《(Anti)Hero Chronicles》Prologue: Falling
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"Get off of me... you gnat!" a giant made of bramble bushes bellowed as it swung its large limb at a slightly larger than man sized cannonball that soared around it.
"Not yet!" the sentient projectile yelled.
The metal sphere slammed against the walking sycamore time and time again, causing it to roar out in anguish. It swatted again; this time, making solid contact and swatting the missile aside.
"Augh!" the ball screamed.
The giant tree let out a low, booming laugh, "Until next time, Freefall!"
Freefall - The Momentum Hero - Real Name: Tyler Snow - Ranked 45th in the National Protectorate.
Former Air Force Fighter Pilot with an unusual tolerance for G-Forces. His immunity led to his "volunteered" testing for genetic super markers and put him on the front lines of the 2050 conflict in the first version of his “Crash Suit.”
A marvel of engineering and calculus, the suit contained more gyros, hydraulics, and circuitry than the most advanced bombers and almost as much steel.
Designed to be “non-lethal” plenty of henchmen and villains met their end to the sheer amount of force put out by both the Crash Suit and Snow’s innate power - the control and manipulation of his own momentum.
The National Protectorate was the best of the best of the Western Union of States; the second-highest tier of the Global Superhero Organization.
"Get back here Thorn Titan! We're not done yet!" Freefall bellowed.
Thorn Titan kicked a mostly collapsed building over on top of the hero, burying him in debris to secure his escape.
Hours later, Tyler Snow worked through the wreckage alongside rescue teams, looking for something specific.
"Dad! Daddy! Help us!" a small voice chimed.
Snow's eyes lit up and he waved some rescue workers over. They pulled out cameras, recording as Tyler Snow jogged over to a shifting pile of rubble. He threw bricks, rebar, and giant chunks of concrete aside like a man possessed.
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"It's okay! I'm here, I'll save you!" Snow shouted.
The detritus gave way to a woman's bloodied back, Snow put his fingers to the side of her neck, shook his head at the camera and moved her gently aside to reveal a young boy.
"No! Momma!" the young boy cried.
"I'm sorry, young man, she's gone. It's alright, you're safe! Freefall is here!"
The boy paused. He was slight, his eyes were grey, and his hair was dark, covered in ash and soot, but dark; tears streaked the grime on his face and dust shook off of him as he lurched forward, swinging his little fists at Snow's face.
"You killed her! You killed her!" the child shrieked.
"No! I saved you!"
"I hate you!"
"Cut the camera, now!" Snow ordered.
The rescue workers complied, lowering their recording devices.
"What is your problem kid?" the hero demanded.
"I heard you," the child hiccupped, "Thorn Titan warned you about our building, and you attacked anyway! You didn't even try!"
Tyler Snow struck the child across the face and stormed off.
"Get this kid to a shelter with the rest, scrap the footage."
"... I'll make you pay," the child muttered.
Twelve Years Later
"Grimmarson! You got a visitor!" the building administrator, Maude, called from her desk.
Sorli walked backward around the corner he'd attempted to sneak around. Maude never missed a thing.
"Room Three? Like the rest?"
"Room Five... Three was taken."
Sorli's heart skipped a beat.
"And I have to go now? I was gonna head to the shop down the block and -"
"Now, Grimmarson, it's important. About your release," Maude said. Her tone was low and grave, almost emotional.
"Oh..."
Sorli shuffled over to the conference rooms, where he'd met his therapist, typically in Room Three, every other week for as long as he could remember. He peeked in the window, seeing the back of a blonde man with an impeccably tailored suit sitting across from his therapist, June.
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"Mr. Grimmarson?" a voice asked from Room Five.
Sorli jogged and turned into the room. The door slammed behind him. He looked back to the figure in the room, a pillar of ash shaped vaguely like a woman. He jumped, pressing his back against the door, fumbling for the handle.
"Shit! Who are you? What is this? What did -"
"Shhhhhh..."
The cloud of ash moved, just like a person would.
Sorli clenched his jaw, his heart pounding, and chest heaving with rapid breath.
"Easy... Sorli Grimmarson," the ashes whispered, approaching slowly.
The smell of sandalwood and briar roses reached his nose; his breathing and heart rate slowed.
Sorli was calm.
"See? Much better. Now," the chair in front of him, flimsy and plastic, slid out in front of him, "Sit."
Sorli complied.
"What is this about?" he asked.
"You, Sorli Grimmarson, have been making an awful racket on the formus lately."
His cheeks flushed.
"Well, I mean..."
"It's okay, you don't need to be embarrassed or shy, I like the noise you've been making. It... resonates with my own views... and if I'm right, I think you want the same things that I want," the woman shaped dust-devil cooed.
Sorli continued to blush, for other reasons.
"Okay... so... what do you want?"
"I want the so-called heroes of the GSO to be held accountable for the messes that they leave behind, like you... not so much the mess part, though..." he felt that he had been looked up and down, "more the being left alone, having everything you knew, every path your life could have taken, stripped away. Revenge against Freefall?"
Flames roared in Sorli's chest and ears, like he was back in the fallen building all over again.
"Yes," he growled, "I want that... but..."
"But what, Sorli?"
"I don't have any powers, no supergenius techno-stuff, no magic..."
"Oh, Sorli..." the woman teased, "You do have powers."
"What? Like what? Changing size or, flight, or gravity cont -"
"They're just dormant," she interrupted.
