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THE OUTLAND 45
I could hardly contain my laughter. If this is a robbery, then some very strange. But he could not find the archer, no matter how hard he tried - the foliage did not move anywhere, the branches did not crunch underfoot, and intuition seemed to fall asleep again. On the other hand, it seems that she could not find me either - the tree served as a reliable shelter, from which I was in no hurry to leave.“Listen, I have nothing for you to profit from, except for a gladius, rusty and terrible. I removed it from the corpse of the church guard, so you can't even sell it. - I decided to keep silent about the fifteen silver coins, I needed the stabilization fund now, oh how I needed it. “But if you want, we can continue to play sit-rounds. Are you in a hurry to get anywhere?- … Good. The archer agreed. I'm putting away my weapons. See the clearing on the left? Go out there, but look, without sudden movements.A subtle, scrupulous moment of mutual trust. Not that I was afraid - in extreme cas
THE OUTLAND 46
He did not bare his teeth at me, did not burn his eyes, driving me away from the territory, as a mother wolf could. No, this brute admired me with the reverence of a gourmet who is about to start a dish prepared by the best chef. I was definitely going to be devoured.“Good boy, good boy. I muttered, freezing in place. Maybe he will leave? Will it happen to me?The wolf lifted his upper lip, showing fangs the size of a finger.“I don’t offend you, you don’t offend me, okay? I put my hand on the hilt of the sword. “Let’s part ways, grey?”Death in transparent eyes answered me that no, we will not disperse. The top is having dinner today, and you are the main course.“Here, I’m leaving, everything’s fine.” All ho…” The grinning death threw itself in my direction with incredible speed, grinning, it seems, with a thousand teeth at once. Time stopped again, the hilt itself pushed into my palm, and the earth turned and rushed towards me. Somewhere in the middle of the roll, steel met flesh
THE OUTLAND 47
This slippery, unpleasant moment, haunting, is sure of any player with a level below the thirtieth. I'm talking about leaving the game. The fact is that traditional online gaming projects seem to freeze, stop for a while while the player is not in the world he creates. Everywhere this was played out in different ways - somewhere the character simply fell asleep, somewhere he went on a trip or hunting, somewhere else he was somehow removed from the general flow of life. Therefore, it always worked like this: you complete the game, find a safe place and return to your native gray boxes and urban poetry, and the character is waiting for you exactly in the place and in the state you left it. In Alien War, the developers approached the issue in a much more original way - and not least this is due to the difference in the perception of time, and therefore a much richer gaming experience. The character was not a dummy, a tabula rasa for the player to fill in, no - having a memory, including
THE OUTLAND 48
- I have no idea. I planned to settle down for the night, turn to the library in the morning, read a little ... I read, as you can see. Are you further into the caves now?- What? No. I removed the essence of filth from the wolf - this, of course, is not treasure from the caves, but the alchemists will pay very well for it. I'm sorry, but I'll keep the money for it as a fee for your salvation. She was clearly going to argue and prove something, but I just shrugged. I have not yet had to buy anything, so I have not yet understood the value of money. Simes's money should be enough for a room in the tavern and a library card, and I don't need anything else.- Thank you for looking after me. - I sincerely thanked you. — Where are you next? To the caves?— No. - Yolka snorted. “Perhaps I’ll take you to Askolta and see that you don’t get into trouble again. And then I'll think about it.But this was not very good. No, Yolka is helpful, caring, and when offline, even ... Ahem. In general, f
THE OUTLAND 49
I turned and grunted, looking at how a skeleton without a head, but with a good mace, hobbled in my direction. I think this one is good enough for crushing bones. All that was left was to pick it up. It also did not take much time and effort - the skeleton, which had lost coordination, crumbled again, as soon as it was cracked with a sword along the ridge properly.- Well, now let's fight! I weighed the morningstar in my hand. They won’t be able to swing for long, but now fast legs and a bit of luck are much more important than straight arms and strength. Even trophy weapons I no longer need to kill the undead (pun intended), but to clear a path- What we are going to do?- Breaking into the cemetery.- You're crazy. Yolka said with incomprehensible tenderness. "Why did I just contact you?"- Come on, let's go!- Don't fall behind! - Having dropped another zombie with an incendiary arrow, the archer went on the run and, dodging, ran, keeping between us and the skeletal artillery prot
THE OUTLAND 50
I could hardly contain a chuckle when, at one of the intersections of the Imperial Highway, I spotted a sign marking a secondary road running away to the side as "Dupny Mounds."- Are they serious?- And what is wrong? The redhead looked at me incredulously. “Here are the best tinkers in the suburbs, the largest sawmill in the north. If there is anywhere to replenish supplies, then only here!— Supplies?“Yes, you know, when I was advancing to the Cold Limit, it seemed to me that five hundred arrows should be enough for the campaign, if you move covertly, avoid other people's attention ...- Doesn't it feel like that anymore?- Not!- Here you see. So, you are ready to grow and change your own mind!- Oh you! - The Christmas tree swung at me with a loose bow, without a bowstring, more reminiscent of a staff, and I dodged with a laugh, added speed.Stupid bumps, wow! Either one of the developers definitely knew a couple of phrases in Slavic languages, or ... It was Edik who fooled arou
