During our conversation the crowds became thicker. We can't manage to keep our distance any longer. Everyone is trying to keep their distance, but the sheer number of people mean that we can't. Rachel and I grab hold of the items stored on our belts. We need to make sure no one robs us. I look over to Lincoln Street to see if we could cut over and be less crowded. The crowd is as big on that street as our street. Looking ahead we see people stopped. Soon we will have to stop from the press of people.

  "The notification wasn't very specific, where in Capitol Hill do you think the Gate is?" Rachel asks me.

  I shrug, "Could be anywhere, but I bet it is somewhere conspicuous like Civic Center." Civic Center is a park where the Capitol building is located. The Civic Center Park contains some nice walking paths and an amphitheater.

  "It could be at the Governor's residence, or the Capitol building."

  When we get a block or so away from Civic Center, people are stopping at the edge of the park. They are looking each other and whispering. This must mean something. My money is that it points to the Gates being located at Civic Center Park and not being at the Governor's residence. People are moving, but moving slowly. Eventually we cross Colfax, and we receive a new notification.

  Welcome to the Iron Circle. The Iron Circle is a non-aggression zone. Active abilities do not work in non-aggression zones. Competitors and civilians will receive an honor penalty if they kill in a non-aggression zone. If you do not have the honor to deduct, you will be killed instead.

  I let out a sigh and an unknown weight is lifted off my shoulders. This is a PvP free zone. The Iron Circle doesn't allow active abilities to work, so no Energy Beam, or Healing, but my Hardy will still work. There is a harsh penalty for killing in non-aggression zones, and this also makes me feel better. Murderous douches tend to not risk their own lives if they can help it, so we will probably be safe in the Iron Circle. It is the first time I felt safe since leaving home just a short time ago. The Iron Circle is actually a safe place to be, at least for now. I look around and people are already setting up tents and placing their stakes to the limited real estate of Civic Center Park. People must have the same idea of staying safe in the PvP free zone.

  I think placing our own stake is a good idea, so I speak to Rachel, "We should find some land and set up our tents."

  "We can do that after we have found the Gate. We need to understand where it is, and how this works. The longer we delay the less advantage we have." I notice something in my wife's eyes, she is back to her determined self and I will not be able to dissuade her. I acquiesce and we go off looking for the Gate.

  The Gate turns out to be a series of Gates inside the lobby of the Capitol building. They are floating ovals of twisted grayish purple metal arranged in a semicircle around the lobby. There is a line going out the door of pairs of people waiting for their turn at one of the Gates. We walk to the back of the line and wait our turn. The line is actually moving pretty fast.

  "Okay, so we are going to compete in these wars. While we are waiting, let's come up with a game plan," I say to Rachel.

  "Game plan, how about, not die. I'll hide and you shoot that Energy Beam and melt their faces."

  "We have to have something better than that."

  "What do you suggest then?"

  "I'll draw their attention away from you because I can take a hit and you sneak around and try to surprise them with your hatchet, like you did the douches."

  "So, I hide and you shoot your Energy Beam, thereby melting their faces?" my wife questions with a sly smirk on her face.

  "There is more to my plan than that, there is misdirection, deceit, surprise."

  "Okay, Will.” Rachel rolls her eyes at me. “When we get to wherever we are going, I'll use my helmet to remain unseen and try to sneak up behind them. You be loud and obnoxious and fire your Energy Beam and melt their faces and try to end it quickly. I have no honor; it doesn't need to be a fair fight we just need to win."

  Not appreciating her cavalier attitude about risking our lives, I still nod and we continue to wait in silence. When we are closer, we peek around others to see how to use the Gates. You and your partner place your hands on the twisted edging and then it will light up in a bluish-purple swirling portal. After that, you each step through like you are walking through a normal doorway. At least that is what everyone else is doing, so when it is our turn, we copy them. Rachel and I place our hands on an empty Gate.

  Do you wish to participate in A Gate Wars match?

