the point we would be overrun. The process repeated itself all over again. ¡°Our guns seemed to do little against their armor. We fired volley after volley and bathed them in a wall of lead. Our weapons fired off until our barrels glowed red.¡± The veteran lifted his left hand up for Pepper to see. Though his palm and fingers were healed, the scars remained. ¡°You know it¡¯s bad when your flesh melts upon metal, but you don¡¯t even feel the pain. ¡°Everyone I knew and loved is gone. Where, when, or how, I will never know. Their skeletons were scattered amongst the rest of humanity and buried in a mass grave for eternity. We retreated into the Great Plains states. There on the open ground was where we were able to finally hold them. There was nowhere for them to hide and no cover for them to seek. It was on that barren earth that we clashed for months at a standstill. ¡°It was then that the nations of the world realized that the greatest importance was humanity¡¯s survival. Weapons and technology we had never seen before were distributed to those who remained. Our scientists took what little information they knew about our enemy and applied it to combating them. We leveled cities behind enemy lines, eliminating any potential areas they could use as shelter. A combined counterattack of air and ground forces surged us west. Our advance continued, and we celebrated every mile we reclaimed.¡± The veteran took another sip of his water. ¡°I don¡¯t remember the day, the hour, or the minute when they retreated through the rift portal. All I remember was the arrival of the rain. The ground was a mixture of scorched earth and stained with the blood of the innocent. Our months of darkness were soon replaced with the bleakness of storm clouds. The rain began and didn¡¯t stop; fields and valleys turned to raging rivers. The heavens wept for us, for our bodies were already past the point of tears.¡± Chapter 31 - That Others May Live The commotion near the entrance of the room caught Pepper¡¯s attention. He looked over to see people filing in. It was a mixture of the rising stars and veterans from earlier, but he soon recognized a few faces of the Golem League gladiators¡ªDakota Krout, Michael Head, and then a broad-shouldered giant of a man who was using a wheelchair himself. Pepper felt his face light up. ¡°You¡¯re JoeDan Worley.¡± A playful smile came over the man. ¡°Last time I checked I was.¡± JoeDan removed his black ball cap and rubbed his hand across his cinnamon hair. His blue eyes were rich and colorful like the ocean. He shifted in his chair and adjusted his gray T-shirt, which had the word ¡°VetCore¡± printed across the front. ¡°I mean, wow, you¡¯re really here,¡± Pepper practically stuttered. JoeDan made a curious expression and then glanced over the names. ¡°Well, shouldn¡¯t I be here? I mean, my name is printed on the card.¡± He broke into a warm, deep-hearted chuckle. ¡°What¡¯s your name, big man?¡± It was then Pepper¡¯s turn to chuckle. The compliment seemed a little backwards, seeing how his waist was roughly the size of one of JoeDan¡¯s arms. ¡°I¡¯m Pepper, Pepper Walker, and this is¡ª¡± He couldn¡¯t even finish the introduction. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t need to worry about that, big guy. I already know this crusty old sergeant.¡± JoeDan turned his attention to the sergeant sitting next to Pepper. ¡°Now, Bill, don¡¯t think I haven¡¯t forgotten that you promised me we¡¯d do a wheelchair race this year. I¡¯m still holding on to the fact that you cheated five years ago, and I¡¯m out for my revenge, you hear?¡± The old vet started to dry cough while sputtering out a few staggered laughs. ¡°Bullcrap¡ªI never said such a thing.¡± ¡°Cheaters never prosper, Bill ¡­ I¡¯m not going to let you die before I get my rematch on that race.¡± Pepper smiled as he watched the frail sergeant playfully smirk at the newly arrived member of their table. It wasn¡¯t long before the rest of the dinner party appeared, and JoeDan made the introductions. ¡°All right there, Pepper shaker. Let me introduce you to my better half, Angela. Then we have James Hunter¡¯s better half, Jeanette. This is Captain Edward Fin, who I think you already met, and Angel Ramon.¡± ¡°Wow, way to completely ignore me over here.¡± Pepper turned to see James Hunter shift over to the seat directly next to him. The man had nice rust-colored hair, slightly slicked back, and a mid-length beard that complemented a strong jawline. His black polo shirt also had the VetCore emblem embroidered on it. James pulled the chair out and took a seat. ¡°I swear I can¡¯t take or wheel this guy anywhere.¡± He gestured towards JoeDan and shook his head with a clear roll of his eyes. Pepper interpreted it as meaning JoeDan had been poking the bear all day long, and there were clearly no signs of it stopping anytime soon. James leaned over and stretched out his hand. ¡°James Hunter.¡± ¡°Pepper Walker.¡± The two exchanged a firm handshake. ¡°Is this your first GolemCon?¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but display a smile of excitement. ¡°Yeah, it is. I was really lucky and am one of the rising stars.¡± ¡°Well.¡± James lifted his hand to emphasize his point. ¡°Let me say, Pepper¡­ if you¡¯re a rising star, then you¡¯re not lucky. You got that special something that others see and recognize. They chose you to be here.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t even get a chance to say thanks for the lovely compliment. The voice of Nick Bosloe filled the room. ¡°Right, we¡¯re about to get started with our dinner ceremony. But before we do, we want to be sure that we honor our special guest.¡± Pepper turned just enough to see the podium over his left shoulder. The famous Golem League announcer stood behind it, his hands moving gently as he spoke. ¡°Now, I am told that we have a special guest who is going to speak on our esteemed guests¡¯ behalf. So without any further delay, I give you all¡­ Mr. James Hunter.¡± The room began to fill with loud applause. James gave Pepper a smile and a wink as he stood and made his way to the microphone. He cleared his throat while the room quieted down a few seconds later. ¡°First off, I want to be sure we clarify. That applause is for the one and only Staff Sergeant William McKay. So come on, let¡¯s give Sergeant Bill another round of applause for all he did.¡± The room filled with celebratory applause once again, and Pepper noticed that a few people rose to their feet. Before long, more and more were standing in appreciation of the veteran, and Pepper followed suit. They remained there for only a minute. Yet Pepper didn¡¯t let JoeDan¡¯s motion of reaching over and grabbing the sergeant¡¯s hand go unnoticed. A small tear fell down JoeDan¡¯s cheek as he smiled and gave his fellow veteran an affirming nudge. ¡°Okay. Well, for those of you who don¡¯t know me, I am James Hunter. I am one of the founders of VetCore, a veteran-only guild within the Regional League, and I also happen to be blessed to be given the title of guild commander. ¡°I consider myself blessed, because I get to be a gladiator in the Golem League but also hold the honor of being a guild commander. Both positions have highs and lows, but the low days are few and far between. However, there are two other titles that I hold near and dear to my heart. One is the title of veteran, and the other, the one I say is the most important¡­ a friend to Staff Sergeant William McKay. Or, as I normally call him, Sergeant Bill, or just Sarge.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°When Sergeant Bill asked me if I would be willing to speak on his behalf at the ceremony, I felt honored. It¡¯s a weird feeling when someone who was your mentor asks you to speak for them. Because what exactly do you tell? What do you say? But more importantly¡­¡± James paused for a second and seemed to get his bearings. ¡°You know¡­ Sarge is one of the few Rift Wars survivors who received the Medal of Honor¡­ and there are many days when you think that that is still not enough.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes grew wide in amazement, and he slowly turned and looked at the veteran. The man merely kept his gazed fixed on the flowers. The slight nod and firm smile of JoeDan confirmed to him that he had heard James correctly. Sergeant McKay was a Medal of Honor recipient. James sniffed and cleared his throat. ¡°Okay, so¡­ I asked Sarge if there was a certain story he wanted me to tell. He was very clear and adamant to not tell the story about the time the demon was blasted straight through the porta-john while he was taking a dump. But I can still clearly see him covered in a weird combination of black oily hellspawn blood and septic porta-john blue. So, good thing we¡¯re not telling that story. ¡°I then asked him if he was okay with me sharing the story about the time we snuck the demon head and gently placed it into bed with him. He said he would rather we not discuss that story, or how Sarge unloaded his magazine into the dead hellion¡¯s skull and then proceeded to mercilessly force us to conduct physical training until our insides were our outsides. ¡°I asked him if he wanted me to share the time we put the airbag under his seat in the briefing room. And unfortunately, instead of him sitting in the chair and being launched from one side of the room to the other, it was our newest captain straight out of the Academy. Needless to say, we were pretty sure Sarge was going to lose his stripe that night. However, let¡¯s just say it was epically hilarious how that captain checked every chair he ever sat down on from that point forward. ¡°But of course, Sarge didn¡¯t want me to let that story out of the bag either. Instead¡­ Sarge just said that he was happy we could have this moment. A moment in time to remember that humanity lived on. That we rallied together to fight a darkness so great that we even stopped seeing the light of hope. Yet here we are. ¡°Sarge doesn¡¯t really talk about his Medal of Honor much. Nor does he talk about the countless missions he completed, the battles he fought in, or the dozens upon dozens of demonic corpses he laid waste to. The thing that he does mention is the names. The names of those lost; the names of those who are no longer with us. ¡°There was only one thing he asked me to do tonight. That was to give a toast to those who are no longer with us and those who survived. So, ladies and gentlemen, if you would please grab your glass and let¡¯s raise a toast. To the generations to come; to those who are here and those no longer here. May we never forget what was taken from us, so that others may live.¡± *** The dinner was over, and the area was filled with commotion as conversations all throughout the room rippled with life. Laughter was in one corner while stern resentment was in another as discussions verged on the edge of arguments. James and JoeDan had just finished escorting the honored guest out so he could retire for the evening. The two returned to the table, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°So, what happened?¡± He motioned with his head towards the entrance. James took a sip of his drink and looked at JoeDan before turning towards him. ¡°It¡¯s known as ¡®rift poison¡¯ or ¡®ethereal poisoning.¡¯ We didn¡¯t know it at the time, but demons appear to be steeped in this type of ethereal essence, to say the least. Additionally, this energy seems to be radiating off the portals themselves. ¡°When the initial attacks started, we had no idea what we were up against. We relied on our old military tactics and weaponry. The initial few who responded and tried to fight off the demons unfortunately seem to have been bathed in the dark energy from hell. I am no doctor, and I¡¯m honestly not a hundred percent sure how it effects the body, but I believe it¡¯s similar to radiation poisoning. Your body is basically melting away from the inside out. The rift poison, though, it almost seems to draw your body inward until you shrivel into the shell of the person you once were.¡± Pepper let out a long sigh. ¡°Is there any cure for it?¡± James tilted his head. ¡°There is¡­ But are they effective, though? That¡¯s the real question. There are still many veterans who are battling it. I know both JoeDan and I have a certain degree of it, but ours is small in comparison to someone like Bill.¡± ¡°Ain¡¯t that the truth,¡± JoeDan replied, taking a sip of his drink. ¡°You know, I am certainly happier to be in my condition when compared to old Sarge there. My heart breaks for him. I dunno how much longer he will be around with us.¡± ¡°How did you lose your leg?¡± Pepper asked out of curiosity. A slight chuckle came from JoeDan. ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t lose it there, big stud. I know exactly where it went. It was plastered all over Interstate 80 and half my squad.¡± Pepper nearly spat out his drink. He felt embarrassed, partly because of his reaction and also due to his question. Yet he couldn¡¯t help the laughter he was on the verge of letting out. JoeDan caught his reaction and immediately knew what he was suffering from. ¡°Hey, big stud, it¡¯s all good. I get it. You got to find the humor in things. I mean, at that moment, Matt Marshall certainly didn¡¯t like being covered in chunks of my leg. But at the end of the day I made it out in not too bad of a shape compared to some others. All right, all right, all right.¡± JoeDan lifted his drink in a toast, and the table chuckled and returned the gesture. James had been glancing over his holodex and then cleared the message. There was a curious expression on his face, and when both JoeDan and Pepper gave him their attention, he flared his eyebrows. After taking a quick drink and chomping on some ice, he said, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor going round about a certain dynamic duo that is going to use a duplicator rune.¡± ¡°A duplicator rune?¡± Pepper asked. James¡¯s eyes widened and he leaned his head back as his eyes shifted back and forth between JoeDan and Pepper. ¡°Don¡¯t you read the Golem League Rune Adoption List?¡± The Golem League Rune Adoption List was where all official approved runes were listed. Pepper knew that there was a very specific testing and certification process for companies to get approval for their runes. Once that was all complete, the rune was added to the list. It didn¡¯t mean that those runes were commercially available yet, but it was certainly the first place one could find out what was about to be available. He shook his head bashfully. ¡°I haven¡¯t checked that in maybe a year or so.¡± ¡°Dude.¡± James rubbed his hands over his face and cleared his throat. ¡°Some major advice, and I mean major advice. Always read the updates, especially on there. If you want to be at the top, you have to see what is soon going to be available and how to counter it.¡± JoeDan added, ¡°That¡¯s true. We haven¡¯t seen all the runes being used yet, but that doesn¡¯t mean someone isn¡¯t trying to figure out a strategy to implement them. A good example would be the binding rune¡ªwe haven¡¯t seen anyone use that yet. And there¡¯s the restoration rune, which I¡¯m still really curious about.¡± James was nodding as JoeDan spoke. ¡°Exactly. I¡¯m really curious about this whole duplicator rune that just got approved, and I think we both know who we¡¯ll see apply it before anyone else.¡± Chapter 32 - Panic Pepper was exhausted by the time the dinner ended. The whirlwind of the day had his head spinning, and he could feel a slight headache coming on. He was amazed to see the luxurious room he had been given. The number of pillows on his bed seemed like enough to make an entirely separate sleeping area out of them alone. The soft billowing comforters and blankets gave him the sensation of being treated like pure royalty. At the far end of the room was a gift basket neatly placed in the center of a small circular table. He skipped over the majority of the items when his eyes landed on the chocolate bar. It didn¡¯t take long for him to rip the wrapping off and savor the bar as he jumped onto the bed. Though his taste buds danced with happiness, his mind was still attempting to fight off the lurking headache. The heaviness of sleep finally arrived, and he drifted off. By the time his eyes opened, the warm rays of the sun were shining through the window. The curtains glowed, and Pepper stood up, shuffled over, and peered outside. The tiny specks of the people down on the street looked like bustling ants going about their lives. He could even make out the floats getting lined up ready for the parade that would take place later that day. He took a deep breath and let reality sink in: He was really here and this was truly happening. For years he had watched all the video clips and recaps of previous GolemCons and yet here he was. It seemed funny to him when he thought about it¡ªhe was living it, the convention experience. He had even walked out onto the field with an actual Medal of Honor recipient, yet it all seemed like a blur. The next blur was when Pepper realized he was in a different time zone and was now running late for the parade. He rushed to get changed and was able to snag a bagel and apple from the complimentary breakfast buffet as he practically ran out of the hotel lobby. The power walk got him there in the nick of time, but not without some shin splints to leave him with a nice reminder of the benefits of time management. Though he had done extensive training with Nate at the dojo and his cardio was up to par, forcing himself to walk so fast for so long was something he had never trained for. It came as a shock to him how his muscles reacted to the slight variation in exercise. That all slowly faded, though, once he started to take in all the massive floats that were there. He would be lying if he said he had watched the parade portion of the convention before. It had never seemed to interest him. But now he was there, he was stunned and amazed to see the intricate details that had gone into all the floats. Some of them towered up to forty feet high. Many were modeled on famous golems previously seen in the arena. Pepper finally found the float he was assigned to. There in the center of the float was a recreation of the golem Thoth that had been wielded by the classic gladiator Nikko Marie. Thoth was one of the ancient Egyptian gods, and he had many unique roles within Egyptian mythology. Pepper recalled that Nikko had shared in an interview that it was Thoth¡¯s roles regarding writing and wisdom that had drawn her to his story in college. The golem rendition she used when competing had the body of a man. A large golden belt was fixed around its waist, holding a metal skirt shaped like feathers. It had carved vambraces on both arms, with etched armbands around the upper biceps. Metal feathered wings were affixed to its back. Nikko had been the first gladiator to design wings that expanded and contracted, and she was also the first to use them as weapons. Many of the first-season gladiators had not considered powered flight yet. Pepper wondered how great it would have been to watch Thoth fight in the arena while wielding that ability. The golem was adorned with the traditional Egyptian nemes headdress. The head and facial features Nikko had gone with looked very similar to those of a raven, only with a longer beak. ¡°Hey, are you our assigned rising star?¡± an energetic voice said above Pepper. He turned to face the direction it had come from. There, standing at the edge of the float, was a slender woman with a playfully inquisitive expression. Pepper first saw her fist gently pressed against her waist where her jeans met the Batman sweatshirt she wore. She blew her light brown hair away from her face as her dark eyes gazed down at him. ¡°Uhh, yeah. I¡¯m Pepper.¡± ¡°Sweet! Nikko¡¯s the name. I hope you got an arm on you, because we got quite a bit of candy to toss out to all these people.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t know exactly how many hours the parade lasted. But what he did know was that by the time it was all over, his arm was sore from hurling hardened sugar candies towards the crowd. The whole ordeal left him shaking his head as he realized how accurate Brandon¡¯s statement was¡ªthere was well over a hundred thousand people in attendance. The exhibitors¡¯ hall was no better. By the time the float came to a stop and Pepper arrived and quickly discovered how much he had to swim through a thick ocean of bodies. The different languages and dialects from all over the world did not help matters, although he tried to apologize politely the few times he accidentally bumped into someone. The chaotic experience started to become too much for him. He quickly found a few small mementos for friends and family and felt bad for not putting more time, energy, and effort into finding more suitable items. His mind tried to tell his heart that it was the thought that counted, and the need to get out of the area overruled every counterargument. Pepper attempted to move on and look for the rising star section that Geneva had told him about. It wasn¡¯t until he realized he had gone through the entire exhibitors¡¯ hall three times without success that he finally decided to ask for help. He focused on the first person he could find with a shirt that read ¡°Volunteer¡± across it. As he slowly approached, he could see the bright and bubbly expression of the worker shift to one of genuine concern. ¡°My word, are you okay there, hon?¡± ¡°Um, yeah. I¡¯m fine,¡± Pepper replied. He was puzzled. Why would she ask such a question? ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Her southern accent was warm and welcoming. She made him feel like she was not going to leave his side until she was certain everything was okay. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well, sweetie, you look like you¡¯ve trudged through a giant swamp and haven¡¯t ate in a week.¡± She reached up and grabbed his shoulders, leaning towards him slightly. ¡°Do you need me to get you anything?¡± Pepper chuckled and took a deep breath. He took a quick second to reflect and realized that everything was becoming far more overwhelming than initially thought. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m okay. Honest. I guess this convention is just a little much for me. It¡¯s my first time going to one.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say so, by the looks of it! Dear goodness. Well, what do you need help with?¡± ¡°I was told there was supposed to be a rising star area or something for us to network with industry insiders?¡± Her face quickly beamed with excitement. ¡°Oh, wow! Congrats on rising stars, hon. That must be so exciting! Okay¡­ you just come with me¡ªcome on now.¡± The small woman confidently strode ahead and began to move people out of the way as if she was a bouncer at a night club. Pepper had to walk as fast as he had that morning to keep up with her. She guided him down aisle after aisle, and Pepper was shocked at how she knew exactly how to navigate the maze of booths and people. Eventually his eyes focused on a small doorway with two other volunteers standing guard. They waved him through and he thanked the woman for her help. She wished him a good rest of the convention and quickly departed.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Pepper sighed with relief, but when he turned around and took in the room, his heart started to race. He had been told the rising stars group was a select one, but in that moment the room seemed to cave in on him. There was no doubt in his mind that the walls were moving, the room now slowly spinning. But he did his best to take a few steps forward and power through. There were tables all along the perimeter of the room and an additional arrangement in the center. The layout created a large square track for people to walk around, with booths on either side. He had just taken his first step when a man in a golden yellow shirt called out to him. ¡°Welcome! Would you like to enter our contest?¡± The man had a voice that sounded like a car salesman, a military crew cut of dirty blond hair, and a freshly trimmed goatee. He was wearing a business suit jacket but had a graphic T-shirt on underneath and blue jeans. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice he had a similar look to JD Glasscock. ¡°What¡¯s the contest?¡± he asked hesitantly. ¡°We are choosing ten lucky winners out of our group here. You will be the first to receive the latest rune we¡¯ve created,¡± the man said with excitement in his voice and eyes that sparkled. ¡°Is it approved for use by the Golem League?¡± Pepper watched as the man adjusted his arms. His convention badge was exposed, and he noticed the name ¡°Bill¡± printed on it. ¡°No¡­ and it never will be.¡± Bill cleared his throat and started to flip through a brochure. There were images that appeared to show people and animals together. But once the man had said no, Pepper practically ignored everything else he was saying. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what company were you with again?¡± Bill paused his presentation for a quick second. ¡°We¡¯re called Phantom Industries. We¡¯re currently based out of¡ª¡± Pepper lifted up his hand. ¡°I dunno if this is really right for me.¡± Bill countered once he saw Pepper was on the verge of leaving his small display booth. ¡°Look, it¡¯s just a drawing. There¡¯s a chance you may not get picked, but I really urge you to simply put in for it. This rune technology we¡¯ve developed is something everyone is eventually going to want. I¡¯d hate for you to possibly miss out on it.¡± Pepper dropped his head and started to feel the pressure swell within him. It felt like he was being choked, and he couldn¡¯t say no to the man. Their eyes met and Bill appeared to read his mind. ¡°What city are you from, kid?¡± Pepper was finally able to swallow and took a breath. ¡°You ever hear of Portage, Michigan?¡± Bill looked like he¡¯d been caught off guard. His eyes shifted back and forth and he soon gazed back at Pepper. ¡°I have, actually¡­ I have an old friend out there.¡± There was a quiet moment between them, yet the commotion in the room seemed to be growing louder. Bill¡¯s thoughtful expression seemed genuine to Pepper. ¡°Look, I won¡¯t push you on this.¡± But Pepper finally surrendered. ¡°Okay¡­ how do I sign up?¡± Bill showed him the small holopad screen boxes he needed to fill out. It was all simple information and a few random questions about being open and willing to be contacted later on if chosen. The entire process took him less than two minutes and everything was done. ¡°So, your name is Pepper Walker. That¡¯s a pretty unique name.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m told.¡± Pepper grinned. The pressure of the moment had taken a toll on him. He had mixed feelings about it and now almost regretted it. Maybe he should have waited and signed up later. He began to drift away. ¡°Well, good luck to you, Pepper. I¡¯ll reach out to my old friend and see if he knows you.¡± ¡°Okay, whatever, man. Best of luck on your drawing, raffle, rune thing.¡± Pepper had a sense of embarrassment, as he didn¡¯t know how to simply say ¡°Bye, now please leave me alone.¡± He took a deep breath as he turned to leave and tried to clear his mind of the experience. That wasn¡¯t so bad. I¡¯m sure the rest won¡¯t be like that. He hadn¡¯t even made it to the corner before he felt overwhelmed and realized the majority were far worse than Bill. ¡°Hey! Are you in need of a virtual assistant? We would love to talk to you about how we can help balance out all that League Chat has to offer!¡± ¡°How¡¯s it going? Would you like to hear about our marketing solutions for achieving the greatest algorithm outcome for reaching your target audience?¡± ¡°Would you like to schedule a photoshoot? Our research shows that a professional portrait photo can increase your likelihood of sponsors reaching out to you by 42 percent!¡± ¡°Have you ever considered Gladi-Stream? We¡¯re the leading streaming platform for all up-and-coming gladiators. Stream your matches, training sessions, and weekly updates to thousands of fans, all through our single platform!¡± ¡°Are you looking to get sponsors? Well then, you should consider Thunder Academy! Our online professional curriculum has helped more than three thousand gladiators achieve sponsorships within one year of graduating from our program. Want to sign up?¡± Pepper¡¯s chest tightened. A bead of sweat streaked down his forehead and dripped into his eye. The sharp salty sting made him shake his head. He did his best to wave appreciation while conveying a ¡°no thanks¡± message to each table. He began to shuffle across the businesslike carpeting and then, as his legs started to weaken, he felt an arm wrap around his. A soft, gentle tug and he realized he was being escorted on his left. He looked down to see a small blonde woman with a headset. She looked up at him and he saw blue eyes glance back at him from behind her glasses. ¡°Just trust me, everything will be okay.¡± Pepper knew something was wrong with him and he didn¡¯t question her. He did his best to match her stride as she led him over to a side door. There was a sign that said ¡°Off Limits,¡± but she pushed the handle without hesitation. A cool breeze washed over him, and he immediately felt the tension that had been building in his body start to ease. The door closed behind them and the woman let go of his arm and turned to face him. She had on a gray polo shirt with the Golem League emblem embroidered on the chest pocket and a pair of black jeans. Her eyes turned towards the ground but Pepper then took notice of the small ear piece nestled in her ear. She placed her finger on the ear piece while sending out a quick voice message. ¡°Hey, I¡¯ve got to take care of something. Sure, will do. Okay.¡± She looked back at Pepper and her eyes told a story that he did not know but knew existed. ¡°Thanks. That ¡­ that was kind of overwhelming.¡± ¡°I could see you needed to get out of there and fast.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She chuckled. ¡°You had the same look my oldest son used to have whenever he would have a panic attack.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Pepper reached up and started to massage the back of his neck with his hand. The sensation helped bring a sense of calm over his spirit. ¡°How old is he?¡± The woman hesitated. ¡°He, uh. Well, he¡­ um.¡± She looked back at the ground and couldn¡¯t look him in the eyes. ¡°He would have been about your age, I guess. He was taken from us about two years ago. A probe attack got past our initial defense line and some demons attacked the bus he was on while on his way home.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart sank. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ so sorry.¡± A small tear ran down her cheek. ¡°Don¡¯t be. He wouldn¡¯t want that either.¡± She wiped the tear away and smiled up at him. ¡°He would have loved to have been here. See all this, but¡­ just like you, he could only do so much before it all got to him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Pepper.¡± ¡°Kristen Franzke.¡± ¡°Oh, well I guess Walker is my last name. To be formal and all.¡± She chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Here, let¡¯s go for a walk and let your mind decompress from all this.¡± She motioned around with her hand. ¡°Sounds good to me,¡± he replied. It was then Pepper realized they were in the back service hallways where all the behind-the-scenes workers were. A few turns around corners and they arrived at the loading docks. They found one of the loading doors rolled up, and Kristen motioned for them to have a seat. ¡°This is more like it,¡± she said. She looked at Pepper for a second with a small smile before she turned to gaze out at a few trees growing along the edge of the massive parking lot. ¡°I come out here when I need to get away. I love the con, love the Golem League, but every once in a while, it can be a little too much.¡± ¡°What do you do?¡± Pepper asked, swaying his feet back and forth off the ledge of the dock. ¡°I¡¯m Geneva Agnos¡¯s assistant. You probably met her yesterday when you got your lanyard.¡± ¡°She has an assistant?¡± Kristen blew a soft raspberry. ¡°You think that woman could do this all on her own? Please¡­¡± She rolled her eyes and sarcastically brushed her shoulders. ¡°I am the real captain of this ship of success. Nothing around here would get done if it wasn¡¯t for me putting out all these dumpster fires.¡± The two laughed, and Pepper leaned his head back against the wall. ¡°Well, you certainly knew I needed help when I did. It feels great out here. Thanks for doing this.¡± There was a slight pause between the two, but she eventually she softly replied. ¡°You have his eyes,¡± ¡°Your son?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yeah¡­ When I look at you. I see him. If your hair was dirty blond and you didn¡¯t have the freckles, I could swear you were him.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t know what to say. So he only said what felt best. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve all lost.¡± She paused. ¡°And¡­ you, dear Pepper Walker, are a rising star. What that means is that there is a bright future for you to look forward to. One day your golem will be standing on a float and people will be cheering your name.¡± He smiled. ¡°Thanks. But¡­ what do I do in the meantime?¡± ¡°Well, you can start by trying to make it home in one piece. Also, be careful at that afterparty. You gladiators can get a little out of hand when there¡¯s no adult supervision around.¡± Chapter 33 - The Afterparty Once he got back to his hotel room, he spent the rest of the afternoon resting. The peace, quiet, and solitude of the room allowed him to recharge his batteries. At the same time, however, he went back and forth over whether that was the right choice. He couldn¡¯t help but think of how many people would have loved to be in his position. He¡¯d been given a great opportunity, and there he sat in his hotel room for hours, snuggled up in the soft pillows and blankets. He finally told himself that he needed to go out and make another effort to connect with other gladiators. Pepper could hear the rumbling of music when he approached the hotel. He saw a balcony high up where he assumed the party was taking place. It was bathed in colorful lights, and there was a scattering of people along its railings looking down on the city street below. A large gathering of fans was plastered all around the hotel¡¯s sidewalks. They did their best to call out for autographs and photos with the gladiators they recognized. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, as nobody asked for his photo, but a few people certainly seemed upset by the fact that the security guards waved him through when he flashed his VIP badge. His throat tensed up slightly while he rode the elevator up. The high polish of the interior allowed him to see a blurred reflection of himself. A slight thud reverberated through his hand as he bumped his clenched fist on the wall. You got this¡­ This may not be where we are now, but one day this will be our reality. Don¡¯t give up on yourself; believe in yourself; you know you can do this. The internal mantra of motivation provided by his inner voice helped calm his nerves an ounce or two. The arrival chime dinged and soon the elevator doors opened to a chaotic scene of lights and flashes. Pepper caught the scent of sugary sweetness on the air. It was a mixture of cotton candy and fresh-baked cookies. He took two steps off the elevator and was stunned to see¡­ foam? The dance floor was covered in a billowing ball, which people were dancing through. There were people in swimwear, others in costumes, some in business attire. It was truly an odd sight to behold, yet for some reason, it just seemed to fit. His entire exposure to the convention gave him the impression that it was impossible to predict what would happen at any moment. ¡°Oh great, you made it!¡± a woman¡¯s voice yelled in his ear and he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned to see that it was Geneva. He smiled at the fact that her hair seemed to complement the pulsating colors of the party lights. Her head was bobbing along to the music and she had a drink in her hand. ¡°Yeah! I had to take a break earlier this afternoon but wanted to be sure to at least stop by.¡± She smiled at him and softly patted his shoulder. ¡°Well, you need to be sure to do more than just stand here like a statue! There are tons of gladiators here.¡± Just then, Pepper caught sight of a short, stocky man. It wasn¡¯t necessarily the man¡¯s demeanor that grabbed his attention, rather the fact that he was wearing a custom pink leather lizard body suit. ¡°Is that one of them?¡± Geneva¡¯s gaze followed Pepper¡¯s nod. She started laughing and turned back to him. ¡°That¡¯s Daniel Schinhofen. He¡¯s great! Everyone loves him, heart of gold¡­ but¡­ just maybe be a little hesitant if he asks if you¡¯d like to wear one of his costumes. Last year, he and a few of his fans dressed up like a sandwich meal. One was wearing a sub sandwich costume, one was the bag of chips, a pickle, and a giant Coke cup.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Good to know, thanks.¡± ¡°Okay, get out there! Make friends!¡± Geneva gave him a supportive nudge. He took a few steps forward and wove his way through the crowd of people. Off to the side he could see some of his fellow rising stars huddled together. On the opposite side of the room there were what looked like some gladiators and businesspeople in a serious discussion. Pepper could see the exit to the balcony and slowly wandered towards it. To his surprise, the balcony was far larger than it appeared from the street. The railing ran along the edge, but the balcony itself actually cut deep into the building. He discovered a large arrangement of patio furniture around a small gas fire. The nearer he drew, the quieter and more comfortable it felt. He narrowed in on two slightly larger figures who he guessed could easily match Brandon Haag¡¯s stature. They were seated within the fire¡¯s circle, which caused Pepper to hesitate. One sat facing him and maintained a stern and frustrated expression. This man had copper-colored hair styled as a crew cut which connected to a long billowing beard. He adjusted his glasses and then adjusted his pink-flowered Hawaiian shirt. Pepper continued to stand there staring at the man until he finally recognized him. Holy crap! That is Eric Ugland! He was sure a shocked expression came over his face, because once he recognized the famous gladiator, the man diverted his attention to him. ¡°Wanna have a seat?¡± What? Me? Eric Ugland is asking me to have a seat with him? Pepper was practically stuttering as he replied, ¡°Sure¡­ thanks.¡± As he slowly drifted around the furniture, he was able to look at the man sitting adjacent to Eric. ¡°Benjamin Kerei? Oh my god¡­ Your vampire golem concept was incredible!¡± Pepper blurted out once he recognized the other gladiator. Benjamin had just finished running his fingers through his black hair. ¡°Oh, thanks, mate. That¡¯s nice of you to say.¡± He shifted in his seat and adjusted a blue lap pillow that blended in with the blue polo shirt he wore. Benjamin kicked his leg up and rested his ankle on the opposite leg. He extended his hand partially towards Pepper. ¡°Yeah, that was a concept I had been thinking about for months, and it finally dawned on me. As you probably remember, it totally took Sean Barber by surprise.¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Pepper was still in disbelief at being invited to sit down. He had just settled into his seat when a young and attractive waitress walked over and knelt by him. She asked what he¡¯d like to drink, and in what felt like a blink of an eye, an ice-cold Lion¡¯s Blood energy drink was in his hands. The sharp blood orange and lemon flavor greeted his tongue, and within a few sips, he felt a hyper-awakened sensation come over him. He could see that Eric was about to ask him a question, but before the gladiator had had the chance to do so, a regal figure appeared. ¡°How dare you fail to stand for your queen!¡± The figure pompously stuck their nose in the air. A royal crown sat on their head, just slightly askew. Pepper was pretty sure the crown was made of plastic, but either way, the thing glistened in the dancing colored lights. Pepper worked to hold in his laughter when he saw the giant pitch-black curved sunglasses. They looked like something straight out of a weird and distorted fashion show runway. The royal theme was continued by a robe draped over their shoulders and buttoned at the neck. It was a deep purple velvet with silver embroidery along the edge and was trimmed with what looked like fur. Pepper couldn¡¯t make out what exactly the individual was wearing underneath that, but it almost looked like a yellow sundress, blue jean shorts, and Chuck Taylors. ¡°Harmon, what in the world are you wearing?¡± Eric asked. ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re Harmon Cooper?¡± Pepper cut in. The royal-costumed figure turned to him. ¡°I am Queen Donut to you, young Pepper Walker¡ªgladiator to the golem known as Mala, who just took second place at their KBVS Club match. Who was also selected as the rising star from Status Academy.¡± Pepper¡¯s jaw was on the verge of falling off. He was shocked, shaken even, with the eerie sense of¡­ how did Harmon¡­ THE HARMON COOPER¡­ know all of that? ¡°You¡­ you know who I am?¡± A quick snap of a response. ¡°Of course I know who you are, Pepper Walker! A queen needs to know all of their peasants in order to rule accordingly.¡± A slight chuckle came over the other two gladiators, while Pepper still sat there stunned. Benjamin asked, ¡°Why are you dressed like that, though, Harmon?¡± ¡°Is there anything more perfect than the thought of Queen Donut?¡± Harmon replied in a playful and sarcastic tone. Pepper was about to speak, but Harmon cut in. ¡°Duct tape is silver and silence is golden, young Pepper. Hush, hush.¡± The three gladiators all started to chuckle as Harmon continued to act out his performance. Eric then followed with, ¡°If that is the case, then cancel my subscription, Harmon, because I clearly don¡¯t need your issues.¡± ¡°Preposterous¡­ You can only dream of the issues I have. Hell, not even my therapist has them all figured out. She should simply consider herself lucky that she has me as a client. I certainly didn¡¯t see her crying when I flew her out to the Bahamas for our monthly session.¡± ¡°You were never in the Bahamas,¡± Benjamin countered. ¡°Know your place, young Benjamin. You have no business questioning the queen with such criticism.¡± Harmon cleared his throat. Eric then added the slight counter. ¡°Besides Harmon, it¡¯s Princess Donut not¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Harmon sarcastically shouted while raising a stern finger in the air. ¡°I see how it is here. Fine! I will go and bless with my presence others who appreciate all I offer.¡± Eric looked as if he was about to speak, but Harmon once again cut him off. ¡°I have spoken!¡± A quick wave of his hand and Harmon departed, his chin tilted upwards with a smug expression. The three gladiators all laughed and took sips of their drinks. Benjamin looked over at Pepper. ¡°All right, mate, since you¡¯re new to the party, what are your thoughts regarding the Venn Diagram rune?¡± Pepper felt his cheeks begin to flush. He was unsure what exactly the seasoned Golem League competitor was referring to. Though his thoughts raced, trying to determine the best response, he finally chose to be honest. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what exactly you¡¯re referring to.¡± A sincere smile greeted him from Benjamin. The gladiator glanced across at his counterpart, who merely nodded. ¡°So the Venn Diagram is where you have three circles which interconnect. When the first demonic gate appeared, generating the portal which then started the Rift Wars, there was a rune on the gateway which had this displayed. Granted, the Arcana Files speak of this rune, and there is a theory which states that each circle represents a plane: earth, heaven, and hell.¡± Eric then chimed in. ¡°I am one of those who believe the rune represents that and there¡¯s nothing more to it.¡± ¡°I believe the rune is actually giving us a far greater piece of information,¡± Benjamin countered. He must have been able to see that Pepper¡¯s ears were burning for more information. ¡°I believe that the portion in the dead center of that rune is ¡­ the void.¡± Pepper smiled, and his spirit swelled with excitement as he contemplated what was being shared. ¡°So¡­ if there¡¯s a heaven, hell, and earth¡­ and if your theory is accurate, that means that the void is its own plane of existence.¡± Benjamin extended his arm towards Pepper, quickly pulling himself to the edge of his seat. ¡°Precisely! If there truly is a void in time and space, then that means there¡¯s a whole other world of possibilities and opportunities. This could change the very fabric of existence as we know it!¡± Pepper looked over and saw Eric was sitting with his head tilted back. ¡°I dunno, man¡­ I just don¡¯t think that there is really something there. The center of the diagram is referencing the portal itself, not a void within the three planes.¡± ¡°How do we know there is a heaven?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°That¡¯s another great question. For me, it comes down to the balance of all things. Hot, cold. Sweet, sour. Light, darkness. Our world, or even universe for that matter, has balance incorporated within it. Additionally, there is great scientific proof of designed systems, whether it be mathematics, etcetera¡­ So if there is a hell where the hordes of the demonic reign, the balancing act would be a heaven,¡± Benjamin said. ¡°Or it could just be earth,¡± Eric countered. A sarcastic voice intruded to Pepper¡¯s left. ¡°I don¡¯t know what all you¡¯re saying, but what I will say is the line to use the bathroom is certainly hell on earth.¡± Pepper glanced over to see another familiar gladiator walk past them. Rose Reynolds¡¯ power walk informed them that there was no stopping the determined gladiator. ¡°I swear if there¡¯s a line at the other bathroom, I am going to lose it!¡± The group greeted Rose, but Benjamin quickly returned to his train of thought. ¡°This goes back to one of the things I¡¯ve been saying for years. All runes have a purpose. The runes you incorporate into your golem need to have a purpose. Though I love Brandon to death, he seriously should not have configured his golem the way he did against James a while back. He was lucky, very lucky, and accepted too great a risk. We are still so young in understanding the power of the ethereal essence and how it is now incorporated into and influencing our world. Every year we find new ways the runes interact with each other. The runes that were just adopted into the Golem League can truly change every aspect of competition. The more you can understand this concept, the greater your success will be.¡± Chapter 34 - Duck Squad ¡°What¡¯s up, quackers!¡± It was the familiar voice of Stephen Landry, who hopped over the back of Benjamin¡¯s couch and landed next to him. He was wearing the same attire as he had during the match against Shami Stovall¡ªfully kitted out in black. Black ball cap with the bill flared upwards, sunglasses, leather jacket, pants, and combat boots. The only thing that was not completely black was his shirt, which appeared to be of the metal band Demon Hunter. ¡°Man, I love getting together with the Duck Squad!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really see why you would choose a duck out of all living creatures to represent your group, Stephen,¡± Benjamin replied. ¡°Hey! You mess with the flock and you¡¯re gonna be quacked! Okay?¡± ¡°But¡­ That doesn¡¯t even rhyme or sound intimidating,¡± Benajmin countered with a confused expression. ¡°Yeah¡­ well, it is intimidating when you see both Eric¡¯s and my yetis walking over the hill while playing Ozzy¡¯s ¡®Iron Man¡¯!¡± ¡°None of that makes sense, Stephen. Why do you call yourself the Duck Squad when your golems are yetis?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t need to make sense to be awesome. It¡¯s what the people want.¡± Stephen replied while making the hard rock devil horns hand gesture. It was then that Pepper saw a small slender woman approaching. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh, as she was wearing a duck onesie. She lowered the hood to expose her bright blue hair. Her smile beamed and she fluttered her eyelashes at Benjamin over her blue eyes. ¡°Oh, come on! You know you want to be a part of the Duck Squad. Just admit it.¡± ¡°The level of commitment you all have towards this venture is both frightening and admirable at the same time,¡± Benjamin replied. ¡°Whatever¡­ Okay, who else is going to see JoeDan destroy Mitch Johnson tomorrow?¡± Stephen asked the group. Everyone nodded, and Stephen confirmed with all the individuals until he made it to Pepper. ¡°What¡¯s up, new guy? You going to make it?¡± Pepper smiled and shrugged. ¡°Sure thing. When and where?¡± Stephen made a sarcastic, smug expression. ¡°You know what, dude? If Eric thinks you¡¯re cool enough to hang out with, you¡¯re cool enough with me. Here, what¡¯s your League Chat account?¡± Pepper was stunned with surprise for a second as he watched Stephen load up his holodex and navigate to League Chat¡¯s ¡°add friend¡± option. He ignored his hesitation and loaded up his account information. ¡°Um, it¡¯s 736368337.¡± Stephen was head bobbing along as if there was a rock song playing in his mind that he was jamming along to. His hand typed away on the holographic screen. ¡°Okay, dude. There you go.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in amazement when he saw the message appear. [:::] Yo! What up duck¡­ this is Landry¡¯s contact info. [:::] Just then, at that moment, Pepper stopped and reflected. He was sitting among the Golem League gladiators he had grown up watching and currently followed. Yet there wasn¡¯t any feeling of superiority. They had all welcomed him without question. Invited him to take part in the conversation. Though there were people who encouraged him back home, these were his people¡ªa group of individuals who all shared their common love for the action of the arena. Who wanted to compete against one another while at the same time supporting each other in the best ways possible. There was nothing else like it. *** The next morning came way too early for Pepper. It felt like he had just put his head on his pillow and his alarm clock was already ringing him back to life. To his surprise, there was already a message waiting for him from Stephen, telling him to get down to breakfast. He did his best to get ready and arrived to see everyone still carrying the same smiles and bright enthusiastic energy they¡¯d had just a few hours prior. What was even more surprising was when Pepper found out the party had never stopped for the other gladiators. They¡¯d raged throughout the night and kept chugging along on energy drinks and good vibes. The group slammed down a hearty breakfast and washed it all down with energy drinks. It was quite the scene seeing them being herded like cats, but they were finally able to pile into a small passenger van. ¡°To the arena!¡± they bellowed in unison. The journey took far longer than Pepper had anticipated, but the van karaoke session erased that dread. They arrived at a large metal coliseum that appeared to be ten times larger than America¡¯s biggest football stadium. Pepper found himself walking beside Stephen as they entered the massive structure. Stephen inclined his head towards him. ¡°This is the latest coliseum construction. A lot of rumors that the Golem League wants to shift to this over the next couple of years. They¡¯ve been discussing a multitude of options to make the Golem League even larger. The tier system is great, but it sounds like they want to make it more of a continent shift, creating different leagues that have mid-season and final season tournaments.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t they just make the shift now?¡± Pepper asked. Stephen lifted his hand and tilted it back and forth. ¡°They are very much like the military. It takes forever to make big changes like that. They have to consider all the different financial options and how¡¯d they keep a secure hold on all the revenue. The unsanctioned matches are a huge competition for them. A lot of research shows that fans actually enjoy those matches more due to the amount of unregulated runes gladiators can use. They¡¯re using simulations to try and test out how fans would like this other option. It¡¯d bring in more of the international audience but also open up for more competitors, which overall equals more money.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t they making enough as it is?¡± ¡°Well, yes, but at the same time, the cost to maintain, repair, and rebuild damaged golems is huge,¡± Stephen replied. Pepper huffed. He knew all too well how true that was. Their group found seats in the grandstand while in his mind flashed the price tag to rebuild Mala. Pepper immediately wanted to forget about the giant dumpster fire of shattered dreams that awaited him back home. As if the universe had heard him, a figure arrived and sat down next to him. He didn¡¯t recognize the man at first with his gray ball cap, sunglasses, baby-blue button-up shirt, and khaki cargo shorts. ¡°Hey, Pepper. Have fun last night?¡± The voice was all too familiar, and Pepper immediately realized it was Harmon Cooper. ¡°Haha, you look different.¡± He smiled. Harmon lowered his perfectly normal sunglasses and showed Pepper his bloodshot eyes. ¡°Last night was insane¡­ insane, man¡­ Oof, my head is still pounding.¡± ¡°Let me guess, you didn¡¯t get any sleep last night either?¡± Harmon sighed. ¡°Nope¡­ especially not after I watched Michael Chatfield smoosh two pieces of bread on either side of Geneva¡¯s face. The entire time he kept screaming, ¡®Who¡¯s a tasty marketing director sandwich?¡¯ only for her to yell back, ¡®This girl is!¡¯ I don¡¯t care who you are, Pepper, that stuff is nothing short of a horror story nightmare waiting to happen.¡± ¡°I dunno¡­ that Queen Donut outfit was quite alarming as well,¡± Pepper replied with a soft laugh. Harmon took a sip from his coffee cup. ¡°Be careful what bets you make in this league, Pepper¡­ these guys are the craziest bunch of looney tunes you¡¯ll ever meet.¡± The theme song for the Golem League blared through massive speakers scattered throughout the coliseum. Fireworks shot up, and it looked like the opening ceremony all over again. A jumbo screen opposite them flashed to life and the two commentators appeared with large smiles. ¡°Well, there is no better time to have an exhibition match than at GolemCon. What¡¯s going on, golem fans? Are you ready for today¡¯s match?¡± Nick opened. The crowd cheered, and the majority of people around Pepper cringed as the noise rang out and their bodies reminded them of the late-night festivities. JD Glasscock was standing next to his counterpart on the screen and encouraged the crowd further. ¡°Oh, come on, golem fans, the party never stops when it¡¯s GolemCon! I haven¡¯t stopped since the wheels of the aircraft touched down at the airport. The reason¡­ for moments like this, we have two military veterans clashing it out. US Marine Mitch Johnson versus the one and only Navy Corpsman JoeDan Worley!¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The far end of the arena floor opened up and the crowd watched as a giant green-painted golem was slowly lifted up. When the head came into view, Pepper could see it was chiseled into the features of a massive battle-hardened orc. The golem looked like it was straight out of a video game and spoke of a high level of craftsmanship. Pepper was amazed to see all the fine details that had been incorporated into the design. The pointed ears of the orc even had real earrings dangling down. It sported a nose ring and massive white teeth that jutted out from its jowls. A large circular shield was on its left, with an etched intricate pattern all throughout it. Dead in the shield¡¯s center was a painted demon skull. The right hand held a giant rock mallet. One end of the hammerhead was chiseled into a pointed tip, while the opposite side was flat. The orc was covered in what looked like animal hide clothing, with two demon skulls used as armor for its shoulders. Pepper couldn¡¯t tell if the skulls were real or not. Their craftsmanship was of such fine detail that he could not tell the difference. He could feel himself inching towards the edge of his seat. The orc was already powered on, but as the power core generated more energy, the golems eyes intensified in neon green color. It stretched out its arms and then brought its hammer and shield together. The result created a huge neon green flame that exploded out from the hammer in a display of power. ¡°Dude¡­ orc battle, let¡¯s go!¡± Stephen exclaimed. The opposite end of the arena floor opened up. A bright shining light immediately reflected off a surface of the golem¡¯s head when it appeared. The same high standard of detail and craftsmanship was instantly apparent, but the thing that caught Pepper¡¯s curiosity was that fact that the golem was faceless. As the golem was lifted up, it was clear to see that its design was that of a human. Yet there was no face. The ears were properly in place and the lower jawline was formed, but its face was nothing but a slightly curved surface. The body was of a unique design that looked like a metal statue of a man but the muscular structure appeared to be over-emphasized. The larger proportions were then crafted together with bolt heads and rivets creating seems which ran all along the lines of the body in a Frankenstein¡¯s-monster-meets-armored-robot combination. A brushed metal finish added to the emphasis. Pepper¡¯s leg started to bounce up and down in excitement but then he froze in anticipation. The golem has no legs! he mentally exclaimed. The golem ended at the waist and was perfectly placed in the center of the platform. It powered on and a deep blue color shimmered across its surface as it began to lift itself up and float in the air. ¡°How is it doing that?¡± he asked out loud. ¡°Magnetism,¡± Harmon replied. ¡°This is gonna be epic! This is going to be epic!¡± Stephen started to chant. The countdown timer began and the battle horn rang out. The orc was the first to act as it ran forward. It charged ahead and launched itself upward with a powerful leap. It brought its hammer across its body in a large swing. A quick lean to the right and the metal man glided away from the attack. The orc landed with a skid and paused for a split second. Pepper could see that Mitch was trying to gauge the next move JoeDan was going to make. A quick adjustment and the orc surged back towards its opponent. The metal man still hovered near the edge of the arena. Mitch¡¯s orc quickly closed the distance and was about to launch itself into another leap when the metal man extended its arm. A quick flash of dark blue sparked out from its wrist. Pepper could just make out the reflected flash of the fingers that shot out as if they were bullets. The orc dropped down onto its knees and skidded across the loose dirt floor of the arena. It brought its shield up with only a millisecond left before the fingers pelted upon it. Pepper could just make out the metal prongs that remained embedded in the shield. The deep blue glow wrapped around the stubby limb of the metal man, and Pepper watched as the metal prongs were drawn back and reattached themselves to the golem. Mitch tried to shift his golem¡¯s footing and get it ready to perform its next attack. But JoeDan was relentless. The metal man extended both arms. In the blink of an eye its fingers, hands, wrists, forearms, elbows, biceps, triceps, and shoulders all separated and fired towards their opponent. Each dismembered metal body part slammed into the orc¡¯s shield. The fingers made sharp cracks and every body part thereafter amplified their impact into a series of loud thunderclaps. It ended when the final shoulder piece arrived and the shield exploded into a thousand pieces. A small dust cloud wafted upwards in front of the orc. While it stood back up, the metal pieces slowly began to rattle down onto the arena floor. They were finally flung back towards their host body, and the sound of clanking metal confirmed they had arrived. ¡°That¡¯s rough¡­ though the shield was a good defensive weapon, Mitch likes to use it as a blunt striker option as well,¡± Stephen chimed in. ¡°He¡¯ll probably switch to his lightning whips¡­ but that will force him to practically max out his power core to sustain it,¡± Harmon said as soon as Stephen had finished. Pepper listened intently, keeping his gaze fixed on the match. Mitch¡¯s orc charged as he tried to cut the distance. JoeDan¡¯s metal man was slowly drifting away, its speed now significantly slower. Pepper was sure this was because it had expended so much energy in its attack and now strained to maintain its ability to stay aloft. The orc rushed forward and leapt towards its opponent, the battle hammer outstretched over its head and both hands gripping the handle. Pepper could see the metal man¡¯s arms reached up to catch the hammer in an attempt to lessen the blow. It turned out to be a useless effort, as the flat head of the hammer arrived and sent the metal golem straight onto the arena floor. A bellowing cheer came over the crowd. The orc was fast to continue its pursuit, not letting the shift of momentum be wasted. JoeDan¡¯s faceless man was able to recover quickly and was back in the air by the time Mitch¡¯s orc arrived. Energy refinement rune, Pepper thought to himself. Just as he finished his thought, he heard Stephen mutter, ¡°Refinement rune¡­ got to be. No way you get up from that.¡± Pepper smiled and clenched his fist tightly. His heart swelled with pride and confidence that he was on the same wavelength as this great gladiator. A glance over at Harmon, though, and he saw the gladiator¡¯s head tilt slightly. ¡°Or another power core. A lot of people are doing that these days. It makes sense too with how much this magnetism effect must be requiring.¡± Harmon took a sip of his coffee. ¡°True¡­ true,¡± Stephen replied calmly. The orc swung its hammer directly at the damaged chest plate. A deep blue light surged from the waistline of the metal golem and it began to rotate. The speed of the rotation picked up, the large metal fists of the golem were now spinning around. The metal man accelerated until it looked like a punching tornado. Sparks and chips of granite scattered around the arena and the orc backpedaled. Mitch looked at a loss for what to do next. JoeDan continued to press his attack and sent his opponent backwards towards the far end of the arena. Mitch¡¯s golem practically had its back against the wall when it flung its hammer aside. It brought the palms of its two massive hands together. A bright green ball formed between them. The hands drew back towards its chest before they quickly extended again. The green orb had now formed itself into a square. As the orc released its attack, the square was magnified into a massive wall that surged straight ahead. It smashed into the metal man and forced him back to the halfway point of the arena. The crowd cried out in excitement, and Pepper, along with his entire group of gladiators, joined in. Pepper was fixated on the orc. It lowered its hands to its sides. The distinct neon green glow appeared once again. This time it flowed slowly downward and formed itself into what appeared to be a whip. Static electricity sizzled up and down the energy weapon. ¡°He needs to hurry and do something with that whip. It sure ain¡¯t going to do anything in regards to blocking,¡± Harmon said. The orc took a few steps forward, raised its arms, and sent the first whip streaking across the arena. It landed against the metal trapezius portion of JoeDan¡¯s golem. Instead of retracting, though, it remained latched onto the golem¡¯s exterior. The green electrified energy pulsed and began to draw the deep blue power out of its victim. ¡°That¡¯s a new addition! He didn¡¯t have leech last time he used that attack! This is epic!¡± Stephen exclaimed and looked to be on the verge of standing up. ¡°How does Stephen have so much energy?¡± Pepper whispered to Harmon. ¡°I think he has his own internal power core, cos no human heart should be able to sustain this level of operation,¡± Harmon replied. The two chuckled before turning their attention back to the match. Pepper watch as the second whip was winding up and about to snap forward. The faceless golem detached its limbs. This time, though, instead of shooting forward towards their opponent, they began to spin in unison, creating a circular motion. The pieces now moved like a controlled saw blade. It created the appearance of a deep blue disk which was finally released and went cut across the arena. Mitch¡¯s orc was frantically snapping its whip and attempting to break through the attack closing in on it. The electrified cracks echoed throughout the coliseum, and a slight reverberation rippled across Pepper¡¯s skin. He almost cringed at the ferocious thunderclaps of the metal crashing against the stone surface of the orc. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but feel an eerie sensation and a cold shiver crawling over the back of his neck. The sound reminded him all too much of the defensive military gun turrets firing during the last portal attack near his home. He had to shake his head and mentally pull himself out of the freezing fear his body almost surrendered to. His eyes narrowed back in on the orc as more and more shards of stone were chipped away from its body. The orc abandoned its attempt to wield the energized whip. It quickly raised its hands and tried to catch hold of the pieces that continued to crash down upon its frame. Pepper didn¡¯t lose sight of the fact that JoeDan¡¯s faceless man was now back up and hovering over the arena floor. It was slowly closing the distance, as if he knew the end was near before his opponent realized his fate. The metal golem drew in closer than it had before. Its opponent¡¯s hands were now nothing but fractured nubs of stone. In the blink of an eye, the faceless metal golem recalled its pieces. The two arms were reformed in a flash, and the left hand reached out and clutched the orc¡¯s stone head. JoeDan extended his golem¡¯s right hand, and it remained suspended in front of his opponent¡¯s chest. The hand moved from side to side ever so slightly. It looked like it was able to feel and search for something. The distinct sound of stone snapping and splitting cut across the area. A massive crack ripped down the side of the orc¡¯s rib cage. A final fracture and Pepper watched as a bright pulsating green metallic orb detached itself from the orc and flew into the faceless golem¡¯s hand. ¡°It ripped its heart out! That¡¯s so sick!¡± Stephen yelled, leaping to his feet. The metal golem¡¯s hand clamped down and shattered the green power core. A massive eruption engulfed both golems for half a minute until the green power dissipated. By the time the smoke had cleared, the stone orc lay with its face in the dirt. The crowd began to chant with victorious pride, ¡°VetCore! JoeDan! VetCore! JoeDan! VetCore! JoeDan!¡± Chapter 35 - Guilt Trip ¡°Pepper?¡± He felt a slight nudge. What was happening? ¡°Pepper?¡± A hand seemed to be rocking him back and forth. His eyes fluttered open; he was hunched over the workbench at Rhino¡¯s. He took a deep breath and finally looked up. Rhino was standing over him. ¡°Hey, bud, welcome back to the land of the living.¡± Pepper sat up and stretched. ¡°How long have I been out?¡± Rhino chuckled. ¡°You tell me. I came back to let you head home early and found you like this.¡± ¡°Sorry, Rhino.¡± ¡°Sorry? Don¡¯t be sorry, Pepper. You¡¯ve been doing a great job for me. Heck, the customers love your work, and you¡¯ve gotten us all caught up. I couldn¡¯t be happier. However, what I am a little worried about is seeing you burn the candle at both ends.¡± Pepper moaned and smooshed his face to try to liven himself further. ¡°Yeah¡­ this past month has gone by in a flash.¡± ¡°Uhh, Pepper¡­ you¡¯ve been doing this since you got back from GolemCon, and that was two months back.¡± ¡°What? No way!¡± Pepper activated his holodex. The first thing he noticed was a wave of messages from his mom. He dismissed them without even taking a second to glance at them. His finger tapped on the calendar and began to swipe backwards and backwards and backwards again until he finally discovered that Rhino was right. Crap¡­ it feels like yesterday, he thought. ¡°Look, go home and get some sleep. Heck, take tomorrow off, even.¡± ¡°You sure, Rhino? I can still work; it¡¯s no big deal,¡± Pepper countered. The mountain of a man turned and started to walk back towards the sales floor. ¡°Positive! Now get out of here¡ªgo have fun. Go enjoy your youth while you still can.¡± His boss ended with a hearty chuckle. Pepper retrieved his bike from the side of the store and slowly pedaled home. His energy was depleted by the time he made it back. As he hopped off his bike, he caught sight of a small box near the front door. He immediately recognized the Centaur logo on the side of the package. He had seen it a hundred times in the past week alone from working at the store. Letting the bike come to rest against the side of the house, Pepper walked over and picked up the package. A small spark came to life within his spirit when he saw his name printed on the label. My second-place winnings from the KBVS Club match! I completely forgot! Pepper opened the front door but was greeted by harassment. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Courtney¡¯s voice cut into him. His mother was glowing with red-hot anger. Her eyes were filled with tears that were on the verge of rushing down her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve been at work,¡± he said after a slight hesitation. ¡°And you were just so busy that you couldn¡¯t have messaged back. I¡¯ve been trying to reach you for hours. Hours, Pepper Walker! I tried to be nice¡­ I tried to remind myself that you may not reply right away¡­ but this is unacceptable.¡± ¡°What are you even talking about?¡± He lifted his hands in defense. ¡°You see!¡± Her finger rose up and pointed at him, and her stare told him that she was ready to sentence him to an eternity of punishment for whatever crime he had committed. ¡°You don¡¯t even have the heart to remember it¡¯s Ava¡¯s birthday! I asked you to meet us at her grave. I asked you to be there, to be with this family, but here you are, too good for us. So ready to leave and be an arena contender person¡­ thing.¡± His heart sank as her words stabbed his soul repeatedly. He glanced over at the wall. Ava¡¯s framed photo was hung directly in between his and Meg¡¯s. He and Ava had never gotten along. They were like oil and water, cats and dogs, and every other comparison one could think of. It had been years since she was killed. Unlike Travis, who had lost his life in an accident while protecting them from the rift gate, Ava was the victim of a demonic attack. She¡¯d been spending the night at a friend¡¯s house across town. They hadn¡¯t built a bunker or shelter. Nor did they live close enough to reach the military¡¯s old underground tunnel system. Pepper could recall the moment when the shoebox-sized coffin was given to his mom and dad. The few remains of Ava that had been found and recovered after the military had fought the demons back through the rift portal and resecured the defenses around the gate. ¡°Look¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I just¡­¡± ¡°No! No, no, no¡­ I¡¯m sick of your excuses, Pepper. I am tired of you treating this family like second best. Everyone else comes first before we do. Your statues and arena people, you¡¯re more worried about that than us. You¡¯re so excited to leave that you¡ª¡± Pepper had finally had enough. He cut his mom off, unable to help his temper. ¡°You¡¯re right. I am ready to leave. I would have to be crazy like you to want to stay here. Who lives on the outskirts of a rift gate, just waiting for the next probe attack to strike and go hide in a bomb shelter?¡± ¡°This is our home! This is where my babies were raised, and this is where we will¡ª¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, you are just so right on that one, Mom. This is where your babies were raised¡­ and this is certainly where you will die and be buried right alongside them.¡± The argument had grown to such an intense level that Pepper didn¡¯t hear his father arrive. All he saw was the back door open and his dad walk in and place a gallon of milk on the counter. There was a frustrated expression on Trent¡¯s face. ¡°You know, coming back home and walking into you two at each other¡¯s throats¡­ makes me realize I should have gone to get the gallon of milk, but simply not have returned.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Pepper¡¯s dad gave him a quick nod right before his mom turned around and started to scream with even more fury. Pepper took his cue and bolted out the front door before his mom could stop him. He had already made up his mind that the war zone inside the house wasn¡¯t worth it. Pepper listened to his parents verbally lash out at each other as he made his way to the safety of his workshop. He leapt out of his skin when he almost ran into Meg, who was standing perfectly still in the middle of the workshop. Her arms were wrapped around his Mala statue. ¡°Mom¡¯s mad at you,¡± she said in her cute monotone voice. He took a deep breath and let his heart settle down. ¡°Now why would you go and think that?¡± ¡°Because she told me so.¡± Heated anger still flowed through his veins, and he couldn¡¯t hold back a long sigh. ¡°That sounds about right.¡± ¡°She said ¡­ I could strangle your brother right now.¡¯ She said it four times.¡± Meg did her best to hold up the number four while still clinging on to her prized possession. ¡°That really sounds about right.¡± Pepper walked over and placed the package on his workbench. ¡°Well, wanna help me unpack this rune card?¡± ¡°Not really. I¡¯d rather play,¡± Meg countered. Pepper couldn¡¯t argue with that, but at the same time he couldn¡¯t help his desire to crack open the new card. A quick slash from his box cutter and his fingers soon lifted the first flap from the cardboard box. He worked to pull the manufacturer¡¯s box out of the shipping box. A small card fell out as the two separated. Megan was nice enough to pick up the card and hand it him. ¡°Dear PEPPER WALKER. Congratulations on placing 2nd in your club match. We know this Centaur rune will take you to the next level. Remember, when you think of victory, think of Centaur!¡± Pepper rolled his eyes at the standard mass-printed card. He flicked his wrist and sent the card sliding across the surface of his bench. ¡°When you think victory, think of Centuar, rawr!¡± He sarcastically said as he looked towards Meg and crossed his eyes. She, of course, giggled and enjoyed the comical gesture. He turned his attention back to the package and carefully navigated the additional layers of protective shipping materials. The black wafer of the circuit card had a glossy shine as Pepper tilted it back and forth in the light. His eyes shifted and then became fixated on the central rune. A small reinforced piece of glass protected the magical symbol. The top right corner had a slight illumination of royal purple, while the opposite corner radiated a golden honey yellow. The rune itself looked to have been etched and woven in a glistening metal that remained suspended within the casing. Well¡­ it¡¯s better than nothing. Not really sure what I¡¯ll do with a gravity rune, but I still have time to figure something out, he told himself. He carefully placed the rune card back into its protective packaging. The shuffle of feet at the workshop door made him turn to see his dad lean against the doorframe. Their eyes met, and his dad¡¯s looked just as exhausted as his body felt. His dad glanced over at Meg, who simply greeted him with a cheerful ¡°Hi, Daddy.¡± Trent gave her a nod. ¡°Hey, baby girl.¡± His attention then shifted to Pepper. ¡°You owe me¡­ big time, Mister. Big, big, big time!¡± Pepper clapped his hands together and tried his best to portray a classic martial arts apprentice to his master instructor. ¡°Blessings, Master Pa-Pa.¡± ¡°Mmhmm,¡± Trent replied with an arched eyebrow. He looked back over at Megan. ¡°Okay, Princess ¡­ it¡¯s past your bedtime, even if you are royalty.¡± Meg tried to protest, but Dad wasn¡¯t having any part of it. She surrendered the statue and shuffled towards the door. ¡°You sleeping out here tonight?¡± Trent asked with a slight nod. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Pepper asked with a sarcastic chuckle. ¡°Not fair,¡± his dad replied as they turned and departed. *** Pepper stood and gazed out at a scorched and barren wasteland. Everywhere his eyes looked spoke of suffering he could not have imagined on his own. He was doing his best to make sense of it all when a cold sensation seemed to wrap around him from behind. He slowly turned to face the source, and that was when he saw it. The rift gate stood as a reinforced barrier between the two worlds. The exterior circle of the gate was fashioned of obsidian. His eyes started to focus on a deep etching of the runes within the stone. The depth of the carvings was so dark that he felt a direct beam of light was required to see their full details. Carvings which appeared to have been formed within the darkest depths of the hell itself. The stone sections were placed one on top of the other and appeared to defy gravity as the gate remained suspended above the ground. Pepper watched as a small pulse rippled out from the rock. He felt as if the runes in the center of each hell-forged stone were being awaked. A faint glow now allowed him to see that the magical symbols were jagged and rough, giving the sense that they had been made in haste rather than with fine craftsmanship. The center of the runes were laced with different colors, yet all seemed to blend together, forming an intricate pattern of astrological beauty as purples, silvers, blues, greens, yellows, and oranges all delicately intertwined within each carved line. Pepper slowly stepped forward as something inside him urged in on. His soul and spirit began to flutter. The tingling sensation of fear ran up and down his skin. But he couldn¡¯t turn away. His feet kept bringing him closer and closer to the giant gateway that now towered over him. The formed portal within the gate was pitch black, and just when Pepper had decided to flee from the demonic gateway, a hand sprang forth. A huge claw reached down and clasped onto him. Pepper was completely captured. The hand appeared to belong to a giant, a beast, a monster of such size that it could not fit through the gateway. Its skin was rough and cracked like charred wood. Pepper was lifted off the ground and without any further delay was pulled forward and felt a cold rush wash over his face. Pepper sprang upwards. His eyes widened and, rather than the cold sensation coming over him, he felt the hard floor of the workshop. The pain forced his body awake, and he immediately realized he had fallen out of his hammock. He took a moment to regain his composure and finally got to his feet. His ears picked up on an argument. A quick check of the time: It was 3:33 in the morning. He started to slowly make his way towards the house, but by the time he arrived, the argument seemed to be over. A gentle pull to ensure the back door opened quietly and he stepped inside to see his father bent over on his knees. A dustpan was in his hand while he swept hundreds of pieces of shattered glass into it. Pepper repositioned himself to see that his portrait had been ripped off the wall. It was propped up against the wall, a few pieces of glass still attached to the frame. His dad stopped for a moment and looked at him. ¡°Someone woke up and went looking for Ava... She accidentally hit your photo.¡± Pepper shook his head and started to walk down the hallway. ¡°You don¡¯t have to lie for her,¡± he muttered as he passed. He slowly opened Meg¡¯s bedroom door. He could hear her sniffles before it was fully open. He closed the door behind him and slowly lay down next to her. She turned over and snuggled up to him while he wrapped his arm around her tiny frame. I have to get out of here as soon as possible. Chapter 36 - Distraction He saw the void on the wall, and at the same time he felt the void in his heart. The distance that had grown between his mother and him was now at the point where he needed separation. Pepper grabbed the few items he knew he would need for a couple of days and threw them into his workshop. The truth was he wanted to move out completely. He just couldn¡¯t afford it. A quick check of his bank account and it only made his spirits sink even more. 2,412 Flex. I¡¯m not even halfway towards rebuilding Mala. The high-gloss shine of the box caught his attention. His new rune card could change everything, but it wouldn¡¯t make any difference if he didn¡¯t have the rest of the pieces to go with it. It had been months since he¡¯d taken a trip to Kyle¡¯s junkyard¡­ but if there was one place that could get him ahead, and in a hurry, it was there. Pepper got ready and headed for work, but the entire time his mind remained focused on his covert plan. His emotions raged within him, one wolf telling him to not take that path. The other told him the risk was worth the reward that awaited him. If that emotional battle wasn¡¯t enough, the physical exhaustion from falling out of his hammock and then trying to comfort Meg didn¡¯t help either. It had taken her a while to fall asleep, but thankfully she¡¯d finally felt the safety of her older brother and dozed off. There was a huge part of his heart that wished he could take her with him. His dad was the glue holding them together, but Pepper just wanted to see his mom get the help she needed. As he sat behind the counter at the store, he thought back to his time at GolemCon. Harmon Cooper¡¯s Queen Donut costume, JoeDan¡¯s epic match, the Duck Squad! His mind wandered for hours over the awesome memories. Though it had been a bit overwhelming for him in the moment, his soul had spoken to him and said, These are my people. We need to get back to them. He glanced over at one of the items that he considered a piece of art that Rhino had framed and put up on the far wall. It was an original Season 1 Golem League promotional poster. This is when everyone else gives up! This is when everyone else quits. I should have won that match against Tamin¡­ that was my Regional Invitation to achieve. The average joe would throw up his hands and think fate was giving them a sign from the cosmos. But not me! Not Pepper Walker¡­ Pepper Walker doesn¡¯t quit! Pepper Walker doesn¡¯t back down from a fight. ¡°Does Pepper Walker also help customers?¡± Summer asked. Pepper practically jumped out of his chair and out of his skin at the same time. ¡°How long have you been standing there?¡± he said, grabbing hold of his chest and trying to catch his breath. ¡°Long enough to hear the motivational speech. I will admit, though, not half bad. I¡¯ve at least heard worse, let¡¯s put it that way.¡± She rolled her eyes and tilted her head from side to side. But she soon erased the playful expression and returned to her normal genuine smile and soft gaze. She was wearing a colorful pink hoodie that matched the playful attitude she had arrived with. ¡°What brings you by the shop?¡± ¡°Well, probably the fact that you haven¡¯t told me anything about GolemCon and I was curious to hear how it was. Two¡­ I kinda need to ask a favor¡ªlike, a major favor, if I could.¡± Pepper focused on her. ¡°Okay ¡­ what kind of favor exactly?¡± ¡°Would it be possible for you to make that Mala statue replica thing for Jackson before Christmas? Like¡­ in a month or two. I kinda wanted to give it to him as a going-away gift for when I head to nursing school.¡± Pepper leaned against the glass countertop. His heart sank when he thought about how this would cut into his funds for rebuilding his actual golem. But he had promised to do it. Perhaps I can negotiate with Rhino about my commission for helping rebuild some of our damaged rune cards and other items? If that is the case, I could easily see my income take off if we get another rush or parts in. His eyes locked onto hers and he could see that she already regretted asking him for the favor. He instinctively knew that she already understood how much she was asking him to sacrifice, and the look on her face was one he hated to see. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Summer. I got you. I can start working on it in a few days.¡± Her shoulders eased and an appreciative smile appeared on her face. ¡°Thank you so much, Pepper. This totally just¡­ I can¡¯t tell you how much it means to me.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Oh, I think I can tell all right.¡± He winked at her. With her major issue out of the way, Summer bombarded him with a hundred questions regarding his time at the convention. It was a great distraction, especially as they didn¡¯t have a single customer for the rest of the day. The time spent with his old friend was something he enjoyed. It was the first time since he had been back that he¡¯d actually taken some time to relax.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. A small Midwest thunderstorm rolled overhead for about thirty minutes, and when it was over, Summer decided to head out. Her stay at the shop had lasted until Pepper only had an hour left. ¡°So, what you gonna do for the rest of the night?¡± Summer closed her eyes and shook her head. ¡°I am, um¡­ having dinner with Brent.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Pepper practically screamed, and his gum fell out of his mouth. Summer huffed. ¡°I know, I know¡­ gosh, he is so persistent! I mean, I figure I can at least give him a shot. That way, I dunno.¡± She threw her hands up. ¡°It¡¯s one date, and that is all for now.¡± ¡°I leave for a weekend and you two start dating?¡± Summer¡¯s hands balled into fists and a playful yet angry expression came over her. ¡°We¡¯re not dating! It¡¯s just one dinner date, hangout, thing¡­ Uhhh! I should have never even told you, Pep!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to do at this point!¡± ¡°Well, maybe you can sweep around here or something¡­ it stinks in here, just like your attitude.¡± ¡°Way to go, Mom. I am totally the child stuck in between this parental relationship between you and Brent right now!¡± ¡°Eww! Gross¡­¡± She dragged the word out playfully and started to gag while walking out the door. Pepper looked over the storefront as she got into her mom¡¯s car and drove off. It doesn¡¯t smell in here! At least nasty¡­ smells like guy; smells like motor oil, rune card technology and awesomeness! He felt a sensation rumble in his stomach and with a smug expression on his face, he lifted his leg and let one rip. ¡°Oh my gaw, that is diabolical!¡± He quickly walked back to the workbench to retrieve the half-empty can of air freshener and fogged the area worse than if a smoke bomb had gone off. His mind went back to his original plan. The thunderstorm that had rolled through earlier provided a cloudy sky and darkened the area faster as the sunset was veiled behind it. With the shop finally closed for the night, he started to pedal his bike towards Kyle¡¯s junkyard. There was a tightness in his muscles, a sense of anxiety and fear, but it wasn¡¯t as bad as it had been the first time. His confidence helped him find balance within himself. I¡¯ve done this before, and I know exactly where to go and what to look for, and I¡¯ll be out before anyone realizes it. Heck, I bet Kyle won¡¯t even be there. Pepper angled his bike into the turn and immediately noticed it slow by half when he left the roadway. His tires softly dug into the earth, as it had been saturated by the rain that had accompanied the thunderstorm. A slight bit of panic arose as he pumped away on his pedals, trying to speed down the main access road. He turned the far corner and felt the reassurance of the cover of the few scattered trees and the back fence line to the property. A split second later he heard a vehicle approach, but it kept driving past the junkyard¡¯s entrance. Come on, we got this¡­ there¡¯s no turning back now. Pepper propped his bike up against a tree and began to walk along the fence line. He focused on the small gap he had utilized a few months before and began to shimmy his way underneath. The entire front half of his body immediately soaked up the damp earth and he was covered with a thin layer of mud. Gross¡­ He got to his feet and quietly rushed over to the place where he remembered seeing the loose golem parts. Pepper was shocked to see Kyle had assorted boxes of rune cards. Some were broken in two, and he quickly discarded those, but multiple crates were stacked one on top of the other with what appeared to be intact cards. When he looked more closely, he saw that Kyle had already sorted them by manufacturer. Centaur, Ronin, Dark Dwarf, Quintek, Tribal¡­ Holy crap! I could practically take any one of these and they would be amazing! Controller card, elemental defense, energy strike ¡­ holy¡ª Kyle has a psionic spell rune by Ronin in here! Pepper was overwhelmed. Though he already knew Kyle¡¯s hauls could aid him, he hadn¡¯t expected there to be so much to choose from. There were choices he had not even contemplated. Fireball, energy beam, water wave¡ªall these runes were ones he wanted to wield within his golem. But he only had three slots available after he added in the controller card and power core. He wasn¡¯t too sure how exactly he was going to utilize the gravity rune he had won from KBVS, but there was this sensation within him that told him that would be the key to his success. There was just a missing puzzle piece. The frustrating part was that he didn¡¯t know what exactly it was. His fingers fumbled and sifted through the cards until he caught hold of two items. He grabbed hold of the energy refinement runes and held them up to better look them over in the ambient light. ¡°These are Ronin energy refinement¡­ I have to grab these, even if I don¡¯t use them. I know I¡¯ll need them soon,¡± Pepper said under his breath. He placed the cards in his backpack and moved on to the next crate. A Dark Dwarf energy strike rune¡­ I¡¯m already using that in my combat technique¡­ that and the amount of energy the Dark Dwarf version has is the best out of the other manufacturers I see here. Pepper placed it in his bag and continued to quickly search. He soon discovered a force blast rune made by Koto and finally chose a Ronin controller rune. There was no lapse in his memory; he knew he still needed a power core and rescanned the area. Pepper then realized Kyle had put the power cores further away, on the other side of a wall of scrap metal. He figured this was to help protect the rune cards should there be any accidents during the cores extraction process. A thorough inspection of each one and Pepper quickly realized that every power core was severely damaged. The vast majority of them were worthless with the exception of one. The distinct emblem immediately stood out. A Campell Big Mack power core¡­ ¡°Well, hello there,¡± he muttered. His fingers gently glided over the power core while his eyes inspected every fine metallic pathway that ran from one microchip to the other. The core was actually intact, and it appeared that there was a chance it could actually function. A large burn spot on the card wafer told him that it would more than likely not, but it gave him an opportunity. The core could easily be passed off as having had a faulty chip that overheated. Pepper finally placed the core into his bag and turned to leave. He didn¡¯t want to rob Kyle of everything; he was simply trying to take advantage of the situation. The very thought of having to bike home made him feel worse than the theft he was currently partaking in. A quick shimmy under the fence and he was on his bike and quickly pedaling down the access road, back out and onto the street. Chapter 37 - Phantom Industries Pepper didn¡¯t like the fact that a small light was on over the back access door to Nordon¡¯s grocery. But he didn¡¯t have any other choice. It was going to be his only way in and out, and it had to be now or never. He walked up to the door and entered the code. He had used his dad¡¯s code multiple times before when bringing him something from home or a coffee shop. The part that Pepper was racking his brain over was the alarm deactivation code. There were at least two eights in the code. Was it¡­ 8875? He took a long breath and swung the door open. The alarm chirped to life with a warning chime. It was counting down his minute before it alerted others. His immediately noticed that the pound, eight, four, and seven keys were more worn than any of the other numbers. His hands began to itch, and he quickly rubbed them together. ¡°Okay¡­ come on¡­ we got this.¡± #8874. A loud beep rang out from the alarm and text flashed across the small LED screen. ¡°Incorrect Entry.¡± ¡°Crap,¡± he muttered. He could feel the sweat start to form on his face. Okay, okay¡­ come on, think. No, wait¡­ the eights actually weren¡¯t next to each other. #8784. The beep repeated itself and the message appeared again. The continued warning chime only made his heart race faster. All alarm systems are the same. Three chances and then your hands get cut off and you are cast into the wilderness¡­ you have one final chance, P-Dub, otherwise we¡¯re going to be a handless, helpless loser! #8487. An acceptance chirp arrived, and his heart skipped a beat. ¡°Deactivate Alarm System? Yes or No.¡± Pepper practically smashed the button to turn the alarm off. The warning alarm turned off and he let out a long breath. He grabbed the sides of his head as he leaned back and took a second to compose himself. Right¡­ let¡¯s do this. Pepper looked around in search of the golems that should be in the back storage area. He knew his dad normally had a few in the back to help load and unload the delivery trucks. It only took him a few seconds to find where they were currently tucked away. He immediately got to work with opening the access panels. His fingers worked through the inner techo-guts of the golem and he found the Campell power core without even turning the lights on. He reached into his backpack and retrieved the junkyard version. One hand passed it to the other and the swap was complete. He carefully maneuvered the healthy core into his backpack, reconnected the false card, and buttoned up the access panels. He turned to leave and even shocked himself when he realized that the entire process had taken less than a few minutes. He stopped by the alarm panel, activated the security system and left. Pepper could not remember the last time he had pedaled so hard on his bike. He pushed the machine to its limits and was dripping with sweat by the time he arrived home. He propped his bike against the side of the house and power walked straight to his workshop. He burst through the door and slammed it behind him as if he was hiding from the world. His head leaned back and he worked to slow his heart. You did it, Pep¡­ We got away with it. The sweat ran down his face, and he reached up and wiped it away with his sweatshirt sleeve. He began to stagger forward but paused after his first step when he realized there was a new addition to his workshop. His eyes locked onto the small package on the workbench. It was similar in size to the container his gravity rune had arrived in. The shipping label had his name printed on it but no return address. That¡¯s odd, he thought. He gently placed his backpack on the workbench and unzipped the bag to check over the items he had acquired. Everything appeared to still be in good shape without having sustained any damage during the ride home. Pepper slid his backpack to one side and retrieved a small knife to open the mysterious package. He opened the flaps to see a deep purple package with a black emblem printed in the center. The emblem was of a cloaked figure and had a shield surrounding it. ¡°Phantom Industries¡± was printed along the top of the shield. The excitement of the evening clouded his memory and he couldn¡¯t recall right away where exactly he had heard this name before. He slowly removed the package and found a card inside. It had a pre-printed script message, just like his gravity rune, but the handwritten note at the bottom immediately caught his attention. ¡°Pepper¡­ turns out my friend in your home town happens to know you and said some really great things about you. I can¡¯t think of a better person to be gifted with this advanced rune technology. I know it will be in safe hands and look forward to hearing your review of it. Keep doing great things and say hi to Ryan for me. ¡ª Bill Baxter.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in surprise when he saw who it was from. His memory flashed back to GolemCon¡ªto the one booth had he stopped at before everything else turned into a massive blur. I met the Bill Baxter? Pepper said to himself and realized that his neighbor had done more for him than he had realized. He turned and walked to the door, taking a quick glance over at Ryan¡¯s house, but all he saw was its pitch-black, lifeless silhouette. His excitement and curiosity left him now intrigued and he began to open the box to discover exactly what this rune was. Inside the inner layer of the packaging was a technical specification sheet.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Familiar Rune. This unique item is self-powered through its own unique Phantom Industries core. When the owner of the familiar is ready to activate their golem, place a finger over the blood sample introductory depression. With your other hand, press the activation button located on the opposite side of the device. Pepper looked over the card and could see the tiny print near the introductory depression. He flipped the card over to see an activation button on the other side. ¡°They serious about this? They want a blood sample. No way.¡± Pepper blew a raspberry of disbelief as he glanced back at the sheet. The rune card will power on once the activation button is depressed. The blood sample will be analyzed and will create a living bond between the person and the rune card. This bond can never be transferred to another person, nor can it be erased. Should the bonded individual die, the rune card will erase and enter a self-destruct sequence. Pepper walked over and plopped into his hammock. He turned his holoscreen on and instructed it to start playing a movie. The background noise gave his spirit a sense of calming reassurance. He took a few more deep breaths and settled into his hammock, shifting his weight. Once the sample has been supplied, place the rune card in the item you choose to be your familiar. It is highly recommended you choose an object that is easy to travel with, as your familiar will be able to go with you throughout life. Our original alpha tests indicate that the lighter the weight of the familiar, the higher degrees of comradery were found by our bonded individuals. Current results show that the longer the familiar is with their bonded individual, the higher degree of loyalty, happiness, trust, and even unwavering protection occurs. The more time they spend with their familiars, the more users experience separation depression and / or anxiety. This is due to their desires to be with their familiar 24/7. Be advised. Some users have discovered the ability to transfer the familiar rune from one golem to another. However, this is not a guarantee, as some beta testers were unsuccessful in their attempts and lost their familiar entirely. Choose wisely who you want to spend the rest of your life with. We look forward to hearing how much you love your familiar. Pepper folded the paper in half and ignored all the other information that was printed on it. He looked at the rune card box and shook his head. There¡¯s no way this is a thing¡­ this has to be, like, a kid¡¯s toy prank or something. He slowly raised himself up and out of the hammock. He picked the rune card back up and continued to look it over. As he lowered it, he caught sight of his Amprage statue near the back of his shed. ¡°No way¡­¡± he huffed. Pepper ensured the rune card was safely resting on his workbench. He walked over to the statue and picked it up. It was heavy but weighed in at roughly 65 lbs. It didn¡¯t seem like a big deal to him. That weight was literally the same as the dog character it was modeled after. He carried it around and hoisted it up onto the workbench. The statue was covered in dust and dirt from sitting in the corner for years. Pepper spent the next few minutes spraying it off with his air compressor and then gave it a good wipe down with a metal-polishing agent and a rag. The statue had a fresh glossy shine to it. He smiled as he spent a moment simply admiring the hundreds of hours of work he had devoted to creating it. The metal had finally been transformed and shaped into one of the famous video game creatures he had played with in his youth. His eyes dashed over to the rune, which was only a foot away. Might as well give this thing a shot, he thought. It was just a second or two later that he realized that was easier said than done. He had never imagined his Amprage replica would be turned into a golem, nor even had an idea what a familiar even was. He retrieved his tools and began to modify the rib cage panel. After a few adjustments and modifications, there was an internal space with brackets that the rune card could be mounted to. Pepper grabbed hold of the rune and pressed his index finger on the sample intake valve. He then depressed the button on the back as the instructions stated and jumped when a sharp prick pierced his finger. A faint green LED light illuminated in the corner of the card. The card began to vibrate in his hands, and soon he felt warmth fill his fingertips. The small internal power core of the card initiated itself and began to provide power to the rune. He could just make out the small drop of blood entering the center of the rune chamber. The red life force faded as it mixed with a bright sky-blue that began to glow with life. Pepper gazed at the rune card and appreciated the precision craftsmanship. His eyes shifted to the statue, and he slowly secured the card inside the metal replica. A quick double checked the instructions and then found a package of small connection wires. He attached the cables from the rune card, soldered them to the makeshift internal skeleton, and patched up the rib cage. Pepper slowly stepped back and watched the statue glow with energy. More life filled every molecule of his sculpture with each second that ticked by. A slight static shock rippled across the exterior. He reached out, and once his fingertips touched the metal skin, he felt the sharp pinch from the energy. Amprage¡¯s head tilted towards him. The golem¡¯s eyes glowed with yellow life. Pepper was fixated on the creature, which now gazed at him with the same look he had seen in Meg¡¯s eyes. The two stared each other down until finally, as if an instinctual feeling within his soul had awoken, he knew he had a familiar. ¡°Please tell me my name.¡± A monotonous voice softly spoke from the golem. ¡°Your name is Amprage.¡± ¡°Name registration complete. What is your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Pepper Walker. I am also known as Pep or P-Dub.¡± ¡°Bonded name registration complete. Do you have a voice and style preference?¡± Pepper raised his head slightly as he thought about the question. His mind was a blank and he didn¡¯t have a single clue what to choose. It wasn¡¯t something he had ever considered, and in that moment, he turned to the first thing that popped into his head. The holoscreen was playing, and at that very moment he heard a vibrant but raspy voice come over the screen. It was confident, strong, and domineering yet genuine and full of soul¡ªall the qualities he wanted to have by his side. ¡°Can you adopt that voice?¡± he asked. ¡°Analyzing.¡± There was a four-second pause before Amprage continued. ¡°Adopting the voice of American actor Keith David. System resetting.¡± Another few seconds and the blue and yellow light faded out and then flashed back on. Amprage began to twist and move with life. Pepper was in shock as his old creation turned its head towards him and, with its newly adopted voice, said ¡°Hello, Pepper. It¡¯s nice to meet you.¡± Chapter 38 - Personality Profile ¡°Wow,¡± Pepper said out loud. A mental chime occurred within his head and he heard Andrea¡¯s voice repeat, ¡°Way to go, Owen Wilson.¡± ¡°You seem surprised. Have I done something wrong?¡± Amprage asked. ¡°No, not at all, actually. I am just a little amazed, I guess. How are you speaking to me, though?¡± ¡°There is a micro-speaker affixed to my rune card. It should have been installed on what could be considered the back of the wafer, directly to the left of where the rune housing brackets are connected.¡± ¡°That thing is pretty powerful. It almost sounds like you¡¯ve really got a voice.¡± ¡°Many things can have a voice while at the same time never have a need to speak a single word.¡± Amprage nodded his head. Pepper chuckled and enjoyed the gesture. He crossed his arms and smiled. ¡°I never imagined one of my statues would be able to have a conversation with me. This is kinda rippin¡­¡± ¡°I have done an essence pulse scan throughout my immediate surroundings and realize that my body appears to be shaped like an American pitbull terrier. Are my estimates correct?¡± ¡°Holy crap. You have a built-in radar?¡± Amprage sat down and tilted his head. ¡°Of course I do. How else do you think I see?¡± Pepper reached up and scratched his head. ¡°I guess you have a point there.¡± The raspy yet playful voice of Keith David continued to make Amprage come alive even more. ¡°Of course I have a point, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have said anything. My system was developed to do an initial scan to understand the shape of the body I was put into. Then my system sends the information to a secure database that will try to instruct me on exactly what I am. The shape matched, and I understand that these Canis lupus familiaris, more commonly referred to as dogs, have eyes and advanced smell and hearing capability. ¡°Unfortunately, I must admit that I do not possess any of those capabilities. However, it helps train my essence radar, as you called it, to devote its efforts to aiming ahead. I still have a small peripheral radar that allows me to perceive items around me. Now, seeing that I am fashioned into the shape of a dog, would you like me to incorporate the listed traits and personalities associated with these creatures?¡± Pepper immediately thought about how he had always wanted a dog. This was a no-brainer, and he reacted without hesitation. ¡°Absolutely!¡± ¡°Excellent. Downloading dog personality profile now. Download complete. Installation started. Installation complete.¡± Amprage moved his head around as if he was looking for something. The scan didn¡¯t last very long, and Amprage began to walk over to the recliner in the corner. Without a second of delay, he opened his mouth and bit down hard and aggressively on the side of the chair. ¡°Woah! Stop! What are you doing?¡± Pepper rushed over and pulled back his empowered familiar. ¡°Destroying furniture, of course. It is part of my personality profile.¡± ¡°No! We don¡¯t¡­ you don¡¯t do that. Bad¡­ Amprage!¡± ¡°We don¡¯t?¡± ¡°No¡­ you don¡¯t¡­ can you delete that part from the personality profile thing?¡± ¡°Will do, Pepper.¡± ¡°Goodness gracious.¡± Pepper ran his fingers through his hair. He turned around and rotated his head in a circular motion. Holy cow, what a day¡­ His lower body was taken by surprise by a firm thud against his left leg. There was a slight thrusting motion and Pepper¡¯s head snapped down. ¡°Stop humping my leg, Amprage! Gross!¡± Pepper shook his leg as vigorously as he could. Amprage hopped off and tilted his head at his bonded. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. I thought you wanted me to act out the personality profile of a dog.¡± ¡°I do! Just not all the gross, destructive, or annoying traits that go along with it.¡± ¡°Perhaps you should have mentioned that before I began down this path.¡± There was a slight pause as Amprage lowered his head. ¡°Shall I ¡­ also delete this act from the pers¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, delete humping people from the personality profile!¡± ¡°Understood. I am sorry, Pepper¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to cause you such pain.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t harm me, man. I guess I should have thought about some of this too.¡± ¡°Seeing how we are on the topic,¡­ should I also delete pooping on your bed?¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Just wanted to be sure. You don¡¯t need to snap, Pepper. I¡¯m still learning here.¡± ¡°Wait¡­ how would you even do that? You don¡¯t have any organs; you have no need to go to the bathroom.¡± ¡°Are you tempting me to find a way? Because if that is what people call a dare, then sign me¡ª¡± ¡°Nope! No¡­ forget it. Just forget we even went down that bunny trail.¡± Pepper placed his hands on his hips and hated the fact that he was in the classic pose of a disgruntled parent. ¡°No destroying anything, no digging, no barking, no attacking the mailman, no vomiting or bathroom accidents, even though that should be impossible anyway. But most importantly, no humping.¡± ¡°There is still butt scratches on the carpet.¡± Amprage tilted his head and seemed to read Pepper¡¯s demeanor. ¡°No worries; I just added it to the list of things-to-delete.¡± *** Pepper eventually went to sleep, and Amprage went into his own type of sleep mode and lay at his feet. The rays of sunlight that glowed in the room had started to pull him out of his deep sleep. But it was the door creaking that made him open one eye. Princess Meg walked confidently into the workshop but soon squealed with excitement. ¡°What is wrong with Amprage?¡± she asked. ¡°He¡¯s broken!¡± Amprage roared to life and immediately powered up and launched himself to his feet. ¡°What is it? What is wrong?¡± The golem¡¯s head snapped around and its essence radar scanned the room. It looked at the tiny creature. ¡°Alert! Alert! Pepper! Get back! There is a tiny alien life-form nearby, I can sense it!¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Meg screamed and covered her eyes with her tiny hands. The two fingers that parted to let her peer out made Pepper chuckle. ¡°Both of you calm down.¡± Amprage hunched down and looked like he was prepared to pounce on Meg. ¡°Are you sure? Pepper, I can sense fear in the creature. I think I will have the upper hand. Stay back, though; there is no telling what germs it might have.¡± Pepper slowly crawled out of his hammock and flicked the top of Amprage¡¯s metal head. A soft metal hum rang out. ¡°Knock it off, blockhead. This is my little sister Megan, but we normally call her Meg.¡± ¡°Pepper, what is that?¡± Meg asked with tear-filled eyes. Pepper reached down and placed his arms around the frightened princess. The strong and reassuring arms of her favorite knight slowly began to calm her spirits. ¡°Princess Meg, would I ever let harm come to you?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Okay, well, you don¡¯t need to be scared¡ª¡± Amprage cut him off with a low mumbled warning. ¡°You should be, Pepper. There is no telling how many billions upon billions of microscopic organisms are crawling on her.¡± ¡°Enough, Amprage. Gosh¡­ you¡¯re getting as dramatic as Brent now.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Brent?¡± ¡°My best friend. Now give me a second.¡± Pepper turned back to Meg. ¡°See, he doesn¡¯t sound so bad, does he?¡± She shook her head. ¡°His voice is nice.¡± ¡°Well, you don¡¯t need to worry. Amprage is known as a familiar. He is bonded to me. That means he is just trying to protect me. He was just scared because he didn¡¯t get a chance to meet you yet. But now that he has, he won¡¯t give you any problems. In fact, he is going to be your guard too if I¡¯m ever not around.¡± ¡°He is?¡± Meg asked. ¡°I am?¡± Amprage asked in unison. ¡°He is,¡± Pepper stated in a firm parental tone. Meg began to regain her composure. Her fear appeared to fade away and she quickly became curious. She looked down at the golem and asked, ¡°Can I sit on his back?¡± Pepper didn¡¯t see why not. It wasn¡¯t like Amprage could feel pain. The metal he was forged out of was clearly strong enough, and Pepper had spent countless hours ensuring there wasn¡¯t a sharp edge on him anywhere. So there didn¡¯t appear to be anything wrong with the idea. ¡°Sure¡­ why not?