THE OUTLAND 51
Relax. Easier said than done."I still don't like the idea," I grumbled as we got back on the road.— Yes you that! I have a disguise skill above twenty, and your own mother will not recognize you.What's right is right. In this form, no one would recognize me at all. I mean in THIS way.My eyes stinged, the clothes seemed too wide at the hips, but too narrow at the waist and chest, and this frankly idiotic hood just killed me!- This disguise will work exactly until the moment I open my mouth.- Don't open it! - Yolka laughed. “I will speak for the two of us, and you just stand there with an air of offended innocence, understand?- Well, well, well, yes. “Damn it, I was ready for anything, but what Yolka did to me…- Everything, s-s-s-s! Someone is coming! At the same time, we will test my make-up skills.- Exactly. - I grumbled, adjusting my bra stuffed with rags, which, among other things, adds interest to us in the eyes of men. Ugh.A plus three skirt for charisma, a jacket with a
THE OUTLAND 52
"Ale and Tears" turned out to be exactly where the guildmaster indicated - a two-story elegant building attracted the attention of passing travelers, and the promised discount reduced the room payment from two silver pieces to half. But Yolka smiled so pleased that I could not resist.- Give you a room for two? the innkeeper asked melancholy, rubbing mugs.— What are the options?- There are for one, for two, for seven - with separate beds. There is a family room.“Family, please,” I looked vengefully at Yolka, “we just secretly got engaged and fled from Askolta.Oh, wedding night! The innkeeper nodded understandingly. “Second floor, last room on the left. Clean linen and wine for the mood - at the expense of the institution. He winked.“I will definitely remember this for you. Yolka muttered, stomping ahead of me and letting me admire all the advantages of the position. - I'll come back - and I'll figure it out!And yet."Are you really going to bed?" - I clarified. - I understand, m
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- THE OUTLAND
Epilogue
And then ... Everything went - as it went. And may there always remain worlds where people are lonely, where it is dark, and icteric palms of maples fall from the sky. One day Avdeyka and his mother... Aunt? The devil will break his leg in their difficult relationship. One way or another, they will definitely get there. Maybe one day they will get to the chair where my reader is bent from loneliness. Who knows, the universe is merciful and loves its children. But it is not exactly. But it is known: today the very first seven testers-gods got up from sleep. Eduardo, Shelly, Alexey, Umbra, Erebus and Nyukta, Selina. Alive, absolutely. Skinny, of course, like a spring rook, but quite sane. Shelly even tried to pick up her son from the distributor, but she was quickly explained that he would definitely be better there. Astrix also did not go away, although he got out from under the dropper. From time to time he walks into other people's dreams, treats him to strange drinks and cigare
- THE OUTLAND
181
Rob, hurry up! Astrix's voice called. We won't be able to hold him back for long!The scarlet bloody whip in the air was overwhelmed by several multi-colored energy flows at once, trembling with tension. The thaumaturge, gaping, stopped bombarding me with new spells for a change and stared at the doomsday reigning in the sky.Who are you boy? Why did you decide that to treat you the same way as everyone else is the greatest injustice? Where did the thoughts in your head come from that people should be connected by feelings and affections, and not by common interests?I understood what all this battle was about, what the road had led to until now. The boy remained alone all his life, believing that he was just very unlucky, and that somewhere there must be friendly hands, a warm smile and hope for tomorrow - you just need to look properly. About the fact that the world is dying of loneliness, he learned much later, becoming much older.A world that didn't need a boy. A world that aband
- THE OUTLAND
180
- Un-life. Why don't you rein in your robbers then? - I almost believed it. Nearly. “The corruption is preparing for a massive raid on the lands of the living, which means…- I know. But I'm still an avatar, my abilities are limited. And I can't go anywhere from here. To become a goddess in the fullest sense of the word, I need...— Believers! I slapped my forehead. - Well, of course. Followers, believers, own church.“We can start with the first knights. So... How do you look... - She blushed, looked away. - Well…“Become one of those ugly strategists?— Rob! You are to blame for their appearance! You can look whatever you want!- Nevermind. But you yourself understand - there is some complexity. If I'm next to you on Limbo right now, it most likely means that I'm dead. And a corpse cannot be turned corrupted. An undead connecting rod - you can, but not with Filth.- It's true. But something has changed.- Yes?“You see, two people from the same account came into this world. And one
- THE OUTLAND
179
