42nd Looper [Isekai / Time Loop / LitRPG],Book 2 - Chapter 24,write ronline books

  Frederica cast on herself and bolted.

  Penelope hadn’t heard what Patrick had whispered in her ear, but if it was urgent enough to warrant an explosive reaction like that, she wasn’t going to let their leader face it alone.

  Any ideas what could have happened? Penelope used to move her out of the room, then continued to recast it to stay just behind the sprinting assassin. A shadow followed behind her, letting her know that Circe was coming too. Eldri had picked up as well but had stayed behind to listen to Patrick with the others.

  “I have an idea... Let me check something.” Jeru groaned. “Abel just died.”

  How did… Penelope’s thoughts drifted as she ran scenarios through her mind.

  “I can see the status of every person connected to the system.” Jeru grumbled. “It’s just a data sheet, so I can’t tell you their exact location, but I can tell whether or not someone I brought here is alive or dead.”

  Do you know how he… The question vanished as Penelope entered the safe zone and saw her answer.

  On the other side of the barrier between the safe zone and 12E, a pair of Werths dragged a body out of view. But that hadn’t been what killed him. The perpetrators were standing by one of their dried meat bins, filling a bag with dried monster meat.

  Penelope only recognized one of the people stealing their meat. The large, bald man who bumped into her when she first arrived pulled the bag closed when he saw them. He flipped the sack over his shoulder and retreated towards 11G while the two closer to the barrier moved in between them.

  Rage boiled inside Penelope. She knew both their names, and as shocked as she was at seeing one of her people dead, it didn’t surprise her that one of them had been behind it.

  “Dawson!” Frederica screamed as she pulled out her weapons. “What did you do?”

  “Venom Wall!” The slick-haired young man created a cloud of poison between them.

  “I wouldn’t move through that if I were you.” Derek snapped his fingers, gesturing for his people to retreat. The blond, early-twenties man adjusted his brown leather jacket as he backed up. “Your movement skill isn’t a displacement; you’ll move through the cloud.” He shook his head. “Maybe if that Healer was around, you’d be able to survive, but this is a T1 skill.”

  How does Dawson have a T1 spell? Penelope clenched her fist.

  “Don’t do it.” Jeru appeared in front of her. “You’ve killed Demons and monsters, but it takes a different mindset to kill a person.” He spread out his arms, blocking her path with something that she could move through. “I’ve been in lots of people’s heads. I’ve seen the ones who can kill another human and the ones who can’t.” He pointed at Dawson. “You go through that cloud, and you won’t be able to cast that spell, but both of them will.” His voice hardened. “Let them go, and they’ll walk away.”

  Penelope’s fist tightened, but she didn’t move.

  “You killed one of my people.” Frederica bounced on her heels.

  “We aren’t your people!” Dawson screamed. “Who died to put you in charge?”

  Derek held up his hand to silence the fuming man. “Daw, take your group through the barrier. I’ll be along soon. Ren, bring the others to our entrance.”

  The grinding of Frederica’s teeth was audible. “You’re going to get all of those people killed!”

  “By what?” Derek scoffed. “That we need light in there? Got that covered.”

  “How do you know that?” Frederica demanded.

  “Pea, stop Circe!”

  Penelope spun around. Her shadow twisted and contorted as it moved under her feet.

  “Circe!” Penelope hissed under her breath as she stomped on the shadow. “Don’t!”

  The shadow settled down, but the young woman didn’t leave the darkness under her.

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  “You really think you’re in charge here?” Derek scoffed. “There are over four times as many people on the surface.” He motioned at the five people behind him. “I’ve been down here since yesterday, and you didn’t have a clue.” He laughed as he backed away. “The only reason why people listen to you is because they’re afraid of your abilities.” A smirk tugged up the corner of his lips. “What are you going to do when they figure out there are other people who can use them better?”

  “You think anyone is going to want to follow you after what you just did to him?” Frederica pointed at 12E; down the tunnel Abel’s body had been dragged.

  “That’s exactly why they’ll follow me!” Derek chuckled. “You don’t even know his name, do you?”

  “Abel.” Penelope swallowed when his eyes turned on her. She focused on his cheek so she wouldn’t have to look away, but it was obvious that she wasn’t holding his gaze.

  “Red to the rescue, again.” Derek clicked his tongue. “The offer to join us still stands.”