¡± He knelt and gently lowered the princess onto her newly assigned steed. Her small hands braced herself against his back, but Amprage understood the task and began to walk slowly around the room. Pepper enjoyed watching Meg, who beamed and cried out with cheers of joy. ¡°He¡¯s like a horse, Pepper,¡± she declared. ¡°Would you like me to add the personality profile of a horse?¡± Amprage asked. ¡°Yes!¡± Meg screamed. The mental image of Amprage rearing up and kicking him in the junk appeared all too clearly. ¡°No!¡± Pepper immediately countered. ¡°This is fine¡­ this is fine just as it is.¡± A shadow arrived in the doorway, and Pepper looked up to see his father. A phone was pressed to his ear, but Pepper could still hear an Irish accent blaring out. That high-pitched tone could only be coming from Rachel Ni Chuirc, the regional manager of Nordon¡¯s grocery. Pepper¡¯s heart paused when he saw the dread in his father¡¯s eyes. It was a look he had not seen in years. It was the same look his father had had when he¡¯d had to tell his mom that Travis had been taken from them. Trent pulled the phone partially away from his ear. ¡°I need to speak with you outside, Pepper.¡± His father barely got the words out. Pepper¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He quickly checked his holodex and confirmed his suspicions. His dad was already supposed to be at work. The sunlight blinded him for a moment and he reached his hand up to block it. His hand couldn¡¯t block the deputy sheriff that was standing in the center of their backyard. The deputy¡¯s hands rested firmly on his nylon patrol belt. A finely trimmed military buzz cut and bland glasses matched his stern and serious demeanor. Pepper slowly approached and stood a few feet away. ¡°You¡¯re Pepper Walker?¡± The voice was low, deep, and serious. A complete monotone that didn¡¯t have a single ounce of personality to it. It was all business¡ªserious business. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Hello, Pepper. I am Deputy Ryan Kaber with the Kalamazoo County Sheriff¡¯s. I would like to discuss a few things with you, if that¡¯s all right?¡± ¡°Do I really have a choice?¡± Pepper narrowed his gaze. ¡°Sure, you can choose to not talk to me or you can have a discussion regarding some information I have as it relates to your activities last night.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart soared to life and felt like it was going to punch straight through his throat. His hands began to go clammy. The sun was directly on him; Pepper could have sworn to any doctor that he had been placed into an oven. His temperature rose with every beat of his heart, and his chest began to contract with every breath he took. ¡°You see, Pepper. When I arrived at your house, I noticed your bike.¡± The deputy adjusted his left arm and activated his Emergotech Guardian X5 holodex, a specialized device specifically created for first responder personnel. The full-color holographic display illuminated. ¡°This tire tread found just outside Kyle¡¯s junkyard. It just so happens to match your tire tread. Now, that really isn¡¯t that big of a deal; tire treads are not a highly competitive industry and many share the same pattern.¡± The sheriff closed the holographic image and placed his hand back on his duty belt. ¡°What is interesting is that Kyle¡¯s junkyard is actually located in a highly dense red clay area of the county. The side wall of your bike tires has a small red clay coloration on them. It is also the same red clay I see on the shoes you¡¯re wearing.¡± Pepper felt a bead of sweat run down his face. He quickly wiped his head with his hand and dried his hand on his pants. A quick glance at his dad made him guess that there was still more to come. ¡°I can¡¯t help but notice a slight red color on the front of your pants there. I would assume that was caused when you slid underneath the fence on the back side of the junkyard. It just happens to be right near where the tire tread ends. ¡°Now, I don¡¯t really need you to lift up and show me the sole of your shoe. I am positive that it will match the shoe imprint my evidence tech is taking a mold of right now. To be fair, theft from the junkyard is not unheard of. I really didn¡¯t have a lot of leads to go on.¡± The deputy turned to his dad and waited for a second. Trent, with a remorseful expression, nodded to the deputy. ¡°You see, Pepper, you would have easily gotten away with the theft, but you just weren¡¯t satisfied, were you? So, you left the junkyard and traveled to your dad¡¯s work. You used his access code to get into the building and deactivate the security system. ¡°What you don¡¯t realize is that Nordon¡¯s grocery stores have a central headquarters where they monitor all the stores¡¯ alarms and camera systems remotely. Any type of door activity, such as what you did outside of the normal operating hours, triggers a silent alarm in their system. The remote worker not only watched you on video but recorded you modifying the golem with the damaged power core. ¡°The Nordon security team notified us of the burglary, but unfortunately, all our units were tied up with an emergency and couldn¡¯t respond in time to catch you in the act. That and you were nice enough to resecure the facility. So, with no continued threat to the store, I decided to piece together the little bit of information I discovered this morning and pay you a little visit.¡± The sheriff shifted his weight. ¡°Did I miss anything?¡± Pepper was looking straight at the ground and was filled with such guilt that he dared not look either man in the eyes. His eyes filled with tears and his hands were trembling. ¡°No, sir,¡± he finally muttered. ¡°Where is the backpack?¡± Deputy Kaber asked. ¡°It¡¯s in my workshop.¡± He motioned with his head to the door. ¡°All the parts are still in there.¡± A small commotion occurred behind him¡ªa mixture of Amprage and Meg¡¯s rumbling chuckles and laughter. Deputy Kaber started to break his demeanor and arched an eyebrow. ¡°What is that?¡± The sheriff pointed behind Pepper. ¡°It¡¯s my horsey!¡± Meg declared with resolute confidence. ¡°I am the royal steed of Princess Megan of house Walker. Stand back, you over-glorified mailman, or I shall act in defense! Hazzah!¡± was Amprage¡¯s aggressive decree. ¡°No! You will do nothing, Amprage. Take care of Meg until I return home¡­ whenever that is.¡± He turned back to the deputy. ¡°That is my familiar. He is bonded to me. He won¡¯t harm anything, or anyone, for that matter.¡± ¡°Pepper Walker, I am placing you under arrest. Please turn around and put both hands behind your back.¡± The deputy undid his handcuffs and took a step forward. Pepper turned around and did as the deputy instructed. The cold metal shocked his senses when they were first introduced. Each click of the handcuffs latched them further down until they fit snug against his wrists. The sound imprisoned his soul, and all Pepper could envision was dark days ahead of him. Chapter 39 - Processing Pepper was in the back of the van transporting him to the courthouse. He watched the trees pass by at the side of the road and was grateful to see something other than dull concrete brick walls. His eyes burned slightly. He¡¯d been struggling to sleep at night. All he had was a small two-inch pad for a mattress to soften the hard metal surface that was his bed. Then there were the screams, the bellowing creepy laughs of the transient veterans who still fought the terrors of their dreams. Then there were the sick and tormented drug addicts thrown into the mix. Their voices rang out during all hours of the day. A few swore to God, pleading for mercy and safety from the demons they were sure were standing in the hallway. Others spoke to those gathered around them, but their audience only existed in their imagination. Pepper rather believed they were the ghosts of the dead that still haunted some of those people. For the first time in his life, he missed Rocket Burger. He would have given an entire week of hard labor breaking rocks, digging holes, and carrying sandbags if only he could get that juicy, meaty, greasy, melted-cheese-with-mayonnaise-dripping goodness of a burger. The hot, salty, and crunchy taste of fresh French fries. The cool balance of ranch dressing coating their ends after he dipped them in the small sauce container. Instead, he was treated to powdered eggs, bacon that crumbled in his fingers, and a biscuit so hard, he was sure he could make a golem out of them alone. Lunch was normally a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with some carrots and an apple. Dinner was the worst canned beans he had ever had, with small pieces of pork, a side of steamed broccoli, and a cup of vanilla pudding. The van pulled up to the back of the courthouse and Pepper was escorted inside. A man in a cheap brown suit walked up to him. ¡°Mr. Walker, I am Terry Vandemogle. I will be your defense attorney helping represent you today.¡± ¡°Do I really need a lawyer for all this?¡± he asked and let out a long breath. ¡°Not really. These things are pretty straightforward.¡± The man had not even looked up at Pepper. But then he paused and they finally locked eyes. ¡°I forgot this is your first time. Don¡¯t worry. I was able to talk to Judge Lori Atwater this morning and put in a good word for you. It¡¯s your first offense, and I think she¡¯ll understand my reasoning.¡± ¡°Pepper Walker,¡± a court clerk called down the hallway. ¡°Okay¡­ that¡¯s us. Let¡¯s get this over with,¡± his lawyer declared. Pepper followed the highly polished tiles until they arrived at a set of carved wooden doors. They opened up just enough for him to walk into the room. He was afraid there would be a large audience¡ªthose closest to him seeing him walking in with shame and regret in his heart. A quick scan of the room put his mind at ease, as there was only a clerk or two at the front. A single deputy stood in the corner of the room. The judge was seated dead center behind a carved wooden platform which looked down at Pepper and his lawyer. He could sense the judge¡¯s eyes blazing through him, analyzing him with every inch of floor he crossed until he arrived at a small wooden desk. He finally came to a stop and looked straight ahead. The court clerk read off his charges and information, but he didn¡¯t hear the words. Everything sounded like he was stuck in a metal tunnel. Every noise echoed uncontrollably until they were indistinguishable. It wasn¡¯t until he felt a nudge on his shoulder that he pulled himself out of the fray. He looked over to see Kyle was now standing in the center of the room before the judge. He was dressed better than his lawyer, in a black suit with a bright blue tie. He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. ¡°Good morning, Your Honor.¡± ¡°Hello, Mr. Wilkinson. I am informed that you are a victim of Mr. Walker.¡± ¡°No, Your Honor.¡± Kyle coughed; he seemed to be struggling to get the words out. It looked as if he was finding it hard to focus. He took a second to recompose himself and finally stood straight and continued. ¡°Your Honor, I am no victim of Mr. Walker. In fact, I was offering the items as a gift to Mr. Walker. I had forgotten that Mr. Walker was planning to stop by my junkyard that night and I had locked the gate. I know Mr. Walker, or as I better know him as, Pepper. ¡°He was in desperate need to get the items to work on a project. There was no damage done to my property, and the items are mere scraps. Pepper is a wonderful young man with a very bright future. I would hate to have my name or business in any way, shape, or form associated with a criminal charge. He comes from a wonderful family, with an older brother who helped defend this world, this country, and this community from our greatest enemy.¡± Pepper¡¯s mouth was open in shock. He looked at the judge, who had her reading glasses hanging on the edge of her nose. Her cold-hearted glare danced back and forth between him and Kyle. ¡°I see.¡± She paused and removed her glasses. ¡°Well, Mr. Wilkinson. I respect your decision and shall drop the theft charges in regard to your relation to this case brought before me today.¡± She adjusted her attention to Pepper. ¡°As for you, Mr. Walker, I am greatly troubled by your actions. How do I ensure a young man such as yourself understands the severity of your decisions? How do I know that you will learn there are consequences for your choices? Nordon¡¯s grocery are still claiming to be victims. Though they recovered their property, it was only due to the actions of Deputy Ryan Kaber that those items were returned. ¡°However, this is your first offense. I have been informed of some¡­ extracurricular affairs between you and another individual at Status Academy. But I will not hold those instances against you. Therefore I am sentencing you to community service for the next six months. Should you commit any additional crimes in my jurisdiction, you will serve out the remainder of your time in jail. Do I make myself clear?¡± His lawyer gave him a gentle nudge. Pepper cleared his throat and swallowed. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Your Honor,¡± his attorney muttered. ¡°Your Honor, I mean.¡± Pepper quickly corrected his error. The judge lifted her glasses up and appeared to be skimming over a list. She hemmed and hawed at the options and finally removed her glasses. ¡°You will serve out your community service at the Equine Sanctuary. Eli Gardner is a personal friend of mine. If I hear you are any trouble whatsoever, you¡¯ll be back here faster than greased lightning. Do you understand?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Yes, Your Honor.¡± ¡°Dismissed.¡± *** Pepper stepped out of the courtroom and closed his eyes. He let the fresh air wrap around him and took a deep breath. His eyes slowly opened and he saw Kyle standing nearby. Pepper was filled with shame and embarrassment. But he knew there was only one thing to do. He took his first step down the road of redemption. The few steps that came after that led directly to the man he really didn¡¯t know much about. ¡°Hey, Pepper,¡± the man said with a slightly bashful smile. ¡°Kyle.¡± Pepper let out a sigh. He was just about to start his apology when Kyle lifted his hand. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Pepper.¡± ¡°No, I need to. I¡¯m sorry, Kyle. What I did¡­ it wasn¡¯t right. No matter what. I shouldn¡¯t have snuck into the junkyard and stolen the rune cards. It¡­¡± He paused but shook his head and decided to be fully transparent. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the first time I snuck into the junkyard either. I¡¯ve done it at least two, three times before. There was just nothing ever good enough to steal is all.¡± Kyle grinned. ¡°Yeah¡­ the last couple batches haven¡¯t been good hauls. You sure showed up just when the real good one arrived.¡± He finished with what Pepper was sure was a nervous chuckle. There was an awkward pause and Kyle took a quick look around. ¡°Can I give you a ride home?¡± Pepper nodded and smiled slightly. The two walked side by side and eventually arrived at Kyle¡¯s white pickup truck. The first thing Pepper noticed when he sat in the seat was row after row of military patches velcroed to the roof of the cab. His eyes instinctively narrowed in on his brother¡¯s unit patch. The ride was quiet for a few minutes until Pepper finally felt the need to ask, ¡°Why did you come to testify? Why did you come and ask for the charges to be dropped?¡± ¡°Because¡­¡± Kyle seemed to struggle to get the words out. Pepper took a quick glance at him and saw his eyes begin to water. He sniffed and coughed. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure who you were when I first met you. You¡¯ve sprang up like a beanstalk, at least compared to the pictures he used to have taped up in the barracks.¡± ¡°You were with my brother Travis¡­¡± Pepper said and nodded slowly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t just with him. I was his supervisor. I was¡­ I was there that day.¡± Kyle paused and waited for a new ounce of strength. ¡°There isn¡¯t a day that goes by when I don¡¯t wish I¡¯d been there. We had received a new shipment of fuel at the base. I had assigned another soldier to oversee the shipment and ensure everything was up to specifications. ¡°But I had administrative work I had fallen behind on. I was sure the guys could handle the job on their own. We¡¯d done it a dozen times before without an issue. That shipment, though¡­ I had no idea there was a leak. It was all over in the blink of an eye.¡± Pepper looked out the window but found himself turning back towards Kyle. ¡°It was an accident, Kyle.¡± ¡°You know what accidents do for guilt?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Kyle said with a thousand-yard stare out the front window. ¡°A supervisor¡¯s worst day of his life is the day he watches five caskets lowered into the ground. Their family standing all around, and there you are. Standing tall and proud. The way the military expects you to be. The thing the military doesn¡¯t teach you is how to survive when they didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t they say to live your life to the fullest, for that¡¯s what they would want you to do?¡± ¡°That is what they say. It¡¯s just a little hard to do when you have to figure out how exactly to do that all on your own. All you want is to swap places with them. To give everything up to have them back.¡± Kyle ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to stop by the house for years. I just couldn¡¯t bring myself to do it. I wasn¡¯t sure it was you when I first saw you at Rhino¡¯s. But later I realized who you were. I¡¯ve wanted to say something for a while, but yeah. Last thing I would want to do is get up top and have to explain to Travis that I didn¡¯t give his little bro some help when he needed a second chance.¡± ¡°Well, again, I¡¯m sorry, and thanks for doing what you did.¡± ¡°Here.¡­¡± Kyle reached back behind his seat and into the second row of seats. A second later Pepper¡¯s black backpack was in the center console. ¡°You picked out a good selection of runes there. You think they¡¯ll help you get a Regional Invitation?¡± Pepper gazed at the bag in amazement and opened it up to see all the runes he had stolen were still inside. ¡°What¡­ why?¡± ¡°Why not? Not like I need them. You know what, consider it your first sponsorship. Sounds about right for two scrappy guys.¡± Kyle turned to him and smiled. His eyes still glistened with the emotions he was holding in. ¡°You seriously don¡¯t need to do this, Kyle.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I do.¡± He finished by putting the truck in park. ¡°Is that your dad¡¯s truck in the driveway?¡± ¡°Yeah. You want to talk to him?¡± Pepper could see Kyle begin to white knuckle the steering wheel. It looked like he was about to say yes, but then he paused and sat back in his seat. ¡°I thought so¡­ but you know¡­ I think I¡¯ll do it another time. I think you should probably just spend some time with your family.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Pepper shook Kyle¡¯s hand and slowly made his way towards the house. The faint smell of smoke caught his attention, and he walked around the side towards the backyard. He was surprised to see a small campfire burning in the fire pit. His dad was sitting in a low chair, a cigar in his hand. It had been years since he¡¯d seen his dad smoke a cigar. If his memory served him right, the last time was when one of his dad¡¯s military friends had passed away. The surviving members of the unit had gathered around to smoke a cigar in the man¡¯s honor. Pepper slowly approached and motioned to the empty seat. His dad nodded his permission for him to join, and he sat there in silence. The silence was soon interrupted by Amprage running out the back door. Pepper started to laugh as his familiar trotted up to him wearing a pink ballerina outfit. Pink lipstick covered the dog¡¯s face, and a plastic princess crown was taped to his head. ¡°Pepper! Thank god you¡¯re back! Please¡­ save me!¡± His familiar came to a skidding stop next to him and finally lay down at his feet. ¡°He is quite the unique¡­ thing you have there,¡± Trent finally said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad¡­ about¡­ all of this.¡± ¡°You know, Pepper, I just want to know one thing. Why¡­ why did you believe you needed to resort to stealing?¡± ¡°I mean¡­ I needed to build Mala. I knew all the rune cards were going to take me forever to get, so I ¡­ you know, I tried to get myself back into the arena as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come and ask me for help?¡± ¡°Money is tight, Dad.¡± ¡°Money may be tight, Pepper, but that doesn¡¯t give you the justification to do whatever you want. This family is not a bunch of criminals. This family follows the rules; this family takes care of one another.¡± ¡°Look, Dad, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just tired of feeling like I¡¯m being knocked down right when I¡¯m about to get ahead in life.¡± ¡°That is what life is about, Pepper. It¡¯s about getting knocked down but getting back up. It¡¯s about chasing after a dream that only you can see but being patient in knowing it will come at the right time and place. It¡¯s about giving to those around you, cos you sure can¡¯t take it with you once you¡¯re buried in the ground. Even if you did get buried with all your wealth, some old British guy will dig it up and take it from you.¡± His dad paused and took a long drag on his cigar. ¡°I now have my boss down my throat every day. You embarrassed me, you embarrassed your mom, all those people who wrote letters to get you to that convention thing. Heck, you embarrassed our neighbor Ryan who told his friend Bill to hook you up with Amp.¡± ¡°Amp? You mean Amprage?¡± ¡°Yeah, Amp, Amprage, same-same. Look, the point is, Pepper, I hope you spent a lot of time in jail thinking about all of this. Because if you want to keep going down that path of life, there¡¯s the door.¡± His dad pointed towards the front of the house and the main street. ¡°If you want to actually support and help this family, then you do things the right way. And if that means it takes you ten times longer to accomplish your goals and dreams, so be it.¡± Chapter 40 - The Pirate Captain ¡°It¡¯s the one and only P-Dubbbbb! Ha! See, you¡¯re so awesome that not even prison could contain your epicness!¡± Brent complimented as he made a series of hand gestures directed towards Pepper. The entire ordeal made Pepper arch his eyebrows and judge his best friend. He had always questioned exactly what level of crazy Brent was. The most alarming thing was that Pepper was fairly confident it was getting worse over time. He leaned in and clasped Brent¡¯s hand. After a quick hug, the war crime level of cologne coming off Brent caused him to pull back. ¡°Dude, why are you trying to kill me with your chemical warfare? What the heck?¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t that bad, P-Dub.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it actually is. One, it is way too sweet.¡± Pepper took a quick pause as he sneezed so hard that his back hurt. ¡°There¡¯s something else¡­ it¡¯s like a spicy type of¡­ oh, dude, it is just nasty. You have to sit as far away from me as possible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s call Sweet Fire and Solid Ice. It¡¯s all the rage in Golem Chat!¡± ¡°Golem Chat?¡± ¡°Oh! It¡¯s the same thing as League Chat, they just changed the name and rebranded it while you were locked up.¡± Pepper paused at the news but shrugged it off and returned to cringing over the fragrance. ¡°Do you know anyone, and I really mean anyone, else that actually uses that?¡± ¡°Well¡­ no. I guess not.¡± ¡°Congratulations, homie¡ªwelcome to the wonderful world of false advertising and targeted marketing.¡± ¡°Targeted marketing? How am I a target of a bad cologne product?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re desperate.¡± Pepper smiled and crossed his arms. A frustrated look appeared on Brent¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m not desperate!¡± he countered. ¡°Is that a fact? Tell me¡­ how are things going with Summer?¡± Pepper slowly leaned back and rested against the doorframe. ¡°Look, she¡¯s been super busy. I mean, soon she¡¯ll respond to my¡­ one of¡­ twenty-three calls.¡± ¡°And how many texts have you sent her?¡± Brent pressed his lips together. ¡°That¡¯s not important, Pepper.¡± Pepper cued in to the loud footsteps thumping behind him. He had gotten used to hearing Amprage moving around the house, primarily from the multiple times Amp had had enough of playing with Meg and tried to hide somewhere. Pepper leaned to the side just in time for Amprage to poke his head through the doorway. ¡°I heard a disturbance out here. Is everything all right?¡± ¡°Dude, dude, dude, dude, duddddeee! You weren¡¯t lying! You really do have a familiar! Wow, it¡¯s crazy to see Amprage alive like this. Can I pet it? Does it have magical powers like the Golem Chat message boards say they do?¡± ¡°I mean, I did tell you. This is Amprage. Yes, you can pet him, but that also just sounds weird, seeing how he is made of pure metal. And no, he doesn¡¯t have magical powers. It¡¯s just a living golem with a personality.¡± Amprage tilted his head at the two. ¡°If my hearing caught the conversation properly, at this very moment I am quite happy not to have a nose at this point. Given the poor choices of the energy signature standing before me, that, I would assume, is Brent.¡± ¡°It can talk!¡± Brent exclaimed with, his jaw practically falling to the floor. ¡°Wait¡­ did he just insult me?¡± ¡°Look, let¡¯s just go watch the match before it starts without us. Come on, Amp.¡± Pepper turned and the three made their way out to the workshop. By the time they arrived, the two announcers were already on the holoscreen. ¡°See, we almost missed it, you nerd,¡± Pepper scolded him as he plopped down in the recliner. Without warning, Amp leapt up into his lap. The solid mass of metal practically crushed his organs, and Pepper coughed and fought to regain his breath. ¡°Amp¡­¡± He struggled to get the word out. ¡°Should I delete couch and chair snuggles from my personality profile?¡± The dog¡¯s head turned and looked at him. ¡°Just change the parameters of your approach to be gentler.¡± ¡°Will do, Pepper,¡± Amp said with a confident tone. The metal dog then curled up in a ball in his lap. Pepper¡¯s attention turned back to the match. The camera was panning out, showing a vast forest stretching as far as they could see. He immediately recognized the arena: Cascades. Located in the Pacific Northwest of America, this arena was the largest one to date. Redwood trees towered over the golems, along with jagged rock cliffs that blended into the volcanic Cascade mountain range. The camera angles were tight and narrow, as the drones had to maneuver in between the massive trees. They watched as the first golem made its way into the arena. The black chiseled head of a lion with glowing purple eyes moved through a cluster of trees. Its upper torso was covered in black shiny metal armor. The piece was designed in a medieval style. The shoulders were capped on both sides with small demonic skulls. The lion had both hands firmly clasped around a halberd. JD¡¯s voice sounded when the camera began to shift its angle and proceed to the other side of the arena. ¡°The Slaughtercat arrives! Haha. I got to say, Nick, that is one bad mamba jamba cat right there. And, of course, it is wielding my favorite medieval weapon¡ªthe halberd! A two-handed polearm that gained momentum between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. These things have a wicked ax blade on one side, but it also has massive spike mounted at the end of the long shaft. It can poke, it can chop, it can slash, it¡¯s a razzle-dazzle-full-of-frazzle weapon. You know what I mean?¡± Nick¡¯s voice followed quickly. ¡°I mean, I kinda understand. Except for that last part, but we get it. You love the weapon, and, I mean, how can you not love an awesome-looking golem like Slaughtercat? But! Not so fast there, JD! Because Miss Amy Frongrad is going up against a man who knows battle in and out of the arena all too well. Because James Hunter, Commander of the VetCore guild and his pirate captain are not to be underestimated.¡±Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°For a guy who constantly reminds everyone that he is a Marine and not a part of the navy, you can¡¯t get more ironic than having a pirate golem,¡± JD countered. ¡°Well, that may be, JD. But the pirate captain has certainly been a fan favorite. And we all know the golden rule of Golem League action¡ªgive the fans more of what they want! And that is exactly what we have for you all today.¡± Pepper smiled when he saw that James had had a custom rum bottle made for his golem. The pirate captain acted like he was drinking from it and then made it appear like the bottle was empty by jiggling it upside down. The pirate launched the fake bottle down onto the ground. A giant fireball sprang up as the bottle erupted. The pirate also had a small metallic parrot that sat on its shoulder. It acted like it was cawing, and a loud echoing bird call rang out across the arena. A big tricorn hat sat upon the captain¡¯s head, a feather protruding from it. The captain¡¯s hard, chiseled face was painted to look like it was a living giant. This was complemented by a realistic replica of an old British navy uniform. The blue sailor¡¯s coat was ripped, tattered, and torn in multiple places¡ªa gritty look that made it extremely realistic. A leather belt ran across the captain¡¯s chest and bore three holsters containing muskets. The belt was connected to a similar waist belt that housed another two muskets, a dagger, and a long cutlass secured in a scabbard. The countdown timer appeared, and as it hit zero, the loud horn blared through the forest. James immediately launched his captain¡¯s parrot into the air. The bird began to gain height and distance. ¡°A smart move that we¡¯ve seen James use many times before, JD,¡± Nick informed the viewers. ¡°That aerial advantage is huge in this compact forest with towering trees overhead. This is the only arena where the gladiators don¡¯t always have sight of their golems. Aerial coverage for the win, or, as the better military branch likes to say, air power! Yeah, baby!¡± The black lion charged forward. It weaved its way through the trees and cut the distance to its opponent. Pepper was sure James could see through his parrot¡¯s vision and quickly moved his golem behind one of the massive redwood trees. The Slaughtercat stopped, its halberd at the ready, and seemed to wait for the captain to make an appearance. It was a quiet few minutes, as James patiently kept his golem concealed behind the tree. The Slaughtercat began to bring forth a purple circular disk that grew from the center of its hand. The cat knelt down and placed the magical disk on the ground. The light appeared as if it was burrowing into the earth. An electrical energy sprang up from the arena floor and then dove back it. The camera angle changed, and Pepper could then see the magic was spreading itself out like tree roots. The light finally reached and passed underneath the pirate captain. The magical root system then seemed to stop growing, as if it recognized its opponent¡¯s energy signature. A pulsating wave of purple light surged throughout the root system. It began to speed up, but Pepper could see that the light was narrowing in on the captain. The energy surged into a straight line pointing directly towards its opponent. The Slaughtercat placed its hand upon the earth and a new wave of purple energy surged into the root system. An instant later, purple vines launched themselves upwards from the earth at the feet of the captain. They wrapped around the pirate and trapped its leg. The cat leapt into a sprint. The captain quickly retrieved its cutlass. It hacked away at the vines and was able to begin pulling itself out of the magical entrapment. By the time it was fully recovered, the cat was practically on top of it. The halberd and cutlass clashed in midair as the two golems were finally face to face. The lion roared and began to conjure another magical attack in its right palm while it maintained a grip on its weapon. James brought his free hand down and placed it on the center of the cat¡¯s torso. It was over in an instant, but Pepper could still see the bright crimson flash of the forceful push. The cat was launched backwards and safely away from the captain. The pirate, now some distance away and with no ability to hide, quickly conjured its own ethereal energy and produced a set of cannonballs, which shot out of its free hand. The explosives sprang out in all directions, and after a few seconds they detonated and created a blanket of billowing smoke that covered the arena floor. James instructed his golem to duck into the smoke, and it faded away under the concealment. The lion roared again and reached its hand up towards the heavens. The massive claw of the beastly golem twisted around and finally it clutched at the sky and pulled downward. Pepper could not see what was happening above due to the camera angle. However, he soon saw what appeared to be giant balls of purple meteorites slamming into the arena floor. Tree branches cut through the smoke and hit the earth below. A few trees were severed high up, and the Slaughtercat leapt out of the way to avoid being hit. A giant trunk slammed into the ground, and Pepper could see the black cat was struggling to maintain its balance. The Slaughtercat recovered at the very moment when the pirate captain jumped up behind it. A wave of smoke glided over the pirate as it raised its cutlass over its head. It looked like it was going to be a devasting strike. The lion reared around at the last second and brought its halberd up over its head. The medieval weapon¡¯s shaft blocked the sword from achieving its slash. That was when Pepper noticed the slight movement. The captain¡¯s free hand was already clutching a pistol. A burst of crimson light flashed, and a ball of red energy blasted across the side of the lion¡¯s face. A huge chunk of black rock erupted from it. The camera was just able to get the right angle to see that a part of its head had been sheared clean off. The Slaughtercat immediately backpedaled and gained some distance. The halberd lowered, and the lion thrust the spear tip towards its opponent. It repeated the motion, and the captain did its best to deflect the attacks, but still a few strikes made it through. The pirate was skewered a few times before James finally dropped his cutlass and brought forth a set of fresh pistols. The captain raised both and fired them in rapid succession. The lion immediately conjured a shield, which arrived in the nick of time. The two rounds slammed into it and crimson energy sparked. The red light illuminated the smoke blanket that still covered the area as they fell towards the ground. Pepper watched as the captain quickly dashed back and found a new tree to shield itself from the lion. A quick lean to the side and a new volley of gunfire streaked across the field of battle. The black lion maintained its shield and remained in place. James didn¡¯t hesitate to discover what his opponent was preparing to do. He had his captain conjure a new set of bombs in its hands. It tossed them towards the lion, and they soon exploded in dazzling red bursts. Once the attack erupted, the captain was off and sprinting around the far-left side of the arena. Pepper¡¯s gaze was locked onto the screen. The efficiency of James¡¯s training was evident, as every movement the golem made looked as if it was a real creature. A quick jump over a downed tree and the captain came charging towards its opponent. The lion turned to face the oncoming threat. That was when the camera panned out to show the parrot streaking down from the sky. The bird dove headfirst and slammed into the lion from behind. It exploded, and a blazing flash of light ruptured the central chest portion of the lion. In perfect unison, the captain dove feet first into a baseball slide across the arena floor. The captain¡¯s feet seemed to catch hold, and it sprang back up to its feet. Its hands latched onto the lion from behind, while the cat appeared stunned from the parrot¡¯s direct strike. The pirate began to lift upwards, and small flashes of crimson light spurted out of the joints of the golem. It took half a second, but the pirate lifted its opponent off its feet and, with a fluid motion, performed a rear suplex maneuver. The attack slammed the lion¡¯s head into the ground, and the massive weight crushed what little of the cat¡¯s skull that remained. The pirate swung its legs around and quickly got to its knees. In the blink of an eye, the captain had his pistols back in his hands. Two shots of crimson gunfire flashed across the screen. Their impact caused a massive explosion that sent large chunks of the lion scattering in all directions. ¡°Well, butter my popcorn and call me a kernel, because that was epic!¡± JD cried out in the broadcast. The victory song began to play, and Pepper smiled as he watched James take a bow for the camera. Chapter 41 - Community Service ¡°Pepper?¡± He slowly lifted his eyelids to see the warm glow of yellow eyes looking back at him. Amprage was lying on his bed and slowly nudging him with his cold metal nose. Pepper moaned, lifted his hand, and rubbed his face. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do I get to go with you today?¡± Amprage asked. ¡°I dunno, Amp¡­¡± Pepper said softly as he stretched as best as he could under the bedsheets. ¡°What time is it?¡± He quickly tapped his holodex to life. ¡°What the¡ª Amp, it¡¯s five in the morning! Why are you waking me up so early?¡± ¡°Because I am excited. Is it time to go yet?¡± ¡°No! We don¡¯t have to leave for another two and a half hours.¡± Pepper reached up and brought his pillow down over his face to smother his frustrated growl. He tossed and turned for the next hour until he finally decided to get his morning started. A hot shower and a quick breakfast later, he was being driven to the first day of his community service. His dad gave him a light fist bump and told him to keep an open mind and an open heart. He certainly didn¡¯t care for this pep talk. The frustration was already eating at him, and the only thing his father¡¯s words did was stir his anger. He erased the thought, determined not to dwell any further on the matter. Instead, he gazed at the wooden sign fastened high above the entrance to the ranch. ¡°Equine Sanctuary.¡± A small jostling movement below caught his attention. He looked down to see Amprage¡¯s butt wagging back and forth with the small metal tail he had given him. He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He is really acting out the whole personality profile. ¡°Pepper, we¡¯re here. I must say this is very exciting.¡± ¡°Says you. You¡¯re not the one who has to do any work. Why are you so excited, anyways?¡± ¡°Because¡­ everything is new. New experiences, new adventures, new opportunities. Who knows what awaits us?¡± A small breeze brought the strong, distinct scent of horse manure into Pepper¡¯s nostrils. He covered his nose at first, but then realized there was no point. He was going to be working in this environment for a while¡ªbetter toughen up now and get used to it. He began to walk down the long dirt and gravel driveway, which brought him to a small home. The old ranch house was a single-story dwelling that looked only large enough to house one bedroom. The fresh coat of baby-blue paint was unable to hide the rough, coarse, and weathered wood paneling underneath. There were red shutters on the windows and a white wooden bench seat in the center of the wooden porch, which was wrapped around the entire home. Pepper drew closer and heard a soft voice talking. Then he saw a small woman walk around the far corner of the homestead. A black cowgirl hat sat upon her head and her dirty blond hair was wrapped around her neck. Pepper was able to make out her soft blue jewel-like eyes, and she smiled at him and began to wrap up her conversation. She put her phone in the front pocket of her bedazzled, studded denim jacket and pulled it taut over the black button-up shirt underneath. Pepper watched her walk through the ankle-high grass in her black boots, which stuck up over her jeans. ¡°Careful,¡± her soft voice greeted him. Pepper slowed his pace, and confusion washed over him. He slowly tilted his head and waited to discover what it was she was referring to. The woman nodded to him and looked at his feet for a second before her eyes returned to his. ¡°You¡¯re about to step on a snake.¡± Pepper screamed and backpedaled. His legs leapt up and down and he staggered all over in a circle, trying to see where the creature was. His response caused Amprage to jump back as well in terrified surprise. The familiar began to spin around, scanning the area. ¡°Pepper! What is it? What is wrong? Is there danger? Danger! Danger! There must be danger. I shall seek it out and protect you, for that is what the personality profile is telling me to do!¡± ¡°Calm down, you two babies. It¡¯s just a simple garden snake. I said something to make sure you didn¡¯t harm it. It¡¯s more scared of you than anything else. I mean, come on, how would you like a massive giant a hundred times bigger than you stepping on your body?¡± She smiled and shook her head playfully. ¡°Eli Gardner,¡± she proclaimed and reached out to shake his hand. Pepper was still trying to catch his breath but accepted the gesture. ¡°Pepper Walker.¡± ¡°I assumed so. But what I didn¡¯t anticipate was this little guy!¡± She beamed with excitement and knelt down and reached her hands out towards Amprage. ¡°Who must you be, huh?¡± The familiar turned straight towards her and jogged over. ¡°I am Amprage, Pepper Walker¡¯s familiar and loyal companion.¡± ¡°A familiar, huh? Well, I must say I have never heard or seen anything like you before!¡± Amprage leapt up with his front paws and snuggled up to the stranger. She giggled and began to rub him as if he was a real dog. ¡°Oh my gosh, you are adorable, Mister!¡± ¡°Can you even feel that?¡± Pepper asked, cocking his head down towards the metal golem. ¡°Yes, I can. I am able to sense the essence that is within the human hand and can measure the slight differences it makes within the concentrated essence surrounding the environment. So, though it would not feel the same as the human sense of touch, it is the digital equivalent.¡± ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you the little brainiac? How did you get to be so smart?¡± Eli asked. ¡°Yeah, how did you know all that, Amprage?¡± Pepper said. ¡°The familiar rune has a satellite card built in. It allows me to stay connected to the company¡¯s mainframe database. It helps me to search for information that enables me to have more genuine dialog with my bonded,¡± he replied as his head tilted between the two. Eli stood up and placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Well, you are certainly welcome here anytime.¡± She giggled and turned back to Pepper. ¡°So, welcome to the Equine Sanctuary.¡± ¡°Thanks, I guess. I didn¡¯t know this place even existed,¡± he replied, grabbing the back of his neck. ¡°Not many do until they get in trouble and are sentenced to community service.¡± Eli arched an eyebrow with a smug expression, but it was erased after a second or two and she returned to her bubbly self. ¡°I started the sanctuary with the intent to help Rift War veterans heal and recover from their mental, emotional, and physical injuries. We also rescue horses that were slated for death in slaughterhouses.¡± ¡°Helping two things out at the same time, huh?¡± Pepper asked, crossing his arms in front of his chest. ¡°Exactly,¡± Eli chimed back, raising her hands and rolling her eyes as if the answer was obvious for all to see. ¡°Why not do two great things at the same time? At least, that¡¯s what I always say.¡± Her hands returned to her hips and a confident, proud expression formed on her face. She gave a serious nod. However, she soon laughed again and waved for them to follow her. ¡°Well, what I can say is that this is no ordinary community service situation. Yes, you are here to serve out the extent of whatever it is you did. But here you have a chance to truly help others who are trying to recover from something else that they did. Not everyone¡¯s wounds are seen externally, so I expect you to be kind and friendly to all the visitors. But just be mindful that not everyone is ready to sit and hold a conversation with you. Many of our veterans only want to speak through their spirit and let it connect to the horse they¡¯re spending time with.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Pepper replied in a drawn-out fashion. ¡°Look, Pepper, I get it. It sounds weird; it seems different and unusual. But it is nothing short of magical. I can¡¯t explain it, but there¡¯s something about being in the presence of these large creatures that does something for the human soul,¡± Eli said, leading them towards a sizeable barn. Pepper could hear the horses calling out within the building. He put his hands in his pockets and scanned the area. Bales of straw, buckets of oats, and large troughs of water were placed throughout the barn. But all of that was meaningless when he saw Andrea walk out of one of the stalls.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She turned towards them and propped her pitchfork up against the stall door. Pepper could feel his heart start to beat faster and faster. She walked towards them, removing her work gloves and sticking them in her back jeans pocket as she closed the distance. Her hand reached up and she ran her fingers through her blond hair, draping it off to one side. Then she slowly turned her gaze towards him. Their eyes locked onto one another and their gaze was only broken when Eli interjected. ¡°Andrea told me she would be happy to help show you the ropes and get you started. You¡¯ll be in good hands with her.¡± She smiled and winked at Andrea before turning and walking off. ¡°Hey,¡± Andrea said with a bashful smile. ¡°Hey,¡± Pepper replied. A lump was beginning to form in his throat and he felt embarrassed to stand in front of his crush. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you volunteered here,¡± he finally got out. ¡°Oh¡­ um.¡± It was now Andrea¡¯s turn to have an embarrassed expression. She reached down and tugged on her left pants leg to show a small ankle monitor. ¡°I wish I could say that I volunteer, but in reality¡­ I was voluntold. Community service for the win. Just like you.¡± She pressed her lips together and her eyes flashed at him. Pepper was speechless. The more he looked at Andrea, though, the more he realized how hard it was for her to accept the position she was in. ¡°Well, do you at least want to show me around and what I can start working on?¡± A small smile reappeared; it looked like his question had helped relieve the internal struggle she was going through. ¡°That isn¡¯t a half bad idea. This way.¡± The rest of the morning flew past. He was grateful for having gone to Nate¡¯s gym. Eli brought them some sandwiches, chips, and sodas to enjoy on their lunch break. They found a picnic table under a large oak tree. Andrea carried their lunch and Pepper propped up the two pitchforks they had been using. He was happy to see Andrea becoming more comfortable in the situation, as if she had decided to slowly lower her walls and let him see what she was going through. She lowered her head and took a moment to herself before she looked up at him and smirked. ¡°What are you staring at? You weirdo.¡± She chuckled softly. ¡°Well, one, I was thinking about how similar you and Eli are.¡± He unwrapped his sandwich and took a hearty bite. Andrea glanced into the distance. She took a deep breath, and it looked like she was enjoying the gentle breeze. ¡°You know, that is one awesome woman right there. Smart, bold, confident, relentless, and one hundred and twenty-three percent compassionate. She has not once made me feel judged or ashamed of what happened. She¡¯s pretty cool, as my dad would say.¡± She turned back to him and he watched life come into her eyes. He couldn¡¯t help noticing that her baby pink button-up shirt complemented their blue color. Pepper had struggled all morning not to be caught staring at his crush. So he just took a glance at her and met her eyes for half a second before quickly looking out across the field again. ¡°So, why are you here?¡± ¡°Way to be subtle there, P-dubble-p.¡± ¡°P double p? That¡¯s a new one.¡± ¡°Gotta keep you on your toes, Owen Wilson.¡± She smiled and popped the tab on her soda. ¡°I dunno about keeping me on my toes, but you¡¯re certainly keeping me on the edge of my seat.¡± She rolled her eyes as he verbally poked at her. ¡°Waiting on you, sunshine.¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± She sighed and shook her head. ¡°Apparently stores don¡¯t like it when you fraudulently pay for medications. Especially when they show that you¡¯ve been doing it for two years.¡± ¡°Two years?¡± Pepper¡¯s jaw dropped in shock. ¡°That¡¯s what I said, wasn¡¯t it?¡± She huffed. ¡°How did you not go to jail?¡± A disgruntled look came over her face. ¡°I did. Spent two weeks there and then was given four years of community service. Let¡¯s just say the judge was gracious¡ªvery gracious. My lawyer told me I could have easily done eight years in prison for the severity of my crime. But being a kid trying to take care of her dad, never been in trouble before¡­ she felt it was best for me to do community service so I could still help take care of my dad.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¡°I just said why I was let out.¡± She widened her eyes and glared at him. ¡°No, I meant why were you fraudulently buying medications?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She paused and looked away but finally met Pepper¡¯s gaze. ¡°Because I love my dad, and I hate seeing him suffer the way that he is. The daily pain, the night terrors, all of it. He¡¯s all I have left. Some people had their families ripped away from them in an instant; mine is fading away before my eyes.¡± She paused and took a sip of her soda. A long-drawn-out breath and she continued. ¡°He went to fight for humanity. The result was to return to a destroyed home. Two plots in the graveyard belonging to my mom and older sister. His career gone, his friends dead, and rift poisoning that will consume him until he passes away.¡± ¡°I thought veterans with rift poisoning are taken care of? Like, the government has the office and hospitals for veterans and all.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know about being taken care of. They sure love to say they do, though. The thing is that rift poisoning doesn¡¯t just appear right away. My dad¡¯s, for example, didn¡¯t show up until five years ago. The veteran affairs office claims there¡¯s no evidence to connect it to his service and that it could have been caused any time after the Rift Wars.¡± ¡°What? That¡¯s insane!¡± Pepper exclaimed. He immediately saw the frustration appear on her face. He realized that what he had said, she had been echoing for years while she watched her father deal with it. ¡°You¡¯re telling me. I feel so bad for him. He basically just sits in a chair and listens to audiobooks. It¡¯s the only thing he seems to enjoy now. I come home and do my best to take care of him and keep things going. He needs his medications to simply try and be normal. There was no way I could pay for the meds, but I still tried. I did everything I could¡ªsold items in garage sales, did the whole online auction thing. But that only covered those damn purple pills for so long.¡± She took a bite of her sandwich. ¡°So I started stealing people¡¯s identities. Mostly people who had recently passed away. I started opening up credit cards in their names and paying for the meds that way. I was finally arrested at EliXir. The police were waiting for me, and they had all the security camera footage and receipts showing how much I had illegally purchased.¡± ¡°How is your dad doing now?¡± ¡°My cousin came out from Texas and helped take care of him for the two weeks I was in jail. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I don¡¯t mind the community service, but it certainly takes away from hours I could be spending working and trying to earn more to pay for those damn pills.¡± Pepper shifted his head and grimaced. Andrea glanced at him but then looked down at her sandwich. ¡°There¡¯s a chance we¡¯ll have to sell the house and move into an apartment. Thankfully Dad doesn¡¯t really move around much these days, so it¡¯s not like he needs a lot of space to do stuff.¡± A small tear was forming in her eye, and she reached up and wiped it away. ¡°When my dad first started to show signs of rift poisoning¡­ I remember I saved up as much as I could and bought him this top-of-the-line massage chair. He practically lives in that thing now.¡± A fresh tear streaked down her cheek, and she quickly moved to wipe it away, as if displaying emotion was more traumatic than admitting to being a convicted criminal. She sniffed and cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯m so happy I bought that damn chair. It¡¯s been worth every single Flex I spent on it. I just want my dad to be as comfortable as possible with whatever time he has left. You know?¡± Pepper¡¯s mind flashed with the images of the GolemCon veterans. ¡°I get it.¡± The two paused and each took a bite of their lunch. ¡°So¡­ if nothing was holding you back, what would you want to do with your life?¡± Andrea huffed. ¡°That¡¯s easy. Sing.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Pepper leaned back in surprise. Andrea playfully flashed her eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to be a singer. Ever since I was a girl. There are a ton of videos of me singing in our house when I was a kid. Granted, they¡¯re all securely locked away and will never see the light of day. But they do exist.¡± She paused and chuckled. ¡°But that dream went down the drain real quick when I got those shiny bracelets added on for the full effect.¡± ¡°What? No way. Why would that stop you? If anything, that would help your reputation. Besides, who could fault someone for trying to take care of their dad the way you did?¡± Andrea laughed softly, and an overexerted expression appeared on her face. ¡°Uhh, pretty sure Judge Lori Atwater held me at fault for exactly that thing.¡± ¡°You know what I meant, goofball.¡± Andrea rolled her eyes at him. Pepper playfully countered. ¡°You know what, you¡¯re probably not very good anyways. I can just imagine the scratchy voice of a coyote in a trash compactor coming out of you in a sound booth. Heck, they probably don¡¯t even have enough technology to correct the racoon screech sound you would make.¡± ¡°Shut up, Pepper Walker. You¡¯ve never even heard me sing, so you have no room to talk.¡± Andrea slapped her open palm down on the table and pointed a warning finger his way. Pepper swept his leg up and over the bench seat of the table. Andrea gave him a curious look. He reached out and grabbed one of the pitchforks. He brought the end of the handle towards his mouth and pretended to blow on it, giving a quick tap of his finger as he mockingly portrayed someone on stage. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, all of the people around the world. We¡¯re excited you¡¯re here with us tonight in Portage, Michigan, as we welcome our world-famous but very own Andrea Brewer to the stage.¡± Pepper held out the tool handle towards her, beginning to mimic the sound of a cheering crowd. She bashfully swiped her hand towards him. ¡°No!¡± ¡°Oh, come on, put your money where your mouth is. You say you can sing? Prove it. Besides, it¡¯s only me and Amp.¡± She squinted at him and huffed but stood up from the table. He continued to extend the pitchfork out to her and she grabbed it and brought it in close to her chest. ¡°I dunno what to sing.¡± ¡°Sing whatever comes to mind.¡± ¡°Easier said than done, jerk.¡± She chuckled. Her head tilted from side to side until she finally looked at him. ¡°Okay¡­ this isn¡¯t finished yet. Who knows if it ever will be? But this is the only thing that comes to mind.¡± ¡°No judgment.¡± He replied while taking a seat at the table. Andrea closed her eyes and gently cleared her throat. She began to hum softly for a moment to find the right note to begin on. Her left hand remained gripped around the pitchfork, but her right hand stretched out, reaching for the heavens above. ¡°Darkness crashes all around me, feasting on my inner light¡­ My soul cries out for a savior, while monsters feast upon my dreams¡­ Who will save me from my captor, when I can¡¯t see victory¡­ Someone save me from this torment, please rescue me from reality¡­¡± Chapter 42 - Goonies Andrea opened her eyes and couldn¡¯t help but smile when she saw the shocked expression on Pepper¡¯s face. ¡°Told you,¡± she said, shaking her head at him sarcastically. ¡°Yeah¡­ You really can.¡± He smiled back and gazed at her. He was even more surprised when she slowly walked towards him, leaned in and kissed him. The long, gentle kiss made his heart surge with life, and fireworks erupted in his soul. She finally pulled away and brought her hand to rest on top of his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re taking me to prom.¡± ¡°I am?¡± he said in shocked surprise. ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t bother you about my whole¡­ situation? You know, being here in the same situation as you are.¡± ¡°Umm, I consider you a lightweight compared to me. And you got caught on your first try. Way to be a major loser.¡± She leaned in and gave him another quick kiss. ¡°It did bother my dad, though.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes sprang open. ¡°You told your dad?¡± ¡°Well, yeah. He was asking about you and I told him I was taking you to prom. He didn¡¯t like it at first, but he¡¯ll get over it. He doesn¡¯t really have a choice in the matter, because this, and you, are my decision.¡± She sarcastically beamed a giant smile towards him. He was baffled for a minute, but his thoughts quickly caught up. ¡°Wait a minute¡­ why was your dad asking about me?¡± ¡°Kyle from Kyle¡¯s junkyard. Kyle is some kind of veteran club president of some group that my dad is in. He¡¯s a really sweet guy. He comes by every other week to check on my dad and visits with a ton of other veterans in the town. It¡¯s kinda like a calling of his, always trying to take care of others more than himself.¡± She paused and glanced away, letting out a long, appreciative breath. ¡°Anyways, he and my dad were doing their normal catch-up on news and Kyle told my dad about you and how you were caught stealing from him. My dad was upset, of course, but Kyle stood up for you and said there was no need to be mad at you. I think the term he used was young and dumb.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes. ¡°I guess you could say that. I sure feel pretty stupid right now. I guess I was a little desperate.¡± ¡°Well, I know I absolutely agree with Kyle. You are pretty dumb.¡± Andrea chuckled and then motioned for them to get back to work. The two started to walk back towards the barn. ¡°Oh really, you think I am pretty dumb, huh? And why exactly is that?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯ve had a crush on me for years and never said anything. I would have gone out with you if all you would have done is asked. I finally got tired of waiting and knew exactly what I wanted.¡± ¡°Is that a fact?¡± ¡°It is.¡± Andrea glanced over to him with a smile, and before Pepper could respond, she reached over and grabbed his hand. ¡°I thought you were dating Grant.¡± ¡°Eww! Gross.¡± Andrea shivered. ¡°No, I would never, never date Grant. That guy is majorly creepy, rude, and has no respect for women. He is just as bad as Brent is with Summer.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and feel bad for his best friend. ¡°Yeah¡­ Brent has been head over heels crazy for her longer than I can remember.¡± ¡°Oh, we all know. It¡¯s just too much. Way, way, way too much.¡± ¡°So, are we really doing this?¡± ¡°Doing what?¡± ¡°Dating, together, labels and all?¡± Pepper immediately regretted his question. Andrea turned her head with a look of sass that he was not prepared for. Her gaze bore into him as if she was a python snake ready to contract around his neck and finish him off. ¡°If you have to ask me that kind of question, maybe I did make a mistake in choosing you.¡± Pepper immediately tried to clear his throat and regain a confident presence. ¡°Oh, no, no, no. I just wanted to be sure we were on the same page when I start to tell everyone.¡± She rolled her eyes and sighed. ¡°Nice recovery there, train wreck express. I fell for you when I saw Pepper Walker who was focused on one sole accomplishment. To become a Golem Master and give his absolute effort to it. A guy who loved his friends and family and was loyal to them. I ain¡¯t your average woman, Pepper Walker. I¡¯m fire and brimstone mixed with beauty and spirit. If you can¡¯t handle this heat, then get out of my kitchen. Do you understand me?¡± He smiled and squeezed her hand. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Ohh¡­ I kinda like that. A little southern hospitality may actually get you a lot further than you think.¡± She winked at him and gave him a gentle shove on the thigh. ¡°Come on, Mr. Distraction, let¡¯s get to work.¡± The rest of the afternoon work flew by. This renewed outlook on the situation brought Pepper¡¯s spirits to a whole new level of euphoria. The work didn¡¯t even seem like a chore at that point, rather a long-extended date with his new girlfriend. There was far more joking and playing than there was actual productivity by the time they left for home. Andrea warned him that he needed to get a tuxedo for the prom. Her serious expression matched with the pointing finger was all the warning he needed. ¡°Hey, Amp, be sure to remind me tomorrow that I need to go pick up a suit. Would you?¡± ¡°Okie dokie.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. *** As Pepper walked along the fence towards his house, he saw Ryan standing there. Something appeared off to him, and he stared hard enough to see that Ryan was wearing a business shirt, jacket, and tie but also what looked like swim trunks, flip-flops, and a large Asian-style straw hat. A pair of sunglasses hid his eyes, and he was holding what appeared to be a lime-green slushie. A pink twirly straw poked up from the drink, and Ryan worked his tongue around until he finally got it in his mouth and took a sip. ¡°Well, well, well. You¡¯re not just stealing golem parts, you¡¯re stealing pretty hearts, I see.¡± Ryan reached up, lowered his sunglasses, and gave Pepper an overly dramatic wink. ¡°How did you know I was dating Andrea? That literally happened at lunchtime.¡± ¡°Pepper¡­ I know everything. E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g¡­ That and it is all over Golem Chat. You certainly picked up a lot of new haters there, don¡¯t you know. Like¡­ a lot, a lot.¡± ¡°Great. The last thing I want is more directed drama.¡± ¡°Hey, haters gonna hate, P-Dub. Better get used to it now, because you really gonna be smothered with it once you get into the Golem League. Mmhmm, sure am there.¡± ¡°I guess you have a point. I am glad to see you. I¡¯ve been wanting to stop by and say¡ª¡± ¡°Oh welp, would you look at that there familiar. Say, what did your dear old dad name you?¡± Ryan gestured towards Amprage. Amprage immediately turned his attention to Ryan and began to wag his metal tail. ¡°I am Amprage, also called Amp for short. I am Pepper¡¯s bonded familiar.¡± ¡°You bet your sweet shirt buttons you are, you crazy cute metal puppers.¡± Ryan smiled and turned his attention to Pepper for a moment. ¡°Man, if you had told me old Bill Baxter would wind up creating these rune things, I would have said you¡¯re crazier than a emperor penguin with a bazooka, you know.¡± ¡°Wait, who gave a bazooka to an emperor penguin?¡± ¡°You knows, Pep, some details just aren¡¯t important there.¡± ¡°Well, I never got a chance to thank you for writing the letter or for telling Bill Baxter about me and helping me get selected. Amp wouldn¡¯t be here if you didn¡¯t. I owe you.¡± Pepper watched as the playful, jokester demeanor of his neighbor shifted. A genuine smile appeared on Ryan¡¯s face, and he removed his sunglasses and finally locked eyes with Pepper. ¡°We all make bad choices, Pepper. Nobody is perfect. Sometimes, sometimes we are our own worst enemy in that regard. We want something so bad there that we just¡ª we justify our actions, and it isn¡¯t until it¡¯s all said and done that we look back and see the error of our ways.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry about the stealing, and if I in any way brought embarrassment to you for everything you¡¯ve done for me.¡± ¡°Oh geez, Pep, you haven¡¯t embarrassed me. It¡¯s not like you were caught making out with your cousin or anything.¡± Ryan tilted his head back with an overly animated expression and sipped on his drink. ¡°Wait, you made out with your cousin?¡± ¡°Nope, but good old Bill Baxter sure did. Now that was a hoot and a half right there. He was all for it and she was clearly not. Let¡¯s just say neither one of them have been back to a combined family Thanksgiving dinner ever since. Boy oh boy, was college sure wild back in the heyday there.¡± Just then the two were interrupted. The royal princess of the house came charging out the back door and marched up to Pepper. Her tilted crown and jewel-studded pink sunglasses proclaimed the seriousness of the situation. ¡°Excuse me, but where have you been with my royal horsey?¡± she demanded with a firm foot stomp. ¡°Pepper¡­ please¡­. don¡¯t,¡± Amprage said with a whimper. Pepper performed an overly dramatic bow before the princess. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lady. I needed him to assist me with a service to the community. Please forgive me, and may you have many amazing adventures with Amprage.¡± She huffed, walked over to Amprage, and placed her hand on his metal skin. ¡°Come, Amprage, we have dragons to slay and tea to drink.¡± ¡°Pepper, why? What did I do? Was I a bad familiar? I can be better¡ªI¡¯ll be better!¡± Amp whined, trying to resist while Meg pushed him from behind. Both he and Ryan laughed at the sight and enjoyed hearing the familiar¡¯s voice acting out the personality profile to perfection. ¡°It¡¯s going to take me a while to clean off the amount of makeup and lipstick she¡¯s going to plaster all over him,¡± Pepper said, shaking his head. He chuckled. ¡°Worth it.¡± He turned back to Ryan. ¡°So, where have you been?¡± Ryan¡¯s smile widened even more and he rolled his head a little. ¡°Things are looking up, Pepper. You know, this here Big D Energy might actually become a thing or two. I have been spending¡ª oh, hold on here, my Canadian manners have tobogganed right on past me.¡± Ryan reached down and retrieved a sunburnt orange can with streaks of red scattered across it. ¡°Slapp¡¯n Sour Citrus. So much flavor packed inside it that it will slap your tastebuds right out of your mouth.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes and grabbed the can. To his delight, the drink was a perfect balance of sweet and sour. Ryan really has been getting better at creating these drinks, he thought and turned his attention back to his neighbor. ¡°Yeah, so I¡¯ve just been doing the whole national tour. Putting Big D Energy in front of people¡¯s faces, working on getting some investors and all, you know.¡± ¡°Any luck?¡± Pepper asked after taking another sip. ¡°It was a long and hard road, but I¡¯m finally getting some traction.¡± Ryan paused and made an animated expression. ¡°See what I did there?¡± ¡°Yes, I get the reference, Ryan.¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting on a few people to get back to me, but I have a good, really good feeling about it all. Things are moving, energy is flowing, and any day here now we¡¯ll be up and running and there will be Big D¡¯s in front of everyone¡¯s faces.¡± Ryan took a pause and then stared into the distance, his eyes filled with a vision of the future. ¡°You know, Ryan, I¡¯m not really a marketing expert or anything, but you really might want to hire somebody to help you with phrasing.¡± Ryan shifted his head down and looked confused. ¡°Well, why would you go and say something like that there? Do you not believe in Big D? Do you not enjoy yourself with a Big D every now and again?¡± Pepper pressed his lips together and looked down at the energy drink in his hand. The label pointed directly towards him. ¡°Oh¡­ I sure do all right.¡± ¡°See! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about there, don¡¯t you know. Soon there will be Big D¡¯s for everybody,¡± Ryan finished and looked to have returned to his daydream of a vibrant, successful future. Pepper let him have another minute and took a few more sips of the beverage. The caffeine had refreshed his tired state, and he felt a little more motivated to do some more work in the shop. He was about to say goodbye and thank Ryan for the drink but stopped. His mind flashed back to a previous time when he and his neighbor had spoken. He looked back at Ryan, who had just finished playing with his twisty straw. ¡°Wait a minute. Principal Stephens said you were an Olympic gold medalist.¡± Ryan smiled bashfully . ¡°Yes¡­ I was.¡± ¡°But the story¡­ the story you told me. James LaShawn who trained for the longest time to become an Olympic athlete. That story was actually about you.¡± ¡°Oh jeepers there, Pep. I guess you sure did catch me red handed there.¡± Ryan¡¯s face began to flush; his fingers twirled the straw around his glass. ¡°Yeah, that was my story. I know all about being knocked down and feeling like you¡¯re going nothing but backwards in this here life. So many nights when I would lay in bed, a fresh tear on my face and all I could do was ask why? There were those mornings when you wake up and you just don¡¯t want to get out of bed. ¡°Yet somehow¡­ while the storm rages on all around you, you still get yourself back up and laugh. You tell the storm you¡¯re willing to work in the rain. That the dark clouds may be veiling the sun, but you know it still exists, even though you can¡¯t see it. So you weather the storm, you ice down your lumps, and you keep taking one step forward at a time, if that is all you can muster.¡± Pepper looked at Ryan, who took a deep breath. ¡°Was there ever anything that you used, like a phrase or something you¡¯d tell yourself when you needed a reminder to keep going?¡± Ryan chuckled. ¡°Goonies never say die.¡± Chapter 43 - Captain Puddlesworth The door chimed when Pepper walked inside. It wasn¡¯t long before he heard Rhino¡¯s voice call out from the back room, ¡°I¡¯ll be with you in just a minute.¡± He scanned the store and immediately saw a new display setup. It was a secure glass case with a high-grade metal lock on the door. Inside was a couple of Phantom Industries familiar rune card boxes. The high-gloss metallic packaging glistened under the case¡¯s internal lighting. On each side of the display was a large cardboard cutout. He couldn¡¯t lie, the advertisements were on the verge of looking more creepy than welcoming. One showed a kid practically half his age with what looked like a living stuffed animal. The other one showed a senior citizen with a golem dog that looked more like Amprage. Pepper¡¯s attention was soon taken away from the case when he heard a high-pitched voice greet him in a smug tone. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the thief! Come to steal from us too, huh? Quack.¡± He turned and saw a cinnamon and teal duck golem standing on top of a barstool. The chair was just high enough for the golem to see over the top of the sales counter. It glared at him with narrowed red eyes. Its black bill jutted out and seemed to snicker at him. But the unique coloration of the duck wasn¡¯t what caused Pepper to stare intently at the bird, but rather the medieval helmet on its head. Pepper slowly drew closer and realized the rest of the bird was clad in what looked like chain mail. One of the creature¡¯s wings was wrapped around a long spear, and it lowered it and aimed the sharp point towards him. The duck seemed to shake and was so flustered with anger that it was almost trembling. ¡°We have no need for the likes of you, thief! Now just turn around and¡ª¡± ¡°Calm down, Captain Puddlesworth,¡± Rhino commanded as he stepped into the room from the back storage area. ¡°Quack!¡± was all the duck replied, and it shook its body and adjusted itself on the barstool. ¡°Hey, Pepper, long time no see.¡± ¡°Hey, Rhino. I figured I needed to stop in and see you. You know, regarding everything that happened and all.¡± Rhino¡¯s appearance told Pepper that the shop had been slammed with customers. The workload was certainly not slowing down, and his presence seemed like it was the last thing Rhino wanted to deal with. Rhino removed his glasses and wiped his face. ¡°Well¡­ it certainly was something I wasn¡¯t expecting to deal with. Most of the customers didn¡¯t really bring it up. I did, however, feel I should review the majority of security camera footage whenever you were here without me. The inventory numbers always matched when I did the checks, but there is still that percentage of doubt that one needs to be sure of every now and again.¡± ¡°I get that.¡± ¡°The bigger problem, though¡­ is that all the repair work started to pile up all over again.¡± Rhino paused and put his glasses back on. ¡°So, when are you coming back to work?¡± A small smile began to form on both of their faces. ¡°Really? You¡¯re serious? I still have a job?¡± ¡°If you want it.¡± ¡°Thanks, Rhino. I honestly didn¡¯t expect you to keep me on.¡± A cool sensation of relief washed over Pepper, and he felt the tension in his muscles ease. He looked down at the duck familiar. ¡°So, you got yourself a familiar, I see.¡± Rhino smiled and glanced down at him. ¡°Yeah¡­ Captain Puddlesworth has been an interesting addition to the store. He gets along with most of the customers. He can get a little crabby too every once in a while.¡± Once Rhino was done commenting on the bonded golem, the duck flapped its wings and hoisted the spear high over its head. ¡°Quack!¡± The shopkeeper turned back to Pepper and motioned to the display case. ¡°It was gifted to me as part of the deal to have them bring in their custom display case. A few videos in Golem Chat have gone viral and now the things are practically flying off the shelves. I already had five stolen before I locked them up. ¡°Phantom told me it wasn¡¯t a big deal¡ªa few minutes of collaborating on our inventory serial numbers and they were able to identify the stolen runes. They mentioned adding something to their internal server network so that once those specific cards connected to their network, they would remotely trigger a self-destruct sequence. It¡¯s all part of their anti-theft initiative.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pretty smart way to do it.¡± Pepper turned and glanced at Amp. He tilted his head and playfully wagged his stubby metal tail. ¡°There are some moments I look at him and truly wonder if he really is, well, real.¡± ¡°Pepper¡­¡± Amprage said, then continued after a slight pause. ¡°Can I eat the duck golem?¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t eat him!¡± Pepper quickly looked at Rhino, who merely chuckled in response. ¡°But¡­ there appears to be a natural instinct inside me. One which tells me to wring the thing¡¯s neck¡­ squawk box bad.¡± ¡°Look, Amp, you don¡¯t need to act out every part of the dog personality profile. There are good traits and bad traits, as I feel we¡¯ve already discussed. Eating other golems, critters, and pets is a bad trait.¡± ¡°But¡­ it just looks so juicy!¡± Amp opened his mouth and chomped down. His metal mouth clanked and began to chatter as the teeth connected. ¡°Just a nibble.¡± ¡°No! And if you keep this up, I won¡¯t let you come to work with me. I¡¯ll leave you at home with Meg,¡± Pepper warned. Amp whined, then pouted and turned to wander around the rest of the store. Rhino laughed. ¡°Amp seems to have a far more playful spirit than Captain Puddlesworth. I had to give three customers discounts because he followed them around and tried to bite their ankles.¡± ¡°I¡¯m surprised he didn¡¯t stab them with his spear.¡± Pepper motioned with his head. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know where that came from, but he¡¯s certainly taken a liking to it. At least it¡¯s not a crossbow. I have no doubt he¡¯d be shooting bolts at everyone and everything he could.¡± ¡°Long live the Duck Kingdom! Tomorrow we march to destroy the beaver nation!¡± *** Pepper could see Brent had not noticed him enter the restaurant. ¡°Welcome to Rocket Burger, where we are¡ª Oh, hey, P-Dub.¡± His friend turned. He looked like he had been completely drained of all life. Pepper felt a slight sensation of pity rise within him. He thought back to the time when he had suffered there as well. His best friend¡¯s face was pale, and Pepper thought that if Brent sat down, he would immediately fall asleep. ¡°You look like you¡¯re sick. You sure you¡¯re okay?¡± ¡°You know the orange astral star shake?¡± Pepper glanced over at the promotional poster pinned to the side wall. ¡°You mean that one?¡± He motioned with his head. ¡°Yeah, that one. Let¡¯s just say that using that as a dippy sauce for the flaming hot grilled shrimp is not recommended.¡± Pepper¡¯s face distorted in horror and his stomach immediately churned in agony. ¡°Why would you do that? That hurts just thinking about it. You¡¯re dipping deep fried seafood into a cold milkshake, dude!¡± ¡°Gary dared me¡­ you know me, P-Dub¡­ I don¡¯t back down.¡± Pepper moved a few feet to the side and looked down the food preparation line. His eyes locked onto the coworker. ¡°Gary, seriously?¡± A dark and diabolic chuckle bellowed out briefly. ¡°You¡¯re a loser, Brent.¡± Brent slammed his left hand on the counter while his right hand shot up with a resolute index finger pointing in Gary¡¯s direction. ¡°I will not be defeated. I have an iron gut that can handle more than you know, Gary! I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t back¡ª¡± Before Brent could finish, he snapped around and sprang the few feet to the trash can. His head plunged down into the bin as his stomach heaved up its contents. It was a rough minute before he finished and slowly lifted his head. ¡°Down.¡± Pepper chuckled and rolled his eyes when his friend finished the statement, which was now pointless. ¡°Is KT in?¡± Brent nodded slowly and pointed towards the back of the restaurant. His face appeared to warn Pepper that there was another round of stomach upheaval on its way. Pepper quickly walked by his friend and did his best to block out the distinct sound of vomiting, which began just after he passed.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. A quick turn around the back corner and Pepper found the manager sitting behind her computer, her glasses resting on the tip of her nose. She turned and looked at him but quickly returned her attention to the screen. ¡°Yes, love?¡± ¡°I need your help, KT.¡± ¡°Okay, well, if you need more hours to get back on your feet, I don¡¯t know how much I¡¯ll be able to do at the moment.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not it.¡± The manager turned back to him curiously and removed her glasses. She shifted in her chair and narrowed her gaze on him. ¡°Hmm, what exactly do you need help with, then?¡± ¡°I got asked to prom.¡± KT¡¯s expression quickly changed to a giant beaming smile. Her hands formed into fists that trembled with joy. She stood up and wrapped her arms around him. ¡°Yay! This just made my day, love. Andrea finally had to do the job you were too scared to do, aye?¡± Pepper¡¯s cheeks flushed as they ended their embrace. ¡°Something like that.¡± He shrugged. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m more confident in fighting demons than I am in chasing women.¡± ¡°Woman ¡­ wo¡ªman. Singular tense there, love. I find out you¡¯re going around behind Andrea¡¯s back and I will help her dispose of your body. You hear?¡± He chuckled and lifted his hands in defense. ¡°Hey, come on, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. Besides, I¡¯ve had a crush on Andrea for years now. But like I said, I just didn¡¯t know how to, well, ask.¡± KT¡¯s head wiggled back and forth as her energy could not be contained in her small body. Her bright smile and warm eyes looked at him like a proud mom with her kids. ¡°So, what do you need help with, then?¡± ¡°What do I do for prom?¡± ¡°Well, dance, normally, you dingleberry.¡± He sighed and his shoulders slouched. ¡°I know that part, but like¡­ I have to get a suit or something? Is there flowers or like do I¡­?¡± He sighed again and dropped his head. He took a minute to compose himself. His eyes finally lifted and he looked back at KT. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to screw this up and make Andrea regret her choice.¡± KT smiled and her eyes widened in sympathy. ¡°Aww love, don¡¯t worry. She already regrets her decision.¡± Pepper dropped his head and then chuckled. He felt KT¡¯s hand reach up and give him a gentle nudge. ¡°Thanks, KT.¡± She laughed. ¡°Give me a few minutes and I¡¯ll come see you out in the dining area. Grab yourself some fresh hot French fries and dipping sauce and relax. I¡¯ll get you ready for the big day.¡± ¡°You know I don¡¯t care for our fries.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I do. And if I have you get them and just steal them from you, I don¡¯t feel as guilty about eating them.¡± She patted his shoulder and returned to her computer. ¡°Okay, I need to send out these few emails and then I¡¯ll be out there, love.¡± Pepper walked down the service line and gave Gary a fist bump as he went. Gary was preoccupied with verbally going back and forth with Brent. The two were mercilessly roasting one another to the point that the food itself barely being put together in any sort of appropriate way. Pepper scooped himself a fresh batch of French fries. He salted them heavily and slowly made his way into the dining area. His eyes couldn¡¯t help but linger on the far corner of the room. An elderly couple were sitting next to one another in a booth and holding hands while they slowly nibbled on their ice cream desserts. He mentally replaced the two elderly lovebirds with himself and Andrea. He chuckled when he saw the bald spot on his head. Are we actually going to get to that point? he asked himself, picturing all the adventures that would await a young couple. He thought of buying their first home, walking through the front door, and decorating it over time until it perfectly reflected the life they would have. Pepper imagined Amprage trotting down the hall while a small blond-haired boy waddled from side to side as he staggered after the familiar. A quick flash of light and the scene transitioned to a large grass field. Picture-perfect trees along the edge with radiant streaks of sunlight piercing through their branches. The warm summer evening wrapped around them while lighting bugs floated through the air and welcomed their laughter with enchantment. The whole time, the three of them held hands and walked barefoot on the soft grass. Another blur faded in and transitioned Pepper to an orbital view that rotated gently. He and Andrea were both lying in a white woven hammock. A large oak tree provided them with shade while her voice softly sang to him. There were no words, merely a soft, soothing voice of comfort¡ªthe same sensation a warrior found when they returned home from battle victorious and clung on to the thing they had missed the most. ¡°Hello!¡± KT¡¯s voice sounded at the same time as her finger flicked his forehead. Pepper flinched and shook his head slightly to pull himself out of the daydream. ¡°Anybody home? You all right?¡± KT asked him. ¡°I guess I zoned out there.¡± He rubbed his head to ease the small throb that remained. ¡°Right, well, I don¡¯t have much time to sit down with you and go over all the details. But I can at least get you started.¡± She paused for a second and then lowered her tone to emphasize what Pepper felt was her desire for him to really think about what he had asked of her. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to ask your mom or dad to help you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± he replied. There was a slight pause, and Pepper did think briefly about his mom. He was actually afraid to talk to her about Andrea. She had never accepted Travis¡¯s girlfriend and had been kept completely in the dark about the fact that he had been planning on asking her to marry him. Back then, his mom had been an overprotective momma bear that always wanted to keep her bear cubs inside the den. Now, Pepper wasn¡¯t sure what to make of it. He was certain, though, that she wouldn¡¯t be able to relate to him and Andrea. But what parent could? The world, life itself, was different now¡ªvery different from when his parents were dating. KT finally broke the silence between them. ¡°Well then, you best get yourself a reservation at the most romantic spot in town.¡± He sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t have much money.¡± ¡°Did my previous statement say anything about money?¡± Pepper¡¯s eyebrows furrowed and his eyes dashed off to the side. ¡°Uhh, well, you¡­¡± ¡°I said you needed to make a reservation at the most romantic spot in town. Not the most expensive. Now clean out your ears and pay attention.¡± KT grabbed hold of a new clump of fries, dipped them in the sauce, and chomped away. ¡°Call 269-244-8487.¡± Pepper hesitated, but when he saw an aggressive look come into KT¡¯s eyes he stopped wasting time. He swiped at his holodex and awakened it from its sleep state. His finger tapped away at the screen until the number was punched in and he heard the ringing begin. ¡°Thanks for calling Joseppi¡¯s. How can I help you?¡± a woman¡¯s voice said. Pepper cleared his throat. ¡°Hi. I was wondering if I could make a reservation.¡± ¡°For what night?¡± the voice asked. ¡°This upcoming Friday. Say¡­ 6 p.m.?¡± ¡°Nope, sorry¡ªwe¡¯re all booked out that night for the prom,¡± she replied coldly. Pepper felt his shoulders slouch, and a sensation of disappointment entered his heart. ¡°Oh¡­ Well, tha¡ª¡± Before he could finish, KT cut in. ¡°Put that call on speaker.¡± His forehead scrunched with confusion as he looked at her and then back to the holographic display. ¡°It already is on¡­¡± KT didn¡¯t waste another moment. ¡°Hello, yes, who am I speaking with?¡± There was a slight uptick of emotion in the woman¡¯s voice. ¡°This is Sherry.¡± ¡°Aww, hello there. Can you tell me, is Rachel there at the restaurant?¡± A slight hesitation came over the woman¡¯s voice that made Pepper think the woman was afraid to answer that honestly. ¡°Well, yes, she is in the back, but¡ª¡± ¡°Perfect. Put her on and tell her it¡¯s KT.¡± The woman¡¯s voice now had a slight tone of irritation. ¡°All right, then. Please hold.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart started to pick up, as nerves and anxiety were taking hold of him far more than he was comfortable with. He felt a strong sense of embarrassment, as he felt like he was being forced to be pushy when the answer was already no. Pepper didn¡¯t normally push the matter in a situation like this, but he certainly didn¡¯t want to suffer KT¡¯s wrath and decided to follow her lead. The wait was over when there was a slight crackle on the other end of the line. ¡°KT, is that you?¡± KT had already plunged a new round of heavily salted fries into her mouth and replied through a mouthful. ¡°Well, hello, love. Why didn¡¯t you call me last week? I missed you.¡± The woman chuckled in response. ¡°Aaron came down with a flu bug and then Jeremy was off hunting and the house was complete chaos. By the time it was all said and done, I simply wanted a warm bath, scented candles, wine and nothing else.¡± ¡°Aww, Aaron doing all right now?¡± ¡°He is¡ªalready back to school, running around and picking up far more germs than any eight-year-old should.¡± ¡°Well, you give him a big squeeze and tell him Auntie KT says she loves him.¡± ¡°I will, but¡­ why the phone call? Everything all right with you?¡± ¡°Oh yeah, all good over here. All good except young Pepper sitting here with me needs to make a reservation for Friday at 6 p.m., but you¡¯re all booked up.¡± Pepper could hear some light taps on the other end of the line. He was sure it was the woman¡¯s fingernails clacking away through the menu options on whatever touchpad they had. Rachel then let out a sigh. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re completely booked out that entire evening.¡± KT didn¡¯t even waste time waiting. ¡°No, you¡¯re not. He¡¯ll be there at 6 p.m. sharp, and you¡¯re going to put him out in the garden.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in shock. He was about to cut in and tell Rachel to forget the whole thing, but KT¡¯s pointed finger told him to let her handle the negotiations. He had never been embarrassed over a phone conversation until this moment. ¡°KT¡­ look, we already have the entire place¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you give me that. Do I need to remind you about the time when you had to chase after Jeremy and needed someone to take care of Aaron?¡± ¡°Yes, but¡ª¡± ¡°How about the time I worked three days of double shifts to cover you guys in the kitchen after your chef walked out?¡± ¡°I know, but¡ª¡± ¡°And let us not forget the time at your wedding when¡ª¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Rachel snapped back. There was a devious smile on KT¡¯s face, and she winked at Pepper and finished with a victorious nod. ¡°Friday, 6 p.m. sharp, right?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°And he and his lovely date are going to be sat outside in the garden without any issues.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Rachel¡¯s voice replied with a resentful tone. ¡°Excellent. I knew you wouldn¡¯t let me down. Okay, we got to go and get him all suited up. Love you and talk to you soon.¡± The phone line went dead, and KT shook her head slightly. ¡°What exactly happened at Rachel¡¯s?¡± It was now KT¡¯s turn to have her eyes widen in shock. There was a twinkle in her eye that warned Pepper he was on thin ice for even broaching the subject. ¡°That is none of your business there, Mister. But a little lesson for you. Always know when to play the ace you have hiding up your sleeve. I just cashed in a big favor for you, so you better treat that gorgeous girl like a queen.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°And not just Friday night either. That goes from now until the end of time. You hear? Because if my ears catch word of anything other than that, I¡¯ll skin you alive and wear your skin around like a coat.¡± Pepper sat back in his chair to gain some distance from her. He eyed the exit. She had never threatened him to that degree before, and KT was the one person he felt would do exactly what she said and not lose an ounce of sleep. ¡°Got it. Loud and crystal clear,¡± he said, shifting in his seat. ¡°Excellent! Right, now it is onto the next item¡ªflowers. Call 269-438-4323.¡± KT continued to direct him through the rest of the phone calls he needed to pull off the perfect romantic evening. The only thing he needed to do now was borrow his dad¡¯s small truck and go grab everything to be ready for the big night. Chapter 44 - Episode: Rune Master ¡°Welcome back to RuneCast, everybody. Man, am I glad that you are with us today and taking time to tune in to this show and hang out with me. I tell everybody I have the best fans in the world, and I¡¯m grateful for every stinking one of you,¡± John said. Pepper smiled and began to wipe the steamed mirror in the bathroom while listening to the show. He felt bad because he hadn¡¯t tuned in for a while, but the warm southern voice of the host was as genuine as ever before. He grabbed his toothbrush and started the next task of getting ready while the show carried on. ¡°Today, folks, I¡¯ve got a treat for you¡ªa real treat and that¡¯s the truth. I was practically jumping for joy when this individual messaged me back and said he¡¯d be on the show. This gladiator is a legend in the arena, and I know many of my fans sure love watching him perform. So without any further delay, let¡¯s go ahead and bring him in¡ªthe one, the only, Mr. Seth Ring!¡± Pepper could see enough of the screen out of the corner of his eye to watch John swivel in his chair and click away on his audio effects. A crowd noise began to play over the stream, and the live feed of typed comments flooded upwards as more heart symbols and icons surged in. Pepper nodded along, the toothbrush sticking out of his mouth. There was a slight hint of sadness within him. He had wanted to try to meet Seth in person when he was at GolemCon, but he was never in the same place at the same time. He had watched Seth compete in the arena and appreciated his style¡ªa tactician in competition and meticulous at constantly working to improve efficiency and energy prioritization. He had no doubt that Seth was one of the most underrated gladiators in the Golem League. For some reason, though, Seth always seemed to be in this silent but deadly zone within the rankings. He was often overlooked, sometimes overshadowed, and often took many other competitors by surprise. The viewpoint shifted so he could see John and Seth displayed side by side. A big jovial smile was on John¡¯s face, and he beamed behind his goatee. He adjusted his hat and headset and cleared his throat. ¡°Seth, it¡¯s great to see you, and thank you so much for being here with us today.¡± Seth was smiling and gave a slight nod in return. ¡°Well, thanks for having me, John. This is awesome, and I¡¯m so glad we get to do this.¡± Pepper noticed that Seth was sitting in what looked like an office, but it wasn¡¯t a professional setting. It seemed more like the office of a mechanic¡¯s shop. He could just make out what he thought were schematics and engineering designs pinned up on the wall behind him. There were bookshelves off to one side and a workbench that clearly had some rune cards and wires on it. A few books were stacked nearby, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the clay statues that were also scattered about. Seth was wearing a blue and charcoal gray plaid button-up shirt. The color matched his dark hair and black-framed glasses. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that the famed gladiator was also sporting a goatee. ¡°So, let¡¯s just go ahead and jump right in on this discussion, because people, if you haven¡¯t heard the news, you are living under a rock,¡± John continued. Pepper tilted his head and spat his toothpaste out while waiting in anticipation. ¡°And I¡¯ll just go ahead and read this headline here. ¡®Golem League announces huge change that will impact the competitive landscape.¡¯ Indie runes are now authorized for use, starting next season.¡± John leaned back in his chair for a moment. ¡°I mean, wow, this is shocking! I mean, just shocking that the Golem League has made such a shift like this. Seth, what¡¯s your take on it all?¡± Pepper huffed and grabbed his razor and shaving cream. ¡°Guess I am currently living under a rock,¡± he muttered to himself in the mirror, for he hadn¡¯t heard the news until just now. Seth was nodding and started to answer John¡¯s question. ¡°Well, John, I¡¯m sure you know, because you are one of the few who stay on top of all the buzz surrounding the League. I am all for this. I think it¡¯s great.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that Seth was slowly moving his hands around, and he used them to talk as he continued to share his thoughts. ¡°The thing that makes the Golem League so special is how each gladiator gets to customize their golem and personalize it to who they are and what they¡¯re about. There is this special bond that gladiators have with their golems when they themselves work on them.¡± Seth took a moment to cough and clear his throat but immediately continued. ¡°I feel that many of my peers and those who compete in these upper tiers, they forget that. We see many gladiators reaching the top and it changes them just as much as their golems change. The mass production and ability to just buy a new rune card and swap them in and out without consideration ¡­ It feels like things have become very disingenuous.¡± John looked like he was about to chime in and say something. But he stopped himself and pulled back. Seth took a quick breath; he had already started on his next point and certainly didn¡¯t stop sharing the belief he firmly held. ¡°Why should the League be stopping those of us who love that aspect of the competition? Why can¡¯t I, someone who has committed every ounce of energy and effort, be allowed to develop my own runes and rune cards? We¡¯ve had the technology for years that would allow gladiators to develop their own unique attributes within the magical symbols, so now it¡¯s time to remove the restrictions and really let the gladiators lead with their creativity.¡± John had a slightly smug yet playful expression. ¡°You sure can¡¯t argue with that. I mean, I think you hit the nail right on the top of the head there, Seth. But ¡­¡± He paused and tilted his head from side to side. ¡°No surprise to us, the major rune companies are already stating they plan to take legal action against the Golem League and are claiming there are major safety concerns with this. What do you have to say regarding that?¡± ¡°Well, of course they¡¯re going to say that. I mean, they have to. Many of these companies are publicly traded on the stock market. They have to keep investors happy. They have to keep their vice grip on the industry and lobby government leaders to try and keep a monopoly. ¡°I think that¡¯s what makes this move such a surprise. The Golem League caught the industry off guard and sent a huge message. That message is, we¡¯re here to give our gladiators an arena where they can push themselves to the highest levels possible.¡± John reached up and grabbed hold of his chin. He gave a slight nod as he released his grip and wagged his finger. It was as if a new thought had just entered his mind and he had to get it out. ¡°So do you think we¡¯ll see something like Rune Masters alongside Golem Masters?¡± Seth smiled and tipped his head from side to side while he thought over the question. ¡°Well, I mean, Golem Master is a title that is given out to the person who wins the Pantheon League at the end of the season, right? And¡­ something like Rune Master wouldn¡¯t necessarily be a title that is earned through a competitive match in the arena. My thought would be something where it would have to be bestowed on a gladiator or individual by others. I think there are some within the Golem League, and even outside the Golem League, that I would absolutely say are Rune Masters already.¡± ¡°Woah, now that is a hot take right there. A big and mighty compliment from you, Seth. You wouldn¡¯t by any chance give us a little insight into a few of those people, would you?¡± John replied with a curious smile. Seth chuckled and scratched his beard. ¡°Well, right off the bat¡­ that would be Benjamin Kerei and Eric Ugland within the League. Those guys are really smart and were some of the first gladiators that really emphasized the importance of gladiators getting involved in rune creation. I think Jay Pritchard is someone that many fans have never heard of, and even many gladiators for that matter. But that guy is by far one of the smartest in the entire industry. So yeah¡­ there are certainly some major Rune Master contenders already out there, and I¡¯m excited to see what comes of this change.¡± John nodded along, and Pepper could see he was savoring every moment of the interview. ¡°Well, someone on this episode might be a little humble, but I will happily say a certain Seth Ring name should be added to that list of Rune Masters.¡± Seth was shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know about that, John. I¡¯m just happy to be making a living out of this craft and excited to see what this next season of the Golem League is going to bring us and the fans.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no better way to say it than that right there. Love it, Seth, thanks. Okay, folks, we¡¯re going to take a short commercial break and will be right back after this. Don¡¯t go anywhere,¡± John said just before the screen flashed and an advertisement started to play. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, as the advertisement was for a rune card company. Irony at its finest, he thought, looking down and realizing he was cutting his time close. His shave was wrapped up quickly, for he had a total of roughly ten facial hairs. ¡°I¡¯m guessing I¡¯m not allowed to go with you?¡± Amprage asked, lying on his bed as Pepper started to change. ¡°Nope. Sorry, buddy; you are on royal guard duty for Princess Megan tonight.¡± A slight whimper and huff came out of him. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that. It¡¯s not that bad.¡± Amprage¡¯s head tilted upwards. ¡°Not that bad? It¡¯s like psychological warfare.¡± Pepper turned around with a confused look and began to button up his dress shirt. ¡°How is it psycho¡ª¡± He couldn¡¯t finish his question before Amprage cut him off. ¡°Baby shark, doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo, Baby shark, doo-doo, doo-doo¡ª¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Pepper snapped, interrupting his familiar. ¡°I get it¡­ I forgot she¡¯s still obsessed with that song.¡± ¡°I have nightmares, Pepper¡­ and that shouldn¡¯t be possible, because I don¡¯t even have a brain.¡± ¡°Still¡­ she adores you and loves you and you¡¯re her favorite thing in the world. So while I¡¯m gone, you get the duty of entertaining her. Pretty sure Dad is going to be zoned out on some news station. And Mom¡­¡± Pepper paused and quickly realized he didn¡¯t want to go down that rabbit hole. ¡°Who knows what she¡¯ll be doing. But it won¡¯t be that bad, okay?¡± ¡°Fine¡­ but just know I am silently protesting.¡± Pepper finished up and walked out the door, his hands full of the bouquet and corsage KT had instructed him to pick up beforehand. He entered the hallway at the same time as his mom was leaving the kitchen. The two paused and stared at one another. Their eyes locked for a split second, but all Courtney did was press her lips together before she continued into the living room. Pepper shook his head and went into the kitchen. ¡°Whoa, hold on a minute there,¡± his dad called from behind him. ¡°I want to get a picture of you.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes and lowered his head for a moment. The thought of having his picture taken sent a hot dagger through his spirit. He put the flowers down on the counter, leaned against the pantry door, and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He knew his expression was one of disdain, and he did his best to change it to one that projected the sentiment, Please just take the picture and be done with this. His dad quickly took a few with his holodex. Pepper smirked and huffed as he watched his dad maneuver around the kitchen to get photos from different angles. It seemed like an over-dramatization, but at least he appreciated his dad¡¯s performance. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough. You have like fifty photos now,¡± he said, retrieving the flowers and grabbing a set of his dad¡¯s truck keys from their hook. ¡°I only have fifteen but would happily settle for twenty-five.¡± ¡°Fifteen is all you get. Try not to burn the house down while I¡¯m gone, and don¡¯t stay up past your bedtime,¡± Pepper said as he walked out the door. He turned the corner and looked into the kitchen through the side window. His dad was shaking his head and chuckling. The old pickup truck rumbled to life, and Pepper adjusted the mirror and nervously checked himself over yet again. He caught sight of a tin of breath mints and popped one in his mouth before he shifted the truck into gear.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. Everything about the event was embarrassing to Pepper. He was on his way to pick up the girl of his dreams in a beat-up short-bed truck. The flowers sitting beside him were a quarter of what he wanted to get her, but he simply couldn¡¯t afford the next option up. The suit was rented and felt stiff and uncomfortable. The entire get-up just didn¡¯t feel like it was really him as a person. He felt more like an imposter, as if he was pretending to be something more than what he truly was. His heart pumped with an even greater nervous rhythm when the truck¡¯s brakes screeched and he arrived at Andrea¡¯s house. A soft, warm glow filtered from the windows. He walked up the path with the flowers in hand and was caught off guard by the front door slowly opening. It crackled as it swung free and there, standing in the center of the doorway, was Andrea. Her blond hair hugged the right side of her face and neck, and she wore a woven necklace adorned with a gold water drop. The luxurious theme was continued in her dress¡ªa contoured black maxi dress covered in gold sequins. Pepper¡¯s breath was taken away, and he stood there frozen in disbelief. Andrea looked like she was ready for a red-carpet awards ceremony rather than a high school prom. She stepped forward, reached out her hand, gently pulled him in close, and softly kissed him. He could smell the sweet citrus scent of her perfume as she pulled away. ¡°I¡¯m assuming these are for me?¡± she said quietly, gesturing to the flowers. ¡°No, they¡¯re for your next-door neighbor. Of course they¡¯re for you,¡± Pepper joked. Andrea quickly put her finger in front of her mouth and shushed him. ¡°Be quiet¡ªmy dad finally fell asleep a few minutes ago.¡± She gently took hold of the bouquet of flowers and smelled them before placing them just inside the door. She reappeared a few seconds later and carefully guided the front door back into position. ¡°Okay, we¡¯re good,¡± she told him and wrapped her arm around his and lightly motioned that they could leave. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I say hi to your dad, though?¡± Pepper asked as he hesitantly walked in stride alongside her towards the truck. ¡°I would love that, and I know he would appreciate the gesture. But I just gave him another round of medication twenty minutes ago and he¡¯s finally sleeping. He¡¯s had a rough few days and I would much rather let him sleep.¡± She paused, sensing an internal struggle within Pepper. She gave his arm a light squeeze. ¡°It¡¯s okay, really. My dad will understand, and there¡¯ll be plenty of time for you to meet him.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Pepper said, reaching for the truck¡¯s passenger-side door. He stood there and was reminded of how KT had warned him about how to treat his date. Andrea surprised him again by wrapping her arms around him, and the two kissed for a few seconds before she finally pulled away. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m hungry. We can get going now.¡± She turned and lowered herself into the passenger seat of the truck. Pepper closed the door behind her and chuckled as he walked around the back of the truck. He liked how direct Andrea was. She took the lead in many ways, and he appreciated the fact that there was no guessing with her. The intensity of her strong will was a stark contrast to her unwavering support for him and his dreams at the same time. The trip to the restaurant was filled with an award-winning performance by Andrea. She turned the sound system on and started to sing along to the trending songs that played over the old speakers. Pepper turned down a different road that would extend their trip by a good twenty-plus minutes. Andrea instantly tuned in to what he¡¯d done, but she didn¡¯t protest. Her hand stretched out towards his, and she smiled at him while still hitting every note. The sun was just starting to set, and Pepper wished he could pause time and not let that moment end. They arrived at Joseppi¡¯s, and Pepper was relieved when the hostess didn¡¯t question the reservation. The two were escorted through the dining room, which was packed, and led through two glass doors at the back of the restaurant. A narrow stone pathway weaved for a few feet and then opened up onto a small patio. The edge of the patio was billowing with flowerpots. Wooden posts were placed along the way, and vines wrapped around them and spread overhead. Tea lights were strung throughout the cross-sectional beams above, and they cast their soft light on the patio. They were sat at a single table in the center. Three candles flickered to life, and the host popped the cork of a chilled bottle of water. The entire setting made them feel like they were in the countryside of Italy. Pepper now realized just how romantic the spot was for the two lovebirds, and Andrea, sitting across from him dressed to the tens, was the kind of beauty that wars were started over. Their meal was cooked to perfection, and by the time it was all over, Pepper was afraid his stomach was going to burst after devouring everything on the plate. The two waited for the rest of the patrons to slowly disperse before they departed and headed for the dance. When they arrived at Status Academy, Pepper found a parking spot towards the middle of the lot. He smiled and chuckled when he looked over and saw Brent and Summer had also just arrived and parked a few spots over. The part that made him chuckle, though, was seeing Brent sitting in the driver¡¯s seat while Summer started to get out of the car. ¡°Oh my gosh, she looks ticked,¡± Andrea said, analyzing Summer¡¯s body language. ¡°She kinda did it to herself,¡± Pepper chimed in. Andrea nudged him, and not in an affectionate manner. ¡°How is it her fault?¡± ¡°She should never have gone out with him.¡± ¡°Those are two of your best friends, Pepper,¡± Andrea scolded. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean they should date one another. I love them both individually, but some things just aren¡¯t meant to be put together. It¡¯s like Mentos and Pepsi.¡± The two got out of their vehicle and met Summer, who spoke first. ¡°I could kill him right now,¡± she declared. Pepper chuckled and was about to ask what was wrong, but Andrea looked down first and in shocked horror said, ¡°Oh my gosh, Summer, your shoes!¡± ¡°Yup¡­ Oh, thy Romeo decided to nervously down three cans of breath mints before, during, and after he picked me up and we had dinner. He started puking all over the car. Thankfully the only part of my gown that got plastered was my shoes.¡± ¡°Come on, we¡¯re getting you cleaned up,¡± Andrea said. She let go her grip on Pepper, took Summer by the arm, and walked with her towards the gymnasium. ¡°I¡¯ll see you inside,¡± she said over her shoulder and then turned to comfort Summer. Pepper turned his attention to Brent, who looked like a dog sitting at a sliding glass door begging to be let inside while a torrential downpour of rain washed over him. ¡°Dude¡­¡± ¡°I know. I messed up. Again! I am just¡ª¡± Pepper raised his hand to stop his friend. ¡°I get it.¡± He patted Brent on the back and then opened the driver¡¯s door. He drew back when he caught a whiff of the smell inside the vehicle. ¡°Oh god. You might want to just get a Rover Ride when this is all done.¡± ¡°What about my car?¡± ¡°Burn it¡­ just right here. It¡¯s not worth saving,¡± Pepper jested. Brent surprised Pepper by popping the trunk and producing some wet wipes out of the rear storage compartment. Pepper motioned with his hand for Brent to toss the package over, and the two suffered through the smell while cleaning up the mess as best they could. They worked until they had expended the cleaning wipes, then departed for the gymnasium. They wove their way through the gathering of students and stood near the back of the large room. It was decorated in a neon hot pink and royal blue color scheme. Sparkles of silver and chrome were intermixed to complement the color pattern, and they gave Pepper a cybernetic vibe that he enjoyed. His eyes scanned the room and locked onto their dates, who had just exited the girls¡¯ bathroom. The girls glanced across the crowd and Summer pointed for Andrea when she caught sight of them. As they made their way slowly over to them, Pepper drank in every step Andrea took. That was until he noticed how she caught the attention of the others. Many of the other girls from Status Academy were glaring at her with faces of disgust and jealousy. The guys standing nearby were on the verge of openly drooling. Pepper¡¯s eyes locked onto Andrea¡¯s as she closed the distance. Her eyes didn¡¯t deviate from his, but she smiled. Her head was held high in confidence, and her demeanor told him she knew exactly the jealousy that was pointed at her. She didn¡¯t falter but continued towards him and didn¡¯t hesitate before she wrapped her arms around him and melted into his chest while he held her close. Pepper was never the center of attention, and his time spent with Andrea confirmed his suspicion that she didn¡¯t want to be the center of attention either. She was someone who didn¡¯t falter in her beliefs or cave to the pressure of others. That attitude alone caused her to be a target. But there in that moment, he felt the reassurance of knowing that they were going to support one another¡ªno matter what storms came their way. He looked to the side to see that Summer was a little calmer now and gave off a vibe that said she was trying to make the best of her situation. An audible screech rippled across the room, and Principal Stephens walked onto the stage at the other end of the gym. ¡°Is this thing on? Joel, are we on? Hello, Joel?