"I look into my eyes ... I'll touch my lips. And what to say when I'm gone?" - Asked guitar picks over the black Icelandic beach, and the night was surprisingly warm, not at all suitable for November in the northern latitudes of Limbo.Night again, beach again. Another terrible headache.“Rob, Rob…” Nervous, sensitive fingers stroked my head. “You never get used to the fact that the body is a weapon. Relaxed, believed in the brothers on opposite sides of the barricades. That's what I got. Did you get it?- I cant. I complained without opening my eyes. - I'm tired. Why do they keep killing me? We almost agreed, almost resolved the issue.“We haven’t decided, stupid Robushka. And they couldn't. Understand that from the point of view of Warcraft, it is he who overcomes fifty years of captivity, cut off from his loved one, overcomes obstacle after obstacle, trying to reunite the family. Or at least avenge their deaths. And when he wins, there will be a happy epilogue and everyone will be
- THE OUTLAND
178
He dissapeared."Spider, come on!" I pleaded.A silent prayer burst out of my chest and spread throughout the Oikumene, and when there was no space between me and the fury of the avenging god, a huge black sword, literally a millimeter above my head, was stopped by a blade of sand.“You should look for an opponent in size,” Astrix smiled white-toothed.So you helped him. Ware said slowly. "It's good that both of you are here!"- And what will you do? Ban me too?- Not.Ware waved his hand, and the glow of the font parted, releasing the already familiar crystal, which contained the powers of the defeated gods. Only this one was much larger, and not empty. Zhdan froze inside him with his mouth wide open from a tearing cry!- Oh, you're a creature. Spider said softly. “You do understand that after this you won’t leave here with your own feet?”- Don't care. I don't care at all! I will kill you both!The clapping of his hands fanned the blood around him, and the magician's body seemed to
- THE OUTLAND
177
Closed tightly, I almost completely stopped relying on the light, leaving only my new outlandish vision. It gave the picture with spots, intersecting lines, but the brain quickly adjusted itself, and from the flickering in front of the inner gaze, it independently completed a completely three-dimensional picture of the environment. The steps underfoot seemed new, almost untrodden, although the temple itself is definitely more than two thousand years old...However, this is logical. Only a couple of dozen people have walked this road. The senior pantheon came to the Font when it was still an ordinary cave in the mountain, and, of course, no staircase had yet been built. So consider it an untrodden path.Turn after turn, the levels went past - the sacrificial altar, administrative premises, the household unit, the barracks ... Soon, according to the sensations, the ground level also passed. This was told to me by my vision, since nothing has changed in all other parameters. There were n
- THE OUTLAND
176
The Christmas tree backed away, and I, sinfully squeezing past it in half, stared thoughtfully at my avatar. A savage Amri, a slave by birth, a pacifist by conviction - it was necessary to manage, in such and such a world, to get a lowered pain threshold! Laughter and sin, in general, are obviously cannon fodder, which usually does not survive even the first serious battle.But they survived. And they didn't even get scars. Unless, of course, do not count those inside. And, of course, a snowflake peeking out from under the undergarments. But this is not a scar, but rather a protective mark. Okay, good time to pull, it is already in short supply.- Hey, get up! I called.The spider said something about the reunion of soul and body. But damn, how to implement it? God somehow forgot to mention the technical details - either he really didn’t know, or for him such tricks are so in the order of things that they are not worth clarifying.No answer. Of course."Get up, motherfucker!" I shook
- THE OUTLAND
175
- What?! I barked. - What nonsense! Xolotl is alive, I personally...- Killed her? Astrix raised an eyebrow. “Finished off what little was left of her?”But you are all alive. You, Ware, other scumbags. What happened to Shelly?- She was already unstable at the time of digitization because of the child, you understand? One and a half consciousness, working out of tune. Technique then simply did not provide for such a situation ... And now, you yourself understand. Pregnancy is a vanishingly rare phenomenon these days.“But she gave birth in those two thousand years.- Both in real life and in virtual, yes. But in real life, the process of childbirth is simply the separation of one from the other without any sacrifice on the part of the psychostructure. In the virtual, everything turned out a little differently.And who did she give birth to? Gary?The spider chuckled.- Does not give you a dream of rest, I see. No, not Gary. Who cares. The main thing is that the rejection mechanism at
- THE OUTLAND
174
Agnis exhaled convulsively again, but said nothing.— In general, it all started with Haang as the very first. He went to the abyss, where he deposed the archangel. Now all the Filth is in his hands. They do not touch people yet, but they destroyed one cemetery. Guess which one.“The same thing, without the ankh!” I gasped. “So there is no longer any protection between humans and the Filth!”- Right. Khaang's troops catch all living things and turn them into Filth - they accumulate strength. As soon as they accumulate enough, they move on. We have no idea where, but it is clear now: Haang will not be the only corrupted god at the head of this army. Soon the rest will realize where the game is fatter, and against the seven demons, I'm afraid even I can't resist.- Good. What we can do?- Restore balance. Astrix shrugged. — Return the ankh to its homeland, restore the lich of the plundered cemetery. Even one lich can hold back the Filth indefinitely, and if he summons a bone dragon...-
