Ch.1 Shadow Sorcerer

Ding!

The first clue that the day wasn’t going to end in a movie with lasagna for supper. It may have been the black translucent box, hovering at keyboard height, in front of Leo Law.

Leo was a twenty eight year old Caucasian with short, yet natural, silver hair and green eyes. Standing at five foot and eleven inches he wasn’t considered the tallest but he at least fit in with the crowd.

Allowing himself to focus on the box it read, ‘welcome to your favorite table top game, user! Please note that your race is locked and that you may now choose a class!’

Barbarian

Bard

Claric

Druid

Fighter

Monk

Palidin

Ranger

Rouge

Sorcerer

Wizard

Warlock

Your attributes have been predetermined by your life choices, take a look and then select your class!’

After reviewing his attributes he let his frustration slip out with a sigh, ‘the only reasonable classes for me are the bard or sorcerer.’

With another sigh he clamored back to his feet from the warehouse floor. After blinking a few times and a strong yawn he realized at some point he passed out at work.

Sweeping the area around him he spotted his other two crewmen in a similar state of confusion.

“Did you pass out too?” His hot headed crew mate Tomas started as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

The second man, Jim, flipped him the bird and laughed before turning his attention back to his prompt screen.

Listening to Tomas talk smack Leo shook his head and poked the Sorcerer option.

‘You have chosen to become a Sorcerer! You may now select a Sorcerous Origin!’

Aberrant Mind

Clockwork Soul

Dragonic Bloodline

Divine Soul

Shadow Magic

Storm Sorcery

Wild magic

‘Please make your selection now!’

“This is bullshit! How am I supposed to choose maneuvers when I never played the damn game!” Tomas snapped Leon out of his trance before glaring at the guy.

“Yo!” Tomas turned his chubby red faced self to face Leon, “pull your phone and google maneuvers. I’m sure you will find some you like.”

The short man visibly relaxed as he reached into his pocket and asked, “You played this stupid game before Leo?”

Grinning he gave a curt nod before looking back to his screen and selecting Shadow Magic.

‘Benifits from this are ‘Eye of The Dark’ and ‘Strenth of the Grave’ you may be feeling a bit off as a result.’

“My abilities are starting to sound creepy.” Leo laughed a little but a part of him knew exactly what he was doing. The hounds of Ill omen at level six was his goal after all.

“Thanks again for the advice man it really helped!” Leo paid him no mind as his gamer mind began rolling faster.

‘Your background has been generated to a close proximate of your real life. With that said you have been awarded the Urchin background! You have the skills Slight of hand and Stealth.’

Put off by the background he recalled having lived a midioker life up to now with parents that loved him, siblings that hated his guts, and a family he hade himself. ‘How the hell am I an urchin?’

‘Please choose two skills from your class’

Arcane and insight were selected before the short list could even finish displaying the options.

‘You may now select a feature of your choice!’

Leo had already been anticipating this and only had to wait for his option to present itself. As soon as it did he selected the human specific prodigy feat, then selected the skill perception, and finally finished by marking his insight with expertise.

‘As a final step you may now select your spells. Any equipment you may need is on you to find or maybe even make! Good Luck Human!’

Leo took his time selecting spells unaware of the events unfolding around him. As soon as he was done he let a sigh slip as he said, “Finally!”

It was that moment when the black screen vanished that his senses were flooded with all sorts of new and unfamiliar sents and even sounds were a bit more vivid. His eyes began to ache but he quickly began picking up on small things that lead his heart to sink.

‘Where did Tomas go and is that blood?!’ He thought as his green eyed gaze took in the room once more. A four pound sledge hammer missing off the wall, blood splatter right around where Tomas had been standing before, Jim not in the warehouse, and hand shaped blood smears on the door to the sales floor.

Thinking it through there was only one thing that came to his mind, “Did Jim assault Tomas?”

Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he weighed leaving or investigating further. ‘This sort of thing was expected in an apocalyptic scenario right? It happens on all the level up style mangas.’

With an audible gulp of air and his heart beating in his ears Leo took a calming breath as he began to go over his situation.

He flexed his right hand and fire answered the call. Despite the flames a cooling sensation rolled from his core, down his arm, into his hand, and back again.

‘This must be what magic feels like!’ He though as his fright began to dissipate and confidence grow.

“Who in the hell told ya’ll to turn out the damn lights!” It was Tomas’s voice yelling out and was met by the frightened screams of the sales reps.

‘So it was Tomas?’ Leo’s head was starting to hurt with all of the nonsense. Airing on the side of caution he took his time to walk as quietly as he could towards the front.

It was at that moment he realized he could see clearly despite how dark the sales floor could get with the lights out. At that same moment he caught sight of Tomas with the four pound sledge hammer in hand and a grin on his face.

“Good work on moving Jim’s useless *** to the dumpster! The only one left to get rid of is Leo’s bitch ass”

A couple of the ladies could be heard sobingly trying to say something but she was too far gone to understand.