  It must wait until we both confirm that we do want to participate because it takes a few seconds before the portal opens up and Rachel is about to walk through before I stop her.

  "Let me go first. I'm resilient, remember." She holds out a hand inviting me go ahead of her and I step through.

  Chapter 6

  Stepping through the gate is not an unpleasant sensation, it is a slight tugging sensation a little above my belly button and then I experience acceleration and velocity. Without a speedometer there is no way to gauge how fast I am moving, but there are bright lights that streak by my vision. I lurch to a standing stop and the tugging sensation disappears; the streaks of light turn into pinpoints of light that then they are overwhelmed by day light. I am standing next to Rachel in a dense jungle. I look around and up and there is a bright blue moon in the sky and a dark red one, two moons. Definitely not on Earth anymore. I always thought it would be amazing to explore the galaxy, and now I am. This is a childhood dream come true.

  I will even have a chance to meet aliens; I will have to kill them as soon as I meet them which isn't how I imagined my foray into the galaxy.

  The jungle throws a wrench in our plan. If I could see the competitors, I could be firing a charged energy beam already. I still decide to charge up my energy beam so that I can be ready. Rachel sticks to the plan and breaks away crouching down. She ducks behind a fallen tree and she is out of sight. I move forward picking my way through the vegetation. There is a cracking noise behind me and I whirl around with my arm extended ready to fire. Rachel is standing there holding her hands up and shakes her head.

  "Sorry, I stepped on a stick."

  I sigh loudly, "Well, don't do that you scared the hell out of me."

  I keep walking forward and there is the snapping of another stick break behind me and I think nothing of it. Rachel and I are comfortable in the forest, but we never had to be quiet before. "Will, that wasn't me!" I hear Rachel shout as she starts to run forward away from the noise.

  When I spin around, Rachel is running toward me and a green skinned humanoid is pointing what appears to be a gun at her. I have to save Rachel before she is shot. I take aim and fire my energy beam. My dark blue energy beam streaks forward hitting the alien's weapon. This weapon is much more durable than the skater's faces and at first nothing happens. However, this manages to get the alien to pause his attack and his hesitation proves critical for us. After a second of concentrated fire, the alien's weapon turns red under my blue beam and starts to melt. Now the barrel is pointing askew. The alien recovers from being startled, now he is thinking that my energy beam doesn’t hurt people he smiles cruelly and pulls the trigger to attack my wife. The gun flares red and an energy pulse fires and travels down the bent barrel. This causes the shot to travel up instead of straight and doesn’t even come close to hitting my wife. The green alien is puzzled and looks at his gun, bent barrel and all. He screams out in a guttural language and throws the gun on the jungle floor.

  After throwing down the gun, he pulls out a long sword. An electrical crackling sound courses through the air as white energy dances along the blade. The alien charges at me. I flick my wrist and unfold my shield to meet his charge. In the corner of my eye, I can see that Rachel has made it safely behind me. Good, I hope she goes deeper into the forest. My shield finishes unfolding just in time and I lift my arm to meet the swing of the green skinned enemy. A vicious shock courses down my arm as the energy discharges on my shield. The electric charge causes me to remain rigid and this stiffness helps me rebuff the charge.

  Now that he is closer to me, I can see more detail in his face. He has pig like features with elongated teeth and tusks. He reminded me of the classic orc, I am fighting an orc. Another strike and more electricity charging through the shield. The orc realizing that the electricity is causing me to tense up frozen, decides to take advantage and push me with his body and knock me off balance. I start to fall over when I regain the ability to move and barely manage to stop my fall. Another attack and another discharge. Doesn't his ability have a cooldown? Mine has a cooldown.

  The orc tries to shove me again and this time even though I catch myself by bracing my legs wider, the orc isn't as lucky. He tumbles onto my shield grabs onto it and pulls me down to the ground. I fall on my back with the orc on top of me. In this position, the orc's sword is between him and my shield so he can't charge it up otherwise he will be electrocuting himself and fortunately, my shield is, stopping his sword from immediately cutting into me.