  “I’m good.” Penelope crossed her arms in front of her. She kept them loose so it wouldn’t look like a defensive gesture, but she felt naked on the receiving end of his aggression. “Your party is full anyway.”

  “Alden would sit out if it meant more of those Shadow Essences.” The blond man motioned for the 35-year-old to move away from the group. “Wouldn’t you?”

  Aiden ran his right hand through his short black hair. “I still get loot?”

  “She’s not going to need any of them.” Derek snorted.

  “Let her do the fighting, and I still get my share?” Alden laughed. “Heck yeah, I’ll sit out!”

  “Don’t you…” Venom dripped off of Frederica’s tongue as the rest of the threat remained unspoken.

  The shadow under her feet shifted from between Penelope and the cloud to between herself and Frederica.

  “I’m not going anywhere with someone who kills other people!” Penelope glanced over at Frederica. The older woman’s face softened for a moment, but the rage never left.

  “I didn’t kill Abel.” Derek motioned at the barrier. “Those creepy worms did.” He chuckled. “It was his own fault anyway. Stupid idiot wouldn’t let us take our share of the supplies.”

  “Your SHARE!” Patrick’s voice boomed as he entered the room. “I’M the one who decides how much people can take out of—”

  “Stay out of the cloud!” Penelope moved in the path of the stomping Tank.

  “Cleanse Poison!” Marlow pointed at the wall, dissipating a chunk of it.

  “That’s my cue!” Derek jogged backwards towards the barrier. The rest of his group hurried through, with a red aura covering the person in metal armor to light their path. “Just remember, Red.” He blew her a kiss. “You’ve always got a spot on the Star Team!”

  Frederica was through the cloud the moment there was a path, but by that time, Derek and his team had vanished into the darkness.

  “AHHH!!!” Frederica slammed her fists on the barrier. Her chest heaved as she sank into it, muttering under her breath as Oakley ran over to her.

  What do we do now? Penelope looked around. A group had gathered to watch them from the tunnels to her right. The whispers were already circulating between them as the rest of their party pushed through into the open area. Should I reset?

  “Could you stop it if you did?” The snap in Jeru’s voice came out too fast, too sharp.

  Penelope flinched and covered her right eye with her right hand. The pain was almost like a small headache just behind her eye.

  “Sorry.” Her parasite apologized. “It’s just frustrating to see these people fight amongst themselves when there is a bigger threat only a few feet away.”

  How many times does this happen?

  “Every time.” Remorse filled every letter. “A couple of the Loopers have tried to figure out a way for everyone to work together, but in the end, there’s always factions.”

  Could I save Abel if I redid it?

  “Could is always a possibility, but how many times are you going to redo this one thing until you figure out a way to save him when you’re planning on resetting the whole thing later?”

  Penelope turned and walked over to the barrier in front of the tunnel Abel had been dragged down. She stood in silence as people moved around her. Patrick and Frederica barked orders while the others hurried to comply. No one came over to talk to her, and Jeru held his peace as Penelope’s thoughts raged in her mind.

  This whole thing just feels impossible. Penelope shook her head and turned around. Most of the structures had been taken down and were in the process of being moved out of the open space. Oakley brought an older man out of the tunnel and pushed him into the open area.

  “Those supplies are for everyone!” Thatcher Dodd scrambled to his feet and jabbed his finger in the younger man’s face. “You have no right to hoard them!”

  “We’re taking precautions so that our food supply doesn’t get raided again.” Oakley glared at the older man. “You were hiding food in your bedding.” He looked over at Penelope and sighed before turning back to the man. “We only need people we can trust.”

  “So what? I’m supposed to sit on my butt out here until that other group feeds me to the monsters like they did Abel?” Thatcher sneered. “At least he tried to stop them. What did you do? Hide behind some skirt?”

  Oakley bristled but didn’t respond. He glanced at Penelope. “You need to get in here before the barricades are finished.” He didn’t wait for her to respond, just turned to walk back down the tunnels.

  “And what about me?” Thatcher screamed. “Hey! I’m talking to you!”

  Penelope shivered as scraping noises filled the open spaces.

  “You should go.” Jeru urged her. “The more people who see you as part of the team, the fewer that’ll get exiled.”

  Why does it feel like we just lost more than one person? Penelope trudged towards the tunnel. Her heart sank as she saw more people being led towards her.

  “Because you did.”

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Book 2 - Chapter 24

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