In the end, Blaze went with Matt to talk FBI business and see her new office. Bhaarrt, Ingrid, and Shadow headed back to Bhaarrt’s shop to work on armor, and I took the Whitfords home. I decided that if I was going to be advising people, I ought to see what others were doing outside Eddington.

  Many cities were handling spawns like we did, with locals taking turns covering sites… or trying to. In some places, there were fights over who had rights to a site. In others, there were wonderful stories of neighbors working together.

  One site appeared inside a big auto parts factory. After the first spawn, management took control and paid workers extra to fight during spawning times. They moved machines and built a wooden wall around the area so the spawns didn’t interfere with operations. I saved the link, planning to share it as an example of how cooperation could keep businesses running, except for fifteen-minute breaks for each spawn. Even management was helping fight the spawns.

  There were also the sad stories. Monsters that broke into homes and businesses, killing people of all ages. People shot at them and missed. Sometimes they hit others, or fired through doors without looking for who or what was on the other side.

  But most stories were about people helping each other. It gave me hope. Maybe we’d beat these things back to wherever they came from, like in the movies.

  Well, the movies where Earth gets invaded, and the heroes kick alien ass. I had no clue how we’d actually do it…or how many levels we’d need to gain to find the source of all this. Assuming Game powers could even get us there.

  Leaning back in my black, high-backed gaming chair, coffee mug within reach, I thought about what we should do next. There should be a pattern to all this.

  Things changing at 7 a.m. was an obvious pattern. I’d be up at seven tomorrow, ready in case there were bigger spawns…or stronger ones…or both. Maybe something would happen at the old Kmart site. Maybe 7 p.m. would be important too.

  “Too many options. There’s no way I can keep track of all of them,” I told my computer.

  That’s when I realized I didn’t have to. Eddington would have a team to track these things. All I had to do was send them the links and notes that I felt important. I didn’t have to carry it all. A weight lifted off me, and I felt lighter.

  I checked my email one more time to see if my next editing job was ready. Nothing. Even if it came in a minute from now, it could wait until after lunch.

  ***

  After lunch and before the 1 p.m. spawn, I felt the urge to go across the street to sweep up the broken glass. Thinking about how I’d gone out that first day in slippers nudged me to do it. I grabbed a broom and crossed under the warm mid-May sun, the air still smelled faintly of flowers from next door and from somewhere up the street.

  It only took a few minutes to sweep the glass into a neat pile in the far corner of the building. Repetitive work like sweeping sometimes helped me think.

  This time, I was thinking about what to do when I hit Level 10. I needed just over 500 EXPERIENCE, maybe ten fights at the 60 points I was getting now.

  Instead of two stat and spell/skill points per level like I’d been getting since Level 5, I’d get three at Level 10. It would also open up more spells, character, and game information. My problem was figuring out what would be useful…and if I should keep my habit of saving a couple of points for emergencies.

  I could keep improving my base spells or add new ones. MAGIC WARD was a must, even if the one-hour duration limited it for now. I’d learned synergy mattered. Stacked spells protected or damaged more. There were probably extensions to more of my base spells coming too.

  In addition to that, I also wanted to upgrade DETECT MAGIC to IDENTIFY MAGIC and improve how I shaped my MANA SHIELD. At Level 10, I could increase the DEFENSE penetration of MANA BOLTs and BALLs. That mattered a lot in the long run.

  A couple of minutes later, I heard voices from the 19th & Fox guild arriving outside Ryan’s house, snapping me out of my thoughts. I crossed back over the street to say hello, spotting two new people, college-age or a bit older, standing by the others. There were a lot of students living in the neighborhood. The May breeze helped cool the air over the asphalt getting warmer under the noontime sun.

  Carlos, their Paladin, introduced them as Sara and Bailey Holden. “Bailey’s a psychology grad student, and Sara makes pizzas at Sandy’s Sandwich & Pizza Place, just north of the square. They live in the Arlington Apartments around the corner to the north off of Fox.”

  Smiling, I nodded to them. “Happy to see more members in your guild. I’m in a different guild, but I live across the street.” I pointed to my house.

  Casting two REVEAL STATS, I saw Sara, or SandB, was a Mana Mage. The first one I’d seen besides myself. Bailey, or BandS, was an Ice Mage. Two new casters, and married from the looks of it. They had matching rings on their left hands.

  They both wore dark blue jeans. Sara had a Sandy’s Pizza T-shirt, her short yellow hair streaked with blue on each side. Bailey wore a dark blue unbuttoned polo, brown hair just touching her shoulders.

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  “I’m just here to watch, not help. Carlos and Mitchtomo will take care of you. Do what they say and keep your shields up. Art R will keep everyone alive. Pretend I’m not here. Is this your first fight?”

  They nodded yes, looking nervous. I didn’t blame them.

  “Three minutes to go,” I told them, glancing at my watch. “Have fun and stay safe.”

  I moved to a low concrete wall to the far side of the building for a clear view. As the blue glow of MANA lit up inside the building, I cast DETECT MANA to see the portal. “I wonder what would happen if I cast TRANSFER MANA on the portal?” I shook my head.

  “Not today. Maybe not ever.” Not being stupid won out over my curiosity.

  Carlos give them their reminders about what to do. He was their tank for this fight. They still needed a few more dedicated tanks.