  I am able to use my gloves of gripping because I grab the orc's arm to keep his claws from raking at my eyes. He struggles to pull himself from my grip, but the glove's enchantment allows me to hold his arm. We roll end over end on the ground with me struggling to keep my shield up against the sword and him trying to escape my vice-like grip. I will win this fight if we keep doing this. Every second we struggle is a second my cooldown doesn't have left. I keep rolling with him and trying to start my energy beam charging. Damn cooldown, I will really need to upgrade the green trait on my Energy Beam as soon as possible.

  I manage to pin his sword to the ground, but I am forced to let go of his arm. He reaches down to his belt instead of at my eyes. I glance down and see he has a dagger. The orc drop his sword and uses his claws on my skin. His claws barely leave a scratch on my resilient skin. I try to grab his arm and miss; he gets a hold of his dagger. I am not a trained fighter, but I do manage to block a knife strike with my arm and I can feel the dagger slice cleanly into my flesh. This dagger must be magical for it to cut through my resilience so easily. I scream out in pain and try to charge my energy beam again and this time it starts. I grab his arm and toss him to the side, trying to put some distance between him and myself. Energy beam is at level 2. The orc backs up and stays on his feet. He whirls around slashing at the air. Level 4. The orc takes a few more practice swipes taunting me with his dagger.

  Suddenly his dagger glows white with electricity. Well, he can use his electric blade ability on more than just swords. Level 5. He swipes and I dodge back. I circle around him and he swipes. I am forced to block with my shield. The electricity jolts up my arm. It is less intense than it was with the sword, but it still hurts. Level 7. I do not want to take any chances; I have to wait for my beam to reach level 10. I see the orc's eyes dart to the right, that is where his sword is. I let him circle around getting closer to the blade. Level 9. The more he is focusing on something other than attacking, the more time to charge my beam. My gambit works and the orc lunges at his sword and picks it up. When he gets out of his tumble, the sword's edge is crackling with electricity and he is pointing it at me ready to attack. Level 10. I point my hand at his head and fire. My dark blue energy beam shoots out hitting him in the face. He does not see it coming and there is a familiar gurgling scream. My energy beam blinds him and burns out his lungs before it melts his face off.

  Your party has slain another competitor in honorable combat, you are awarded 100x2 experience, 50x2 honor points and 11x2 red sigils.

  This is amazing, I feel so powerful with my energy beam. I feel a rush of exhilaration as I reach down touching his body to start the looting process. This is a 2v2 match and the second competitor is still hiding. The purple light of looting leaves behind the orc's sword, 534 credits and I earn 23 green sigils.

  Eversharp Blade: Durability 142/150 Hardness 5. This blade has a magical enchantment to always remain sharp and free from blemishes.

  The blade is longer than the 0.5 meters of my inventory, so I can't store it. I still have my shield unfolded and now I am holding a sword. I feel like a medieval solider. In my rolling and spinning around with the orc I have lost all sense of direction. I do not know which way Rachel went. Without any other guide, I start to walk forward through the brush, picking my way carefully trying not to create too much noise. The brush is thick and I cannot see my feet. I keep tripping over roots and plants. I almost don’t notice it, but one of the roots moves with my foot. I dig through the brush and I find the gun with the bent barrel. I pick it up and hold it to inspect it.

  Plasma Gun: Durability 4/75. This weapon recharges using ambient Mana at a rate of 1 shot every 10 minutes. The power cell can hold 7 charges. Charges 4. *Note this weapon is extensively damaged and has a high probability of misfiring.

  The gun is small enough to fit in my inventory. So, I dump out some ice and put the gun inside my inventory. Maybe I will be able to fix it. If I can fix it, it will give Rachel a weapon she can protect herself with. The weapon is enough to orient myself and I now know I am heading the right way. This is the way the orcs came from. I keep slinking through the forest ready for anything. I spend the time charging up my energy beam. Ready for anything I go deeper into the forest.