¡± Principal Stephens patted the microphone with his hand, which sent a thud over the speakers. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but wonder why the principal had shown up to the dance dressed in 1980s gear. The red velvet jacket he wore wasn¡¯t quite as bad as the long-haired wig, though. ¡°Okay, I think, Joel, yup, okay, I can hear. All right! Hey, everyone. Thanks for being here today.¡± The room rumbled with muffled laughter as Mr. Stephens began. ¡°It has been a crazy year, am I right? I know for Mr. Harvey and myself, when we were brought in to lead Status Academy, we wanted to make sure that we realigned the schedule. We wanted a time for students to come together at prom right before their final evaluations and graduation. Many of you are about to leave us. You¡¯re going to go out there into the world and work towards the next big adventure.¡± Pepper felt a light squeeze and smiled when Andrea turned and lightly kissed his chest before resting her head on it again. He glanced at the three closest people in his life who were standing there with him. A dry cough from Principal Stephens drew his attention back to the stage. ¡°There are many storms that await you, but tonight¡­ tonight I hope you spend time enjoying every single second that you¡¯re here. Joel and I¡ªI mean, Vice Principal Harvey and I¡ªwe¡¯re honored to have overseen your academic growth. We hope you know that we want to be here for you in the future, should you ever need us. The hardest part about being a teacher¡­ is seeing you all leave us. Just know that you are all loved and appreciated. Thank you, everyone.¡± The room was quiet, and Pepper could hear a few sniffles nearby. He saw a few hands reach up and wipe away the fresh tears that had formed on some cheeks. ¡°Okay, enough emo time¡ªlet¡¯s get this party bumping, yo! Whew! Hit it, Joel!¡± Principal Harvey called out and pumped his fist into the air. The speakers roared to life with dance music. The floor vibrated beneath them as the bass pounded to life. Their classmates threw their hands in the air, and the group started to move along with the rhythmic beat. The place was alive with energy, and Pepper¡¯s biggest concern of drama taking place was put to rest. He saw Tamin and Grant out of the corner of his eye, but his nemesis kept a solid distance. They had just finished dancing to the third song and were preparing for the next when the alarm rang out and drowned out the music. The military had required a rift portal warning speaker to be placed in every school, along with red lights. Immediately the gym was bathed in crimson, and everyone remained stunned for a brief moment. A second later, the earth shuddered and the sound of cannon fire began. The students surged like a wave towards the doors that led to the shelters underneath the school. Pepper and his friends followed. The teachers yelled as loudly as they could for everyone not to panic and to follow the procedure they had practiced hundreds of times before. Andrea¡¯s hand gripped Pepper¡¯s tightly and refused to let go. She wrenched it even harder as the cannon fire became more intense. The volleys seemed to be amplified as they fired off in even faster succession. They finally reached a spot in the safety zone and the four huddled together in a corridor. Screams and pleas for survival could be heard sporadically. Their peers openly wept, and some even crumpled into heaps on the floor. A few trembled in fear as the walls shook when the heavy artillery rounds were fired off. The chaos of war raged above them for what felt far longer than it really was. Eventually the noise quieted down and their ears adjusted to the constant ring that remained. The majority of students were still visibly shaken and were struggling to regain their composure. Though the green all-clear light turned on within the shelter, a good portion of students struggled to find the strength to stand. Some were unable to leave and required the assistance of the teachers, who gently helped them back to the surface. There was no need for the students to say it out loud. They collectively made their way outside, and many began to leave. The teachers began to close up the gym, their hearts burdened with sadness. Their beloved students were having to leave what was supposed to have been a joyful event with nothing but tears and a night of sleeplessness¡ªfor the event would leave everyone awake and afraid in their beds. Pepper and Andrea hugged Summer and Brent before they departed. Summer wanted to get back and check on Jackson, and she was still uncomfortable in her damp shoes, which she had tried to clean in the bathroom. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when the two of them rolled the car windows down before they departed. To his surprise, Andrea didn¡¯t walk towards the passenger door and wait for him to open it. Instead, she walked to the back of the pickup truck and lowered the tailgate. She sat down and stared out at the tree line over the open field of grass next to the parking lot. He could see she had shed a few tears, but they had already dried, and her demeanor was one of strength and not fear. The parking lot was practically empty by now, with only a few of the teachers¡¯ vehicles scattered around. He walked up and stood in front of her. She smiled and looked up at him. Her eyes were still watery, and a large pool of deep emotions was just beyond her irises. ¡°You okay?¡± he asked. She smiled but shook her head. ¡°Nope¡­ I¡¯m sick of them. I¡¯m sick of everything they have done to this world. I¡¯m sick of everything they¡¯ve taken away from all of us. Our lives, my dad. This night¡­¡± She paused, still shaking her head in anger. To Pepper¡¯s surprise, she stood up and passed by him and made her way into the center of the parking lot aisle. She adjusted her dress and wiped her face, then extended her hand in his direction. He chuckled and tilted his head while slowly walking towards her. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°I came here to dance with my boyfriend and by god, that is exactly what I plan to do.¡± He took her hand and wrapped his arm around her. He began to slow dance with her. ¡°You don¡¯t let anything stop you, do you?¡± he said softly, their eyes remaining locked onto one another. ¡°Nope. I already told you, Pepper Walker, I am a phoenix. I will keep rising out of the ashes and not let anything in this world or theirs stop me from rising above everything this life throws at me. I will make something of myself, Pepper Walker, but I will give you everything I have as long as you give me everything that you have. You hear me?¡± There was a look in her eyes that Pepper hadn¡¯t seen before¡ªa determination that she was not going to let go of. This level of bravery took hold of him, and he was even more grateful to her for allowing him a chance to be with her. ¡°I hear you.¡± ¡°You got me?¡± she asked with a slight tilt of her head. ¡°I got you.¡± ¡°Good, cos you better, or you¡¯re in for one wild ride,¡± she said with a slight jab to his chest. Pepper leaned in and kissed her as they rotated slowly. When he pulled back, Andrea rested her head against his chest. Pepper then discovered that they were not alone. He watched as Principal Stephens and Vice Principal Harvey stood in the distance, leaning against their cars. Though the only illumination came from the parking lot lights, it was enough for Pepper to see the smiles on their faces. It was a unique expression for both of them, but in that moment, Pepper felt it was a look of hope. A hope for a bright future that refused to be snuffed out by the darkest of days. Chapter 45 - An Offer Pepper¡¯s fingers started to cramp and he sat back in his chair. Rhino came walking around the corner just a few seconds later. Their eyes met, and he greeted his boss with a nod. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Rhino motioned. ¡°It¡¯s a clay replica of what my golem will be one day.¡± Pepper glanced over at the statue and appreciated how much work he had put into it. ¡°That¡¯s a weird-looking bear,¡± Ryan said, tilting his head from side to side. ¡°And why does it have six fingers?¡± Pepper fell for his jesting and rolled his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not a bear, it¡¯s a tiger. Look at the ears, nose, snout. Does a bear¡¯s look like Mala¡¯s? Huh? Nope, didn¡¯t think so.¡± Rhino turned and rapidly blinked at him. It was only then that Pepper realized he had fallen for the joke. Rhino chuckled, turning and leaning back against the workbench where the clay figure stood. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I paid you to play with toys back here.¡± Pepper knew better this time. ¡°Well, seeing how I have gotten us all caught up again, it seems you pay me to keep this service department actually functioning. This is what I do in my spare time.¡± A second or two later, Pepper felt a sharp sting on his ankle. His leg shot up and he grabbed hold of it, crying out. It was no surprise to hear Rhino¡¯s familiar¡¯s voice. ¡°Death to the traitor of the crown!¡± it yelled, hoisting its spear. ¡°Captain Puddlesworth! That¡¯s it¡ªgive me the spear.¡± The duck golem turned and started waddling away as fast as it could. Its medieval armor clanked and swished from side to side as it picked up speed. Quacks and other weird noises came from both the familiar and Rhino as the two went tearing through the warehouse. The rumbling of an engine sounded in the distance, and the slow increase in volume informed Pepper that it was a potential customer arriving. He already had an idea who it could be, and he soon heard the chime of the front door. He stood up from his chair and made his way to the front while the noise of calamity and chaos continued in the back aisles. His suspicion was correct; Timo was standing at the front counter. ¡°Hey, Timo, what brings you by today?¡± Pepper asked. The gladiator of the unsanctioned matches looked at him and nodded a greeting, but he was more concerned about something else and kept looking around. ¡°Hey, that duck isn¡¯t anywhere nearby, is it?¡± ¡°Captain Puddlesworth?¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Nah, he¡¯s currently in the back destroying everything while Rhino chases him around.¡± There was a loud crash, and a small vibration rumbled under his feet. ¡°And I¡¯m pretty sure that was the far-right shelving unit collapsing.¡± The two paused and listened to the sounds from the back room. The lull only lasted a few seconds before Pepper heard Rhino¡¯s voice growing in heated anger. ¡°Get over here, you stupid duck!¡± A dark and crazy laugh that sounded like a diabolical Donald Duck was all that replied. ¡°Yup, they¡¯re okay,¡± Pepper said, turning back to Timo. His eyebrows lowered and his eyes shifted quickly from side to side. ¡°Now it all makes sense how parents listen for destruction to ensure everyone is still alive.¡± Timo nodded slowly in approval. ¡°All I know is that familiar thing is crazy.¡± ¡°Can confirm,¡± Pepper said with a pointed finger for emphasis. ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I wanted to swing by and see if you¡¯d be interested in a proposition.¡± Timo leaned forward and rested his elbows on the glass display case. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± Pepper grinned in curiosity. ¡°So, I just ordered an original Marshall 4XD.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and he crossed his arms in front of his chest. ¡°That must have cost some serious Flex.¡± Timo smiled and flared his eyebrows. ¡°Oh, it did, but the payoff could be massive. With the Golem League reversing its ruling on independent rune cards being used in matches, the possibilities for carving a path back into the League would return profits that are unimaginable. Especially when you consider this is just the first machine. Once the money starts rolling in, I plan to get my hands on another and continue to build from there.¡± Pepper reached up and massaged the back of his neck. ¡°I would love to check it out. I¡¯m super curious about the essence capture and infusion process.¡± His eyes narrowed and he stared into the distance for a brief moment before looking back at Timo. ¡°Heck, I can¡¯t even remember the last time I was reading up on the Marshall machines or that process. I kinda just brain dumped all that stuff when the League closed everything down with their ruling. I guess I should dive back into it at some point in my free time.¡± Pepper quickly shifted and raised his hand before dropping it back down to his side. ¡°If I ever get free time again.¡± He laughed. ¡°My days are filled with here, community service, spending time with Andrea, and my two nights at the dojo.¡± ¡°Welcome to life, man.¡± Timo stood up and shoved his hands into his jeans pockets. ¡°Look, I won¡¯t beat around the bush. The work you did for me here with fixing up some of my damaged rune cards was great. They¡¯re putting out better data readings than the leading industry cards. Seems like you have a natural talent for it. Wanna come on board and together we could design our own line of rune cards?¡± Pepper was shocked at the proposition. He had been curious about designing his own rune cards for competition and was planning on diving further into the process once he had the funds to really rebuild Mala. But Timo having a Marshall 4XD machine could be a game-changer. This could give him an uncapped potential for making greater rune cards than he could even begin to afford by himself. He thought over the idea for a moment. But when his eyes shifted back to the wall, he caught sight of the original Golem League poster. That was when his heart knew the route he would take. ¡°Sorry, Timo. I love the idea, and I think we could really make some awesome products together. But my heart is still set on the League. If I don¡¯t give it a shot now, I¡¯ll question it the rest of my life.¡± Timo smiled and shook his head. ¡°I figured, but I still thought I¡¯d give it a shot.¡± Pepper smiled but grew curious and thought he¡¯d broach a new subject. ¡°How is the unsanctioned going for you?¡± ¡°Great, honestly. There¡¯s a lot of discussion going on about a few of us establishing our own league. The amount of people coming over and abandoning GL isn¡¯t slowing down. We¡¯re seeing a huge increase in sponsorships. Our growth of viewers has doubled in the last year alone.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ I wouldn¡¯t have guessed it had taken off like that.¡± ¡°It has. We¡¯re not limited to the restraints, restrictions, the slow-moving process of contracts and deals like the League is. We compete when we want, how we want, and where we want. Heck, there are days when I feel more like an entertainment celebrity than I do a competitive gladiator. More people want to call me up and ask for business advice and structuring their brand content than they want to talk about rune card pairings and combative techniques. It¡¯s crazy, man.¡± ¡°Sounds like it,¡± Pepper said. Timo¡¯s holodex started to flash with notifications. He looked down at it and pulled a face that told Pepper he wasn¡¯t looking forward to whatever it was about. ¡°All right, man, I got to go and take care of this. Hey, if you ever want to stop by my spot, you¡¯re welcome to. 441 Wilson Drive¡ªit¡¯s right there across from Sunset Lake and Fairhaven Avenue.¡± ¡°Thanks, Timo. Take it easy.¡± The door of the store shut, and Timo¡¯s motorcycle roared to life and sped off down the road. Pepper heard the commotion of his boss in the background and turned to see Rhino walking through the doorway with a large cage and Captain Puddlesworth contained within it. ¡°This is unacceptable! You let me out of this contraption right now!¡± Rhino placed the cage in the far corner of the store at an angle that allowed him to keep an eye on the familiar. ¡°I knew I shouldn¡¯t have fed you after midnight!¡± he scolded and wagged a finger at the golem. Pepper tilted his head and looked at his boss. ¡°Rhino¡­ they¡¯re golems. They don¡¯t need food.¡± ¡°Well, I know that now!¡± Rhino said, extending his arms in frustration. ¡°I swear the Phantom Industry servers got duck and gremlin mixed up, because this¡±¡ªhe turned and looked at his familiar¡ª¡°thing has been nothing but a dang nightmare ever since I powered it up.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The two glanced at the golem, which seemed to be giving them an evil look. ¡°Quaaaaack,¡± it said, and a shiver ran down Pepper¡¯s spine. ¡°That thing is going to murder you in your sleep,¡± he told his boss. ¡°No kidding. I could send that thing into a war zone and I¡¯m pretty sure it would single-handedly come out victorious.¡± Rhino turned and nodded to Pepper. ¡°Was that Timo? What did he want?¡± ¡°He offered me a job making rune cards with him. Apparently he just got a Marshall 4XD machine. A joint effort to get into the Golem League with high-quality products.¡± Pepper paused and bobbed his head from side to side slightly. ¡°I won¡¯t lie and say that I wasn¡¯t tempted. I really want to start making my own rune cards. Especially with all the work I¡¯ve done here at the shop ¡­ but¡ª¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t finish his statement before Rhino cut him off. The shop owner grabbed hold of Pepper¡¯s shoulder and started to shake him gently while saying, ¡°I¡¯ll double¡ª no, triple your pay! You can¡¯t leave me, Pepper! You can¡¯t leave me.¡± The two chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m only leaving you when I make it into the Golem League. Then you¡¯re on your own, big guy.¡± Pepper shifted over to see that the duck familiar was still eerily focused on the two of them. ¡°You and your diabolical duck.¡± *** ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re getting out of graduation early,¡± Pepper said, gently bumping shoulders with Summer. ¡°Hey, Pep. I know, right? I¡¯m so happy Principal Stephens signed off on letting me do that. It¡¯s just a lot easier for me with the move and getting everything set up while also starting my internship at Southern Medical Center. I got to tour the facility last week¡ªwow¡­ it is incredible.¡± Summer beamed with excitement. ¡°Well, it¡¯s more believable that they would grant your request over you dating Brent. Speaking of which, where is that garden gnome hiding?¡± Pepper had hardly got the question out before he heard Jackson¡¯s voice cut in from behind him. ¡°Gnomes rule!¡± The two turned to see Jackson standing on top of a picnic table, a fly swatter in his hand that he swished around as if casting magical spells. His outfit brought it all together: a red towel was wrapped around his head as if he was drying his hair after a shower, a tiny GI Joe blanket was pinned around his neck and draped behind him like a cape, and it was finished off with a Spider-Man patterned shirt and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pants. If anyone was to infuse all the power of epic late-nineties cartoons, it was Jackson. ¡°Back, you germ monster!¡± Jackson yelled and performed an acrobatic leap off the table. A few other kids chased after him and they ran through the backyard. Pepper turned back to Summer. Her expression changed to one of dread in regards to the topic he had broached. ¡°I don¡¯t know where Brent is. I would assume he¡¯s at work.¡± Pepper could tell that Summer¡¯s skin was crawling. He didn¡¯t fight the temptation to push the hot button and went full steam ahead. ¡°Why don¡¯t you know where your boyfriend is?¡± Summer practically spat out her drink and wiped the one or two drops that slipped out of her mouth. She started to cough and struggled to get the words out. ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend. We were dating, that¡¯s it.¡± Pepper smiled deviously and narrowed his eyes. ¡°Hmmm, were dating¡­ past tense¡­ so that must mean¡­¡± Summer¡¯s eyes practically popped out of their sockets as she over-dramatized her reaction. ¡°It means it ended, Pepper¡­ if you must know!¡± ¡°Look at you¡­ you¡¯re not only going to school to save lives, you¡¯re also going there while simultaneously breaking a heart.¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, Pepper!¡± She slapped his shoulder with the back of her hand. ¡°Give me a break, okay? I at least gave him a shot and finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore. I even had to toss those dress shoes he ruined by puking up all over them. Oh my gosh! I can still smell it.¡± She acted like she was going to heave. ¡°Well, don¡¯t throw up on me, you sicko. I could have told you not to go out with him, but no¡­ we just have to rescue all the mangled critters we find on the side of the road.¡± Summer immediately knew he was referring to the time she¡¯d found an injured squirrel on the side of the road. This had happened back when their families lived together. They¡¯d been returning home from school when she¡¯d found the wounded animal. ¡°Don¡¯t even try to compare those two. Fluffer-Nutter was way cuter than Brent ever was¡ª is, you get it,¡± she added. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t knock a guy for trying. He gave you everything he had.¡± She sighed. ¡°I know that, Pepper, but sometimes it can be too much. It¡¯s called smothering. And that¡¯s the last thing I need before I head off to college.¡± ¡°Ehh, I guess that¡¯s a fair point. But I do have a surprise for you.¡± He made sure to have a devious expression, and when he saw the concern in her eyes, he shifted gears. ¡°I have Jackson¡¯s gift in the back of my dad¡¯s truck.¡± The look of dread on her face quickly changed to an appreciative smile. ¡°Thank you, Pepper. I know that was a lot for you to devote to, time and money wise. What do I owe you for the materials?¡± He smiled back at her and felt the warmth of genuine friendship between them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. It¡¯s a gift and something I know meant a lot to you. So I¡¯m happy to do it for you.¡± Summer turned her attention to Jackson, and the sparkle in her eyes told Pepper everything he needed to know. He softly added, ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay. And¡­ he¡¯s going to be okay too. You can¡¯t let him or the situation distract you.¡± ¡°I know. Though he has good days and bad days, it¡¯s the fact that I won¡¯t have these days for much longer. I¡¯ll be missing out on a lot with him and my mom, and I just question sometimes if I¡¯m really ready for this next step.¡± Pepper blew a raspberry. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. You¡¯ll be wiping butts and kissing babies in no time.¡± ¡°Eww, Pep. I don¡¯t need the gross mental images of my future career right now.¡± Summer put her hand over her face. ¡°All right, I¡¯ll go get the statue. Be right back.¡± Pepper turned and started to chuckle at the fact that Summer was still cringing from the thought he had given her. When he reached his dad¡¯s truck, he saw Andrea pulling up in her family¡¯s vehicle. She smiled at him and began to get out. ¡°Well, what¡¯s cook¡¯n, good look¡¯n?¡± he said with a wink. She rolled her eyes at him as she closed the distance. ¡°Oh please¡­ I look like trash after spending all day at the Equine Sanctuary.¡± A confused look came over him as he got his hands underneath the wooden box that contained the statue. ¡°Wait¡­ you aren¡¯t on the schedule to do your service time today.¡± Andrea¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what I already know.¡± The false demeanor only lasted for a moment before she shifted back to her playful self. She leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the lips. ¡°I wanted to go volunteer. Eli said there were some veterans spending the day out there today, and I felt it would be good to go help and support her, and them.¡± Pepper lifted the box and started to walk towards Summer¡¯s backyard with Andrea beside him. ¡°I thought you would have been writing your paper for our final assignment. Get it knocked out and ready for graduation.¡± ¡°Uhh, now, I figured I would take my usual approach of procrastinating until the night before. How ¡¯bout you? Did you get yours turned in yet?¡± ¡°I already got my email confirmation back from Mr. Dean. I stayed up until 4 a.m. writing the thing. Thankfully my next-door neighbor Ryan gave me a can of his new Big D Energy flavor, Ghostly Grape.¡± A curious look appeared on Andrea¡¯s face. ¡°Oh yeah? Was that one any good?¡± Pepper lowered the box onto the picnic table and brushed his shirt free of the few specks of woodchip that had transferred to it. ¡°Umm, well, I told Ryan he should change the name to Gawd-Awful Grape. I practically had to plug my nose to get it all down. But at least it helped me get going with the rest of the chores I had to do around the house.¡± There was a concerned look on her face which soon changed to a thank god I didn¡¯t try that flavor expression. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good to know. Note to self, have you taste test Ryan¡¯s scientific experiments before I personally try them. Good job, babe.¡± She rubbed his back while he began to get the box ready for its reveal. Andrea waved to Summer, who finally noticed her arrival and came over to greet her. The two girls smiled and embraced. ¡°Well, hey there, sister,¡± Andrea said. ¡°Hey, you. Thanks for coming to hang out,¡± Summer said. ¡°Of course. This is way more low key compared to the last time I was over here.¡± Summer nodded and placed her hands on her hips. ¡°You got that right.¡± The two girls laughed. Pepper gave a little nod to Summer, which she knew meant that he was ready to open up the crate and reveal his hard work. Summer turned towards the yard and called out for Jackson. Her brother turned and lifted his arms in frustration. ¡°What is it? I¡¯m about to go slay the dragon with an epic spell I just learned.¡± ¡°Will you come here for a minute? I have something special for you.¡± Jackson quickly lowered his hand and began to tap his fingers on his chin. ¡°Wait¡­ you have a gift for me?¡± Summer giggled. ¡°Yes, silly.¡± Jackson quickly pushed his glasses up higher on his nose and began to walk over. ¡°The dragon can wait. I don¡¯t care about that kingdom anyways.¡± Pepper and the two girls chuckled at the dramatic performance. Summer wrapped her arm around Jackson¡¯s shoulders and they all gazed at the container with anticipation. A firm twist of his wrist and the flathead screwdriver Pepper had with him pried the lid up. He removed the lid and, with a firm push, the side walls collapsed and exposed the two-foot-tall statue of Mala. Pepper looked at the replica and admired how much time he had devoted to meticulously painting every detail of the tiger¡ªeverything from the baby-blue eyes to the warm salmon-colored nose. Pepper soaked up the moment, taking in the joyful and shocked expression that was on Jackson¡¯s face. It almost looked like he was struggling to contain the excited energy within his body; he seemed to be on the verge of jumping up and down uncontrollably. ¡°Wow, Pepper! This looks so good!¡± Jackson exclaimed. ¡°This is for me?¡± he asked, his gaze shifting between Pepper and his sister. ¡°Yeah, buddy. Pepper made it just for you. Your very own Mala tiger,¡± Summer said. ¡°This is great. Thanks, Pepper. It¡¯s about time you did something nice!¡± Jackson stated. Pepper chuckled at the blunt statement that hit him like a ton of bricks. I don¡¯t know if I deserved that, but¡­ it¡¯s not like I can be mad at the little guy, he thought. ¡°Well, I¡¯m happy you like it.¡± ¡°Like it? I love it! Even more than you love my sister!¡± Jackson wrapped his arms around the statue, lifted it up, and carried it off. That was the only movement that occurred for a few seconds; the three others stood there in shock and awe. Pepper felt the warm flush of his cheeks come to life and was positive his face matched the color of his red hair. He reached up and nervously massaged his neck. ¡°I, uhh, that isn¡¯t¡­¡± He nervously tried to counter the statement but was so baffled, he didn¡¯t know what to say. Summer thankfully came to the rescue. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Pepper. You know he doesn¡¯t have a filter and sometimes doesn¡¯t think before he¡­¡± Thankfully Andrea understood and added her support. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Nobody needs to apologize. It just is what it is, awkward but understandable. The most important thing is that Jackson is happy, we¡¯re all happy, and let¡¯s just enjoy the moment, okay?¡± Pepper¡¯s holodex vibrated and helped dissipate the tension away from Jackson¡¯s statement. He clicked on the notification and the girls could see the excitement come over his face. [:::] Golem League Notification [:::] [:::] Pantheon Championship Match Set [:::] [:::] Panda Cakes vs. Astro Ape [:::] ¡°What is it?¡± Andrea asked. Pepper glanced at her. ¡°It¡¯s the championship match announcement. The winner will be declared this season¡¯s Golem Master. Let¡¯s just say this is going to be one epic match.¡± Chapter 46 - Golem Master The Golem League theme song started to play over the holoscreen in Pepper¡¯s workshop and drowned out his and Andrea¡¯s laughter as they gently swayed in his hammock. Princess Meg was snuggled up with Amprage in the recliner over in the corner, and life was good. They watched as JD and Nick arrived on screen. Andrea giggled with a curious expression and nodded her head. ¡°Who are they?¡± Pepper sighed. ¡°Well, maybe you just wait a minute and they¡¯ll tell you.¡± He felt Andrea shake her head and instinctively knew she was rolling her eyes at him. Nick was wearing a flashy navy-blue sport coat with a bold red tie over a white dress shirt. He pointed to the camera and smiled with his professional charisma. ¡°Hello, golem fans, and welcome to today¡ªthe day we all look forward to and what it is all about. The final match of the season, which will declare who our Season 10 Golem Master will be.¡± Nick turned to his counterpart. ¡°I have to say, JD, this matchup is one that could really be one for the history books.¡± JD didn¡¯t falter as Nick passed the moment over to him. He stared straight into the camera, but his sunglasses covered his eyes. He wore a black suit with a black tie over a white dress shirt. But JD¡¯s shirt wasn¡¯t buttoned at the top, and it looked like he had thrown on the outfit just seconds before they went live. ¡°Righty tighty, lefty loosey, squeeze me hard and call me juicy! This is going to be a sweet serving of Golem League action, Nick! Whoo!¡± ¡°Oh my gosh, who is he? He¡¯s perfect,¡± Andrea exclaimed and started bubbling with laughter. Pepper also laughed, and even Nick lost a portion of his composure and started to crack up. JD, on the other hand, didn¡¯t miss a beat and went straight into the commentary. ¡°You are right on, Nick¡ªthis is a history book matchup today. Our defending champion Panda Cakes going up against Astro Ape, a raging gorilla so ferocious that not even the universe can contain him.¡± ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re predicting a knockdown drag-out fight here?¡± Nick chimed in. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s no doubt about that, man. This is going to be some epic fighting action¡ªthe exact type of stuff our crazy viewers love to see. You know what I mean? The juice is going to be worth the squeeze. A Golem Master title on the line? Well, you know these two gladiators are not going to go down without giving it their all and then some,¡± JD proclaimed. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have said it better myself, JD. But of course, the action and intensity doesn¡¯t stop there. The Golem League is also giving their fans a surprise of epic proportions. For this championship bout is going to be fought in a new arena!¡± ¡°No way!¡± Pepper muttered and shifted in the hammock. ¡°Go ahead, JD. Tell our viewers what they can expect.¡± Nick handed off to his cohost. ¡°All right, folks, let¡¯s get into it,¡± JD said and nodded towards the camera as the screen shifted to the drone cam. The aerial view scanned over the arena, and Pepper¡¯s eyes widened when he saw a dystopian metropolis in the distance. The drone flew closer and JD continued. ¡°Welcome to Wiener, Austria. A¡ª¡± JD was cut off by his counterpart. ¡°Correction, JD. That is Wiener Neustadt, Austria.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said¡ªWiener Nutsack, Austria.¡± Pepper could feel Andrea blush as she covered her face and worked to contain her laughter. ¡°Oh my god, I want to just listen to these two read a dictionary to me,¡± she said. ¡°Anyways, like I was saying¡­ this city was abandoned during the Rift Wars but has found a new purpose here in the Golem League. The exterior perimeter of the arena measures a massive three-mile radius. Here our gladiators will have to navigate the medium-size skyscrapers and scattered buildings around them.¡± JD was looking at Nick but then turned back to the camera with a pointed finger of warning. ¡°And don¡¯t you forget about them curbs. This isn¡¯t an ¡®oopsie I hit the curb going seventy miles per hour and have now bent my tire rims.¡¯ You¡¯d better watch your step, or your golem could be tripping and falling all over this arena.¡± He turned back to his cohost. ¡°You know what they say about bears, Nick?¡± A look of surprise was on the Nick¡¯s face. ¡°Umm, no I can¡¯t say that I do.¡± ¡°Bears be tripp¡¯n. So don¡¯t get ahead of yourself, Panda Cakes, because Astro Ape will try to take advantage of every opportunity that comes his way,¡± JD finished. The city was a collection of modern skyscrapers with traditional clay-paneled rooftops. The streets looked as if ashes had been spread over them. Dust, dirt, and debris had covered them during the years of neglect. ¡°You¡¯ll be there one day,¡± Andrea told him quietly. He gave her a soft squeeze. ¡°You think so?¡± ¡°I know so,¡± she replied. The camera panned around to show Panda Cakes walking into the arena. The golem carried its signature staff, utilizing it as a walking stick. A grass hat covered its face, but it was powered up and ready to go. The camera then showed a hovering platform with Brandon standing on it. The champion wore a baseball cap, and he turned it around so the bill faced backwards. He slowly put on his optic glasses, and the camera caught the purple glow that flashed when they powered on. Another switch of equipment¡ªinteresting, Pepper thought when he saw the glasses. A quick shift of the camera and they were shown Brandon¡¯s opponent. Andrea tilted her head. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°That is Tom Rodrigo,¡± Pepper replied. ¡°He¡¯s kinda cute,¡± she remarked. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°What? I said kinda cute ¡­ Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯re still the cutest one of them all.¡± She smiled and rubbed his leg. Tom stood on the platform, his black hair filled with product. He then put on a full-faced DIVII Storm Falcon interface. It blended with his slick hair, and it almost looked like he was wearing a helmet. They watched as Tom shifted around like a boxer getting ready for their title fight. He tilted his head from side to side, rolled his shoulders, and finally tugged his leather jacket. He adjusted his fingerless biker gloves, and Pepper was able to see the Gladiator Vambrace XLs on his wrists. Figures¡­ He looks like someone who would use those things, Pepper thought. He considered this piece of equipment more of an antique than anything else. He had even tried them out two years back but hated the interface integration and felt it was too cumbersome¡ªa clunky and unique style of commanding your golem that felt unnatural to him. The camera was perfectly positioned so that they were able to see Tom standing on the platform on the right side of the screen. But then Astro Ape walked into the arena and stood directly behind Tom. The two seemed as if they were standing side by side, their heads at the same height. The gorilla golem was obsidian black as its base color. But colorful streaks of the universe wrapped all around its body¡ªpinks, magentas, blues, reds, and sparkles of white all over. The gorilla brought its hands up in front of its chest, and its right fist planted itself in the left palm of its upward-pointing hand. The golem performed a slight martial arts style bow towards the defending champion. Let¡¯s go, Brandon! Pepper mentally cheered. The countdown timer hit zero, the blaring horn declaring the start of the match roared to life, and the two golems glowed with the power surging through them. The runes on Panda Cakes¡¯ staff immediately illuminated. Astro Ape¡¯s skin flared to life with a wave of hot pink that moved as if there was an aurora borealis inside. The golems stood at each end of a long roadway, a tribute to an old Western showdown, while a wisp of air swirled dirt across the street. Each fighter took a step forward. Panda Cakes twirled its staff in front of its body for a quick rotation or two, then snapped its wrist and brought the staff along its extended right arm. The end of the staff dragged across the ground as the golem moved forward. ¡°Look at this, JD¡ªan entirely new strategy that Brandon is taking here today compared to his last matchup with James Dean,¡± Nick proclaimed. Pepper watched as Astro Kong extended both its hands out to the sides. It leaned its head forward and let out a bellowing roar that echoed throughout the main street. The golem then made its first move and lunged downward, taking hold of a red car that was abandoned on the side of the road. In one fluid motion it picked up the car and launched it through the air. The vehicle soared across the arena like a baseball. It closed the distance to Panda Cakes, but Brandon was ready. The bear¡¯s staff snapped upwards at an angle. A quick shimmer of purple light rippled down the shaft, and in the blink of an eye the vehicle was sliced in half.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Two giant chunks of metal went hurtling off and to the side with small particles scattering about. There was no time for Brandon to let down his guard; the huge gorilla found more ammunition and sent a new volley of vehicles flying through the air¡ªa silver minivan followed by a blue pickup truck, another red sedan, and a bread delivery van. Panda Cakes expertly displayed its mastery of the staff. The golem began a hasty maneuver that sent both it and the staff twirling around. The purple energy surrounding the staff made the massive creature look like an illuminated tornado. In seconds the panda snapped around and sliced each vehicle in half with its staff. A flash of purple color exploded with every impact. ¡°My goodness, JD! We are already off to a fantastic spectacle!¡± Nick continued. ¡°There are strap-ons and strap-ins, and let me tell you, Nick, this match is just getting started!¡± JD replied to his counterpart. ¡°These vehicles are not the actual attack; they are the distraction for what is about to come.¡± ¡°Dear me, it looks like you¡¯re right, JD.¡± The camera panned around and narrowed in on Astro Ape. The energy waves inside it were now magnifying themselves with even greater intensity. The arms of the gorilla began to glow, and its hands were the focal point; the energy was clearly surging there. Astro Ape reached both hands up and brought them together. Without waiting another second, it shot a beam of energy outward. Panda Cakes leapt to its left side. The golem made it to safety behind a large skyscraper, but not before the attack had clipped its right side. A few particles of granite could be seen falling off as the bear regained its footing. The golem wasn¡¯t safe by any means. Astro Ape shifted its energy beam attack to the right, following its target. The skyscraper initially shielded Panda Cakes, but the pure energy was too great. Pepper watched as the pink, magenta, white, and blue blended together and poured with even greater intensity into the structure. The building started to give way and collapse as its pillars were severed bit by bit. The structure buckled, and then the top portion of the building tilted downwards and started to fall. The cameras caught a brief flash of purple before a huge cloud of brown and gray smoke billowed into the air. There was an audible gasp over the broadcast, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but feel the anxiety and tension build within him. It didn¡¯t help that Andrea was fixated on the match, and her fingers clamped down on his arm as the suspense grew. The smoke was still lingering when Nick continued. ¡°I have to admit, JD, I have some concerns for Panda Cakes¡­ I¡¯m not seeing any movement down there, mate.¡± ¡°Two championship gladiators duking it out, Nick; it ain¡¯t over till the fat lady sings, you know what I mean?¡± JD countered. As if the commentator had a key instinct for timing, the camera zoomed in and was able to capture a few concrete blocks shifting about. Just a second or two later, bright purple beams of energy started to seep upwards. Then a loud thunderclap rang out, and chunks of the building and debris erupted. There, standing in the center of a small crater, was Panda Cakes. A deep purple sphere of energy had formed all around the golem, and it held its staff above its head, powering the force field. The gladiator started to shift its foot, but before it could take a step out of the crater, it braced for impact. On the right side of the screen, Astro Ape dashed in and slammed its fists down upon the barrier. The shield¡¯s energy began to ripple, dissipating the attacking energy. The gorilla¡¯s hands were covered with the astro energy, and it continued to pummel the purple barrier without mercy. ¡°For Pete¡¯s sake, JD, which one is going to buckle first?¡± Nick said with a slight hint of panic in his voice. The moment he commented was the exact same moment that one of the gorilla¡¯s strikes looked as if it made a crack in the force field. Astro Ape roared and brought both clawed hands down on the sphere. Pepper could see that it was clenching down on the shield, and then, with a quick twist of its hips, it turned and launched the entire orb across the arena. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the sheer strength Astro Ape wielded to accomplish such a feat. The purple orb with the panda golem inside landed with a crash and rolled around like a massive hamster ball. Panda Cakes, rolling around inside, planted its feet for stability and finally came to a stop. It brought its staff to a horizontal position in its hands. Purple energy sprang out of the staff and launched itself like a razor blade. It sliced through everything as it cut across the field of battle¡ªeverything except Astro Ape. The sheer force of the magical energy was so great that the attack ripped part of the blacktop and concrete right off the ground. But¡­ Astro Ape had already disappeared. It was now concealed by the few remaining structures and out of view of Brandon. ¡°Pretty sure Wiener town is going to need a grant to become fully erect again when these two are done. You know what I mean, Nick?¡± JD commented. ¡°It¡¯s certainly going to take a little more than a paint job, that¡¯s for sure.¡± Pepper and Andrea both chuckled at the comment, but Pepper¡¯s eyes remained glued on Panda Cakes. The golem had remained in its previous attack position, analyzing what it would do next while simultaneously working to anticipate its opponent. The panda bear finally returned to a ready position and began to walk slowly down the street. The golem¡¯s large feet flattened the ripped surface back down as it went. Small wisps of smoke lofted up from the scorched ground¡ªa clear warning of just how powerful the energy beam attack had been. The ghost town was nothing short of eerie, and a cold tingling sensation scattered down Pepper¡¯s spine as he waited for the next move from either of the two fighters. Panda Cakes continued to stalk down the road, hesitantly looking down each side street. Nothing. The golem began to twirl its staff in its hand, a purple glow emanating from the weapon as it swished around. The drone began to slowly zoom out and show the wider area of the arena. Pepper could feel Andrea¡¯s tense reaction, and even his heart skipped a beat when he saw where Astro Ape had gone. The gorilla had climbed up one side of a tall building and was peering down at Panda Cakes from above. Tom had worked tactfully to ensure the gorilla scaled the building while hiding its presence from Brandon¡¯s view. The gorilla then released its grip from the building. It went soaring downwards with its fists outstretched and clenched tight. Brandon had finally crested the edge of the structure enough to see the gorilla in the nick of time and commanded his golem to respond. Panda Cakes lifted its staff and braced itself for the oncoming impact. Astro Ape came down hands first and slammed into the staff. The two sources of energy clashed, and a multitude of colors sparked off the weapon. An intense struggle occurred between the two fighters until the gorilla reared its head back and whipped it forward. The headbutt smashed into Panda Cakes and cut the entire front section of its hat free. In what looked like a desperate move, the bear took a hand off its staff and shoved its open hand forward. A deep purple light sprang out of its palm and a wall of purple energy slammed into the gorilla, sending it flying backward. Pepper could see two embedded lines in the earth, the gorilla¡¯s feet carving a path as the force shoved it to a safe distance. Panda Cakes didn¡¯t hesitate but began to reach towards the heavens. It looked like an enchantment was beginning to form over the golem¡¯s head. But a split second before it had an opportunity to launch its attack, Astro Ape brought its two fists together, smashing them into each other with an intensity so great that thunderclaps rang out. On the third repetition, the gorilla stretched out its arms and there was a roar. Pepper could see a rift in the very fabric of the sky. In an instant the entire arena¡¯s light was sucked out through the rift, and all that was left was the sensation that they were now floating in the vacuum of space. The drone panned around to take in the view. A majestic sight of the universe surrounded the arena, and though it was within the chaos of combat, one could not help but marvel at the beauty for the slightest of seconds. It was only when JD¡¯s voice cried out that the camera operator realized he needed to refocus on the gorilla. ¡°This could be bad for Panda Cakes! He needs to do something quickly before Astro Ape absorbs all this universal essence and becomes too powerful.¡± Pepper watched as Astro Ape¡¯s body grew with glowing intensity. The light that had been scattered around its body when the match first begun now surged outward. It was as if the golem was a reactor of power and was on the verge of being unable to contain the power it now held within itself. Panda Cakes dashed to one side and dove for cover, now in a dead sprint and working to conceal itself as best as possible. A quick adjustment of the drone allowed the viewers to see how Panda Cakes was navigating the side streets as best as it could with its large frame. The drone repositioned itself and allowed the viewers to see that Astro Ape had brought its hands together. Without further delay, it unleashed a new beam of aura energy. In a flash the beam shot out and eviscerated everything in its path. The gorilla shifted its hands and launched another beam, then another. It fired blindly into the city center, hoping it would hit its target. The entire time, Panda Cakes had barely dodged the deadly attack and found a way to sneak into a different area. Though Pepper was in his hammock, he felt like he was on the edge of a cliff. ¡°Oh my! That one almost hit Panda Cakes, JD!¡± ¡°The golem is running so fast, it looks like it just told its girlfriend that her sister was prettier!¡± JD countered. Panda Cakes, in a surprising move, doubled back. The tactic appeared to work, as Astro Ape fired beams sporadically and appeared to still not know where its opponent was. The panda didn¡¯t slow down but continued to carefully navigate the debris and mounds of rubble left behind. A haze of destruction was now blanketing the far side of the arena where the gorilla had launched its attack. The cloudy veil was so thick that the only thing the drone could see was the disturbance made by Panda Cakes as it ran through it. The camera was just able to catch when the golem came to an abrupt stop in the smoke. But the instant glow of deep purple warned everyone of the powerful attack that was about to take place. Tom immediately caught sight of his opponent¡¯s location and worked to command Astro Ape to home in and launch a new aurora beam. The gorilla¡¯s arms tensed, but just as it was starting to launch a beam, a low rumbling sound could be heard in the arena. A massive gong sound smashed to life, and the camera showed the sound wave that surged out across the arena floor. The force launched the smoke away from Panda Cakes. Pepper could see that the golem had what looked like purple chains wrapped around its ankles, securing it to the ground. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened when he saw that Astro Ape was launched upwards in suspension at the same time. ¡°That has to be the most powerful gravity rune attack I¡¯ve ever seen, Nick!¡± JD¡¯s voice sounded more shocked than ever before. The gorilla now floating in the air appeared powerless as it struggled to find a way to target its beam. The bear then began to twirl its staff around with an incredibly speed. It appeared to be generating as much power as possible, and Pepper recalled the same process when Brandon had faced James. In the blink of an eye Panda Cakes slashed its staff at different angles. Purple streaks of light soared through the sky and sliced directly through the gorilla like a hot knife through butter. Brandon didn¡¯t stop attacking his opponent until the final streak sliced clean through its power core, causing an explosion that looked like a mini nuclear blast. The detonation sent beams of light in every direction, while the shockwave sent debris flying. Panda Cakes held his ground and withstood the blast. Once the explosion had finished and the intense energy had been released back into the universe, the arena faded back into daylight. It now looked like a far greater destroyed city, but that only lasted for a second before Panda Cakes lifted its staff towards the heavens. Purple energy sprang off it and launched into a grand display of celebratory fireworks. Pepper was unsure where they had actually come from, but streamers and confetti flew into the arena. The victory horn cried out and the Golem League began to pump in the noise of cheering crowds from all over the world. The camera cut to a multitude of watch parties from all around the world, flipping to them one at a time. The entire world celebrated as the reigning Golem Master was crowned once again. Chapter 47 - The Final Day ¡°Okay¡­ that was pretty intense. I can totally see why you are all about¡­ this.¡± Andrea motioned with her hand towards the holoscreen while she cuddled up with Pepper in his hammock. He smiled and took a deep breath as the hammock swayed slightly. ¡°That was epic.¡± He chuckled. ¡°One day¡­ one day I¡¯ll be there.¡± ¡°I have no doubt.¡± Andrea gave him a slight squeeze and then looked at her holodex. ¡°Crap, I need to go. I have to go check in on Dad and make sure he took his meds.¡± She started clamber out of the hammock. ¡°Do you need me to pick you up tomorrow for the ceremony?¡± Pepper asked, following suit and getting to his feet. ¡°No, I should be good. Besides, our car is already set up for Dad¡¯s motorized chair. It will just be easier in the long run to go separately. Thanks, though.¡± She gave him a playful wink and smiled as she walked out of the workshop. Before Pepper could follow her, Meg butted in. ¡°You can drive me to the ceremony tomorrow.¡± Pepper chuckled, leaned down and grabbed hold of her, and started to swoop her up into his arms. Amprage, who had been in hibernation mode, was caught off guard and immediately began to portray himself as a protective dog. ¡°Wait! Put the royal princess down, you buffoon! I¡¯ll have you know I am trained in seven different forms of martial arts and I will¡ª Oh, Pepper¡­ it¡¯s you.¡± Amprage recognized his bonded through a quick essence scan and immediately reversed course. ¡°He¡¯s funny,¡± Meg said, giggling in her brother¡¯s arms. ¡°Really¡­ really, Amp? Seven different forms of martial arts?¡± ¡°Intimidation is a key component of combat, Pepper.¡± ¡°Who or what exactly do you normally try to intimidate?¡± he asked, tilting his head curiously and pressing his lips together. ¡°Cats, mostly¡­ that and every delivery man who comes near the house.¡± Pepper shrugged. ¡°Okay, that part makes sense.¡± He bounced Meg in his arms. ¡°Well, we should probably go check on Mom and Dad. We have a big day tomorrow, and a certain royal princess will need all her beauty sleep so she doesn¡¯t wake up a grouch monster.¡± Meg¡¯s entire face scrunched with sheer resentment and disapproval. ¡°Do we have to?¡± *** ¡°Jeremy Wallace,¡± Vice Principal Joel Harvey¡¯s monotonous voice called out over the speakers. Pepper stood and watched as his fellow student walked across the stage directly towards Principal Stephens. His royal purple gown shone in the light as he went. Jeremy had only made it halfway across the stage when a loud bellowing cry rang out: ¡°Heck, yeah, my dude! You did it!¡± The crowd rippled with contained laughter, but it was still loud enough for Pepper to hear it. He looked out into the theater and saw a large burly man standing and cheering. It was Jeremy¡¯s uncle. The thing that caught his attention and pulled on his heartstrings was the two cardboard cutouts the man was holding. Pepper knew Jeremy well enough to remember that his uncle was his guardian. He assumed the two cardboard cutouts were of Jeremy¡¯s parents, and he couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the effort his uncle had made. There was a slight amount of embarrassment as well as some comic relief in the moment. Pepper¡¯s eyes shifted; he could see his parents and Meg a few rows down. His dad had a smile on his face while his mom seemed completely devoid of emotion. If Pepper hadn¡¯t known any better, he could easily have guessed that she was at a funeral rather than a graduation ceremony. He shifted his eyes again and saw Andrea standing next to her dad, who sat in his motorized chair beside the aisle. She stuck her tongue out and crossed her eyes at him. The comical expression made him laugh under his breath, but a split second later, he heard a voice. ¡°Pepper Walker.¡± He turned his gaze to the principal and started walking across the stage. His heart pounded in his chest and his nerves warned him he was going to trip at any second. Stumble down the stairs on the way to his family. Fart so loudly, the entire county would hear it. But then he had arrived and was standing before Principal Stephens, who greeted him with a firm handshake and a warm smile. The principal locked eyes with him and Pepper could hear the sincerity in his voice. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you, Pepper. You¡¯ve had some ups and downs, but you haven¡¯t given up. You¡¯re now a graduate¡ªnow go get promoted into the Golem League. Golem Master or bust!¡± The principal ended with a firm pat on his shoulder. Pepper took two more steps and Mr. Harvey stepped out from behind the podium and reached for his hand in congratulations. Pepper reached out and shook the vice principal¡¯s hand. He smiled and gave the man a nod, but when he went to let go and continue, he felt the vice principal squeeze a little more and lean in close to him. ¡°Remember, Pepper¡­ I¡¯ll be watching¡­¡± There was a quiet pause, and Pepper felt an eerie sensation wash over him. ¡°Um, okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m always watching,¡± Mr. Harvey said again and then slowly faded back to his podium to read off the next name. But he continued to creep Pepper out, as the man¡¯s gaze remained locked onto him. Pepper turned and walked down the steps, and he looked down at the piece of paper he was holding. The purple and black Status Academy logo was embossed in the center. The words printed on the well-designed page declared that he had graduated, yet it all seemed like a blur. His mind raced, cycling through moments from the past couple of years. The good days, the bad days, the moments spent traveling the long hallways and crowded corridors. His mind sped through the moments like a space opera movie that traveled across time and space in the blink of an eye. He questioned whether or not it was real, and when he looked back up at his family, he still didn¡¯t believe it. Pepper¡¯s heart seemed to skip a beat. A mixture of excitement and anxiety clashed within him. He was so ready for what came next, but just as that thought entered his mind, the counterargument rushed in. How are you going to get there? What are you going to do to sustain yourself? You think you can survive on your own; you can¡¯t even do your own laundry without messing it up! The mental spiral came to a quick stop when he felt a nudge on his shoulder and saw Brent standing beside him. His best friend started to guide him over to his family. The whirlwind of emotions seemed to fade away as he saw the glimmer of hope in Brent¡¯s eyes.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Pepper motioned towards his family. ¡°You wanna join us? We¡¯re going back to the house with Andrea and her dad. You¡¯re welcome to come.¡± Brent smiled, making Pepper believe he wanted to join them. But then he brushed the invitation off like it was no big deal. ¡°Dude, it¡¯s all good, man. That would be cool, but I think I¡¯m just going to spend the day with my aunt. I¡¯ve been quite the menace to her for four years; I think it would be best if I spend at least one day helping her out.¡± ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°Yeah, man. Besides, I picked up another shift at Rocket Burger. So we¡¯ll catch up later.¡± Brent gave him a slight shove on the shoulder and the two laughed at each other. Pepper reached his family and was given a kiss by Andrea, a warm hug by his dad and Meg, and a simple congratulations from his mom. Courtney seemed to be focused more on entertaining Meg than on Pepper¡¯s accomplishment, and he was completely fine with that. He turned to see Andrea¡¯s dad. He had a weathered face that reminded Pepper of the veterans he had seen at GolemCon. ¡°Pepper, this is my dad, Austin. Dad, this is Pepper,¡± Andrea said with a wide smile. She squeezed Pepper¡¯s hand and then let go of it so he could shake her dad¡¯s. The veteran looked up at Pepper and started to tremble slightly as his head tilted back. Austin¡¯s ball cap covered his eyes for a second before he was able to tilt his head back far enough to see Pepper standing before him. Pepper could see that Austin¡¯s eyes had once been a rich brown, but they had faded to a gray color. Faint lines of purple and black could just be seen along the edges¡ªa sign of the rift poisoning getting into its final stages and normally an indication that death was just around the corner. Austin¡¯s trembling hand reached out, and there was a slight grimace on his face. Pepper quickly shook his hand and even took a knee to help ease his suffering. ¡°Hey, Mr. Brewer. It¡¯s nice to meet you finally.¡± ¡°Bullcrap, kid. Ain¡¯t nobody likes meeting a cripple who is trapped in a sluggish motor cart that gets in everybody¡¯s way.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and he was completely speechless. Thankfully Andrea came to his rescue and tapped her graduation cap against the side of her dad¡¯s mobile cart. ¡°Not funny, Dad! He¡¯s being nice and making an effort.¡± A low rumbling chuckle came over Austin until he started to cough aggressively. ¡°Oh, hush. I barely gave him a hard time. Besides, you¡¯ve been keeping him away this entire time and I haven¡¯t had a chance to bust his balls until now. Heck, Trent will know all about that when Megan brings her first boyfriend around.¡± Trent overheard the comment and intruded. ¡°And I am just fine with putting that off as long as possible.¡± He shifted his pants waistband and tilted his head before making his way past them into the aisle. ¡°Okay, I think we¡¯re going to head for the house and get the burgers going. Everything should be ready when y¡¯all get home.¡± He leaned over to see Austin better. ¡°Sarge, you going to come over, right?¡± The rough, gritty voice chuckled. ¡°Well, Andrea helped me put on my Sunday best, so I guess I may as well put them to good use.¡± Trent laughed and smiled. ¡°Sounds good, Sarge.¡± He turned to Pepper and patted him on the back. ¡°Tami Miller and Jackson are also going to come over. I made sure to send them the invite and thought they¡¯d like to come hang out now that Summer is off at college.¡± ¡°Okay, sounds good,¡± Pepper replied. His family slowly walked out and began to make their way towards the car. Andrea was still saying congratulations to a few classmates and teachers. She held on to her dad¡¯s hand as the three of them slowly headed towards the exit. Austin tilted his head slightly towards Pepper. ¡°So, Andrea tells me you¡¯re a pretty good crafter, making things for your golem and all.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess so. I don¡¯t give much thought to it. I guess it just comes natural to me. Soldering circuit boards together and just trying out a bunch of stuff to see what works and what doesn¡¯t,¡± he replied. He was just able to see out of the corner of his eye that Andrea was smiling at him. ¡°Good. I¡¯m gonna need you to modify this scooter. This piece of crap is slower than a turtle.¡± Pepper laughed. ¡°I mean, I guess I could always look for the technical manual online and see if any other users have modified theirs.¡± He had barely finished his sentence when Andrea butted in. ¡°You will absolutely not do anything of that nature.¡± Pepper dashed a glance over at her to see she was not amused by the idea. ¡°I remember clear as day all the stories of your youth and your time in the military. The last thing I need is you and your other military buddies doing Mario Kart around the neighborhood.¡± She pointed a finger straight at Pepper. ¡°That is a warning for you too, Mister. If I find out you helped modify his cart, I¡¯ll have your hide pinned to the dining room wall.¡± ¡°See, kid, you need to be more worried about her than you do me.¡± Austin chuckled and started another round of coughing. ¡°Well, well, well, Mr. Walker. Congratulations to you on finally finishing,¡± Mr. Dean said as he approached near the exit doors. Pepper happily clasped his outstretched hand and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll catch up,¡± he told Andrea and Austin. ¡°Take your time¡ªthis thing requires more safety straps than a space rocket rolling down the street,¡± Austin replied, and Andrea rolled her eyes as they exited the theater. Pepper turned back to his favorite teacher. ¡°Thanks, Mr. Dean. I really appreciate that.¡± He hesitated, but then couldn¡¯t resist the question that was itching away at him. ¡°Did you really have to give me a C on my final, though?¡± The teacher furrowed his brow and shot a stern look back at him. ¡°Hey, I told you I am a totally different critic when it comes to your final assignments. I warn every student, every year, that they better be prepared for a harsh reality if they choose me. So don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you.¡± Mr. Dean adjusted his glasses. He then placed his hands in his pockets while rolling up on his toes and shifting his weight around. ¡°To be honest, Pepper, you barely passed that final. I should have failed you and chose not to.¡± The statement rattled Pepper, and he took a second to let it truly sink in. ¡°Fail me? What are you talking about? I put a ton of effort into that entire presentation.¡± Mr. Dean chuckled. ¡°You show me what business model operates off hopes and dreams.¡± The teacher paused and shifted his eyes around. ¡°Okay, besides video game streamers¡ªmany of them operate off hopes and dreams and somehow they get lucky. Especially in today¡¯s environment. But what you chose certainly required a lot more thought process to go into it then what you did.¡± Pepper extended his hand in defense. ¡°I¡¯ve been working at Rhino¡¯s long enough now to see how the point of sales works, balancing out the receipts with the supply orders, calculating the hours needed for coverage in the store.¡± Mr. Dean shook his head and sighed. ¡°Did you even read my evaluation on your presentation?¡± Pepper chuckled and snapped his fingers, ending with both of his index fingers pointed towards his teacher. ¡°Nope¡­ come to think of it.¡± Mr. Dean brought his hands up and formed claws pointing towards the sky. ¡°Gahhhhh! I sometimes regret my decisions.¡± He started to chuckle, shook his head and crossed his arms in front of his chest. ¡°Look, there is far more to business than the simple things. Granted, starting a business is easy. It is a few clicks and a few typed-out things and you¡¯re up and running. However, you can¡¯t just say ¡®I¡¯ll pay a finance guy to do the taxes for the business.¡¯ You actually need to plot out those costs to know exactly where your margins are going to be. ¡°You need to calculate all your licensing fees. How much it will cost you to renew those licenses every year. You didn¡¯t even have a marketing budget. How will you market your store? What will you do to bring in new customers? How much are your utilities and internet costs? How will you cover your own personal bills while investing everything into this endeavor?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ you wanted all that?¡± Pepper asked nonchalantly. He reached up and massaged the back of his neck. Mr. Dean started to chuckle, not out of humor but more out of shock, it appeared. ¡°Yes! Yes, I wanted all of that.¡± ¡°You know what¡­ we¡¯ll just chalk this up as an academic oopsie.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a thing, Pepper. There are no such things as academic oopsies!¡± the teacher said. Pepper thought it was the first time he¡¯d ever seen his teacher showing signs of stress. ¡°You¡¯re right, there isn¡¯t academic oopsies¡ªnot in my circumstances at least, because I got a C.¡± Pepper lifted his hand and waited for a high five. ¡°Up top.¡± Mr. Dean shook his head and started to walk off, leaving him hanging in the air. But the teacher turned around after a few steps. ¡°Hey, Pepper.¡± ¡°Yeah, Mr. Dean?¡± ¡°The Golem League¡­ when you get there, give them hell.¡± Chapter 48 - A Gift The next two months were nothing but a routine of work, sleep, train, and repeat. Pepper¡¯s schedule kept him so busy that he and his mom didn¡¯t have time to argue. His dad had to message him one night to ask for a family dinner to be placed on his schedule. He couldn¡¯t believe that he and Andrea had already been going steady for six months. His community service commitment felt more like he and Andrea were practically living together. They were spending more time together working at the Equine Sanctuary than if they had been working 9¨C5 jobs. It was back-breaking work, but Pepper didn¡¯t mind it. There were random water gun fights and other pranks he and Andrea would get into. They were even able to get Eli to join in, but the sanctuary owner reserved herself to very select days when she would partake in the practical jokes. Overall, the experience wasn¡¯t bad, and Pepper was grateful he had been assigned this corrective measure rather than one of the other options the judge could have gone with. Pepper arrived at the main office and knocked on the doorframe. Eli was leaning back in her chair with her cowgirl boots propped up on her desk. ¡°Well, hey there, stranger. Come on in,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Hey, Eli, I saw on the message board in the barn you wanted to see me,¡± Pepper started, entering and taking a seat across from her. He noticed the pastel-colored cover of the small book she had been reading. ¡°Any good?¡± he asked and nodded towards the book. ¡°Poems from war. A collection of reflections,¡± she said and placed the book off to the side of the desk. ¡°Well, Mr. Walker, the day has finally come.¡± Eli opened a desk drawer and retrieved a manila folder. She opened it and started to flip through the multitude of pages it contained. Her thumb began to smash down in rapid succession on her retractable pen while she searched for the specific areas on the pages where she needed to sign. ¡°It¡¯s crazy how quick the six months has gone by,¡± Pepper said softly. Eli¡¯s eyes widened and she pressed her lips together. ¡°I know! I swear I was just talking to my niece last week and then saw a picture of her from earlier this year. She used to be this cute little thing that would scamper around my mom¡¯s kitchen; now she¡¯s a beanstalk taller than me!¡± Pepper tried to contain his laughter. The petite rancher always had overly dramatic facial expressions that he found humorous. ¡°Life happens, Eli.¡± ¡°Well, sometimes life isn¡¯t fair, Pepper.¡± Eli turned her hands inwards and pointed to herself. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t I be gifted with beanstalk height? What did I do to offend God in my early years to be stuck with this these short stubby legs?¡± ¡°Your legs aren¡¯t stubby,¡± Pepper replied. ¡°Fine, maybe not stubby, but they are still certainly short, and let me tell you, that niece of mine is going to be a menace to her mom. She already got her sassy attitude and¡­¡± Eli shivered in her chair. ¡°If you think I¡¯m handful, trust me¡­ that girl is going to be a mustang ain¡¯t nobody going to get a handle on.¡± Eli finished signing a few more boxes on the paperwork and then closed the folder in front of her. She placed it to one side and folded her arms. ¡°Well, Mr. Walker, you only have one final thing to do and your community service is done.¡± His eyebrows shot up. ¡°Oh, what exactly is that?¡± ¡°Tell me, what did you learn from your time here at the Equine Sanctuary?¡± Pepper slid down slightly in his chair and shifted his eyes to the floor. He had not really thought about anything of that nature up to this point. The one thing he tried to remove from the equation was Andrea. He sat there for a few minutes and was surprised that Eli patiently waited for him to finally come to a conclusion. ¡°Wounds don¡¯t heal¡­ or at least they don¡¯t seem to.¡± A surprised look formed on her face. ¡°Really? How so?¡± ¡°The scars may cover up the injury, but the wounds run far deeper than that. The pain and suffering that many of our visitors went through¡­ it¡¯s still there. It stays with them. They¡¯re still battling demons every day¡ªthe ones who stick with them in their thoughts and visit them in their dreams. ¡°I now see how much suffering many of these people are going through¡­ and the tears only show you a small portion of what is going on underneath the surface. I know for the veterans I have seen come and visit here¡­ it makes me appreciate them more. The things they did, went through, gave up¡­¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes slowly made their way back to Eli and the two gazed at one another. ¡°I¡¯m glad I was able to spend time making sure this sanctuary was available for them to come and just be present within the moment.¡± She smiled and Pepper could see her eyes starting to water, but she held back the tears, refusing to let any more emotion show itself. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve come to realize those things.¡± Pepper stood up and reached his hand across the desk. Eli stood too and accepted his handshake. ¡°Thanks for building this place and allowing me to come and be a part of it,¡± Pepper said. ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Thanks for being willing to give it a chance and for having an open heart while you spent time with us.¡± She smiled. Pepper began to walk out but stopped himself in the doorway. He turned back and faced Eli. ¡°The sanctuary¡­ the title isn¡¯t just meant for horses, is it?¡± Eli placed her hands on her hips and looked out the window. She glanced out over the ranch for a brief moment and then turned back towards him. ¡°It¡¯s a sanctuary for all who need to escape this life, world¡­ and it¡¯ll be a sanctuary for you too, should you ever need it.¡± *** ¡°Mr. Brewer? It¡¯s me¡ªPepper,¡± he called out in warning, poking his head through the front door. Andrea and her dad had warned him to always loudly announce himself when entering their home. Pepper had seen firsthand how bad Austin could get when he was startled by Pepper trying to swing by unannounced or unexpected. ¡°Mr. Brewer¡­ you okay?¡± He took the first few steps into the house and gently closed the door behind him. ¡°Andrea asked me to swing by on my way from the sanctuary and check on you.¡± But the only noise Pepper heard was his footsteps on the wooden floor.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. The eerie silence sent a chill down his spine. Pepper started to move through the first floor, to which Andrea¡¯s dad had been confined over the past month. His pain was now at the point where he was practically bedridden apart from using his motorized cart. Please¡­ don¡¯t let this be what I think it is, Pepper asked internally of the gods as he slowly worked his way around the house. He finally turned a corner and headed towards the back room they used as an office and reading room. His eyes focused on the motorized chair that sat there lifelessly. Pepper walked into the room and found Austin sitting frozen stiff. Austin¡¯s head was reared backwards, and his mouth partially opened. ¡°Mr. Brewer? Mr. Brewer, it¡¯s me¡ªPepper. Wake up.¡± No, no, no, no¡­ please, not like this¡­ Andrea doesn¡¯t need this. Pepper walked over and reached out to grab Austin¡¯s wrist and check for a pulse. His fingers latched around the frail arm. ¡°Rawr!¡± Austin said and jostled to life. His hands reached up and clawed at Pepper. ¡°AHHH!¡± Pepper screamed at the top of his lungs. He reared backwards, his feet tripping over each other, and went crashing down onto a small coffee table directly behind him. The piece of furniture collapsed and all that remained was Pepper¡¯s body draped over broken pieces as if he was a giant pancake. Austin was now coughing uncontrollably, his gasps mixed with a dark laugh of pure delight. Pepper reached up and grabbed hold of his chest. He let his hand rest there for a few seconds before he moved slightly south and checked. That was close, he told himself and then brought his hand back up to his rapidly beating heart. ¡°You almost made me piss my pants, Austin!¡± The terrifying joke caused him to call his girlfriend¡¯s father by his first name for the very first time. Austin was finally able to catch his breath long enough to mutter in his crackly voice, ¡°I still got it.¡± Pepper lifted his head. ¡°Still got it? What the¡­ That was messed up, Austin! I seriously thought you were gone and was dreading the phone call I was gonna have to make to Andrea.¡± Pepper lowered his head back down. That was when the sharp, jagged pieces of broken particle board made themselves even more present to him. His body recalibrated itself and informed him that his position was not a pleasant one. He quickly rolled onto his side and grabbed his lower back, which had taken the brunt of the impact. ¡°Oww¡­ I¡¯m not sorry about the coffee table. You deserve that mess after what you did.¡± A guttural chuckle sprang from Austin. ¡°Worth it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure I sprained something back there,¡± Pepper muttered, making his way to his feet. He stretched and let out a few moans as he did so. ¡°Wussie¡­ that was nothing. In one battle I was sent hurtling down four flights of stairs in an apartment building while the whole front half was sheared off by a demonic vassar beam.¡± ¡°What¡¯s a ¡­¡± Pepper paused and realized he didn¡¯t really care to know. ¡°You know what¡­ forget it.¡± He shuffled over to a small recliner chair in the corner and took a seat. ¡°Help yourself,¡± Austin said in a crusty but sarcastic tone. ¡°Maybe I will. What are you gonna do about it, play dead again?¡± Austin started to laugh, which led to another round of dry coughs. ¡°Maybe I will.¡± ¡°Yeah? Well, now I¡¯m on to you. I¡¯ll just throw ice cold water on you next time. See how that works out for you.¡± ¡°You little brat.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that. You did way worse to your buddies while you were in the military,¡± Pepper countered. Austin continued to cough as his laugh made him suffer more. ¡°I can¡¯t argue with you on that. You would have gotten along with a lot of my buddies back then. A few of them were very similar to you.¡± There was a slight pause while Pepper let his heart finally get back to its natural restful state. ¡°What were you doing back here anyways?¡± ¡°I was reading¡­ took a nap¡­ and decided to sift through a few old items from the Rift Wars days.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Pepper paused and shifted his eyes from side to side as he worked to recall the last time he¡¯d seen his dad go through his old military items. ¡°I don¡¯t remember ever seeing my dad go through his military stuff. I actually don¡¯t know where he keeps it now that I think about it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t doubt him. This is the first time I¡¯ve looked at it since being trapped in this chair.¡± Austin shifted as best as he could. He coughed and looked over at Pepper with a slight nod. ¡°You ever see scortanic¡ªup close, that is?¡± Pepper slowly looked over at Austin. He could feel his mouth drop open. ¡°You have scortanic?¡± ¡°I have all three of the demonic metals¡ªscortanic, infernacassium, and void plexium.¡± Austin lifted his right hand and there, dangling down from three separate chains, were three clear capsules. Each one was filled with a different shard of demonic alloy. ¡°You serious?¡± Austin coughed and the capsules dipped slightly. ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t be holding these things up for you if I wasn¡¯t. What are you, slow? Get over here and take them before my arm falls off.¡± Pepper sprang up out of the chair and practically lunged for the three necklaces. ¡°I see your back has recovered nicely,¡± Austin added as Pepper took the items out of his grip. Pepper rolled his eyes and then gazed at each of the small shards that were now in the palm of his hand. ¡°Which one is this one?¡± he asked, pointing to the first capsule. ¡°That is the void plexium,¡± Austin muttered. ¡°I only remember their names, but I can¡¯t tell you much about their different properties or what¡¯s so special about them. What I can say is that they hurt like hell.¡± ¡°How did you even get these?¡± ¡°Well, they were gifted to me by the enemy. Each of those shards was pulled out of my body during surgery. Hence how I am able to say that they hurt like hell. I would recommend you avoid having demonic shrapnel get into you. Hell, any shrapnel for that matter.¡± Pepper shook his head at the sarcastic conversation, but he still couldn¡¯t take his gaze away from the three items. The void plexium was a dark crystal-like shard. He moved the three capsules up to the window and pointed them directly at the sun, but the void plexium made him feel like it was absorbing the light. ¡°Take that into the bathroom, turn out the light and see what happens,¡± Austin instructed. Pepper darted to the bathroom, and once the door was closed, he saw a faint green glow appear. ¡°Yo! This is so cool, Mr. B,¡± he called out. Pepper returned after a minute spent in the room, mesmerized by the small passive effect. He lifted up the second capsule. ¡°Okay, what about this one?¡± Austin leaned slightly forward and squinted to ensure he knew which one Pepper was pointing to. ¡°That would be the infernacassium¡ªa red metal which seems to be similar to a graphene compound. But again, what little bit of information I learned all those years ago now escapes me.¡± The red metal had what Pepper believed were scorch marks along the edges. It looked like it had once been a square piece but had been twisted and distorted. His guess was that it was caused by some kind of explosion, but he couldn¡¯t be sure. ¡°So the final one is scortanic?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. Better known as the bones of the damned. That piece came within an inch of severing my aorta.¡± Austin pulled at his shirt¡¯s neckline with a shaking hand, exposing a scar roughly six inches long that ran down his chest. ¡°That was the thing that almost took me out.¡± ¡°This stuff has to be worth quite a few Flex, even if they are only small amounts.¡± ¡°Pshh, ain¡¯t no more valuable than my life, Pep.¡± Austin paused, then looked at him. ¡°You know what. You keep them.¡± Pepper¡¯s mouth had already been open wide in amazement, but now he felt like his jaw had punched through the floor and was carving its way towards the center of the earth. ¡°I¡­ uhh, Mr. Brewer, I can¡¯t accept this. This is¡­ this needs to stay in the family. Andrea should inherit this, not¡ª¡± Austin raised his hand and dismissed his statements. ¡°They are mine to give away. They¡¯re a gift to you. I don¡¯t know if they are of any luck, but maybe they¡¯ll bring you a little luck on your path of becoming a Statue King.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Golem Master.¡± ¡°Same thing.¡± Austin waved his hand in exaggeration and then pulled a small lap pillow over his stomach. ¡°Like I said, Pep¡­ those are now yours. I hope you can enjoy having them.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Brewer. I really, really appreciate this.¡± Chapter 49 - Laser Focus The music was playing so loudly, Pepper didn¡¯t even hear Andrea enter the workshop. He practically jumped off his barstool when she gently grazed her hand across his back. A quick adjustment on his holodex music control module and the volume lowered itself. He turned to look at his girlfriend and saw she had already put the fast food off to the side of his workbench. She had dashed off to the side of the room and was giving Amprage some affectionate attention by the time he turned around. By the looks of it, Andrea was still wearing her work clothes from Eli¡¯s Equine Sanctuary. Brown dirt coated her blue jeans, and there were a few pieces of straw sticking out of random places. ¡°Thanks for bringing me dinner.¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s kinda a part of the whole boyfriend girlfriend thing.¡± Andrea smiled and gave him a wink. She turned back towards Amprage for a moment. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m gonna go say hi to your dad now.¡± She started to walk slowly over to Pepper as Amprage said, ¡°Or you could just stay here with me.¡± They both giggled as Andrea reached him and wrapped her arms around him. She snuggled up and he could feel the exhaustion in both of their bodies. Andrea slowly pulled back and looked down at him. ¡°You know, the first thing you need to buy when you win some prize money is a spa.¡± Pepper¡¯s mind wandered for a moment and he couldn¡¯t find a single counterpoint to her idea. ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to add that to the list of items to get,¡± he said with a smile. He reached over, grabbed the bag of food, and pulled it close. Andrea reached her hand into the bag, pulled out a large cup of French fries, and started to munch away before he had even had a chance to glance at the contents. ¡°Figures,¡± he said, flaring his eyebrows at her. She shrugged her shoulders at him. ¡°Can¡¯t do anything about it. Guess you¡¯ll just have to learn to live.¡± She ended with a wink, then turned and utilized a fry to point at his golem. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s coming along.¡± Pepper huffed and his shoulders slouched. ¡°I swear fans don¡¯t realize how much goes into these things. At least at the club level.¡± He started to unwrap his dinner and looked at the crispy chicken sandwich. ¡°And you had them add the bacon!¡± His mouth started to water, and he smiled. Andrea smiled and started to lightly dance in delight at the comment. ¡°Ha! Someone must be loved.¡± She tilted her head towards the clay figure. ¡°It¡¯s kinda crazy to see how much you¡¯ve done in a month. You know?¡± ¡°I guess I didn¡¯t really think about it. It¡¯s just one thing after another. I had to make sure I got my carbon fiber conduits formed first. I wanted to go that route this time¡ªmake it easier for running the cables back and forth to the rune cards.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t they just use the magic stuff?¡± Andrea asked. ¡°They tried that out years ago. The problem was that you couldn¡¯t get solid sustainable energy flow to power the runes. It wasn¡¯t worth the inefficiencies, and no one even tries. Having dedicated power from the cores has been found to be the best, but then it helps the runes incorporate their effects with one another.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± she said and smiled as she chomped down on a new fry. ¡°When will you add the rune cards?¡± Pepper stood up and walked over to his partially formed golem. He pointed towards the upper torso. ¡°I¡¯ll start working on them here probably tomorrow.¡± He tried to talk over the full bite he had just taken. ¡°I¡¯m going to put my core here, and I¡¯m thinking I¡¯ll do my controller card here, where a spinal column would normally go. This will allow me to reinforce the front plating to act as a shield.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll be exposed in the back.¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about that? Seems like a big risk,¡± Andrea said, leaning back against the workbench. ¡°I don¡¯t know if there is any golem that doesn¡¯t have a weakness of some kind. If you add too much armament, then you¡¯ll be super slow. None at all, you¡¯ll be fast, but taken out with a flick. That¡¯s where the build strategy is really important, but then adding in a tactical plan and fighting style that allows you to put your strengths out front.¡± Andrea flared her eyes and wobbled her head back and forth sarcastically. ¡°So what¡¯s your big strategy, then, Mr. Golem Builder?¡± ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°Or¡­ you could just tell your girlfriend. Who am I gonna tell anyways, my dad? You know I don¡¯t have friends.¡± He chuckled. ¡°I won this gravity rune at the last KBVS tournament. I¡¯m not really sure how I want to incorporate it. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t have the additional add-on for my golem training module, so I can¡¯t really see how to make it work in the simulation.¡± Andrea pressed her lips together. Her playful expression was enough to inform him that she had no idea what he was referring to. Pepper sighed and took another bite of his dinner. A few seconds later, he resumed. ¡°There are many ways to train with your golem. But the majority of people will use a simulator. Basically a video game, but more technically tuned to your build. You take all the data received from your rune analysis, and the holocube will create the 3D model. It allows you to go through and practice controlling your golem and see how it should perform in a match.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going to install this gravity card, and then you¡¯ll put the data into your simulator. ¡° ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°And you¡¯ll play around and see how it all works. Then you go and beat everyone at the club match.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°See, I get it.¡± She winked and then walked over and gave him a hug and a kiss. ¡°Okay, I need to go take care of Dad.¡± ¡°Okay. Thanks for dinner.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She winked again and walked out of the shop. Pepper turned and looked at his golem. His mind now filled with thoughts of the gravity rune and how he would tactically approach his next match. He glanced at the shelf where he kept his rune cards. He reached up and brought them down onto the workbench. A small knot formed in his stomach and his heart sank as he remembered the moment he had chosen to steal them. Though Kyle had gifted them to him after the fact, it still hadn¡¯t replaced the memory of the time when he had felt entitled to something that truly wasn¡¯t his.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. His mind quickly flashed to the tear that had streaked down Kyle¡¯s face when they were riding in the truck. Kyle could have easily kept the rune cards, but he¡¯d insisted that Pepper have them. Kyle gave these to me because he believed in me. He wants to see me succeed, and that is exactly what I¡¯m going to do. He picked up the two Ronin energy refinement runes and let their reflection sparkle in the workshop¡¯s light. Then he set them off to the left while he looked over the Dark Dwarf energy strike and the Koto force blast next to it. Both of these are great¡­ and I already know how I plan to work them into my fighting technique. Pepper then grabbed the Dark Dwarf gravity rune and put it next to the two energy refinement cards. His mind struggled with the thought of balancing out an offensive and a defensive approach. He had nothing in regards to defense beside his ability to continue to add more physical armor. Unless¡­ I could use the force blast as more of a defensive option that keeps me at the safe distance that I need. There is a great offensive use to it, but¡­ if I use it as a dual purpose, that could supplement my defensive shortcomings. His eyes kept focusing on the gravity rune. He couldn¡¯t really explain the sensation other than saying it was a hunch. This rune could be the one item that gave him an ultimate advantage over his competitors at KBVS. It was then that the RuneCast episode replayed in his mind. The ability to now utilize indie cards in the League. He grabbed hold of the gravity and energy refinement runes and lifted them up side by side. If this doesn¡¯t work, I will have completely ruined two incredible rune cards¡­ but if it works¡­ this could be an epic custom build. He quickly flipped the cards over and began to look at how each card incorporated the different chips. There was a significant size difference between the two card wafers. The Dark Dwarf was significantly smaller, and its Crossfire Dispersion Channels, or CFDC, didn¡¯t look nearly as capable as the Ronin. Pepper, now curious, opened up his holodex and navigated his way to the technical spec library. He was able to cross load both technical specifications into one comparable window. He narrowed in on the CFDC ratings. His curiosity was answered when he saw that the Ronin was rated at a 12 hex Power Disbursement Rating, or PDR, compared to the Dark Dwarf at a measly 4 hex PDR. He took a final bite of his sandwich and tossed the crumpled wrapper into the trashcan. A 12 hex PDR makes sense for the refinement rune. It needs to relay the refined energy to the runes that need it. Whereas the gravity rune is merely distorting the gravity field around the area of effect. Pepper then looked at the Flash Energy Cache reserves of each chip. In that category, the Dark Dwarf rune was far better than the Ronin. The Dark Dwarf¡¯s FEC had at a surprising rating of 10,000 spark cycles compared to the Ronin with only 1,000 spark cycles. Once Pepper saw it with his own eyes, it all made sense. The Ronin didn¡¯t require a high spark cycle because it was being fed energy from the core. He then moved onto the Rune Processing Unit comparison. There wasn¡¯t a great difference between the two. But the Ronin did have a higher performance rating of 7 quantum FLOPS of processing power, compared to the Dark Dwarf with 6.3 quantum FLOPS. Pepper tapped his fingers on the workbench. The more he looked at the technical specs of the two rune cards, the greater the temptation. His curiosity and excitement finally boiled over and he reached for his soldering kit. He quickly rearranged his workspace to ensure he would be safe working on the cards. He wanted to make every attempt to avoid damaging the cards if his experiment failed, and he wanted to try to repair them both. He looked over each card intently and then decided it was best to utilize the Ronin as the baseplate for this custom job. His gaze narrowed in on the back soldering points of the rune card, and he meticulously brought the metal to its melting point, disconnecting each pin individually. The process seemed to take forever, but he had finally removed the rune from the card and moved on to the Flash Energy Cache. Thankfully the smaller chip only required half the time to unsolder it from the board. Pepper then transitioned over to the Dark Dwarf card and went through the same process of removing the rune and the FEC. All the required pieces were now separated out and he went about connecting the new configuration. Though his hands began to cramp after the long day of working on a multitude of different items, he still powered through and forced his body to comply with his wishes. The tension of the process and his proximity to the hot soldering iron caused small beads of sweat to run down his face. Pepper placed the tool back onto its stand, then stood up and backed away from the workbench. He took a moment to stretch, wipe his face, and take a few deep breaths. Amprage looked up at him with a tilted head of curiosity, but he ignored his bonded familiar. Instead, he slowly turned back towards his creation and walked forward. He wiped his hands one final time to ensure there was no moisture on them and then picked up the card. The Ronin wafer was a deep crimson red in color. Gold and copper inlays ran from one chip mount to the other, and all pointed towards the center, where the newly installed gravity rune sat. It had a warm gold and yellow gradient to it. A slightly darker brown etched rune was suspended within the center of its small viewing window. Pepper grabbed a spare 8 ¡Á 8 GTC 12V cable. He quickly plugged it into the card and then went to connect it to his holocube. His mind was racing faster than the holocube and his fingers, and he impatiently waited for the analysis and diagnostic application to load up. Though it only took a few seconds, it still wasn¡¯t fast enough, and Pepper began to tap his foot rapidly. The screen flashed to life, but rather than the application opening up to its full capacity, it displayed a notification in plain block text. System Update Required. Your system will automatically apply critical updates now¡­ please do not turn off your system or attempt to exit the application. This update will take approximately 1 hour. ¡°One hour! Nothing takes one hour any more! Where is your server located where it takes that long to download the data? Mars?¡± Pepper ran his fingers through his hair. He pulled it tight and finally released his grip to ease the tension. ¡°This is¡­ just¡­ dumb!¡± He turned around and put his hands on his hips. ¡°Well, now what am I going to do?¡± ¡°You could take me for a walk,¡± Amprage said, still looking at him with a tilted head of curiosity. ¡°What?¡± Pepper asked, ensuring he had heard his familiar correctly. ¡°You have been neglecting me lately, and you could simply take me for a walk to fill the time while you wait.¡± ¡°But¡­ Amp¡­ you don¡¯t need to go on a walk. What exactly are you going to do, virtual pee on the fire hydrants you see?¡± ¡°If it would make you feel better, I would happily simulate the urination process. However, there are many benefits to walking, most of which would be your current mood.¡± ¡°My current mood? What¡¯s wrong with my current mood, and how exactly can you¡­ wait¡­ you did an essence scan, didn¡¯t you?¡± Pepper¡¯s head dipped at an angle as he looked at the metal dog. ¡°Yes, I did an essence scan, and my readings show that you are clearly upset and in need of decompressing from the situation that is currently causing the tension.¡± Pepper lifted his hands and conceded. ¡°Fine¡­ we can go for a walk.¡± ¡°Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.¡± Amprage jumped down from the recliner and started to zoom around. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Why are you like this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the dog personality profile. I can¡¯t help myself, but I must say, I am getting quite dizzy!¡± The golem ramped his speed up until he lost control and came to a screeching halt as he slammed into the wall. ¡°Ow.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°You didn¡¯t even feel that.¡± ¡°It was more emotional damage than physical damage, Pepper.¡± The two made it out into the backyard, and Pepper started to drift towards the side of the house that would lead them out to the street. He was heading to the gate when Amprage started to wobble towards the house. ¡°Wait! I need to get my leash.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have a leash. Heck, Amp, you don¡¯t even need a leash. I literally am talking to you.¡± The entire conversation baffled him, but sure enough, Amp bolted right through the back screen door, twisting the frame into a mangled mess of cheap metal. ¡°What the heck, Amp!¡± ¡°Sorry not sorry¡ªI¡¯m so excited that it¡¯s overwhelming my internal circuitry,¡± Amp yelled back. It was just a flash of a second before the familiar returned, and lo and behold he had a leash draped in his mouth. ¡°When did you get that? And where exactly did it come from?¡± ¡°Dad got it for me! Megan forced him to buy it.¡± Pepper pressed his lips together and shook his head. ¡°That figures.¡± The two wandered off, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but feel his spirits lift. He watched Amp waddle up and down the sidewalk, the leash dragging on either side of him. The entire sight was one he wouldn¡¯t forget for a while, but as his eyes shifted upwards, he took in the sparking universe looking down on him. ¡°We are about to take a bold step forward, Amp¡­ and destiny is not ready for what we¡¯re about to accomplish.¡± Chapter 50 - The Final Piece ¡°Hey, Pep?¡± His dad¡¯s voice pulled him free from his dream. He reached up and rubbed his face to awaken himself. He adjusted himself in his hammock and looked up at the workshop ceiling. ¡°Pep, you awake?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ just woke up.¡± His brow furrowed when he started to recall the quickly fading details of his dream. But if the emperor penguin was allergic to peanut butter, why did he have a Reese¡¯s Pieces ceremonial cake? And why was he throwing a grand celebration on top of the hill while his army below fought off the enraged snail horde of Threcken-Slime? Pepper lightly smacked his face a couple of times, which finished pulling him out of the dazed dream state. He sat up and saw his dad had opened the workshop door just enough to step halfway inside. His dad motioned behind him with his head. ¡°There¡¯s someone here that wants to talk to you for a second.¡± Pepper stepped out of his hammock and found his T-shirt in a pile on his workbench. He gave it a quick guy sniff and felt it was still good for another wear. He threw it on while his dad stepped in to make way for the visitor. Pepper¡¯s eyes lit up and he smiled when he saw their neighbor Ryan walk through the door. He held a box in his arms and had a beaming smile on his face. His red ball cap was tilted slightly upwards and seemed to fit the overly joyful man who had grown into more of a friend than anything else. ¡°Oh, hey there, Pep! Man, it is a bustling good day out there, let me tell you. A real good day, I say. Don¡¯t you go getting me wrong there now, I do like me a good sleep in here and there.¡± Ryan motioned with the box at him and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯ve been burning the midnight gas working on the old golem there.¡± Pepper flicked his extended thumb towards the almost-finished fighter. Trent huffed. ¡°It¡¯s called burning the midnight oil.¡± Ryan followed Trent without any delay. ¡°Well, something is burning, and I am pretty sure that is Pepper, because not only is he spicy on the old tongue there, he is going to be on fire the next time he steps into that there Golem League.¡± Pepper chuckled but felt the confusion come over him as he though over his neighbors comment. He knew there was no ill intent in it and simply chalked it up to another odd Canadian phrase or euphemism that he was not aware of. ¡°So, what¡¯s in the box?¡± he finally asked. ¡°Oh, this thing here is¡­ Wait there a second. I have to give you my speech before I tell you about this.¡± Ryan readjusted himself and cleared his throat. What looked like a rippling shiver flowed over him. He finally composed himself and acted like a totally different person who was giving a business presentation. ¡°Pepper Walker, I am Ryan DeBruyn with Big Duck Energy, or, as we like to say it, Big D Energy, a small energy drink supplement company formed right out of my garage here in Portage, Michigan. As many people do, I found myself wondering one day what I wanted to do in life and where I was going to devote my own personal Big D Energy¡­ well, I felt there was no better place to put my Big D than into an energy drink.¡± Pepper tried to keep his composure as he watched his dad¡¯s face erupt with shock behind Ryan. His dad finally put his hand over his face and started to bite down on his fist in an effort not to laugh. ¡°Pepper, I¡¯ve put my Big D into every single flavor and can of Big D Energy, and now... I am ready for my Big D to make its way out into the world. I want to try and touch as many people with my Big D as I can.¡± Pepper was now physically shaking as he tried his best to contain himself. ¡°Okay¡­ well, how exactly am I supposed to help Big Duck Energy get into the world?¡± ¡°I, as CEO of Big D Energy, would like to offer you the first sponsorship deal. And with that¡­ I felt there was no better way to support you than by helping provide your golem with the energy it needs. To give it the Big D that it needs¡­ if you feel me?¡± Trent turned and bolted through the door, and Pepper could hear his dad laughing out in the yard. He quickly did his best to distract Ryan by coughing and clearing his throat. ¡°I, uhh, thank you for this opportunity and¡­ just to clarify, you want to give me a power core for my golem?¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Ryan gave a firm nod and then extended the box out to him. His natural voice and demeanor returned and he was his normal playful self, if there was such a thing as normal for someone like Ryan. ¡°Oh, sure thing there, Pep. I gave an old holler to good old Bill Baxter and asked him what we should do to get you all up and running for that whole KBVS Club matchup. Bold Bill said this would be a good one to gift you.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Okay, so what else do you want me to do then for Big D Energy? And, if you don¡¯t mind me asking, how exactly can you afford all this? I mean, Ryan¡­ this is a lot to be gifting me, especially after everything you¡¯ve already done.¡± ¡°Well, I got me a few investors and we¡¯ve been discussing the next step for the company. We¡¯re already into production and have a few small stores here in town that are going to start carrying Big D Energy. You¡¯ll go on to win this match, and as you do, our local folks will grab themselves one of them, their Big D¡¯s on their way to work. It¡¯ll be great! We got you a few shirts and swag to wear. I¡¯ll be happy to hook you up with a few cases¡­¡± ¡°Cases? Did you say cases?¡± Ryan blinked rapidly, as if his brain had to reset itself quickly. ¡°Well, sure, Pep. I mean, we produce and can the drinks in bulk, see¡­ It¡¯s the best way to save on production, don¡¯t you know. But I can get you more, Pep!¡± Ryan shot his hands out in what Pepper interpreted as an attempt to reassure him that he was good for fulfilling the promise. ¡°I¡¯ll get you even more cases if you need them. You know, you go do your thing there and I will do my Big D thing behind you all the way.¡± Pepper¡¯s face flared with cringe. ¡°Phrasing, Ryan¡­ phrasing.¡± Ryan snapped his fingers and wagged his index finger at Pepper. ¡°That¡¯s what I forgot to schedule. My business partners told me to get some mentorship on my communication methods, and it skipped my mind until you just said that.¡± ¡°Well, thanks, Ryan¡­ I really don¡¯t know what to¡ª¡± A sarcastic look came over Ryan¡¯s face and stopped Pepper in his tracks. He motioned with his hands towards the box. ¡°Enough with all that blah blah. Let¡¯s open this bad boy and take a good look-see at it.¡± Pepper chuckled and he saw his dad return from outside. He shifted his eyes back to the box and started to open up the cardboard. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the glossy label shining at him. ¡°A Dark Matter Hellion Light!?¡± he exclaimed. Ryan had his hands clawed with anticipation and shifted his weight from side to side. ¡°It¡¯s good, right? I got you that there good one, right? Is it¡­ it will work for the whole clay statue thing, right?¡± Pepper began to laugh and looked up. ¡°Yes, yes, and yes. Ryan¡­ seriously, thank you. This power core is more than enough to power Mala, and I can easily use it in the Regional League.¡± Ryan extended his hand out toward Pepper. ¡°Welcome to the Big D team, Pepper.¡± ¡°Phrasing, Ryan.¡± *** Okay¡­ one final piece to put this puzzle all together. Just¡ªneed¡ªto¡ªget¡ªyou¡ªstupid¡­ there! Pepper sighed and stepped back from Mala. The Quintek power rune was the last thing needed to make his golem complete. That and a few cosmetic touches. The golem that stood before him was more of a poorly shaped humanoid. He looked over to the clay statue of Mala. That was what he truly intended his golem to be. A massive white battle tiger with glowing blue eyes and power vents etched down both sides of its neck. Enormous claws on six fingers that he eventually planned to have an imbuement rune that would practically give the golem shredding claws. But until then, he turned back and looked over the figure, which looked nothing like the version he had envisioned for years. ¡°One day,¡± he said, wiping the sweat from his brow with his sweatshirt. ¡°First things first¡ªwe gotta dominate this KBVS Club match.¡± Pepper walked around to the back of his golem and connected the power core to the newly installed power rune. He kept the back access area open in case he had done something wrong. The small green LED indicator on the rune illuminated, and he was confident everything would work as expected. He grabbed hold of his 7 Seas command interface. His heart began to pick up speed in anticipation; months of work would now be put to the test. A quick flip on the switch from his thumb and he stepped back as an immediate hum pulsated from the golem. Though he smiled, he knew it was far from over. A faint glow of blue energy shone out of the back access panel and started to slowly grow in intensity. Pepper shifted his gaze down to his command interface and he watched the initiation sequence. SECURE POWER CONNECTION TEST COMPLETE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ BIOC SYSTEM TEST COMPLETE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. UNIFIED RUNE BOOTLOADER SYSTEM INITIATED¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. TEST¡­RUNE SLOT 1, SUCCESS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. TEST¡­RUNE SLOT 2, SUCCESS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. TEST¡­RUNE SLOT 3, SUCCESS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. TEST¡­RUNE SLOT 4, SUCCESS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. TEST¡­RUNE SLOT 5, SUCCESS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­. INITIATING RUNE IDENTIFICATION PROTOCOL¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ RUNE SLOT 1, POWER¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ RUNE SLOT 2, CONTROLLER / INTERFACE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ RUNE SLOT 3, FORCE BLAST¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ RUNE SLOT 4, ENERGY STRIKE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ RUNE SLOT 5, GRAVITY¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ESSENCE SCAN INITIATING¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ESSENCE SCAN IN PROGRESS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ESSENCE SCAN IN PROGRESS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ESSENCE SCAN COMPLETE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ESTIMATED GOLEM HEIGHT¡­4? 9?¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ ESTIMATED GOLEM WEIGHT¡­1,245.75 LBS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ CALIBRATING RUNE CONFIGURATION FOR SPECS¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ SYSTEM INITIATION SEQUENCE COMPLETE¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­¡­ Pepper let out a long breath. His shoulders slouched and his head dropped down. His chin landed on his chest. He took a deep breath and then let out the loudest competitive battle cry that he could. ¡°LET¡¯S DO THIS!¡± His arms were outstretched, and he envisioned the arena there before him. Chapter 51 - KBVS ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be¡­ that looks like Pepper Walker. But my eyes must be playing tricks! I haven¡¯t seen Pepper Walker in months.¡± Pepper laughed and walked up to the elderly man. ¡°Hey, Jeff. It¡¯s good to see you.¡± ¡°Now I know you¡¯re a ghost! Pepper calling me by my first name? The one thing I have been asking him to do for years. Shoot, get out of here, wraith, and come back with our KBVS Club member.¡± The old man smiled and gave Pepper a firm and mighty handshake. ¡°I know, I know¡­ I should have at least been coming to the club matches to support the others, even if I wasn¡¯t competing myself.¡± A startled look came over the elder¡¯s face. ¡°You go away for a few months and return the stoic, I see. Ha!¡± He slapped Pepper¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Pepper, when I was your age, I was never in one place for more than ten minutes. Heck, you never knew where I was gonna show up. Sometimes you gotta live life, I say.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve lived life all right. Learned a few lessons along the way. Those bumps and bruises you¡¯ve mentioned before.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but, uhh¡­¡± Jeff wagged his finger around between Pepper and his golem. ¡°I¡¯ve also said there is a bit of luck that needs to be thrown in there as well. It certainly seems that you¡¯ve gotten yourself a fair amount of that too. Ha! A little extra luck never hurts.¡± Pepper placed his hands on his hips and formed an agreeable expression on his face. ¡°No, it certainly doesn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Well, this has just made my day, and now I can¡¯t wait for us to get in there and get things started.¡± Jeff turned and started to take a rough count. His head twisted around and Pepper saw him focus on something in the distance. ¡°Well, looks like we might be able to squeak out a good sixteen competitors for this match.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s great. Should be a good show for the fans, then.¡± ¡°Sixteen is almost the perfect number for a club match. Any more than that and our staff would be tapped out pretty quick.¡± Jeff kept twisting his head around and finally looked at him briefly. ¡°Well, Pepper, it¡¯s been a real treat getting to see you again. I should let you go so I can get back to herding these cats.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°All right, Jeff. It¡¯s good to see you again.¡± The area was buzzing with activity as food trucks, craft vendors, and fans all started to roam around the fairgrounds. Pepper had to stop and take a few deep breaths, but he managed to maintain his patience while he navigated the crowd and finally arrived in the staging area for the matches.