“Oh Danni,” Tomas look and sounded mocking as he clicked his tongue and wagged a finger at her disapprovingly, “That just won’t do! Why don’t you go get a water and hit the restroom to clean up. If you run though I’m going to kill you.”

‘What a pig.’ Anger began to rise, his fire grew a bit brighter, and he had to take a few deep breath just to try and think things through.

On one hand he could walk away and go check on his family and on the other hand he could save them and kill that prick.

Thump, thump.

He took a deep breath, ‘if I let this go what happens to them?’

Thump, thump.

His free hand grips his chest, ‘can I even take him at this level?’

Thump, thump.

He realizes his breathing is growing more ragged, ‘they are so traumatized, does that mean they might act the same as him after this?’

Thump, thump.

‘Would it be more appropriate to just kill them all?’

Leo stumbled as he began to recognize where his line of thought was headed. Taking a couple of moments to steady himself he made a decision just as Tomas looked his way.

“Oh shit! He came to me?” He laughed before glancing back at the sales reps beside him cowering, “alright ladies! The one that smashes his skull in is my top bitch and queen of the harem!”

In that moment the decision was made as the once hysterical women stopped sobbing, dried there eyes enough to see, and as they got to there feet began to rush Leo.

“Shit!”

Given the distance he threw the first fire bolt at Danni the eldest of the three ladies. She didn’t stand a chance as the fire engulfed her and the damage delt. Assuming it worked like in the actual game she must have had a low constitution and Health Points or HP below ten.

The flow of magic returned to his arm signifying his readiness as they continued to close the distance.

His second shot missed as the remaining two ladies found there way to melee range.

With eyes wide open he watched there movements closely and narrowly dodged the first Ladies attempt at a full body tackle. At the same time he walked into the strong strike of the second lady’s powerful slap.

Fortunately he was able to roll across the ground and back to his feet as thunderclap came to mind. Energy flowed to both hands and back signifying the spells readiness.

CLAP!

Bringing his hands together he watched both ladies scream in pain as they stumbled in there continued advance. The damage wasn’t enough to finish them and he wasn’t sure if he could take one more slap like that.

‘Fuck! Was this more then I could handle?’ As if hearing his thoughts a laugh from behind him made his skin crawl and pain bloom from the soft side of his skull.

For a moment everything went dark but then that same cool feeling swarmed the entirety of his body.

“Wow, I didn’t thing I could get one over on this piece of shit!” Tomas laughed so hard Leo could smell his foul breath.

As anger swarmed him once more he clamored to his feet and quickly cast mage armor. Feeling invigored and even a bit more spry he narrowly dodged a sloppy swing from Tomas as he cried out in surprise. The two woman jumped in shock and fell on there rear endes as Leo and Tomas began there bout.

Leaping as far back as he could Leo rolled over the back end of a couch and nearly tripped as he tried to avoid a coffe table. Just as quickly he found his footing in time to clumsily sling a fire bolt at Tomas.

Tomas took it straight to the chest stopping long enough to pat out the embers that was his shirt, “Hot, hot! You’re so dead! Stop running so I can kill you!”

‘This could be worse, the ladies could have joined in by now.’ Leo thought to himself as he continued to back peddle and avoid furniture , ‘just one more shot!’

Swish!

“Shit!” Leo ducked just in time to avoid the four pound sledge hammer that had been aimed at his head, “TAKE THIS!”

With a mighty throw he watched as he let loose a fire bolt but cursed as Tomas side stepped the attack with a chuckle, “I feel like an anime character saying this Leo, but you can’t get me with the same trick twice!”

With that the chubby man grabbed the end of a sofa and began running in towards Leo in an attempt to pin him down.

“Fine then! TRY THIS!” As if on command lightning reached out from his outstretched hand surprising Tomas once more as it wrapped around his throat.

A sickening zap and snap assaulted Leo’s ears as the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. With all the adrenaline cording through his vains he found himself eyeing the last two ladies who by now we’re on there feet.

“Oh my god Leo thank you so much for saving us!” Laura, the youngest sales rep, cried out as tears began to form once more.

Rage overcame his senses for a moment as he destinctly recalled them attacking him.

“Yes! We would have been forced to be his wives and slaves if…”

Sandy didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence as lightning cracked across her forehead. Laura let out a shriek as she watched the woman’s body hit the ground.

“Why!?!”

Until now he thought he was capable of being a hero or the good guy. This experience shaped him, teaching him just how strong his childhood demon really was.

“Why?” He mocked as his winter green’s met her soft blue eyes, “I tried to save you and you chose to attack. Good bye.”

With that he half heartedly threw a bolt of fire and watched as she burned for a moment. Her death quick enough to be merciful and long enough to suffer.

It was at that moment that his phone buzzed. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his IPhone and read the message from his best friend and chosen brother Blake.

Did you become a TTRPG Character too? Did Mica and Annabelle?

‘I should send a group message and check on my family.’ Exhausted and in pain he made his way to the back to collect his coat and keys.

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