RavenCorellaI suck at poetry so I didn't write a second code. Might do one in the future, or perhaps I'll use one submitted by a fan. Check my profile and join our Discord :)
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An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 36 - The Truth Unfolds
Like a past illusion, the flames searing his flesh vanished. Unsure if his nerves were fried or if he was dreaming, he squinted his eyes open, then closed them back up in fright.‘I’m still burning!’« Open your eyes, Murphy. The flames can no longer hurt you, but you will definitely choke to death if you linger there. »‘What do you mean they can’t hurt me? What did you do?’« It’s best if you felt it on your own. »He was choking and wouldn’t be able to hold much longer anyway, so he could only trust her and open his eyes again. This time, he took reign over his fear and stared into the depths of crimson hell. Then, he realizes he wasn’t burning. The flame was merely embracing him, shrouding him in warm and amiable comfort. Like a return to one’s home, he felt strangely at peace in their midst.Only when his lungs protested again did he snap out of his reverie and jump to the floor. « Congratulations on unlocking Pyrokinesis I. Other than heat resistance, it will also allow you to
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 37 - Escape
« You’re all alone now. I can’t do much more. »“Can’t you alert the cops? Send them the location and all that?”« They might dispose of you before the warrant is ever signed. Mind you, this is Romania. Everyone is on some payroll or another. »“Well, shit. What can I do?”He tried to twist out of his bindings, but whoever tied him was surely a professional. Even the blindfold refused to come undone, no matter how much he turned his head.« Use your brain, Murphy. »“Yeah, why not pour salt on my wounds… I’m not miserable enough as it is. I bet I look like a butter fried cousin of Frankenstein, too.”« I meant that advice literally. You are not a mere human. Use your Numen powers — mind over matter. Your Pyrokinesis isn’t for nothing. »“Oh…” he blushed in embarrassment, “Fine. Here goes nothing.”Squinting his eyes, he focused back to his feelings when he’d unveiled the second code. Other than a lot of panic, he also felt the flames. The intimacy he felt then was now absent, but he s
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 38 - Unlikely Refuge
Two nights passed since then, and Murphy was still roaming the endless forests like a lost cub.“All I’m saying is — How can you not have GPS gimmick as an AI? We’ve been heading West for 8 hours and I still see nothing but fucking trees… I don’t think using stars as guidance is even legit.”« Save your breath, Murphy. You’re dehydrated as is… »“Screw this, I need a break…”Parched from thirst and bruised all over, Murphy sat on the nearest rock he could find and stared absent-mindedly at the sky.“How is a forest any better than the desert, anyway? I’ve roamed or two days and all I see is dry sticks. Even if I had the means to burrow for sap, I doubt I’ll find any in here…”« Murphy, your whining is only making things worse. Shut up. »“Whoa!” he exclaimed in spite of his dried throat, “Did you just swear!?” « It’s the only language you speak. Now, get moving. It will only get worse when the sun rises. »“Say less,” he assented, then tuned off the protests of his body and rose back
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 39 - A Glitch
After a dreamless respite, Murphy’s engines sputtered back on. Still in a daze, he woke up in an unfamiliar environment, but found himself strangely at peace.When his sight cleared, he found himself on a couch. The sun was already up, streaming directly over his head. He thought to duck under, but then paused and stared directly into its flames. “I guess it wasn’t you playing tricks after all, huh?” He found his throat still parched, but he was cooler now. The delirium had also cleared, and he found himself strangely refreshed. “You’re awake,” she obstructed his view, “I was afraid I’d have to call in a helicopter to haul you out. Luckily, I had some IVs handy.”Out in the sun, he finally caught sight of her face. One that he found familiar, but strangely obscure. It took him a while to connect things, and while he couldn’t recall her face, that red hair was unmistakable.Somewhat fretful, he nonetheless asked the name that came at the tip of his tongue, “Eleanor?” She had been a
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 40 - Heartbeat
“This is impossible!” Murphy denied vehemently.“I had no game to speak of before this, and you expect me to charm THAT while being frankenstein incarnate?”« I didn’t know you had this little confidence. »“Blinkie, this is worse than beauty and the beast. I absolutely cannot do this…”“Uhm, mister?” Eleanor’s voice sounded through the door, “Are you alright?”Squinting his eyes in the mirror, Murphy could only end the argument prematurely. He dismissed the cyan egging him on and wrapped a towel around his waist.Opening the door, he met face to face with her, and both recoiled at least a full meter away. He stared into her eyes, waiting to see the shock and horror befit his appearance, but her startled expression faded immediately. She looked away, then drew her gaze back to his body, studying it closely as if each scar had a story to tell her.There was only pity in her eyes. It didn’t make it any better, but at least she wasn’t outright repulsed.“Who were you talking to?” she st
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 41 - The Kiss
Murphy asked without mincing his words, perhaps in the most direct and brash way possible. Devoid of any romantic passion, he simply stressed the sincerity of his plea and waited with bated breath. She stared blankly in response, unsure if she’d heard him well. When they both sunk into awkward silence for a good dozen seconds, she acknowledged he didn’t misspeak, and turned her head away. Murphy sighed again, the breath he held pushed out in resignation. Then, he also stood up. How could he know Eleanor didn’t turn out of repulsion, but to hide the traces of a creeping blush. ‘This insolent, thieving fool’, she thought, ‘How can shamelessly ask that?’ “It’s best I get going,” he muttered softly and ambled away. Yet, just as he made it past her, Eleanor caught his hand and lured him to look her way. A pair of brown eyes greeted him, closer than he would have ever expected. And closer still… Their lips met, tentatively at first, as if establishing a pact of their own. Then, they w
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 42 - The Past
Murphy had a restless night. He rolled back and forth on the couch, the same thoughts eating away at his mind on a loop. He felt Ellie’s absence, but the solitude wasn’t welcome anymore. It left him uncertain and unsure of himself like never before, and it was only now he realized just how dependent he was on the system’s aid. It was just around dawn that his eyes lost their somber glow, and he fell asleep for a while. In truth, it felt like a blink, and he woke shortly after, his nose catching a tantalizing smell close by.“You’re awake already?” he heard her call from the kitchen.“Yeah…” he muffled a yawn and stretched. Rising from the sheets, he had to pause when reminded he still had no clothes. In a panic, he looked left and right and noticed Eleanor was looking away. With a sigh of relief, he wound the sheets around his shoulders, just barely covering himself in time.“Cosplaying a greek philosopher?” she smirked.Though embarrassed, he recovered with a joke of his own, “I w
An Author's Struggle - What Lies Ahead Ch 43 - The Future
Dracula was no vampire, of course. His power was not at all nefarious. It was his callous heart that made him so, perverting the Numen Code into something wicked and scorned. Like many kings before him, he could have lead his domain mercifully. Had his people loved him, they would act as psychic emitters whenever they remembered their lord’s grace. Alas, for Vlad it was not enough. With a taste for power, he chose the opposite way to garner it. Whereas Murphy gained his energy through awe and inspiration, the king chose terror. Hence, the impaling began. With each spear he drove into an enemy, their corpse put on display, thousands would cower at his name.The effect was much more immediate, and his gates were unchained one after the other. When his domain did not have enough fear to feed on, he slew the Ottoman envoys and brought war to his lands. The sixth gate was on the verge of opening, and he was nigh invincible among common men. After all, his was the power to mold flesh. H
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