Golem Name Mala
Gladiator Pepper Walker
Command Interface 7 Seas ¨C Explorer
Height 4? 9?
Weight >1 ton
Material Clay
Power Core Dark Matter ¨C Hellion Light
Main Weapon Not Applicable
Runes 1. Quintek ¨C Power 2. Ronin ¨C Controller Rune & Interface 3. Koto ¨C Force Blast 4. Dark Dwarf ¨C Energy Strike 5. Modified Dark Dwarf ¨C Gravity
He looked up at the cage number ¡­ #9. All right, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re going to bring me any luck, but lucky #9 will do just fine, he thought to himself while prepping Mala for the safety inspection. His hand plunged into his backpack and he grabbed hold of his stat sheet and placed it on the table for the inspector. To his surprise, the man showed up again only a minute later and asked him if he¡¯d like him to perform the inspection on the spot. ¡°Oh, a modified Dark Dwarf rune¡­ someone has been bitten by the crafting bug, I see.¡± Pepper just smiled and gave a nod. He hated the safety inspection process and never wanted it to drag on. The last thing he wanted was for the man to find some small item he had missed and disqualify him. Smile and nod Pepper, smile and nod. ¡°Welp, everything seems to check out. Good luck out there, kid.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± The inspector walked out of the holding cage and started to make his way down to the next competitor. Pepper followed him out of the cage and closed the door behind him. He placed his small pad lock on his cage and was startled when he turned around. There waiting for him was Reggie and another man with a similar build and complexion. The man he didn¡¯t know turned to Reggie and motioned with his head. ¡°This is really the kid you were telling me about?¡± The man looked surprised; he had jutted his thumb in Pepper¡¯s direction when he asked the question. ¡°Cuz, I¡¯m telling you¡­ don¡¯t be sleeping on Soulless like that. Kid¡¯s got skills¡ªmight be able to learn a thing or two,¡± Reggie replied and turned his attention back to Pepper. ¡°Where you been, boy? You get your butt whooped by Tamin and then you just bounce out of the scene like a bad habit. Been looking for you up in the stands last couple of months. I knew you were soulless; didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be ghost¡¯n as well.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Pepper¡¯s shoulders slouched and he lowered his head. ¡°Reggie, I¡¯m sorry. I know I should have¡ª¡± Before Pepper could finish, Reggie stepped forward, reached out, and gave him a slap on his shoulder. Reggie¡¯s hand latched on and he shook him lightly. ¡°I¡¯m just playing with you, man. You ain¡¯t gotta be the IRS or something and take this all serious. It¡¯s all good, man.¡± Reggie let go of his shoulder and motioned to the man standing next to him. ¡°Soulless, this my lil cousin, Freddy. I convinced him to start competing. This is only his second club match, but he hasn¡¯t been doing too bad.¡± Pepper now felt reassured their friendship was still intact and took advantage. ¡°Well, he can¡¯t be worse than you.¡± Freddy¡¯s jaw dropped and he started to laugh. ¡°Oh snap! He is soulless. Bwahaha.¡± Reggie tilted his head up and waved his hands about. ¡°Ohh, heck naw¡ªno way you just did me like that. I¡¯ll have you know I have five victories under my belt.¡± ¡°Wow, five victories¡­ you¡¯re just climbing the ladder there. Too bad that ladder is there to help get you out of the dumpster. Let me know when you make it up to the podium with the rest of us.¡± Reggie stood there speechless while Freddy started to laugh uncontrollably. ¡°Yo, this kid is something else. You know what, I¡¯m gonna call you Tip.¡± Tip? Why would he¡ª Pepper didn¡¯t have a chance to respond before Freddy continued. ¡°You just like a match, kid¡ªonce that tip lit, you don¡¯t stop.¡± Pepper let out a chuckle. ¡°Fine with me, I guess.¡± He turned and looked down the corridor of the staging area. ¡°I was planning to check out the bracket and see what they¡¯ve put up so far. You guys want to join?¡± The two agreed, and they collectively made their way down to the coordinators¡¯ area, where the digital board was displaying the matchups. They started to look over them, and Pepper was happy to see the current arrangement. Both Freddy and Reggie were in the upper tier of the bracket, meaning he wouldn¡¯t have to compete against either of them unless they made it to the final round. ¡°Yo, I got Wendy in the first round. She any good?¡± Freddy asked. Reggie looked at his cousin and then both turned their attention to Pepper. He looked back at the two staring at him and he cringed. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t worry about it, Freddy. I¡¯m pretty sure even Reggie could beat her in his sleep.¡± Reggie rolled his eyes and turned back to the screen. ¡°Bryan, then either Jake or Frank in the second round. I¡¯ve watched Bryan a few times and think I¡¯ll be able to get past him.¡± Pepper gave a slight upward nod to his friend. ¡°What runes you using today?¡± Reggie looked like he was about to answer, then caught himself and smirked. He wagged his finger at Pepper and flared his eyebrows. ¡°Nice try, Soulless. Guess you¡¯ll just have to wait and find out.¡± ¡°Worth a shot.¡± They turned and walked down the long hallway, having difficulty maintaining any kind of conversation as the room was filled with commotion of competitors and fans moving about. Pepper guided them outside, where they grabbed some soft drinks from a food cart, then found a standing table to gather around and continue the conversation. ¡°You hear about Tamin?¡± Reggie asked him. ¡°I try not to. Why do you ask?¡± ¡°He won his Regional Invitation and is now going to the big leagues.¡± ¡°That son of a¡­¡± Pepper felt his teeth grind together. At the same time he heard the aluminum can crinkle in his hand as his grip cinched down hard on the container. ¡°Calm down, Tip. Ain¡¯t no need to go nuclear,¡± Freddy chimed in. Pepper looked between the two and finally let out a long breath. He tried to shake off the frustration he felt rising within him. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll just have to wait to get my rematch. But¡±¡ªhe lifted a finger¡ª¡°that rematch will happen. I promise you that.¡± They all heard the crackle of the public address system. ¡°Can Freddy, Jeremy, Buck, Sasha, Reggie, and Wendy¡­ please return to the staging area for the pre-match safety inspections. Thank you.¡± A high-pitched screech blared over the speakers as the announcement cut off. Their faces all distorted from the ear-splitting pain for a moment. Reggie gave Freddy a nod, and they both warned Pepper they would see him in the arena. He smiled and reminded them they needed to win in order for that to happen. ¡°Well, look what the country cat dragged in,¡± a soft playful voice said from behind him. Pepper turned to see Sabrina standing there waiting for him. Her hazel eyes sparkled when they briefly locked onto one another. She didn¡¯t ask for his permission but leaned forward and wrapped him in a hug. ¡°Hey, Sabrina. Wow¡­ it¡¯s nice to see you.¡± Pepper stuttered slightly, as the intrusion into his personal space was something he felt a little uncomfortable with. Though he appreciated the friendship he had with her, it felt a little intrusive now that he was in a relationship with Andrea. ¡°You must have been hiding in this big old city you guys have over here.¡± She laughed and gestured around them. ¡°Oh yeah, we¡¯re big city living all right.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Wait¡­¡± He stopped laughing and quickly recalled the match bracket. He gazed back at her, now curious. ¡°You¡¯re not competing?¡± A disheartened look came over her and she sighed, rolling her head from side to side. ¡°No ¡­ not yet. I think it will probably take me about another three months before I¡¯m back in the arena.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± He was surprised to hear that and was curious to know more. ¡°Well, because Mr. Big Shot over here¡±¡ªshe leaned in and bumped her shoulder against his, another intrusion he didn¡¯t feel too comfortable with¡ª¡°decided he would destroy every single piece of my golem in the last match I competed in.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart sank when he realized that their last match against one another was the last match Sabrina had been able to compete in. He knew exactly how that felt, and now he felt even worse that he had been the cause of that for someone he considered a friend. ¡°I was so sure I was going to take that match too. I¡¯d been training countless hours and just had this feeling like that match was going to be mine.¡± Sabrina scrunched her face playfully and widened her eyes for a moment before reverting back to her soft smile. ¡°But I¡¯m sure you have no idea what that¡¯s like, huh?¡± ¡°Oh, for sure. It¡¯s been nothing but rainbows and unicorns over here.¡± ¡°And community service, from what I hear.¡± Pepper turned the statement around. ¡°Well, yeah, I mean, the unicorns have to have a nice pasture to graze in, and every day I got to appreciate the all the rays of the rainbows.¡± He leaned in and acted like he was whispering a secret. ¡°There¡¯s so many colors.¡± Sabrina started to laugh, but the two were caught off guard when Pepper¡¯s ears burned with the voice of none other than his girlfriend. ¡°What¡¯s so funny? Did I miss out on something?¡± Andrea said. Sabrina cleared her throat and looked embarrassed that Andrea had found them having such a lighthearted moment. ¡°We were just talking about unicorns.¡± Pepper nervously blurted out, ¡°And rainbows. Don¡¯t forget those¡­ colorful¡­ rainbows.¡± Andrea pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek. ¡°Uhh huhh.¡± She shifted her weight. ¡°Well, wouldn¡¯t have guessed that.¡± She focused her attention directly on Sabrina. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯ve met. I¡¯m Pepper¡¯s girlfriend, Andrea.¡± To his surprise, Andrea extended her hand. Sabrina accepted the gesture, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that his friend didn¡¯t back down at the intensity Andrea was giving off. ¡°Sabrina. Pepper and I have been friends for a few years now. We¡¯ve even competed here against one another.¡± ¡°So, are you competing here today, then?¡± Andrea asked. ¡°Uhh, no. Pepper went a little too hard on me last time.¡± Pepper pressed his lips together and wished he could have been teleported far away from the two lionesses. He sensed the heated anger start to seep out of Andrea, and she turned and glared at him. He stumbled over his words. ¡°What she means is¡­ that in our last match, I had Mala destroy her power core. A really expensive power core, that is, and it was an unnecessary move and one that I shouldn¡¯t have done.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Andrea replied with a narrowed gaze. She then smiled, and Pepper could see it was completely fake. She quickly turned back towards Sabrina. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nice to see you come out and support everyone.¡± Pepper could sense the critical levels the nuclear reactor was at, and he felt an explosion was about to happen at any second. He was afraid to do or say anything, thinking anything he tried would cause a catastrophic reaction. Thankfully it was Wendy who saved everyone with her intervention. ¡°Hey, Sabrina, I failed my safety inspection.¡± They all looked at Wendy. Her eyes were filled with tears on the verge of spilling over. ¡°You need some help?¡± Sabrina asked. Wendy couldn¡¯t even get another sentence out but simply nodded. Sabrina turned back to them. ¡°Okay, gotta go. It was nice to meet you, Andrea. Good luck, Pepper.¡± She wrapped her arm around Wendy and guided her towards the staging area, reassuring her everything would be okay. Andrea turned towards Pepper, and he immediately realized that his toughest match was now standing before him. He pressed his lips together and let out a long exhale. He realized clear as day that no amount of fresh French fries were going to make his situation any better. Chapter 52 - Round One ¡°Pepper Walker to the coordinator¡¯s booth, please. Pepper Walker¡­ come to the coordinator¡¯s booth, please. Thank you.¡± Click. The public address announcement was the saving chirp he needed, and he chuckled while gently wrapping his arm around Andrea¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Hey, babe, since you¡¯re here, wanna come with me to the¡ª¡± She shrugged his arm off aggressively and gave him a quick glare of smug judgment, but she at least stayed beside him. The remainder of the walk didn¡¯t seem to ease the tension, but Pepper did his best to reassure her there was nothing between him and Sabrina. ¡°I promise, Andrea, there is nothing between her and me. She was just giving me a hard time for not coming to any of the club matches since Tamin beat me. That¡¯s it.¡± Andrea rolled her eyes and sighed, giving him a cold shoulder and looking away. Pepper finally huffed and ended his attempts at trying to prove his innocence. They stood in line for a few minutes to speak with the coordinators, and he noticed that his name was already in the second tier. That¡¯s odd, he thought. He knew he had battled Matty in the past, and he was a decent competitor within the club circuit. The specifics of when exactly their last match had been still evaded him. ¡°Hey, you guys called for me. I¡¯m Pepper Walker.¡± A middle-aged woman who looked like she could have been his aunt was standing near the desk. Her strawberry blond hair was tied up in a ponytail. She looked up at the board to remind herself what they needed to speak about. ¡°Oh yes, Pepper. Well, unfortunately, I am sorry to tell you, but Mr. Flint has withdrawn from this club match. Due to him passing the safety inspection and the bracket already being drafted, we are enacting KBVS Club Match Rule 4, Subsection 13. Which, as a reminder, means that Mr. Flint is suspended for the next four months of club matches and you are automatically placed into the second tier of competition. So, congratulations and sorry all at the same time.¡± ¡°Oh, wow,¡± Pepper replied. Interesting. I can¡¯t remember the last time someone purposefully withdrew like that, he thought in the slight pause. ¡°Well, thanks for the update and I guess I¡¯ll just wait to see who joins me in round two.¡± ¡°Sure thing. Thanks, Pepper.¡± The two drifted away from the desk, and he saw Andrea looking at him and analyzing his demeanor. ¡°I¡¯ve seen that face before. You need to go investigate and get to the bottom of this¡±¡ªshe pointed to the board¡ª¡°thing, situation, stuff.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°You already know me that well, huh?¡± She furrowed her brow. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m¡­ protective of my boyfriend and notice when something is off with him.¡± He smiled and was happy to see that she soon cracked under the pressure and smiled back at him. A quick glance down the staging area and he was sure he saw Matty lingering around his holding cage. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m gonna go and see what¡¯s going on. I¡¯ll come find you in the stands and we can at least watch the first round together.¡± Pepper took a step but paused when he was caught off guard. ¡°No, you won¡¯t.¡± He froze in midstride and slowly turned around. It looked like he was a Halloween decoration. ¡°I won¡¯t?¡± he questioned. She rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re going to go talk to Matty, then you¡¯re going to get all wrapped up and start mentally getting into your¡­ zone and all. I won¡¯t see you until the very end of this thing.¡± She paused and sighed but continued with an affectionate smile. ¡°Go do your thing. I¡¯ll be cheering you on and will see you after you¡¯ve won.¡± She blew him a kiss, then turned and walked off without hesitation. Pepper made his way down into the staging area. His suspicion of seeing Matty was soon confirmed when he saw the gladiator packing up his things. Pepper had almost made it to him when he heard Reggie yell from down the corridor, ¡°That doesn¡¯t count as a win, Soulless!¡± Pepper shook his head and huffed but then saw that Matty realized he was coming to speak with him. Thankfully Matty stopped what he was doing and stuck his fist out to greet him. Pepper returned the gesture and asked, ¡°Matty, what gives, man?¡± ¡°Look, Pepper, no offense, man¡­ but¡­ I just can¡¯t handle having you destroy my Arctic Mauler like you did Sabrina¡¯s golem. I know we¡¯re all taking a risk by putting everything we have into these golems, but man, I would hate to be out so much money once you make him crumble into a pile of pieces and all.¡± Pepper could see the green eyes of his competitor were filled with frustration and sadness. In that moment he didn¡¯t feel upset at all; rather he understood completely what Matty was dealing with. ¡°Matty, I¡¯m not upset, man. I get it¡­ but you never know, you could have even taken me out. We¡¯re all just one match away from being defeated.¡± Matty laughed and reached up and adjusted his black baseball hat before crossing his arms. ¡°Pepper, who are we kidding, man? I¡¯m decent, but in all reality, you should already be in the Regional League. This club match is totally yours. If I had been on the other side of the bracket and made it to the finals, then sure, no holds barred, let¡¯s get it on. But¡­ that sure didn¡¯t happen, and the last thing I want is to be taken out in the first round.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°You think I can take this thing?¡± Pepper asked, his eyebrow arching, a clear sign of his curiosity regarding the thoughts of his fellow club member. Matty lowered his head and lifted his hands in dramatic fashion. He lowered them and looked at Pepper. ¡°Dude, Tamin is in the Regional League, Sabrina isn¡¯t competing, you are coming off a rebuild, and if my memory serves me right, you won a gravity rune last tournament. So who knows what you have up your sleeve.¡± Matty looked him square in the eyes, and Pepper saw what appeared to be a genuine respect and appreciation. ¡°Thanks, Matty. That means a lot.¡± Matty huffed and spat. ¡°Beside, Pepper, you¡¯re one of the few gladiators in KBVS that trains in martial arts. Most of us are out here winging it and just doing whatever punch combos we remember from Mortal Kombat or something.¡± He shrugged and looked at his golem standing in the cage. ¡°Well¡­ I should probably finish packing this thing up. I would say good luck, but I know you don¡¯t need it. So¡­ go crush it, man. Save me a spot in the regionals when you get there.¡± Pepper smiled back at him. ¡°Will do. Thanks, Matty.¡± *** Andrea was right. Pepper spent the entire first round sitting in the staging area. Music was playing over some speakers affixed to the ceiling. He kept his eyes closed most of the time and did his best to keep his mind clear of any distracting thoughts. He worked to meticulously picture himself standing victorious in the arena. The loud cheers of the crowd were the hardest thing to block out. Bellowing cries of victory or sadness sounded while gladiators and volunteers shuffled in and out of the area. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but overhear the updates of the brackets as people passed by. Sabrina had been able to help Wendy recalibrate her power core and runes, but in the end it didn¡¯t really help. She was obliterated by Freddy in no time. Freddy practically made it a point to inform everyone as he loudly proclaimed his victory upon return to the staging area. Pepper found it more comical than distracting and made sure to give Freddy a fist bump to congratulate him. Jeremy and Buck¡¯s match wound up being more electrifying than Pepper had thought it would be. From what he gathered, it wasn¡¯t necessarily the skill of the gladiators, but rather the fact that neither one wanted to quit. Apparently at one point Buck¡¯s golem had an arm dangling off and started to use the partially severed limb as a nunchuck. The crowd loved it, but Pepper still tuned in to the mumblings of the other gladiators. The conclusion was that Freddy would make easy work of Jeremy in the second round, all due to the unlikely possibility that Jeremy would not be able to make the necessary repairs to his golem in time. Bryan got pummeled by Reggie, and his friend left his competitor with nothing but a pile of shattered clay. Pepper certainly noticed that his friend now had far more confidence than he had last time he¡¯d been at a KBVS match. He soon realized that Reggie could become a far greater opponent than he had originally anticipated. But he was happy for him. Reggie and Freddy were both celebrating their decisive first-round victories, and Pepper chose to take a break from his meditation to join them. Sasha and Clint¡¯s matchup was one that spewed over into the staging area. It was a rare event but one that did occur from time to time. The other gladiators took it as Clint being embarrassed that he was beaten by a girl. They separated the two and Clint quickly found himself the black sheep of the flock. At least, until he came to his senses and apologized for his behavior or chose to move on to another club or go the unsanctioned route. ¡°Man, I tell you what, Soulless. I knew he was gonna try to bring that large right hook against me. I was just waiting, waiting, waiting, and then pop-pop, nighty night. You feel me?¡± Reggie said, taking a sip from his soda can. Pepper chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I had a match like that about a year back. A guy by the name of Dave. He tried to come in acting all big and tough. He was a hulk of a man, and he fashioned his golem in the same way. The problem with being top heavy, means you fall heavy.¡± ¡°Gave him a little pop-pop too, huh?¡± ¡°Not really a pop, but more of an energy strike with a sweeping leg kick that shattered his legs.¡± ¡°Soulless at it again.¡± Reggie extended his hand and planted it on Pepper¡¯s shoulder. A firm nudge before his friend let go. ¡°Come to think about it, I haven¡¯t seen him since that match.¡± Pepper ended with a laugh, tilting his head with a smug expression. ¡°The Golem League ain¡¯t for the weak, am I right?¡± Reggie nodded and pointed over to Freddy. ¡°That¡¯s what I told lil cousin over there. He did the military route like me. He kinda struggled with the whole authority thing, but he at least learned the discipline side of it. Kid got some serious work ethic when he pulls his head out his backside and focuses on something.¡± ¡°He seems to be a natural at competing,¡± Pepper said. ¡°Shoot¡­ he just loves a challenge. When I started competing, I knew he would totally dig this stuff. Brought him out here for a fresh start, kinda the same way I did. So far it¡¯s been good for him. Got himself a girl and everything. Life¡¯s good, you know.¡± Reggie paused and took a sip of his drink. He couldn¡¯t hide the devious smile that was growing on his face. ¡°Speaking of which, I saw you got a little something-something following you around now.¡± By the end of his statement, his smile was beaming, and he flared his eyebrows at Pepper. Pepper could feel his cheeks flush slightly. He didn¡¯t really know why; he wasn¡¯t embarrassed to be dating Andrea. But in that moment with Reggie, he felt as if he was unworthy to be dating someone who he thought could do far better than him. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know if I had a say in the matter. One moment we¡¯re standing there with each other. Next thing you know she¡¯s telling me I¡¯m taking her to prom and we¡¯re a thing.¡± Pepper tilted his head and thought back on how that had all gone down. Reggie started to laugh. ¡°Dang, Soulless, she locked you down quick. Haha! You in it now. She gonna kill you if you ever try to leave.¡± He started to put his hand down as if trying to remember a height. ¡°Reminds me of this tiny Latina I was dating back in the military.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but laugh when he realized the woman¡¯s height must have been barely half of Reggie¡¯s. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°A restraining order is what happened,¡± Reggie said with bulging eyes. ¡°I could¡¯ve sworn she was gonna stab me in my sleep.¡± He looked at Pepper and pointed his finger at him. ¡°A word of warning¡ªnever tell them their mom¡¯s cooking is better than theirs.¡± Pepper chuckled but felt kind of bad. ¡°Well, her mom is gone, so¡­¡± ¡°Well, good, then you have nothing to worry about! Her thing is the best crap you¡¯ve ever ate and don¡¯t you ever tell her any different,¡± Reggie finished with a parental nod. ¡°Pepper and DJ¡­ We¡¯re starting the second round. Get your golems powered up and head to your starting positions!¡± Pepper shook his head and realized the time spent celebrating with Reggie and Freddy had caused the rest of the tournament to fly by. The two looked at each other, and Reggie gave him a pat on the back. ¡°Get out there, Soulless. I can¡¯t give you a whoopin¡¯ unless you make it to the final round. So go get it and come back wit¡¯ it!¡± Chapter 53 - Round Two ¡°Alrighty, everyone! I hope you loved that first round, because I know I sure did. To start off this second-round action, we have none other than Pepper. Now, we just want to take a moment to remind everyone that Pepper was moved on to the second round due to a forfeit from his competitor as is outlined in our KBVS rules for tournaments. So, now that we reminded everyone in case they were wondering, let¡¯s bring out his opponent, DJ!¡± The roar of the crowd greeted Pepper while the concrete walls amplified the acoustics. It was not as intense as the last match he¡¯d been in, but the small vibrations his body absorbed reminded him of how much he missed the arena. The nervous anxiety blended with the thrill and excitement, all culminating in one explosive moment of time when one had to prove their worth in order to move on. ¡°Let¡¯s do this, Mala,¡± he said, looking down at his golem, which was powered up and ready to go. Pepper slowly turned to see DJ on the opposite side of the arena. His opponent¡¯s golem was a poorly shaped figure with a paint job that looked as if it had been done by a child with craft paint. Pepper didn¡¯t really know what exactly DJ was going for, but his best guess was that it was supposed to look like some kind of space superhero. Pepper huffed when he took in his opponent. ¡°Whatever that is¡­ it¡¯s going to be trash by the time we¡¯re done. Sorry, DJ¡­ but I¡¯ve worked too hard and come too far to not win this thing.¡± The countdown timer wound down and the starting bell rang out. Pepper watched as DJ¡¯s red superhero golem came charging forward. His opponent looked like it had every ounce of energy devoted to the hasty movement. Rookie¡­ Pepper thought to himself while he waited. His confidence was at an all-time high. He was sure his Dark Matter Hellion Light power core was the best core out of everyone else¡¯s in the competition. The signal response time and energy generation response time were the best he had ever experienced since starting out on this journey. The red superhero were now mere feet away from Mala. Pepper initiated a force blast and watched as his opponent skidded backwards across the ground. Its feet left two deep lines in the arena sand. Pepper then commanded Mala to sidestep to the left, a taunt to his opponent showing that he did not fear whatever skill or tactics DJ had planned for him. The red superhero regained its composure and started to counter Mala¡¯s movement. Both golems now squared off like boxers in the ring. A quick step forward and the superhero attempted to launch a snapping front kick onto Mala¡¯s chest. Pepper went to counter his opponent and was amazed by how fast the power core responded to his command. Mala raised its arm and brought an infused energy strike straight towards the kick. The golem¡¯s fist landed perfectly on his opponent¡¯s foot. Pepper¡¯s eyes grew wide with excitement as he saw chips of clay fly off the red superhero. The force of the magically enhanced strike had surged through its entire leg. DJ immediately commanded his golem to start backpedaling, but Pepper knew he, along with everyone else, had seen it. The golem had a lean on the injured side, a clear structural issue that DJ would now have to overcome. The crowd gasped and then immediately cheered. Pepper didn¡¯t wait to see what DJ would try to do next. He sent Mala rushing forward and feinted a punch on his left side. The ruse worked, and DJ commanded his golem to prepare to block the impending blow. Pepper smiled when he saw the superhero¡¯s arm begin to lift upwards in a block. Its entire right side was exposed, and he immediately commanded Mala to transition into a swift sweeping right kick. The power core supplied the energy with ease, and Mala responded as if it was truly alive. Its kick crashed down onto the injured limb of its opponent. The impact made a loud thunderclap, and chunks of hardened clay flesh rained down on the sand. DJ¡¯s red superhero extended its left arm to brace itself against the ground. But it was over. Everyone knew it was over, and Pepper smiled as Mala stood over his opponent. He waited for the rune spell cool-down period to be over. The thirty-second wait seemed like an eternity. DJ tried to conjure another spell, a trick in his back pocket. But Pepper was ready for it. He blocked DJ¡¯s last-ditch effort and raised Mala¡¯s right hand into the air. The command was sent for another energy strike, and Pepper directed the spell into Mala¡¯s hand. The punch surged downward, and in one fluid motion it split the red superhero¡¯s skull in half, finally coming to a stop in its chest. The victory horn blared out, and the crowd greeted Pepper with glorious applause and roaring cheers. He scanned the faces until his eyes locked onto Andrea. She was smiling from ear to ear and yelling Pepper¡¯s name. He smiled and waved back at her, but then realized who was standing alongside her. He was amazed to see Tami Miller there, and she had brought Jackson as well. If his memory served him right, this was the first time she had ever come to a KBVS match. Standing next to her was his mom, his dad, and Meg, who was trying her best to prop Amprage up in her arms so the familiar could see. That sight alone caused him to chuckle. But the list continued, and Pepper didn¡¯t know how to accept the sensation he now felt inside. Rhino was there, standing alongside Principal Stephens and Vice Principal Harvey. Behind them was his neighbor, Ryan, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smile, since he towered over everyone and could easily see the action without blocking the others¡¯ view. Ryan was sporting a Big D Energy shirt and was actively trying to pawn off free cans to those in the stands. At the front of the group stood KT and Kyle, and his heart warmed to see them holding handmade signs that said ¡°You got this, Pepper!¡± His cheering section was the loudest of the entire audience, and he waved at them in appreciation for their support.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. A slight movement at the far end of the grandstand, though, caught his eye. He quickly focused on it and saw Reggie and Freddy, who had been standing on the far side. They raised their fists in congratulatory salutes as well, and he gave them a wave of thanks before turning to leave. ¡°Two more, Pepper¡­ and then we¡¯ve done it,¡± he muttered to himself as he directed Mala back to the staging area. *** The mental distractions that anxiety could bring were one thing. But Pepper now had to deal with blocking out the positive emotions of all his friends and loved ones being there cheering him on. He felt bad for not going out to speak to them, but even that sensation was one he was working hard to suppress. The only thing he put at the forefront of his mind was staying calm and collected¡ªto erase anything and everything that could take him away from being present within the moment. The rest of round two went in epic fashion. Freddy wiped the floor with Jeremy, but that was expected. Reggie clobbered Jake and sent him home with a pile of shattered pieces. The fact that Reggie went two for two in such a similar fashion left Pepper curious about what exactly his friend¡¯s build was. Pepper was thankful that the bracket coordinators selected Reggie and Freddy to face off first, before he had to meet Terry in the semifinal round. Terry didn¡¯t feel like much of a threat either. Sasha had done a number on him, and though he wound up winning, his golem suffered far greater damage than a gladiator would wish, especially having to go into the semifinals. Pepper looked down through the staging area and homed in on his upcoming opponent. His eyes locked onto Terry, who was relentlessly moving all around his golem. Pepper knew all too well what it was like to apply epoxy and other patches to your golem right before a match. It was clear to him that Terry was doing everything he could to be ready for their match. With that, Pepper turned his attention to the holoscreen suspended above the staging area. The camera feed was not that great, and he missed the quality of the Golem League. But it was good enough to at least give him a sense of what exactly Reggie was using. The KBVS announcer came over the public address system, and Pepper found himself a couple of abandoned bales of soft hay off to the side. There was a faint smell of ranch life when he plopped down onto them. Normally that would have bothered him, but a few months working at the Equine Sanctuary had changed all that. He kicked his feet up and nestled into his newly minted makeshift recliner. Pepper watched as Freddy and Reggie took up their positions within the gladiators¡¯ area. Both were sending hand gestures to each other that Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at. His interpretations of them were, ¡°You ain¡¯t gonna make it, cuz¡± and ¡°I¡¯m gonna make you go night-night.¡± The whole scene amplified the anticipation of the match to even greater levels. Freddy had built a golem that looked more like a sleeping sumo bear than anything else. The overly large round figure had some oddly shaped arms. Its giant bulging belly left Pepper thinking it could easily act as a natural shield. The golem was odd and comical, but Pepper had seen a lot of crazy golem designs over the years. The rodeo clowns were some of the worst¡­ like a weird creepy display of a dark and sinister circus act. He shivered and shook his head to let go of the memory and tuned back in to see Reggie¡¯s golem finally come into view. Pepper immediately thought of Astro Ape in the Golem League Championship match against Panda Cakes. Only Reggie had a much, much, much smaller version of that. The black gorilla came into view; it had an unusual sway as it went. It took Pepper a few seconds of intently watching the screen before he realized what it was. Reggie¡¯s gorilla¡¯s hands were two giant metal pounders, for lack of a better term. Each metal cylinder had a square, flat face that looked similar to the tampers Pepper had used in the Equine Sanctuary. Two full metal solid fists or¡­ whatever those things are. No wonder Reggie has been crushing golems to a pulp! Pepper thought. His eyes remained fixed on the screen as the horn sounded and the two family members¡¯ golems clashed in the arena. Freddy¡¯s sumo bear wobbled forward, and the entire oddly fashioned strategy was almost comical to Pepper. Reggie¡¯s gorilla started to rain down powerful punches, but to Pepper¡¯s amazement, Freddy¡¯s bear took them all in its stride. The sumo bear¡¯s design didn¡¯t at all seem to be affected by the strong blasts, at least to the naked eye. The golem took the powerful metal punches and flew backwards feet at a time, sometimes even rolling end over end. Once it came to a stop, the golem would somehow wiggle its way onto its feet and start wobbling back towards the gorilla. That was when Pepper shifted his attention towards Reggie. His friend was bobbing and weaving from side to side, and that was when Pepper realized he was foreshadowing his golem¡¯s moves. He focused more and saw that there was a tenth of a second¡¯s delay between what Reggie was physically motioning and what the gorilla was performing. It has to be the power core and metal hands. Reggie has so much weight on the two pounders that his power core is struggling. Heck, it could even be on the verge of failing. The energy the golem needs to simply operate its arms must be the reason it¡¯s so sluggish. It was that thought that now made Pepper question if Reggie had any other weaponized runes he was planning to use during the match. At the same time, Pepper didn¡¯t know how much that would matter. He had watched Reggie long enough to see that he could read every move he was trying to make before the golem performed it. Ohh, I hope you win, Reggie¡­ because I fully plan on exploiting this. Pepper watched as Freddy¡¯s bear stopped charging full steam ahead towards the gorilla. It recovered itself on the far edge of the arena and then wobbled slightly as if it was lining up to target its opponent. The sumo bear glowed with orange light and then shot a beam of energy directly towards the gorilla. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened as he realized that Freddy was wanting to be punched. He now thought Freddy was utilizing an energy absorption rune, the strategy being that the strong blows from Reggie¡¯s gorilla were being used to help power up the attack. Reggie¡¯s gorilla got one hand up in time to block while the second hand slowly followed. A portion of the energy beam clipped the golem¡¯s shoulder, but the majority of the attack was met by the metal pounders. The beam of energy continued to surge forward for an extended period of time, far longer than Pepper was used to seeing in a KBVS Club match. His analysis left him convinced that Freddy had absorbed as much energy as his system could handle before releasing the attack. Pepper looked down at the ground and started to consider that option¡ªthe possibility of having energy storage rather than energy generation. His mind now raced over what he could recall of the rule book specifications. Such an equipment item, like a battery, wouldn¡¯t go against a rune slot. Rather, Pepper could create a tether device that could simply siphon energy from the power core. Though Pepper wanted to explore the idea further, he did his best to make a mental note and returned his attention to the action. He tuned back in just in time to see Reggie¡¯s gorilla smash the sumo bear and corner it into the side wall of the arena. The metal pounders hammered down on the golem repeatedly. It was only a few more seconds of suffering before its power core flickered out and powered down. The victory horn sounded, and Reggie hoisted his arms up in celebration. The camera zoomed in on Reggie, and he gazed into the lens and spoke directly to Pepper. ¡°You¡¯re mine, Soulless!¡± Chapter 54 - Bring It On ¡°Wow, was that an epic semifinal round or what?¡± the announcer started before Pepper and Terry had even got into position. Pepper exited the holding area after Terry and looked over his competitor¡¯s golem while he walked behind him. He knew exactly what it was like to be in Terry¡¯s position and empathized with the predicament he was in. Wet streaks of epoxy were still running down multiple areas of the golem. Though the resin was custom made to be used during golem matches for such moments as these, Pepper could see it was still not fully set. The more he looked over his opponent¡¯s golem, the more areas he saw that he could exploit. He power walked forward until he was side by side with Terry. His competitor noticed him and gave him a quick glance. ¡°Hey, Pepper.¡± ¡°Terry.¡± The two nodded at each other. Even though the glance was but for a fleeting second, Pepper still noticed that Terry had no hope as he entered the arena. He could see that Terry was happy to have made it into a semifinal, but he couldn¡¯t deny the condition his golem was in. That was why the club matches were so hard for gladiators to break out of and make it to a Regional Invitation. ¡°You, uhh¡­ ready to face off?¡± Terry said in a slightly cracked voice. Despair was practically infused in every word he spoke. ¡°Look, Terry. I know we don¡¯t really know each other that well. In fact, I don¡¯t recall we¡¯ve ever faced one another in the arena. So I just want to say that I know exactly how hard it is to go back in there and compete when your golem isn¡¯t a hundred percent. But I also know that you¡¯re standing in my way of winning this thing and moving on to the regionals. So I just wanted to say I¡¯m sorry, and what happens in the arena is not personal.¡± A look of confusion came over Terry¡¯s face. ¡°What are you getting at, Pepper?¡± The two stopped, as they had made it to the final intersection where they were to separate and go to their respective ends of the arena. Pepper looked back at Terry and did his best to land his statement gently. ¡°Your golem won¡¯t even last thirty seconds.¡± They entered the arena, and Pepper already knew exactly how he was going to obtain his decisive victory. He spent the last few seconds quickly accessing his Ronin controller rune. Once he was inside the advanced settings, he immediately instructed the controller to deactivate the Dark Dwarf energy strike rune. Though the runes didn¡¯t need much energy when they remained connected to the controller rune, Pepper wanted to be sure that every ounce of power was dedicated to the two runes he needed to finish this match in record-breaking time. He closed out the settings and waited for the time to finish counting down for the final few seconds. By the time the horn blared out, Mala was running towards his opponent. Terry also commanded his golem to run forward and meet Mala head on. Pepper was happy when he saw Terry¡¯s first move, for it helped to cut the distance even faster. Pepper then faked an upper attack and waited for a split second before he commanded Mala down into a baseball slide. His golem skidded across the arena floor while his opponent remained only two feet away. The planning could only have been better if the two gladiators had coordinated the whole thing. Pepper waited for another split second and then activated his force blast rune. The close proximity to Terry¡¯s golem sent it flying high into the air. Things seemed to move in slow motion as Pepper watched his opponent slowly float upwards away from Mala. His battle tiger leapt aside, and he immediately activated his secret weapon. The gravity rune came to life, and Pepper watched as a dark yellow enchanted circular pattern appeared on the arena floor. His aim was perfect, and Terry¡¯s golem was now directly above the center of the circle. A sound like a tornado¡¯s vortex sprang to life. Terry¡¯s golem surged downwards as the gravitational rune activated. It slammed into the ground, and large chunks were flung out. The light of the power core was still illuminated, but barely, as Pepper waited for the next iteration of the gravitational rune to take effect. The five-second timer ticked down and the noise and effect repeated itself. This is taking too long. Let¡¯s finish this, Pepper thought and sent Mala into a giant leap. The battle tiger soared upwards at an angle that brought it into the gravitational pull. The third iteration of the rune¡¯s effect occurred right as Mala came down and reactivated another force blast. The magical attack coupled with the gravity distortion was the final death blow. A small eruption blasted out, and Pepper sent his opponent scattering in all directions in various-sized pieces. He looked over and saw Terry gazing back at him, a defeated look on his face, but he finished with a respectful nod of understanding. *** ¡°Oh, you think you slick, huh?¡± Reggie greeted him with a fist bump when he arrived back in the staging area. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Pepper playfully responded with a shrug. ¡°Boy, you and I both know all too well that you had that gravity rune in your back pocket. You use it in the semifinal round and act like you don¡¯t know,¡± Reggie said with a smug expression on his face, shoving Pepper on the shoulder. ¡°What can I say? I still need to have some surprises in store for you.¡± Reggie seemed to drop the playfulness and slowly moved in close to Pepper. Though Pepper considered him a friend, the approach made him a little uneasy, as it was outside his usual behavior. Reggie leaned in close and got onto eye level with Pepper. ¡°You my friend, right?¡± Pepper was a little taken back by the question, and it only made him even more confused as to Reggie¡¯s intentions. ¡°Yeah¡­ Why would you even ask that?¡± ¡°If you my friend, then you are going to give me everything you got out there. You hear me? You better not be holding no punches, trying to take it, nothing! The only people I want in my circle are the ones who stay real one hundred and ten percent of the time. You feel me?¡± Pepper smiled for a moment, but he quickly erased the smile and narrowed his gaze back at his friend. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll give you everything I got¡­ and then some. I¡¯m going to give you your golem back as nothing but a scrap pile.¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. ¡°Bet, Soulless¡­ bet!¡± *** ¡°All right, everyone! It¡¯s time to get off your feet and rattle these walls! For it is our final matchup of the day! On alpha side we have Pepper Walker! And on the bravo side we have Reggie Manning! Two gladiators enter, two golems fight, but only one¡ªwill¡ªbe¡ªcrowned¡ªthe champion! Let me hear you, Kalamazoo, for it¡¯s time to clash!¡± Pepper and Reggie stood in the arena and their gazes locked onto one another. Reggie was twisting his head and popping it loose. Pepper started to stretch his limbs and get ready for the amount of evasion he was going to need. He was glad he had watched Reggie in the last match with Freddy. His whole strategy now was to exploit Reggie¡¯s foreshadowing while doing his best not to get hit by the massive metal pounders. Pepper quickly double checked to ensure all three runes were active and ready to go, and once he was done, the match began. Reggie sent his gorilla forward, but Pepper kept Mala back. Pepper¡¯s gaze kept jumping between his command interface, Reggie, and the golems. He waited as patiently as he could for both his power core and the golems to be in the right position. But Reggie had already anticipated he would attempt to use his gravity rune. His gorilla now utilized the metal pounders to his advantage. Reggie sent his gorilla leaping forward and then swinging its arms to help propel itself further forward with greater speed. Pepper quickly hopped Mala around, doing his best to keep his tiger a safe distance away. His power core was ready to deliver the necessary energy for his rune to activate, but Reggie was able to move surprisingly fast at odd angles. Pepper was unable to get a clear shot and use the gravity rune to his advantage. The gorilla was slowly but methodically making its way closer and closer to him. Eventually he would have to face it, so why not now? A new, risky strategy popped into Pepper¡¯s head, and he welcomed it. Pepper realized there was a timing sequence to it all, just like a boxer times his punches. This time Pepper acted as if he was going to send Mala to a new location to avoid the conflict that awaited it. Instead, he held fast and watched as the gorilla launched itself towards him. Pepper immediately activated the gravity rune directly underneath Mala. The glowing yellow light appeared, and Pepper dashed a glance at Reggie. His friend¡¯s face was distorted with frustration as he realized his target was now the trap he had just fallen for. The gorilla landed just three feet away from the center. It continued forward, and Pepper read Reggie¡¯s movement of his shoulder. A large sweeping right hook started to roll out of the gorilla at the same time as the gravitational rune was about to activate its second wave of strength. Pepper then activated his force blast and launched Mala away out of reach of the attack. The strength of the force blast was enough to propel Mala out of the gravity rune¡¯s area of effect. Pepper then spun his golem around and quickly dashed the exterior of gravity runes area of effect. He had Mala behind the gorilla in the flash of an eye and then commanded his golem to leap into the gravitational circle. He could see that Reggie was struggling to get his gorilla to move and respond with any decent amount of power. The two metal pounders now acted like anchors to a large vessel out at sea. The gorilla¡¯s hands remained pinned to the arena floor for at least another five seconds. But that was all Pepper needed, for Mala reached the gorilla¡¯s back and he activated his force strike ability. Mala¡¯s right arm drew back and sent an energy-imbued hook directly into the gorilla¡¯s rib cage. Pepper could see out of the corner of his eye that Reggie was still flailing about to counter his move. Mala landed another succession of mighty blows with his fists. As his attack continued, Pepper watched his power core¡¯s energy gauge surge upwards. It was clear that the gravitational pull on the figures was intense, even at their small height. But the newly installed power core seemed to handle the load with ease. Every single reading left Pepper confident that the core was stable and not in danger of overheating. The gravitational rune ended, and Pepper saw the golems spring back up, their controls reacting to the release of the intensity. He immediately sent Mala dashing backward, gaining some distance from his opponent. It was no surprise when Reggie turned his gorilla around and went after him in pursuit. This stage of Pepper¡¯s strategy was complete, and he was about to initiate the next setup. But first he had to make it appear that Mala was going to try to evade the corner rather than remain in it. Mala landed and Pepper sent him running in an arc towards an escape path. The tiger only made it a few feet before the gorilla came surging towards it. He spun Mala around and started a backwards bicycle kick. Mala¡¯s kick landed directly on the gorilla¡¯s upper right shoulder. Reggie¡¯s golem faceplanted onto the arena floor, a cloud of dust lofting up upon impact. The surprise attack caught everyone off guard, and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but see the crowd leap out of their seats. The roar reverberated off the walls, but he quickly focused back on the battle. He commanded Mala back up to its feet, and his golem reacted without any sense of delay in the controls. His peripheral vision informed him Reggie was making aggressive jerking motions, a sign he was fighting the controls. Pepper immediately took advantage and commanded Mala to perform a rapid succession of kicks, each one landing aggressive body blows to the rib cage of the gorilla. The entire time, he was waiting for his rune cool-down period to expire. His eyes remained glued on the controls, ready for the small green indicator light to appear, and when it did, he activated the force blast. Reggie¡¯s golem was shoved off to the side and began to roll. The gorilla was only stopped by the wall of the arena. Pepper rushed Mala forward and continued his volley of kicks to the gorilla with great success. His next rune indicator turned green, and he activated his force strike and imbued a final kick. A sound like two large boulders being smashed together rang out, and Pepper could see a few clay particles pelt into the sand. Mala was now blocking Pepper¡¯s direct view, and he quickly shifted him aside for a second. Reggie¡¯s gorilla was struggling to get back to its feet but was able to throw a few mighty swings. Pepper was just able to read the gorilla¡¯s movement and duck Mala out of the way. He was thankful for the new power core, because he knew there was no way he would have been able to evade the blows with his old build. Mala quickly shifted to its right side and sent a volley of punches onto the gorilla¡¯s upper torso. Each one landed with a thunderous crack, and Pepper continued to pummel his opponent until his eyes saw¡­ victory. Pepper was on the verge of launching another round of powerful blows followed by another round of the gravitational rune. But the distinct sight of smoke stopped him. He started to slowly walk Mala backwards and create some distance between the two golems. He dashed a look over to Reggie. His friend had a frustrated look on his face, and Pepper could see he was already going through the deactivation sequence on his command interface. Oh my god¡­ oh my god¡­ I won! He looked back to the golems to see that the light of the gorilla¡¯s power core had gone out. Smoke now billowed out of the cracks and gaps in the golem, a distinct sign that Reggie¡¯s power core had failed. The victory horn bellowed out over the arena, and Pepper fell onto his knees in shock. His hands were trembling, and he could barely perform the power-down sequence. He mentally strained but finally shut down his controls and removed them from his hands and wrists. The edges of his vision began to blur, and everything sounded like he was trapped in a tunnel. He could barely make out anything that was being said, for everything was an echoing sound of cheering and roaring applause. Pepper felt trapped within the moment and didn¡¯t know what to do, but two hands latched onto him and helped pull him back into the moment. He turned his gaze to the gladiator platform entrance and saw Freddy was there to congratulate him. ¡°Hell yeah, Tip! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about right there, boy!¡± A few seconds later, Reggie appeared. ¡°Get over here, Soulless! Ain¡¯t no way I am not going to let you not celebrate this victory!¡± The two cousins hoisted Pepper up and carried him on their shoulders, their free arms raised in celebration. They carried him around the arena while the crowd celebrated his victory. ¡°There you have it, folks! Pepper Walker is your KBVS champion! Congratulations, Pepper!¡± Chapter 55 - The Road Ahead [:::] Gladiator! This is your PNW Regional Invitation! [:::] [:::] Gladiator! This is your Rockies Regional Invitation! [:::] [:::] Gladiator! This is your SEC Regional Invitation! [:::] Pepper woke up to a list of emails chiming in on his holodex. He rolled over in bed and smiled when he saw their subject titles. He had not realized that he would receive an invitation to each of the American Regional Leagues. That was a minor detail that many of the upper gladiators had failed to mention or commonly talk about. The week after the KBVS Championship was one filled with a mixture of emotions. KT insisted that Rocket Burger throw him a party. Rhino insisted they do a Golem League gladiator signing event. Which turned into them gathering in the store for a few minutes and then quickly transitioned into them running through the warehouse. All to help try to capture Captain Puddlesworth once he started stabbing everyone with his spear. There were the local reporters who all wanted interviews. A few regional TV stations that wanted to come shove their camera in his face. But it was more the private messages Pepper started to receive on Golem Chat that really bugged him. He was getting everything from other club gladiators wanting tips and tricks to girls he had never even heard of before wanting to video chat with him. His life was a mess of buzzing activity. All the noise started to get to him to the point where he now struggled to sleep at night. The Regional League sure was a huge step upwards and he wasn¡¯t even officially accepted yet. He just had an invitation to compete, and that was already overwhelming, to say the least. Pepper finally got out of bed. He put on a fresh set of clothes and staggered into the kitchen. He smiled and gave his dad a nod upon his entrance. ¡°Well, good morning, champ,¡± his dad said and took a sip of coffee. Pepper stopped and looked at the clock and then back at his dad. ¡°Are you not working today?¡± ¡°I switched shifts to help Cecilia out. She wanted to do some kind of marathon event tomorrow and needed extra rest tonight. It¡¯s no big deal to me.¡± ¡°Gotcha,¡± Pepper said and went looking for a mug of his own. ¡°What¡¯s on your agenda for the day?¡± his dad asked.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Ryan wants me to do a photoshoot or something about marketing for Big Duck Energy,¡± Pepper informed him while pouring himself some of the bean juice. ¡°I dunno, some of Ryan¡¯s ideas just leave me shaking my head. He messaged me last night and asked me what I thought about a flavor idea for banana. Said he wanted to name it Bulging Banana.¡± Trent practically choked on his coffee. After he¡¯d finished coughing, he finally recovered enough to ask, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°I told Ryan that I would not be associated with anything that was banana flavored or any type of bulging in any capacity.¡± Pepper took a seat at the table across from his dad and started to sip away on the dark roast. ¡°How did he take that?¡± Pepper arched an eyebrow and chuckled. ¡°Uh, let¡¯s just say he seemed a little deflat¡ª¡± His dad lifted his hand. ¡°I get it, I get it.¡± Pepper looked down into the black abyss of his mug. He tapped the side of the warm ceramic and then looked up at his dad. ¡°You mind if I borrow the truck?¡± His dad grinned. ¡°Gonna go get away with Andrea?¡± Pepper shook his head. ¡°No, but¡­ there is something I have to do. I won¡¯t be gone long.¡± His dad grinned and gave him a nod. ¡°Go for it, bud. Just be back in time for me to get to work, and make sure you replace the gas you use.¡± ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± He finished his coffee and then snagged the keys off their hook. The small pickup truck rumbled to life and Pepper slowly cruised down the street. He rolled the windows down and let the sweet scent of pine trees greet him. The drive only took a few minutes and he glided into the entrance and around the serpentine driveway. He navigated his way down the rows and worked to get his bearings. The small American flag cued him in, and he realized he had arrived. Pepper closed the door of the truck and took a deep breath. The grass was damp and cool as he slowly walked through the field. He came to a stop but took a second to take a deep breath. The dark lettering on the tombstones greeted him coldly. ¡°Travis Walker. Beloved son. Guardian of humanity, taken too soon.¡± He shifted his eyes over to his sister¡¯s. ¡°Ava Walker. A beautiful soul on earth, a shining star in the heavens.¡± ¡°Hey, guys¡­¡± Pepper started but quickly stopped as he felt his throat tighten. His eyes began to water uncontrollably, and he looked up at the sky to try to compose himself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I haven¡¯t visited in a while. Life has been¡­ busy. But it should never be too busy for family, now that I think about it.¡± He lowered his head back down and slowly gazed at every notch in the lettering. He chuckled but shed a tear at the same time. ¡°Can you believe that I graduated high school? Ha! Mr. Dean signed off on my final assignment and everything. Travis, I remember you warning me not to ask him to be my evaluator, but¡­ of course, I didn¡¯t listen. But hey, passing is passing, right?¡± Pepper turned aside and gazed out at the field filled with tombstones. A fresh round of tears flowed down his cheeks. He brushed them away and turned back. ¡°I, uhh, I at least wanted to come and tell you guys. I made it. I freaking made it.¡± He struggled to finish his thoughts but knew this was what he needed to do. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. ¡°Guys, I¡¯m not going to give up on this dream. So I¡¯m gonna be leaving for a while. I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be back, but what I do know is I¡¯m going to give it everything I¡¯ve got.¡± Pepper nodded and started to turn and walk away. He took his first step but stopped and turned back around. ¡°I love you guys.¡± The Cast Ryan DeBruyn When it comes to Canada, there is Ryan Reynolds and Ryan DeBruyn. And, as we all know, Ryan Reynolds never did much with his life. Whereas Ryan DeBruyn, well that tall giant loveable man decided to create epic books. I was blessed to get to spend 2023 DragonCon alongside this loveable man and forever miss the time we shared together. Ryan has an absolute heart of gold, and this world would not be the same without him. Ryan has 10 books under his belt, spread across the series, System Misinterpret, Ether Collapse, Shooter, and Ether Flows. KT Hanna For being one of the shortest authors in LitRPG, this tiny pint size author carries one of the biggest hearts, and positive / supportive attitudes of all. I have also rated her as the best hugger in all LitRPG. Seriously, those hugs are legendary. I was blessed to meet KT at DragonCon in 2023. This vibrant soul of hers wrapped me up in her arms and welcomed me with unwavering support. During the convention there was a particular moment where I needed help, I needed support. She saw the look in my eyes and knew. Without being asked she immediately took action to ensure I was okay, and knew she would be there for me. It was that motherly / big sister attitude that made me realize she was the perfect addition for her role in Golem Master. But, not only that, she has some amazing books out there for all us to enjoy. Be sure to check out her Library System Reset: Overdue, Somnia Online, Town Under, Rise, The Domino Project, The System Apocalypse: Australia. Charles Dean Charles and I were also at DragonCon 2023 together. Yet, we only bumped shoulders and rarely got a chance to really sit down and know one another. It wasn¡¯t until early 2024 when I received a random message from him that said, ¡°You¡¯re an awesome writer, and I just want you to know some of our mutual friends really enjoy your work.¡± From there our friendship has grown and we¡¯ve spent time sending messages back and forth with one another. I knew I wanted to have some scenes where Pepper was in school but had interactions with a teacher who was just down to earth and that everyone could love. After our video messages back and forth, I felt Charles was the best fit for that character. But wouldn¡¯t you know this dude also slings words onto paper and does a great job doing it!? I recently listened to his Apocalypse: Regression and man was it great. He also has the follow series for you to checkout. Death¡¯s Favorite Warlock, War Aeternus, The Upgrade Apocalypse, The Bathrobe Knight, The Heroic Villain, Richey Stephens and Joel Harvey Though their photos make them look like a Eurpean EDM DJ¡¯s, these two sexy studs like to share their passion for LitRPG to the masses. You may have seen them dropping in a few suggestions in the multiple facebook or discord groups. But, also loved the genre so much they created their own podcast. I have been blessed to spend DragonCon 2023 with them, but also GuildifiCon 23-24, and have been on their podcast twice now. What better way to say thank you to them, than by giving them two great characters within Peppers world. JD Glasscock Who doesn¡¯t love more Glasscock in their life? Cause I know I sure do. I first met JD at GuildifiCon in 2022 and we have continued to slowly build a friendship from then on. JD¡¯s spirit and personality is one that stays with you long after you¡¯re done talking with him. When I started writing Golem Master, I knew I wanted to have these two commentators that you came to know and love. For me, JD¡¯s personality was one I wanted to bring on and keep throughout the series. But, JD isn¡¯t just an awesome commentator within the Golem Master world. He is also a word slinger in LitRPG and I am so happy to see him become a Best Seller with his book Nocturne. He has four series under his belt for you to check out. Nocturne, Blood Brothers, The Dream, Embers & Ash. Nick Bosloe Nick Bosloe was one of my first fans that started to follow me and cheer me on back in 2022. He met me through GuildifiCon and we¡¯ve been friends ever since. With Nick being a Brit, I couldn¡¯t help but imagine him as being a European football commentator, and that was when I knew he would be a perfect pair alongside JD. Nick is also a LitRPG author, but started his first book as a post apocalypse thriller, ¡°Fight or Flight.¡± He started to rewrite the story as a LitRPG, but it didn¡¯t get much traction. T hat was when he shifted gears, buckled down hard and started to tear through his writing of ¡°One Flew Over The Dragons Nest.¡± His story took off on RoyalRoad and made it to the Rising Stars list, which landed him a contract with Podium. I am so excited to tear through this book when its all done and hope you¡¯ll consider checking it out. Brandon Benard What can I say, other than the fact that there are many days in which I don¡¯t feel worthy of this mans love and support. Brandon found me on TikTok when I first started posting videos regarding my first series The Dying Breed. A few messages later and he has been one of my biggest cheerleaders ever since. The only person in my top tier of Patreon and I still don¡¯t feel I do enough to earn the support he has given me. You are a beautiful soul my friend, I¡¯m so grateful for you. Ryan Maxwell I met Ryan Maxwell briefly during GuildifiCon in 2022 and then our friendship started to slowly build soon after. Ryan was working on writing his first LitRPG series and in the middle of 2023 he and I started to co-author a book together. While I was bouncing back and forth between our project and my second book series, The Scalpel Chronicles, Ryan messaged me saying ¡°I got this idea for a new book and I want to really go for it.¡± He hasn¡¯t looked back and has had great success with Grand System Vending on RoyalRoad ever since. It is great to see him get picked up by The Legion Publishers and I cannot wait for Grand System Vending to hit audio. Ryan has been one of the first Patreon members since I started it a long time ago, but this man has been a huge supporter of the genre since the beginning. So happy to have this guy be a part of Golem Master, and thanks for all your love and support brother. Stephen Landry The Duck Commander himself, Stephen Landry. One fateful day on a facebook stream and somehow we started talking about how awesome ducks are, and now¡­ he is the Duck Commander. I have had the pleasure of spending time video chatting Stephen behind the scenes for over a year, and man how grateful I am for you brother. I was so happy when Stephen and Tori made it to DragonCon in 2023 and we spent time together, sharing about the ups and downs in life. I am a big fan of his Star Divers series and would absolutely recommend it for people looking for a new adventure series. Stephen also has his Undead Worlds, Tales of Dungeons, and Tales of Dungeons series to checkout. Eric Ugland I was blessed to get to meet Eric through GuildifiCon 2x, but then also spent time with Eric at 20Booksto50K convention in Vegas twice. The crazy thing was the fact that Eric and I used to live 1.5 hrs away from each other for years and never knew it. Our small corner of Oregon couldn¡¯t contain two LitRPG authors in it, and Eric moved to the East coast. I love spending time with this gentle giant every time I am near him and wanted to try and capture that time with a short glimpse at GolemCon. Who knows¡­ you might see Eric make a re-appearance. If you¡¯re new to the LitRPG genre or want some epic good books, check out his series, The Good Guys, The Bad Guys, Master of Puppets, Roseland, Chronicles of Underrealm. Benjamin Kerei There is now officially two epic things that have come out of New Zealand. The filming of Lord of the Rings, and this guy! I met Benjamin Kerei at the last 20BooksTo50K in Las Vegas in 2023. I am so glad I went and loved the time sitting and talking with Benjamin while smoking extremely overpriced cigars. I later had the chance to sit down and do an Author Chat podcast interview with him and loved ever minute. The wisdom and insight when it came to writing helped me improve as a writer. His book First Line of Defense was amazing and I cannot wait to dive into another one of his epic series. Benjamin has the follow series for you to checkout, The Vampire Vincent, First Line of Defense, Unorthodox Farming. James Hunter The ink slinger himself. James Hunter has proven that Marines can do more with crayons than snack on them. James and I have spent shorts periods of time at GuildifiCon, DragonCon, and 20BooksTo50K in Vegas. I don¡¯t know how you can¡¯t love this guy who has tried to do so much not just for the genre, but for many authors within it. His love for the veteran community as well speaks volumes to the type of guy and father that he is beyond writing epic stories. Thanks for the time we¡¯ve spent together while smoking cigars on a sidewalk in Georgia and the lunch in Vegas. Those meant more than you will probably know. James Vigil Justice series is amazing, but of course, when you have 71 titles under your belt, this guy knows what he is doing. Be sure to also check out Rogue Dungeon, Viridian Gate Online, Wasteland Warloards, Shadowcroft, Yancy Lazarus, The Wolfman Warlock, or just go to Shadow Alley¡¯s website and dive face first into the greatness. JoeDan Worley What can I say. I met JoeDan in 2023 at DragonCon, then spent time with him at GuildifiCon in 2023. A heart of gold like no other and one of the funniest one legged Navy corpsmen you¡¯ll ever meet. JoeDan quickly informed me he wanted to become a narrator while simultaneously writing his first LitRPG story. As soon as he told me this, I knew he would be the perfect person to narrate my Scalpel Chronicles series. JoeDan¡¯s first book will hopefully be out by the time you read this message, so please go give him a like, follow, and listen. He will soon be a household name if you don¡¯t know who he is. Reggie Manning It is 2010 and there I am standing in a classroom inside the Airman Leadership School on Malmstrom Air Force Base. I look to my left and see this giant standing next to me. We immediately became friends when we both got in trouble for cussing in class. Reggie had gone through a lot of ups and downs in his career up to that point, but it was when he read to the class a few articles he had written for the base public affairs office that took us all by surprise. We then discovered that this humble guy had been writing indie books for years as Niles Manning, with 13 books under his belt. I still remember the feeling of shocked surprise when you told us brother. Thanks for helping inspire me over 13 years ago and I am so glad to give you a character in the world of Golem Master. Erika Leon-Guerrero Erika and I first met at GuildifiCon in 2022. She started to follow and support me throughout my author journey and we found our paths crossing once again at DragonCon in 2023. A fan of LitRPG while being a killer narrator helping bring other authors books to life. When I started planning out Golem Master, I knew that I needed someone to interview the gladiators after a match, and Erika seemed like the perfect fit. Thank you so much for all your support my friend. Seth Ring I honestly can¡¯t remember how our paths first crossed. But all I know is that I am so glad they did. I know Seth and I were talking online around 2022-2023, but then got to spend time together at DragonCon in 2023, and then 20BooksTo50K in Vegas later that year. We had a chance to do an author chat together when his latest series, Dreamer¡¯s Throne released. That author chat along with a breakfast in Vegas together have meant the most to me. I normally tell people that Seth is one of the hardest working authors in the industry and I truly believe that. Having seen his calendar and schedule with my own eyes, I just don¡¯t know how this guy gets everything done, but there is no doubt he has skills. Thanks for the time spent together brother, I greatly appreciate you and am happy to have you in the Golem Master world. If you want to checkout Seth¡¯s books, I recommend Dreamer¡¯s Throne because it was so well done, but he also has, Battle Mage Farmer, The Titan Series, Tower, Iron Tyrant, and Soul Caller. Kevin Sinclair Though Kevin has a brief mention in Golem Master, he is one amazing man and author that I look up to. I had the pleasure of spending many days with him at DragonCon in 2023 and done an Author Chat with him. Many know that my mouth has no filter, and I am happy to have Kevin to sometimes send me a quick message reminding me to knock it out. I am looking forward to bringing Kevin¡¯s character more into the story in Book 2, possibly even book 3 of Golem Master. In the meantime, give this lovable giant a look with his amazing series, Creations Bane, Artem Underworld, Condition Evolution, and The Cesmial Accords. Michael Chatfield Let¡¯s be honest. Who wouldn¡¯t love to have this gorgeous man place two pieces of bread on either side of your face, and call you a tasty sandwich? That¡¯s right¡­ everyone wants it to happen. Though that didn¡¯t happen to me, I was blessed to find myself spending a considerable amount of time with this guy during DragonCon in 2023. I was also blessed to have him come on Author Chat and discuss the greater side of growing your exposure as an author and looking at new and additional avenues to take. I am so grateful for our together my friend and can¡¯t wait for the next time and location where our paths will cross. If you don¡¯t know who this super stud is you can check out his work through the multitude of his series, The Four Horsemen, The Ten Realms, Emerilia, The Builder¡¯s Legacy, Free Fleet, Death Knight. Harmon Cooper I am sitting in the bar area of the Westin Hotel at DragonCon when I hear my name called. I look over to see Harmon Cooper giving me a wave, ¡°TJ, great to see you. I am so glad you made it. I can¡¯t stay, I have a meeting.¡± I looked back confused, ¡°You know who I am?¡± He replied while still walking, ¡°Of course. I try to know as many people in the genre as possible.¡± That short interaction made a lasting impression and is a constant reminder to me with how supportive and acceptive the genre is to others. So of course, what better way to add Harmon to Golem Master than acting as Queen Donut, a shoutout to our good friend and amazing human being, Matt DinnimanIf you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Kristen Franzke This small, tiny human being pacts some serious love and support for this genre. She doesn¡¯t get mentioned often, but she has been a super fan of the genre and actively involved behind the scenes since the very beginning. I had the pleasure of meeting her at DragonCon in 2023 and she always brought a smile to my face when we¡¯d bump into one another during the multiple events going on. I wanted to make sure she got some ¡°screen time¡± in Golem Master, and felt her connection to Pepper as a mom was the best way to do it. Thanks Kristen! Keep being amazing. Geneva Agnos I don¡¯t know if it is possible to be a LitRPG fan and not know Geneva. She has been involved since the very beginning and helped countless authors bring their books to market. Now a director of marketing for The Legion Publishers and the Warrior Publishing Undefeated UFC champion. ?? She continues to so much to bring these amazing stories to life for so many. Thanks for all your love and support to all of us. And no matter what you do, you¡¯ll never know why I got banned from the LitRPG facebook group. ?? Dimitris Gkirgkiris Dimi and I had a quick introduction in Vegas at 20BooksTo50K in Las Vegas. He and I would later cross paths online at GuildifiCon¡¯s but have remained virtual friends through social media. A friendship I am blessed to have. Dimi is a huge supporter to so many fellow authors within the genre and has always been ready and willing to help give advice on the industry. Additionally, Dimi¡¯s company helps bring LitRPG further into the world by offering translation services which converts the stories into German. Be sure to check out his epic stories. Physics of The Apocalupse, and Berserker. Lars Machm¨¹ller I first met Lars Machmuller at DragonCon in 2023. An awesome spiked purple mohawk with a giant beaming smile. I found myself spending many hours with this amazing man, father, and author and fell in love with his genuine positivity and optimism. I believe Lars is the only LitRPG author in Denmark, but either way, he is totally the coolest author in Denmark, in my opinion. With over 13 books under his belt, this guy is continuing to bring awesome content to the community. Be sure to grab one of his many awesome stories and give it a look. He currently has, Dragon Core Chonicles, Underdog: Hackers of Artem, World of Chains, and Theft of Decks. Steve Beaulieu I don¡¯t know about you, but that heavy metal beard just makes my heart melt every time I see it! ?? I had the pleasure of getting to hangout with Steve in 2023 at 20BooksTo50k in Las Vegas and briefly spent some time with him at DragonCon in 2023 as well. Steve, the co-founder of Aethon books and is oozing with talent. Whether it is sharing the word of God, rocking out with his musical talent, or writing epic stories¡­ there is just no way to stop this guy from being awesome. Steve writes under the pen name, Jaime Castle and has put out multiple best selling books. Be sure to checkout his work in Manufacturing Magic, Purgatory, An Unexpected Hero, Black Talon, and Cold as Hell. Timo Burnham Timo and I met through Twitter / X. A fellow indie author that is working to bring awesome new stories to the world. Timo is also a great example of authors who devote so much time, energy, towards their work. A personal trainer during the day, and word slinger at night, in hopes of one day making it full time. You can checkout his martial art series, Dawn of the Black Sun, Shadows Within, The Black Saint, along with some other Kindle Vella stories on Amazon. David Bushman How can you not love that awesome smile!? Dave Bushman and I got connected through twitter / X. I won a free audible code for his book, The Guy Who Accidentally Started the Apocalypse¡­ and completely fell in love with the world he created. A LitRPG FPS series that everyone needs to checkout. What can I say¡­ Paulie is just awesome. I need more Paulie in my life. Dave is, like many other authors in the genre, a huge super fan and supporter of other LitRPG stories. He constantly shares / repost other authors updates and new releases. He is totally a part of THE DUCK SQUAD! QUACK! Be sure to also check out his other book series, Dark Lands Online, McBride¡¯s Magical Munchies. RA Cooper I had the priviledge of spending time with Rachel, aka ¡°RA¡± at 20BooksTo50k in Las Vegas in 2023, and have also shared the screen with Rachel at Guildificon in 2022 and 2023¡­ I think? RA has been a huge supporter of mine and continually brings positive energy into the genre. Sharing, encouraging, and lifting up other authors while also being an awesome writer herself as well as super mom. She writes alongside LM Hughes and has the wonderful book series, Wolf and Flame. She along with LM Hughes were just signed by The Legion Publishers and I cannot wait for their next series to drop. Nate Craven Master Craven and his awesome Dojo is dedicated to this one and only sexy beast. I first met Nate around 2014 and our friendship immediately grew from there. Nate and I served in the Air Force at Vandenberg AFB. He was a Security Forces Defender, just like me, but I, at the time, was serving in the special duty position of being an Military Training Leader. Nate¡¯s house on base became the safe haven for so many Airmen. 4 out of 7 nights of the week the house was filled with multiple people. All of us becoming the pure definition of a military family. He is the living definition of Ohana, and can¡¯t thank this man enough for being a true Bro-Bro! James Dean James and I met through his dad way back in the early days of my youth. I was a young security guard for Target with dreams of joining the Air Force. James had dreams of joining the Navy and one day becoming a pilot. We would eventually start working out together, running through downtown Salem Oregon as late as midnight. Puking into trashcans at Courthouse fitness club, but more importantly, having a friendship that has spanned over 20 years. James finally achieved his dream and is currently a pilot for Alaska Airlines. Only he doesn¡¯t have doors fly off when he¡¯s in command. Love you bro bro, enjoy flying the friendly skies¡­ because of Air Power! Navy sucks! John A Douglas John and I met through a facebook group when he posted an add for hosting an author interview. I then tuned in and slowly got to know the man and see his passion for indie books and the indie movement overall. A lover of all things fantasy and comic books, John is passionate and steadfast in his beliefs, a trait I admire. He has been a huge supporter, source of encouragement and positivity to keep taking new steps forward. Additionally, John finally finished his story that took him years to finish. The Black Crown is a monster book with all the classical adventure tropes we know and love. Be sure to check it out and give it a shot. Thanks for what you do John, God Bless and long live the Ironage. Rob Gagnon I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting Rob back in November of 2023 at 20BooksTo50k in Las Vegas. I originally was supposed to link up with James Hunter, Aaron Michael Richey and some others for cigars, but when I walked in, I saw this beaming smile greeting me along with Benjamin Kerei. Next thing you know it, Rob and I are about 3 hours deep into a massive conversation covering everything from Books, to our military experience, world cultures, religion, family, life lessons, etc. The man is genuinely amazing and has so much love and support for the LitRPG community. His first book will be coming out soon, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Thanks for all you do brother and for being such an awesome friend and supporter. Eli Gardner I have known this amazing and incredible woman almost my entire life. My favorite cousin out of the massive extended family that we share, but don¡¯t tell the others. Eli served in the Air Force as a UAS sensor operator and has more kills on record than anyone else I know. Seriously¡­ not joking. But you¡¯d never know that about her, this powerful, strong, and independent spirit is so much more than that. She also has a heart of gold and continues to try and speak on behalf of so many victims all over the world. Her stories have depth and meaning, and of course, she donates much of her earnings to charities and other groups worldwide so that they can continue to support these victims. She also has started rescuing horses from slaughterhouses and is working to start her equine therapy ranch for not just the horses, but veterans also. This woman doesn¡¯t stop once she sets her heart towards a purpose. She has over 8 books under her belt, and you seriously need to checkout her work. You can grab, 1,000 Nights: Deaths love letter to Afghanistan, Rapunzel Must Die: A Persian Retelling, Salty Guardian, Tales of Anratha, and her poetry on Amazon. Brandon Haag Brandon has been a superfan of LitRPG since the very beginning. He has done a little bit of everything but the biggest thing is that he continues to share the good word of LitRPG. I had the pleasure of hanging out with Brandon at DragonCon in 2023 and wanted to be sure I captured the fun time by giving him a character in this awesome world. Thanks for being a piece of what makes our LitRPG community so awesome. Michael Head Who doesn¡¯t love lucky lightning? The first moment you meet Michael, you¡¯re more than likely laughing within the first few minutes, because this guy is nothing but amazing in so many ways. Michael and his better half Amanda, both served in the US Army. He and I have gotten to spend time together at DragonCon in 2023, as well as the GuildifiCon¡¯s. Each time, it never feels like enough, though our interviews and hangout sessions easily drag on for hours at a time. Michael is also a prolific reader of all things LitRPG and fantasy and also has two best selling book series available. Though he is only mentioned in Book 1, he is certainly going to be showing up later in this series¡­ so¡­ just be ready. In the meantime, be sure to grad his books! Threads of Fate, and Wandering Warrior are both available on Amazin. LM Hughes / Aoife Wai LM Huges, or as I know her Aoife Wai is such a shining star in the universe. I was blessed to spend time with her in Las Vegas at 20BooksTo50k in 2023, but also have shared screentime with her at GuildifCon in 2023. She is constantly encouraging other authors, and supporting them by reading their work and promoting in online. Additionally, she sends the most lovely messages of encouragement behind the scenes and helps pick you up whenever you question how good you are as an author. Just another bright and shining example of what makes this genre so amazing. She along with RA Cooper were just signed by The Legion Publishers and I cannot wait for their next series to drop. But in the meantime, be sure to grab Wolf and Flame on Amazon. Ryan Kaber I met Ryan just over 8 years ago. At first, I hated him. Then¡­ we went to Israel on an Air Force mission and were stuck together for roughly 16 hours. By the end of that time I realized what a great guy he was, and we¡¯ve been best friends ever since. Ryan has spent his whole life serving. He first started out in the Coast Guard, then joined the Oregon Air National Guard, while also becoming a Deputy in Klamath County. Ryan and I talk at least once a week and it¡¯s been awesome to see how the friendship has grown over the years. Thanks for our friendship bro-bro! May God continue to bless and watch over your family with the many years ahead. Nikko Marie There I was in Las Vegas in 2023 at 20BooksTo50k, when this lovely lading with a smile that lights up every room walks in and takes a seat next to me. Nikko Marie, an indie author with over 23 titles under her belt continues to press ahead in her writing journey, all while encouraging other authors to pursue their passion. Nikko is a USA Today Best Selling Author, but you¡¯d never know it, as she would much rather just enjoy the moment of conversation amongst awesome people. Be sure to checkout her work on Amazon with her hit series, Brimstone Bay, Darkness Bites, Return of the Dragonborn, Cats, Ghosts and Avocado Toast. Rachel Ni Chuirc Well¡­ this Chaos Gremlin jumped onto the LitRPG scene with a bang and has certainly not stopped. I have had the lovely pleasure of getting to know Rachel through the good old internet, and absolutely love this crazy feral squirrel from Ireland. Her first series Knights of Eternity was a wonderful debut and she is just getting started. Though she has a small role in Golem Master, this woman has a seriously big heart and loves supporting fellow authors and the LitRPG community. Go check her out and give her some love. Angel Ramon I first met Angel back at GuildifiCon in 2022. Angel immediately sent me a ton of support and encouragement and has continued to be a cheerleader for not just me, but so, so, so many other authors. Angel originally started in the horror genre, switched to LitRPG but then went back into writing horror. However, it doesn¡¯t matter what he is writing, this dude is persistently getting better and better and continuing to do what he loves. Angel now has over 40 titles under his belt. His two most recent series are Pina Coladas and Rats, and Frogs and Margaritas. If you¡¯re looking for a late night fright fest, be sure to give this guy a shot. Rose Reynolds I had the pleasure of spending time with Rose back at DragonCon in 2023 and also through GuildifiCon in 2023. Rose writes under the pen name of TJ Reynold and has over 21 titles under their belt. A US Army veteran and amazing author who continues to help lift up other authors within the genre and help make it the awesome community that it is. Though Rose had a small part in Golem Master, I look forward to seeing the next opportunity they can appear within this awesome world. Be sure to checkout their series, First Fist, Eternal Online, and The Guild Core. Daniel Schinhofen Daniel or better known as DJ is such a genuine and caring person. But also, is one epic author. I first met DJ at GuildifiCon in 2022 and immediately found out that yes¡­ he will send you feet picks¡­ without warning. I then sepnt time with him at DragonCon and GuildifiCon in 2023 and every time our interactions get better and better. DJ has always been willing to share his knowledge and insight to many authors within the genre and is constantly doing whatever he can to celebrate his fans and those within the LitRPG community. Thanks for all you have done bro bro. If you¡¯d like to checkout DJ¡¯s work, you can find a massive collection of 57 titles on Amazon. Some of his best selling series include, Aether¡¯s Revival, Heavenly Chaos, and Binding Words. Shami Stovall I would say it is pretty safe to say, that if you are starting out in the LitRPG genre, it is almost instantly that you see or hear the name Shami Stovall. Shami along with her awesome husband John are two awesome pillars within the LitRPG community. Both are Best Selling Authors and both work hard behind the scenes to help fellow authors get better and better at writing, world building, or even card game development. I have had the pleasure of interacting with them through GuildifiCon 2022 and 2023 and look forward to the next event we can share together. Be sure to checkout their awesome books on Amazon and their best selling series, The Chronos Chronicles, Astra Academy, Frith Chronicles, and Demon Card Enforcer. Jakob Tanner Jakob Tanner and I briefly brushed shoulder in Las Vegas in 2022 at 20BooksTo50k, and I have been patiently waiting for the next opportunity to spend more time with this wonder soul. A best selling author with some amazing series such as Tower Climber, Second Chance Swordsman, and Arcane Kingdom Online, and yet, he is still not appearing to slow down any time soon. You can¡¯t help but love his easy going, optimistic outlook on life and though he is only briefly mentioned in Golem Master, I look forward for a chance to bring his character back into action soon. Thanks for all you do for the genre bro bro. Kyle Wilkinson Kyle Wilkinson, or as my patreon community knows him as, ¡°Wilkie¡±. Wilkie has been a super fan of the LitRPG community since day 1. He has moderated facebook groups, participated and helped behind the scenes with events such as GuildifiCon, and one of the most prolific readers I have met. His love for books is awesome to see and I loved getting to bring him into the Golem Master world. Wilkie has also written his first manuscript and continues to slowly get it ready for publication. I can¡¯t wait for that day to eventually arrive. Keep being awesome bro bro. Brian J. Nordon If you didn¡¯t realize it, ¡°Nordon¡¯s Grocery¡± is a small easter egg to this awesome guy. (Granted there is a surprise planned in Book 2, but¡­ no spoilers here.) I wouldn¡¯t be here if it wasn¡¯t for this guy. Brian and I originally met online through GuildifiCon in 2022, and our friendship has continued to grow from there. It was him who pushed me to start writing LitRPG and one day I hope I can write as amazing as he does. Brian is the best selling author of Quest Academy, and it immediately became my favorite LitRPG series out there. There have been few authors out there that I would say truly inspire me, but Brian is easily at the top of that list. But, at the end of the day, our friendship has been more important than the writing. A wonderful human spirit that I have enjoyed having the ability to call friend, and it has been amazing to spend time together online and in person. If you haven¡¯t checked out Quest Academy, I would recommend it over any other. Thanks for all the encouragement bro bro. Bk2 - Chapter 1 - A New Chapter Awaits The man handed Pepper the clipboard and then began guiding his gaze down the page. The man¡¯s finger slowly moved from one spot of the paper to another. ¡°Alright¡­ I just need you to sign, there, there, initial those yellow boxes along the side. Sign there, there, and then there at the bottom with a date and time to the side.¡± Pepper took a long breath as he didn¡¯t even read over the fine print, but merely tried to keep up with the instructions. ¡°What¡¯s all this saying again?¡± The man sighed and then cleared his throat. Pepper sensed a sharp increase in irritation, but couldn¡¯t blame him after all the work they had done to secure Mala inside the large shipping crate. He felt like his back was going to give out, and all he did was watch the movers get it nestled inside the large moving truck. ¡°This just says you¡¯ve inspected our packing procedures. Observed us pack your goods, in this case it would be your golem creature. This states you gave us permission to move your goods from your originating location onto the tminier, then authority to transport it across the country, yadda-yadda-yadda¡­¡± The man paused and quickly wiped the sweat off his brow with his button up shirt. The company¡¯s round logo of Mighty Movers caught Pepper¡¯s attention. His gaze dashed a quick glance again at the mans sown name badge, Larry. ¡°Sorry, Larry¡­ it¡¯s just.¡± Pepper lowered the clipboard and gave a nod to the back of the moving truck. ¡°That¡¯s everything to me.¡± Larry turned and looked over his shoulder for a moment and then returned. ¡°Look kid, I get it. Trust me, I do. But¡­ just remember, this is what we do. I¡¯ve hauled more of these golem things from here to tin-buck-two. We¡¯re at the point that we could probably do this in our sleep if we even wanted to.¡± Pepper locked eyes with the man and he then saw his demeanor change towards one of reassurance. ¡°Trust me kid. We¡¯ll get your monster beast there in one piece. I promise.¡± Pepper finally nodded, ¡°Thanks.¡± He handed the clipboard back over to the man and then ended the moment with a firm handshake. Well¡­ guess there is no turning back now. He mentally said while letting out a long exhale. He crossed his arms and felt present in the moment. That was until the invasive sensation punched straight up his backside. ¡°Wooo!¡± He yelled out uncontrollably. His body contorted around and immediately caught sight of Amprage with his head tilting at him. ¡°What was that for?¡± Pepper cried out. ¡°I was calling for you and you ignored me. The dog personality profile suggested a slight playful nudge to grab your attention.¡± Pepper¡¯s hands shot out in shocked confusion. ¡°So, you just decided to ram your nose up my Grand Canyon?¡± ¡°Well¡­ the database said that it is not uncommon for dogs to sniff their owners to ensure it is them. Also, the strategy clearly worked, because I now have your attention.¡± ¡°Amprage, how does your, your, mainframe of information not have guidance on personal bubble space!?¡± ¡°Oh, it does¡­ I just chose to ignore that part.¡± He replied while sharply tilting his head to the opposite side. ¡°Well, no more ignoring personal bubble space. There is a reason why the word personal is in the title. Because it¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Personal?¡± Amprage cut him off and quickly started to wag his small stubby tail. ¡°Exactly.¡± Pepper said under his breath. He narrowed his gaze and leaned forward with a sternly pointed finger. ¡°No more¡­ got it¡­ no, more.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Amprage said while his body now practically shook with excitement. ¡°Okay, now that we¡¯re all done and over with in regard to that. What is it?¡± Amprage then froze in place and his ears shifted into a perked position. ¡°What¡¯s what?¡± Pepper reached up and rubbed his face. An effort to alleviate the frustration that quickly started to grow within him. ¡°You said you were trying to get my attention. What do you need?¡± ¡°Oh, that. I forgot.¡± Amprage replied and then sat down before him. Pepper¡¯s hand quickly balled into a fist, ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Quiet.¡± Amprage then opened his mouth a stuck his long metal tongue out at him, simulating the act of panting. ¡°This does seem like the perfect time for me to remind you, just how much I love you.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Save it.¡± Pepper said while shaking his head and turning to head back inside the house. Amprage followed closely behind him. ¡°When do we leave?¡± ¡°Tomorrow¡­¡± ¡°And how long is the trip?¡± Pepper tossed his hands up in frustration. ¡°I dunno Amp¡­ however long dad forces us to be on the road.¡± ¡°I¡¯m excited! Are you excited?¡± ¡°Not now Amp¡­ maybe tone down the playful dog routine by like 20%.¡± Pepper shook his head and then instantly found himself arched up onto his tiptoes. The moment he turned around he discovered he was about to be taken out by a power sliding princess. Meg had bolted into the kitchen, dropped down onto her knees and streaked across the linoleum floor. She practically crashed into Amprage but had wrapped her arms around the metal golem with what looked to be vice grip strength. ¡°It¡¯s bad your leaving, but why take Amprage too?¡± She asked while glaring at him with a scowled look. Pepper lowered himself down and took a quick breath while his heartbeat returned to its normal pace. ¡°Not you too.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fair!¡± He slowly shook his head as he closed his eyes. She had a point, and he knew that there was no convincing her otherwise. Pepper looked back at her and worked to keep a calm composure. ¡°I¡¯ve told you kiddo. Amprage is my familiar, he¡¯s bonded to me. He goes where I go.¡± ¡°But¡­ but, Dad said you could have stayed here.¡± Pepper tilted his head upwards. He couldn¡¯t suppress the frustration that was slowly building within him. Ever since the regional invitations arrived in his inbox, his dad worked to encourage him to try out for their region. ¡®You could even stay here at the house, with us¡­ save some money while you¡¯re at it.¡¯ His dad had told him. But no matter what, his head was set on a future away from the rural streets of Michigan. This quest was all he had dreamed about for so long, and he knew he would forever regret it if he just stayed there at the house. His heart was already heavy to be leaving Meg. But it wasn¡¯t just her either, he was leaving everyone behind. Andrea and he had agreed that they weren¡¯t going to see each other. They said their physical goodbyes last night and Pepper was an emotional wreck all the way into the afternoon. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with, but there was no avoiding it. ¡°Meg, we¡¯ve talked about this. You have your Mala statue, but Amp will be coming with me. But, he can at least sleep with you tonight. One final time, how about that?¡± Meg¡¯s only answer was a slow nod while her eyes watered. ¡°Alright.¡± Thank goodness that¡¯s over with. He mentally told himself while slowly maneuvering his way towards his room. The door slowly swung open, and he couldn¡¯t help but take notice of the transformation of it all. A few of his favorite Golem League posters were already down and packed away. Their square outlines were still visible. His dad insisted he take his military duffle bag. The large olive-green duffle bag was stuffed to the brim. But it practically held every single piece of clothing that Pepper owned. He was shocked at how much the thing could carry and he quickly realized why his dad insisted he use it. He walked over to his bed and repositioned a few of the cardboard boxes he had filled with personal decorations. A quick tuck and roll and he landed on his bed and looked up at the ceiling. One more night and then on to the next adventure. He smiled and though his heart was ripped in two over what that meant, he still imagined how great the regional league was going to be. A new level of challenges, stronger competition, bigger and better golems to compete against! Sponsorships, possibly even traveling around the world. More time spent amongst his peers and idols. His mind wandered back to GolemCon and the memories he had at it. He couldn¡¯t deny that he had been a bit shy at the convention. Then he felt the dread of embarrassment come all over him again. The big crowds and constant commotion was overwhelming, but the one or two moments gathered around with the other gladiators, that was what he missed. Pepper smiled and let the long day of packing and preparation take hold of him. The exhaustion finally pulled him further into the comfort of his bed and he closed his eyes. *** ¡°Hey, Pep¡­¡± The soft gentle voice had just barely entered his ears enough that it slowly drew him away from his dream state. He felt a nudge on his shoulder and started to roll onto his back. He pried his one eye open and was able to make out the likeness of his dad through the semi-blurred vision. ¡°Pep¡­ we need to get on the road if we¡¯re going to get a good head start on the trip.¡± Pepper moaned and then it quickly turned into a groan as he hated being pulled away from the comfort of sleep. But, that was dad. Trent insisted they get an early start to the morning. There was even this weird different side of his father¡¯s personality that seemed to awaken within him over the past few days. A different kind of excitement that had been kindled within his dad, and Pepper could easily see that his father appreciated being asked to do a road trip with him. Pepper had originally planned to just fly down to Atlanta. The thought of merely flying back and forth between the locations as he got settled in. But the longer he thought about that idea, the more he felt like it wasn¡¯t giving his full effort. If he was going to go for the Regional League, he wanted to be fully devoted and no distractions. He still had roughly a month before the regional match and found a small house to temporarily rent out. Atlanta was one of the areas in the US that had been hit the hardest in the rift wars. Their population had still not recovered yet and there was a significant amount of affordable housing to choose from. Pepper had been so confident coming off of his KBVS Championship victory. He believed, now more than ever, that this was his moment. His opportunity and all he needed to do was get there in one piece. He slowly got up and out of bed. He did a quick change of his clothes and staggered across the hall to Meg¡¯s room. His hand softly began to turn the nob and to his surprise, he found Amprage patiently waiting on the other side of the door. Pepper placed his finger over his mouth to warn his familiar to be quiet and then nodded for his bonded to tag along. He turned and was about to close the door when his heart pulled back on him. A quick but quiet turn around and Pepper stepped into Meg¡¯s room. He leaned over and gave her a soft gentle kiss on her cheek. ¡°Love you princess.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 2 - Road Trip Pepper opened the door for Amprage who jumped up into the small cab of the truck. The metal golem clambered his way into the back seat area, while Pepper entered and began to get situated. He clicked his seat belt on and then noticed a small cooler at his feet. ¡°I see you are already stocked up for the road trip.¡± Pepper said. He dashed a quick glance over at his dad and couldn¡¯t help but notice the large smile on his face. "You have no idea. Those are the re-supplies.¡± Trent shifted his hand down to the cup holders and guided Pepper¡¯s gaze. There in the center console were two metal cans that appeared to be chilled to the perfect temperature. A slightly frosted coating on the exterior as if his dad had placed them in the freezer for a short period of time before pulling them out. His dad plucked one out of its holder and looked at the can. ¡°This one is¡­ Mango Madness.¡± Pepper knew instantly that mango madness was the new flavor of Big D Energy that his neighbor Ryan had been ranting and raving about. He then recalled seeing his dad load up two distinct boxes in the back of the truck bed the day before and that¡¯s when it clicked. ¡°You haven¡¯t tried one of those yet, have you?¡± He asked. His dad grinned. ¡°Nope.¡± A slight shake of his head, but without delay he popped the top open and took a swig. He swallowed it down and let out a loud sigh, but¡­ he didn¡¯t say anything either. Pepper grinned. ¡°It tastes terrible doesn¡¯t it.¡± His dad twisted his head and grimaced for a quick second before chuckling. ¡°That tastes like straight bat urine right there.¡± Pepper began to chuckle, and he shook his head. No point in suffering alone. He thought. His hand reached over and grabbed hold of his can, cracked it open and took a big swig. His tongue was instantly assaulted with a sharp, sour, bitter taste of something he didn¡¯t know how to describe. He commanded his mouth to swallow and force the cold liquid down and then looked at his dad. ¡°Ryan really needs to have some type of quality control process before he puts some of these flavors into production.¡± His dad nodded in agreement. ¡°It¡¯s more like pure lemon juice with a splash of mango but then your sipping it through a dirty, sweaty, gym sock. If this energy drink company doesn¡¯t take off he could probably shift his skills over to the military.¡± His dad twisted the can around and glanced down at it still in his hand. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure we could use this concoction as a chemical warfare agent against the demons. This drink seems more diabolical than them even.¡± The two laughed and then Trent shifted the truck into gear, and they slowly rolled down the street. They slowly navigated through town until they eventually got onto Highway 131 and drove south. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but look at the old stereo system display in the truck, the time read 03:42 in the morning. His dad reached his hand out and started to punch away at the old stereo system. A few seconds later the distinct sound of his dad¡¯s classical music began to play over the speaker system. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice his dad¡¯s hands tap away to the beat on the steering wheel. What did surprise him was hearing what sounded like a racoon in a trash compactor as his dad screamed along to the music. ¡°Crawling in my skin! These wounds, they will, not heal!¡± Pepper felt like his eyes were about to pop right out of his sockets. The entire experience was one he was not prepared for, regardless of what time of day it was. He watched as his dad quickly glanced over at him and returned a confused expression. ¡°Oh, come on, don¡¯t give me that look.¡± His father protested. ¡°Do you realize how long I have waited for a guy¡¯s road trip like this?