  During the exchange with the orc, I lost all sight of my wife, and the jungle is deathly quiet. My energy beam is getting harder to hold. It must be on fifty or sixty waves by now. I can't hold it any longer. Without knowing where Rachel is, I do not want to risk hitting her, but I have to release this energy beam. I point my arm up at the sky and unleash my dark blue energy beam. A rush of relief comes to as the pent-up pressure releases from my arm. This energy beam serves as a flare for everyone within one hundred yards to see where I am. Shooting a magical blue beam into the sky is a good way to be noticed. I bring my shield up and hunker down behind it. I get a strong feeling that I am being watched. I need to buy time for my cooldown. Right after I shot my beam, I hear screaming and rustling noises to my left. Rachel!

  At my wife's screams, I abandon all sense of stealth and start tearing through the jungle. I try to charge my energy beam. Nothing. Goddamn cooldown! I trip over a root and fall down. I fall on top of the sword and it pinches me as it digs into my chest. I can't think about that now. If I survive, I can always have Rachel heal me. I pick myself up and keep scrambling forward. There is another scream and a roar. I push myself harder. I start to slice the vegetation with the sword to make my path a little bit easier. Every second matters. I try to charge my energy beam and this time it works. My energy beam is about halfway charged when I break into a clearing and I see Rachel on her back desperately trying to avoid the slashes of a dagger while trying to heal her leg. The orc holding both a dagger and Rachel's hatchet. I can plainly see that Rachel is in a bad way. This is going terribly wrong. Rachel should be hiding, not out in a clearing. Rachel's hands are glowing green as she grabs her leg.

  Even though my energy beam isn't at full charge, the situation is critical, and I unleash it directly at the back of the orc. A blue beam flies from my hand hitting the orc. Suddenly, a golden barrier appears surrounding the orc. The golden shield starts to spiderweb and crack, but it holds turning a slightly bluer shade of gold. Even though I do not break through his shield, part of my plan still succeeds as the orc turns to face me. Rachel capitalizing on his distraction uses the time to heal her leg and rolls into the brush to hide.

  I am truly scared now, no one has withstood my energy beam so far. While I know it wasn't at full charge, I need to figure this out. I pick up the sword and prepare to chop him. I place my shield in front of me. I scream out loud and charge the orc with a fury I did not know I had in me. Rachel is relying on my taking this orc out. I do not know how yet, but I will take out this orc.

  When I arrive at the orc, the sword crashes down and the attack does not bother him at all. He is calm and ready for my attack. When my sword crashes down the golden barrier flares again and this time spiderweb cracks do not form. My shield blocks a slash from his dagger and I am able to turn aside the hatchet with my arm. The ax is a mundane tool of Earth and does not break my skin. I swing again with an overhead chop and the golden barrier flares to life. The orc is not bothering to block or evade, he is simply letting his barrier take all the attacks. I have to work to block his slashes with my shield while maintaining my assault. My arm begins to tire from the constant swinging. The orc connects a few times with the dagger, but between his strength and his dagger's sharpness, his knife feels like a dull push. Luckily, he isn't able to break my skin with either of his weapons. This is becoming a battle of attrition, if nothing changes, we will see what my max level energy beam can do to him.

  Rachel has recovered by now and somewhere found a large branch. I see her behind the orc raining blows down with her make-shift club. I can't let the orc attack Rachel; she doesn't have my resilience. I re-double my efforts and swing more furiously, leaving myself open to more and more attacks. There is pain as the dagger starts to break the skin. This orc is skilled with the dagger, he keeps striking in the exact same place on my chest. The place on my chest that I broke open when I fell on the sword. I am really tiring now and the stalemate has been broken, I need to end this battle. I start to charge my energy beam and thankfully it works.

 

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