"Oh... how do I -"
"Wake them up? Well, I've already done that for you," the statue of ash leaned back in its chair and crossed its arms, the hint of a smirk crossing its swirling face.
"What? How?"
"Remember when you first walked in? That calming smell?"
Sorli nodded.
"That was magic, a spell, actually, your powers should start manifesting in a couple of days, once they have, I want you to come see me."
"Come see you? How am I supposed to do that?" Sorli barked, "Hey you guys know the lady made out of ashes and sass? Yeah, where do I find her? Quick way to a padded cell..."
She laughed.
"I knew I'd like you, Sorli," she started, "you are being released, today. You will have an apartment and stipend given to you by the shelter, and you will receive a letter, tomorrow, with further instructions and a meeting place."
Sorli's head was spinning.
"So I have to leave today?"
"You don't have to, but if you want to learn how to control your powers, infiltrate the GSO, and gain the other tools and allies you're going to need to make Freefall pay, it would be in your best interest to."
"You make solid points... uh... what do I call you? What's your name?"
"For now, Sorli, you can call me The Supplier."
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At The Precipice
Defenseless. Scared. Alone. That describes the life of Brock Carter as of late. Following his ‘death’ at the hands of a vicious magpie, Brock is rescued by the machinations of the newly instated, all-powerful System and thrust knee-deep into a brutal world catered only to the strong. Fluctuating between two states of being and trapped within a city ravaged by time, he is told to either seek out the mysterious ‘Source’, or die trying. He just hopes he can do it without scuffing his expensive suit in the process. ***** Honestly, I've just always wanted to write a story. I had a crack at it a few years back, but the entire thing fell apart before it even began. At The Precipice was originally written as a way for me to destress and play with System elements and characters, but eventually I decided that if I was gonna write, why not post it too? Writing's just a hobby of mine, so don't expect this to be at published novel level, I guess, or even anything of relative polish. Updates every Mon-Tues-Wed-Thurs-Fri Average chapter length is 2000 - 3000 words ***** What to expect: - A semi-comedic/light tone, mixed in with a gritty world and brutal survival (not ever grimdark though) - An MC that thinks about what he's going to do and why he'll do it, even if his internal logic is lacking. Is a rather rational person, not often influenced by his emotions, but can be in extreme situations. - A plot heavily focused upon the MC, but one that will branch off to envelope the other characters in the world at times. Often, it's just other people's perspectives of him. - A story of power growth. While the MC is certainly going to be powerful, even over 100 chapters in from what I've written, he still isn't the strongest being on Earth, let alone the entire Multiverse. - Lots of gore, vivid fight descriptions, and often times deaths of people, some even somewhat important to the story ***** Things this story will never have: - Harems - An edgy, villainous MC - An MC that does jackshit about things for 'plot reasons'
8 145First Bite
When Alice Thornhill turned eighteen she found out that magic was real, four of her teeth were taken and the tooth fairy was real. Years later, her own mystery is starting to have more bite. Updates on break for a few weeks over December but normally Fridays and sometimes on Mondays Just created a discord group https://discord.gg/JWzZh8u
8 252Mages of Athfens
What happens when a pessimistic mage fails at magic school? Among the diverse people of the ancient fantastical city of Athfens is the Mage August. He must fight his way through mages, monsters and worse to thrive among the cruel. There are no heroes in this story, it is a question of how long can he live. No one can escape death. An original dark fantasy adventure in first-person present-tense. It is a cynical take on power fantasy stories. *Thanks Asviloka for the Cover Art*
8 69Masquerade of Souls
~ In the world of masks and lies, look deeper than you can see ~ A slave, a thief, a lord, a gambler, and many others. They're all different people, but they have something in common - they all wear masks. Nobody knows what problems it might cause, but when they find out, it'll be a very painful truth to bear. Annabel's quiet life changes suddenly. She remembers being a happy girl, living with her dear parents in the countryside, surrounded by light and joy. Now she's one of the slaves whose destiny is decided by Mr. Alferdo Morr - a slave driver and a dangerous man. Her actions are guarded by a ruthless watcher, her freedom is locked in a cage made of someone else's wishes and desires.But everything flips head down when she meets a boy with sly green eyes and self-confident nature.Will he become her savior, or her new doom? Why does he wear a mask of ego, and who is that tall handsome young lord she has to meet? Is everyone in the Albie's Nest worth her trust, and why is love so complicated? Who is honest, and who is only pretending to be?
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The wacky misadventures of Rum, a would-be warrior-poet who has taken to the bubbling Foggy Ocean in search of fame, fortune, and glorious adventure... and Molotov, his half-dressed, half-intelligent, wizard companion. Mayhem, magic, maniacal gods, and more await! Updates twice a week; Monday & Friday @ 1pm EST --- On a temporary hiatus whilst I do training for my new job! Will return in August! ---
8 192Hate me [Finished]
"Направих нещо ужасно само защото мразя майка и. А тя?! Тя е единственото момиче, което някога ще обичам. Но...това, което направих е непростимо." Мислех си за това, когато тя ме прегърна в гръб. Усетих ръцете й да стискат кръста ми. Тя подпря главата си на рамото ми. Плачеше. Тогава чух две думи,които ме стъписаха: -Обичам те! Погледнах я. Целунах я по челото и си тръгнах.Корица:sadreamer
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