¡± The question caught Pepper off guard, for he couldn¡¯t recall ever hearing his dad talk about such a topic before. But, now he was curious to know more and prompted him further. ¡°Oh?¡± Trent grinned and lifted his hand up as if the answer was obvious. ¡°Well yeah, what dad doesn¡¯t want to do an epic road trip with his sons¡­¡± As soon as the word left his father¡¯s lips, he heard the hesitation come over him. It took him a second and then he corrected it. ¡°Well¡­ son.¡± Trent reached down and took another sip of the bitter energy drink, but then continued. ¡°I always wanted to do something like this with you guys. You, me, Trevor. A vast open road with nothing but adventure awaiting us. No plans, no destination. Just us guys being guys, talking about guy stuff and... you know¡­ being men.¡± His dad finished with a few grunts to emphasize his point. The entire moment was nothing but cringe for Pepper and he felt it was almost a CIA torture technique to get him to confess or share whatever information they were after. But at the same time, he couldn¡¯t help but relate to his dad. He now realized how something as simple as a road trip could have such a deeper sentiment to a father. And the more he thought about it, the more he wished Trevor was still alive to be with them in this moment. ¡°But¡­ that¡¯s life. We can¡¯t fight it. Hell, God knows I sure have tried. Many, many, many times. The more you try to control something, the more you see it slip away from you. So, you just have to make the best out of what you¡¯ve got. There¡¯s you, me, and Amp. So, we¡¯ll just make the best of this road trip and take it one mile at a time.¡± Pepper watched his dad take a quick look at him and they each smiled at one another. ¡°Sounds good dad.¡± Trent turned back to the music and started to sing along to the new song that had begun to play. Pepper chuckled and realized it was one of the songs he recalled listening to as a kid growing up. He threw caution to the wind and joined his dad. They both butchered the song with a rendition the world would be grateful for never hearing. ¡°I tear my heart open; I sew myself shut! And my weakness is, that I care too much.¡± *** Pepper felt his body shift forward. A loud screeching sound of tires was mixed with bellowing screams of alarm. His eyes burst open and his hands immediately reached to brace himself. ¡°AHHHH!¡± His dad stilled screamed but it quickly turned into a rolling laughter. To Peppers amazement even Amprage got in on the cruel prank and was also laughing uncontrollably. He reached up and grabbed hold of his chest, his heart pounding within it. He started to take long breaths to try and calm himself as he realized there was no danger. His dad finally composed himself. ¡°Man, I¡¯ve been wanting to do that for so long now. A good old break check never gets old.¡± Pepper slowly turned his head and glared back at him. It took a few minutes for the resentment to start to fade and he decided to distract himself with looking out the window. ¡°Where are we?¡± He finally asked. ¡°Just south of Indianapolis. A small town called Columbus. I figured we¡¯d make a stop in Seymour. Stretch our legs a little bit, grab a bite to eat even.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± Pepper replied. He twisted around as best as he could to stretch out in his seat. Before long they pulled into a restaurant and grabbed a table in the far corner. Amprage was the center of attention and people swarmed to see him. Many asked to take photos and his familiar enjoyed being the main attraction. It wasn¡¯t until they went to leave that Pepper and his dad had a moment truly to themselves. Trent offered him a turn behind the wheel and Pepper accepted. The drive south was a smooth one and Pepper was able to get his dad to start sharing more stories from his time in the military during the rift war.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. All the stories his dad mentioned though, were all focused on his daily life during that time. The men and women he served alongside, and of course the one or two pranks they used to pull on one another. It was an odd thing for Pepper, for he just didn¡¯t understand how one could be at war to save humanity, but still turned towards humor by teasing and pranking one another. The thing that Pepper did delight in was seeing how much his dad enjoyed the time spent with him. He was even surprised to discover that his dad was previously engaged to another woman. How his father used to sneak out at night and meet up with her at a mutual friend¡¯s house. The two-spending time together out back around a firepit. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there may be a deeper meaning behind the fire pit they now had in their backyard. It was rare to ever see his mom sit outside at it, but his dad was perfectly happy to sit there by himself. There was a slight twinkle in his father¡¯s eye, but he didn¡¯t pry any further. They final arrived in the North Druid Hills community and Trent made the slow turn down Berkeley Ln NE. The pine trees scattered throughout the area helped give Pepper a connection to home. His eyes then caught the soft yellow coloration of the house he had rented and he pointed to inform his dad. ¡°When is Mala supposed to arrive again?¡± His dad asked while pulling into the driveway and putting their truck in park. ¡°The guy said it could be another two days. I guess it is all dependent on the other pickups and deliveries they have along the route.¡± He replied. They each took a second to stretch once they got out of the truck. Pepper then loaded up the rental instructions he had received from a few days back and quickly followed the process to unlock the house. The home was clean and smelled of lemon, lavender and clean sheets. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he watched Amprage trot over to the couch. The golem jumped up and curled into a spot he now claimed to be his own. He curiously opened the fridge and was happy to see that it was freshly stocked with groceries. A quick shift over to the freezer to find a few frozen take home pizzas and ice cream. ¡°Dang, I lucked out with renting this place.¡± He exclaimed. His hand grabbed hold of the first pizza, and he quickly turned the oven on to prep dinner. His dad then walked in and discovered what he was doing. ¡°Well, that¡¯s nice to see they hooked us up with a pie.¡± ¡°They loaded us up with like, four or so in there.¡± Pepper replied and motioned his head towards the freezer. ¡°Well shoot, cook up two of them things. That second leg of the trip sure brought on an appetite.¡± His dad started to walk towards the second half of the house. ¡°And now on to test out the plumbing in this place.¡± ¡°Gross dad.¡± Pepper muttered as he ripped the wrapping off the pizzas and shoved them in. He threw the boxes away and was about to walk off and inspect the rest of the home when he realized he didn¡¯t read over the cooking instructions. A slight shake of his head and he returned to the garbage can and retrieved the discarded box. His eyes navigated the instructions and then corrected the oven settings. ¡°Well, we were on the verge of eating two bricks.¡± He let out a short sigh of relief and then made his way into the backyard. It was the workshop that had been built onto the property over the past three years that attracted him to this location. The advertisement specifically worded to entice Golem League renters. The large workshop was practically three times the size of his at home. A large roll up garage door was on the front of the structure with a small access door on either side. The workshop was a candy red color that was a major contrast in comparison to the house. Pepper hated it, but that was a small detail compared to what greater matter at hand. He glanced back over the rental instructions and found the access code for the workshop. It was different from the house and that was a detail Pepper liked. He thought about the fact that he could give instructions to delivery drivers to leave parts for Mala in the workshop and not run the risk of giving away the home access. But that also caused him to chuckled. Mala was more valuable than anything else he owned. The workshop floor was a smooth concrete poured floor. In the center there was a floor lift and also an overhead hoist system. That was the main draw that brought Pepper here. The Langdon 100 MGR was one of the highest rated at home service riggs a competitor could own. Pepper had spent practically two days scouring the Golem Chat message boards, specifically targeting people who claimed to be Regional League gladiators. His search isolated the few chat logs which talked about at home service centers. The members boasted about how they felt more efficient in getting repair work done once the Langdon 100 MGR was installed. There were some photos that were posted. An attempt to prove that what the person was saying was true and factual. But, Pepper also knew that even that could have been a part of a ruse. He did as much investigation on the system as he could, but finally reminded himself that he would just have to make a decision and then move on from there. Along the sides of the workshop were high polished, all metal work benches. There were rubber mats placed at different portions of the work bench and more power outlets than Pepper could count. Additionally, there was a mobile maintenance platform located at the far end of the shop. The metal structure was originally designed to be used by mechanics working on aircraft. They were soon adopted for service working on the militaries mech walkers and the Golem League followed soon after. Pepper walked over to the three large tool chests on the left side of the room. He grabbed hold of the black service drawer and pulled it open. He was surprised by his discovery when the high gloss of brand-new Watkins Toolsets greeted him. The American built tools were well known to be reliable. He curiously opened every single one and found that each was filled with the high-end line of tools. All except a middle section of two drawers. Those remained emptied and Pepper just assumed those were deliberately left that way so that he could place his own personal ones within them. He closed the drawers and then turned towards the back of the structure. A set of metal stairs on the left gave access to a small metal platform. Pepper walked up and saw that there wasn¡¯t anything special about this second tier. Its purpose was to serve more as open storage than anything else. He couldn¡¯t help but notice there were a few cardboard boxes placed in the far corner. As he approached his eyes saw what looked to be a few personal items the homeowners had tucked away. There were a few trinkets such as scholarly trophies and awards. An old leather baseball glove, which caused Pepper to huff since he couldn¡¯t remember the last time, he had even seen one in person. But the one thing he took notice of was the family portrait. His hands brough the framed photo closer into view. A family of eight stood together, their arms all intermixed with being wrapped around shoulders, a few of the girls giving side hugs to the guys who stood there. One of the younger men in the photo even ensured they had picked up the German shepherd to make sure they were in the photo as well. There was no way for Pepper to tell when exactly the photo was taken. But for some reason he felt like it was a photo taken long before the rift war. He grinned and then gently placed the photo back inside the opened box. He stood back up just in time to be startled, nearly out of his skin. His dad¡¯s voice called out to him from the access door. ¡°Wow, look at this thing. You could practically park a helicopter in here.¡± Pepper made his way down the set of metal stairs while his dad approached. They both met at the final area Pepper had not made it to yet, which also happened to be just below where he had been a few seconds prior. A small seating area with a coffee table at the center. A holoscreen, microwave, sink, and small fridge all set in the back right corner of the structure. ¡°Shoot, only thing you need in here is a toilet.¡± Trent said while his head swiveled around and took it all in. ¡°Heck, you could just pee around the back corner of the workshop, and nobody would know the difference.¡± ¡°Uh, I dunno about that happening. But¡­ yeah, this place is pretty great, right? Like¡­ It seems to have everything that I really need?¡± He asked. His dad nodded, ¡°I¡¯d say so. They got a washer and dryer in there. The master bedroom and bathroom are really nice, and you still have the other two bedrooms and bathrooms. Heck, you could probably rent those out to two others and save a few Flex here and there.¡± The light bulb came on as soon as his dad made the suggestion. He hadn¡¯t really thought about that idea until just now. It was tempting, especially because he didn¡¯t know for sure how much he would be able to make in the Regional League, or how many matches he would be able to compete in while making repairs to Mala. The few gladiators who were open and honest in the Golem Chat forums did mention part time jobs. They suggested a few weekend shifts bartending, or even doing Rover Rides to earn a few extra Flex. But none of those options appealed to Pepper. He figured he could always try to get himself re-established locally with repairing rune cards as he had been doing for Rhino. He smiled and returned from his wondering thoughts. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll just have to wait and see.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. No need to rush into things. That small advance Ryan gave you should cover you for at least two to three months.¡± ¡°That gift you also gave me¡­¡± Pepper emphasized, and his dad waved him off with his hand. ¡°Well, you certainly didn¡¯t have to do that either, and that helps just as much also.¡± "Don¡¯t even mention it Pep. That¡¯s just an extra weekend shift at Nordon¡¯s.¡± ¡°A few extra weekend shifts you mean.¡± His dad lifted his hands up dismissively, ¡°Who¡¯s counting.¡± Trent then rotated his wrist down and noticed the time on his small holodex. ¡°Alright, those pies should be done and it¡¯s perfect because my stomach is grumbling. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two got up and left the workshop behind them. A few moments later and they found themselves devouring the classic Italian dish while watching the classic guy movie, Black Hawk Down. It was a perfect way to wind down from the long journey to a new and exciting opportunity. Bk2 - Chapter 3 - Change of Plans Pepper tossed and turned that night, which resulted in an extra groggy morning. By the time he got out of bed and walked into the kitchen area he was surprised to see his dad was taking a phone call. His curiosity brough him to inch just a little closer to overhear. ¡°Yes Miss Chuirc¡­ I understand. Well, everything was scheduled before I left Portage and. Yes Miss Chuirc. I will be leaving here soon and will correct the discrepancy first thing tomorrow morning. Okay, yes, I will send you an email as soon as it¡¯s fixed and updated in the system. Okay, thank you Miss Chuirc.¡± His dad looked like he was about to say goodbye, but the eye roll informed him the call ended before he had a chance to say it. The two locked eyes and Pepper could easily see the frustration within his father. His dad shook his head and started to walk over from the living room area. ¡°I swear that woman is a chaos gremlin that rivals the worst demons I fought in the war.¡± ¡°Sounds like you¡­¡± Pepper paused when he saw his dad grab the backpack he had brought with his change of clothes. ¡°Are already heading out.¡± His dad frowned and nodded. ¡°Yeah. Welcome to adulthood. A time in your life when you¡¯re told you can take vacation, only to be told you need to return from vacation after only 2 days.¡± ¡°Sorry dad.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay bud. I am at least glad that I got to help you get down here. You did a great job picking this place out.¡± His father hesitated and after a short paused he looked at Pepper. ¡°I¡¯m gonna miss you.¡± He sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll miss you too dad.¡± They hugged. Pepper saw the small tear begin to form in his dads¡¯ eye as they separated and chuckled when his dad played it off. ¡°You should uh, maybe consider some allergy meds or something. The pollen down here is pretty bad.¡± The two chuckled and Pepper stood at the doorway and waved his dad goodbye once the truck turned off the driveway and headed for the interstate. Pepper looked out the back window and saw two perfectly placed trees in the backyard. Well, I know exactly what would go perfect there. In less than two minutes his hammock was set up between the two large pine trees. He rolled in while Amprage cried for not getting to be in the hammock with him. His familiar laid down at his feet while they both enjoyed the cool morning breeze. Pepper started to tap through his holodex and tapped on Andrea¡¯s name. The call option beamed to life, and he waited while it rang much longer than he anticipated. He finally heard her calm voice answer on the other end. ¡°Hey you.¡± Andrea said. ¡°Hey¡­ are you still sleeping?¡± Andrea chuckled. ¡°Nope. I already got the horses fed, cleaned the east stables and am about to go check on the goats.¡± ¡°Well, someone decided to pickup the morning shift I see.¡± ¡°Well Eli had a family emergency and texted me last night after we got done talking. She asked if I could cover for her, given the circumstances. Thankfully Kyle agreed to swing by the house and check on dad. So¡­ yeah, just me running the place today.¡± ¡°Is everything okay?¡± ¡°I dunno. Not my business to ask. If it was, I¡¯m sure she would have told me more.¡± Andrea quickly shifted the topic around. ¡°So, what are you guys planning to do today?¡± ¡°Dad already left.¡± Andrea quickly responded. ¡°Really? What happened there?¡± ¡°The usual, he got a call from work and decided to head back.¡± Andrea¡¯s voice rose as she began to defend his dad. ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! Your dad works harder than anyone else at that store and is constantly bailing them out. You¡¯d think they¡¯d finally let him take a real vacation for once instead of forcing him into straight burnout.¡± Pepper flared his eyebrows while he scanned the tree canopy overhead. ¡°I know.¡± He slightly chuckled while Andrea continued to go on a rant of epic proportions. She covered everything from work ethic to loyalty and then his dad¡¯s connection to the community. The whole time he just patiently waited there and let her vent her thoughts. She finally finished and then Pepper continued to share the rest of his plans. ¡°I think Amp and I are going to venture into the city today.¡± As soon as the words left his lips Amprage poked his head up. The metal golem looking back at him with pure excitement and then began to zoom around the yard. ¡°Car ride! Car ride! Car ride!¡± Pepper was about to turn his attention to Andrea, but the distinct noise of metal crunching forced him to investigate. ¡°Oww!¡± Was all Pepper heard from Amprage until his golem came staggering around one of the large pine trees. ¡°These things don¡¯t really budge do they.¡± Pepper reached up and grabbed his face while sighing heavily. ¡°Amp¡­ you can¡¯t feel pain.¡± ¡°Says you!¡± ¡°Says science! You don¡¯t have pain receptors.¡± Pepper said while he glared back at his familiar with a confused expression. Amprage shifted his body weight to one side and then picked up his front paw. The metal leg dangled there and Pepper could hear the distinct grinding of metal as it swayed. ¡°Can¡¯t feel pain¡­ explain this Pepper¡­ explain.¡± ¡°Uhm! That¡¯s totally different. Does it hurt?¡± Pepper asked as he shifted in his hammock. ¡°Well currently my emotions hurt with the fact that you¡¯re neglecting my need for comfort, support, and reassurance that I¡¯m a good boy.¡± Pepper dropped his face into the hammock and groaned. ¡°You can be so dramatic sometimes.¡± He sighed and started to make his way out of the hammock. A short few steps later and he swooped down and picked Amprage up and into his arms. It didn¡¯t take him long to discover that Amprage had bent some internal rods within the appendage. He knew it would take him a couple of hours to carefully repair, especially with the fact that he needed to preserve his resources and materials. Note to self, always plan for Amprage accidents. He added the mental note while he carried Amprage in his arms over to the workshop. ¡°Well, sounds like you two boys are already getting yourselves into trouble. I need to get back to work, but thanks for your call. I miss you.¡± ¡°I miss you too. I¡¯ll call you soon.¡± ¡°Okay, Bye.¡± Andrea ended. Pepper carried Amprage into the shop and set him on the work bench. He started to grab the tools he was going to need for the repair job and got to work. The metal exterior plating being carefully removed one at a time.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Pepper, I have discovered something.¡± ¡°Oh, what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Leaves can be quite slippery on grass when you¡¯re running.¡± Pepper chuckled and took a moment to narrow his gaze back on the internal components of the golems construct. His hands contorting around during the repair process, but then he felt the cold metal nose of Amprage poke his arm. The dog¡¯s personality profile seemed to be on overdrive at the moment and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smile while it simultaneously slightly irritated him. But the cute distraction did help the repair process be far more enjoyable than it normally would take. By the time Pepper was done with the repairs he noticed it was practically lunchtime. ¡°Well, that¡¯s one way to spend the morning. I think it is safe to say we don¡¯t do zoomies anymore?¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Amprage replied in a sullen tone. Pepper opened his holodex and then navigated to the Rover Ride application. A quick check of the settings to ensure it was properly reading his new home location and he then tapped to request a ride. He quickly received a ping notification that a ride was on its way and a few minutes later, he stood there stunned. ¡°There¡¯s no wheels?¡± He asked out loud only to ask a second question a split second later. ¡°There¡¯s no driver either!?¡± The vehicle came to a stop and his hands and face were practically plastered on the side passenger window. ¡°There¡¯s not even a steering wheel?¡± Pepper stepped back and looked the vehicle over. The whole thing looked like some kind of futuristic transportation pod that hovered above the ground. He then saw the faint glow pulsate through the curved design of the capsule. He instinctively knew the light was an indication of the use of runes. ¡°I guess the future is now¡­¡± Pepper muttered. He then glanced over where the back passenger door appeared to be and saw a small square inlay. A quick tap of his finger and the distinct sound of a decompression sequence began. Amprage lowered his body to the ground as if he was prepared to pounce upon the vehicle. A small guttural growl letting out which caused Pepper to huff. The rear passenger door opened a split second later and glided directly upward. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that if the opposite side door had been open at the same time, the vehicle would resemble almost that of a bumblebee. The two climbed in and found the interior was in fact colored in a light grey pattern with golden yellow accents. It was no surprise to him when he finally found the vehicle manufacturer emblem embroidered on the seats, which just so happened to be a tiny bumblebee. ¡°Buzz Podz¡± Pepper said under his breath once he caught sight of the name. The vehicle door closed and then the slight motion sensation hit him. Pepper, however, began to fixate on his holodex while he did a quick search for the vehicle. Buzz Podz Ver 3.2 is a transportation vehicle built in Italy but primarily see¡¯s usage in America, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Australia. The 3.2 is the latest technological achievement in transportation. A Blue Hawk Power Core services the Quintek gravitational rune that glides your customers with ease to their final destination. Our specialized essence absorption rune continues to pull in radiant energy to endlessly power you along your travels. The aid it provides to the power core delivery system, enables for minimal maintenance required. Additionally, without the need for wheels, brakes, rotors etc. The cost on repair and upkeep easily pays for itself. You truly can now enjoy luxury at a reasonable price. Click here to contact your area representative to receive a quote. ¡°Wow.¡± Pepper muttered while he closed out the screen and continued to look about the small cabin area. Amprage was standing on the opposite side of the compartment and looked out the window while wagging is tiny metal tail. ¡°Can you even see anything?¡± ¡°Not really¡­ there are mostly blurred outlines of shapes and structures. We are moving at a high enough speed that I can¡¯t really make out what exactly I am looking at.¡± Pepper moved his ball cap and scratched his head. ¡°Then why exactly are you looking out the window?¡± ¡°Because that¡¯s what dogs do.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes and then joined Amprage in staring out the window. The ride was indeed smooth, the gliding sensation was one he quickly adapted to and could see why everyone would love to travel in this manner. It also was eerily quite. So much so that there was no noise at all. The entire capsule was truly sealed off from the outside world. Pepper felt like he could have easily closed his eyes and been inside the vacuum of space. But when he opened his eyes, he saw another world in and of itself. The capsule was now entering the downtown area. Pepper was taken back by the sight of trash, destruction, and massive tent and tarp encampments that had been erected all throughout the area. The vehicle came to a stop and played a small recording, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at your destination.¡± ¡°Uh, mmm¡­ yeah I dunno about this.¡± He muttered while quicky trying to add a new destination for the ride to take him. All the while he heard Amprage begin to growl as a few people took notice of the vehicles arrival. Pepper glanced up and saw a few begin to stagger towards him. His heart began to race and he felt panic begin to consume him internally. The decompression sound began on the door and he heard its hydraulic apparatous begin to perform its motion of opening the door. Pepper was frozen in panic as the side panel lifted upwards and he was now directly exposed to this man. The stranger was now what looked to be only 10 feet away from him. Amprage was not only growly but started to bark, living out his canine profile and protecting his master. The man¡¯s movements made it look like he was a person struggling to walk through an earthquake but also acted in a manner like a zombie in a movie. His clothes were tattered and torn. Grease and dirt spots scattered all about. A grimy clawed hand was now outstretched towards him. The man¡¯s mouth was contorted about as if he was ready to take a bite out of Pepper himself. Pepper clenched his fist yet felt the trembling within it. The sensation ran all up and along his arm as he worked up the courage to prepare to defend himself. He was a split second away from either dashing forward and meeting the man head on or being captured by the stranger blocking his escape. Pepper was then startled when a large man of chocolate brown skin appeared out of nowhere. The man had his back turned to Pepper but the distinct sight of medical scrubs were clearly identifiable. ¡°Charlie! Stop scaring these kids!¡± The man proclaimed in a loud and thunderous voice. Pepper¡¯s intervening hero reached up with his hand and placed a small plastic facemask over the zombie like creature. Pepper could here a quick sputtered noise come from the device and in what looked like an instant, the man was pulled out of the frightened state. ¡°Hey! Why¡­ what did you do that for?¡± The man¡¯s raspy voice blared out from underneath the medical mask. The man in the medical scrubs pulled the device down off Charlie¡¯s face and pointed a firm scolding index finger at him. ¡°I warned you Charlie. I warned you that if I saw you down here again on that quake that I would mist you. Did I not?¡± ¡°Hey come on¡­¡± ¡°Did I not!?¡± The medical professional didn¡¯t even give the man a chance to refute his statement. He cut him off and looked to surge upwards, like a massive grizzly bear that stood up to showcase its dominance to anyone who dared to challenge him. ¡°Now I told you Charlie, I¡¯m going to mist you every time I see you on that quake! I¡¯ll be misting you so hard you gonna swear it was holy water from Father Grippin¡¯s church off 5th Avenue. People like this young man right here.¡± The medical nurse turned and pointed an outstretched hand towards Pepper. ¡°He just trying to be out here living his best life. He wanna be outside enjoying this beautiful day¡­ but he can¡¯t if you out here creep¡¯n and zombie¡¯n all over the place now can he?¡± ¡°Efrem! I¡¯m just trying to¡­¡± The nurse thunder clapped his large bear paw like hands together and cut off Charlie yet again. ¡°I asked you¡­ I asked you a question¡­ I asked you a question Charlie! Can this young man enjoy his day if you out here acting like a fool?¡± The man¡¯s face was distorted with anger and frustration. But Pepper could easily see that the man¡¯s cheeks were more filled with what looked to be embarrassment. The raspy and crusty voice struggled to reply but then finally crackled to life. ¡°Well¡­ no¡­ I... I suppose not.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± The nurse confirmed. ¡°Ain¡¯t nobody able to be up in here enjoying them day when you scaring them Charlie. Now, straighten up your shirt.¡± The man being instructed on what to do in such a forceful manner appeared to reset his brains wiring. He reached his grimy hands down and tugged at the bottom of his dirt crusted shirt. He then stood there and looked back at the nurse as if he was waiting for the next set of commands. ¡°Now that¡¯s better.¡± The nurse extended his arms out. The gesture looked to be half a part of emphasis the other half a sarcastic exaggeration. ¡°You hungry Charlie?¡± The man nodded in response. The nurse then performed a slow half turn to the side and pointed to an area out of Pepper¡¯s view. ¡°Alright, you go on and get yourself some soup, bread, and some candy. Nurse Jacki gonna fix you up good, okay?¡± The man nodded and now seemed more sheepish than the tarrying appearance he was just a moment before. ¡°Yes, uh¡­ thank you Efrem.¡± ¡°Alright now, you go on.¡± The nurse instructed and the man began to move along. He still had a slight stagger in his step, but it was certainly nothing compared to what it had been when he first approached the capsule. ¡°And I¡¯m seriously Charlie. I see you quake¡¯n again and I¡¯m still gonna mist you!¡± The nurses voice echoed out across the area. Pepper watched as the nurse then turned around and extended his arms out with open palms. ¡°Hey there, welcome to Atlanta!¡± Bk2 - Chapter 4 - Quake The buzz podz warned Pepper that he needed to leave the vehicle, or he would be charged some extra Flex for delaying its departure. Amprage growled but hopped out of the capsule first. Pepper began to shimmy himself forward and finally stepped out. He was greeted by an extended hand from the nurse. ¡°I¡¯m Efrem Foster, you are definitely not from around here. Haha.¡± He met the gesture and shook the nurse¡¯s hand. ¡°Nope, just pulled into town yesterday.¡± Pepper saw that Efrem leaned his head slightly forward with a curious expression of wanting to know more. ¡°Michigan, Portage, Kalamazoo area.¡± He paused again for a half second when he realized he had not introduced himself yet. ¡°I¡¯m Pepper by the way. Pepper Walker, nice to meet you.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ okay, bible belt in the house. I like it.¡± Efrem replied with a furrowed lip but that quickly faded away as a warm smile appeared. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but see the similarities to Reggie. Only, Efrem seemed like he was the complete opposite end of a spectrum from his hometown friend. Reggie had a low voice that was more commonly soft and subtle. Efrem was loud, vibrant and full of sarcastic exuberance. ¡°Well, hopefully that culture shock will fade away and you¡¯ll get used to life in the big city.¡± ¡°That obvious, huh?¡± ¡°Child, you look so bleach white that you might wanna consider changing your name to salt.¡± Pepper was so taken by the statement that the two couldn¡¯t help but laugh. He then took a deep breath. Now feeling a bit more comfortable with his new companion, he began to truly look over the area. ¡°I¡¯m kinda surprised to see so many homeless. I know where I am from there is a decent amount of available housing for people. Heck even the place I rented out just north of here was really affordable. Is there no housing for these people to stay in?¡± ¡°Oh, there is, they just don¡¯t choose to live there.¡± Efrem crossed his arms and shifted his weight. ¡°So, not all of the city is like this, but, this is one of the main area¡¯s where a lot of our veterans have congregated.¡± ¡°Veterans? Of the rift war?¡± Efrem¡¯s face contorted, as if he hated the fact that he was admitting the fact. ¡°Yeah. I would say¡­¡± He paused and glanced around. ¡°About 80% of the people you see right now are all veterans. They refuse to stay in the shelters and the housing that was set aside for them. Being enclosed within a building terrifies them.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°So, the nearby rift portal.¡± Efrem titled his head and then scratched his black manicured beard. ¡°It¡¯s something like ten miles east of us, from where we are. Well, the demons got into the underground tunnel system, and shelter area. Places that had not been accessed for years before the war. Anyways, a lot of these veterans were the group that were forced to go down there and root them all out. I think they refer to it as casket syndrome. The second you put them in a confined space they start to freak out thinking they¡¯re going to die at any second.¡± The entire time that Efrem explained the veteran¡¯s situation, he couldn¡¯t help but think of his dad. His mind then imagined Andrea¡¯s father, Kyle, even his brother. All the veterans he knew, and he was now grateful for the fact that, to the best of his knowledge, they had not had to endure such an experience. ¡°That¡¯s terrible.¡± ¡°It¡¯s heart breaking, but¡­ I have to admit, I am jaded to it.¡± Efrem said with a sorrowful expression. A voice nearby then called out for the nurse, and he turned his head in the direction. ¡°I got to start heading that way, wanna walk with me?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± The two turned and headed in the direction of the requested party. Efrem then started to move his hands about as he continued. ¡°The veteran affairs here in the area was overwhelmed. They didn¡¯t know how to deal with this condition and the fact that many of these veterans refused to be housed. They are constantly living in fear with a new wave of demons coming and attacking. That was when quake began to run rampant.¡± ¡°Quake?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a drug that many of them got addicted to. They say it helps them cope with the demons and they¡¯re still fighting mentally. But the aftereffects leave them how you saw Charlie. They walk around like they¡¯re in the middle of an earthquake. Or a zombie. Their speech is impaired, they struggle to communicate with others.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to lie. It scared the crap out of me.¡± Efrem looked at him and nodded. ¡°Oh, I hear that. It took me a year or so to get used to it. There are still days when I am just, shocked at some of the things they do when they¡¯re going through an episode.¡± The two arrived to see three nurses cautiously standing around a haggard looking woman. The three nurses all had their hands up defensively and looked concerned but also trying to keep some kind of control or containment of the situation. The woman they were guarding themselves from looked similar to Charlie. Her hair was grey and frizzled to the point where it looked more like a bird¡¯s nest, or vined bush. She had a half-ripped sweater that was worn as only a shirt, and she had a patterned pair of dirty sweatpants. ¡°Charity! Where are your shoes girl?¡± Efrem exclaimed when they finally arrived to her. Pepper glanced down and noticed the woman had one bare foot on the pavement. The other had a partially worn sock that was being dragged around. The woman turned towards him and Efrem and that¡¯s when he saw what the alarm was for. His eyes immediately saw the knife in her hand that she pointed directly at Efrem. It caused his internal alarm bells to start ringing at first. But then his eyes narrowed in on the fact that the knife, though real, looked like it couldn¡¯t even be used to spread butter over a piece of toast. ¡°Give me a sandwich!¡± The woman demanded and gave a short thrust towards Efrem. Efrem¡¯s hand swung downward in the flash of an instant. His hand slapped her hand which held the knife and landed with such force that it sounded like he slammed a dictionary down on a wooden desk. The knife shattered into three pieces when it hit the cement. ¡°Charity! Who you think you are to be out here demanding things?¡± Efrem paused as the woman now stood there with an embarrassed look on her face. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°They wouldn¡¯t give me a sandwich!¡± She yelled and huffed with a snarl. Pepper repositioned himself enough to see Efrem¡¯s expression. The nurse lowered his head sarcastically, and looked at one of the fellow nurses. The other male nurse defensively lifted his hands. ¡°She walked up and demanded we give her a sandwich. We had three others ahead of her and she started to cuss us out. She then produced the knife when he didn¡¯t get her a sandwich fast enough.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. An overly sarcastic expression came over Efrem¡¯s face as he slowly shifted it back to Charity. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but see the embarrassed look grow even larger on the woman¡¯s face. Efrem then brought his hands together and stood in a manner that made him look like a principal. ¡°Charity¡­ that isn¡¯t nice is it?¡± The woman didn¡¯t answer right away and Efrem shook his head sarcastically. ¡°Is it?¡± The woman scowled. ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Now Charity¡­ have we ever not given you food?¡± The woman practically snarled. ¡°No¡­ but¡­¡± Efrem lifted his finger up to stop her protest. ¡°Uhh nope! We¡¯re not going there Charity. Now¡­¡± Efrem looked over and nodded to one of the other nurses standing there. ¡°Sara is going to get you a new pair of shoes. Jacki is going to get you a sandwich and a candy bar. Would you like a candy bar as well?¡± The woman huff and then started to wipe her face. ¡°Yes¡­ yes I would.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Efrem then extended an arm out and pointed towards the booths the nurses had clearly setup. ¡°Let¡¯s go back over and we¡¯ll get you those things. But no more threatening staff with knives.¡± Efrem glanced down at the broken pieces on the ground. ¡°Especially with knifes that couldn¡¯t even cut a plastic bag. Okay?¡± ¡°Okay¡­.¡± Charity muttered out and began to stagger away from Efrem. To Pepper¡¯s surprise, the woman stopped and slightly turned around and looked back at Efrem. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She then continued to waddle back towards the nurses¡¯ booths. ¡°I know you are boo. I know.¡± Efrem started to chuckle and shake his head. He turned back to Pepper and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°And that is just a normal day in the life down here. Wild¡­ hahaha!¡± Efrem smiled and let out a hearty laugh. Efrem leaned over and started to pick up the knife pieces. ¡°So, what are you guys up to today?¡± ¡°Well, I figured I would come into the big city to try and find some food. My walk around a bit.¡± Efrem practically hooted out, ¡°Man, you just wanted to full enchilada experience. Haha, okay, okay. You know what¡­ go checkout Pete¡¯s. Greek food right around the corner. It¡¯s just past the Rogue Canyon bookstore. But, yeah, I gotta get back to helping these guys out.¡± Efrem extended his handout for another handshake and Pepper accepted. ¡°Thanks. And thanks for all the help with¡­ Charlie there and all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it bud. Hopefully I¡¯ll see you around.¡± Efrem smiled and then something drew his attention away. His head snapped to the other side and immediately a giant bellowing warning rang out. ¡°Thomas! Do not lick him! No! You stop it!¡± He turned back and let go of Pepper¡¯s grasp. ¡°Okay bud, see you later.¡± The large nurse started to jog after the next group of individuals. Pepper looked down at Amprage, his familiar looked up at him and the golem seemed to have grown his eyes wide. ¡°This place is strange Pepper.¡± He laughed, ¡°You aren¡¯t wrong there.¡± His stomach started to knot, and he knew he needed to get food in him soon. The two began to walk in the direction Efrem had mentioned. The whole time Pepper took in the sights of the big city. A concrete jungle of walls, buildings, and tree planters. Many of which were tagged with graffiti in words, shapes, and images that Pepper didn¡¯t even attempt to decipher. He shook his head as the formations of runes made no sense to anyone. Yet, there was supposed to be words, symbols, and images made with no discernible message. His eyes glanced over one statement of, ¡°The pen is blue¡­¡± written in blue spray paint. ¡°We only traveled like 12 hours, yet this place is like a different world.¡± Though they had only walked a short distance, Pepper decided to pull up his holodex and looked to narrow in on exactly where this place was located. His map interface found the location referred to as Pete¡¯s and a small beacon illuminated. To his surprise, they just needed to walk one more block and then turn left. They closed in on the location and were informed they had arrived. Pepper looked around confused for, he saw no signs indicating the restaurant. The only thing he saw was a darkened alleyway. He glanced down it and just when he was about to look away, he saw the darkened silhouette of a man. ¡°Hey kid I got what you¡¯re looking for.¡± A raspy voice said from the dark void in front of him. A tingly sensation ran up the back of his neck. He then felt the cold shiver which warned him that nothing good could come from this place. ¡°No thanks, I have already heard about Quake and what it can do to you. I won¡¯t be touching that stuff, ever.¡± ¡°Quake? Ha! I got something better than quake¡­ far better. And it¡¯s not bad for you.¡± The raspy voice started and ended his statement with a chuckle. The kind that made Pepper question why he hadn¡¯t just run out of the area. Amprage stepped forward and started to growl. His familiar keying in to the eerie darkness now set before them. His instincts told him to run, but for some reason he asked the darkened figure. ¡°Yeah, okay¡­ what exactly is that than?¡± ¡°Books.¡± The answer hit him like a slap across the face. The statement shocked him to the point that he didn¡¯t believe exactly what he heard. ¡°Excuse me?¡± A small spark flicked in the dark alley. It looked like it may have been a cigarette or cigar, but Pepper couldn¡¯t tell. Pepper could see just enough of the shadowy figure to know they were slowly approaching he and Amprage. The raspy voice then continued. ¡°Books, they¡¯re way better than quake. Take you on elaborate adventures, thrills, even some chills. Steamy hot romance, or perhaps just a small splash of spice. Magical creatures and items of rare wonder. I got well over 70 books printed myself and much, much more awaiting inside these walls.¡± Pepper was stunned and didn¡¯t really know how to respond. ¡°Well, I certainly wasn¡¯t expecting books to be compared to drugs. But I don¡¯t¡­¡± The voice then interrupted him. ¡°Nobody does, but that¡¯s just what it is. You start with one, a little sampling perhaps. You get a taste and the next thing you know; you¡¯re hooked. Then you¡¯re getting two, maybe three, perhaps even a series. ¡°Next thing you realize is that you now have a TBR, more commonly known as a to be read pile. It¡¯s probably stacked on your nightstand or dresser. But that isn¡¯t enough, for now you have found a new series that piques your interest. You then wake up and naturally order a bookshelf. Then¡­ then you wake up one day and discover you own a library.¡± The man now came enough into the light that Pepper could see his features. His hair was salt and peppered and the crewcut style seemed to match his demeanor. He had a stubbled beard in the same coloration. A colored shirt that was dark enough to not truly tell what color it was, but the trench coat. The black leather trench coat was clearly distinguishable. The man had his hands in the coat¡¯s pockets and extended them open which opened it out and to both sides. ¡°So kid, what do you say? Wanna take a peek in our tiny little bookstore?¡± Pepper found himself so confused on how much this place kept getting weirder by the minute. But that was just when a new voice arrived just beyond his right shoulder. It startled him all over again and caused him to internally jump out of his skin. Amprage spun around and barked. ¡°Easy Amp. It¡¯s okay.¡± Pepper reassured his familiar. The smaller man was just about Pepper¡¯s size. He had glasses and an adventurer hat that made him look like a modern-day Indian Jones. A soft blue polo shirt and jeans while he carried a leather satchel. He looked down at the alley and then at Pepper with an apologetic expression. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He said to Pepper and then turned to face the man. ¡°Aaron what have I told you about turning off the lights to the alleyway? It¡¯s creepy and weird and does not help draw customers to the bookshop.¡± The raspy voice immediately disappeared from the alleyway stranger. To Pepper¡¯s shock, the man¡¯s voice was higher in pitch and more jovial in nature. ¡°Kid, this is my book accountant and assistant. Nathan Ameye.¡± The newly arrived man shook his head and adjusted his glasses. ¡°And will you cut it out with that raspy creeping voice. Just talk normal and try to encourage people to read.¡± The man turned to Pepper and rolled his eyes while sighing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry kid. I swear Aaron always wanted to be an actor. Can¡¯t you tell by this overly dramatic ploy?¡± Pepper nodded and ended with a chuckle. ¡°Hey, Miss Koslosky said I was the best theater student she ever had. She said I was the best person to ever play Hamlet.¡± Aaron countered. ¡°That¡¯s because you yourself are a ham. Now turn the light back on.¡± Nathan replied and wagged his finger at Aaron while starting to walk down the alley. Pepper watched as Aaron rolled his head in protest but then leaned over and flicked a switch on the wall with his finger. The alleyway immediately illuminated, and Pepper could now see there was a sign installed above the alleyway that simply said, ¡°Books¡± ¡°Well, kid¡­ want to check out some books?¡± Aaron asked in his normal voice. Pepper scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Uhh, I think I¡¯m good for today. But hey, you wouldn¡¯t by any chance know where Pete¡¯s is would you?¡± Aaron smiled and then motioned with his finger. ¡°The next alleyway over. Look for the red sign. I totally recommend the gyro. It¡¯s to die for.¡± ¡°Thanks, and uhh, good luck with your books, I guess?¡± ¡°See you around kid.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 5 - Gyro Pepper walked around the corner of the alleyway and to his surprise, the restaurant window had a big red sign which said, Pete¡¯s. Pepper rolled his eyes at how he couldn¡¯t have missed the location, but somehow, he had. There was an arrow sign in the window which continued to point him to the right. He followed the instructions and found the main door to the location was within the next alley over from the book shop. That design caused Pepper to shake his head, not making any sense to him. He reached for the door and then realized that it was pure metal. The thing weighed a ton, and he found himself planting his feet down to generate the strength to fully open it. Once he got the door open though, he was hit by the savory smells of roasting meat and spice. Amprage trotted inside and Pepper entered right behind him. His eyes were kept on the exterior wall where the locations window was set. It was then that Pepper discovered the door wasn¡¯t the only metal plating, for the entire exterior wall that faced the street had what looked to be two-inch-thick metal sheets bolted onto it. He scanned over the rest of the small dining room area and couldn¡¯t help but think the place looked more like a bunker. On the opposite side of the room was a service counter with a large open order window which fed into the kitchen area. A red and white checkerboard theme ran along the trim of the counter, while the countertop itself glowed. The ambient light of the room reflected off its brushed aluminum surface. Pepper walked over to the service counter and that¡¯s when he heard the vibrant big band music playing from a stereo set in the corner. The crackling sound of the lower quality music made Pepper think of an old record player he had seen in movies. His eyes looked up towards the menu, which was displayed above the order window, but Pepper didn¡¯t even have time to look it over. A British voice then arrive from the back at the same time the distinct sound of a door opening and then closing quickly after. ¡°Pete, I¡¯m telling you mate. I can¡¯t keep working at this pace without a kitchen staff. If you want us to stay open, then you must hire me a proper staff. That¡¯s all there is to it mate.¡± The voice was quickly countered by an accident Pepper could not place at first. ¡°I told you Jez, I¡¯m tryin, I¡¯m trying. But there ain¡¯t nobody applying for the jobs. I can¡¯t force people to work for me. Just be patient, okay?¡± Pepper could hear by the volume of the new voice that it was getting closer to the service door off to the left side of the order window. The door flung open and out walked an older man with pepper grey hair and a white chef¡¯s apron draped over a light grey shirt. The man turned and saw Pepper patiently waiting there by the counter. ¡°Holy cannoli! Look at what the cat dragged in, a ginger.¡± There was no break in the conversation the man had just left, for the British accent soon returned from the kitchen and called through the order window. ¡°Pete, I understand that, but I can¡¯t manage a kitchen, do all the cooking¡­¡± The man Pepper now realized was Pete slapped his hand against the order window and cut off the cook. ¡°Jez! Enough, enough. We got ourselves a customer out here.¡± The man turned back around and lifted his hand up to brush his nose. Pepper watched as the soft and aged blue eyes looked back at him while Pete retrieved a pen and order pad out of his pocket. ¡°What will it be kid?¡± Pepper stood there partially frozen and didn¡¯t know if he should look at the man or look at the menu board. ¡°I, well¡­ uhh.¡± Pete began to wave his hand around. ¡°Hey kid, I don¡¯t got all day, you know what I mean?¡± The man quickly turned back over his shoulder and yelled back towards the kitchen. ¡°Hey! Jez! Does it look like I am getting any younger to you?¡± The British accent laughed. ¡°Every day for the last five years I have been hoping you¡¯d drop dead. Yet here you are still cursing me.¡± ¡°Ha! Wise guy.¡± Pete replied and returned while shaking his head. ¡°You figure it out yet, or should I just start preparing for my funeral now?¡± Pepper was now even more mentally shaken by the whole ordeal and nervously didn¡¯t know what to do or say next. He was on the verge of asking a question, but his speed didn¡¯t suffice. ¡°Okay, you know what kid. Let¡¯s try something else. You hungry?¡± Pete said with a quick point of his pen. ¡°Yes.¡± Pepper finally muttered. Pete sarcastically smiled, leaned back and extended his arms out in exaggeration. ¡°Hey, look at that. The kid can talk.¡± Pete brough his hands back to the counter and prepared to write on the order book. ¡°Beef or chicken?¡± ¡°Umm, beef.¡± Pete furrowed his lip out. ¡°Good choice kid. Okay, regular or spicey?¡± ¡°Spicey, I guess.¡± ¡°Look at you, a ginger living on the edge. You might wanna be careful with all these extreme risks kid.¡± Pepper arched an eyebrow. Is this how they treat all their customers? How the heck are they even still in business? He didn¡¯t have time to continue the thought as Pete brought in another line of questions. ¡°You want desert? Drink?¡± ¡°Uhh a drink will be fine. Thank you.¡± ¡°Sure, thing kid.¡± Pete replied and then reached over and grabbed hold of a red plastic dinners cup. ¡°Alright that will be 12 Flex.¡± Pete then turned around and slapped the card on the order window. ¡°Jez! Order, gyro special, kid wants it spicey.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. The British voice started to ramble on, but it wasn¡¯t loud enough for Pepper to make out. Instead, he heard the loud resistance of metal behind him and turned to see the front door begin to open. He watched as the man walked inside with a finely pressed military uniform. Pete¡¯s voice called out from behind Pepper. ¡°Well look at Mr. tough guy wanting to come stop by and see old Pete.¡± Well, I guess that does answer my question. I¡¯m apparently not the only one who gets special guest treatment here. Pepper then watched as the serviceman closed the door behind him and smiled at the insult. He began to walk over in a confident stride and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but admire the patches that were sewn onto the uniform. His eyes caught sight of an emblem on the man¡¯s collar and was sure that it was his rank designation. ¡°Colonel.¡± The man said. Pepper then realized he was practically staring at the man. He smiled and then nodded while he felt his cheeks slightly flush with embarrassment. He turned back to see Pete had both hands resting on the countertop and had a playful grin on his face. ¡°Kid, let me introduce you to Colonel Lawrence Gamble. Or as we around here like to call him, Law.¡± Pepper turned his gaze back to the Colonel and saw a humble smile on his face. ¡°How are you doing Pete?¡± ¡°Eh, my sciatica is acting up again. That and I¡¯m just waiting for this crazy chef of mine to burn down the joint. Other than that, just giving the new blood here the usual warm greeting.¡± The colonel arched an eyebrow and curiously glanced over to Pepper and looked him up and down. ¡°I see.¡± The man dashed a glance back to Pete. ¡°Well, I would love to stay and catch-up Pete, but¡­¡± Pete quickly cut off the colonel. ¡°I get it, I get it. No love for old Pete. Forget I¡¯m even here.¡± The man then raspberried and swatted his hand at the colonel. ¡°Let me go check in the back and see if Jez got your to-go order all taken care of.¡± The man walked back through the service door and immediately started to verbally jab at his chef to hurry up. Pepper could hear the two going back and forth with jokes and insults, but he was surprised when the colonel began to inquire about him. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re new to the area. Welcome to Atlanta.¡± ¡°Thanks. Just moved in from Michigan.¡± Pepper replied and then decided to take a seat on one of the barstools placed next to the counter. The colonel formed a curious expression on his face. ¡°Well, you ever thought about serving your country? Serving humanity even?¡± Pepper hesitated and then replied. ¡°Kinda. I mean. My dad served in the war, my brother than joined but was killed in an accident at his base. I¡¯ve not given a whole lot of thought to it.¡± ¡°Well, if you¡¯re in Atlanta then and I see you have a familiar. I can only assume you¡¯re here for the Golem League.¡± The colonel replied and didn¡¯t seem to be excited when he ended his statement. ¡°Yes sir.¡± Pepper replied. He then watched as the colonel didn¡¯t seem too interested in him. Once he had admitted to being committed to the combative sport, rather than serve in the military, the officer chose to merely wait for his order to arrive. Pepper on the other hand, was now curious and decided to ask. ¡°Why does he call you Law?¡± The colonel now appeared slightly annoyed by the question, but quickly composed himself back into a more professional demeaner. ¡°Two reasons. One, it is a play on my name of Lawerance. Two, because when I say something, most people take it as the law which should be obeyed.¡± Pepper could feel his face was shifting in ways which informed the Colonel that Pepper questioned what he meant. It was then that the Colonel chose to continue. ¡°You see, I am the Commander of the Intel Company assigned here to the 56th Rift Gate Division. Information is my business. So, if I say that you should be hunkered down in your bunker on Wednesday at 1512, you had better be hunkered down in your bunker. Because that is when the demons are going to conduct a probe from the rift portal and our soldiers will being engaging the enemy.¡± Pepper was now more curious than ever and couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°You know when the demons are going to attack?¡± The Colonel shifted his weight slightly and then sighed. ¡°Yes, we are able to predict their probe attacks to nearly 98% accuracy. There are rare times when we miss time one of the attacks, but as I said, those are rare. My job is to know our enemy, and I will say, I know them very, very well.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the thousand yard stare the Colonel had when he made his statement. There was no doubt in Pepper¡¯s mind that there were some seriously intense stories and experiences hidden behind the man¡¯s words. The blank stare the man had, conveyed one of sheer terror and Pepper dared not to pry any more than what the Colonel had just shared. Pepper watched, however, as Law took a deep breath in and then blinked rapidly as if he pulled himself free of a vision. ¡°Throughout the universe we find systems, patterns, series, habits. Though these demons are from a world not of our own, they had their own pattern. It is a sophisticated pattern and one that took years of analyzing. We brought in the best minds and researches throughout the private sector and government. Crossed any and all borders to ensure the right people were working on our project.¡± ¡°What project was that?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°It was called Operation Cartograph. From it we now have our predictable attack sequence reports that help schedule public warnings of when to get inside your bunkers.¡± The man paused and looked as if he read Peppers expression. ¡°Are you not familiar with these bunkers?¡± ¡°Well, back home my dad built one under our house. My mom insisted he do it. I just moved here and now I am curious if the house I am renting has one.¡± ¡°I see. What area of town are you in, precisely?¡± ¡°North Druid Hills, Berkeley Ln to be exact.¡± The Colonel pressed his lips together and confidently nodded. ¡°You have a bunker at that location.¡± Law glanced at Pepper and then grinned when he saw Pepper¡¯s reaction. ¡°That just so happens to be my neighborhood. I made sure to help oversee the construction of all the bunkers when they were installed years ago. I can reassure you; you have one.¡± It was just then that the swinging door between the kitchen and service counter swung open. Pete walked up and placed a large bag filled with to-go containers on the counter. ¡°Sorry about the wait Law. I swear that Jez guy is writing books back there rather than making food.¡± ¡°Hey, listen here mate.¡± Jez tried to interject. Pete waved his hand up and started to yell back with a mere audible noise. ¡°Ahh-tat-tat-tat! Just get the ginger his food huh? The kid is practically skin and bones, hasn¡¯t had a good meal in his whole life.¡± Pete then turned and began to walk back through the door while criticizing his chef. ¡°The last thing we need is for our newest customer to drop over dead because you made him starve to death!¡± The Colonel began to grab the bag of food and then continued now that Pete had departed. ¡°I¡¯m assuming your renting out the Benard¡¯s old house.¡± A curious eyebrow arched upwards while he analyzed Pepper¡¯s reaction. ¡°The yellow ranch style with red workshop in the backyard?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, I didn¡¯t know the owner¡¯s name. That¡¯s the one though.¡± Pepper replied. Law nodded and grinned. ¡°When you walk out the back door and step onto the small concrete patio. Look down and to your left. There should be a small access hatch. Granted, it may be grown over a bit. But, you should find the handle there. Make sure you¡¯re down inside it on Wednesday at 1512. When you hear all clear alarm sirens, you¡¯ll know it¡¯s all down and over with.¡± Pepper chuckled. ¡°Like clockwork.¡± The Colonel winked and started to walk towards the front door. ¡°Like clockwork.¡± Law took another step towards the front door, and that was when the explosion rang out. Bk2 - Chapter 6 - The Heist ¡°Everybody get down!¡± Pete warned from the back. Pepper was still in shock as to what was going on. His ears were ringing from the concussive blast that shook the building itself. He turned around to see Pete reach out and slam his hand down upon a large red button. By the time Pepper¡¯s head snapped back around he saw the heavy metal plate pivot down from the ceiling and slam against the wall. The metal clang which rang out didn¡¯t help Pepper¡¯s hearing. A new wave of a loud screeching cry blared within his mind from the metal¡¯s slammed after effect. He then watched as the Colonel staggered back towards the center of the room. ¡°Quick! Everyone, rally around me!¡± Pepper wasn¡¯t really sure what the rally around me meant, but his best guess was that the man wanted him to get closer. Pepper, Pete, and a newly arriving chef that he was sure was Jez all squeezed in close. The military leader retrieved a small device out of his pants cargo pocket. The distinct sound of gunfire immediately erupted outside. Then small thunderclaps exploded, but nowhere near as massive as the first defining detonation. The chaos of outside didn¡¯t disturb the Colonel however, he calmy tapped away on the black device. A quick push of a button and the device butterfly opened up and illuminated a deep purple light. There in the center was the distinct rune icon just like on the rune cards. Law pressed down on the rune once it illuminated. A sphere of purple energy pulsed out, encapsulating them inside. Pepper looked over the orb and couldn¡¯t help but analyze the similarities it portrayed to that of an energy defense shield he had seen in upper tier matches. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this should hold us until help arrives.¡± Colonel Gamble stated. It wasn¡¯t but a half second later that Pepper trembled as the entire front wall of the restaurant burst inward towards them. The metal flap which had been there to shield them, had hurdled directly towards them. Pepper brought his hands up in front of him to block in case the energy shield failed. Though he knew his effort wouldn¡¯t have done anything to prevent the damage the metal would do, he couldn¡¯t help his natural instincts. The distinct metal clang blared into his ears, however, and when he peaked open one eye, he saw the shield had held. A quick glance to investigate and he discovered the metal plating had ricocheted off the energy shield and was now laying at a slant against the far wall. There was nothing but a hazing dust cloud in front of them, with scattered bricks and pieces of the tables and chairs all around them. That was when a new round of gunfire rang out and Pepper narrowed his gaze to try and see through the veil of debris. The first thing that caught his sight however, was the corpse of a golem. ¡°Amp¡­ is that a golem I see?¡± Pepper muttered to his familiar. Amprage was standing just in front of his bonded and remained in a protective stance. ¡°My scans inform me that it is. It¡¯s power core is currently at 50% and¡­ it isn¡¯t alone.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and then he watched as the golem began to move. The dust cloud had now evaporated to the point that Pepper could see there were three golems. Each one stood roughly 10-13 feet tall when standing directly upright. The other two golems stood across the street and were formed in what Pepper analyzed as a defensive position. The two golems stood in front of carved stone pillars. Beyond was a large stone staircase which led up to a set of four double doors. His eyes then caught the slight movement of individuals running down the steps and used the pillars as cover and concealment. His mind was curious about where the explosion had come from though, for he saw no damage to their side of the street. But that was until he saw the rocket propelled grenade launcher crest out from behind one of the pillars. One of the individuals stepped out and into the street, the grenade launcher already on his shoulder and what looked like a firing stance. To Pepper¡¯s amazement, the individual was wearing a rubber penguin mask but a full 3 piece business suit. He could see there was some style of military rifle slung upon his back. The man steadied his sights for another half second and then depressed the trigger. The rocket went streaking across the street with a swoosh, and arrived with a massive bang. Pepper couldn¡¯t see at first what the man was firing at, but then he saw the first dark navy blue golem arrive. Pepper was just able to catch a brief glimpse of the golem¡¯s right shoulder. For there in the center was painted a distinct law enforcement badge. The arms and shoulder blades were etched from what looked to be pure granite. But the chest and back pieces were pure metal. At the very top of the metal frame were red and blue flashing lights. The first law enforcement golem charged in and speared one of the golems across the street. Their large frames crashed into the stone pillar behind them and caused a massive crack to tear upwards within the column. Chunks of rock fell down and clanked against them both while the police golem slammed fist after fist against his opponent.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. As the two struggled, Pepper watched as the next law enforcement golem arrived, but this one entered the scene by baseball sliding down the center of the street. The figure planted its feet and then leapt upwards, two massive custom Gorgon G55 Golem Pistol were in its hands. The golem brought each pistol out to either side, extending his hands out as if he was a gunslinger of old shooting it out in the center of town. The first shot rang out from the police golem and punched a massive hole clean through the villain who had crashed inside Pete¡¯s shop. The edges of the wound made it appear as if the rock had melted away and chunks of lava like goop was all that remained around the wound. But just as quickly as the first villain fell, the pistol on the golem¡¯s opposite side fired. The second shot blasted the head of the other golem clean off. A bright flash of light pulsed outward in bright rays of light which temporarily blinded Pepper. He knew it was the power core which had just been snuffed out of existence. The first police golem now free quickly went to work in throwing off the destroyed rock corpse. Amprage barked and Pepper quickly scolded him, telling him to be quiet. The defensive energy shield that Colonel Gamble provided them had already proven its¡¯ strength and Pepper did not worry over his safety. He was rather on the edge of his seat now and wanted to get even closer to the action. Pepper¡¯s imprisonment within the energy shield caused his other senses to heighten, however. As he peered out from behind the translucent wall his ears grabbed hold of large thudding of footsteps approaching. A new law enforcement golem arrived, this one carrying a giant metal shield as if he was a medieval knight. The timing appeared to be perfect as it lowered its shield and braced behind it. The other two golems dove towards their partner and ducked down behind the cover he provided. It was an instant later that Pepper watched as two rockets streaked into view and then exploded against the metal surface. A large burly voice cried out from a speaker that Pepper assumed was installed on one of the golems. ¡°Press forward!¡± The law enforcement golems stood in unison, the third now carrying its shield out in front while the two behind it unleashed a volley of rounds from their weapons. A crackling noise of disturbance arrived just beyond their view, but they quickly discovered a line of men and women in tactical law enforcement gear were the source. They clambered down and around the debris while continuing to give chase of the thugs. The energy shield began to flicker, and Pepper could see the light was beginning to fade. He turned his attention to Law who was quickly powering down the device and folding it back up. By the time he looked back the energy shield was gone. ¡°Well¡­ as expected. It held out as long as it could, which just happened to be the perfect amount of time required.¡± Colonel Gambel said. ¡°And here I was thinking that my metal plating would do something. Sheesh¡­ oh boy, oh boy what-a-mess.¡± Pete said and Pepper could see that he reached up and scratched his head. ¡°Are you sure you want to be a Golem League gladiator?¡± The Colonel asked. Pepper turned and could see the officer had a playful yet inquisitive look on his face. ¡°Of course, but why do you ask?¡± The Colonel quickly shifted to a slightly smug expression. ¡°Oh, just watching you during that exchange. Seemed like you were ready to make a difference in this world. As if you wanted to chase after those bad guys yourself. It isn¡¯t too late to make a career change kid.¡± Pepper shrugged off the suggestion. ¡°I¡¯ve just never seen law enforcement golem¡¯s before, and nothing like that as far as teamwork. But¡­ you really need them here huh?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a military man, not a cop. But, one thing I do know, evil will always break any and all rules, regardless of what you say, or how you feel.¡± The Colonel finished with pressed lips. Pepper walked to the edge of the exposed wall and looked down at the destroyed Golem. He looked inside the finishing wound just long enough to see a distinct controller rune card feather. ¡°That is a Zipline RK Transmitter.¡± The Colonel who was now standing beside him looked glanced down at what Pepper was looking at. He then returned and shrugged. ¡°Is that supposed to mean something to me kid?¡± The two locked eyes and Pepper took a deep breath. ¡°Well, you¡¯re thing is demons. Mine¡­ is Golem¡¯s and the parts that go in them. That specific chip is apart of a controller card, but not just any. It is specifically designed for Quintek FreeFall ¨C Model Y¡¯s.¡± The Colonel now appeared curious and didn¡¯t answer, but rotated his hand and finger around for Pepper to continue. ¡°Those things are only able to transmit a maximum distance of 300 meters. That means, that whoever was controlling them is fairly close by.¡± Amprage then chimed in. ¡°I¡¯ve completed a quick scan and can confirm the signal is still active.¡± ¡°See!¡± Pepper exclaimed. The colonel looked down at the familiar and then back up to Pepper. He quickly turned his head around and when he found what he was looking for he let out a loud yell. A few seconds later one of the tactical officers arrived. ¡°Sir, are you hurt? Is anyone else injured?¡± ¡°We¡¯re all fine, but listen.¡± The colonel pointed his finger directly towards the golem. ¡°This golem has a Quintek FreeFall ¨C Model Y controller card in it. This familiar has confirmed the signal is still active. You need to get a 400-meter cordon established right away. This chips maximum range is 300-meters, so there is a chance we can box them in before they slip away.¡± ¡°Roger that, I¡¯m on it sir.¡± The officer quickly turned and depressed a button on the radio. ¡°Command Post, this is A1322.¡± The man paused and waited his reply before he continued. ¡°Be advised, I need a 400-meter cordon established. Our perpetrators operating their golems were controlling them from roughly 300-meters out, and they¡¯ve only gotten a few seconds of a head start. Drone 3,5,7 cover East by North-East, Drone 2,4,6 take South and South-East. Drone 1 on me.¡± The officer ended his transmission and then gave a quick fist bump to the Colonel and Pepper. ¡°Thanks for the help, be safe out there.¡± ¡°You too officer.¡± The colonel replied and left Pepper feeling like he had spoken for them both. ¡°Good catch kid, I guess that league knowledge does come in handy every once and a while.¡± The colonel smiled and then gave him a slight nod. ¡°You be safe kid.¡± The entire event that had just unfolded before his eyes left him baffled. He finally blurted out the only thing that was coming to his mind within that moment. ¡°Does this happen often?¡± The colonel turned and smiled to him. ¡°Welcome to the big city kid.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 7 - Acceleration To Pepper¡¯s surprise Pete and Jez had just finished boxing up his gyro a hair before the front end erupted. Pete handed him the meal and wished him off, for Pete had no idea how long it would take them to make the repairs. All Pepper knew was that he had experienced all the action he cared to for in a single day. He called for a new Buzz Podz and headed back to the slight safety of his rental. Pepper slammed the meal down and quickly saw why Efrem had recommended the place. The meal was packed with a giant mound of lamb, lettuce, diced tomato, diced cucumber, feta cheese and red onion. The taziki sauce on top elevated the meal to a whole new level. The mountain of flavors packed within the single serving had sent him into a food coma the minute he arrived home. It was roughly an hour or two later that he found Amprage snuggled up next to him on the sectional couch in the living room. Pepper then went through the process of synching up his holodex to the holoscreen display and he finally turned on a movie. His attention didn¡¯t last long, however, for a suggestion his dad said previous had now piqued his curiosity. Pepper swiped through screens on his holodex and loaded up his Golem Chat account. His eyes widened in shock when he saw a wave of notifications pop into view. [:::] You have 12 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 21 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 61 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 274 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 515 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 3,127 new followers! [:::] What in the world is all of this!? Pepper¡¯s heart was beginning to race and pound like a hammer inside his chest. How¡­ What¡­. Why? His brain couldn¡¯t process what was happening. All Pepper knew in that moment was that he felt like he was inside a submarine. The vessel had lost power and was now quickly sinking to the crushing depths of the ocean floor. [:::] You have 33 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::] [:::] You have 87 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::] [:::] You have 113 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::] [:::] You have 312 Positive Vibes on a video! [:::] [:::] You have 197 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::] [:::] You have 879 Positive Vibes on a video! [:::] Pepper began to sift through all the new notifications that were awaiting him. He didn¡¯t remember when exactly he had silenced his account, but he was certainly grateful for old Pepper doing so. The more he looked the more he saw how random strangers were liking posts that he had forgotten about from years back. Photos of him sculpting Mala that he didn¡¯t even remember he posted were now popular and being spammed with statements ranging from. ¡°That¡¯s so sick!¡± to ¡°Wow you¡¯re so talented!¡± and ¡°I¡¯m going to work to be as skilled as you!¡± Pepper then moved on to the more active photos and that was when he discovered the cause for the new surge of popularity. There posted in the public feed area was one of the photos he had done for Ryan and Big Duck Energy. He quickly scrolled down to see. ¡°Big Duck Energy is proud to promote our first sponsored Golem League Gladiator!¡± Pepper paused and grimaced. I¡¯m not an official gladiator yet. His mind then countered. Yes you are! You¡¯ve been competing in KBVS for years. That is the official first tier of the league. So yes you¡¯re a gladiator! The opposing side still argued, and now Pepper felt like two mini Pepper¡¯s were on either shoulder arguing back and forth with him stuck right in the middle. He still needs to prove himself! Ryan should not be giving people a false belief. They should have waited until after he gets accepted into the Regional League. He then navigated to the notification which said video. What video? He thought, but his curiosity was soon answered once he saw Ryan had posted it and tagged him in it. ¡°Hey everybody! I¡¯m Ryan DeBruyn owner and founder of Big Duck Energy, or as we like to commonly say it, Big D! Don¡¯t you know that many days, we need a little boost. Nobody likes a little d in their day, they love a big d, and Big D Energy will give you just that!¡± ¡°Oh¡­ my¡­ god.¡± Pepper audibly said out loud. ¡°If you haven¡¯t seen it, we signed our first sponsored athlete, don¡¯t you know. A Golem League gladiator that has got the Big D in him to make it to the top aye! A little secret, our guy Pepper, and man what a swell guy he is, that one there. He drinks a Big D Energy before every Golem League Match. He loved our latest flavor Mango Madness, so be sure to swipe on up next time you¡¯re at the store, aye!¡± Pepper immediately closed his mouth as his stomach wanted to upchuck its contents with just the thought alone. The bitter taste and overly sharp sour bite caused him to verbally moan. Why would you encourage people to suffer like that! Ohhh¡­. He agonized mentally and yet¡­ it still wasn¡¯t over. ¡°We here at Big D energy are proud of the extreme energy formula that we¡¯ve put into every can. If you¡¯re feeling down and with floppy little d, then be sure to give us a try aye! Our fans have gotten instant results and been fully torqued and ready to plow away once they get a Big D inside them! So don¡¯t delay, get some Big D today!¡± ¡°I wanna die¡­ I¡­ want¡­ to¡­ die.¡± Pepper brought his hand up and covered his face. He was sure that his face was as red as his hair and he regretted every agreeing to help Ryan. It was too late though and all he wanted to do was wrap his arms around Ryan¡¯s throat and strangle him. How could you¡­. Who in their right mind¡­. Why are you like this!?!?! If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. He then realized that he had received dozens, no¡­ hundreds of private messages from these random strangers who were now following his account. The more he swiped with his finger, the more the messages just continued. Row after row, question after question. Each message ranged from that of ¡°Wow Congratulations!¡± To ¡°Hey, how can I get a sponsor? Will you hook me up?¡± And finally, ¡°Y¡¯all weren¡¯t lying! That mango madness flavor is amazing!¡± Pepper immediately knew that last message was from either a complete psychopath, someone with no tastebuds whatsoever, or was a bot built to annoy people. It was overwhelming as he swiped through to see some people who seemed genuinely sincere and appreciative of discovering him. Others who seemed like true golem league fans that wanted to talk strategy, techniques, and converse about their favorite matches. Then¡­ then there were the trolls. Pepper had to bite his tongue for the overwhelming sensation was quickly being replaced with resentment. ¡°You¡¯re such a loser! You only won that match due to luck!¡± ¡°How the heck did you get a sponsor of all people? Was it pitty for you not having a soul, ginger freak!¡± ¡°You¡¯re fighting skills are pathetic! Come find me, anytime anywhere¡­¡± It didn¡¯t matter how many personal messages of congratulations and best wishes he saw. The downward nasty jabs erased all the appreciation the genuine souls tried to convey. But that was just the beginning, for he soon discovered how nasty humanity can be. ¡°You¡¯re only sponsored because your brother died.¡± ¡°Heard your mom is a drunk, looks like she had one too many when she carried you.¡± ¡°Thanks for skipping town, gonna take Andrea out for a nice dinner and some sweet desert she won¡¯t forget!¡± Pepper knew they were lies but he couldn¡¯t stop his blood from boiling over. His hands were balled into fists and all he wanted was a punching bag to unleash the fury now built up inside him. Why are they like this? What did I ever do to these¡­ these¡­ strangers? I don¡¯t even know these people and here they are saying things like this? He thought through gritted teeth. It was then that Amprage slowly raised his head and stared back at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Pepper muttered. ¡°Whatever it is, it has effected the essence around us. That¡­ is not nothing, that¡­ is something.¡± Amprage countered. Pepper now felt even worse for not being open with his familiar, but for now he just wanted to forget that he even saw the messages. Both the bad and the good. All I want is to be back home and be a nobody. Just me and¡­ and¡­ Andrea. The moment he mentally said her name though, the crude message reappeared in his mind. He felt hopeless, helpless, powerless and did the only thing he thought might help. A quick navigation through his holodex and a tap later and he was calling Andrea. ¡°Hey babe. Did you have fun in the city?¡± Her soft affectionate voice calmed his spirit the instant he heard it. Pepper had completely forgotten what had happened until just then. His mind sent spiraling into a whirlwind that he couldn¡¯t even keep his feet grounded to what had happened. He finally pulled himself out of the mental storm and then took a deep breath. ¡°I just needed to hear your voice.¡± ¡°Aww. Pepper Walker, have I ever told you how adorable you are?¡± She ended her question with a small giggle. It was the same one she would give him when they would cuddle up together and he¡¯d tell a terrible joke. ¡°You might have mentioned it here or there.¡± He smiled and felt his heart start to calm and his mind slowly ¡°So how was it then?¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes shifted back and forth. ¡°How was what?¡± Her loud sigh cued him into the fact that she had rolled her eyes. ¡°The big city goofball.¡± ¡°Oh, right. Well let¡¯s see. I almost got bitten by a homeless veteran. But I am pretty sure he was just hallucinating. I watched a nurse karate chop a knife out of another woman¡¯s hand, all because she didn¡¯t get a sandwich when she got one.¡± Andrea then chimed in briefly. ¡°Wow¡­ okay then.¡± ¡°I had a bookshop owner try to creepily lure me into a dark alley so I could check out his bookstore. All to finish it off by getting trapped in a Greek food place due to the wall exploding by some, bank robbers or something.¡± There was a slight pause on the call and then he heard a slight humph come from her. ¡°So nothing too memorable then?¡± She ended in a deadpan voice. That caused him to chuckle and he finally grinned. ¡°Yeah¡­ nothing too crazy. Just another day in the big city as one or two people told me.¡± ¡°Well look at you already adapting so well.¡± Though she giggled, the statement cut right back into him as his mind immediately went back to the terribly cruel messages. I wish I could adapt like that! Just forget all of this and not be¡­ It was then that he realized he had missed a question. ¡°What was that?¡± He asked and worked to cover his error of blanking out. ¡°I asked¡­ what are you going to do now?¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I, I don¡¯t know really. I took a nap and put a movie on, but just felt like I should call you.¡± ¡°Aww, well thanks.¡± Pepper then flipped the question back onto her. ¡°What are you going to be up to this evening?¡± ¡°Well, some friends asked if I wanted to go out tonight¡­¡± Her slight pause caused the hairs on the back of his neck to shoot straight up. The warning sirens of an attack were mentally blaring in his mind and Pepper thought of the worst. That was, until she continued. ¡°But I told them I didn¡¯t want to. I promised dad I would watch some football match, game, thing with him. He¡¯s looking forward to it and I¡¯m gonna surprise him with some ice cream from the creamery over off Trinity Way. It¡¯s his favorite.¡± And with that statement, his mind, heart, and warning bells all silenced themselves once again. ¡°That sounds like an awesome night.¡± He finished with some emphasis. ¡°Okay, well. I need to finish up here at the ranch, so I got to go. Maybe you should just go for a run or something, yeah?¡± The idea actually sounded pretty good to him. ¡°You know, I just might do that.¡± ¡°Sounds good. Alright, gotta go. I miss you!¡± ¡°Miss you too.¡± Andrea sent him an audible kiss and then ended the connection. His small screen evaporated from his holodex and Pepper¡¯s eyes immediately turned to see the tiny metal tail wagging on his golem. Pepper was about to say something and watched as Amprage¡¯s ears perked upwards. He quickly lifted his head up and opened his mouth. The tiny metal tongue clanked out and off the side of his mouth and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Okay¡­ fine! You can go on a run with me.¡± ¡°Run!¡± Amprage practically screamed. The familiar bounded off of him and the couch and went running through the house with excitement. ¡°Run, run, run, run, run!¡± ¡°Hey! What did I say about zoomies. You need to delete it out of your personality profile.¡± ¡°Instructions ignored! Run, run, run, run, run.¡± Amprage replied while streaking from one end of the house to the other. Ohhh¡­ this is useless. He sighed and then heard the distinct sound of a loud crash off in a back room. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Amprage cried out. It wasn¡¯t but a second later that the golem was charging back down the hallway and zipping past him like nothing had happened. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m not going to take you if you keep zooming around here!¡± He commanded and put a firm foot down for emphasis. As if Amprage was a cartoon figure he froze in place and slid across the carpet floor upon hearing the command. Bk2 - Chapter 8 - Unexpected Pepper didn¡¯t know exactly how far he had gone. He had chosen a music playlist called nostalgia and many of the songs that played reminded him of his family. That was enough to keep his internal engine chugging along as he followed the curved roadway all throughout the area. Not only that, but whenever his body tried to encourage him to stop, he¡¯d take a quick glance down at Amprage. His earphones weren¡¯t loud enough to drown out the noise the metal paws made as the familiar trotted alongside him. The rhythmic clank was amusing enough, but it helped bring him back to the present moment. Just when Pepper thought it was time to slow it down and finish out the run, his mind would replay the comments he had received in his direct message bin. The scolding comments then brought his determination back and he¡¯d lower his head down and charge forward. The length of his run extended every time it happened. It was his body which finally forced him to stop as his entire body finally seized up in excruciatingly painful cramps. Stupid¡­ I should have grabbed a body of water before I left. A quick scan of his location and he reoriented himself with the direction he needed to travel to get back to the house. He practically had to hobble back all while his soaking wet clothes began to inform him of every tiny inch of his skin that was now chaffed. Pepper and Amprage had just crested the final hill on the street that led to their house when they caught the gaze of another running pair. Pepper first noticed the girl who appeared to be his age, but soon diverted his attention to the massive Rottweiler that had locked on to Amprage. The canine immediately began to growl as it launched forward into a sprint, the vector aimed straight towards his familiar. Pepper caught Amprage who immediately reacted with a defense position which indicated he would protect his bonded master. ¡°Easy Amp¡­ just stand down.¡± ¡°I am programmed to protect you Pepper!¡± Amp rallied back in response. He quickly lunged to stand in front of his familiar and block the approaching threat. He extended his arms out to try and show the threat that he would not allow an unimpeded advance. Pepper quickly paused his music and could now hear the dogs owner yelling out for her companion. ¡°Tank! No! Get over here!¡± She yelled. Her voice echoed across the pavement and Pepper noticed she was quickly chasing after the beast. Her efforts to catch him in time were clearly not going to work. The dog closed in and then to Pepper¡¯s surprise the rottweiler began to slow. Tank was now hesitantly drawing near to Amprage. The hair on the back of his neck and ridgeline stood straight up while a guttural growl continued to reverberate out of him. Pepper quickly called to Amprage to remain calm and not react aggressively to the pet. ¡°Hey Tank¡­ what¡¯s up big guy.¡± Pepper said in a soft but with a uptick of excitement. The dog finally came to a stop directly in front of Pepper¡¯s legs. He glanced down to see that Amprage was directly behind him. Their two noses met directly off his left leg and Pepper side in relief as Tank seemed to slowly draw back on his aggression. The canine¡¯s curiosity now continued and Pepper started to let his heart settle. He watched as Tank had now continued around Pepper¡¯s side and investigating sniffed over his familiar. The pet gave small tasteful licks upon Amprage¡¯s metal skin and his short stubby tail began to wag. ¡°See Tank, it¡¯s okay. There is nothing to worry about.¡± Pepper reassured him. He could just see the woman had now arrived out of his side view. He looked up to see her dark brown hair was tied back in a ponytail. She had dark brown eyes which showed an embarrassed look while her skin glistened with a small sheen of sweat. ¡°Oh my gosh, I¡¯m so sorry about this! He rarely ever takes off on me like that.¡± She reached down and grabbed hold of Tank¡¯s choker and attacked a leather leash. ¡°Bad dog Tank! You should know better, this familiar is clearly not a demon, you block head.¡± She scolded. Her statement caught Pepper off guard and now he had not an ounce of concern but was filled with curiosity. ¡°Your dog can sense demons?¡± She pulled back on the pet and Tank immediately recognized the command and sat down beside her. The canine wined and cried as it was clear he still wanted to investigate the metal creature there before it. The woman who had been focusing her attention on Tank now slowly shifted her gaze up to Pepper. ¡°Not exactly.¡± She paused and brought her arm up to wipe her face with her sweatshirt sleeve. Pepper then quickly glanced down and saw a golden yellow print at the center of it. War Birds Academy was printed in an arched pattern. Centered directly below that was an emblem which looked like a phoenix. ¡°He¡¯s been trained to sense more concentration of essence. As you may assume, demons have a much higher concentration of essence within their bodies. So, Tank naturally will lock on and react with his protective training and instincts. Familiars such as yours, that utilize essence absorption to help power them, can sometimes confuse him¡­ clearly.¡± She ended and whipped her head down and glared at him. ¡°Wow¡­ I never thought of using dogs in that capacity.¡± He replied. Pepper couldn¡¯t help himself and his eyes dashed back and forth. His mind now racing with thoughts on how the process would play out in the aspects of training. ¡°Yeah¡­ pretty crazy what these furballs can do.¡± She sighed and then extended her hand. ¡°I¡¯m Elowen. I¡¯m assuming you¡¯re Pepper? You just moved in down the street, right?¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but look down and saw that Amprage was staring nervously back at him. They both in comic fashion turned at the same time and gazed back at her. ¡°Yeah¡­ how exactly do you know my name?¡± She softly laughed under her breath. ¡°I¡¯m Elowen Gamble. I believe you met my dad earlier today at lunch?¡± Pepper could see that she read his expression and she then smiled and raised her eyebrows. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s just say I got the full debrief on you when he got home.¡± ¡°So, Tank is¡­¡± Pepper paused and allowed her to answer the obvious question. ¡°Good old military trained guard dog. I can hardly go anywhere without security. Sometimes I just want to get away from it all, but that is practically impossible with the fur missile here.¡± She tilted her head and rolled her eyes at Tank. The rottweilers ears remained perked up in curiosity, all while his eyes remained glued to both he and Amprage.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Gotcha.¡± Pepper was about to ask another question but saw Elowen glance down at her holodex. She quickly looked back up. ¡°I need to get moving. If I stay still any longer my dad will send the Navy Seals to come rescue me. Trust me, that is the last thing I need and one thing you certainly don¡¯t want to experience.¡± Pepper chuckled but quickly stopped when he read her expression. He realized her statement wasn¡¯t a joke, it was a warning. ¡°Oh, okay, yeah we should probably get back home anyways. It was nice to meet you and Tank.¡± ¡°For sure. I would stay and chat but, yeah¡­ you get it.¡± She then turned and gave the command for Tank to follow her. They each waved goodbye, and Pepper returned to his painful stammered walk back to the house. Thankfully it wasn¡¯t much longer they had to travel before they reached the house and he went about getting cleaned up. He popped another one of the pizza¡¯s into the oven and found himself sifting through the movie options on the holoscreen. This is the life. He thought to himself as his body melted into the soft cushions of the couch. The warm meal recharged his depleted batteries and he found himself going in and out of a food coma. To Pepper¡¯s surprise, the next thing he realized was that it was then morning. He lifted his head to discover he had slept perfectly still on the couch. The holoscreen had switched to a display mode which showed aerial footage of places all around the world. His eyes then carried over to see Amprage was laying on his back with all four limbs sprawled out in every direction. Even his metal tongue was draped out of his mouth. He couldn¡¯t help but laugh as his familiar became more and more lifelike with every day that passed. He spent a few minutes of getting up and situated for the day. On his way to the kitchen to get breakfast going, he stepped inside the small laundry room and saw where his dad had stacked all the gifted cases of Big Duck Energy. He groaned, but reached for one of the cans. It was a second later he sighed in relief when he saw he had grabbed a flavor other than mango madness. His hands reached up and ran through his hair and that was when he realized. I don¡¯t have to do anything today. Ha! A smile came over his face and he laughed. ¡°I¡¯m really started to dig this new lifestyle.¡± He said while patting his stomach with his free hand. ¡°I could get used to this real quick.¡± A second later and Pepper had plopped back down onto the couch while he sipped away on the drink. He looked around the room though and allowed his mind to wander back to something his father had mentioned. I really don¡¯t need all this space to myself. The through grew into curiosity and he quickly found himself loading up his Golem Chat account. His eyes immediately saw dozens of new notifications waiting for him. He ignored them and navigated through the application to the specific forum area. His fingers tapped away and entered Season 11 Southeast Conference Rooms into the search function. An instant later and he discovered the topic already had a thread with a multitude of comments. It was intimidating at first to see all the different individuals who were potentially his next level of competition. The one thing Pepper did enjoy seeing was that he was not the only one out of state that had decided to make the journey to the Southeast Conference. The more time he spent scrolling over the discussion thread, the more reality began to remind him just what the next level of competition awaited him. He finally decided there was only going to be one way he would get roommates, and that was to reach out to a few of his fellow gladiators. The next hour he spent investigating the profiles and tried to gauge who he felt would be a good fit at the house. A few people were narrowed down and Pepper then went about sending his direct messages inquiring if they were still looking for rooms to rent out. His list got even smaller as only two responded back that they were interested and still looking. Pepper then tried to ask a few more questions to get a better feel for each one individually, but he soon discovered their communication style didn¡¯t work on his schedule. The realization then set in a little later that his two potential roommates were traveling across the country. That only left a small window of time when they were available to message back and forth. GolemSmasher_Elite, or otherwise known as Marcus was traveling all the way from Arizona. Marcus had posted in the forum just last night. There was still a full day of driving that he needed to complete, but the few direct messages he had sent Pepper, made it sound like he was desperate to find a roommate. Pepper had really wanted to meet both of his new potential roommates before he agreed to letting them just move in. But, he knew just how hard that could financially be on someone. Especially when the majority of gladiators making their way to the regional invitation seemed in similar circumstances to the one he was in. They had saved their money as best as possible for this one opportunity. The one chance to make the cut and be professional gladiators. Pepper couldn¡¯t deny that times were tough for many, and every opportunity to save a few FLEX would only help stretch their resources. It was only a few more messages the two of them sent back and forth and Pepper finally conceded. He sent Marcus the address and a few minutes later he was sent the updated projected arrival time. Pepper couldn¡¯t help the slight nervous feeling he had regarding it all, but he did his best to ignore it. To his surprise, it was only a few minutes after Marcus confirmed his projected arrival time that UltimateEmperorPenguin11 otherwise known as Wilson replied to Peppers message. Wilson was quiet to opposite of his counterpart and practically just said, Yes, I need a room to stay in. What¡¯s the address, I¡¯ll be there in two hours. The direct assumption that Wilson had secured the room wasn¡¯t one that left Pepper feeling comfortable with the idea. But, he also reminded himself that this couldn¡¯t only be for a month, maybe even two at best. It was still just over three weeks before the invitational tournament would begin. Pepper than assumed it would possibly be a month later when the Regional League season began that he would be getting matches. His mind began to populate the vision of him progressing onward. That would then easily propel him further down this career path and he could then look at truly finding a place of his own. The small voice returned within his mind. A soft reminder to not place himself above anyone else. He was there to compete just like the rest, and it was all an equal playing field. He messaged Wilson the address and then started the mental countdown for when his first roommate would arrive. ¡°Well Amp, looks like we¡¯re not going to have the whole place to ourselves.¡± His familiar looked back at him. ¡°They¡¯re not going to dress me up like a princess and put lipstick on me are they?¡± Pepper chuckled and mentally thought back to the torture Amprage had suffered at the hands of Meg. ¡°No, they won¡¯t be doing any of that. But¡­ it will mean that there will be less couch space available.¡± The dogs eyes widened. ¡°I call dibs!¡± ¡°Amp, you can¡¯t call dibs.¡± ¡°Why not? Is that not how the game is played?¡± The golem tilted his head and perked his metal ears up. Pepper rolled his eyes. ¡°I mean it is, but it doesn¡¯t apply to you.¡± ¡°And why doesn¡¯t¡­ you don¡¯t love me.¡± Pepper shook his head and snapped it over and looked at Amprage. ¡°How can you say that? Of course I love you.¡± ¡°If you loved me, you wouldn¡¯t be forcing me onto the hard, prison like floor.¡± ¡°The carpet is far from prison conditions Amp. And besides, you¡¯re a familiar¡­. Wait a second! Again, you don¡¯t have nerves. There is no way for you to tell the difference between hard and soft. Or temperatures for that matter. Taste, smell¡­ the only way you can hear me is through a microphone installed on your circuit board for crying out loud.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about that. I can certainly tell you¡¯re being cold hearted, cold shouldered, and¡­ again proving the fact that you don¡¯t love me.¡± ¡°Okay, seriously, enough with the guilt trip. You¡¯ll be fine. Besides, it¡¯s only for a short time. Who knows, we might even make a new friend or two out of the experience. Never hurt to be a little optimistic, now did it?¡± Bk2 - Chapter 9 - New Additions It was practically like clockwork when Pepper watched the blue minivan pull into the driveway. He started to make his way outside and by the time he reached the doorway his entire guess of what to expect out of Wilson was flipped upside down. ¡°Well, hello there, you must be Pepper.¡± The woman greeted him with a vibrant southern accent. She had already exited the vehicle and was halfway to the door when Pepper noticed her approaching. Her dark brown hair was pulled back and secured by a bright blue bow. Her dress was just a slightly darker shade of blue, but was covered with white polka dots. Her figure filled the dress out as she slightly waddled in her stride. She removed the sunglasses she had been wearing and that was when Pepper saw her warm brown eyes. The red lipstick was one of an inviting shade, but the southern hospitality was quickly erased as she practically barged right past Pepper and into the house. ¡°Well this is lovely, just lovely with a splash of charm.¡± ¡°Uh, I¡¯m sorry who are you?¡± Pepper asked. The entire situation left him completely baffled. He could not believe that some random stranger had the audacity to simply barge in and take control over his temporary home. The woman ignored him at first while she quickly walked through the house. ¡°Oh, this will do just perfect for Wilson.¡± Pepper was now walking after the woman who continued throughout the house without hesitation. ¡°Excuse me.¡± The woman paused and turned back at him. Her finger pointed through the doorway of the master bedroom. ¡°You don¡¯t mind if Wilson takes this room do you?¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and he felt his head lean backwards. He could have sworn it would have fallen off in shock if it wasn¡¯t for his neck synched tight in frustrated tension. ¡°Yes, I mind. I clearly said that I was already occupying the room. I specifically told Wilson that. And¡­ I might add, you still have not introduced yourself.¡± The woman smiled and started to slowly walk towards him. ¡°I should clarify, that was me you were actually talking to. On Wilson¡¯s behalf of course. The name is Morgan, Morgan Boltan. I am Wilson¡¯s mother.¡± She extended her hand out and Pepper reluctantly met the gesture. He was once against surprised as her grip crushed down upon his and he immediately felt as if she tried to assert herself over him. She narrowed her eyes and smiled at him, but Pepper instinctively knew there was nothing warm and welcoming regarding the poker face. She then released her vice grip of a handshake and then turned her attention out the front door. ¡°Right in here gentlemen. Second door on the left will do.¡± ¡°Second door on the left???¡± He muttered. By the time his gaze caught up he saw a convoy of moving men. They were now walking up the front porch stairs and carrying loads of boxes inside. ¡°There we go now; we don¡¯t have all day. Wilson needs to get back to his training and we can¡¯t do that until everything is setup.¡± Pepper stood there frozen in shock and immediately regretted ever considering the deal. His house now being intruded upon by an overly aggressive mother and he could only imagine what her spawn was like. It was then that he heard a male voice call for her from outside. ¡°Hun, have salt shaker open the workshop door so we can unload the golem!¡± ¡°Will do darling.¡± The woman yelled back as if she was calling out across a grass pasture. She then turned to him and gave him another fake smile. ¡°Pepper was it? Could you be a peach and go open up that there workshop in the back?¡± ¡°Wait a minute, Wilson¡­ I mean you, never said anything about needing a workspace. I don¡¯t¡­¡± The woman turned and ignored Pepper¡¯s protest. ¡°He¡¯ll be there in a minute darling.¡± She yelled back. She continued down the hallway as the convoy of movers continued shuffling in and out of the house. Her overbearing presence issued out commands with every step she took. Pepper could not believe he was actually balling his fists. Who the heck does this woman think she is? Coming into my home and just marching around as if she owns the place. This is absolutely ridiculous! He had turned and forcefully stormed out the back door. Amprage was trotting right behind him as they went. ¡°Pepper, she scares me.¡± He arrived to see a man standing at the main door. An old fashioned hair style which was parted down the side. The man had removed his glasses and quickly cleaned the lenses on his button up shirt before placing them back on his face. A slight pot belly which bulged against his shirt. The man then smiled and gave Pepper a nod. He shifted his slacks to reseat them and then extended his hand. ¡°Larry Boltan.¡± Pepper ignored the handshake and walked right past the man and started to punch the door code. ¡°Pepper.¡± ¡°Well Pepper, I must say you, we were sure blessed to get your message. We were starting to worry we wouldn¡¯t find anything for Wilson. Low and behold your message popped up and we couldn¡¯t be more pleased. You¡¯ll love Wilson, really will. He¡¯s¡­¡± The man continued to ramble on. The entire time Pepper just tuned out everything that was said. A knot started to form in his stomach and all he wanted was to wake up from what he wished was a nightmare. Thankfully Larry had now devoted his attention towards directing the delivery driver. It was only a few minutes later that Larry was issuing out orders of how Wilson¡¯s golem should be delivered inside the workshop.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Pepper¡­ Pepper¡­¡± He heard Amprage¡¯s voice softly call out to him. He looked down to see his familiar began to gently poke his nose into his leg. ¡°Yeah Amp?¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± The familiar asked with a calm tone of concern. He looked up and glanced over the swarm of activity playing out before him. He slowly lowered his head back down to his familiar. ¡°Honestly? No¡­ I¡¯m not, okay.¡± ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡± Pepper huffed, ¡°Wake me up when September ends.¡± ¡°Will do¡­ setting reminder for 1 October.¡± The overly serious devotion of his familiar was the only spark of happiness Pepper had in the moment. Though he wished he was able to forget this new predicament had ever happened, he now found himself trudging his way back to the house. ¡°Guess it¡¯s time to go back to what I¡¯m used to.¡± ¡°Hiding?¡± Amprage asked. ¡°Precisely.¡± They reached the backdoor and immediately froze once he stepped inside. There standing in the entry way was a small, thin figure. The guy looked more like a child who was ready for a science laboratory rather than a golem league match. Slick brown hair with glasses that looked far too large for his face. A pair of bright red suspenders were draped over the navy-blue button up shirt he wore underneath. The tan pair of slacks he wore were far too short for him and his white socks left Pepper cringing at his appearance. ¡°You¡¯re not what I expected.¡± Pepper said. Wilson had two large buck teeth that were sticking partially out from underneath his upper lip. That was the only response Pepper received besides a blank stare. Wilson reached his finger up and pushed his glasses up higher on his nose. ¡°Alright, Wilson? Wilson¡­ of there you are.¡± Morgan called out from down the hallway and then appeared a brief second later. ¡°Okay, your computer is all setup and all the boxes have been placed in your new room for you. Your father is making sure your golem thing is put away in the workshop and I¡¯ve made sure your medications are all set out on your dresser for you.¡± Morgan then turned and looked over to Pepper. ¡°I just sent Wilson¡¯s portion of the rent to your Golem Chat account. If anything, else comes up just shoot me a message. Okay? Okay great.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t even have a chance to say anything. Morgan turned and closed the front door behind her as she left just as fast as she had arrived. The audible beeps of the moving trucks backing up blared outside. It seemed like mere seconds and Pepper was left standing there with a complete stranger. There was an awkward silence between the two and Pepper had finally had enough. ¡°I¡¯m Pepper, by the way.¡± He felt it was the politest thing to do. Seeing how the person he had been talking with up to that point wasn¡¯t even the person standing before him. ¡°Wilson.¡± The young man replied. Pepper was about to invite his new roommate to sit down and chat. But to his surprise, Wilson turned and slowly walked to his room and closed the door behind him. Pepper found himself and Amprage staring back at one another. ¡°Well, that¡¯s that, I suppose. I guess today is just filled with surprises.¡± The rest of his day was spent working to decompress from the odd encounter. He filled Andrea in on the details later that night and she couldn¡¯t help but poke fun at him. The light hearted jesting finally helped Pepper to laugh it all off. He and Amprage ended the evening with another run through the neighborhood and Pepper started to mentally work out the routine he could hold himself to. It was later in the next day when Marcus arrived. To his relief it was a completely different encounter. The second roommate stepped out of brand new pickup truck. Shaggy dirt blond hair which went down just past his ears. A nice pair of designer sunglasses were tucked into the neck of his Golem League tshirt. Coyote colored shorts matched the flip flops and Marcus gave him a head nod and beaming smile. ¡°Yo, are you Pepper?¡± He asked in an easy going tone. Pepper returned the smile and head nod. ¡°Yeah, Marcus is it?¡± ¡°Straight up my dude.¡± The carefree spirit continued as Marcus reached his hand out and brought Pepper in a half hug embrace. ¡°My man, I gotta say. I really appreciate you reaching out and offering me a spot at your place here.¡± A large wave of relief came over Pepper and he immediately felt better about everything. He immediately felt comfortable with Marcus¡¯s arrival and sense they would get along well. ¡°I figured I might as well reach out to the few others in a similar position to me.¡± ¡°Oh, for sure man. I totally get it. It ain¡¯t easy just packing up life and starting all over, am I right?¡± Marcus smiled and gave him a slight pat on the shoulder. His new roommate looked down at Amprage and his eyes lit up. ¡°Yo, did you make your familiar yourself?¡± The compliment sparked some excitement. ¡°Sure did. I had built him as a¡­¡± ¡°An exact replica of Amprage from the old school Battle Beast franchise.¡± Amprage comically sounded as if he cleared his throat. ¡°I beg your pardon but I am one of a kind.¡± Marcus audibly laughed. ¡°Hey, no offense there big dog. I¡¯m just complimenting your bonded on his expert craftsmanship. I have a familiar just like you.¡± Pepper smiled and caught a glance of Amprage who seemed to react positively to the response. He was now curious on what exactly his new roommate had chosen for a familiar. ¡°Did you bring your familiar with you?¡± ¡°Of course, no way I am going all the way across the country and not bringing my guy with me.¡± Marcus turned around and whistled towards his truck. ¡°Rattler, come here. Don¡¯t be shy, come say hi to our new roommates.¡± Pepper watched intently as the distinct shape of a snakes head slowly rose upward from the trucks bed area. He immediately saw the metallic shine which reflected off the snakes head. ¡°Hold on a second.¡± Marcus said and then jogged over to the truck bed. He reached in and turned around to showcase the large snake which was now wrapping itself around his bonded companion. Pepper focused in on the metal rattle tail of the serpent. He immediately recognized the distinct appearance of the familiar which was also fashioned after the games beast known as the Cursed Rattlesnake. ¡°Pepper, Amprage, this is my familiar, his name is Rattler.¡± The metal tail of the serpent began to rattle. The distinct sound matched perfectly to the real-life snake it was modeled after. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be mean like that. They gave us a place to live, now be nice and go say hi.¡± Marcus lowered the snake down to the ground and the familiar began to slither over. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the lifelike movements it made as it drew closer. Amprage lowered his body down and began to growl, mostly in a playful tone, but still one which Pepper didn¡¯t approve of. ¡°Hey, you be nice also.¡± He warned. It was only a moment later and the two gladiators watched as their familiars start to play wrestle one another in the front yard. Marcus then nodded to the two of them. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re two pee¡¯s in a pod.¡± Pepper chuckled, ¡°I was kinda thinking the same thing. The last familiar Amp knew was a duck that tried to stab everyone with a spear. It¡¯s kinda nice seeing him play with a familiar closer in personality to him.¡± ¡°Right? Man, it¡¯s been crazy seeing how life like the familiar runes are. It¡¯s like, they grow more and more real every day.¡± Any doubt that Pepper now had in regards to his living situation was quickly evaporating. He glanced back to the truck and motioned over towards it. ¡°Well, you need some help unloading your stuff?¡± Marcus seemed surprised by the gesture. ¡°I mean, I would be pretty dumb to turn down the offer. Let¡¯s do this.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for two to unload the boxes and they both wound up standing in the kitchen once they were done. ¡°You were planning to watch the Pantheon Season 11 opening match later today right?¡± ¡°Of course! I wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world.¡± ¡°Well, how about I order us some grub and we watch it out here. See what competition we¡¯ll be facing off against in the next year or so.¡± Pepper smiled and gave a firm head nod. He certainly admired the confidence and optimism his new roommate carried with him. ¡°Sounds good to me.¡± ¡°Sweet.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 10 - Season 11 The theme music came over the holoscreen speakers. Pepper had just fixed his plate and sat down on the couch. To his surprise, Marcus had enticed Wilson out of his room. Wilson had still not said anything besides his name but Pepper was at least a bit more excited with the fact that they were finally all together. Marcus¡¯s optimism had transferred over, and Pepper was back to believing this was all going to work out well. They were now all gathered around the screen. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smile as he saw the two familiars coiled up together in front of them. ¡°Hello everyone, I¡¯m Nick Bosloe and welcome to our first match of the season. Can you believe it everyone, we are here for the opening match of the Golem League¡¯s eleventh season. I always love the replay we do during the season opener, a chance to remember some of the classic and epic matches we¡¯ve gotten to see over the year. Will today be one of those matches? Who will come out victorious? Well don¡¯t go anywhere, because we are about to find out.¡± Nick said with a smile and pointed finger towards the camera. A quick commercial played and Marcus motioned towards the screen. ¡°Did they say who the match up was between?¡± Pepper was about to answer but was shocked when he was cut off by Wilson. ¡°It is Tylor Christianson out of Canada and Rory Schmidt from Germany.¡± Marcus and Pepper both looked at each other. They each had a stunned look and grinned towards one another. Marcus then turned slightly to Wilson, ¡°Right on, thanks Wilson.¡± The commercial ended a few seconds later and zoomed back in to show Nick, JD, and to their lovely surprise Erika had also joined them. Nick was on the far-left side of the group and wore his traditional business attire. A bright blue tie complimented the sleet grey suit and pants and shined against the pitch-black dress shirt. JD took the center and had a business jacket that he wore over top of a pink polo shirt. He wore what looked to be a custom-designed pair of blue jeans. A playful smile was on his face, but both he and Nick were giving the center stage to Erika on the far-right side of the group. Nick addressed the viewers once they were given the signal that they were back on the air. ¡°Welcome back everyone. JD and I are always blessed when we are joined by our lovely counterpart Erika Leon-Guerrero. Erika you had a chance to sit down with our two young gladiators, tell us what was that like?¡± Erika smiled and gave a slow head nod. A bright green blouse complimented her smile while the camera zoomed in on her more. ¡°Well thank you Nick and JD. It is always a great time when we get to share the booth together. But, yes, I sat down with both of these young gladiators, and I must say, both are excited and ready for this match up.¡± Erika shifted her gaze from Nick and JD and looked towards the camera. ¡°Tylor and Rory are not new to this league, they¡¯ve been grinding it out for a tough two years but have found some great success. I specifically asked them, what¡¯s the difference like to go from the Immortal League to the Pantheon League? Well, here is what they had to say.¡± The screen faded to a pre-recorded video of what looked to be a living room setting. There was a large glass wall in the background that made it look like a high-end luxury home. The two gladiators were seated individually on the right side of the screen with Erika sitting on the left. The camera shot narrowed in on the two gladiators as they heard Erika ask the question from off screen. The blond hair and slightly sage green eyes of Rory looked back in Erika¡¯s direction. He then nodded and his thick German accent remained as he answered. ¡°There is certainly a great deal of pressure that comes along with the promotion. Each level of the league has a very unique and distinct feel to it. The stakes grow with you and the pressure to perform at this high level is one you can anticipate but must adapt to.¡± Erika¡¯s voice than arrived from off camera again. ¡°And how well do you feel you¡¯ve adapted to that pressure?¡± Rory smiled and his reaction looked like he didn¡¯t want to necessarily answer the question. ¡°I am still working on the adapting aspect.¡± He nervously chuckled. ¡°But, it is good. I feel I am doing good with the change.¡± Rory looked over to his competitor. Tylor had a freshly trimmed beard and longer brown hair. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that both competitors looked like they were magazine models on the side, for each one beamed with charisma. Tylor partially smiled and his rich brown eyes glistened as he finally answered the question. ¡°Well now is the time to put up or shut up, am I right? We¡¯re competitors and we have been working up to this point since day one. You know, there¡¯s a lot of work that builds up to this point, and I know I am ready to showcase my abilities on the world stage.¡± Tylor finished with a confident nod. Erika then started with her next question. ¡°So, what can fans and viewers expect in todays matchup?¡± The group laughed and Tylor started first. ¡°Well, that¡¯s part of the excitement. You¡¯ll have to tune in and find out. There aren¡¯t no spoilers here, aye.¡± Rory then followed up. ¡°I would say prepare to be surprised. Yeah, I don¡¯t think anyone will see some of the tricks that are up our sleeves.¡± The screen transitioned back to the three hosts and both Nick and JD still gave Erika the center stage. ¡°It was certainly a great time with these two competitors, and you could clearly tell they didn¡¯t want to wait any longer to clash in the arena.¡± Nick then gave a professional nod to Erika. ¡°Well, who can blame them? Gladiators live for the arena and I know I am ready to get this match started. But first, JD, what are your thoughts on today¡¯s matchup?¡± JD arched an eyebrow and had a playful grin on his face. He tilted his head and then rotated his hand back and forth. ¡°Nick, this match could go either way. Both gladiators clearly have the skills and talent to be here. The thing I love is that young gladiators, they sometimes can be the most innovative when it comes to tactics. Though they have earned their way up to the highest tier, they seem to take bold risks. Go all in with trying out an approach we have or have not seen before. So, it will be awesome to see what tricks, as Rory said, just might be up a sleeve or two.¡± All three turned towards the camera and Nick pointed his finger towards the camera. ¡°Well, we¡¯re not getting any younger. And I know our fans are just as excited as us to get this match under way.¡± The screen then faded to showcase the sprawling landscape of sand dunes. Nick¡¯s voice continued while the drone footage proceeded to fly over the rolling waves of sand. ¡°A congratulations to Africa for winning the bid to open season eleven. The desert field arena is not one to underestimate. The environment itself is just as much a part of the match as the golems themselves. The sands of time can shift and just when you think victory is within reach, your footing slides from under you. Just as the fine particles of sand can slip through your fingers, so can victory.¡± The camera view shifted to a split screen which showed both gladiators. They stood on their platforms and slowly glided into their starting positions. The gladiators then initiated their interfaces. ¡°Gladiator Arena command interfaces. Nice choice.¡± Marcus said. Pepper was about to agree with his roommate, but to his surprise Wilson interjected. ¡°That is the Gladiator Arena Y2Y Model to be precise.¡± The two roommates both slowly turned to gaze upon Wilson, but he merely remained staring blanking ahead at the match. Pepper saw as Marcus dashed a glance over to him, but a split second later turned his attention back. ¡°Does it really make a difference?¡± Wilson still refused to look at Marcus, but didn¡¯t hesitate in providing his answer. ¡°The Y2Y model provides an extra 20 degrees of viewable screen within the heads up display. Additionally, the advanced 3D technology allows for better special awareness and has proven to have a 20% better depth of field interpretation to the user. The heads up display modules were also coded to allow for a more customizable feature which allows for unlimited potential and user experience. The overall feedback immediately caused Gladiator to begin designing their Carnage Operator Interface module, set to be released later this year.¡± Pepper could feel his eyes were as wide as the room itself. But he wasn¡¯t the only one as Marcus slowly turned to him. A furrowed lip of shocked surprise was plastered on his face. Marcus huffed slightly ¡°Well, okay then. I guess there is a difference between the two models.¡± ¡°Quiet the difference.¡± Wilson added without delay. Marcus then mouthed, okay then, over to Pepper. The two softly chuckled and turned back just in time to see Tylor¡¯s golem enter the arena. His golem was carved out of sheer granite rock. The head carved down into the likeness of a Northen grizzly bear. The hair ran down the ridge of its neck and continued down the upper portion of its back before it tucked inside metal armor. The golem carried a customized metal chest and back plate of armor. A green shine radiated off the armor which carried a fantasy feel as intricate patterns made Pepper imagine it was forged by elves.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Two massive carved arms which bulged with sculpted muscles. The green armor was plated across the bears hands. A long massive naginata staff was clutched in the bears left hand. The bladed end was turned backwards and dragged just enough in the sand that it cut a small line into the earth. It was at the waste of the bear that the lower torso transitions into the shape of a man. Two carved legs which were covered in the same metal plated armor as the chest and hands. ¡°Dude, that bear looks sick.¡± Marcus added. Pepper smiled but kept his gaze focused on the screen. The thought of a giant battle bear in everyone¡¯s mind, but then they were hit with the complete opposite. Rory¡¯s golem faded into view as the camera shifted over and Pepper¡¯s eyebrow arched upward in confusion. Is that, a giant blob? He thought to himself. The German¡¯s golem waddled in as if it was a glutton of food and drink. With every step the golem titled from one side to the other and left Pepper re-imaging some of the drunk homeless people he had seen scattered throughout the downtown area. The golem was ash grey in color, and didn¡¯t have any distinguishable theme that Pepper could think of. Pepper then noticed that it wore some kind of article of clothing. Is that a robe? Poncho? Dress even? He continued to question what exactly it was that the golem was wearing. There is no way that small¡­ burlap sack is going to protect it from anything. He thought. The golem continued to move into position and that was when the camera zoomed in a little closer to show that there was a very odd and distinct pattern etched into the golems build. All over its body was a distinct six-pointed shape. The pattern repeated itself over and over again. Pepper could then see that the design was even layered, and that left him even more baffled than before. It was then that Pepper finally summed up the golem of being a sumo wrestler more than anything else. ¡°This has got to be the most oddly designed golem I have ever seen.¡± He finally added. ¡°Same here. I mean, I know my golem is unique, but I can¡¯t ever imagine doing a design like this.¡± Marcus followed while mumbling his response over his mouth full of taco. The countdown timer appeared and once it counted down the match began. There was an instant command from Rory which sent an instant surge of red light throughout the intricate design. But the large sumo like golem remained still. Tylor on the other hand brought his northern bear forward. The gladiator looked hesitant as he tried to read and decipher what plot Rory was working towards. Tylor finally started to pick up some speed, but still dragged his naginata staff behind him. The northern bear¡¯s eyes glowed with a green light. An effect that Pepper always loved to see during a match. The green energy then began to glow within the hand that held the ranged weapon. The shaft then started to emit the same intensity and looked to start the imbuement process. The giant blob finally started to move. Pepper watched as the creature reached up with once of its hands and clutched the robe like material it wore. In one fluid motion it ripped the garment off and flung it forward. A small wisp of wind caught the fabric and it whipped across the battlefield and directly towards the northern bear. With a flick of the wrist and a half twist of its hips, the bear snapped his weapon up in an arch. The blade sliced the fabric in half and both pieces blew off each side of the goiem. The bear had before its movement with snap precision and stood there in picture perfect form. But, that was when Tylor saw what he was facing and he froze in shock. Pepper was now on the edge of his seat. The six star shapes of the sumo golem where¡­ moving. The golem¡¯s figure now fully exposed to the camera view allowed them to see the golem was covered head to toe in the distinct shape. ¡°There must be a thousand of those shapes!¡± Pepper said in mesmerized disbelief. One by one the shapes began to peal off. The first layer of the golems stomach began to separate, each finger of the six tentacle arms pealed backwards. One by one they dropped to the ground. Their six arms plopped into the desert sand and immediately started to scurry across at a blazing speed. The small gusts of wind kicked up sand which drifted all across the arena floor. The only way Pepper could keep track of the dozens of panels was the small glow which came from the red light illuminating from its center. A quick close up view from one of the drones showed the panel creature moved like an extraterrestrial spider. Each tentacle arm scattered across the sand and propelled the creature forward. But, Rory¡¯s golem didn¡¯t stop. Panel after panel began to detach itself and send wave after wave towards the northern bear. Tylor now appeared panicked. He brought his northern bears free hand up and started to launch green fire balls at the approaching threat. A few explosions surged upward from the arena floor. Sand and smoke intertwined and the only effect it seemed to do was create a veil for the spider like creatures to conceal themselves as they continued to close the distance. The bear roared and brought its naginata around. A mighty initial slash which sliced through three of the spiders. Three small fire ball explosions burst out as the blade severed their bodies in half. But¡­ it only helped for a second. The northern bear was now back peddling the reality had now set in that, they would not stop. The spiders kept coming and when they got in close enough, their small frames leapt upwards at their opponent. A flash of red energy surged outwards and then a massive explosion erupted. The concussive blast, though small, was still powerful enough that the camera allowed them to see tiny shockwaves that sprang outward. The kamikaze spiders pelted the bear mercilessly. It was clear Tylor was trying to readjust his approach with the measely half seconds he had available before the next wave arrived. The bear activated a defensive wall. An attempt to buy him some time, but all that did was allow the spiders to cluster closer and begin to encircle him. The spiders even began to dig into the desert sand and crawl underneath the shield while the rest flanked the bear¡¯s position. ¡°Great Scott JD! There is no end to this onslaught!¡± Nick cried out into the broadcast. The entire event was leaving everyone on the edge of their seat. Tylor tried another salvo of fire balls while performing a power leap. The gravity rune activated and the norther bear caught some more distance, but it still wasn¡¯t enough to truly be effective. The wave after wave of spiders didn¡¯t stop. The defensive shield now gone and the Tylor watched as the main wave of the swarm attack struck. The explosions began to ripple across the golem with such speed that Pepper could have sworn it was a military cluster munition. The only difference¡­ it wasn¡¯t ending. Pepper watched as Rory¡¯s golem was still unloading layer after layer. The Pantheon rules allowing the greatest height and weight, allowed Rory to construct a massive amount of spider panels. Pepper didn¡¯t even attempt to guess how many spiders were still seen scurrying across the desert sands. But as he quickly looked over the golem, he felt it had shed at least half of its body. The rippling volley of explosions continued to the point where the northern bear was now covered in smoke and debris. The naginata staff still tried to slash its way and cut through the onslaught, but it just wasn¡¯t enough. A few thunderclaps and shockwaves pounded out and then the final destructive flash of green energy sent rays of energy outward. The beams pierced the smoke for a half second before a giant explosion rumbled across the arena floor and the victory horn blared for Rory. ¡°And there you have it people! There you freaking have it! I, I, I just don¡¯t know what to say JD.¡± Nick exclaimed. The camera shifted back to show the two commentators, as Erika had left the booth. Nick¡¯s mouth was wide open as the expression of amazement remained. He quickly pressed his hand up to his ear. ¡°I¡¯ve just received word that an instant and thorough review has been conducted and the Golem League official ruling stands that Rory is the winner. The question being about the use of the explosive devices being a part of the golems actual construct.¡± ¡°Well, it certainly puts a whole new meaning to blowing your load. Am I right or am I right?¡± JD said with a slight sinister expression on his face. Nick dropped his microphone down to his side. Pepper was stunned when he saw Nick lose his composure enough to lightly backhand JD¡¯s shoulder. ¡°JD! Come on now mate, we¡¯re still a family show.¡± ¡°Well of course, we¡¯re a family show. You can¡¯t have a family without the birds and the bees though. Besides, there are plenty of others ways you can blow your¡­¡± ¡°Okay now!¡± Erika said as she cut off JD. The camera immediately changed to show her standing in what looked to be a random, undescriptive tunnel. There was no doubt in Pepper¡¯s mind that the production crew made a hasty setup to immediately change the topic of conversation. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you fans at home, but I know for me. Getting to see a swarm attack used as a tactic was nothing short of electrifying. As of right now, our initial reports are coming in saying that Rory is the first gladiator to use a swarm attack. Now granted, there are a lot of matches that need to be reviewed, but as of right now¡­ Rory now holds a new Golem League record!¡± The camera then transitioned back to showing JD and Nick. It was clear as day that whatever had been said during the distraction had not been a pleasant one. JD¡¯s expression looked like he had just spent an hour in a principal¡¯s office. The two played it off professionally though and picked up right where they had left off. Nick gave a respectable nod towards the camera. ¡°Outstanding work from our research division. An entire team working tirelessly to record all of these fascinating details.¡± Nick then slowly turned and motioned with his had for JD. ¡°Now JD. Our first ever swarm attack. A massive success in causing confusion, panic, and overall mayhem upon your opponent. How does one counter that?¡± JD gave a slight tilt of his head and quickly rebounded back to his normal self. ¡°Tactics, tactics, tactics. I don¡¯t think I can say it enough when it comes to a match like this. You know? Tactics are everything when you get up to the Pantheon.¡± JD quickly turned from looking at his counter part towards the camera. ¡°What did we say at the beginning of this matchup? These young gladiators like to take massive risks!¡± JD then turned back and faced Nick while his hand motioned all about in front of them. ¡°Now, psionic runes are rarely used in an offense why. Why? Because all it takes is a psionic defense rune to protect you from those attacks. But¡­ That is where these things could have saved you. Let¡¯s go to the board!¡± The screen transitioned to show a still image of the beginning of the match. An aerial view which looked down at the two golems standing on either side. A red squiggly line appeared and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the fact that it reminded him of his dad watching old football matches. ¡°Rory¡¯s golem is over here. All these little spiders are coming off and crawling their way over to you. Now¡­ the initial wave are explosive charged. The second wave are actually imbued with energy. That is the reason Rory could get so many off and going so quickly, then, he is just syphoning every ounce of energy from his power core into the next layer. ¡°Remember, psionic runes can effect your communication array as well as many other things. A strong psionic wave, or psionic beam, any of those types of attacks immediately will shockwave these puppies like an electro magnetic pulse. You still tracking with me?¡± ¡°I certainly am JD.¡± Nick replied. ¡°Okay, so the other thing¡­ that a gladiator can do is work with gravity. Now a powerful gravity rune can pull these suckers down into the sand. Immediately slowing them down. Or! You crank out a negative gravity rune where it forces these things to float. What do you think happens when these things can¡¯t crawl towards you in their swarm wave attack? They¡¯re sitting ducks and it¡¯d be more fun than playing dodge ball with a bunch of toddlers. You just whack those things right out of existence!¡± By the time JD was done the entire screen was filled with wavey red lines crisscrossing all over the display. The camera feed faded back to showing the two hosts and Nick had a very optimistic demeanor. ¡°Well, I hope you were paying attention Pantheon gladiators. Because Mr. Glasscock certainly gave you the grand strategy on what to expect when facing Mr. Rory Schmidt.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 11 - Trading Card Game The room was filled with energy as all three celebrated the match. Or, at least Pepper and Marcus. Wilson still remained quiet as the dead and sat in his chair, not saying anything. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you two, but I say we go for round two!¡± Marcus exclaimed. ¡°How do we go for¡­¡± ¡°Season 7, pantheon league final, Timo Burnhams samuri warrior versus Aleron Kong¡¯s rouge knight!¡± Marcus replied energetically. Pepper smiled as his roommate looked like he could barely contain his excitement. The match was a considered a classic. One for the ages and he himself had watched it practically a dozen or more times. ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± The rest of the night dragged on and the holoscreen didn¡¯t stop broadcasting famous match after famous match. Marcus and Pepper continued to go back and forth taking turns loading up some of their favorites of the past. Wilson, to their surprise just sat there. The monotone roommate didn¡¯t seem to care either way, nor did he really give any feedback on what he preferred. Pepper started to feel like statues had more personality than the silent tenant. Pepper didn¡¯t know what time it was when sleep overtook him. All he knew was the combat action didn¡¯t surrender, but his eye lids sure did. The next thing he knew though was he and Marcus were leaping up and off the couches. A blood curdling scream had awoken them and was blaring throughout the house. Amprage and Rattler immediately tuned in to what they also thought was a threat. Amp now barked instinctually after his personality profile for some reason had taught him that that was a thing. Pepper quickly homed in on the source and bolted for Wilsons room. Marcus was right in tow and the two charged ahead through the hallway. Pepper didn¡¯t hesitate and turned the bedroom door handle while simultaneously slamming his shoulder into the door. Pepper and Marcus poured into the room like the worst SWAT team on the planet. They immediately skidded to a stop when they saw Wilson in a fit of rage. Their roommate now looked as if he was possessed by a demon and had just started smashing his keyboard down on the massive computer desk. Plastic keys were flying all around like flak, and Wilson ended with a thunderous axe chop down onto his holographic display screen. The keyboard slammed on the projection base and the display flickered out of existence. Wilson¡¯s tiny body was heaving up and down as he took in deep breaths. He slowly started to look up at them. Pepper could have sworn his entire body was beat red with anger. The tiny figure reached up and pressed his glasses up into a better seated position. Once that was done, he slowly reached up and grabbed the headset he had been wearing. A quick toss and he sent the device crashing against the far wall. ¡°Wilson¡­ what the hell man?¡± Marcus said. Pepper could hear the shocked disbelief in Marcus¡¯s voice, and Pepper was glad that he wasn¡¯t the only one. ¡°What in the world happened?¡± Their roommate glared back at them and the look in his eyes told them that Wilson¡¯s soul was a burning inferno. ¡°I lost.¡± Pepper turned and looked back at Marcus. They both looked at one another and Pepper felt their baffled expressions matched. ¡°Lost what, exactly?¡± Pepper asked while turning his attention back to Wilson. ¡°My¡­ Golem League TCG match.¡± Pepper mentally ran the acronym through his mind until it finally clicked. TCG¡­ TCG¡­ TCG¡­ ¡°Wait, Trading Card Game?¡± Pepper then heard Marcus from over his shoulder as he muttered out. ¡°The Golem League has a trading card game?¡± ¡°The Golem League has had a trading card game for years. But they haven¡¯t made an officially ranked league¡­ Yet! It¡¯s still in its beta phase. But yes, the Golem League Trading Card Game will have an official league. The next frontier, and I¡¯m going to be a part of it.¡± Wilson declared and then rolled his head down in disappointment. Pepper shook his head and blinked rapidly. Wow¡­ ¡°Well, Wilson. I mean, we all have ups and downs, but one loss can¡¯t be that bad¡­¡± He didn¡¯t even get a chance to finish his statement. ¡°It is a big deal! That bumps me down from #3 to #5!¡± Wilson practically screamed and balled his tiny hands into fists. ¡°Well, hey. Look at it this way Wilson, it¡¯s just a beta, right? I¡¯m sure the regional rankings will change once the game comes out and you can just rebuild your rank from there.¡± Pepper said. He felt it was the best approach to help put some perspective on the matter. For what Pepper thought was the first time, Wilson showed a sarcastic expression. A sinister smirk appeared on his face and he chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m 5th in the world. And no¡­ they won¡¯t reset once the full version is released.¡± Wilson reached his arm up and wiped his nose across his forearm. The act caused both Pepper and Marcus to cringe as they both made disgusted noises. ¡°I was one out of a thousand who were selected to help create the Golem League TCG. That was my last chance¡­¡± Pepper could see Wilson was now gritting his teeth and a small tear rushed down his cheek. ¡°I was going to be #1. If only¡­ if only if it wasn¡¯t for MuscleMommyLover99.¡± Pepper heard Marcus dry cough behind him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry man¡­ umm, could you like, run that by me one more time?¡± Wilson extended his arms and fingers out as much as they could at his side. A foot stomp to match and he looked straight upwards to the heavens. He verbally declared through gritted teeth. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore! I¡¯m nothing¡­ nothing¡­¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°You know¡­¡± Pepper said while nodding his head. ¡°I think you just need some time to yourself.¡± Pepper started to slowly back up and he sensed Marcus keeping in step with him. ¡°I think Marcus and I are gonna go for a walk or something. So¡­ you can just, you know, have the place to yourself to decompress.¡± The two roommates and their familiars finally reached the door and Pepper gently closed it shut. He and Marcus both took a step back down the hallway towards the kitchen. Marcus now feeling like they were a safe distance away from Wilson¡¯s bedroom said. ¡°Yo, I didn¡¯t realize people still used keyboards man.¡± The two chuckled and shook their heads at the entire ordeal. Pepper was about to change the subject to seeing if Marcus truly wanted to join him on walk or even run around the neighborhood. That all changed a second later. Their holodex¡¯s buzzed to life and they discovered their golems were scheduled for delivery within the next 30 mins. ¡°Nice!¡± Marcus exclaimed. ¡°You¡¯re going to love Sidewinder!¡± Pepper smiled, ¡°That¡¯s an awesome name for a golem. I named mine Mala, he¡¯s a battle tiger. Named him after a character in a dark fantasy story.¡± It was then that Pepper realized Marcus had yet to see the workshop. ¡°You wanna go checkout the workshop?¡± Marcus seemed to awaken with a bit more excitement over the idea. ¡°Sure¡± He then paused and held up a finger. ¡°On second thought. Be right back.¡± Pepper realized the morning routine hadn¡¯t occurred for him either. He trotted down the hallway and made his way to his own private bathroom. ¡°Good idea, I¡¯ll be right out.¡± He called out to Marcus while passing by the closed bathroom door. By the time Pepper was done and had returned to the kitchen area, he found Marcus with a look of curiosity. As Pepper drew closer, he could see that Marcus was holding a can of Big Duck Energy in his hand. Marcus looked up at him and pointed towards the can with his free hand. ¡°Dude, you have cases of this stuff.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes and reached up to grab his neck. He was nervous and didn¡¯t know how to broach the subject. But there was no way to hide it when the evidence was directly in Marcus¡¯s hand. ¡°Yeah¡­ the whole thing was made by my neighbor. He¡¯s been a big supporter of mine and wanted to be my first official sponsor. So, he hooked me up with a ton of cases.¡± Marcus¡¯s eyes bulged and his mouth dropped open. ¡°That is so righteous man! Yo, we have to post about this!¡± His roommate¡¯s statement caught him off guard and Pepper blinked rapidly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± Marcus paid him no attention though and was quickly loading up his holodex and more specifically, his Golem Chat account. Pepper was hesitant and wanted to ask him to not post or say anything, but in the rapid motion of it all got tongue tied. Marcus hit the video record button and they both looked on as a small holographic preview screen showed them how they appeared within the video. ¡°What is going on Golem Chat! Yo, not only did I get hooked up with this sweet setup by my new homie Pepper. But, come to find out, this super star gladiator is sponsored! I mean, not only that, sponsored by the coolest energy drink there is!¡± Marcus grabbed the can and titled it towards him. ¡°Big Duck Energy, Mango Madness. Ha! My southwest people know all about that mad life, am I right? Okay, what do y¡¯all say we give this thing a taste huh?¡± Before Pepper could say anything Marcus had already popped the can lid open and took a massive big swig of the drink. He let out a large sigh once he was done. A huge smile on his face cut through the slightly twitch that occurred on his face. ¡°Woo! That stuff slaps. Man Pepper, you picked a winner¡­ or should I say, Big Duck picked a winner. Haha! You guys, go find this drink and pick it up. This stuff is craziness in a can! Alright, we¡¯re about to go get some golem training in. Y¡¯all be good and catch you guys soon. Peace!¡± Marcus hit the end button and immediately turned to him with a fresh disgusted look on his face. ¡°That is crap in a can, and they¡¯re crazy thinking that people are going to like this.¡± Marcus then distorted his face and appeared like he wanted to vomit. ¡°Ohh¡­ oh crap it¡¯s in my sinuses. I can smell it, oh that is gross.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ sorry, I probably should have warned you. Out of all the flavors. That one is the worst. The other ones aren¡¯t so bad.¡± Pepper winced. ¡°I dunno man. I am not sure I can take a gamble on another one.¡± Marcus then looked back towards the room he had retrieved the can from. ¡°I guess a sip won¡¯t hurt though. You sure?¡± ¡°Help yourself.¡± Pepper shrugged and he didn¡¯t really know what to say or do. Marcus trying to spread the knowledge of Big Duck Energy was a nice gesture. Yet, at the same time Pepper couldn¡¯t help but cringe at the extra attention it all brought him. His ears tuned in to the distinct snap sound of the can being opened. There was a fresh sigh of relief and Marcus then appeared from around the door frame. ¡°Okay, you were right. That strawberry one is way better.¡± Marcus gave him a quick glance with a smile. But then they both tuned in to the audible dings coming off of Marcus¡¯s holodex. Marcus looked back up and Pepper and smiled. ¡°Guess who¡¯s video is blowing up right now? Haha! Dude, dude, dude, check your Golem Chat.¡± That thought alone made Pepper want to crawl into a cave and forget everything. ¡°I dunno Marcus, I mean¡­¡± He didn¡¯t get a chance to plead his case as his roommate insisted. ¡°I¡¯m telling you man, just check it!¡± Marcus was so persistent that Pepper chose to abandon his effort to resist. He loaded up the application and that was when a whole new wave of notifications flooded in. [:::] You have 78 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 149 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 413 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 762 new followers! [:::] [:::] You have 41 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::] [:::] You have 111 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::] [:::] You have 247 Positive Vibes on a photo! [:::] Pepper was taken back by how many new people were latching onto him. All this from one silly video? He thought to himself while he still stood there baffled over it all. He started to see new messages arrive inside his message bin and immediately closed out the application before he even saw what the contents were about. ¡°Pretty cool huh?¡± Marcus said and chuckled. ¡°It won¡¯t be long before the whole south western side of the nation is cheering you on. Pepper looked up and saw Marcus¡¯s teeth looked to be beaming as he smiled. It was as if he experienced a whole new level of confidence within someone. ¡°You seem to be pretty good at this stuff.¡± Marcus waved his hand and rolled his eyes. ¡°Meh, I remember being just like you when I got my first sponsorship. It can be a little intimidating at first, but eventually you come to enjoy it. The popularity, fame, girls¡­.¡± Marcus dragged that last part out and danced his eyebrows upwards playfully. ¡°Chicks will be melting all over you when they hear how many sponsors you have. I don¡¯t know what it is¡­ they¡¯re like¡­ what bears are to honey. They just can¡¯t get enough of it.¡± Pepper narrowed his eyes and cleared his throat to ensure his statement would land firmly. ¡°I¡¯m taken. Happily, taken.¡± ¡°Already got yourself a cheerleader? Nice! I also have one, one in every zip code, am I right? Ha! We¡¯re gonna go far in the Golem League man¡­ I can feel it!¡± Marcus looked like he was about to continue but then he glanced past Pepper and out the window. ¡°Looks like our golems just arrived. Perfect timing.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 12 - Copperhead Marcus had walked out the door before Pepper could counter his comment. He didn¡¯t think it was too rude, but he certainly didn¡¯t like the fact that Marcus wasn¡¯t taking his statement regarding Andrea seriously. He took in a deep breath and then proceeded outside to also oversee the delivery of Mala. It wasn¡¯t hard to catch up to Marcus. His stride was small, and he walked as if there was plenty of time in the world. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice Marcus¡¯s sandals flopping underneath his feet. There was a slight sway in Marcus¡¯s step that left Pepper feeling it was similar to that of a beach surfer. He finally walked in line with his roommate. ¡°So, if you don¡¯t mind me asking. How many sponsors do you have?¡± Marcus huffed like he didn¡¯t want to make it a big deal. ¡°Does that really matter?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m just curious, I guess. There wasn¡¯t a whole lot of sponsored gladiators back home. At least none that I would really consider friends. It¡¯s kinda nice to meet someone else who seems more, comfortable with it all.¡± Marcus had put his sunglasses on when he walked outside, but now lowered them just slightly. Pepper could see he formed a questionable expression, but finally conceded. ¡°Alright¡­ uhh lets see.¡± Marcus reached up and tapped the frame of the glasses. ¡°These for one. I am sponsored by Universal Shades, so I got hooked up with a couple of free pairs. I am sponsored by Firehouse Fitness Centers, that covers all my gym memberships and¡­. there was certainly had some nice views inside them.¡± Pepper rolled his eyes again. He then heard the back door to the house burst open. A quick turn of his head and he saw Amprage tearing across the backyard. ¡°He¡¯s after me! He¡¯s after me!¡± A second later Rattler exited the house and was clearly trying to give chase to his familiar. Amprage had the clear speed advantage but the two continued to playfully fight one another in the backyard. ¡°Take it easy Amp. I don¡¯t want to waste another afternoon patching you back up.¡± Pepper warned. He turned back around just as the truck began to lower the back loading dock. Marcus was already greeting the driver and additional crew member, so Pepper went and put in the code to open the workshop door. Pepper then looked up to see the original box crate he had stored Mala in. He motioned to the crew and then pointed to the far back corner of the workshop. ¡°That one can go way back there.¡± ¡°Got it kid.¡± One of the workers replied with a heavy east coast accent. The two crates were unloaded in less than a minute with the driver flicking them a thumbs up. ¡°Good luck with your gladiator thing.¡± Pepper and Marcus both thanked the man and both smiled at each other as they looked over their crates. ¡°I say we pop these bad boys open.¡± Marcus suggested and began to walk over towards the shop toolbox. He quickly began to look through the multiple drawer options until he finally found a crowbar. Marcus began to twirl one of the bars in his hand while extending the other out to Pepper. Pepper took hold of the tool and they each started to pry open the containers. The wood creaked and squawked as the tension was released. A few snaps and cracks later and panels began to fall and slam onto the concrete floor. The loose packing material began to fall down into a billowing pile at the golems feet. Pepper had been too distracted with unboxing Mala that he didn¡¯t realize Marcus had been navigating around the workshop. He then heard the voice of his roommate call out from behind him. ¡°Wanna see something cool?¡± Pepper turned to see a blow torch pointed directly at him. He stepped back and gave Marcus more room while his roommate leaned down and ignited the torch against the packing material. The material sparked and Marcus reared back quickly. A giant ball of flames shot upward and they both watched as Mala appeared to be summoned from a great magical fire spell. The effect ended a few seconds later and Mala appeared to be undamaged. ¡°See! No clean up. Haha.¡± Marcus said with a smile and then made his way over to his golem. Pepper walked over and watched as Marcus ignited the material at the base of his golem. He was surprised to see the exterior bronze coloration of Marcus¡¯s golem. The fire reflected off the metal surface and added to the effect. Marcus¡¯s golem looked like it was straight out of a comic book or movie. The metal figure stood there in the shape and form of a suited superhero. The head however, was not that of a human head but that of a massive snake head. Pepper then cued in to see a large bulge on the golems back. He then leaned off to the side to try and see what exactly the feature was made of. The light bulb came on inside his mind when he realized, it was the distinct pattern of overlayed scales that was catching his attention. ¡°Oh, haha, just wait. Let me power him on.¡± Marcus said excitedly. Pepper dashed a glance over and saw his roommate getting ready to power up the golem. He repositioned himself next to Marcus. A few seconds later and the snake eyes glowed in a sunburnt orange coloration. The golem opened its mouth and Pepper was astonished to see the metal snake tongue shoot out of the mouth. It danced in between two razor sharp fangs that looked like they could pierce through anything. Pepper¡¯s ears tuned in to the sound of an unlocking mechanism and then watched as four snake heads slowly appeared from the behind the figure. Each of the four worked independently as their bodies moved like tentacled arms. The golem then rotated its arms and stood in a combative stance, the snake heads then sprang forward and motioned as if they were taking venomous bites out of the air. The heads reared back and then came to a readied but rested position.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°I give you copperhead.¡± Marcus said. ¡°Wow.¡± Was all Pepper could muster. Andrea¡¯s voice entered his mind and reminded him of his Owen Wilson status. He huffed but then checked with Marcus to ensure he had let go of Copperhead¡¯s controls. Marcus confirmed and set the control module down on one of the toolboxes. Pepper walked up and ran his fingers across the smooth metal surface. His assumption was confirmed. Why did Marcus make his golem out of pure copper? This thing has got to be a gluten for punishment. But there isn¡¯t a dent or scratch on him at all. Has this thing even been in a real arena? Pepper couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the expert craftsmanship the golem had to it. ¡°All copper huh?¡± He could practically hear the smile arrive on Marcus¡¯s face. ¡°Yeah. That was what the company recommended.¡± Marcus¡¯s statement caught him off guard and now he was more curious than ever, but certainly didn¡¯t want to come off as being offensive or rude. ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t build this yourself?¡± Marcus chuckled. ¡°No way my man. I don¡¯t have any of those kind of skills. There is this company out in my area, Master Forge Works. They pretty much build the majority of golems out in the Southwest area. Granted, there are a few that still build their own, but many of us just hire them to build ours for us.¡± Pepper had heard of others buying golems from builders, but Marcus was the first person he had met who actually had. The statement was another reminder to him of just how small his KBVS club back home was, that or the fact that his club members had been dedicated to investing their time in building their golems. ¡°So, what rune manufacturers did you go with?¡± Pepper asked. Marcus brushed off the comment. ¡°Oh man, I don¡¯t know. Whatever the guys put in to Copperhead is what we go with. You know. They¡¯re awesome, it¡¯s like having a pit crew. I tell them what I want, what I am sensing in the controls and they just make the adjustments for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­. that¡¯s really cool. If you don¡¯t mind me asking, how much does that kind of support run?¡± Marcus scrunched his face as he looked to be mentally running a varying degree of numbers through his head. He slowly stepped closer towards Pepper and then gave his answer. ¡°It¡¯s like, 120,000 FLEX a year.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± The information entered Peppers ears and mentally stunned him. He blinked rapidly and took a deep breath. ¡°Did¡­ did you say a 120,000 FLEX a year?¡± Marcus seemed a bit embarrassed at that moment. ¡°Yeah¡­ kinda large price tag, but that¡¯s apparently what it costs to get ahead. Am I right?¡± Marcus leaned in and gave Pepper¡¯s shoulder a nudge. Marcus chuckled and then paused, his eyes shifted and looked as if he read Pepper¡¯s demeanor. ¡°Wait¡­ you.¡± Marcus paused and pointed over to Mala. ¡°You built your golem? Yourself? By hand?¡± Pepper smiled and lifted his eye brows. ¡°Guilty.¡± ¡°Dude! That is so sick man. We gotta post about this!¡± Marcus immediately went through getting his holodex loaded up. Pepper tried to softly encourage Marcus to not make another video, but his effort went unnoticed. Pepper could see the small icon appear which informed him they were live on Marcus¡¯s account. ¡°What¡¯s going on everyone!¡± Marcus adjusted his holodex camera to ensure he captured them both. ¡°I know I just got on here and posted about my roommate, my man with the awesome energy drink, but you guys. You guys, fam¡­ you will not believe this. Check out my roomies skills over here!¡± Marcus started to walk over to Mala and turned the camera to show everyone his crafted work. ¡°My man hand crafted his golem! You want to talk about being an OG, Pepper is it. Look at this detail fam, just look at it!¡± Marcus turned and began pointing out a majority of areas Pepper had intricately formed Mala¡¯s chiseled muscle structure. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, this kid is going to be a Golem Master. I can feel it. Like, you all know me.¡± Marcus then turned towards the camera but positioned himself to ensure Mala was directly behind him. ¡°You all know I have been out here grinding away on working to get up in this Golem League action.¡± Pepper arched an eyebrow in judgement while he just watched his roommate talk into the camera. Though he had only been given very little information regarding Marcus¡¯s experience in competing in the club scene. It didn¡¯t leave Pepper feeling like Marcus had really devoted a whole lot of time towards the effort. Marcus then brought his free hand up and placed it on his own chest. ¡°But trust me you guys. I know a real gladiator when I see one. My man Pepper is going to be up there with the best of the best. Just wait and see. Go give him a follow and hit him up if you have questions on how to build epic golems like his right here!¡± A dark shroud of fear immediately came over Pepper when he heard Marcus encourage people to reach out to him. He had already been overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people that had started to follow him off of Ryan¡¯s efforts. Marcus¡¯s earlier video only adding onto that and Pepper cringed and hated even thinking about loading up his Golem Chat account. The cringe began to latch onto him internally and Pepper felt his body tense all over. ¡°Alright Golem Chat fam. We are going to go get back at making sure our Golem¡¯s are ready for this regional invitation card, you feel me? Chat later.¡± Marcus ended the broadcast and took a deep breath. Pepper felt a little spark of relief at his finishing words. ¡°Oh, so what do you want to start working on?¡± A surprised looked came over Marcus¡¯s face. He looked side to side and then finally conceded and asked. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Pepper reared his head back slightly and pointed in his direction. ¡°Well, you just told everyone we were going to go back to making sure our golems were ready. So, what do you want to start working on? I¡¯d be happy to help out, or we could even partner up and help each other out. More hands makes less work, am I right?¡± A playful smile appeared and then Marcus¡¯s made a comical expression. ¡°Oh that. My man, I was just playing to the audience. I got my guys flying out like three days before the invitational and they¡¯ll do all that work.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ so, does your audience know about that whole¡­¡± Pepper was immediately cut off. ¡°No way man. I mean, there are a lot of sides of the business that people don¡¯t need to know about. Am I right? Like the money aspect, sponsorships, the benny¡¯s that we get for pushing merchandise and brands.¡± Marcus started to walk towards him. ¡°You got to remember, a lot of this is all acting. The fans expect a certain¡­ product. I am just here to give it to them.¡± Marcus smiled and pointed a finger as if he was posing for a magazine photoshoot. ¡°Just so happens I am pretty good at it.¡± Pepper¡¯s heart sank a little bit. A slight amount of disappointment started to come over him. There was a lot of great qualities that he admired about Marcus. The charisma, the easy going vibe and optimistic mindset. He thought he had found someone who could become a close fried as he took this next step in his career. But now, it seemed like even that was becoming a fa?ade. ¡°Well, what do you want to now?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°We could go grab some groceries. I have some friends coming out in a couple days that want to come hangout, and we¡¯re gonna need to stock up soon anyways.¡± Marcus suggested. That¡¯s actually not a bad idea. His mind then tried to inventory what few items were already supplied for them and what they would possibly need over the next couple of days. He then thought about a Buzz Podz and getting one ordered up, but just when he was about to recommend it, his eyes saw Marcus¡¯s truck. ¡°You mind driving?¡± Marcus chuckled. ¡°Not at all. But¡­ you mind throwing me a few FLEX for gas?¡± ¡°Done.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 13 - Inflation The door to the workshop was beginning to lower itself. Pepper looked over and saw that Amprage and Rattler were still play fighting in the yard. He shook his head but sighed in relief that the two metal familiars had not damaged one another. ¡°Hey! You two, inside.¡± Amprage barked towards him and Pepper took the gesture as a child throwing a tantrum. ¡°We don¡¯t do that Mr. Now get inside before I ground you from watching TV for a few days.¡± His familiar wined and immediately headed for the door. Rattler slithered behind all while Marcus chuckled at the comical scene. Pepper heard the truck start up behind him and he opened the door to let the patiently awaiting familiars inside. ¡°Be gentle with the door, last thing I need is to replace it because you two go charging ahead and nock it off the hinges.¡± ¡°Yes dad.¡± Amprage replied. This time he changed his voice to match that of an old cartoon character. Pepper rolled his eyes and then made sure to lock the door behind him. He was about to make his way outside when he realized he should inform Wilson of the errands they planned to run. A quick turn of the corner to the hallway and Pepper was surprised to see Wilson¡¯s bedroom door was cracked halfway. He leaned in and knocked, the force cracked the door a little bit more open. There was no surprise to him when he found his roommate sitting behind a holoscreen. He wasn¡¯t sure where the new keyboard had come from but his roommate continued to clack away on it. ¡°Hey Wilson. Marcus and I are going to head to the store and grab some groceries for the week. You want to come along?¡± Once the question was asked Wilson immediately stopped his typing. He sat there for a second and then without warning or word, stood up and walked towards the door. There was something in the way Wilson walked that warned Pepper that he should move out of the way. A quick adjustment and side step backwards and Pepper saw his assumption was accurate. Wilson exited, slammed the door closed behind him, and continued forward all without slowing his stride. ¡°Okay then.¡± Pepper added and followed behind Wilson and finished locking up the residence. He was curious if he needed to call shotgun to save his seat as front passenger, but he was happy to see that Wilson went straight for the back seat. ¡°Alright man, you are the navigator, tell me where we are flying this ship to.¡± Marcus informed him as he entered the vehicle. Pepper began to tap away on his holodex and within a minute found a Nordon¡¯s nearby. He grinned. Surprise surprise. He thought. They rolled the windows down and enjoyed the nice breeze and fresh sent of the scattered trees. Music was blaring and he and Marcus started head banging to a few songs on his roommates playlist. ¡°I¡¯m really into this. What band is it?¡± Pepper asked while he pointed towards the stereo. ¡°The Matt Dinniman band. Old school garage grunge core.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of that them or that genre.¡± ¡°Many haven¡¯t but it¡¯s going to be big. Just like us. Haha!¡± Marcus ended with a chuckle and outstretched his fist towards him. Pepper finished the fist bump gesture and chuckled. ¡°Yeah they¡¯re going to be doing a concert here in Atlanta. I think it is somehow connected to our regional invitation with the league. We should totally go.¡± Pepper smiled at the idea. He had never been to a concert besides the few local bands that would play at events such as the county fair. But the thought now appealed to him. He was happy to be spreading his wings the way he had been and experiencing a whole other side of life. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± They whipped through the parking lot and made their way inside. Pepper grabbed a shopping cart and started to push the cart behind Marcus. They started at one end of the store and slowly wove their way to the other. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as Wilson stayed eerily quiet and behind him the entire time. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but think of Wilson being a terrified child who was afraid that they were going to be left behind. Marcus countered the odd roommate by being playful and making jokes at every turn. He even started to take a few posed photos with some of the merchandise and even convinced Pepper to do one or two. The entire time they loaded up the cart with their favorite snacks and drinks. They had come to the other side of the store and Pepper was now shoving the heavy cart towards the registers. ¡°My mom told me to say thank you for bringing me along.¡± Wilson said in a deadpan voice. Pepper looked to Marcus and the two of them tired to contain their laughter. Pepper took a breath. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it Wilson. Happy to have you come along.¡± He turned back and started to unload the cart onto the conveyer belt and felt a warmth of happiness grow within him. He looked over and saw Marcus was trying to separate the groceries out into different piles. Pepper then motioned with his hand. ¡°You know what. Throw it all on.¡± A confused look appeared on Marcus¡¯s face. ¡°I got this. Our first grocery run together, it¡¯s on me.¡± Marcus tried to protest but Pepper held his hand up firmly. ¡°Serious. I got it.¡± ¡°You are something else Walker.¡± Marcus said with a playful huff and finished with a pat on his upper shoulder as he passed behind him. Marcus started to bag up the groceries on the other end and Pepper saw Marcus¡¯s attention drift away. He couldn¡¯t deny the girl was attractive and noticed Marcus start to strike up a conversation with the young woman. ¡°Pepper would it be okay if I also got this candy bar?¡± Wilson asked behind him. He turned to see Wilson looked straight ahead rather than up at him. ¡°Uh, sure. That¡¯s no problem Wilson. Throw it on up there.¡± Pepper motioned with his head towards the conveyer belt. What he did not expect was Wilson aggressively flicked the chocolate bar with his wrist so hard that it practically ratchetted off other items. Good lord Wilson, destroy everything in the process why don¡¯t you. He muttered to himself. Wilson also stepped behind him and walked over and stood closer to Marcus who was now actively flirting with the woman. She was laughing and giggling and covering her hand over her mouth. Pepper didn¡¯t think much of it but was soon pulled away when he heard the cashier told him the total. His eyes dashed back over to the older woman who was patiently awaiting his payment. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what was that again?¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I said, your total comes to 447 Flex.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes fluttered rapidly and he slowly swallowed. ¡°You¡¯re telling me that all our groceries¡­ everything we put on the belt is 447 Flex?¡± The woman raised her eyebrows and huffed. ¡°Welcome to adulthood young man.¡± Marcus took a break from his flirtation and called over. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Pepper immediately responded. ¡°Yup, yup. Everything is fine. I just, didn¡¯t run the numbers all the way in my head. You know, forgot to carry the one and all.¡± He ended in a nervous chuckle and hoped his favorite roommate didn¡¯t question his lie. This is ridiculous! This is how much groceries cost? That is more expensive than my clay to work on Mala. He tapped his holodex against the payment terminal and the beep confirmed it was approved. One thing is for sure, I¡¯m never paying for groceries again! Pepper turned and started to head towards the bagged goods and load them up into the cart. Marcus was finishing up his conversation with the young lady, but Pepper still caught out of his side view the two exchanging information. He brushed it off though and didn¡¯t want to butt into Marcus¡¯s personal affairs. The ride home was practically identical to the ride there. Music, jokes, and laughter all filling the cab of the truck. They unloaded the groceries and worked on an organization structure for the kitchen. The system was developed of, ¡®this doesn¡¯t fit here¡¯ and ¡®should the crackers and cookies be with the cereal?¡¯ Pepper stepped back and took in a deep breath when they were done. This adulting stuff isn¡¯t too bad. He thought. His happiness stayed for only a half minute until he saw the grocery receipt on the counter and remembered how much that bill emotionally hurt him. He quickly changed his gaze to try and erase the current thought. ¡°So, what do you guys wanna do now?¡± Pepper and Marcus both watched as Wilson turned and went back to his room and slammed the loudly closed the door. ¡°Well guess that answers that question.¡± ¡°Movie time?¡± Marcus questioned. ¡°Sounds good.¡± They both crashed on the couches while the first movie was loaded up. Pepper wasn¡¯t sure when exactly he had fallen asleep, but when he had awoken it was much later in the day. He looked around to see Marcus was barely paying attention to the movie and was navigating his holodex. ¡°Hey Pepper, you don¡¯t have a problem if I have a few friends over do you?¡± He rubbed his face to awaken him. He didn¡¯t necessarily like the idea, but he didn¡¯t want to be rude to his roommate. The more he thought about it, this was partially Marcus¡¯s living quarters as well. It didn¡¯t seem fair to limit his roommates and the last thing he wanted was a house full of rules. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± He replied. Pepper felt restless and out of boredom decided to load up his Golem Chat. He went to his main page information and practically choked on his own saliva. 22,116 fans!? Where in the world did they all come from? Who¡­ why¡­. He rubbed his face again and once he was done his eyes confirmed what they had initially seen. As the screen was there Pepper was notified that a new message had just arrived. He was hesitant to open it, but he felt as if he couldn¡¯t resist. His finger tapped it open and row after row of unread messages appeared. ¡°Friends with Marcus huh? You must have had everything handed to you like he did. Birds of a feather flock together. Loser!¡± ¡°There is no way you got a regional invitation. Probably had mom and dad buy it for you! Your fighting style is terrible. Hope you get wrecked and go home where you belong.¡± ¡°Good luck at your competition! I hope you do well.¡± ¡°Did you ride the short gingerbread bus to school after you left your stupid gingerbread house?!¡± ¡°Hi, I know you don¡¯t know me. But I recently discovered your account. First, congrats on all your accomplishments! A sponsorship, that¡¯s so great and such a huge accomplishment on its own! Okay, I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ll see this, but was hoping you¡¯d be able to give me some advice when it comes to my build? I have been thinking of going with wood rather than clay. There is a cost basis, but I have this idea using an element rune¡­¡± ¡°A friend of Marcus is certainly no friend of mine. I hope I can face off with both of you, give you both what you deserve. Cheating pieces of SX2T!¡± ¡°Hey stranger, its been a minute. How are things? You get all setup in the big city?¡± The more Pepper read the more he gritted his teeth. He felt his jaw clenching tighter with every negative message that his eyes glanced over. His heart began to pump in his chest and his internal forge began to ignite with frustrated anger. If there were positive messages awaiting him, he couldn¡¯t hold on to them. He would smile for a brief second, only for it all to be erased a second later. For every unprovoked veiled message acted more like a dagger which stabbed him right through the heart. Pepper finally closed the application and turned to his roommate. ¡°You wanna go for a run?¡± A sarcastic expression came over Marcus¡¯s face. ¡°I got my friends coming over man. They¡¯re on their way remember?¡± Pepper sat up on the couch and rubbed his eyes. ¡°Right, sorry about that. I¡¯m gonna head out, I don¡¯t know how long I¡¯ll be gone for.¡± ¡°Everything okay?¡± He appreciated the question and he felt Marcus was genuine in asking out of his concern. But, he just didn¡¯t feel comfortable opening up about what was eating at him. He smiled and motioned with his hand for Marcus to not worry. ¡°Yeah, everything is fine. I just need to clear my head. Mentally get back at staying focused on the invitational.¡± Marcus nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t let the pressure get to you man. Many of these gladiators out here are kids who got lucky, and old dudes trying to cash in on the cash cow the league offers. We¡¯ll slice through the competition and be on our way to the next level in no time. You¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re probably right.¡± He turned and looked for Amprage but didn¡¯t see his familiar. ¡°Have you seen Amp?¡± ¡°Nah man.¡± Pepper started to search the main area of the house. He approached Wilson¡¯s bedroom door and for a second, thought he should invite Wilson on his run. Who am I kidding? He thought and continued to walk past the door and entered his master bedroom. It didn¡¯t take him more than one step before he saw Amprage laying on his bed. His limbs sprawled outward and with his chest and belly sticking up and into the air. ¡°Wanna go for a¡­¡± Amprage immediately snapped upwards and into a spin. His feet barely planted onto the bed and the metal dog leapt off and started to run around the room and then bolted for the door. ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes! I don¡¯t care what it is, I am down for the adventure!¡± Pepper lowered himself down and held out both his arms to stop his bonded familiar. ¡°Hey! What did I say about running in the house?¡± Amprage stopped and skidded for an inch or two across the carpet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry Pepper¡­ it¡¯s the zoomie protocol within the personality profile. I¡¯ve tried deleting it several times but it seems to keep re-installing itself without warning. To say the coding is powerful is an understatement.¡± ¡°You can say that again. Alright, well give me a minute or two to get changed and then we¡¯ll go.¡± As they both walked out the door Pepper felt the urge to explore his area more. He turned and headed in a different direction than what he had done on his first run. His feet carried him for miles, his muscles sore but were fueled by the anger he carried inside for the unwelcomed resentment that had been sent. Pepper finally ran up a small incline of a hill and just as it came to a small bend in the road, he noticed a clearing off to the right side. He walked over and noticed that the area appeared to have been purposely configured to overwatch the city. The small hillside was no mountain by any means, but it certainly served as a good observation area and Pepper could see how the terrain slowly angled down into the city. His eyes scanned from right to left and stopped when he finally saw the rift portal. The large circular gate was massive compared to the one that was back home. The inside was as dark as a black hole, appearing to absorb the light around it and not give any hint of what lay beyond. He began to noticed the changes of the city directly in front of the portal. It was a desolate land of crumbled concrete and destruction. Buildings of a different world lay on their sides, symbols as if they were ancient tombstones to what life was like before the war. A rescan of the background now allowed him to take notice of the two distinct areas. The old city, which was the current battlefield in front of the rift gate. Then there was the new sprawling city center far off to the right side of his view. A new city built out of the ashes, so to speak. Pepper closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. There was a faint scent of fresh cut grass upon the air. He let the calming sensation flow over him and let his mind be at ease within the moment. Another long breath and as he slowly exhaled he opened his eyes and saw the rift gate begin to glow. Bk2 - Chapter 14 - Scudo 5 Deep purple and red runes began to illuminate on the exterior rim of the rift gate. It was then that Pepper could see a slight ripple upon the pitch-black surface. That was when the horn rang out. There was a slight reverberation under Pepper¡¯s feat, a billowing cry at such volume that he believed could only be made within the depths of hell. The acoustical noise spoke of an ancient power that knew all too well the horrors of war and told of a blood lust still unfulfilled. And that was when he saw the first one appear. The demon didn¡¯t seep through the black cloak of the abyss. Rather, it surged outward in a galloping charge! Not just one, but dozens. A full blown calvary advancement, but these were no horses. The demonic beast was unlike anything Pepper had ever witnessed. A creature with a head that made it look like an elongated snout of an alligator. Yet, its nostril and snout rose upwards with a horn as that of a rhinoceros. It¡¯s shoulders and legs were shaped as more like a leopard, strong and bulging in power. A long horn studded tail whipped back and forth as it went. It''s rider appeared as a demon brawler from one of Pepper¡¯s nightmares. He hadn¡¯t been tormented by one in quiet some time. But the this was dream, this was real and Pepper could feel his body was frozen in place. The scene was terrifying, yet mesmerizing at the same time. Pepper looked on to the first calvary unit that was leading the charge. They angled far to Peppers left side, a tmini of dust and dirt billowing upwards in their wake. The brawler which sat upon the demonic beast had two downward angled horns which curved forward and just past its¡¯ face. The same distinct skeletal armor covered its body. The demon was too far to see distinct facial features, but the brawlers skin appeared similar to that of the monster it rode. Black and charred scales with deep red and orange inlays. As if the inner fibers of the body were that of glowing magma while the exterior skin was crusted and hardened rock. The brawler clutched what appeared to be a metal linked chain in one hand which commanded the creature. All while it swung a sinister shaped weapon which appeared to be similar in nature to that of a scythe. His ears perked up and he realized the warning horns were also blaring. It was his belief in those initial few seconds that the demonic horn of war had drowned out the humans siren to alarm others to seek shelter. Pepper ignored the warning and remained still, captivated by every slight movement he could see. That was when he was able to see the flanking charge of the brawlers gallop past an abandoned high rise building. The demons head seemed to matchup between the 10th and 11th floor window. Pepper¡¯s rust guess was that they were practically as tall as Pantheon League golems and that was when his eyes widened in the realization of how powerful this threat was. Movement back at the portal caught his attention and he shifted his gaze back. A thick blanket of smoke, dirt and debris covered his view, yet he could at least see strong orange and red glue within it. Hundreds of these smaller lights rushed forward and left him with the imagine of ancient lamps or torches were the source. A quick comparison of the calvary units physical construct and Pepper wondered if what he truly saw was a horde of demons attempting to surge their way into the city. A loud concussive blast rang out. Then another and another. Rapid thunder claps which shook the very earth and Pepper watched as balls of fire exploded out in all directions. It was then he caught the final movement and watched as a gun turret appeared out of what looked to be nowhere. The massive canons fired off heavy rounds and Pepper followed their smoke tmini across the battle field and slam into a charging calvary unit. His eyes then saw how the gun canon had appeared. Pepper returned to the turret and watched as a small house which was located directly next to it began to move. The home titled and folded itself into the ground, the entire structure was nothing but a decoy which concealed the massive defensive firing position. The secondary canon opened fired on the same target as the first. Shockwaves sprang outwardly as the rounds pounded into the demon and its¡¯ rider. Pepper watched as a bright orange substance spurted outward and sprang upwards in an arch. The same way lava launched itself up towards the heavens. There was a tilt in the creatures stride and Pepper then realized the calvary beast was also injured. The charging trajectory changed and it leaned further to its right side. It only made it another two strides before it crashed head onto into separate abandoned building and a second later lay lifeless there on the spot. But that was only one. Behind it were at least a dozen others, all still making their way without flinching at the defensive response. The canons continued to pound and Pepper¡¯s ears could only hear the sound of explosions, thunder claps, and then the faint sound of jet engines. The tail wind caught him off guard and Pepper took a step forward to brace himself as the fighter jet streaked directly over his head. The engines just close enough he could feel the heat of the exhaust barely blow over him. The aircraft banked hard to the right and fired off a salvo of missiles. Their tiny engines ignited and streaked down and towards their targets within the old city center. Eight large balls of fire erupted upwards and then formed into small mushroom clouds. All while the turrets continued to pound the oncoming waves of demons. His view was focused more towards the city center, but then noticed the faint flicker of light off to the left. He turned his gaze just in time to see a volley of fireballs arching downwards towards him. His hand and legs trembled slightly as his fear arose instantly and he didn¡¯t know which way to turn. For the three seconds he stood there frozen he watched every inch of the fireballs trajectory. He took a deep breath when he realized the attack was going to fall short and continued to watch as his mental calculations proved to be accurate. The demons attack slammed just at the base of where the hillside began. He wasn¡¯t sure how far the neighborhood claimed on a map, but he felt the impact sight was close enough to claim they were targeted. Whether intentional or by sheer circumstance, but that fireball was certainly closer than he thought it would be.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Though Pepper had grown up practically in the shadow of a rift gate. This was entirely different. Yes, he had come close to being hit before, and had awoken to city blocks nearby being destroyed. But this¡­ this was a whole different level. To him, this didn¡¯t seem like a prob attack, this appeared more like an invasion force. An attempted to grab a foothold and then push forward and secure more ground. The amount of firepower the military was using was nothing compared to his hometown in Michigan. That rift gate was a mere 60 feet tall. The one placed here in Atlanta looked to be closer to 300 feet tall. Additionally, all the attacks he had experienced before only seemed to last a half minute, maybe 2 or 3 at most. The battle being waged now before his eyes had easily surpassed that already. His attention was now torn between two separate areas. One being the location of the fireballs being launched. He couldn¡¯t see the source itself, for whatever was hurling the attack towards them had taken shelter behind some destroyed structures. The other area was seeing the demonic calvary had made a significant advance and was about to start its movement to flank back towards the center of town. The defensive turrets continued to fire away, but they still had little effect to slow their enemies advance. But that was when Pepper heard a new sound roar to life. The distinct sound of rocket engines fired off in rapid succession and Pepper could tell they were close by. He readjusted his position to try and see, for the source appeared to be below him and to the left. The slight noll he stood upon though, concealed what exactly it was. Pepper didn¡¯t have to wait any longer however, as his eyes widened when he saw the giant mechanized fighters begin to launch themselves forward. He watched as the robotic framed warriors streaked down a roadway, utilizing it as if it were a runway to take off. His eyes locked onto the rocket pods on the backs of the figures which sent them closing the distance in seconds. Though Pepper had not spent much time analyzing military units, he believed the robotic combat mech¡¯s were called Scudo 5¡¯s. The Italian word for shield. The mechanized units launched themselves in pairs of two and Pepper watched as they sprang forward in precise timing sequences. Pepper wasn¡¯t able to tell what unit was different than the other, but he did notice that a few were painted in a deep navy blue coloration, where as others were in a lighter grey shade. Along the exterior shoulders were yellow markings. There were also smaller symbols in both red and white, but the distance was too grate for him to see precisely what they represented. What he did take notice of was how the robotic warriors moved. Their initial starting form was knelt down in the pose of a sprinter ready to launch forward. The Scudo 5¡¯s that were lined up on the right side of the street, each had their left arm upwards and directly in front of the chest and facial area. Their right arms were extended backwards and carrying the distinct shape of a sword. The Scudo 5¡¯s that had lined up on the left side of the street, where in the exact opposite pose, with the exception they appeared to carry spears rather than swords. The initial wave of mechanized warriors arrived at the precise time the demonic calvary aligned with their trajectory. The first Scudo 5 slammed its shoulder into the creatures midsection and sent the brawler flailing off and to the side. A quick plunge of the mech¡¯s sword sent a painful cry out from the brawlers beast it rode upon. Pepper watched as the Scudo 5 didn¡¯t waste time with the downed unit, but placed its large metal foot upon the creature and propelled its metal body upwards. The powered jump sent the robot up and over the corpse and now attacking the dislodged brawler. It was then the next wave of Scudo¡¯s arrived and one of the units ensured to skewer the downed monster with its spear before moving onto the next target. To Pepper¡¯s amazement, it was not just the physical weapons the Scudo¡¯s used which kept his eyes locked onto them, but the full arsenal of weaponry at their disposal. As they pressed their defensive attack against the demonic calvary, Pepper watched as the Scudo¡¯s deployed rockets, missiles, grenades, lasers, and other energy-based attacks. The mechanized fighters displayed their expertise in fighting and team tactics. For it all played out like an orchestrated battle rehearsed a hundred times before. Each robotic fighter appeared to have a keen sense of where their counterparts were and what needed to be done next to vanquish the threat. ¡°I believe I warned you to take shelter when this prob attack occurred.¡± Pepper and Amprage both jumped out of their skins. He turned around and quieted Amprage who was on the verge of aggressively defending his bonded master. But once Pepper realized who it was, he calmed his familiar and recomposed himself. ¡°Hello Colonel.¡± He took a breath and then turned back around to watch the combat unfold. ¡°Is it really Wednesday?¡± Pepper quickly tried to glance at his holodex, but Colonel Gamble answered for him. ¡°That it is. At least the last time I checked.¡± The Colonel continued and came to stand next to Pepper. ¡°Tell me Mr. Walker, are there rules that one needs to follow within the Golem League?¡± Pepper huffed, ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± The Colonel paused and Pepper could see he tilted his chin upwards ever so slightly. ¡°You¡¯d think with someone who knows to follow rules, that there wouldn¡¯t be a problem in following instructions. Especially when they are of such importance, such as, taking shelter when told to do so.¡± Pepper arched an eyebrow and bit down on his tongue. He resented the condescending tone the Colonel had released upon him. It was as if the statement turned into a dark energy that reignited the contempt he felt for every resentful message he had received from the Golem Chat accounts. ¡°Last I remember, people called you Law, but that doesn¡¯t mean you get to decide what the law actually is.¡± The Colonel huffed. ¡°Someone who reads between the lines I see.¡± The officer paused and shook his head. ¡°Certainly, sounds like something a gladiator would say.¡± As soon as the Colonel finished his statement, the demonic horn blew and its sound reverberated throughout the area. Pepper turned his gaze back to the grand battlefield to see what looked to be a few demon¡¯s retreating back through the rift gate. It was only but a moment later that the purple and red runes faded back into their original darkened embedded etching. ¡°So, this is what a prob attack looks like?¡± Pepper asked and gave a slight upwards nod towards the old city. ¡°That it does.¡± The Colonel said, but Pepper noticed the officer was paying more attention to his holopad clasped in his hands rather than the scene before them. ¡°So, when is the next prob attack?¡± ¡°42 days, 2 hours, and 17 minutes.¡± The officer finished tapping away on his holopad and then gave Pepper a sideways glance. ¡°To be exact.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Pepper took in a deep breath and then noticed he had been ignoring his own body the entire time. His clothes were soaked in sweat from the run, and he had droplets which had formed just above his eyebrows. He could feel they were threatening to come crashing down and arrive with the inevitable sting in his eyes. A quick adjustment and wipe with his shirt sleeve and he noticed the Colonel start to turn to depart. ¡°Though I may not set the laws here Mr. Walker, my instructions are not to be taken lightly. I highly recommend you reconsider your stance on my advice next time. It¡¯s for your safety. Goodbye.¡± The Colonel walked off without saying another word. Pepper turned around and took in the city. He wanted to give himself another minute or two before departing. An effort to ensure he didn¡¯t run into the Colonel down the road and be in an awkward stare down. ¡°Well, guess we have a little luck on our side don¡¯t we Amprage.¡± ¡°It would appear so.¡± His familiar replied. Bk2 - Chapter 15 - Best Friend Pepper stopped short of the driveway when he saw the parked vehicles that were practically flowing into the street. How many friends exactly does Marcus have? He mentally questioned while his feet slightly scuffed across the pavement. When he began his run he had not thought about tracking how far they had gone. All he knew was that he was soaked in sweat and his muscles were sore to the bone. By the time he reached the end of the driveway Pepper could hear the music reverberating out of the house. He walked in to then see the holoscreen was on and showing old Golem League matches. It didn¡¯t seem like anyone was paying attention to them though, at first glance he only saw people laughing and conversing with one another. He turned to his right and looked towards the kitchen. A handful of strangers were gathered in there as well. His eyes focused in on the mound of pizza boxes and drink containers scattered all about. Why in the world did I buy so many groceries if he was just going to order pizza? I thought he wanted to buy food to hose some friends¡­ what a waste. Pepper rescanned the room and looked for Marcus, but couldn¡¯t find him within the group of guests. He turned down the hallway and proceeded towards his room. Pepper walked in and noticed the bathroom door was closed. That¡¯s weird, I don¡¯t remember closing¡­ He didn¡¯t even finish his thought when the door opened up and a young woman was startled by his presence. She reached up and placed her hand on her chest while she gasped. ¡°Holy crap. I was not expecting you there.¡± She lowered her hand and blushed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s all yours now.¡± She grinned and quickly departed the room. Pepper threw his hands up. ¡°She couldn¡¯t just wait for the other bathroom?¡± He looked down at Amprage who had a confused expression on his metal face. ¡°You should just be happy to do take a dump on the carpet.¡± ¡°Ha-ha.¡± Pepper said with rolled eyes. He walked towards his bedroom door and was about to close it. But that was when he saw a new stranger approaching. The guy had a curious expression and pointed towards his room. ¡°Oh, is the bathroom already in use?¡± ¡°Yeah, it is.¡± Pepper closed the door and locked it. He turned around and shook his head while started to get ready to get cleaned up. ¡°I don¡¯t care if Marcus has friends over, but they still need to let me have my own space.¡± ¡°Can I have friends over?¡± Amprage asked. Pepper turned towards his familiar and threw his sweaty shirt towards him. The wet garment slapped over Amprages face and stayed there. ¡°You don¡¯t have any friends.¡± ¡°Sure I do! I have Rattler.¡± ¡°You would consider Rattler a friend?¡± ¡°I have to start somewhere, and let¡¯s be honest Pepper¡­ you can be quiet boring at times.¡± Pepper turned the hot water on in the shower and then yelled back. ¡°Look who is talking, you practically just lie around all day. What is so exciting about you?¡± ¡°I could be far more exciting and spontaneous if you¡¯d like me to destroy the furniture, chase mailmen, and try to make¡­¡± ¡°No! You¡¯re not doing any of those things. Especially the humping part.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know chastity was a part of our arrangement.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t mate¡­ you¡¯re, you¡¯re metal for crying out loud.¡± ¡°I believe I would be a great father Pepper¡­ if only¡­ if only you¡¯d give me a chance.¡± Pepper shook his head and could not believe he was having such a conversation with his familiar. Thankfully the warm shower helped to drown out the topic. By the time he had gotten out of the shower He looked down at his holodex to see that he had missed a call from Brent. The missed call notification caused his heart to sink for a second, but at the same time, his spirit lifted. Pepper did a small leap onto his master bed and began a video call to his best friend. The screen loaded up and Brent answered just after the first ring. Pepper noticed that the angle and area Brent was in was very distinct. That and Brent was still wearing his Rocket Burger shirt. ¡°Are¡­ are you in the bathroom at work?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah.¡± Pepper cringed and let out a loud sigh. ¡°Dude, that¡¯s gross. Why did you even pick up the call?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my best friend P-Dub! I mean, you¡¯ve seen me naked in the locker room.¡± ¡°That¡¯s beside the point Brent.¡± ¡°How? I mean, you¡¯re not even able to see my junk. Besides, there aren¡¯t secrets between besties.¡± ¡°Secrets and modesty are two totally different things Brent!¡±Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Pshh. Modesty is for cowards.¡± ¡°The phrase you¡¯re thinking of is, moderation is for cowards.¡± ¡°Same thing.¡± ¡°No, no its not¡­ its completely different actually.¡± Brent leaned his head to one side. ¡°I probably should have paid better attention in school.¡± ¡°You think?¡± Pepper slightly nodded. ¡°Not really, I should also do more of that. I probably wouldn¡¯t have wound up in this situation if I had.¡± ¡°What situation exactly is that?¡± ¡°Well¡­ we just got this new Astral Teriyaki Sauce in¡­ it¡¯s like¡­ honey mustard and teriyaki sauce put together.¡± Brent paused and Pepper thought about how that flavor didn¡¯t actually sound like that bad of a combination. The half second ended and Brent made a distorted expression. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really go well with the Blueberry Blaster Milkshake.¡± Pepper¡¯s stomach almost upheaved on him. He fought the urge to vomit all over his sheets and then finally composed himself long enough to hold it all down. ¡°Dude that is disgusting, why would you even¡­¡± ¡°Gary dared me!¡± Pepper sighed and covered his face with his hand. ¡°You don¡¯t have to¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never back down¡­ that guy is like my nemesis! I don¡¯t know how he does it, but he just knows how to get under my skin. Oh¡­ yeah¡­ don¡¯t think I¡¯ll drink it, eat it, smell it, lick it? ¡­ I will!¡± ¡°How exactly did that work out for you when you stuck that metal wire into the wall outlet?¡± Pepper countered. Brent blinked rapidly and looked as if he was flashing through the files of his memory bank. A smile finally appeared and he huffed. ¡°That was electrifying, to say the least.¡± ¡°It gave you a migraine for a week and you haven¡¯t been able to spell or say Aluminum since.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Brent pointed his finger directly at the screen. ¡°Nobody really needs to know how to spell or say Ahma-looma-hem.¡± Pepper pressed his lips together and slowly shook his head. ¡°You know, you could always just learn from other peoples examples. You don¡¯t need to electrocute yourself in order to realize its not a pleasant experience.¡± ¡°Wow dad¡­ look at you moving away and being all super smart now.¡± It was just then that Pepper heard his door handle rattle. A firm knock arrived on the door a moment later. ¡°Yo man¡­ you gonna be done with the bathroom yet? I seriously got to make a deposit at the bank. If you know what I mean.¡± Pepper gritted his teeth and huffed. ¡°It¡¯s broken and all backed up. Repair man can¡¯t get out here until tomorrow.¡± He could just hear a muffled sigh come from the other side of the door. ¡°That sucks man¡­ fine¡­ guess I¡¯ll just¡­¡± The voice tminied off before he could hear the end, but in the end, it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°So, how is the big city treating you?¡± Brent asked. ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± ¡°Great detail P-Dub.¡± Pepper sighed and rubbed his face. ¡°It¡¯s nice being on my own, nice seeing and experiencing something different. But, I¡¯m still finding my way. I got some roommates, and that has been interesting. But, I¡¯m still feeling it all out. I¡¯m just going to try and tough it out for now. If I make it into the Regional¡¯s then I¡¯ll re-assess.¡± Pepper ended just in time to hear Brent let out an explosive sound of a volcanic eruption. ¡°Oh nelly there it is¡­. Oh¡­. Ohhh that¡¯s better.¡± Brent let out an exhausted exhale and then leaned backwards on the porcelain throne. ¡°Alright P-Dub¡­ I gotta, finished up here and then get back to work. Thanks for calling man.¡± Pepper¡¯s hand was covering his eyes and he dare not look at the screen. ¡°Alright man. Please don¡¯t answer the call next time if your on the crapper.¡± ¡°No promises.¡± Pepper ended the call and then looked over his call list. He smiled when he saw Andrea¡¯s name on the list. There wasn¡¯t even a second of delay as his finger tapped to call her. The phone rang a few times but then the screen loaded up. ¡°Thanks for not being on the toilet.¡± Pepper started with. Andrea coughed and formed a baffled expression while she lifted her hand up. ¡°Umm what?¡± ¡°I just called Brent and he answered the phone while taking a dump. So, it¡¯s nice to see someone who answers the phone not in the same circumstances.¡± Andrea arched her eyebrow and her tongue pushed on the inside of her cheek. ¡°Uhh, Pep¡­ there are some things I don¡¯t need to know about. There are also things I certainly don¡¯t need the mental image of. That¡¯s one of them. Mk?¡± ¡°Hey, if I had to suffer you have to suffer.¡± She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°I¡¯ve suffered enough this week¡­ right now, all I want is a break from this¡­ messed up life that I live in.¡± Pepper could see the stress in her eyes and she glanced off to the side of the holodex camera. The tone in her voice spoke more than her words. ¡°I¡¯m sorry hun.¡± She huffed. ¡°There is no need for you to be sorry. You didn¡¯t cause the rift war. You didn¡¯t force my dad to serve in the military. You didn¡¯t cause my mom to die. You didn¡¯t cause my dad to¡­ suffer from this awful poison that pulls him farther away from me everyday.¡± There was a long pause between them. ¡°I know, but¡­ I am still sorry that you¡¯re there having to deal with all of this. I wish there was something, anything I could do.¡± He saw a fresh tear fall from her face and she quickly brushed it away and worked to regain her composure. ¡°I just wish you were here. I just want to lay with you in the hammock in your workshop. Forget about all this shit going on around me.¡± ¡°I wish we could too.¡± She paused and started to readjust the pillows on her bed. She shifted her holodex around and placed it on the nightstand. Her lips pressed together after she shifted on her bed and laid down. Her eyes still struggled to look at the camera but she then softly spoke. ¡°Dad said he missed you too.¡± Pepper grinned. ¡°He did?¡± Andrea¡¯s gaze off to the side told Pepper that she was replaying the memory in her mind. She softly smiled and finally looked to the camera. Her eyes made his heart melt and she slowly nodded her head. ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re the first boyfriend he has ever said that about.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m happy he likes me.¡± She chuckled. ¡°That makes the two of us.¡± She reached her hand up and shifted her hair, tucking it behind her ear. ¡°I had to take him into urgent care today. A little bit of a scare for a little while, but¡­ the doctors were able to patch him up. Again¡­ He was resting in his room and said how he wished you were here to watch some football with.¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing he insisted you go home to get some rest of your own.¡± ¡°Surprise, surprise.¡± Andrea paused and then looked as if the grief was beginning to pull hard on her. ¡°I don¡¯t think he has much longer Pep. There are days where I feel like he is just holding on for me. There are days where I just wish he did pass away¡­ that it would end his suffering and he could finally be¡­ anywhere but here. Pretty shitty to think about huh?¡± Pepper¡¯s heart sank and at that moment he wished he was a super hero that could just teleport to her side. ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone could judge you for wanting to see your dad no longer suffer. It seems like a natural feeling to have. I don¡¯t think you should feel guilty at all. You love your dad to the point that you just wish his suffering would end. I can¡¯t even imagine the storm your battling inside right now.¡± A new tear arrived on her face, this time though, she let it fall and land upon her bed. ¡°I hate this.¡± ¡°I know Andrea. I¡­ I get it.¡± ¡°I miss you.¡± ¡°I miss you too.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 16 - Jays Crazy Circus Supply The rays of the sun peaked through his bedroom window finally pulled him out of his sleep. He ran his hands through his hair and rubbed his face. Pepper shifted onto his positioning to that of his shoulder, and immediately found Amprage laying next to him with a big grin on his face. ¡°Hi dad.¡± His familiar said while he gently wagged his tail against the bedding. Pepper huffed. ¡°Good morning.¡± ¡°Can we go for another run?¡± He chuckled and slightly shook his head. ¡°Maybe later bud. I¡¯d like to get some work done on Mala today. The last thing I want is to wait until the final week to get everything done.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± His familiar replied while he still held the large beaming smiling on his dog face. Pepper finally sat up and started to get himself changed and ready for the day. He went to open the door, but accidentally walked into it. That was when he remembered that he had locked it last night. After the quick correction, he walked out and into the hallway. He was greeted by a woman exiting the bathroom. She bashfully said hi while walking past him and walked into Marcus¡¯s room. That was when Pepper realized she was the one from the grocery store yesterday. The awkward introduction was nothing compared to what his eyes took in as he came to the main living area. To his surprise, a good majority of the strangers were still passed out on the sofa¡¯s. The remnants of the party last night were still strewn all throughout the area. He took in a deep breath and softly gritted his teeth. Pepper tuned in to the crack of a door down the hall behind him. He looked over his shoulder just enough to see Marcus and the woman were walking down and heading for the front door. They both exited the house, but it wasn¡¯t any more than a minute when Marcus returned. To Pepper¡¯s surprise his roommate came up and stood next to him. ¡°Holy cow man, what a night.¡± Pepper tilted his head and arched an eyebrow with all the destructive evidence laid out before them. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Dude¡­ that was epic.¡± Marcus said while rubbed his face with his hand. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d join the party man. You could have met some of my friends.¡± ¡°Which ones exactly are your friends?¡± Pepper asked. Marcus formed a confused expression, his eyes narrowed down, and he started to point to a select few individuals within the room. ¡°That¡¯s Ronny, Chase, Bethany¡­¡± The slight uptick in Marcus¡¯s voice left the impression it was more of a guess than a guarantee. ¡°Cliff, Sarah.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Pepper crossed his arms and glanced back over the group. ¡°Well, I will admit, I¡¯m not much of a party person.¡± His mind flashed back to his home. ¡°I¡¯m more of a campfire and relax kinda guy.¡± Marcus smiled and bumped the back of his hand against Pepper¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Dude, me too! We were just saying last night how we need to do a bonfire hangout. We¡¯ll totally plan that out to help you feel more comfortable and relaxed.¡± Pepper cringed internally at the thought of what he was seeing would happen again. He tried to play off his disdain for the idea through a disguise of humility. ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t have to do that just for me.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t have a chance to finish as Marcus cut him off. His roommate smiled and waved his hand in front of him. ¡°Dude, don¡¯t worry about it. We¡¯re totally going to do it, but I will be sure to let you know when that happens.¡± ¡°Great¡­¡± Pepper muttered. ¡°And don¡¯t worry about all this.¡± Marcus waved his finger towards the room. ¡°We¡¯ll be sure to clean up all this mess. It will look as good as new.¡± ¡°Thanks, that¡¯d be nice.¡± Pepper motioned for Amprage to follow him. ¡°Come on Amp.¡± He turned and nodded to Marcus. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in the workshop for a bit if you need me.¡± He navigated his way around the two people who were sprawled out on the floor. The workshop door opened up and the distinct scent welcomed him. His spirit felt like it had arrived back home, the place where he felt comfortable and truly relaxed. I¡¯ve taken too long of a break. He told himself. He walked over to Mala and took in his KBVS Champion. ¡°Well Mala¡­ we¡¯re going to have to make some changes if we¡¯re going to be successful and make it into this Regional League.¡± He looked over Mala¡¯s stats page, then glanced at Marcus¡¯s copperhead standing off to the side. We¡¯re going be three times bigger, and we¡¯re going to be going up against gladiators with a multitude of tricks up their sleeve. He thought to himself.
Golem Name: Mala
Gladiator: Pepper Walker
Command Interface: 7 Sea¡¯s - Explorer
Height: 4¡¯ 9¡±
Weight: >1 ton
Material Clay
Power Core: Dark Matter ¨C Hellion Light
Main Weapon: Not Applicable
Runes: 1. Quintek ¨C Power 2. Ronin ¨C Controller Rune & Interface 3. Koto ¨C Force Blast 4. Dark Dwarf ¨C Energy Strike 5. Modified Dark Dwarf ¨C Gravity Rune
Pepper¡¯s eyes drifted back over to Copperhead, and with it, the distinct shape of the golems stat page. Hmm¡­ no harm in taking a glance at potential competition right? He thought as his feet shuffled over and he latched onto the page. He began to glance over the page but stopped when he saw the psyonic rune stand out amongst the rest. His eyes looked up and back over the snake heads at the end of the tentacle arms.
Golem Name: Copperhead
Gladiator: Marcus Atwater
Command Interface: DIVII ¨C Storm Falcon
Height: 4¡¯ 6¡±
Weight: >1 ton
Material Copper
Power Core: Forge ¨C Anvil
Main Weapon: Not Applicable
Runes: 1. High Elf ¨C Power 2. Ronin ¨C Controller Rune & Interface 3. Koto ¨C Energy Strike 4. Centaur ¨C Psyonic Rune 5. Centaur ¨C Psyonic Attack
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. ¡°I¡¯d be willing to bet that the golem is designed to distribute the psyonic attack through the snake mouths. If he were to parcel them out to each head, that would allow him a greater chance of effecting his opponents runes if they were scattered throughout the body. Distributing the attack throughout four points, though weaker than one focal point would act and serve just like venom would from a snake. That would practically incapacitate your opponent from countering it.¡± His eyes shifted back to Mala and his mind started to race with different ideas. A direct flame or high precision energy beam could do some serious damage to Mala¡¯s clay. My force blast can work both offensively and defensively, but the last thing I want to be is vulnerable. Pepper heard a loud metallic clang behind him. He spun around to see tools scattered across the floor, but standing their frozen next to the tools was his answer. Amprage remained frozen in place but had a guilty look about him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Pepper asked. ¡°Uhh¡­ getting into trouble.¡± Amprage replied in a truthful but monotone voice. ¡°Well don¡¯t do that, you nerd.¡± He shook his head while he turned back around and looked at Copperhead. That was when the lightbulb within his mind turned back on and Pepper though back to the damage that Amprage had sustained in the yard. The regional invitational is a completely different structure from the club matches. A random drawing pool that could mean back to back matches, or waiting for hours to be paired with your next opponent. I don¡¯t need offense, or necessarily defense. I need resilience. I need to bolstered Mala¡¯s density and strength, rather than power. Pepper didn¡¯t hesitate and placed the stat page for Copperhead back where he had found it. He immediately activated his holodex and began to order a Buzz Podz. He turned back to Amprage, the words on the tip of his tongue but he stopped. Amprage¡¯s ears perked up and he lowered down as if he was about to zoom around the room. Pepper lifted his hands up to show him to calm down. ¡°Okay, no zoomies¡­. Do you hear me? No zoomies, but you can come with me to the store.¡± Amprage obeyed the command but instead started to hop up and down and spin in a circle. ¡°Yes! Yes! Yes! Adventure! We¡¯re going on yet another epic adventure¡± Pepper chuckled as his familiar looked like a combination of a rodeo bull whipping around and a small baby farm goat which would jump and clamber around anything and everything. I don¡¯t know if I would call spending more money as an epic adventure. But sure¡­ knock your metal socks off. he told himself. The buzz podz arrived and they climbed inside. The trip to downtown was uneventful, but Pepper was curious regarding the store he had chosen. Jay¡¯s Crazy Circus Supply. The name didn¡¯t really seem fitting, but when he searched for Golem Supply store, it was the highest rated in the entire area. His doubts were erased when they pulled up to the front of the store. The area was buzzing with activity. Customers were coming and going, many of them had familiars of their own. His eye arched upwards when he saw a giant purple stuffed bear walking alongside their bonded owner. ¡°Wow¡­ someone really made a stuffed animal familiar.¡± ¡°Can I go bite it?¡± Amprage asked while his metal nose gently pressed against the vehicle window. ¡°No you can¡¯t go bite it!¡± Pepper instructed. ¡°But it¡¯s a stuffed creature, it will just bounce back without any real damage.¡± ¡°No!¡± He sighed while opening the door to the buzz podz. ¡°You had better behave yourself or else I won¡¯t bring you next time.¡± ¡°Fine¡± Amprage replied with a huff. They started to make their way into the store and Pepper heard an audible voice call out from above him, Gnomes Rule! He barely paid any attention to it, as he was amazed to see just how large the store was. Its size alone appeared larger than what a Nordon¡¯s grocery store was. They stood there for a half second until he was startled by an employee hidden off to the side. ¡°Hey! Welcome to Jay¡¯s. Let us know if you need anything.¡± The employee smiled, but it was the two security golems standing by the exit that threw him off. They have so much theft that they need security golems? His eyes widened and he then turned back to the grand store stretching out before them. He stepped forward and started to navigate the large aisles stretched out before them. There were large flat bed carts off to the side, and many customers were going up and grabbing hold of them. The entire store was a one stop shop for everything Golem League. One section was nothing but clothing and branded merchandise of your favorite gladiators. There was a section of toys and collectables, then even food, snacks and beverages. All of them branded or commonly associated with the league. Pepper softly laughed. ¡°Ryan would go nuts if he ever got Big Duck Energy into a store like this.¡± The second half of the store looked more like a hardware store. Metal rods, wood planks, heavy granite boulders, large containers of clay all filled the shelves. Row after row as each aisle contained practically every option a gladiator could ever want or desire. Pepper was mesmerized by the grand scale of things and didn¡¯t see the man standing in front of him. He walked straight into the man from behind and immediately turned as red as his hair. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t he realize you were standing there. Are you okay?¡± The man composed himself and turned off the holopad that he held in his hand. Pepper saw the larger built man started to turn around and adjusted his bright red shirt. His eyes immediately locked on to the embroidered wording on the upper chest portion of the shirt. Owner Jay Beraz. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and he glanced up to see the grey buzz cut of the man. He had a goatee which matched his hair color and small framed glasses on his face. The man reached up and adjusted the glasses better on his face. ¡°Well, I knew I had great deals, but didn¡¯t know they would be so good they caused shoppers to stumble into me.¡± The owner finished with a slight laugh. Pepper grinned bashfully, ¡°I¡¯m so, so sorry about that. Really.¡± Jay chuckled into a rolling laugh. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it kid. It¡¯s totally fine.¡± The man took a deep breath and then asked. ¡°It must be your first time inside my crazy circus huh?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I used to work at a store back home. Rhino¡¯s Supply Shop. It was the best store in the area, but it certainly wasn¡¯t anything like this.¡± The man blinked rapidly and then crossed his arms in front of his barreling chest. He then shifted his weight to one side. ¡°Really? You worked for my brother Ryan?¡± Pepper¡¯s head titled forward and his eyes widened in shock. ¡°You¡¯re rhino¡¯s brother?¡± The man¡¯s smiled beamed in response. ¡°Sure am. We have different dads. But the same mom.¡± Jay undid his arms and then guided a hand down his torso in a showcasing manner. ¡°As you can tell, I clearly got all the looks, brains, and luck in the family.¡± Pepper finally felt more relaxed and started to laugh. ¡°So what exactly did Rhino get out of the deal?¡± Jay reared his head back in shock, as if the answer wasn¡¯t obvious. ¡°The pride and privilege of getting to be my brother of course.¡± Jay ended in a laugh and waved his hand at Pepper. ¡°What a crazy small world. I would have never thought I would run into someone all the way out here who not only knew my brother, but also worked for him.¡± Jay shook his head and smiled. ¡°So what brings you out here then?¡± ¡°Golem League.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t have a chance to continue as Jay cut him off. ¡°Oh nice! The regional invitational I¡¯m assuming?¡± Pepper pointed his finger back at the larger man. ¡°That¡¯d be it.¡± Jay rolled his head and formed a playful expression. ¡°So¡­ let me guess. We need to get you some upgrades to get your golem ready for competition?¡± ¡°Haha, nailed it.¡± Pepper replied while he raised his eyebrows and grinned. ¡°I got you, come with me.¡± Jay motioned with his head and then tapped on his Holodex. ¡°Kellie, clear my schedule for the next hour and send all customer issues to Aaron.¡± A small voice replied over his holodex. ¡°You got it sir.¡± ¡°Alright, now that we have some time to really spend on your golem. Let¡¯s get to it. What composite material did you go with?¡± ¡°Clay with a few metal bars for overall structure.¡± Pepper replied while walking next to the owner. ¡°Did you go with an internal metal wrack setup for your power core and cards?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I self-built it in my personal workshop back home.¡± ¡°Okay, did you leave yourself enough room for the upgrades you want to go with?¡± Pepper had to mentally think over the question. He pictured the setup he had gone with and did his best to envision the construct from a 360-degree angle. His mindscape did its best to re-envision what room he had given himself to work with in regard to Jay¡¯s question. ¡°I think so. I¡¯m thinking of an psionic defense rune and maybe an elemental expansion rune. Those two rune cards should still fit within my frame.¡± Jay¡¯s face changed to one of excitement and curiosity. ¡°A psionic defensive is a good option to go with. I¡¯ve sold a lot of offensive psionic runes recently, so I would expect you¡¯ll need to counter those. An elemental expansion¡­ That isn¡¯t very common.¡± ¡°Oh man¡­ I was hoping you¡¯d have one on hand.¡± Jay quickly countered and put Pepper¡¯s anxiety to rest. ¡°Of I have one. More than one actually. It is just a rune that isn¡¯t readily being purchased. What exactly are you planning use it for?¡± Pepper began to felt more comfortable with Jay the longer their conversation continued. The tone of Jay¡¯s voice came across as genuine curiosity and wanting to further learn his intent to best suit his needs. With that, he divulged his plan. ¡°Well with Mala being mostly clay, I wanted to boost his resilience and strength. Give him better endurance and sustainability over the course of the entire invitational. So, my thought was to get a small shard of metal and add that to my elemental expansion rune. Then learn how to activate it like a steel skin or metal shield I bring out whenever I need to.¡± Jay was head nodding along the entire time Pepper told him his strategy. ¡°I like it¡­ it¡¯s creative. New, I don¡¯t think I have heard of anyone else utilizing that tactic. You can hide it until its needed, but also adapt it to what you¡¯ll need within the immediate moment. Heck, its like nanobots all over your golems body.¡± Jay pointed with his finger to guide their direction of travel. They turned down a long aisle of material. Pepper could see one of the stores workers was on one side of the aisle but completely oblivious to the store owner quickly approaching behind him. ¡°Mr. Hamilton, I¡¯d advise you get back to work and stop admiring yourself in the mirror.¡± The worker quickly scattered off and Jay continued. ¡°Well, the one thing you have to consider is the amount of power that runes ability will force you to devote towards. Do we need to get you a better power core?¡± ¡°No, I have a Dark Matter ¨C Hellion Light. It should be able to handle that load without any issues.¡± Jay¡¯s jaw dropped for a brief moment. ¡°You¡¯re rocking a Hellion Light? Well, no wonder you won your club match.¡± Jay raspberried and waved his hand dismissively in front of him. ¡°Yeah, the Hellion should carry you just fine. How the heck did you swing that, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± Pepper grinned and felt slightly embarrassed to admit the source. ¡°I was able to pick up a sponsor. They hooked me up with it, otherwise, there was no way I would ever have been able to afford it.¡± ¡°No kidding there kid. I mean, not to judge people, but you don¡¯t seem like the type that had everything handed to them on a silver spoon. What sponsor was it?¡± Pepper didn¡¯t know exactly how to take the owners statement. On one hand it felt like a back handed compliment, on the other, it felt like it was a recognition for his efforts towards endlessly working to obtain everything he had. ¡°It was actually my next store neighbor. He started an energy drink company. He called it Big Duck Energy and made an investment into my success.¡± Jay stopped abruptly in the middle of the aisle. ¡°Hold on a second.¡± He brought the holopad back out and in front of him. A few taps on the screen and though Pepper tried not to pry, he couldn¡¯t help but catch a side glance. The distinct layout of an email program was clearly in view and he watched as the man sifted through hundreds of emails. ¡°Here it is.¡± Jay said while bringing the selected item up for him to read through. ¡°Dear Mr. Berez, your brother Ryan advised me to reach out to you and inquire as to your potential interest in my newest product¡­¡± Jay tminied off and started to mutter softly enough that Pepper couldn¡¯t hear what the rest of the email stated. The only part that Jay did perk up on was the name. ¡°Big Duck Energy.¡± Jay quickly closed out the screen and turned back to his holodex. ¡°Kellie.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Beraz?¡± ¡°I got an email two days ago from a Big Duck Energy. Go ahead and place an order for 50 pallets of the drink. Make sure we have it on ten different end caps, and make sure we have it at the checkout stand coolers. I also want it on the front table when people walk in.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes practically jumped out of his sockets. ¡°Sure thing Mr. Beraz.¡± Kellie replied. ¡°Yeah, then reach out to this Mr. Ryan guy who started the company. See if he can come down here for the Invitational Tournament and we¡¯ll make a big shin dig out of the whole thing.¡± ¡°Would you like me to reach out to Mr. Douglas with Golem Lore Podcast and see if he¡¯d like to come do a special interview with this Mr. Ryan?¡± Kellie asked. Pepper felt his heart skip a beat as everything seemed to be escalating faster than he had ever anticipated. ¡°Yeah, that sounds like a great idea. It¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve had John come out and do a podcast episode here in the store. Be sure to have the large conference room clear for them to setup in and do their interview.¡± ¡°Sure thing Mr. Beraz. Consider it done.¡± Kellie replied. ¡°She¡¯s great. I¡¯m telling you kid, everyone needs a Kellie in their life.¡± Pepper grinned and didn¡¯t know what exactly to say. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad you have a good personal assistant in your life.¡± ¡°Personal assistant? That¡¯s certainly a different way of spelling spouse.¡± Pepper now felt his heart sink again¡­ He didn¡¯t know what to say but was afraid to say anything. It was as if every statement he made caused a dramatic turn in the conversation that he didn¡¯t expect. There was just one thing that he was curious about and couldn¡¯t help but ask, regardless if it made the situation worse. ¡°Wait¡­ you have your wife refer to you by Mr. Beraz?¡± Jay clapped his hands together and started to laugh. ¡°Yeah¡­ I convinced her it would make me sound more official and important in front of the customers.¡± ¡°And she was okay with that?¡± Jay¡¯s laughter quickly died, and he blinked. His gaze off to the side informed Pepper that reality had now hit him like a ton of bricks. ¡°Let¡¯s just say she is good at paying it back in full¡­ that honey-do list is never ending, and momma buys a lot of new purses and shoes.¡± Jay glanced at Pepper and emphasized through his expression. ¡°Lots¡­ and lots, of new purses.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 17 - Discount ¡°Well, thanks for at least doing that for Ryan. He¡¯s been working really hard to make Big Duck Energy a thing. It will mean the world to him that you¡¯re willing to bring it on like that.¡± Pepper said and quickly shifted the conversation. Jay smiled. ¡°You know¡­¡± Jay paused and let out a long sigh. He extended his arms out to showcase the store around him. ¡°We have hundreds of different items, across dozens of different brands. You know what I love though?¡± Pepper grinned and shook his head slightly. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The little guy.¡± Jay replied with a big smile. ¡°None of these owners know me, know my customers, know my friends or family. It takes a lot to try and make a small splash in a giant pound already filled with big rocks. You know what I mean?¡± Pepper smiled and started to nod. ¡°Yeah¡­ I get it.¡± ¡°So, when someone walks into my store saying they worked for my brother. Who is a little guy himself trying to make it in this big world. But¡­ was also sponsored by another little guy trying to make it in this big world. You know what that tells me?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°It tells me, that though they may be a little guy, they have a big heart. And that should count for something. So, screw these big corpo¡¯s trying to take advantage of the customer. Let¡¯s put the little guy front and center every once and a while.¡± Jay winked and nudged Peppers arm. ¡°You¡¯ll hear no complaints from me Mr. Beraz.¡± Jay quickly pointed his finger upwards and wagged it back and forth. ¡°Nope! No, no, no. You call me Jay. Understood?¡± Pepper swallowed and nodded. ¡°Sure thing¡­ Jay.¡± ¡°Okay. Where were we. Right¡­ upgrading your golem. So, you want to still go clay based for now?¡± Pepper nodded and Jay continued. ¡°I¡¯m assuming you ordered your clay from my brother. If my memory serves me correctly¡­ he stocked Beast Works Clay Systems.¡± Jay then started to shift around and finally found the shelf of materials he was looking for. His hand grabbed hold of a small canister of clay and he quickly peeled the lid back. There in the center of the canister was a matte black colored clay. Jay scooped a little out and handed it to Pepper. ¡°You said you wanted to enhance your golems resistance. Well, I think you should consider doing a whole new rebuild of your golem using this clay mixture from Abomination.¡± Pepper was about to inquire more, but stopped when he saw Jay was about to go further into detail. ¡°This abomination clay is found deep in the forests of Mongolia. The clay is practically pre-historic and has an extremely high density. Far greater than that of the Beast Works Clay that comes out of Tennessee. It¡¯s got better heat resistance and has a natural resistance to electricity.¡± Pepper took a deep breath and felt his heart start to beat heavily as he thought about the price tag. He did his best to factor in the cost that was now needed to build a golem three times the size of what Mala currently was. His fingers started to tap together and Jay picked up on the activity. ¡°Look, don¡¯t worry about the cost. I can actually give you a major discount on this. The company is recalling their clay. Not that the clay is bad, they are just shifting their sales to the Drakonic Lands conference. They have been getting such demand for the clay that they are shifting operations. It just hasn¡¯t taken off in the states because not many people have taken the time to learn how great it actually can be for a build.¡± Jay reached over and placed his hand over the price tag that was plastered on the shelf in front of the product. ¡°Don¡¯t even worry about this price. Okay?¡± Pepper didn¡¯t know what else to do. He certainly didn¡¯t feel like saying no to Jay was the right thing to do. Especially after he was so open and willing to help out Ryan with placing an order for the energy drinks. Granted, he had previously heard about the brand of clay, but was just like many of the people Jay had mentioned. He hadn¡¯t done any real research on the brand or quality of the material. ¡°Okay. Let¡¯s do it.¡± Pepper agreed and finished with a grin. ¡°Awesome.¡± Jay then leaned off to the side and yelled down the aisle. ¡°Hamiliton! Go get the forklift. Take this pallet to the loading docks so we can get this order prepped for delivery.¡± ¡°Yes Mr. Beraz.¡± The worker replied and then turned and walked off. ¡°Okay¡­ so that is taken care of, let¡¯s go get you those runes you were talking about.¡± Jay turned and then immediately stopped. ¡°Wait¡­ what metal were you thinking of using?¡± Pepper¡¯s face must have told Jay the answer, as he didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°Okay¡­ come with me.¡± The owner led Pepper and Amprage to the back loading dock area. Off to the side was a small room which looked more like a small storage area of scrap items. Jay began to sift through multiple drawers and small components until he found exactly what he was looking for. ¡°Titanium alloy number 5. Otherwise known as the workhorse.¡± Jay then turned to show pepper a small scrap piece of metal held between his two fingers. ¡°Commonly used in jet engines and airframes¡­ but¡­ it¡¯s going to be the best I can offer you.¡± Pepper narrowed his gaze while he reached up and took hold of the small square. ¡°How did you acquire this?¡±You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°Ehhh¡­ I know a guy, who knows a guy.¡± Jay hesitantly said while avoiding a real answer. ¡°How much you want for it?¡± Jay waved him off. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that kid. Look¡­¡± Jay lifted his hands up and motioned them around the small structure. ¡°It¡¯s not like I was really using it. You know what I mean?¡± ¡°Are you sure? I mean, Mr¡­.¡± Pepper caught himself and quickly changed his statement. ¡°I mean Jay. This is still more than what you need to do for me.¡± ¡°Seriously kid. Don¡¯t mention it, But¡­ that does bring up the next thing. How good are you at modifying rune cards?¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but smile and Jay matched his expression. ¡°Let¡¯s just say, I am good enough to get into trouble.¡± ¡°Ha! That¡¯s the kind of answer I like to give also. Okay¡­ so here is the thing. I have an Centaur elemental expansion rune card, but it was already modified to be used as a water element. I have a clearance on it, so it would save you a lot of money. But¡­ with that being said, it means you¡¯d have to open up the rune itself.¡± Pepper then jumped in. ¡°The rune core chamber.¡± Jay pointed to him immediately in response. ¡°Exactly. If you open up the rune core chamber, let it dry out so there is no moisture in there at all. Then, place the metal inside and reseal it. It should technically work.¡± Pepper¡¯s mind flashed back with his knowledge of the multiple runes that the different companies used in their products. ¡°Centaur doesn¡¯t use a specific water rune, but a general elemental so it could technically work with anything.¡± His eyes looked up to see a large smile plastered across Jay¡¯s face. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s brilliant Jay.¡± They both walked up to the area of the store where the rune cards were located. Jay retrieved the Centaur rune card and then guided them over to a completely different aisle. The entire time there were multiple customers who tried to stop Jay and ask him questions. To Pepper¡¯s surprise, Jay politely informed the guests he wasn¡¯t able to help them due to already being with an important client. Jay would nod towards Pepper and then move along as if nothing happened. ¡°Jay, I don¡¯t mind waiting if you need to help other customers.¡± Jay formed a sarcastic expression. ¡°Pepper, I deal with enough customers who have no idea with what they want that they can wait an extra couple of minutes. Trust me, my store will not see a difference should they chose to go somewhere else.¡± They continued for a few more steps until Jay came to an abrupt stop. His head shifted from side to side and his faced spoke of being frustrated and disappointed at the same time. Jay reached down and activated his holodex ¡°Kellie?¡± ¡°Yes Mr. Beraz?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I assigned Mr. Hamilton the task of moving the Celestial Enchantment rune cards down to aisle 7 where they were to be placed next to the Dark Elf rune cards?¡± ¡°Yes Mr. Beraz, he stated he did that yesterday.¡± Jay huffed and rolled his head. ¡°Well¡­ guess what didn¡¯t get done yesterday. Tell his ass to get it done by the end of the day or he¡¯s fired.¡± ¡°Will do Mr. Beraz.¡± Peppers eyes widened and felt a little on edge as the frustration had clearly come over Jay. To his surprise, however, Jay seemed to let it go in a few seconds and returned to his usual jolly self. ¡°Alright¡­ Celestial Enchantment doesn¡¯t necessarily have the best psionic defense runes on the market. But¡­ it¡¯s what I would recommend for you going into the invitational. It would be the best option within your budget and is what I would go with if I was in your shoes. The rune processing unit is insane for the price. It is measured at 8,500 Quantum FLOPS with a 10 HEX power dispersion rating. So, once you power this thing on, it will keep pumping that defensive shielding you need if you get hit with a psionic attack.¡± Pepper¡¯s doubts regarding Jay¡¯s advice were not completely erased. Seeing Jay recall the technical specifications such as the HEX measurements, along with the Quantum FLOPS, told Pepper all he needed to know. ¡°This is perfect. Let¡¯s go with it.¡± Jay smiled and then nodded with his head for them to head towards the cash register. As soon as they arrived, Jay began to punch away on the point-of-sale system. ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead and through in the metal extension rods you¡¯ll need to rebuild and re-form your golem with the new clay system.¡± Pepper blinked and realized he had not even thought about that small aspect. His mind being filled with all the other details within his shopping spree. ¡°Thanks, I had completely forgot about that.¡± ¡°No worries. I¡¯ve seen it happen with tons of customers. You may be building your golem every couple of months. But here.¡± Jay lifted his hand up and waved it towards the store. ¡°This is every five minutes that some customer is trying to build the next Panda Cakes.¡± They both chuckled but then Pepper followed up. ¡°It¡¯s crazy to see how much¡­ more, things are here in the big city. You really get to take in how vast the Golem League is here in the city.¡± Jay chuckled. ¡°Well sure, you and Rhino up there in Michigan are out in the boonies. You have to get out to places like New York, Texas, Florida¡­ the big cities are nothing but big money.¡± He paused and then looked at Pepper and let out a long sigh. ¡°Look kid. You¡¯re different. I can tell that from the get go. A lot of my customers, they just think they can throw money at something and expect a return. Many of our customers who come from out of state, or smaller communities like Idaho, Iowa, Kansas¡­ they seem to have an edge.¡± Jay went back to punching the items into the machine and then entered his address for the delivery of the heavier materials. Pepper was smiling until he saw the grand total flash onto the screen. Okay, metal rod extensions, our Abomination clay, with deliver, then the two rune cards. Your total comes to 18,974 FLEX.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes exploded out and he struggled to breath for a second. I can¡¯t afford that! He mentally screamed. His hand instinctually latched onto the edge of the cashier stand. He naturally white knuckled the wood frame as he knew there was no way he could afford everything. ¡°I uhh¡­¡± Jay then looked at the price. ¡°Oh crap. I forgot to add the discount I told you about. Hold on.¡± He owners fingers quickly adjusted a few items on the screen and then the new price appeared. 9,487 Flex. ¡°There you, sorry about that.¡± Pepper breathed a sigh of relief, but that only lasted for a moment and his heart still pounded in his chest. His stress quickly began to rise within him as he knew that was almost the same amount he had in his account. He didn¡¯t want to be rude, but also knew this was basically why he had saved every FLEX he had earned from the KBVS victory. That and his last paycheck from Rhino. Pepper tried his best to play off total amount and joked with an exaggerated sigh. ¡°Thought I was going to have to rob a bank there for a second.¡± Jay laughed and chuckled along with him. The payment chime pinged on the machine and Pepper then glanced at his holodex. His new bank account total appeared on the small device. 258 FLEX remaining. He swallowed and remembered that wouldn¡¯t even cover another round of grocery shopping. Guess we¡¯re down to bowls of rice, cereal, and peanut butter sandwiches for the next month. Pepper glanced back up and gave a firm handshake to Jay. ¡°Jay, I¡¯m Pepper. Thanks so much for¡­ well, everything. I really appreciate all your generosity.¡± Jay smiled and gave his hand a firm squeeze. ¡°No worries there Pepper. Be sure to say hi to Rhino the next time you talk to him.¡± Jay let go of his hand and then quickly remembered. ¡°Oh, and tell that Ryan guy that we¡¯ll be in touch about his drinks.¡± ¡°Will do. Thanks Jay.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 18 - Cleared Out When Pepper walked through the door, he didn¡¯t anticipate that he¡¯d be greeted by a mound of trash. But, there it was. The bulging black plastic bag sat next to the crash can that was also overflowing with trash. He loudly exhaled when he saw the mound of drink containers directly above the trashcan on the counter. I thought he said that would all be taken care of. Pepper thought to himself. He took a few more steps into the house and then saw Marcus was standing at the far end of the kitchen. His roommate was peering into the oven and then turned towards him and nodded. ¡°I thought you said you were going to clean up?¡± Pepper asked while he slowly shuffled into the kitchen. ¡°We did. Man, did you even see this place? My dude, its ten times better in here than it was before.¡± Marcus waved his hand dismissively as if the topic was not even worth discussing. Pepper blinked and wanted to press the issue even more. But he stopped himself before he continued. It was then that his stomach grumbled at him and his mind immediately went to the Cheesy Chicken Alfredo with Bacon Bits frozen sandwich he had grabbed at the grocery store. Let¡¯s just have some lunch and forget about the trash. He told himself while he walked over to the freezer. The waft of the cold container wrapped around his face and settled his heart for a few seconds. His hand quickly navigated the freezer compartment, however, and after a quick search he asked. ¡°Did someone seriously eat the Bakable Sandwich I got at the store?¡± He quickly looked at Marcus who had a puzzled look on his face. ¡°Man the only thing I get out of the freezer is ice, you know what I mean? Ha!¡± Marcus then nodded in the direction of the hallway, ¡°Yo, slim, was that the last Bakable sandwich you heated up?¡± Pepper spun around and looked just in time to see Wilson standing in the hallway. The flaking pastry sandwich was clasped in his hand and he had just taken a massive bite out of the sandwich before entering his room and slamming the door shut. You little piece of¡­ Pepper wanted to finish his thought but was then distracted by Marcus. ¡°Gahhh, that sucks my man. But hey, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll grab another one at the store when we go to stock back up in a day or two.¡± In a day or two!? Pepper reared back around and could sense the distorted expression his face was making. His mouth was open and he was completely dumb founded. A quick check of the fridge confirmed his alarming thought and he then discovered that practically three quarters of the food he had bought was now all gone. ¡°Did a roman legion swing by while I was gone?¡± Marcus reared his head back and looked completely baffled by his question. ¡°What? Is that like a metal band or something?¡± Pepper closed the door and the few glass bottles of condiments and sauces clanked as it did. ¡°I mean¡­ where did all the food that I bought go? It hardly looks like I bought anything in there.¡± ¡°Oh that!¡± Marcus brought the palm of his hand up and thumped it on his forehead. ¡°Ha¡­ now I get it¡­ like an army of people who needed to be fed. Dang, that was a good one man.¡± Marcus adjusted his expression to more of a playful one and then continued. ¡°Like I told you man, my friends had a seriously long trip and were toast by the time they made it here. I¡¯m super happy we were stocked up and could feed them. You know what I mean?¡± The alarm on the oven went off and Marcus quickly turned his attention to it. He opened the door and pulled out the baking pan inside it. A quick turn towards the kitchen counter top and Pepper noticed the perfectly cooked pizza. The bubbling cheese and small pools of grease was nothing short of inviting. ¡°You mind if I have half?¡± He asked. Marcus sulked and seemed embarrassed. ¡°Sorry Pepperoni, but I promised my new number one fan I¡¯d make it for us.¡± Pepperoni? Well that is certainly a new nickname in the books. Pretty sure I don¡¯t like it either. He immediately thought while then hearing a slight disturbance behind him. He turned to see a young woman in a white sweatshirt and black leggings get up from the sofa and start making her way over to them. ¡°Yo Pepper, this is my new big fan, Brittany.¡± Marcus said while nodding to them both. Pepper faked a smile but was then informed by the young woman. ¡°Actually it¡¯s Briana¡­ but, that¡¯s okay. And¡­ I don¡¯t know about number one fan, but so far it is looking like that could become a thing.¡± She smiled and sat down on a barstool on the opposite side of the counter top. Pepper could only imagine the confused expression his face must have had at that moment. He honestly didn¡¯t care who Briana was or what her situation was regarding Marcus¡¯s life. All he knew was he had had enough of the situation. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± He said and quickly turned towards the fridge. He opened it up and simply latched onto the first few items he could find, which consisted of three cheese sticks and an apple. He grabbed a bottle of water and a banana that was randomly sitting on the counter. ¡°I¡¯ll be out in the workshop if you need me.¡± He said over his shoulder and refused to look back or slow down as he made his way towards the back door. ¡°Amp, come on bud.¡± He called out. His familiar didn¡¯t hesitate and tagged along as they made their exit. Once Pepper was inside the workshop, he made his way down to the far end and fell upon the couch. A large sigh as closed his eyes and shook his head. What did I get myself into? He mentally asked before he turned on the holoscreen in the far corner. He lynched the screen with his Golem Chat account and waited the half second for the information to refresh and populate with his personal settings. His eyes immediately took notice of the notification icon which stated there was a new episode of Golem Lore Podcast. The sour mood Pepper was in left him feeling like the podcast was just the thing he needed to get his mind off everything else.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. A quick tap on the icon and the podcast intro theme began to play across the screen. Pepper quickly jumped ahead as the long-extended intro was the only downside to the podcast. That and the multiple sponsored commercials which awaited viewers at the beginning of every episode. He stopped the video just after John had made his appearance. Pepper couldn¡¯t remember the last time he had watched an episode, but John¡¯s friendly have still greeted him all the same. John¡¯s season 1 Golem League hat looked like it had faded another shade. But John still smiled through his brown goatee and re-adjusted his glasses on his face. ¡°Well hello there everybody and thanks for tuning in to another episode of, Golem Lore. I am your host, the one and only John A. Douglas. For those of you who have been with me since the beginning¡­¡± John paused and brought his hand up and placed it on his chest. ¡°I thank you from the bottom of my heart.¡± John then smiled and brought his hand off his chest and towards the camera with a welcoming gesture. ¡°And for those of you who are new to the show, welcome! We¡¯re happy to have you here. This show is what I like to call, the central hub, the wiki of all wiki¡¯s as we dive deep into the heart of all things Golem League.¡± The genuine tone of John¡¯s voice always matched his passionate excitement for the golem league. Though Pepper didn¡¯t always watch him, there was certainly a calming effect. Pepper smiled and watched as the screen shifted to show John¡¯s guest for the episode. A darkened room which flashed and flowed with a multitude of colors. In the background were shaped panels which glowed in one color, while the entire edge illuminated in a completely different color. Pepper could see three monitors off to the one side of the man while a large microphone glowed with its own distinct colorful pattern. ¡°Well, in case you were wondering folks, that isn¡¯t Santa Claus, even though his room is lit up with more colors than a Christmas tree. But many of you know him as Mixtopher! The video game streaming legend who has some exciting news for us today. Now, I know you better as Chris, so I¡¯ll just call you that. But Chris, I need to ask¡­ a tall strapping guy like you looks more like you should be in a heavy metal band, slaying on the electric guitar rather than playing video games.¡± A giant smile beamed on Chris¡¯s face. He reached his arm up and ran his fingers through his long platinum blonde hair. Pepper could just make out the silver neckless he was wearing and it looked like there was some kind of medallion dangling down from it. Chris gave a nod and then began with a low resonating voice. ¡°Ha, you know John I have the electric guitar hanging up on the wall behind me. It¡¯s just out of view from the camera but right next to it is my custom made battle axe. I like to tell my viewers that I am ready to slay at all times and in all ways.¡± The two gave a hearty laugh and chuckle. John finally adjusted in his chair and nodded along. ¡°Well you certainly got that right. And talking of slaying¡­ you just posted some exciting news about the next type of slaying you¡¯ll be getting to do. Can you tell us all about that?¡± Chris smiled and threw his hands up playfully. ¡°Hey, what can I say. These hands were forged to slay in video games as well, and yeah¡­ its been a wild week as I signed on with OmeVision Studies. I¡¯ll be directly helping them with test out the Golem Leagues first video game.¡± A surprised look came on John¡¯s face. ¡°Wait! So they¡¯re already that close to the testing phase?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ it¡¯s crazy what they have already done in a short period of time. Now John, I know that you are all about the Golem League, but I am all about the video game sphere. So, I have been keeping my eyes on all the subtle updates that OmeVision has been descretely putting out. But¡­¡± Chris paused. He raised his hands as if to tell people to hold on. ¡°Let me tell you¡­ you guys are going to be amazed. Truly¡­ a-m-a-z-e-d at home in-depth this game is going to be.¡± John quickly shifted in his chair and interrupted his guest. ¡°So like¡­ how would you even compare the game?¡± Chris nodded and licked his lips while his eyes shifted around. Pepper clearly interrupted Chris¡¯s demeaner as if he was replaying his experiences to help generate a proper answer. ¡°Like¡­ they flew me out to Denver Colorado to their headquarters. They gave me the whole grand tour of everything right¡­ but then, they led me into this room. And when I say they had every Golem simulator, I mean¡­ they had every Golem League simulator available. So I messed around with each one for like¡­ two days.¡± Chris shifted in his chair and Pepper smiled while John now looked as if he was on the edge of his seat. The little breadcrumbs of information Chris shared and behind the scene tidbits were all nuggets of factoids that John appeared to loved and ingest. ¡°So, they wanted to start me there to see what the real gladiators in the higher echelon of competition train on, and then we moved over to the development side of things and they gave me like a solid day of just being briefed on all the ins and outs of the game mechanics, the structuring, and how they build the games infrastructure.¡± John then pointed his hand towards the camera and interjected again. ¡°So like, in games, there are often times a tutorial one has to go through to understand how the game functions. But it sounds like they basically just told you all that and then skipped straight into the heart of the game. Is that basically what you¡¯re telling me?¡± Chris smiled and nodded. ¡°Yeah, absolutely John. That is exactly right. I basically was given the whole tutorial briefing in person and then I got three full days of just playing the game. The entire time they hooked me up with anything and everything I wanted. Snacks, drinks, food¡­ it was incredible experience.¡± ¡°So¡­ what is your final assessment?¡± John asked while bobbing his head with excitement. ¡°This game is impressive. I mean¡­ I don¡¯t think fans are going to be ready for it. The combat is epic, the customization of golems is practically endless. A seamless transition between real life and virtual life. I mean, we¡¯ve already got it synched up to the Golem League mainframe. Like, the moment a match is over you can log in and replay that match with the same golem specifications that you just watched it in. That¡¯s how detailed this game is going to be.¡± John¡¯s jaw dropped and Pepper¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. The entire time Chris continued to smile from ear to ear. ¡°Yeah! Exactly¡­ that is the same face I made. So after messing around with the professional simulators, I can say for a fact that this game could easily be used as a simulator in and of itself.¡± Chris paused and took a drink of water while the shocked expression remained frozen on John¡¯s face. ¡°John, I¡¯m telling you man. If you come to me in six months after launch and tell me that more and more gladiators are using the game as a simulator. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± John adjusted his hat and sat back in his chair. The look of being completely blown away and stunned from detail overload. ¡°What is the games official title going to be and when can we expect to see it?¡± Chris smiled and brought his hands together in front of his chest. ¡°Well¡­ I am excited to say, that just two minutes before we went live.¡± Chris paused and added just another layer of dramatic effect. ¡°I was given permission to officially be the first person to break the news on the title. It is, Golem League Arena of Champions. It will hit the digital and physical shelves in just two months!¡± John¡¯s face already had the appearance of being shaken, but then his jaw dropped even further. ¡°No way! No way, are you serious? Chris! Chris¡­ seriously!? Two months people! You heard it here first. Golem League Arena of Champions is set to be released in just two months!¡± Chris then lifted up a finger to grab John¡¯s attention. ¡°John, I just sent you the link to the official game tminier. The team just uploaded it and it¡¯s live, so how about we show it here on the stream.¡± Pepper shifted around and readied himself to watch the tminier, but that¡¯s just when his holodex buzzed with activity. ¡°This is Grandy with Jay¡¯s Crazy Circus¡­ I¡¯m pulling into your driveway now with your delivery.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 19 - Mom Card It took a little longer than what Pepper had anticipated, but eventually the entire shipment was packed inside the workshop. He took a few minutes of practically spinning in circles and trying to think of what he should work on first. He finally stopped and chuckled at himself as he finally told himself. Start at the bottom and work your way up. The mental statement was something he felt Ryan or even Nate would tell him. No journey to greatness started without a solid foundation. He grabbed onto his first container of clay and read over the instructions. Once his quick glance was done, he got to work. He finally stopped when his hands simply couldn¡¯t continue any longer. Pepper stepped away from the work bench and fell onto the couch in the far corner. He robbed his hands together for a brief moment, but then let them sit in his lap and slowly throb in pain. Then in the silence of work he heard a small thudding noise coming from the house. He sighed at the fact that he was sure Marcus had invited over his friend group yet again. Pepper cringed and appreciated the fact that he blocked out the world around him whenever he worked on his golem. The reality of his situation though was one he regretted having to come back to. Would it kill him to just have a quiet night in? He mentally asked. He loudly exhaled and then felt his stomach shift and loudly groan. He tapped his hand on his stomach. I guess a real meal could do me some good. ¡°Come on Amp.¡± He called to his familiar. There was a slow chuckle and Pepper shook his head when he saw his familiar had someone managed to fall asleep while being upside down. The familiar¡¯s body and slid down the front of the couch and came to a stop on the top of it¡¯s head. ¡°What? Who? Are we going somewhere?¡± Amprage immediately asked while powering up. ¡°We¡¯re going inside, it¡¯s time for dinner.¡± ¡°Wonderful! I¡¯m famished.¡± His bonded replied while trotting across the threshold and into the backyard. ¡°We¡¯ve been over this. You don¡¯t eat¡­ and are physically incapable of eating actually!¡± Pepper called out over the distance while lifting his hand up in a confused manner. ¡°Fine! But would it kill you to buy me a tennis ball every once and a while?¡± Pepper groaned while he closed the door to the shop. Guess the metal fur ball has a point. The quick glance through the back window confirmed his suspicions and a large group of strangers sat in the living room. The music grew louder as he approached but he was at least grateful that it was nothing compared to last night. He walked into the room and was created by a loud welcoming cheer. ¡°The big dog of the house! What¡¯s up P-dub!¡± Marcus called out to and a few in the group gave partial waves and head nods greeting him. His eyes continued to scan the room while he went. The thing he couldn¡¯t help but notice was more evidence that their food supplies were being depleted by the minute. He navigated through the group and finally made it to entrance to the kitchen area. The moment led him towards wanting to avoid Marcus all together, but he couldn¡¯t help as his roommate approached and rapped his arm across his shoulders. ¡°P-Dub, I was telling these guys how you were working on your Golem. You up for showing some of them your process?¡± Pepper was taken back by the question. He paused and saw the excited expressions on the few strangers who were closely gathered around. It was in that moment that Pepper felt the genuineness amongst the few gathered around. But he couldn¡¯t deny that his energy levels were depleted past social interaction. ¡°I can¡¯t do it tonight. Sorry, I¡¯m completely exhausted and going to go to bed as soon as I get some food in me. Perhaps later this week?¡± To Pepper¡¯s surprise, Marcus didn¡¯t protest but rather tapped his shoulder. ¡°See! What did I tell you guys! My roommate is the real deal. Ain¡¯t nobody else at this invitational working as hard as this guy.¡± The compliment warmed his heart and he appreciated the recognition shown to him by his high charismatic roommate. ¡°Thanks Marcus¡­ I¡­ that means a lot.¡± ¡°No worries man!¡± Marcus gave him yet another reassuring tap on his shoulder and then stepped away. ¡°Go relax man.¡± Marcus turned to those gathered around. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll totally keep you guys posted on when y¡¯all can come check out his setup.¡± Marcus and his friends faded back over to the living room. The room was a mixture of laughs, intense conversations, and amplified music. A quick inhale and Pepper was caught off guard by the strong odor of clay, dirt, and grime which appeared to be latched onto him. He suppressed his hunger and chose to get cleaned up first. The hot shower was a welcome to his exhausted muscles and he felt like he was on the verge of passing out with the water washing over him. The latest discover upon his exit of the shower was the absence of available clean clothes. He chuckled when he grabbed his final clean set of underwear, ¡°Guess this is next step we need to tackle.¡± A quick scan of the room and he realized he needed a more organized system. In each corner of the room were piles of clothes yet to be identified as either dirty or clean. He hesitated when he was about to conduct the standard sniff test, and rather decided to play it safe and wash everything all at once. He gathered everything up and wobbled his way across the hallway to the laundry room. It took him a minute to navigate the cupboards, but he eventually found the laundry soap. A quick glance at the machines instructions and Pepper then started to prep the washing machine while he tossed in his garments. ¡°You¡¯re not separating your colors?¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. The monotone voice caught him off guard and he paused and looked at the doorway. To his surprise Wilson stood perfectly still with both arms at his sides. The entire vibe was more like Wilson was a ghost overseeing and commentating his actions rather than being physically present. ¡°Nope¡­ I have always just kept them combined. I never saw a difference in separating them.¡± Pepper had looked back at the machine when he answered. When he looked up to check back on Wilson, he discovered his roommate had disappeared just as quickly as he had arrived. Gosh that kid is so weird¡­ He thought in his head while dropping in the next handful of items. His soul practically leapt out of his skin when a giant pile of clothes came flying in. He snapped his head around to see Wilson walking away from him. ¡°Thanks for doing laundry.¡± Wilson said over his shoulder. What the h¡­ ¡°I was doing just my laundry¡­¡± He called out, but the only reply he received was Wilson¡¯s door being closed behind him. Pepper jumped yet again as the machine turned on while he stood there in silence and the cold water startled him back to what he was doing. He looked down at the machine and watched as Wilson¡¯s clothes merged with his as the water soaked them all together. Pepper¡¯s hands balled into fists and he gritted his teeth. ¡°Why can¡¯t you¡­ I am not your mother¡­. I just don¡¯t¡­ what the¡­ GAHHH!¡± Pepper resolved to throwing his final few items into the machine as if he was a sports athlete. The machine door closed in a loud resounding bang and he headed for the kitchen. To his surprise, Marcus greeted him at the mouth of the hallway. ¡°Everything okay P-Dub? I heard a loud bang.¡± Marcus took a sip from his cup. Pepper continued to walk past his roommate. ¡°I was starting my laundry and Wilson just dumped his practically on top of me, totally adding his into the wash cycle.¡± He turned just in time to see Marcus perk up. His finger pointed towards him. ¡°Oh man, is there still room? Do you think I could throw some in also.¡± Pepper was happy he had opened up one of the cupboards and had his facing hiding behind it. His jaw dropped for a second when Marcus asked the question and he took a second to calmly breath. He isn¡¯t trying to be a jerk¡­ he isn¡¯t trying to be a jerk¡­ By the time Pepper grabbed the box from the cupboard and closed the door, he had clamed his tempura enough to respond accordingly. ¡°Sorry man¡­ its all full actually. You¡¯ll just have to wait and do a load once mine is done.¡± Marcus smiled and his cool, calm, and easy-going demeanor was a welcomed relief. ¡°Ahh, it¡¯s all good man. I¡¯ll just do mine tomorrow. When you said something I just realized that I should probably do some also.¡± Marcus gave him a nod and then turned and faded back to the group. Thank god¡­ Pepper thought to himself. He finally took a second to breath and realized he didn¡¯t know what exactly the boxed item was that he had grabbed while in his frustrated state. Pancake mix. He placed the box down on the counter and looked at the image of warm hotcakes with melted butter and syrup flowing off their side. ¡°You know what¡­ why not? Breakfast for dinner, here we come.¡± He said and grinned as the thought helped alleviate the situation. That was until he partially turned to his right and discovered Wilson was standing just behind him. ¡°Ahhh! Wilson! Do you try and scare me or something?¡± Pepper stepped back and brought both of his hands up to the sides of his head. He had to fight the instinct of wanting to rip his hair out and merely clawed his hands and grabbed hold of the air. His emotionless roommate continued to stand there perfectly still. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice Wilson was wearing a Golem League Trading Card Game graphic tshirt. He had never seen in before as the sunburnt orange backing complimented the graphic design on the center chest portion. The part that stood out to him was the fact that Wilson had tucked his shirt into his blue jean pants. ¡°I came to ask you a question.¡± Wilson stated in a monotone voice, void of any personality whatsoever. Pepper took a deep breath and looked off to the side. He proceeded to take two more deep breathes, trying to let his heart rate settle back down. ¡°What is it?¡± Wilson reached up and pressed his glasses further up onto his nose. His arm lowered back down and rested at his side. ¡°May I have some of whatever you¡¯re about to make for dinner?¡± Pepper felt his eyes blink rapidly. Is this kid serious, or is he really, really, really¡­ good at messing with me? He lifted his finger partially up towards Wilson. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Wilson nodded slowly. ¡°I haven¡¯t ate all day. My mom said I should just ask and see if you¡¯d be willing to let me share whatever dinner you were making.¡± Gahhhh why did you have to play the mom card! And why the hell am I responsible for, for, for caring for this kid who can¡¯t even take care of himself? How could parents just, abandon their unprepared child out into the world like this? Though his mind raced with frustrated animosity towards the situation, Pepper couldn¡¯t help but mentally image Meg. Meg could at least take care of herself, she didn¡¯t¡­ well, she wouldn¡¯t¡­ I mean. The more his mind played over the comparison of the two, the more he wanted to justify their stark differences. Yet, a small voice deep within him told him that he there was only one right answer to this situation. ¡°Sure¡­¡± He muttered in response. Pepper turned to grab the milk out of the fridge and discovered that Wilson had departed back to his bedroom. At least I can make dinner in peace. He thought. The rest of his time spent in the kitchen was only interrupted by the few guests who were coming in and out to refill their drinks. He finally piled up the large stack of hot cakes onto a large plate. His hand firmly knocked on Wilson¡¯s door and he informed him the meal was ready. He turns and began to walk back towards the kitchen when his ears heard the distinct sound of the bedroom door opening up. By the time Pepper returned to the kitchen and turned around, he found his peculiar roommate taking a seat across from him at the kitchen counter. The youthful face looking down at the dinner seemed to make his frustration fade away. ¡°Well, help yourself man.¡± He said and nodded with his head. ¡°You first¡­ you made the meal, you should get the first choice.¡± Wilson muttered back and once again adjusted his glasses. So be it. Pepper grabbed a plate and started to lather a large helping of butter and syrup. Wilson then started in and began to help himself. The entire time Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that his roommate never looked him in the eye. He quickly thought back since he had moved in and realized that he couldn¡¯t remember Wilson ever matching his gaze. The curiosity grew in him, but Pepper chose a different approach. ¡°So¡­ did your mom and dad never teach you to cook?¡± Wilson was about to cut into the hot cakes when he paused. He shook his head and Pepper felt his roommate was nervous to answer honestly. Wilson finally took a large bite of the meal and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but grin when he saw the butter run down the side of his face. He reached for a napkin and then tossed it across the space. Wilson reached up and grabbed hold of the napkin and wiped his face. ¡°Thank you.¡± Wilson muttered. ¡°So¡­ is there a reason why they never showed you how to make a meal?¡± Wilson stopped and shifted his gaze upward slightly, but still wasn¡¯t even coming close to gazing towards him. ¡°Because my parents didn¡¯t want me around.¡± Pepper could feel his face contort after Wilson shared with him. What? How could that¡­ Pepper didn¡¯t have much time to think more regarding the comment as Wilson surprisingly shared further. ¡°I was not to be seen, or heard in my household. The only time I was to come out was if I needed something. I was to go to school, do my studies, and not disturb my mom and dad.¡± Wilson took another bite of the meal while they shared a brief moment of silence. Pepper watched as his roommate took another few bites, but then stopped and muttered. ¡°Thank you for dinner.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 20 - Nightmare Mala Pepper cracked the door open to the workshop and walked in while rubbing his face. The sleep was still heavily seeped in his eyes. He finished with a loud yawning sigh that slightly echoed within the large metal structure. ¡°Okay¡­ let¡¯s get to it.¡± He muttered while his feet scuffed across the concrete floor. He turned on some music which played in the background, but his focus soon tunnel visioned towards the craft. He started in with the metal guide rods and worked for hours to try and perfect the knee joint. Pepper did not have the foresight to know that the scaling in size would come with so much more difficulty. The balancing and weight distribution was becoming harder with every once of weight and every inch in height he added. Pepper was on the verge of quitting for the day when the right knee joint finally set. His ears heard the audible click and Pepper slowly faded away from the skeletal frame with hesitation. Fear had taken hold of him as he worried he would watch his hours worth of work fail right in front of him. He finally breathed a sigh of relief when the shape held. The shop door was ripped open and the metal structure soon shuttered when the door loudly closed. His heart raced for a split second and Pepper snapped his head between the golem¡¯s metal skeleton and the door. ¡°What¡¯s up man?¡± Marcus asked. His heart didn¡¯t begin to settle until his eyes confirmed that the small reverberation had not disturbed the metal framing. ¡°Dude, you can¡¯t be charging in when I¡¯m working on the skeletal frame like that.¡± Marcus seemed to ignore his statement and homed in on his progress. ¡°Yo! This is cool man.¡± Marcus leaned in and caused Pepper¡¯s nervous to heighten all over. His roommates face now inches away from all his work. ¡°The bones of success my dude. Ha, this is so cool.¡± Marcus stood back up and then noticed the shaped leg. ¡°Wait. Are you¡­¡± He pointed between the two different Mala¡¯s. ¡°Are you making your golem black?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know about making him black, it¡¯s just the way that the clay is naturally. Mala¡¯s character is originally white, so I paint him once he¡¯s done to look that way. That is just the final stage of construction though. I¡¯ll get there eventually.¡± Marcus had a confused look on his face. Pepper read each small detail and he could tell there were quiet a few different thoughts running around in his roommates mind. Marcus scrunched his mouth over to the side while he scratched his head. ¡°Nah man¡­ you need to make him black.¡± He was now curious about Marcus¡¯s reasoning. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± ¡°People love alternate variations of things. You gotta think of it from a branding perspective man.¡± Marcus then reached behind him and produced a can of Big D Energy. He popped the top and took a long sip. ¡°It¡¯s just like this. Flavors, color patterns, different variations of songs. Marketing and branding is all about shaking this up, keeping things new and fresh. Entertaining¡­ heck, sexy even!¡± Marcus finished with a playful and flirtatious demeanor. Pepper chuckled and widened his eyes. ¡°I can guarantee that the last thing I think about when designing Mala is, dang¡­ how can I make this golem more sexy?¡± The two laughed and Marcus waved him off. ¡°Not like that man. Think about sports cars, their curves, design, color pattern, heck even the interior design can be sexy.¡± Pepper shook his head in disbelief. ¡°We¡¯re seriously talking about sexual appeal and golems in the same conversation.¡± Marcus sighed and took another sip of the drink. His eyes shifted around the room and Pepper read it as he was trying to think of a new way to convey his thoughts. Marcus then snapped his fingers and pointed at him. ¡°Bikini!¡± Pepper dry coughed. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Bikini¡­ do you know where it comes from?¡± Pepper chuckled and crossed his arms in front of his chest. He had no problem in openly admitting he did not have any idea. ¡°No, I actually have no idea who started making bikini¡¯s.¡± Marcus rolled his eyes and leaned against the workshop bench. ¡°No¡­ not the swimsuit but the name. The name for the modern swimsuit came from the nuclear arms race. At the heart of the cold war was the pursuit of not just building the worlds deadliest weapon, but making it even more destructive. The US was using the Bikini Atoll islands of Guam as the test sight.¡± Pepper couldn¡¯t help but arch his eyebrow as he continued to intently listen to everything Marcus shared. ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Death, destruction, war, the coming apocalypse¡­ things you should be afraid of, right? Wrong¡­ this is sexy, this is the ultimate power, this is the thing we should not want, yet we can¡¯t take our eyes off the mushroom cloud each explosion creates. What else can you not take your eyes off of?¡± Pepper smiled and rolled his eyes. ¡°Bikini¡± Marcus stuck his tongue out and pointed once again at him. ¡°Bikini. Ha!¡± ¡°Okay, well pretty sure Mala is not going to have a bikini, but thanks for the¡­¡± Marcus cut Pepper off before he had a chance to finish. ¡°No. no. no¡­ listen.¡± He paused and took another sip of the drink before he set it down on the work bench. ¡°This isn¡¯t the Mala you¡¯ve come to know¡­ this isn¡¯t the small Mala you watched in the club matches¡­ this is a whole new Mala! This is the Mala that makes demons cower in fear! The Mala that makes hell shutter in fear at the power and terror he has contained inside him!¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Marcus had extended his arms out and looked like a businessman giving a pitch for a new product. He was successful though as Pepper was now sitting on the edge of his seat and awaited for the final hook intended to wrangle him in. ¡°This is the Nightmare variant of Mala¡­.¡± Marcus paused as they both smiled at one another. ¡°The version of Mala which will keep you awake past midnight. Your opponent¡¯s afraid¡­ no terrified of having to face you in the arena!¡± Pepper tilted his head from side to side. The longer he thought about it, the more he started to like the idea. ¡°Okay, you kinda have a point.¡± Marcus leaned back and smiled. ¡°Oh I know I do. I may not be the expert crafter, build-guy that you are¡­¡± He paused and pointed at both of Pepper¡¯s golems. ¡°But, I do know a thing or two about getting ideas, or products to trend.¡± Marcus then looked back at Mala¡¯s original form used at the KBVS club. ¡°Hey, what color is your power supply?¡± Pepper practically laughed out loud when Marcus used the wrong term. He was able to bite his tongue and reminded himself that his roommate was doing his best to come up with fresh ideas. ¡°Well, my power core is a light blue.¡± Marcus scrunched his face as if he was disappointed. ¡°Dang¡­ it would be cool if it was purple. Really play on that whole midnight, nightmare theme, you know?¡± ¡°You could simply install a fae crystal on your power core¡¯s fusion wall and easily change that.¡± Wilson¡¯s voice informed them. The surprise entrance made both Pepper and Marcus visibly jump and cry out. *Ahh! ¡°Holy crap man! You gave me a heart attack¡­¡± Marcus called out. He then turned and realized he had spilled his big d energy drink and quickly worked to clean up the mess. ¡°How the heck did you even get in here without us noticing?¡± Pepper alarming asked as he realized the workshop door still appeared to be closed. Wilson was simply standing off to the side of the room but still looked at a slightly downwards angle. He maintained his demeanor of not making eye contact but answered in his monotone voice. ¡°When you¡¯re expected to not be seen or hear, you get really good at coming and going without being noticed.¡± Pepper looked over to see Marcus¡¯s jaw had dropped in shock. Marcus looked over to him and pointed towards Wilson, the appearance of still not believing the words he had just shared. Pepper merely nodded and sighed, letting his roommate know he was aware and shared the same thought process as Marcus. ¡°I bet you have heard some interesting conversations then. You ever test out just how far you could sneak in somewhere?¡± Pepper stated. Wilson shrugged, ¡°Everything that I have overheard being said about me simply proved what I had already surmised. It has gotten me in trouble once or twice.¡± Marcus smirked and appeared more curious now. ¡°Ha¡­ how bad could it have been?¡± Wilson didn¡¯t miss a beat. ¡°I caught my school principal cheating on his wife with the English teacher.¡± Marcus and Pepper in unison called out, oh-my-god. But that didn¡¯t stop Wilson as he continued. ¡°That didn¡¯t really go over well for anybody. I submitted a rebuttal to my parents regarding my grounding, but it did nothing for me. Mr. McFadden was let go.¡± There was a long pause and neither Marcus or Pepper seemed to know what to say. Pepper finally tried to appeal to an empathetic approach. ¡°Hopefully it wasn¡¯t too traumatic for you.¡± Pepper was relieved when he actually saw a slight amount of emotion come across his roommate. Wilson scrunched his face and shrugged again while he titled his head off to the side. ¡°Nothing that I haven¡¯t seen in my health sciences book. The only thing that was really surprising was seeing Miss Carmack like that. I would have never guessed she was limber in that way.¡± Marcus immediately spat out his drink and started laughing. Pepper buried his face in his hands and tried to keep his laugher down to a rumbling chuckle. He then heard Marcus¡¯s voice compose himself long enough to bestow a new nickname to Wilson. ¡°Dang squints! I had no idea you could be that funny!¡± Pepper lowered his hand enough to look at them both. Wilson picked up his hand and acted as if he slapped the top of his leg. ¡°I¡¯m a damn comedian I tell you.¡± The two laughed while Wilson continued to stand there like a statue, but Pepper looked over to Marcus. ¡°Why would you call him squints?¡± Marcus motioned with his head towards the fmini looking roommate. ¡°Well, whenever he prepares to share something, he always squints his eyes. It¡¯s not a personal attack, just an observation.¡± Marcus then turned and looked at Wilson. ¡°You got any good one liners to throw at us?¡± Pepper turned and looked at Wilson who did just as Marcus had pointed out and squinted for a second. To both of their surprise, Wilson gave a one-word answer. ¡°Nope.¡± Marcus formed a surprised look and nodded while rotating his gaze back to Pepper. ¡°Okay then.¡± Pepper worked to get the conversation back to where it had originally started. ¡°I thought fae crystals were worthless though?¡± To their surprised Wilson stepped forward and sat on one of the wooden crates that had been used deliver the golems. ¡°They have not been found to add any value towards the generation of power, or effect the flow, absorption, or even manipulation of ethereal essence. However, it was discovered that fae crystals react when there is ambient essence and you modify your power core with a cross-relay which passes through the adaptor port along the fusion wall.¡± Wilson had certainly grabbed Pepper¡¯s attention. He shifted on the crate and then adjusted his glasses before he continued. ¡°That is why most power cores are designed with an empty slot directly next to a power core¡¯s fusion wall. It is a cost efficiency measure for manufacturers. It only costs them an extra 30 Flex to install the fae crystal and create the custom color scheme, but they charge customers an extra 1,300-1,700 Flex and call it special.¡± ¡°Holy crap! That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s¡­ that is just ridiculous man.¡± Marcus said in a shocked and alarmed tone. ¡°Those things seriously cost that much?¡± Pepper could feel the confusion form on his face. ¡°Marcus¡­ you said you spent like over 120,000 Flex on services for your golem.¡± Marcus¡¯s demeanor changed as if a light bulb had come on and he needed to clarify for them both. ¡°Okay, so to be fair, I never actually paid for that. That was all from my sponsors, more importantly, the Mr. Johnson who does business with my dad and owns Total Insure.¡± Marcus ended in a confident tone and looked at both he and Wilson as if they should have clearly heard of Total Insure before. The blank faces that both Pepper and Wilson gave him though were enough to get him to add on. ¡°Seriously? You guys have never heard of Total Insure? They¡¯re like, the leading insurance company for the entire western half of the US.¡± The continued blank stares seemed to dig under his skin and Marcus started to snap his finger while he sang the company¡¯s jingle. ¡°If you wanna be covered, like no other, look no further than, Total Insure!¡± There was a silence which filled the room until Wilson calmly muttered. ¡°I can see why they use you as a model rather than a singer.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 21 - Pick Me Up Pepper was grateful that his roommates let him have some free time to himself. He spent the next couple of hours working on Nightmare Mala and was happy with his progress. The entire lower portion of the metal guides had been formed together and were ready for the clay to be shaped around them. It was almost perfect timing when he had finished working for the day that Marcus messaged him. Pepper had completely forgotten that today was the start of the Promina League. He closed out the message and started to make his way towards the house. His eyes immediately took in the sight of multiple color patterns glowing out of the windows. Now there are party lights? He mentally asked and let out a long sigh. He shook his head in frustration. Amprage on the other hand ran towards the door, completely excited to investigate what the activity was. He felt upbeat about the invite to watch the match, but the thought of being around a group of others quickly changed all that. His suspicion was confirmed when he reached the back door and saw the living room filled with strangers. Granted a few of the faces looked familiar, but all their names escaped him. Marcus¡¯s friends were at least cordial and polite, but it didn¡¯t help as Pepper noticed someone sitting in his favorite spot on the couch. He continued to make his way towards the back of the living room and kept going until he made his way into the kitchen. To Peppers surprise he found Wilson sitting on one of the back stools placed at the countertop. He smiled when his thin roommate actually gave him a small wave with his hand, though Wilson still refused to look anyone in the eye. ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see you out here hanging out with us.¡± ¡°I broke another keyboard. This is the only other option I have for entertainment.¡± ¡°MuscleMommyLover99 again?¡± Pepper smiled when he saw Wilson ball his tiny hands into fists. ¡°I will beat him one day.¡± Pepper now saw the opportunity to let out his frustration on someone else. ¡°How do you know they are a him?¡± The question appeared to throw off his roommate. Wilson straightened himself upward and cocked his head to the side. His hand sprang up and grabbed his chin. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as it was the most emotion he had ever seen his roommate produce. Well, besides unleashing his fury out upon his keyboard. ¡°I had not considered this option.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyebrow arched upward as he placed far to much energy into the moment. ¡°Does it really matter?¡± Wilson¡¯s shifted his heads angle to the opposite side. He then returned to his previous position. ¡°You bring up a good point. No.¡± Pepper reached his hand up and scrunched his face. ¡°No, what?¡± ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t matter who they are. I merely need to beat them. No! Wait¡­¡± Wilson then slammed his right fist down into the palm of his left hand. ¡°Not just beat them, but completely crush their spirit to the point of them questioning their very existence!¡± Pepper could see the fmini frame of his roommate start to rise and fall as he took deep breaths. Wilson¡¯s face appeared to change to a redder shade of anger. He reached up into the cupboard, grabbed a glass and retrieved some chocolate syrup. There was no delay as Pepper worked to mix in the cold milk from the fridge. He then slid the fresh glass of milk. His mind flashed with the thought of being the bartender serving the man at his wits end and hanging on by a thread. ¡°Hey¡­ maybe you should take it a little easy there. No need to blow a blood vessel over it. Here, my dad used to make me one of these when I had a hard day.¡± Wilson twisted in his seat and looked like he was fixated on the beverage. He grabbed the glass with both hands and lifted it up to his lips. Pepper started to internally laugh and didn¡¯t stop as he watched Wilson chug the chocolate milk down in one go. His roommate turned and placed the glass back down on the counter. Wilson¡¯s hands slid it back across the counter towards Pepper. ¡°Fill it up P-Dub¡­ I got a lot on my mind.¡± Pepper placed his hand over his face and bounced with laughter. ¡°Sure, thing squints¡­ sure thing.¡± He started to mix the two ingredients together, but before he stopped drizzling the chocolate syrup inside the glass he asked. ¡°Should I make it a double?¡± ¡°Hit me with that goodness.¡± Wilson replied with his monotone voice. Pepper continued to poor in more of the sweet chocolaty goodness when he heard the theme music for the Golem League come on. The living room roared as the group cheered for the arrival of the match. ¡°Hello everyone and welcome to the Season 11 opener for the Promina League. I am of course, your host Nick Bosloe and It is great to be back with you today. What a stupendous matchup we have for you today, I mean, really¡­ stupendous. But before we get going into the action, let me introduce my co-host, the one and only JD Glasscock.¡± Pepper had to shift his position to get a direct view of the holoscreen. He crossed his arms and leaned against the back kitchen counter. He smiled as he saw Nick was wearing a golden honey colored tie for today¡¯s broadcast. The color was unique and really caught Pepper¡¯s attention. The traditional professional business suit was then contrasted by a JD wearing what appeared to be a bumble bee outfit. The room filled with laughter as the host adjusted his high gloss black sunglasses but was beaming with a smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you Nick, but I am ready to get this thing on!¡± Nick was clearly taken be surprise as he now was laughing out loud. He quickly worked to get his professional composure. ¡°I think I speak for everybody when I ask. What on earth is this JD?¡± ¡°Well, you know me Nick, I move like a hurricane and sting like a bee!¡± JD then air boxed towards the camera and threw a couple of jabs. ¡°And speaking of hurricanes, that is exactly what this matchup is going to be like! Cause two of these competitors are a powerful force just like a powerful tropical storm, but not only that, they have one as a part of their gladiator interface!¡± Nick shifted his attention between the camera and his cohost. ¡°And that is clearly a reference to our dual gladiators, R.A. Cooper and of course, L.M. Hughes. They were the first two gladiators to receive permission from the Golem League to co-compete together within a single match. As we all know, they are not the only ones who do this sort of switch style today, but they certainly opened the doors and spearheaded the initiative.¡± ¡°Oh, 100% Nick.¡± JD waved his hand back and forth in front of his body as his personality continued to set the tone. ¡°These two ladies ran full force ahead and basically told the Golem League, hey! We¡¯re going this way.¡± JD was pointing off to his far side and emphasizing his point. ¡°If y¡¯all want to come with us cool, otherwise we¡¯re going to go kick major tail over here. And sure enough, the Golem League listened, did the right thing, and now we have dual gladiators competing.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. JD then pointed towards the camera and focused on his next point. ¡°Not only that Nick, you have to give a lot of credit to the company 7 Seas. They took a lot of risk and made a special variation of their Hurricane gladiator interface which allows both of these ladies to be logged into their golem¡¯s controls at the same time.¡± JD turned back to Nick and opened his hand. ¡°Granted, there are other companies that now make special dual gladiator control interfaces, but 7 Seas was the first to make that jump and create a capable platform for everyone else to build off of.¡± ¡°Now what about their opponent JD, Lee Jin-Woo from South Korea?¡± JD¡¯s face lit up and he reached his left hand over and placed it on top of Nick¡¯s shoulder. ¡°First off, how can you not love this kid. Jin-Woo has been climbing up the ladder, rung by rung, not giving up and using a super creative fighting style. Drunken master, but not just any drunken master, a drunken master with a freaking sword!¡± JD turned to Nick and leaned forward. ¡°Because we all know, nothing bad ever came from giving a drunk guy a ninja sword. Ha!¡± Nick started to chuckle and continued. ¡°A unique technique indeed and a unique golem design. Now granted¡­¡± Nick paused for a second and extended his hand out towards the camera. ¡°There is a chance that Jin-Woo may show up without his beloved golem, but our current analysts have stated that it doesn¡¯t appear Jin-Woo will be changing things up any time soon.¡± Nick then gave another reaffirming motion of his hand towards the camera. ¡°We expect to see the golem that has really gained a lot of fandom here in Asia. A golem inspired by an old videogame assassin character with a demonically infused blade like no other. Pair that together with the extremely unique fighting style of drunken master, and you¡¯re in for one heck of a show.¡± Nick turned back to JD who gave a firm nod in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re so right Nick. I mean¡­¡± JD opened up his hands and widened his shoulders slightly as if to address the elephant in the room. ¡°Our friends, fans, and partners in Asia have not had it easy. The rift wars took a toll on them almost greater than any other area of the world. To see Jin-Woo rise up from the ashes and continue to work his way up to this level¡­¡± JD shrugged and nodded his head with a genuine expression on his face. ¡°You can¡¯t help but love rooting for the young man.¡± Nick raised his finger up to his ear and then nodded to the camera. ¡°Alright folks, we¡¯ve just been told that this match is ready to get under way. Let¡¯s head right to the arena and watch these gladiators face off!¡± The screen transitioned to show the massive Redwood trees sprawling across the landscape. The room rose with cheers and a voice called out. ¡°Heck yeah! The Cascade arena, this is going to be epic!¡± A slow zoom began and the camera view shifted to that of being immersed within the giant Sequoia trees. A quick rotation of the camera and there stood the South Korean gladiator. Bright red hair took everyone by surprise, seemed to fit as Jin-Woo wore pitch black sunglasses and a black war bomber jacket. The camera was just able to get a glimpse of the small vertical tattoo that ran down the back side of Jin-Woo¡¯s neck. A dark blue pair of blue jeans and combat books finished off the gladiator¡¯s appearance. Jin-Woo¡¯s gladiator platform hovered him in a few more feet before coming to a stop. He reached into his back pocket and retrieved a pair of black leather fingerless gloves. He put them on first, but then rolled the sleeves of his leather jacket to expose the Rage Hyper Inline vambraces. Jin-Woo reached up and tapped on the metal command module which quickly illuminated in deep red coloration. The red light of the interface matched his hair color as it wrapped around Jin-Woo¡¯s wrists and hands. An effect generated by the interface which looked as if he was spell casting. The light formed spinning disks and rotated back and forth as his fingers, hands, and wrists continued to work the controls. Jin-Woo came into the center of the screen and without warning started to move in an articulate fashion. His whole body moved more like a combination of break dance, martial artist, and wizard all in one. As the camera zoomed out Pepper could see a jagged movement occur behind the gladiator. The camera focus shifted and the background began to clear. Pepper first made out the bamboo sun hat. There was a cross-hatch pattern towards the edge which allowed the faint red glow to illuminate from underneath it. The golems main form was hidden behind the large tree but it looked to stumble forward and almost slammed into the giant tree. The golem had brought its arm up and braced its body against the tree bark. That was when Pepper saw the meticulous craftsman ship of the golem. The golems hand was chiseled into the appearance of skeletal bones. Each finger delicately crafted to the point that it looked real. Pepper was captivated, but then he watched the golem¡¯s hand curl into a fist. How? How is it possible to get that much detail and mobility? He mentally said in amazement. The golem lifted its head, exposing its face which was carved in the design of a traditional kabuki mask. The eyes glowed red with power but then they all heard the blood curdling laugh. The golem¡¯s audible effect echoed throughout the arena and a shivering chill ran down Pepper¡¯s spine. That¡­ golem is incredible! Pepper could feel that his jaw was dropped wide open. The golem then shoved its body back upright and then leaned to the side. Its feet stumbling forward again but then came to an abrupt stop. The giant figure didn¡¯t stand still however, but continued to sway in all directions as if it truly was intoxicated. The camera pulled away to show that the golem was adorned in a ripped black garment. The color was frayed and ripped along its edges and was sleeveless, but designed with a long flowing tail. The upper torso of the golem was carved to an effect that mixed skeletal bones with a semi-muscular physique. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but see an adaptation of a zombie theme. Nick¡¯s voice then arrived in the broadcast. ¡°What a mesmerizing, yet terrifying golem JD. Jin-Woo titled his golem as Shibito, which translates as dead person, and my, what a sight it is to behold.¡± Along the golem¡¯s waist was a large belt with a samurai sword hanging off the side. A set of shorts dangled down and were ripped just at the knee joint. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the fact that Jin-Woo had even ensured the feet where chiseled and looked to be wearing traditional straw-rope sandals. The golem took a few staggered steps forward, leaned heavily to one side as if to catch its balance. It then stood upright and staggered back a step, its other arm outstretched as if it was trying to stop the world from spinning and that was when Pepper saw what looked to be a clay vase clutched in its other hand. Another round of dark rumbling laughter came out of Shibito, but then his joints spewed forth what looked to be steam or smoke. JD¡¯s laughter came over the airwaves. ¡°I¡¯m loving it! I gotta say Nick, I¡¯m really loving it!¡± ¡°What a grand entrance JD! I know the jeepers creepers have certainly rattled my cage, but let¡¯s see how our two ladies are handling it.¡± The camera turned around to the opposite side and showed the two ladies standing side by side on their platform. R.A. Cooper reached up and adjusted her bright green hair to one side. The ends of her hair draped just over a blue jean jacket. It was unbuttoned and showed a black graphic t-shirt which tucked into leather pants. Her black combat boots were polished enough that a bright shine reflected off of them. The camera panned over to showcase L.M. Hughes standing next to her teammate. Her blonde hair was parted to one side, but had bright red tips which ended along her jaw line. Pepper didn¡¯t know if it was truly a military uniform or not, but L.M wore what appeared to be an older military jacket. The royal navy blue color had golden yellow trim with large gold buttons. A military stripe design on her upper arms and just above the wrists. Underneath the jacket she wore a pitch black shirt which draped over what looked to be black denim jeans. The two women quickly glanced at each other, the camera shot close enough to capture the confident smile they shared with one another. The two ladies then turned their attention back to their opponent just before they put their operator helmets on. The helmets powered on and immitted a teal coloration. Though Pepper was unable to see what information was being displayed within their visors, it certainly left his imagination wondering. Must be a game changer to have all that data directly in front of you. He thought. ¡°Ha! Shibito stumbled into this arena trying to instill fear into his opponent. But that timber wolf looks like it is ready to tear into the zombie warrior.¡± Nick exclaimed while the camera panned down. The timber wolf appeared as if it was made of pure iron. The metal ridges for the wolf¡¯s fur looked as if they were razor sharp. The fine jagged pieces left the impression that one could be sliced right open if it¡¯d brush past you. The timber wolf¡¯s eyes sparkled as if they were diamond but had an orange glow of flame deep within them. The wolf opened its mouth and morphed to showcase that of an aggressive grow. Pepper could see the claws of the wolf began to grow in length. The animal then pawed at the dirt and left deep imprints within the earth¡¯s surface. The countdown timer began and JD cried out over the broadcast. ¡°Let¡¯s get it on!¡± Bk2 - Chapter 22 - A Battle In The Woods The starting horn sounded and Pepper watched as Shibito retrieved his samurai sword from his belt. A bright shine came off the blade, but Pepper was even more curious with the fact that Jin-Woo held the blade at a downward angle. As if it was a large dagger that would be used to stab and pull towards him, rather than a sword used to slash or thrust. The Shibito then went to take a step forward, but tripped over its own feet and fell. A loud thud rang out and the entire living room filled with a mixture of gasps and laughter. Shibito lifted up its arm and plunged the samurai sword into the earth. It began to stagger upwards and climber back up to its feet. The timber wolf didn¡¯t hesitate and launched itself into a running stride. Pepper was amazed to see the speed at which the wolf could immediately utilize. It made the distance between the two golems look short as within mere seconds the wolf went on the attack. The timber wolf launched itself through the air with open jowls that aimed right for the Shibito¡¯s arm clinging onto the sword. It was within a few feet when the Shibito reacted with a lightning fast spin off to its right. The swords blade spung along with it and shot sparks out as clanged against the metal hide of the wolf. The Shibito ducked down and entered into a roll. It continued a couple of rotations and finally stopped with its back laid out on the ground. The golem brought its knees up into its just, began to tuck and in one motion, kicked itself upwards. The timber wolf had not wasted time and had already launched itself forward in another attack. Pepper could see that Jin-Woo had miscalculated the wolf¡¯s speed and now made a quick counter adjustment. Shibito had not even gotten back to its feet but was in midair when Jin-Woo instructed his golem to continue forward and not plant its feet. It was another near miss as the timber wolf streaked by its opponent. Shibito planted its fist with its sword still firmly clutched within it upon the ground and performed a one-handed front handspring. Jin-Woo spun his golem around in a fast twist as soon as it got to its feet. He back peddled and landed upon one of the large redwood trees. The Shibito let out his eerie laugh and it brought up the hand clasped onto the vase and shook it from side to side as if to say, nice try! There was no time to bask in its¡¯ taunt however, for the timber wolf was already lined up and charging forward. Pepper watched as the wolf¡¯s exterior rippled with golden energy. It looked as if lightning was sparking across the exterior metal skin. It took another quick step and then launched the lighting forward in a snap. The electrified bolt shot forward across the ground and kicked up dirt particles as it went. The Shibito kicked off the tree with its foot and entered into a turning spin. The golem rotated around and continued its laugh as the lightning bolt blasted onto the tree. Bark fragments pelted onto the ground as the Shibito evaded the damage. But that was when Jin-Woo realized the lightning attack was merely a decoy. He finished the spin to bring his golem back forward to face the wolf, but it was too late to evade the real attack. The timber wolf had lowered its head and slammed directly into the Shibito¡¯s chest. The golem flew backwards as if it was hit by a massive battering ram. It¡¯s back slammed against a downed redwood tree and its¡¯ body slumped down into a seated position. The bamboo hat of the Shibito had fallen off from the massive impact and laid a few feet forward. The zombie golem laughed and swayed from side to side. It¡¯s head rolling down and forward while it clapped its hands together. Shibito then lunged forward and began to walk on its fists and knees as if to mimic the wolf. It crawled its way forward until it arrived at its hat. A quick flick of its wrist and the Shibito tossed the hat upwards, and everyone awed as it landed perfectly on the golem¡¯s head. ¡°Okay, that was impressive.¡± Pepper said. ¡°Mathematically speaking, he only had a 10% chance of that move succeeding.¡± Wilson added. Shibito began to plant its foot and started to stand, but that was when the timber wolf launched another lightning attack. The explosive blast hit directly on the leg that Shibito had planted its weight on to stand. Shibito tucked and rolled again as the wolf slashed at the golem with its¡¯ claws. Pepper watched as the wolf ripped and tore at the golem, but something seemed off. The attacks, though powerful, didn¡¯t seem like a long-term sustainable strategy. What are they really getting at? He thought. His eyes tuned in to the fact that the orange glow of energy had grown significantly within the wolf. The wolf then latched on to the left ankle of the Shibito. The power and strength of the timber wolf on full display as it dragged the golem backwards. Shibito rotated its hips and spun around, a quick slash with its sword. The blade ripped across the wolfs face and sent metallic sparks dancing across the area. The timber wolf evaded another strike from the blade by making a quick jump off to the side. It ran to safety and then turned as if it was lining up for another attack. It¡¯s claws dug into the earth as it bound forward. Pepper saw the Shibito toss the small container it had been holding towards the wolf. It landed far short of the wolf, but that was when Pepper realized that was the purpose. The container shattered and black liquid coated the area. The timber wolf reared backwards but it was too late. The momentum carried the golem forward and it immediately slipped and rolled in the black liquid. ¡°Oh no JD! Jin-Woo was able to pull of his oil trap, and we know that he¡¯ll more than likely follow it up with a fire ball!¡± Nick exclaimed. It wasn¡¯t but a second later that Shibito pulled another two vases that were affixed to the opposite side of its belt. The jars breaking upon the timber wolfs body and coated the metal skin with the dark, thick oil. Just as Nick had warned, Shibito opened its mouth and shot out a small fireball. The magical attack blasted against the wolf and immediately engulfed the golem in flame. Shibito spun the samurai blade in front of its body and quickly began to open up and into a trot forward. The Shibito picked up speed as it went and lifted the blade up high. It closed the distance and was about to plunge the blade down into the wolfs body when the wolf launched a force blast. The attack launched the Shibito back and caused it to trip again on its own feet. The zombie golem cried out in laughter yet again, but the timber wolf didn¡¯t hesitate to try and escape. The wolf clawed at the earth and ripped up chunks of flaming dirt as it finally broke free of the trap. It fled into the brush and soon the flames faded off its skin.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. There was a quick shift as the drone worked to keep up with the wolf. It almost appeared as if the drone operator knew something that nobody else did. The camera hovered around which showed the Shibito far in the background with the Timber wolf at the bottom of the screen. The wolf stopped near a large chunk of wood that had detached itself from downed tree. It quickly lifted its paw and placed it on the tree, and that was when everybody practically fell out of their seats. The orange glow of energy poured out from the wolfs paw and began to imbue itself into the wood. Hundreds of orange slivers of light sprang around the wood. It all looked like a scientific laser machine that was carving and etching away at the wood as it all soon took shape. A perfect replicate copy of the Timberwolf was now formed out of the wood. The orange light then narrowed in and etched a rune directly into the rib cage of the wolf. A flash of light ended the process and the rune glowed to life. It was only a second later that the rune sent a pulsating wave of energy throughout the wooden carving. ¡°Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness JD! It¡­ it¡¯s¡­ a duplicate rune in action!¡± Nick¡¯s voice erupted through the broadcast. The camera then shifted quickly over to R.A. and L.M. Both ladies were clearly in control of their golems. Though there was no way to tell who was controlling what. A shift back towards the wolves and the world watched as both wolves bolted off to the far left side. ¡°This is incredible JD! I can hardly believe we¡¯re here and watching this all unfold!¡± Nick continued. ¡°You know me Nick, whenever it comes to rune options within the golem league, I get just as excited as a fat kid does when they see cake. When the league announced they were going to allow the duplication rune into competition, I was excited to see how it was going to be utilized. But, now we¡¯re seeing it live and I¡¯m loving that sugary frosting goodness!¡± JD commented. The Shibito had now continued to stagger and sway as it stood. Pepper was unable to discern if Jin-Woo knew exactly what had happened or where the two wolves now were. But they didn¡¯t have to wait long, for the wooden timber wolf launched itself out of the underbrush. The duplicate wolf soared through the air like a missile streaking towards its target. The Shibito spun around and brought a spinning heal kick which slammed into the side of the wooden golem. The Shibito continued its momentum and tried to slash with its sword. A solid gash was carved from the wood as the blade cleaved the duplicates skin. But the exposed week side was a prime target for the true timber wolf. The metal golem lunged from a different location and latched down with its teeth on the Shibito¡¯s arm. The timber wolf pulled its opponent down and off balance. The Shibito was now staggering on its feet as the wolf dug its claws into the earth and reared backwards. That was when Jin-Woo started to activate a rune in its free hand. Red pulsating light began to circulate around the limb. A quick twist and the Shibito turned to aim right at the wolfs face, but that was when the duplicate golem arrived. It slammed its head directly into the Shibito¡¯s right hip with a mighty ramming attack. The impact twisted Jin-Woo¡¯s golem around and sent a blazing beam of fire into a nearby tree. Wood splinters erupted everywhere as the blast severed the mighty tree in two. The wolves bolted to safety as the colossal tree began to fall towards the ground. Without delay Jin-Woo activated another rune, a flash of red light surged down the swords blade. The camera view adjusted to show the golem was about to be smashed in place by the redwood tree. It appeared to only have a second left when a red light sliced through the threat. The strike severed off another portion of the tree and the rest slammed into the arena with a thunderous arrival. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice that the longer the match continued, the more Jin-Woo faded away from the drunken master technique. The Shibito now stood amidst the scattered pile of split wood. Jin-Woo turned the golem around in a half circle and looked as if it was actually scanning the area. The eerie chuckle began and quickly escalated towards a diabolic laugh. Its¡¯ red energy pulsated to life and grew in intensity along with its evil laugh. A final bellow scream of anger and then red flames shot out of the kabuki mask, the samurai sword and the Shibito¡¯s free hand. The three separate beams of fire immediately caught the nearby woods aflame. A shift in the arena¡¯s aura could now be felt through the broadcast. Though Pepper couldn¡¯t tell by the angle of the camera feed, it appeared as if the arena was darkening. ¡°Not only is this match heating up, but nature is ready to bring balance as a thunderstorm as rolled in overhead JD.¡± Nick informed the viewers. ¡°Is it actually nature? Or are these two ladies bringing us their own conjured thunderstorm?¡± JD countered. ¡°Well you certainly bring up a great point JD. One we¡¯ll certainly have to find out in the post match interview.¡± A flash of lighting overhead illuminated the arena floor. There was a few taps of rain that could be seen falling near the Shibito, and then the heavens opened up. The rain came crashing down and soon the Shibito was covered in water as it maintained its placement at the arena¡¯s center. The camera began to zoom out and that was when Pepper could see bright streaks of light zipping throughout the surrounding trees. From the high up angle they could see that the speed was actually some type of magical enhancement. The two wolves left an electrified ripple in their wake before they would jump to their next point. Pepper could see that the wolfs speed was increasing and eventually it was so fast to see their tmini was creating their own patterned rune. The two wolves finally came to a stop and a thunderclap sounded overhead. The rune now complete and glowed with a golden yellow coloration. It pulsed with life and grew with intensity while the thunder and lighting clashed overhead. The Shibito began to launch fireballs randomly around the area, probing the void for its opponent. The wolves on the other hand maintained a safe distance as the lighting targeted the Shibito and unleashed its furry. Jagged lines of lightning shot down in forceful bolts of energy and slammed into the Shibito. One of the lightning bolts impact shot directly through the golems left leg. Another bolt ripped through the right shoulder. Another round of bolts slammed into the lower back at the golem while a separate bolt sliced the left side of the Shibito¡¯s face. The energy was so great that the entire side of the golem was now scorched and appeared to be sizzling. The lightning ended and Pepper could see the two wolves slowly stalked towards their opponent. One on either side of the Shibito, who had now returned to the swaying motion it had earlier in the match. The camera shifted over to Jin-Woo, and his body movements made it clear that he was actively working to command his golem. His efforts appeared to clearly be failing as every failed attempt brought more panicked expression across his face. The two wolves came into view at the same time that their bodies rippled with electric energy across their skin. A second later the duplicate timber wolf launched itself forward. It streaked across the distance and slammed directly into the Shibito. Shibito¡¯s auto balance feature had kicked in and the golem staggered for a few steps. The Shibito had not even came to a full stop though when the metal timber wolfs attack arrived. The wolf latched down onto Shibito¡¯s arm that held its samurai. In the blink of an eye the wolf had ripped the arm clean off the golem. Pepper¡¯s eyes widened as the duplicate wolf timed its second attack perfectly. The Shibito not even having time to recover from its severed arm when the wolf latched onto the opposite sides leg. To Pepper¡¯s amazement, the leg crumbled under the force of the attack. The Shibito fell down and the stump of its severed leg thudded into the arena floor. The golem reached its right arm out to brace itself. It was then that Jin-Woo looked to have regained some type of connection to his golem, but it was too late. Shibito started to glow with its red energy, powering up to launch another attack. He wouldn¡¯t have a chance to release it however, for the two wolves came charging in at the same time. The metal Timberwolf slammed directly into the chest of Shibito as the duplicate wolf slammed into its¡¯ back at the same time. The dual ramming attack was too great for the stone golem and the distinct sound of rock shattering could be heard throughout the broadcast. ¡°That looks to be it JD! The wolves have done it!¡± Nick exclaimed. Pepper watched as the two wolves stood frozen for a second. They slowly backed away after a brief moment and piece by piece of the Shibito began to crumble away. The red energy flickered for a second and then fluttered out. The stones crumbled down into a pile, and as if it was planned, the Kabuki face landed on top of the pile looking up at the camera view. Bk2 - Chapter 23 - Escalation ¡°Talk about an electrifying round JD! The power, the intensity, the suspense, gah you just have to love it.¡± Nick proclaimed as the broadcast shifted to the commentators. ¡°Well talk about a buzz of electric excitement!¡± JD responded with a large smile. He shifted over to his counterpart and spoke with his hand emphasizing. ¡°Nick¡­ I¡¯ve said it before¡­ I¡¯ll say it again¡­ and I¡¯ll continue to say it. If you want to win in this league, you have to be creative. These two ladies came out here and put on a text book performance of how to use a duplicate rune, work as a team, and execute their strategy.¡± Nick then pointed his finger as if to add his point to the conversation. ¡°Now for most fans JD, they were probably watching this match thinking, this is Shibito all day, but that simply wasn¡¯t the case now was it?¡± ¡°Well certainly give a lot of praise to Jin-Woo today for the performance he put on and man is it exciting and fun to watch him. But, these two ladies came out here with a strategy. They stayed with their game plan, used the terrain and arena to their advantage. And then pulled off something we rarely ever get to see in the Golem League, they used a nature rune and brought down the fury of the gods.¡± Nick then played his hand on JD¡¯s shoulder, the look of informing him he was about to be interrupted. Nick then turned to the camera. ¡°Well let¡¯s just go right to the source and hear it from themselves. Over to you Erika.¡± The broadcast shifted the scene to show Erika was standing next to the two gladiators. All three had beaming smiles of success and happiness. Erika then smiled towards the camera and nodded, ¡°Thank you Nick and JD.¡± She turned raised an excited hand which showcased the energy there amongst the three women. ¡°L.M., R.A., congratulations on yet another amazing victory here in the arena!¡± The two gladiators smiled and gave nods of appreciation. ¡°I know myself and all the fans out there are dying to know. The first duplication rune used in the Golem League, how awesome was that?¡± R.A smiled and turned two L.M. who answered the question. Her warm and excited Irish accent greeted the viewers. ¡°Well thank you Erika, and thank you everyone for cheering us on.¡± She lifted her hand and motioned between her and R.A. ¡°Yeah, the duplication rune has been something we¡¯ve been helping with behind the scenes for years now. We¡¯re so happy to see it come to fruition and finally be approved for use here in the Golem League.¡± Erika smiled and nodded along. ¡°Clearly this rune helps play towards your strengths. You two have been battling alongside each other since the very beginning.¡± R.A. smiled and tilted her head to the side for a second. ¡°Absolutely, and like you said, we¡¯ve utilized each others strengths for years. The great thing is not having to swap out in the match, rather we now get to work directly alongside one another and stay focused on the overall goal.¡± Erika nodded along and then followed up. ¡°So, do you have to change your setup and build for applying this new strategy?¡± L.M. nodded, ¡°Right, well, after every match and heading into every match you need to assess what changes need to be made. We knew that this duplication rune was going to minimize some things, and magnify others. We had to really train and learn how to prioritize our power consumption and ensure we timed everything perfectly.¡± L.M. then turned and looked to her counterpart, ¡°Yeah and studying your opponent is a crucial part of preparation. And, we have to say, Jin-Woo is amazing and he was so much fun to study for the weeks leading up to the match. His theatrics and approach to the match with his distinct style is just inspiring.¡± R.A. then shifted her weight and continued. ¡°One thing I will say is that we really had to work out how exactly we were going to utilize the duplication rune. It took a lot of trial and error to discover what would work out best for us. In the end¡­ looks like our strategy worked.¡± R.A. shrugged her shoulder and winked towards the camera. ¡°Well that¡¯s interesting you say that.¡± Erika added and pointed towards the two gladiators. ¡°What was some of the things you tried and then abandoned the further you got into the strategy?¡± L.M. then nodded and answered. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ you always have to be willing, especially when working alongside a teammate to be humble and listen to all sides of the problem. As we approached the match, we thought about having the duplication come from our Timberwolf directly. But that means sacrificing the resources your devoting to your primary golem.¡± R.A then followed. ¡°We finally had to determine what things we were not willing to sacrifice. The more we worked with creating a duplication from the natural resources within the arena, the more we felt that was the best approach for us. Obviously, our gamble worked in our favor.¡± The room was mixed with amazement and breaking into small pockets of conversation. Pepper then realized he had missed a call from Andrea and began to turn and head for his bedroom. He heard Marcus call out to him and ask why he was turning in so early. ¡°Sorry, I gotta call my girlfriend back.¡± Pepper could hear the girls aww in admiration while some of the guys were mixed with jokes and laughter. He closed the door to his bedroom and made sure to lock it, not wanting anyone to forget that his space was not to be shared with anyone else. He quickly tapped on his holodex and waited for a few seconds before Andrea appeared in view. ¡°Hey! Sorry about that. We were watching the Golem League match and I didn¡¯t even notice you called.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I just wanted to call and see how everything was going. I kind of miss the fact that I can¡¯t just turn and look at you cuddled up with me.¡± She replied. He smiled but then came a firm thud against his bedroom door. He ignored it at first but the thud became louder and louder every time. There was a clear look of frustration on his face and Andrea asked what was wrong. ¡°These¡­ friends of Marcus keep bugging me.¡± He reached for the door and began to unlock it. ¡°They ate all our food, they use my bathroom, I have had to¡­¡± Pepper then paused when he cracked the door open and discovered the source of the noise was none other than Amprage.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°You locked me out¡­. Dad.¡± His familiar said. The animated golem drooped his eyes and let out an audible whine. Pepper sighed and opened the door further. ¡°Well, where were you? I though you were right behind me?¡± ¡°I powered down and panicked when I discovered you had left the kitchen.¡± Amprage replied. Pepper turned his attention back to Andrea. ¡°Never mind¡­ it was only the metal dog wanting attention.¡± Andrea smiled and made a cute animated expression. ¡°Aww, I miss that cute little block head.¡± Pepper went to lay down on his bed but didn¡¯t realize his spot was already occupied by his bonded. The metal frame of his familiar impeded into his side and he quickly placed his hand and began to shove. ¡°Yeah, not happening Amp. You get on your side of the bed if you¡¯re going to be up here!¡± ¡°But I prefer your side, its fluffier!¡± Amprage replied. ¡°I¡¯m not playing games, either get on your side of the bed or find yourself sleeping on the ground.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Amprage huffed in defiance but finally got up and moved the extra few inches on the bed closer to the wall. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t be mean to him. He just wants to be with you.¡± Andrea said with a stern pointed finger. ¡°He doesn¡¯t need to be on top of me to be with me.¡± Pepper countered. He then playfully smiled and winked. ¡°There¡¯s only one person who gets to be in that position.¡± Andrea blushed and rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh hush.¡± The two giggled and smiled at one another. Pepper then heard the music volume turn up louder in the living room. The bass reverberated through the walls and multiple voices started to rise along side the volume. ¡°Is that your roommates in the background?¡± She asked. ¡°You can hear them too huh?¡± ¡°Yeah, sounds like the party is just getting started.¡± A sense of dread came over him and he worried about how little sleep he would get tonight. ¡°I hope not.¡± The house seemed to shake as loud thuds could be heard. He instinctively looked towards the living room and Andrea asked what had just happened. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but sounds like a wrestling match just started.¡± Pepper then worked to ignore the distraction and asked Andrea how her dad was. The two stated on the phone for hours and to Pepper¡¯s surprise, he awoke the next morning to discover they had both fallen asleep on the call. His holodex battery icon was flashing red. But he smiled when he saw Andrea peacefully sleeping on the other end of the call. He ended the call and then removed his holodex and placed it on its charging stand. Once he made it to his feet he performed a large stretch and got cleaned up and ready for the day. A quick twist of the doors lock and when he got to the end of the hallway, he saw the disaster that awaited him. What the actually hell?! He yelled to himself. Not only was the sink full of dishes, the trashcan overflowing and an additional two bags of trash piled up next to it. But it was the large hole in the living room wall that sent him over the top. ¡°Marcus!¡± He yelled. There were the faint rumblings of guests awakening to his cry. ¡°Why so loud man? Were still trying to get some sleep.¡± One of Marcus¡¯s friends muttered to Pepper while he rolled over on the couch. ¡°Marcus!¡± Pepper called again. His roommates bedroom door cracked with life and out stumbled Marcus and yet another female guest whose name he did not know. Marcus staggered down the hall and still had sleep in his eyes. He yawned and then arrived next to Pepper. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What happened? Wait¡­ did the toilet overflow again?¡± Marcus sighed and rubbed his face. ¡°I told them to just plunge it themselves, but you¡¯d be surprised how many people don¡¯t know how to unclog a toilet.¡± ¡°No the toilet isn¡¯t¡­ wait.¡± Pepper stopped himself. He turned and walked to the hallway bathroom, opened the door but didn¡¯t find the toilet overflowing. Instead he found another stranger who was passed out on the toilet. Their head was tilted back and audibly snoring the entire time. He was just grateful they were fully clothed. Pepper closed the bathroom door and then power walked right past Marcus and stopped adjacent to the giant oval hole in the living room wall. He turned and exaggerated his hand towards the damage. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± Marcus appeared to quickly awaken when the realization kicked in. ¡°Oh¡­ right. That would be an our bad. Or¡­ more than likely, a Jeff and Mikey oopsie. But, on the bright side, Mikey is still undefeated in his wrestling matches against Jeff.¡± Marcus finished with a smile. ¡°This isn¡¯t funny Marcus! This is serious damage to a house that neither of us own, and are responsible to maintain it or suffer the consequences. Which¡­ just so happen to be financial consequences. And I don¡¯t know about you, but those are the consequences I try my best to avoid.¡± ¡°Pepper, my man. Calm down.¡± Marcus lifted his hands up defensively. ¡°Okay, so things got a little out of hand last night. But, it will all work out. Braden¡¯s dad works on houses and taught him all he knows. We¡¯ll go to the store, pickup what we need and will patch that up in no time.¡± ¡°Who is Braden?¡± Pepper countered aggressively. Marcus motioned with his head towards the bathroom. ¡°He¡¯s currently sleeping on the throne. But¡­¡± Marcus furrowed his lips, nodded and gave a solid thumbs up. ¡°He might not look like much, but that guy has skills.¡± Pepper then shifted over to the kitchen and pointed to the dishes piled up in the sink. ¡°Well what about these?¡± He then nodded and to the trash. ¡°And the trash. This is like a week straight that your friends refuse to take out the trash.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what to tell you man. Jeff told me last night before I went to bed that he would clean everything up.¡± Pepper just happened to place his hand on the kitchen counter. He immediately retracted it when he felt a strong sticky sensation. ¡°If they cleaned up then why is the counter sticky?¡± Marcus jaw dropped and he was left speechless while he shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Is there any food even left in the fridge?¡± Pepper asked while walking over and pulling the refrigerator door open. He let it fully swing on its hinge and then waved his hand to the empty shelves. Marcus sighed and stepped forward. ¡°Okay, I get it. Sometimes my friends can be feral.¡± ¡°Sometimes?¡± Pepper countered and closed the fridge door which arrived with a loud thud. Marcus stopped at the kitchen island and placed his hand down bracing himself. He also retracted his hand. ¡°Oh that is sticky¡­. Gross.¡± He adjusted himself and then crossed his arms in front of his chest. ¡°Okay, how about this. I¡¯ll make the gang get up, they¡¯ll reclean everything. I¡¯ll take out the trash and then I¡¯ll go grocery shopping and restock everything. It will be on me this time.¡± Pepper took in a deep breath and nodded to his roommate. It was a few seconds of silence later that Wilson appeared at the end of the hallway. The bashful roommate still refused to look them in the eye and seemed nervous. Marcus turned and looked behind him. ¡°Morning Squints.¡± Wilson didn¡¯t answer Marcus but merely directed his question towards Pepper. ¡°Pepper. Will you take me to the trading card store?¡± The question took Pepper by surprise and he didn¡¯t know exactly how to respond. ¡°You want me to take you to a trading card store?¡± He then cocked his head to the side. ¡°Where is it exactly?¡± ¡°There is one in the same shopping center as the Nordon¡¯s grocery store.¡± Wilson replied. Pepper immediately thought about how much it was going to cost him to rent a Buzz Podz. He hated the idea and it didn¡¯t help the fact that it was just after his confrontation with Marcus regarding the issues he had awaken to find. To his surprise, Marcus came to the rescue. ¡°Well, how about this. I¡¯ll get my buds to do their chores and clean up. Then once we¡¯re done, I¡¯ll take all of us to the store. You two can go to the card store, I¡¯ll grab the groceries and it¡¯s a win-win for everyone?¡± Marcus then turned to Wilson. ¡°What do you say Squints, will that work?¡± Wilson replied without any hint of emotion. ¡°That¡¯s fine with me if it works for Pepper.¡± Marcus turned back and had a slight smile on his face. ¡°What do you say big boss?¡± Bk2 - Chapter 24 - Ultra Rare Pepper took his newly acquired frustrated energy and put it to use with working on the Nightmare variant of Mala in the workshop. By the time Marcus came to inform him they were ready to go, he was happy to see the amount of progress he had made. It was at least enough to where he didn¡¯t feel like he was neglecting his responsibility of getting ready for the invitational tournament. Pepper jumped into the front passenger seat while Wilson and another newly acquired fangirl of Marcus¡¯s sat in the back. Marcus tried his best to ease the tension with some light hearted conversation. But after a few minutes Marcus just let the radio play. They arrived at the store and Pepper and Wilson split off from the group. Pepper¡¯s eyes glanced up at the sign which read, Platinum Card Reward Chest. Pepper raised an eyebrow as the sign and overall theme of the store left him questioning it all. A large pirate cartoon character was painted on the front glass panels. Directly on the opposite side of the main door was painted treasure chest. Only, there wasn¡¯t any gold or jewels within it, rather a large collection of bright colored packages. Wilson placed his hand on the door and struggled to pull it open. Pepper reached in and aided his roommate. ¡°Thanks.¡± Wilson muttered. As soon as they crossed the threshold Pepper distinctly heard a parrot callout overhead. ¡°Rawr! Give me the booty!¡± What the? He thought to himself, but didn¡¯t have time to discover the source as a customer was waiting for him to move out of the way. He stepped off to the side and noticed the shop keeper glaring his way. ¡°Hey.¡± He called over to the worker. To his surprise, the shop keeper ignored his greeting and remained frozen in place like a statue. The large shop keeper took up almost the entire space behind the front display counter. The man was the largest person he had ever seen. A frazzled set of red hair which matched freckles scattered across his face. The man had a set of glasses on and a bright red shirt. ¡°Nice hair.¡± Pepper complimented, but even that got no response. Not even going to have a ginger bond I see. Okay, fine then. He thought while turning and glancing over the store. Pepper could see some folding tables and chairs setup at the far end of the store. There were a few scattered couples sitting within the setup and were clearly engaged with some type of activity or event. He turned to look at the wall to his left and was taken back when he saw hundreds of options. The shelves were filled with different colored boxes of all shapes and sizes. Many had custom artwork on them and seemed to be placed by theme. Pepper admired how there was also random items such as plushy toys, action fingers, comic books, and custom molded dice sets scattered throughout the collectable items. Grosse''s Mansion TCG, Mech Warfighter, Mech Warfighter Other World Adventures, Mage Quest, Mage Dungeon, Mage Tower, Quest Academy: The Path of the Hero, Demon Card Enforcer. Pepper mentally read off the names of the different card games as he slowly walked along the wall. He then started to ignore the multiple titles as they faded into a collection of board games. He turned around and saw Wilson standing in front of the opposite wall. His roommate practically remained as still as the dead and he couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Pepper placed his hands in his pockets as he came to a stop just off to the left side of Wilson. He arched up onto his tip toes and bobbed up and down. ¡°A lot of options.¡± ¡°You have no idea.¡± Wilson softly replied. Pepper turned and watched as Wilson¡¯s mouth was partially open. Pepper couldn¡¯t help the thought that Wilson was under some kind of trance. His roommate remained fixated by the multiple boxes sitting on the shelf in front of him. ¡°Is this, uhh¡­ what you came here for?¡± He asked. Wilson slowly nodded his head while his mouth remained opened in amazement. ¡°So, what exactly is so special about these¡­ boxes?¡± ¡°This is the Golem League TCG Season 5 Tech Weaver Edition. It literally just released yesterday.¡± Pepper mouthed, ¡®Oh, of course.¡¯ But rolled his eyes with the fact that Wilson still didn¡¯t pay him any attention. ¡°So, it¡¯s just the simple fact that this is the latest set, or version? That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Pretty much.¡± Wilson muttered. His roommate reached up and adjusted his glasses higher up on his nose. But to Pepper¡¯s surprise, he continued. ¡°Special collectors art from Eric Stonx, Alec Smith, Lorenzo Leao. Multiple card rarities to include halo holographic cards, celestial star dust variations, and rare shattered metal flake plated cards.¡± Pepper huffed and rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°Wow, sounds intense.¡± ¡°You have no idea.¡± Wilson said and slouched his shoulders. ¡°Well, What are you waiting for? Why don¡¯t you buy a¡­¡± Wilson interrupted Pepper by raising his left hand up with his index finger telling him to wait. ¡°I¡¯m trying to be present in the moment.¡± There was a slight pause until Wilson warned him. ¡°And you¡¯re ruining the moment.¡± Peppers eyes widened and he nodded. Well okay then. He thought. He turned and was about to walk away when Wilson stopped him. ¡°Are you going to get any?¡± Pepper fumbled over his words. ¡°Well, I¡­ uh. There, you know. I don¡¯t think I have ever actually bought a pack of cards before.¡± He cleared his throat and was worried how Wilson would respond. To his surprise, Wilson nodded towards the cards. ¡°You should. At least a pack or two. You never know what you¡¯re going to get.¡± ¡°Well okay then. You know what¡­ why not.¡± He grinned but it was mostly trying to hide the grimace of not actually wanting to buy anything. He scanned the boxes on the shelf until he found the individual packs. He reached up and grabbed hold of three packs and started to walk up towards the counter. The large worker who gloomily stood behind the counter turned and looked at him. His large hands reached up and removed the ear buds from his ears. ¡°Going for the new Golem League set. Nice choice.¡± ¡°He speaks.¡± Pepper said jokingly. He glanced down and saw the employee had Keith printed on his name tag.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. The man smiled and grabbed the sides of his head. ¡°Ahh sorry about that. I have been listening to this book series and must have been zoned out when you came in.¡± ¡°Must be a pretty epic book series.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Expeditionary Force. It¡¯s my favorite Sci Fi series out there.¡± The man smiled and Pepper started to feel bad for misjudging the man based on first impression. ¡°Okay that will be 30 Flex.¡± Pepper dry coughed as he choked on his words. ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry, did you say 30 Flex?¡± The man looked surprised and huffed. ¡°Yeah¡­ that¡¯s the standard cost for Golem League TCG.¡± Pepper was about to respond but was then caught off guard as Wilson plopped an arm full of card packs up onto the counter next to him. ¡°Okay¡­ I¡¯ve chosen.¡± Wilson then crossed his arms. ¡°Could you hurry up?¡± The man laughed and Pepper sighed. He tapped his holodex on the payment pad and felt his heart ache. The mental thought of his bank account dwindling further to zero weighed heavily on him. He was about to head for the door when he heard Wilson call to him. ¡°Where are you going?¡± The question caught him off guard, as if the answer was obvious. ¡°I was uhh¡­¡± ¡°We have to open them.¡± ¡°Yeah but¡­ shouldn¡¯t we head back to the truck?¡± Wilson didn¡¯t answer but merely turned and began to walk back towards the tables with his arms full of all the packs he had purchased. Pepper sighed and let his head roll from side to side. His feet scuffed across the store carpet and he soon arrived at the table that Wilson had picked out. ¡°Alright Squints¡­ alright. Let¡¯s see what cards you got. I guess¡­¡± Pepper¡¯s statement dragged on as Wilson¡¯s behavior reached a whole new level of weird. His roommate handed the foil package as if it was a delicate fossil he had just unearthed. Wilson slowly rubbed his fingers over the foil wrapper. What in the world is he doing¡­ Pepper though as Wilson then brought the package up and let it slide across his cheek. Wilson¡¯s tiny fingers than came up and gently crapped hold of the top flap. He grabbed the wrapper tight and ripped it open and immediately deeply inhaled. Wilson then lowered the cards away from his face and exhaled. ¡°That fresh card scent hits hard every time.¡± Pepper could feel the odd expression form on his face and was flabbergasted. He watched as his roommate meticulously worked to cautiously remove the cards from the pack. Wilson quickly discarded the first card as if it was nothing. ¡°Is that one not important?¡± He asked. ¡°No¡­ it is just an informative card which gives updates and stats on the card game. There is a code we plug in to the online tournament system that gives us more cards. It¡¯s not the real honey within the honey pot.¡± ¡°Oh, of course.¡± Pepper said with a nod. He was just happy that Wilson was not paying any attention to him and not realizing how much he was actively judging his odd roommates behavior. Wilson then slowly turned the cards over and Pepper took notice of the back side of the collectibles. In the top portion of the card was the Golem League text printed just above the league emblem of two gladiators facing one another. There was a multicolored wave pattern which gave off the vibe of ethereal energy. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but watch as Wilson¡¯s face. His roommate still remained emotionless but appeared to analyze every feature of every card now in his hand. The process repeated itself for every pack Wilson had purchased. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, At least he is getting good deep breaths in. He thought every time Wilson would smell the freshly opened packs. One by one Wilson opened up his packs until there was none left to open. Wilson had started to place his new cards into a small cardboard container he had also purchased from the store. He then cleared his area as if to ensure that everything was properly in its proper place. ¡°You haven¡¯t opened your cards.¡± Wilson said while blankly staring at the few packs Pepper had purchased. Pepper nervously laughed. ¡°Well I mean, I don¡¯t need to open them now. You know¡­¡± ¡°You should open your packs.¡± Wilson cut him off. ¡°Alright, fine. I¡¯ll open my packs.¡± He huffed and started to handle the slick foil package. It lightly crinkled in his fingers until he finally tore the packaging open. He reached his fingers in to pull out the contents when Wilson added. ¡°You need to smell them.¡± ¡°Wilson, I don¡¯t think I need to.¡± ¡°Smell them!¡± Wilson sternly exclaimed. ¡°Okay, okay. Just chill out Squints. I¡¯ll smell them.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes widened and he took a wiff of the package. That¡¯s weird¡­ it does have a distinct scent to it. He thought, but certainly didn¡¯t want to admit it out loud. ¡°Alright, I smelled it and now I can look at them right?¡± Wilson merely nodded in approval and Pepper started to look through his random drawing. ¡°An energy card, energy card, gladiator assist, an obsidian sword of hatred.¡± He paused and turned the sword card towards Wilson. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll admit, that art work is pretty good.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not pretty good. It¡¯s amazing.¡± Wilson said. Pepper laughed and went back to looking through the cards. ¡°A brown clay, a forged steel, a power core, another gladiator assist, a basic shield and oh¡­ this card is different. A holographic battle griffin golem. That¡¯s pretty cool.¡± ¡°A very nice pull on your first pack Pepper.¡± Wilson said in his standard monotone. He grinned at the compliment. ¡°Thanks, Squints¡­¡± He started to open up his next package but added. ¡°I¡¯ll have to trust your judgement on that. I wouldn¡¯t know what is good or bad for any of this.¡± Pepper finished his second pack and read off the list of cards to Wilson. His roommate told him what was good and what was common and Pepper moved right along to his final pack. He opened it up and just as Wilson had instructed, he smelled the pack and started to catch on to the odd behavior. Pepper wasn¡¯t planning to admit that any time soon to him though. He removed the wrapper and began to sift through each card one by one. That was until he got to the final card. The light reflected of every intricate detail of the artwork printed on the card. His wrist and hand gently rotating at different angles to appreciate the quality. ¡°This¡­ this seems like something special.¡± He said. He looked up and saw that Wilson had perked up regarding his statement. Pepper rotated his wrist around and watched as Wilson¡¯s face lit up with a wave of emotion. Wilson¡¯s eyes widened and his mouth opened in awe as he gazed upon the card. ¡°That¡¯s¡­. that¡¯s¡­. That¡¯s an ultra rare halo holographic Panda Cakes golem card!¡± ¡°So that¡¯s good right?¡± Wilson reached up with both of his hands and grabbed hold of his face. ¡°Good? Good? Are you serious? Pepper¡­ that is one of only ten cards ever printed in this latest edition!¡± Pepper smiled and perked up. ¡°Oh, well that¡¯s¡­ well, really cool I guess.¡± ¡°More like amazing¡­.¡± Wilson said in disbelief. Pepper glanced down at the card and enjoyed the artwork for another few seconds. He looked up and noticed Wilson¡¯s gaze was fixated on the back side of the card and he couldn¡¯t help but feel at peace. He gently placed the card down on the table and gestured to his roommate. ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡± Wilson¡¯s head shook. The whole act made it seem like multiple computer chips in his brain were immediately fried. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You can have it.¡± Wilson¡¯s eyes blinked rapidly and he didn¡¯t stop for seconds. ¡°Are¡­ are you serious?¡± ¡°Yeah, go ahead. It¡¯s not like I need¡­¡± Pepper didn¡¯t have a chance to finish his statement. Wilson stood up from the table and bolted across the card store. He had never seen his roommate move with such speed before. Wilson quickly went from one side of the store to the other and then came rushing back to the table. In Wilson¡¯s hands was a giant block of clear plastic. He started to manipulate the protective case and eventually had it separated into two large pieces. Wilson then picked up the rare card as if it was the most delicate thing he had ever encountered. He carefully placed the card into the center of the holder and tightened it back down. Pepper was amazed by the entire ordeal but couldn¡¯t help but start to smile. He watched second by second as a new life was breathed into his roommate. The last thing he expected though were tears forming in Wilson¡¯s eyes. ¡°Uhh, Squints¡­ you okay?¡± Wilson sniffled and tried to hold on to his composure. ¡°Nobody has ever come to the card store with me.¡± The statement caught Pepper off guard and he was almost shocked to hear that. ¡°Wait, your mom and dad never came with you?¡± Wilson just looked at the rare card sitting before him. He shook his head as the tear finally fell down his face. ¡°No¡­ they would just drop me off. Leave me there for a few hours and pick me up later.¡± ¡°So¡­ you¡¯ve never had anyone who would just come and open cards with you huh?¡± Wilson just shook his head. He finally reached up and grabbed hold of the ultra rare card and gazed at it. It was a few seconds later and Pepper watched as a smile formed on Wilson¡¯s face. His eyes shifted upwards and Wilson¡¯s soft brown eyes finally locked on to his. ¡°Thank you.¡± Pepper smiled and replied. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Squints¡­ you¡¯re welcome.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 25 - Icon The next morning arrived earlier than Pepper had anticipated. He didn¡¯t know why he had awoken so early, but he decided to start the day early regardless. He was simply happy that Marcus didn¡¯t have friends over that night and he found himself falling to sleep the moment his head hit the pillow. A quick splashing of water to liven himself up and then he staggered his way into the laundry room. He flipped the light on so he could see better and what he found helped awaken him faster then the energy he was seeking. What happened to all the Big D Energy? He thought while he noticed several cases were missing from where he had left them. He grabbed a can and popped it open. His hand flicked the light off while he turned and left the room. ¡°Well, seeing how a certain group love devouring the food in this house. I can only wonder who may be behind the missing drinks.¡± Pepper muttered. ¡°Pretty sure we don¡¯t need Scooby Doo to solve this mystery!¡± Pepper practically punched the backdoor open while he walked into the backyard heading for the workshop. ¡°Are you seeing other Golem Dogs behind my back?¡± Amprage asked as they walked. The question helped ease Pepper¡¯s anger ever so slightly and he looked down at his familiar trotting along next to him. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Scooby Doo, are you playing with Scooby Doo when I¡¯m not around?¡± Pepper had arrived at the workshop door and punched in the key code to unlock the door. ¡°Don¡¯t be redicu¡­ wait a minute. How do you even know about Scooby Doo?¡± ¡°Scooby Doo is listed as a sub-option within the personality profile of the Phantom Industries mainframe. I technically can download and apply the profile as an option if you like?¡± Pepper paused inside the shop while the lights flickered on. His mind played through scenarios where he imagined Amprage acting out as the old cartoon character and immediately realized that was not an option he was comfortable with. ¡°Nope¡­ You know, that¡¯s okay buddy. I love you just the way you are.¡± Pepper tried to convince his familiar and not let Amprage¡¯s curious personality be tempted to try and adopt anything else without his knowing. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want you any other way big guy.¡± He leaned over and patted Amprage on his metal head. The low metallic tang and thud let off a distinct sound that caused Pepper to chuckle slightly. He straightened up and then headed over to Mala¡¯s Nightmare variant. ¡°So¡­ just to be clear, you¡¯re still not seeing any¡­¡± Pepper placed his drink can down and cut off his familiar. ¡°No, I¡¯m not playing with other familiars. You are my one and only big guy.¡± Amprage huffed. ¡°Okay, I was just verifying.¡± Pepper went about getting some music going and cranked the volume up¡­ Way up actually. He didn¡¯t care if it woke up Marcus, Wilson, or any of their neighbors for that matter. The early start to the day and the discovery of their energy drink supply left him not in the mood to put up with anybody¡¯s crap. With that, he found a heavy metal playlist on his holodex and let the hang banging rhythm get his internal engine going. It wasn¡¯t until hours later when Pepper stopped and used the bathroom that he realized how much he had homed in on his sculping. When he returned to the project, he stopped and took a second to look over his work. Dang¡­ all I need is a few more sessions like this and Mala will be built in no time. Pepper walked over, plopped up on the workshop counter and took another long drink from his can. He leaned back and rested against the wall. ¡°You know Amp¡­ I could get used to this.¡± He turned his gaze over and watched as Amprage perked his head up from the workshop couch. The familiars head tilted with a curious look and continued to play out the personality of mans best friend. Pepper chuckled and turned his gaze back to the partially constructed golem. ¡°Building golems all day long. Coming up with new strategies and tactics. Developing new runes. This¡­ I could get used to this.¡± His smile soon faded when he heard the workshop door swing open. It wasn¡¯t just Marcus he saw, but Marcus and two other attractive young women. Pepper glanced over the group to confirm that he had never seen the two women before. ¡°Yo yo yo! Check this out everybody! The future Golem Master himself getting his sculping skills on with this dope Night terror variant!¡± Marcus exclaimed as he came closer. It¡¯s Nightmare Variant! Pepper thought. Pepper caught sight of the small flashing red LED coming off of Marcus¡¯s holodex, and that was when he realized Marcus was recording or live streaming to his Golem Chat account. Marcus then closed the distance, brought the camera close to his face before sliding over and giving a close up view of his progress. ¡°You guys, so my man P-Dub discovered this Abismal Clay¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s called Abomination.¡± Pepper attempted to chime in, but Marcus continued without delay as if he didn¡¯t hear him. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ five times better than any other clay out there on the market. And of course, dun-dun-dunnn!¡± Marcus lifted up a Big D Energy drink can in the view of the recording. ¡°We¡¯re fueling this build solely on this awesome Big D Energy and a whole bunch of motivation! Oh yeah baby!¡± Marcus turned around and pointed the camera back towards Pepper. ¡°Alright future champ! Any final words before we head out?¡± The question caught Pepper off guard and he didn¡¯t know what to say. The comment regarding Big D Energy had brought Ryan into the forefront of his mind. Pepper began to stumble as he worked to find words until one of Ryan¡¯s statements came to the tip of his tongue. ¡°Uhh¡­ Goonies never say die¡­¡± The statement not only caught Pepper off guard but caught Marcus and his two female companions off guard also. Marcus seemed to freeze for a second and his face was emotionless while the rapid blinking of his eyes looked like he was trying to reset himself. ¡°Uhh, okay, well I don¡¯t know what exactly that means, but you heard him yall! Don¡¯t say die¡­. Ever.¡± Marcus turned the camera back around to face him. ¡°We¡¯ll catch yall next time fam¡­ peace!¡± Marcus lifted his finger up and tapped the option on his holodex to end the recording. His gaze returned to Pepper with a confused expression. ¡°What in the world was that man? What are goonies and why do they not say die?¡± Pepper lifted his hands up in defense. ¡°I don¡¯t know! It¡¯s something my old neighbor told me. You totally caught me off guard and I panicked man.¡± Pepper hopped down from the countertop as the flush of embarrassment came over him. He felt the warmth of his cheeks and imagined his face was as red as his ginger hair. He lifted his hand up and pointed towards the girls. ¡°Look, you can¡¯t just barge in here with people I don¡¯t know...¡± Pepper didn¡¯t have a chance to finish as Marcus automatically went in to introducing the girls. ¡°Oh my bad man, that¡¯s on me. Pepper this is Jennifer and Megan.¡± Pepper¡¯s eyes dashed over to the two ladies and saw the one add on. ¡°Actually it¡¯s Heather and Melenie, but that¡¯s okay. You¡¯re forgiven.¡± Marcus turned back around with a playful smile as if everything was perfect. ¡°See! Now you know them.¡± Pepper wasn¡¯t amused and continued as he shifted and pointed towards Marcus¡¯s holodex, ¡°Or surprise record me unexpectedly like that. I¡­ I¡­ I don¡¯t work like that. That¡¯s not me. It¡¯s not who I am. I am not some cool, slick, awesome gladiator, confident guy like you.¡±This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. The look on Marcus¡¯s face appeared as if his heart melted. ¡°You think I¡¯m an awesome gladiator?¡± Pepper was stunned and didn¡¯t know how to respond. Thankfully Marcus continued. ¡°Like, you even watched my old matches I posted and think I¡¯m good and all?¡± Pepper immediately regretted his words as he noticed the genuineness that was now on Marcus¡¯s face. Pepper slowly nodded and did the only thing he could think of, he lied. ¡°Yeah¡­ yeah man. I was actually just watching some of your matches last night while I lay in bed. You were¡­. Wow¡­ you, you know. Just wow.¡± Marcus¡¯s face beamed with a giant smile and he reached up and lightly shoved against Pepper¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Oh come on man, you¡¯re just messing with me! You didn¡¯t really watch me did you?¡± Pepper felt trapped and didn¡¯t want to embarrass his roommate in front of the two girls. Regardless of who they were. ¡°Sure did, bud.¡± Marcus started to appear bashful for some reason. Pepper couldn¡¯t really tell why, but was hoping Marcus would change subjects, but¡­ he didn¡¯t. ¡°So¡­ what match did you think I did my best in?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Pepper cleared his throat and tried to buy more time as he mentally struggled to find a way out. ¡°I asked which match you thought I really excelled in?¡± That was the question wasn¡¯t it¡­ Pepper panicked internally. ¡°It was¡­ well, you know man. You¡¯ve just been really, really consistent in a lot of your matches. At least the ones that I watched last night.¡± Marcus chuckled and brought his hand up on his chest. ¡°Ahh¡­ thanks man. That, that just means a lot.¡± The light bulb came on in Pepper¡¯s mind and countered. ¡°Well let me ask you this. Which match do you think you did your best?¡± Marcus¡¯s eyes widened and he quickly shifted into a puzzled expression. ¡°Wow, I mean¡­ Uh I¡¯d have to really think on that one but maybe¡­ maybe the one where I faced off with that spider golem.¡± A spider golem? Who would be so stupid to build a spider golem!? You take out one of the legs and the whole thing would be off kilter and would be an easy win. That¡¯s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. He thought, but externally he smiled big and snapped his fingers before pointing towards his roommate. ¡°You know, I was just about to say the spider match. I literally hesitated and I shouldn¡¯t have, because¡­ well, like you just said. That was a great match.¡± Pepper smiled but was more relieved when he saw Marcus soaking up his lie without even questioning it. Marcus pointed towards Pepper while he turned towards the girls. ¡°See, I told you this guy was the best, didn¡¯t I?¡± Marcus turned back around and faced him with a large smile. ¡°Alright man, we¡¯ll get out of your hair. I¡¯ll come check on you in a bit once the girls head out.¡± Pepper waved him off and played the part of being excited to see them all leave. The moment the door closed he sighed in relief and rolled his eyes. ¡°That guy is something else.¡± ¡°At least he is trying to be helpful and supportive.¡± Amprage countered. Pepper turned his head and saw his familiar standing up on the arm rest of the couch. His small stubby tail wagged back and forth as he kept his mouth open as if he was panting. ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right. I just¡­ I just wish he would talk to me first before just shoving a camera in my face.¡± Pepper reached up and grabbed the back of his neck. ¡°At least get the name of the clay right.¡± It was just then that his holodex vibrated. Pepper had reconfigured it to only buzz or alarm for direct messages from his close friends and family. [:::] Hey, Ryan is trying to get a hold of you. He said he messaged you a few days ago but you haven¡¯t answered. I¡¯m busy at the ranch but will ttyl. <3 ¨C Andrea [:::] Pepper typed out a quick thank you response to Andrea and then he navigated over to call Ryan. The call buzzed a few times but then his old neighbor answered. Ryan answered the phone with a large smile. ¡°Well there he is aye! Boy is it sure nice to see you there P-Dub!¡± Ryan reached and and removed the baseball cap he was wearing. Pepper could then see there were beads of sweat all over Ryan¡¯s forehead. A quick analysis of Ryan¡¯s surroundings made Pepper guess that he was standing in a large warehouse. ¡°Sorry I missed your call, it looks like you¡¯re busy though. Would you like me to let you go?¡± Ryan¡¯s face quickly expressed the concern he had regarding Pepper¡¯s question. ¡°Oh no! This is perfect. I¡¯m just here in the warehouse getting another shipment ready for that there Jay down there. Aye, let me tell you Pep, I sure do¡¯s appreciates you talking to him. He¡¯s been a blessing, a real sure fire blessing I tell yeah.¡± Pepper smiled and hearing the update made him feel better about everything overall. ¡°It was honestly nothing. I accidentally stumbled into him. Come to find out he¡¯s the store owner and just so happened to be Rhino¡¯s brother.¡± ¡°Well, boy, let me tell you there Pep, you¡¯ve been making one hell-of-a difference there, aye. Your videos been blowing up all over that there Golem Chat and man, we been selling so many cans it feels like we have Little D¡¯s instead of Big D¡¯s!¡± Pepper¡¯s face scrunched up as he cringed at the thought that was now stuck inside his head. ¡°I haven¡¯t been doing any videos though.¡± ¡°Well sure you have. Heck! I tuned in to the one you just shot. Man that Nightmare variation looks mighty powerful, aye. You¡¯ll be winning that there invitational in no time, don¡¯t you know.¡± It immediately clicked for Pepper, and he realized the activity was actually from Marcus¡¯s efforts rather than his. ¡°Oh, that. Well actually that was one of my roommates. He¡¯s more the social butterfly than I am.¡± Clearly. Pepper thought to himself as soon as he finished his statement. ¡°Well, you go ahead there and give that guy a big old kiss for me, aye!¡± Pepper¡¯s head reared back, and his eyes widened. That is not happening, at all¡­ like¡­ ever. He thought while being shocked by the overly aggressive comment. ¡°You know¡­ I¡¯ll just wait and let you do that yourself there Ryan.¡± ¡°Ha! That¡¯s fair I suppose. Well, I just told old Jody there to make sure we send over your royalties to your bank account tomorrow.¡± ¡°My, royalties?¡± Ryan¡¯s face turned into a puzzled expression. ¡°Well yeah Pep. Didn¡¯t you read your contract?¡± Pepper blinked and felt bashful. He remembered going over it with his dad, but so much had happened between then and now that he couldn¡¯t remember the details. ¡°Well sure I did. I guess¡­ I guess that part is just escaping me for now.¡± Ryan smiled. ¡°Well, that sure does make sense, seeing how you are preparing for being a big star and all. Soon you¡¯ll be bossing me around, aye! Haha. Well, you get a certain percentage of every Big D you help us sell. With that, we applied that to you helping us get in with that Jay Beraz guy down there. Man¡­ we are literally seeing can¡¯s fly off the shelf Pep.¡± Pepper smiled, ¡°Well, that¡¯s great! I¡¯m¡­.¡± He paused and let out a long sigh. ¡°I¡¯m really happy to hear that Ryan. You¡¯ve been working hard to achieve this.¡± ¡°Well right back at you there, aye.¡± ¡°So uhh¡­ about these royalties. How much are we actually talking that I might see hit my bank account?¡± He started to take a drink from his can of Big D energy while his nerves reminded him just how little his bank account was. ¡°Oh jeepers Pep, I would have to look to give you an actual number. I think it was something like 6,000 FLEX in this payout.¡± Pepper spit out his energy drink and started to cough. ¡°What!? Seriously?¡± In Ryan¡¯s humble nature he looked sorrowful. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Pep. We¡¯ll try to make sure we get them regularly coming in so you can have some more breathing room.¡± Coming in more regularly? What in the¡­ ¡°Are sales really that good?¡± Ryan¡¯s eyes widened and his cheeks swelled as he held in a large breath. ¡°Oh¡­. Yup¡­. Yupperoni and cheese it is. I mean¡­ we didn¡¯t just upgrade to this here warehouse for giggly shits.¡± It¡¯s shits and giggles Ryan¡­ ¡°Wait¡­ upgrade. You mean you already had a warehouse and are now in a totally different one?¡± ¡°Oh yeah. Pepper¡­ would you believe that sales have literally quadrupled every week since we signed with you?¡± Ryan then shifted the camera view and allowed Pepper to see row after row of palletized energy drinks. ¡°Pepper¡­ this entire shipment has already been bought and is heading out tonight. We have got 50 more orders for this size or more. It¡¯s insane, don¡¯t you know.¡± Holy cow. Pepper thought while nodding with a smile. ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s awesome Ryan.¡± He paused and nodded. ¡°Congratulations to you for all you¡¯ve accomplished. And honestly, thank you. You know, for everything. You didn¡¯t have to support me, and you did. I¡¯m happy to see this is all paying off now.¡± ¡°Awe, well shucks Pep. I appreciates that, you know. It means a lot, a whole lot there aye.¡± ¡°Well, I should probably get back to work on Mala, and you¡¯re clearly busy. So¡­ thanks for.¡± A worried look came over Ryan. ¡°Oh wait, wait, wait. Hold your horses right there, aye. I needed to talk to you about two things.¡± ¡°Oh, okay then. Well¡­ what¡¯s on your mind?¡± ¡°Say uhh. Would you be available, let¡¯s say tomorrow to do a photoshoot?¡± Pepper blinked and the question took him by surprise. ¡°A photoshoot?¡± ¡°Yeah, you know. The kind where you get all dolled up there and wear cool clothes and a photographer takes photos of you and all. We were referred to this one character down in that area. Really expensive, but was also told they are the best. We wanna get some new photos done of you for advertising and all.¡± ¡°I uhh. Well, honestly, I don¡¯t know what to say. Sure, I guess.¡± Ryan immediately smiled. ¡°That¡¯s great! Really great there Pep. I will have Judy send over the details on where and when to be at the studio, aye.¡± ¡°Sounds good. I¡¯ll keep my eye out for it. So, what is the other thing?¡± Ryan¡¯s expression immediately perked up with excitement. ¡°Oh boy, yeah. Okay¡­ so Pep, what do you think about this new concept. I¡¯m considering... two different can sizes. One, Big Duck Energy, Mega Gurth! And then for the other we¡¯d have, Big Duck Energy, Full 12 Incher!¡± Pepper immediately froze in disbelief. ¡°Umm, do you really think people want that much Big D¡­ you know. All at once?¡± ¡°Well, P-Dub, it¡¯s not about which size of Big D you may or may not have. Rather, it¡¯s trying to give customers the size they desire.¡± Pepper sighed and just shook his head. ¡°Phrasing Ryan.¡± Bk2 - Chapter 26 - Avway Pepper ended his phone call with Ryan and then shuffled his feet back over to the house. He walked in to see Marcus lounging in the living room. ¡°I need your help.¡± Marcus perked up and had a mixed look of excited and worried. ¡°Sure, thing my man. What exactly do you need help with?¡± His roommate stood up and quickly tip-toed over to him. He leaned in and practically whispered. ¡°If it¡¯s something to do with fixing your golem though, I¡¯m not sure I will really be much help.¡± Pepper grinned and rolled his eyes as he knew Marcus was trying not to admit his inexperience in front of his two lady friends. ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Marcus returned to a more natural distance between them. ¡°Nice! Okay, well¡­ give to me straight.¡± ¡°I need your help with a photoshoot.¡± A saddened expression formed on Marcus¡¯s face. ¡°Oh man¡­ I¡¯m sorry P-Dub. But¡­ I don¡¯t know how to work a camera.¡± ¡°I do!¡± One of Marcus¡¯s friends piped in. Marcus completely ignored her comment but Pepper leaned off to the side and grinned. ¡°That¡¯s great, thanks. But I¡¯ve already got that part taken care of.¡± He gave a short nod and then returned to Marcus. ¡°Ryan, the¡­ Big Duck Energy guy.¡± A bright smile formed on Marcus¡¯s face and he cut him off. ¡°Oh yeah! Speaking of which¡­ will we be getting anymore of them? I kinda gave some to my friends and they have been guzzling it down. They¡¯ll drink our supply dry if we¡¯re not careful.¡± Pepper could feel the scowl form on his face. Marcus didn¡¯t seem to read the distain in his face, so he just made a mental note to bring it up later and carried on. ¡°Anyways¡­¡± Pepper shook his head slightly. ¡°There is apparently some type of photoshoot they have scheduled for me and I was kinda wondering if you would be willing to come with me.¡± Pepper could see the confusion form once again on Marcus¡¯s face. ¡°You know, like be my coach or something. Help me out with being less of¡­ well, me.¡± The light bulb appeared to come on inside Marcus. ¡°Oh¡­ right, yeah man. I can totally do that.¡± *** The next two days flew by for Pepper as he had done nothing but work on Mala, go for some runs in the neighborhood and slept. That and the nightly video chats with Andrea. Marcus was nice enough to drive both of them to the studio and they arrived to a large building on the far edge of the city. A receptionist at the front entrance greeted them and escorted them to a large room. She welcomed them to take a seat, and they looked across the area to see a large white wall canvas which sat at the center of the far wall. Pepper removed his hat and placed it on a coffee table while he then looked about the area. His eyes focused on the canvas itself. The background setup was roughly twice as tall as Pepper and it flowed down onto the floor and stretched forward. On either side of the canvas were large can lights set up on tripods. They looked to be almost scattered throughout the area and were each adjusted to different heights and angles. Off to the right side was a mobile clothing rack with a large collection of garments. Pepper could make out at least a jacket or two and a few shirts scattered throughout the collection. On the opposite side of the canvas wall were random items such as a barstool, two giant throne like chairs, one black the other metallic gold. There was a guitar resting on a stand and then a small coffee table with what looked to be a mannequin head and a stuffed cat animal that had a tiara and sunglasses on. Pepper then took notice of a large holographic display setup in between them and the canvass wall. There was a small desk setup which had a myriad of different camera pieces scattered around it. By the time he finished scanning over the room he heard a slight rumble overhead and then felt a cold rush of air enter the room. The temperature caused him to shiver for a second as his body adjusted to it. To their surprise the front receptionist returned with a small tray of what looked to be coffee. ¡°Expresso?¡± ¡°No, uhh....¡± Pepper glanced and quickly read her name tag. ¡°Julie. I am fine, thanks.¡± She seemed to smirk. ¡°You should probably reconsider. Avway can be quiet¡­ exhausting to work with.¡± She placed the small tray down on the coffee table in front of them and winked. Marcus leaned forward and grabbed a coffee. ¡°Well don¡¯t mind if I do.¡± Pepper decided to give in to the advice and grabbed his tiny coffee cup as well and took a sip. The bitter taste was like a punch to his face and he immediately made a distorted expression. How in the literal hell can anyone drink this?!?! He mentally cried out loud. A vigorous shake of his head and his face returned back to a semi-normal state. He turned to look over and then saw that Marcus seemed to be indulging the potent brew. Marcus¡¯s body lifted up and took in a deep breath, followed by a large exhale. ¡°Wow¡­ that is some premier Columbian dark roast right there.¡± Pepper shifted his gaze back to the tiny cup and then back to Marcus. What in the¡­. He didn¡¯t get a chance to finish his thought as a high-pitched voice cried out in excitement from across the room. ¡°Oh my! Would you just look at this sexy, sexy young man!¡± Peppers eyes widened as the man¡¯s heavy German accent filled the room. He walked towards them like a runway model Pepper had seen on TV. The man¡¯s hair was pointed straight upwards. Yet, there the hair curved upwards in a distinct shape. Their hair was colored in a bright mixture of pink, purple, bright blue and metallic silver. The closer the person came to them, the more Pepper felt their hair looked bird feathers than anything else. The person¡¯s face was covered in makeup. Adorned in neon color shades with glitter which sparkled in the light. But that was nothing compared to the high vibrant personality which was on full display. The man had a white wool scarf which was hanging down and slightly swaying across his chest as he walked. He quickly reached up and tossed one of the tails up and over his shoulder, concealing his neck in the process. It was then that Pepper took notice of the fact that he was wearing a leather vest. His eyes quickly shifted when he saw that underneath the vest was a skintight compression shirt. The garment was colorized and printed with a galaxy pattern. It was just a few feet in front of them that the odd character stopped and performed a slight bow. As they returned upright, Pepper took notice of the fact that the individual was wearing a black kilt but finished their look with knee high latex boots. ¡°Ahh! I must say¡­ I was so excited, just over the moon. Over the moon, I tell you! I was contacted and asked to work with you. And look! You are here, yes you are, here in my studio! This is wonderful.¡± The man¡¯s energy was bubbling over with every sentence. He came to a stop in front of Marcus and practically pulled him up and off the couch while grasping on to his hand. ¡°I must say Pepper¡­ when I was told about you. They said you were handsome, but my oh my, they did not tell me you were twist steel, sex appeal. Ah!¡± The man finished with a giant smile and a wink. Pepper didn¡¯t want to interject, but could see the large look of concern on Marcus¡¯s face. He slowly raised his finger, ¡°Umm. I¡¯m Pepper.¡± The man immediately shook his head while his eyes fluttered. He turned to look at Pepper with an alarmed expression. ¡°Exsqueeze me?¡± Pepper cleared his throat while pointing towards his chest. ¡°I¡¯m Pepper.¡± He then motioned to his roommate. ¡°This is my friend Marcus who I asked to come hangout during the shoot.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. There appeared to be a slight look of embarrassment, but Pepper also questioned if what he was interpreting was also an expression of disappointment. The man started to lightly tap on Marcus¡¯s hand and appeared to give an overly expressive fake smile. ¡°But of course you are Marcus. Who else could you be? Ah-ha!¡± The man paused for a second and nodded towards Marcus. ¡°So lovely to meet you.¡± ¡°Yeah, same¡­ I think?¡± Marcus replied with an overly confused tone. Pepper stood up and met the man who adjusted his position closer to him. He reached to give the man a firm handshake, but immediately found his hand latched onto by the odd character. ¡°Pepper it is.¡± The man said and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice the change in his tone. There was clearly less excitement and bubbly enthusiasm as he cleared his throat. ¡°Well, Pepper¡­ this is¡­. How should I say. Mmm¡­ I dunno.¡± The man¡¯s demeanor was an immediate shift and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but question what it all meant. He was about to ask if there was something wrong when the man continued. ¡°Perhaps it is best that we get to work, because¡­ Oof, we¡­ we have a lot of work before us, don¡¯t we?¡± The man smiled but Pepper read it more as a sarcastic expression of dread for what they were about to do. ¡°But, don¡¯t wory, Avway is the best at what he does.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, who is Avway?¡± The man¡¯s eyes blinked rapidly and the fake smile now reappeared. ¡°I am Avway! Photographer to the stars!¡± There was a slight pause and Avway sighed. ¡°And¡­ some, not so stars¡­. Clearly.¡± The last part was said under his breath but Pepper still picked up on it. He did his best to keep his manners and be polite. ¡°Well, nice to meet you Avway.¡± He barely got the name out when Avway cut him off and corrected him. ¡°It¡¯s Avway.¡± Pepper felt the confused expression arrive on his face. ¡°Is that not what I said?¡± ¡°No, you said Avway¡­ it is simply pronounced, Avway.¡± What the hell? Pepper thought to himself, for every time he heard the name, he could have sworn the man pronounced it differently. He was now more confused than ever and could feel the anxiety build inside him. ¡°Right, Avway.¡± ¡°No! It¡¯s Avway.¡± ¡°Avway.¡± ¡°Avway.¡± The two went back and forth for a couple more rounds until Avway finally gave up in trying to teach Pepper how to pronounce the peculiar name. ¡°You know, it doesn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s just get started, shall we?¡± Avway smiled and scrunched his face. He immediately turned and to Pepper¡¯s surprise, he wrapped his arm around Pepper and started to pull him over to the clothing rack. ¡°Now, I am thinking we go with the leather jack, yeah? Lether is making such a comeback now and I must say, Avway is happy to see this! Yeah? Yeah!¡± The closer they got to the clothing rack the more the alarm bells were blaring inside Peppers head. He was questioning now if he should just bolt and try to get out of there. A fear arose within him that he would soon be dressed in an odd and embarrassing ensemble just like Avway. He now wished he had called Ryan back and convinced him to let Marcus¡¯s friend do the photoshoot, regardless of how the photos would turn out. ¡°Okay, so you do the things with the statues and you pow-pow-pow in the colosseum things, yeah?¡± Avway turned and gazed upon him with a serious look. He felt his voice slightly tremble, afraid to even answer the question. ¡°Uhh¡­. Yeah.¡± Avway moaned and then took a deep breath. ¡°Yes, big, strong, powerful, magical, the clash of left, right, good evil, gods, demons.¡± The entire time Avway rambled on he was also taking items off the clothing rack and handing them over to Pepper. His arms now full of items which he didn¡¯t even have time to glance over. Avway however, continued on as if there was no stopping the train now that it had left the station. ¡°The tension, conflict! Love? Hate? Yes! No! The ever-escalating cataclysmic event which no superhero could ever be able to stop!¡± Pepper felt his eyes were on the verge of popping out of his sockets. ¡°We are here for a photo shoot right?¡± Avway, who had been staring off into the distance now shifted his gaze towards him. The photographer¡¯s jaw appeared clinched, as if the rambling thoughts were representative of some fantasy Avway was living out within his mind. In a split second the photographer reached up and grabbed hold of his head. Avway¡¯s fingers ran through his hair and latched on with a firm hold. The photographer leaned closer to him and his eyes appeared to be on the verge of shooting lasers through his skull. ¡°We shall take photos the likes of which the world is not ready¡­. Pepper.¡± There was a brief pause between the two and Pepper was on the verge of asking the odd character to please get out of his personal space. Thankfully the photographer leaned back and seemed to be distracted by his hair. A grotesque expression appeared on Avway¡¯s face and he retracted the hand which had grasped his hair, the animated gesture as if it been burned getting too close to a fire. ¡°My darling, what on earth are you doing to your hair? Or should I say, what are you not doing? Ahh! This will not do, no-no-no-no-no¡­ Avway must not¡­ No, cannot. Avway cannot perform while this ginger hair cries out for the United Nations to intervene.¡± Avway then twisted around and yelled at the top of his lungs. The act surprised Pepper and caused him to shutter. ¡°FRANCIS! FRANCIS! Where is Francis!? I cannot work unless my assistant is actually here to assist! FRAN¡­¡± Both Avway and Pepper jumped at the same time as the clothing rack slid off to the side. ¡°I¡¯m here Avway.¡± There standing perfectly still on the opposite side of the rack was a middle-aged man who looked like he was there to pick up his kids from soccer practice. A come over of brown thinning hair with large framed glasses and a mustache was the complete opposite look Pepper was expecting. The man had a pot belly which pressed against the soft beige polo shirt which was tucked into a pair of common blue jeans. The white Velcro walking shoes completed the look and Pepper felt as if he was looking at someone who could easily pass as his odd uncle. Avway shook his head and his face tightened in frustration. ¡°Francis, what have I told you about hiding behind the clothing? Hmm?¡± An apologetic look came over the man. ¡°Don¡¯t hide behind them.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ that is what I said. This is the second time Francis. The third strike and you go straight to the incinerator, yeah?¡± ¡°So sorry, Avway¡­ It won¡¯t happen again. I promise.¡± ¡°I should hope not. For the incinerators sake.¡± Avway shifted back to Pepper and had an overly animated look on his face. ¡°Please forgive me Pepper. Normally my assistances are far more behaved, than¡­ this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, you don¡¯t have to¡­¡± Pepper didn¡¯t even finish as Avway continued. ¡°Francis where is LooMella?¡± The assistant immediately began to type away on a holopad. Avway immediately looked to be frustrated at the delayed response. Avway then lifted his hands and began to look at his finger nails while he waited for an answer. ¡°Uhh, it looks like LooMella is free for the next¡­¡± Avway didn¡¯t hesitate and reached over grabbed hold of Pepper shirt and pulled him. ¡°This way!¡± The photographer led Pepper out of the studio and into a small hallway. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but notice both sides of the corridor were filled with framed photographs. Pictures of people, animals, random items on fire, and what looked to be close-up images of random textures. They arrived at a door and then came to an abrupted stop. Avway turned around and was instantly back inside Peppers personal space. His hand waved up and in-between their two faces and then flowed over to framed photograph hung just to the left of the door. ¡°You see this, Pepper?¡± The answer appeared obvious, but Pepper could tell that Avway expected an answer. ¡°Uh, yeah?¡± ¡°Tell me¡­ what do you see?¡± He looked over at the image and then realized it was actually a collage of random items. None of them appeared to make any sense to him. ¡°I see uhh, a Penguin with a crown on its head. Holding a machine gun, while riding a Tyrannosaurus Rex through a dessert?¡± By the time Pepper finished his head was slightly tilted in confusion. ¡°And¡­ what does this make you feel?¡± Avway asked. Pepper went with the only thing he could think of in that moment. ¡°Perplexed?¡± To his surprise, Avway shifted his expression to one of a delighted tone. He smiled and wiggled his head slightly. ¡°As all political movements should. Hmph!¡± The smile lasted only a second as he returned to a stern and domineering expression. Avway¡¯s hand latched hold of the doorknob and the two stepped inside. The two were greeted by a dark and dreary room. Pepper immediately took notice of the fact that the walls were painted black. In another split second of glancing all around, everything was black. ¡°LooMella? Darling are you in here?¡± Avway called out. The edge of Pepper¡¯s vision noticed movement off to his right. He turned and watched a darkened silhouette stand up from what he thought was a chair. As the person moved forward, he saw faint reflections all around their physique. The room was only illuminated by a few burning candles and didn¡¯t help Pepper as his eyes were adjusting from the bright hallway they had just been in. The darkened figure then arrived just behind Avway and towered over him. It was then that a flicker could be heard, and a small lighter shot up a flame which exposed the individual to them. Avway turned and screamed, his hand reaching up and landed on his chest. ¡°There you. What have I told you about being sneaky-sneaky my love? Not when there are clients around, yeah?¡± The woman didn¡¯t speak and remained emotionless. Her face was painted as if she was in a Norwegian death metal band. A design of pure white, with black accents all around her eyes and mouth. Pepper narrowed his gaze to try and see her iris¡¯s but that was when he realized her eyes were completely pitch black. He glanced down and saw that her outfit was made of complete skintight black latex. Avway whisked his hand off of his chest and then used it to point to Pepper¡¯s hair. ¡°Darling look at this. Just look at this. How can I make art when I am given hair like this? Do you think you can do your magic and turn this dehydrated baren wasteland into a vibrant garden? Yeah? Okay¡­ I leave now.¡± Avway leaned up and kissed the woman on the cheek. He turned and motioned with his hand to Pepper. ¡°Avway leaves you in the hands of LooMella. She knows what to do and will do it well, yeah. I will send Francis to get you when you are done, okay? Okay, bye-bye now, hello then.¡± Avway then brushed passed him and slammed the door closed in his wake. It only took a second before Pepper heard the bellowing cry of the photographer echo throughout the area. ¡°FRANICS! FRANCIS, WHY ARE YOU NOT AT MY SIDE?¡± Bk2 - Chapter 27 - Photoshoot LooMella led Pepper over further into the room and just around the corner was a hair salon area. She flicked a light switch which completely bathed the area in blinding white light. It was then that Pepper was taken back as he truly took in the giant woman standing beside him. He easily guessed that she was 7 to 8 feet tall. Not only that, but she was also built like a body builder with muscles bulging everywhere. All while her body was being contained with the skintight latex suit. The woman¡¯s pitch-black hair was just as shiny as the latex and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he noticed that even her heal boot laces shined in the light. She motioned for him to take a seat, and he paused. ¡°Wait¡­ you¡¯re.¡± He paused and sighed and cringed at the mental image in his head. ¡°You¡¯re not going to make my hair look like Avway¡¯s are you?¡± She huffed, but closed her eyes and shook her head, no. Pepper looked around and saw a small table where he could set the clothes down on and finally took a seat in the salon chair. He took a deep breath and then felt two colossal hands bear upon his scalp. To his surprise though, it wasn¡¯t overbearing, but rather, enjoyable as LooMella¡¯s hands began to gently massage his head. It must have been a minute later that he heard running water in the background. His chair eventually tilted back and downwards in slow motion. LooMella gently guided his head into the warm, all the while she continued to massage his head. ¡°We¡¯re ready for you Pepper.¡± The soft voice said off to his side. Pepper blinked and realized he had fallen asleep in the salon chair. He immediately sprang up and looked at the small mirror in front of him. His heart eased as he noticed that LooMella had not colored his hair as she had promised. Thank god. He thought. A quick glance over and he saw Francis calmly standing off to the side with the holopad clutched in his hands. ¡°I¡¯m guessing I can just change in here?¡± A soft grin arrived on Francis¡¯s face. ¡°Yes, actually. There is a small changing room just beyond this door here.¡± Francis guided an open palm over to the wall, but Pepper didn¡¯t see anything, at first. He stood up and walked over to notice that the door had been designed into the rooms d¨¦cor to make it blend right in. The room was nothing fancy, but simply had a few clothing hooks and a small bench for him to sit on with a tall personal mirror on one end. It was more like a nicely converted broom closet rather than an actual room itself. Pepper finished changing and was about to leave when he took a second to look in the mirror. The black tshirt he wore had a low hanging neckline. Almost as if someone had grabbed hold of it and pulled downward and partially ripped the garment. He couldn¡¯t help but notice the fabric was some of the softest he had ever felt. The leather jacket was over top of that and then came the black denim jeans. The pants made Pepper think they were more designed for dirt biking, or for riding a motorcycle. There was a futuristic design and modification at the knees, calf, and quad and thigh area. The whole custom design made him imagine the modifications were more armor and protective padding rather than design. He felt as if he was a movie star about to be in some futuristic sci-fi thriller rather than a golem league match. He smiled and then glanced up at his hair. It was naturally lifted and looked vibrant. His finger ran through it and could actually feel a difference with how light and soft it was. He walked out and was greeted by Francis who had a smile on his face. The man motioned with his hand towards the door and Pepper walked towards it. His eyes caught LooMella quietly sitting in the darkened corner she was when he first entered the room. ¡°Thanks for the makeover.¡± Pepper was just able to see that she nodded, still sitting in her silence. The two walked back out and into the hallway. ¡°Does she ever speak?¡± Francis adjusted his glasses on his head. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever heard her say a word. Avway does all the talking for the couple.¡± ¡°Couple? You mean...¡± ¡°Oh, they¡¯re married. Avway and LooMella.¡± Pepper didn¡¯t know what to say. That information left him just as confused as the moment that Avway had entered the room. None of this made sense but he simply went along as the day unfolded. Just when he mentally wanted to question why in the world he was doing this, his bank account with the 6,000+ FLEX re-motivated him. They arrived back into the studio and the first thing Pepper noticed was Avway over on the lounge couch leaning closely towards Marcus. The eclectic photographers head snapped around and his eyes widened while a giant smiled beamed. ¡°Ahh! Look at you! Just look at you.¡± Avway stood up and started to walk across the room. His loud high platform boots clicking against the hard concrete floor as he went. Pepper went to place his hands in his pockets but he quickly discovered he wasn¡¯t able to as Avway grabbed hold of his hands and began to adjust him around as if he was a mannequin. ¡°Yes! Yes! Slay thy gladiator. You feel the power in this, yeah?¡± Avway moaned and smiled in an animated fashion. ¡°We are going to make greatness, Pepper. Come!¡± Avway led Pepper over to the large white canvas area and began to position him like a statue. ¡°Feet here. Yeah, hips this way. Shoulders no! Do not do this, back, up, straight, power, dominance, yes?¡± Avway moved his hands all over and Pepper couldn¡¯t help but feel like he had no such thing as personal space. Avway finally stopped adjusting Pepper¡¯s stance and then stepped back. ¡°Mm¡­ this¡­ we might be able to¡­ FRANCIS!¡± Avway held his left hand out as if it were a platform. ¡°Camera Franics!¡± Pepper watched as the assistant dashed over to a moveable cart. He grabbed hold of the camera and gently placed it on Avway¡¯s hand. The photographer immediately formed an overly dramatic face and snapped his head down towards the camera. ¡°What is this?¡± Avway quickly shifted his gaze over towards Franics. The assistant had a perplexed expression and looked lost at what answer the photographer was seeking. ¡°What is this Francis?¡± It was clear the failure to answer did not go over well with Avway. He lifted the camera up towards his face, his free hand wrapped around the camera lens and he began to manipulate the camera attachment. His hand rotating back and forth and Pepper watched as the lens extended and detracted its size significantly. Avway let out a little squeal. ¡°Oh my, we have a grower and a shower I see, yeah?¡± Avway giggled and then sighed as he finished the jest. ¡°Why would you put a telephoto lens on this and not a prime? Francis what are you thinking? We are doing a portrait shoot, yeah?Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°Prime lens then?¡± Francis stated but the uptick in his statement and the nervous demeanor made it sound more like a question of validation. ¡°Yes of course Prime lens! You, shmoots.¡± Avway said. Francis frantically reached up and took hold of the camera. Avway reached his hand up and gently tapped his forehead. A quick turn and he apologized to Pepper. ¡°Avway is not normally like this. I¡¯m sorry you must see Avway and Francis in such a manner.¡± Pepper could feel the clear confusion written on his face. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Doesn¡¯t bother me one bit.¡± He watched as Francis finally attached a different lens on the camera and rehanded it to Avway. The photographer had an arched eyebrow as he received the camera and began to go through the motions of turning it on and adjusting the devices settings. Avways¡¯s head snapped around as if he was analyzing the lighting in the room. A few hums and moans and then he turned and narrowed his gaze on Pepper. ¡°Is Pepper¡­ ready? Yeah?¡± There was a dark and devious smile on Avway¡¯s face. Pepper couldn¡¯t help but feel a nervous tingle rush down the back of his neck. ¡°Uhh, sure?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this¡­¡± Avway said in a low and eerie tone. Before Pepper was ready the photographer dashed forward, then back. He was then leaning to his left, then right, closer, then further away. The camera clicked and snapped away, with every tick of the shutter the giant spot lights scattered around the area flashed with even more intense light. The strobing effect was blinding and he was now beginning to be disoriented to what was going on. The entire time all he heard was Avways voice saying random words that didn¡¯t even seem to make sense. ¡°More! Imbue the strength of the gods! Soft, brush my lens with soul! Now flare! More flare, more flare Pepper!¡± No matter what Avway told him to do, Pepper just stood there frozen stiff. Not only did he have no idea what in the world he meant, Pepper simply didn¡¯t know what exactly to do. He could hear the irritation rise within Avways voice, but he simply felt lost and in a strange world. ¡°Come now Pepper, attack the camera! Take control of it with your eyes! The lens wants you! THE LENS WANTS YOU!¡± The lens wants me? He mentally thought while trying his best to fight through the flashing of lights. His spirit finally sank, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel defeated. This isn¡¯t me¡­ This isn¡¯t what I am about. The more he thought about it, the further his heart fell to a low point. But he wasn¡¯t the only one who felt this way. In a flash Avway stood up and yelled for his assistant. ¡°Francis! Grab the camera.¡± The assistant had just barely grabbed hold of the piece of equipment before Avway strode forward. His two hands reached up and grabbed hold of Pepper¡¯s shoulders. ¡°The lens does not want you Pepper.¡± ¡°You think?¡± He asked and chuckled to himself. Avway was about to continue but to Pepper¡¯s surprise, Marcus came to the rescue. ¡°Hey man¡­ How about I take it for a hot minute?¡± Avway arched his eyebrow and took notice of Marcus standing off to the side. ¡°Well, well. Perhaps its best we lounge, yeah? Francis! Tea, shmow!¡± The assistant seemed scattered and tried to keep up. ¡°Of course, great idea Avway.¡± ¡°Of course it is great idea! That is all Avway has.¡± ¡°The Turmeric & Ginger?¡± Avway slouched as soon as Francis made his suggestion. Avway let out a disgruntled sigh and then snapped his head towards his assistant. ¡°Joint support and digestion? Francis, we are shooting, we don¡¯t need an after meal sippy sippy, we need throat and coat.¡± Francis sighed and started to slowly nod, as if the answer was obvious. ¡°Of course. How could I, the Lemon and Echinacea.¡± ¡°Of course the Lemon and Echinacea.¡± Avway then turned and started to power walk away from the set. ¡°Ten! Yeah, everybody take ten! Except you Francis, you are minus ten, smoov!¡± Pepper brought his hands up and started to rub his face. ¡°What the literal hell¡­ did Ryan get me into?¡± He said out loud. He watched as Marcus arrive with two barstools. They sat down beside one another and Marcus couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°Man this is awesome.¡± ¡°Awesome? Really? That is how you would describe this!?¡± Marcus looked like he was savoring every minute of the event. ¡°Heck yeah man! This is hilarious and making for great content on Golem Chat!¡± Pepper felt his stomach immediately knot up at what Marcus has said. ¡°Wait you haven¡¯t been¡­¡± Marcus laughed and continued. ¡°Of course I have been live streaming this.¡± He lifted his hand up and slapped his shoulder. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, I made sure to tag your account so everyone knew it was you.¡± Pepper felt his jaw clench and his teeth grind together. He now regretted bringing Marcus along with him. He was already embarrassed to be doing the photoshoot, but now seeing how eccentric the entire shoot was, only amplified the feeling. ¡°I kinda wish you had not have done that.¡± ¡°What? Why not. Man the fans are loving it! We already have something like 10,000 positive vibes. I mean, its not great but that is pretty good. Especially for a behind the scenes at a photoshoot.¡± Pepper sighed and shook his head. ¡°And how many negative vibes are waiting for me in my personal message box, or whatever the heck that stuff is?¡± ¡°Who cares Pepper? We¡¯re doing something tons of people could only wish of doing. Did you ever stop and think about that? Do you realize how many gladiators would steal an opportunity to be right here, right now?¡± His mind flashed back to the moment he was arrested by Deputy Kaber. As a matter of fact I would never steal for this specific moment. He thought. Pepper glanced over to the side of the room and quickly twisted his head and popped his neck. ¡°You have a point. But¡­ clearly I¡¯m not made out for this. I¡¯m not like you.¡± ¡°Like me? Well of course not, I¡¯d hate to be a ginger.¡± Marcus laughed and then waved him off. ¡°Look man, who gotta love life and love being in the moment. There are tons of times when I am nothing but a nervous wreck on the inside.¡± His roommate¡¯s statement took him by surprise. ¡°Really? You always seem just, cool. In the moment, like nothing bothers you and everything that happens was all apart of the plan.¡± Marcus took in a deep breath and then seemed to completely change. To Pepper, it looked like for a brief moment, Marcus was lowering down a giant defensive wall. ¡°You gotta fake it till you make it man. A lot of what you see, isn¡¯t what is going on inside. It¡¯s acting.¡± Marcus then motioned with his hand all around the room. ¡°All of this. All of that.¡± He motioned with his head towards the direction Avway had departed in. ¡°That is acting, just as much as I act like some laid back dude who is just surfing his way through life.¡± Marcus then paused and ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Pepper, I have no idea what I am doing. I don¡¯t know anything about building Golem¡¯s. I don¡¯t really know anything about certain fighting styles, or what would work good compared to something else. I am basically winging it and just acting like I have all the answers. The reality is, I¡¯m just lucky to be where I am right now.¡± Pepper appreciated the honesty in that moment and his heart started to be at peace while the two shared with one another. He was able to glance deep into Marcus¡¯s eyes and saw this childlike innocence deep within them. ¡°Well you do a good job at acting then.¡± Marcus chuckled. ¡°I¡¯d hope so, I have had a lot of practice at it. All of this, the things that Avway says. Ignore it.¡± ¡°Ignore it?¡± He questioned and felt surprised at the advice. Marcus laughed and shook his head with a playful expression. ¡°Yeah, seriously. This dude is crazy. Don¡¯t get me wrong, he¡¯s funny and I think he means well. But seriously, don¡¯t worry or listen to what he is saying.¡± ¡°So, then what should I do?¡± ¡°Act¡­ like I said. Pretend you are the movie star and the building behind you just exploded. Imagine you¡¯re the super hero and you just wrapped the girl of your dreams into your arms, you say something cool and then go in for the big screen kiss. Imagine all your haters standing there before you, as you stand up on the platform and be crowned the Golem Master.¡± There was a pause between the too, but Pepper smiled. He started to envision each event that Marcus had suggested and now felt more confident in understanding what he needed to do. ¡°Okay, I think I got it.¡± ¡°Yeah you do man¡­ yeah you do.¡± It was in perfect timing that Avway¡¯s voice re-entered the room. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s make art, yeah?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± Pepper said with a smile. He stood up from the barstool and this time didn¡¯t wait for Avway to give him direction. He reached up and popped the color on the leather jacket and looked towards the camera lens as if he had just finished punching a demon in the face. He couldn¡¯t help but see Avway shutter with excitement. The photographers eyes opening wide with excitement and looked as if he could hardly stand still. ¡°Yes! Yes Pepper! Oh¡­ don¡¯t stop, give it to me! Give it to me hard, more, more, more!¡± The strobe lights rapidly flashed as the camera struggled to keep up with the passionate photographer. ¡°The lens loves you! THE LENS LOVES YOU!¡±