  Four Kobolds and a Goblin appeared at once. “Transfer portal, not walk-through,” I thought, watching closely. “Could be useful someday when I can create my own portals. I hoped that was a spell sometime in the future.”

  Carlos shouted, “Shields. Now!” as they came out. BandS cast a shield out from the door, Mitchtomo followed with another ICE SHIELD, boxing in the monsters. Carlos drew them toward him, yelling, while a MANA SHIELD in front of him closed the last side of the box, using the building as the fourth wall.

  One Kobold ran out before the box was finished, but Carlos chopped it down fast, backed by ICE BOLTs and a MANA BOLT. Inside, SandB’s shield wavered under hits, then she pumped in more MANA, reinforcing it.

  “Good choice,” I muttered. “The others can finish them off.”

  She fired two more MANA BOLTs, shouting, “I’m out!” as the last two Kobolds fell. BandS called out her own “Out!” as she fired her last ICE BOLT. Mitchtomo finished the Goblin with two more ICE BOLTs. The shields dropped one by one, and the portal faded with the monster’s deaths.

  I stood and clapped as I approached. “Very well done. I like your shield box. Carlos, you need more defense. Shields are in short supply but, if you’re tanking, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thanks. I ordered a shield online, but it’ll take a week. Online armor sites are running low,” Carlos said. “We’ve been using the box since we have so many casters and so few fighters.”

  “Most warrior types use guns for now, but they’ll need to switch to swords eventually. I saw online a group using a gunner to bait monsters into damaging shields. You’ll get there once you’re a few levels higher.”

  I paused, then added, “I saw the MANA SHIELD reinforcement. Good work. That’s how Mana Mages do it. MANA BATTERIES will help with MANA management, even small ones. When you level up, get IMBUE MANA. Also, DETECT MANA and TRANSFER MANA are must-haves.”

  “The game didn’t say anything about required spells,” Sara retorted. Carlos and Art exchanged looks. Mitchtomo stayed quiet, fidgeting.

  “I’m going to loot them before the bodies vanish,” Mitchtomo cut in, rifling the corpses for coins and gear.

  I turned back to Sara. “You’re right. It doesn’t say it. But when spells stack, it’s a huge advantage. I wish I’d known that when I started. You’ll see builds online, but it’s your choice. When I created my character, I wish that I knew then what I know now. I got sort of lucky. You do you.”

  Art stepped forward. “Sara, listen to Will. He helped us start this guild. He’ll help you too, if you let him.”

  Sara scowled. “What does he know about Mana Mages? I took it because I didn’t know what to take. Everyone wanted me to. I heard it’s the class of the guy who saved people that first day…but he’s not going to help people he doesn’t know.” She glared at me. “What are you smiling at?”

  “Carlos, Art,” I said. “You two look like you’re going to burst. Go ahead.”

  “And do what?” Sara demanded.

  Art nodded at Carlos, who said, “Sara, I’d like to introduce William of Brinsford, First Mana Mage and Eddington’s Warchief.”

  Art broke into laughter, and the others joined in. I just smiled as Sara and Bailey stood frozen, mouths open.

  “Warchief wasn’t my idea. It stuck,” I said. “Take REVEAL STATS the next time you level up, you’ll see for yourself. I hope you don’t have to level like we did on day one. Killing people is something I don’t want anyone to have to do again. You’ve put yourself on the front line, and you just proved you can do this.”

  I smiled at them both. “Like I tell everyone new…welcome to the ancient and honorable league of adventurers. Ancient, as of…uh…two and a half days ago.”

  Sara stammered, then turned to the guys. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me who he was before I made a fool of myself?” She shouted as Bailey hugged and whispered something to her.

  Carlos, still chuckling, said, “I thought you were there when we talked about him.”

  “We figured you’d realize when we introduced him,” Mitchtomo added. “And when he said he wouldn’t help unless we needed it. We didn’t need it.”

  “She’s right,” I said. “This spawn felt tougher, though. We’ll keep watch and warn everyone if it happens again.”

  Mitch stopped for a moment, looking at me. “If things went really bad for us, he would have done something.” I nodded yes. “He didn’t because we didn’t need it.”

  “He’s right,” I told her. “They pressed you hard, but you did it. This batch should have been easier to take. It felt like they had something, maybe more hit points? More defense or something to counter magic? I don’t know. But next time I’ll be watching and if it happens again, we’ll let everyone know.”

  I saw the bodies vanishing in the order they died. “Did the loot change?”

  Mitchtomo nodded. “Same 60 shields, but a leather cap dropped.”

  “May I see it?”

  He handed it over. It looked like a brown leather beanie with ear straps. I checked it with DETECT MAGIC: mundane, but armor. “One DEFENSE point. Carlos, you need this if you’re tanking. Others will need them too.”

  “I wondered how long until someone puts a propeller on it?”

  “We’re working on it. I’ve got sword training tonight,” Carlos said.

  “Bring water, a towel, and gloves.”

  Sara cleared her throat. “Uh, Warchief? Mr. Bannister? What do we call you?”

  “You can call me Will,” I said, grinning. “But never call me late for Meg’s cookies or baking.” The guys laughed. Even Bailey smiled.

  “If you haven’t had any yet, find an excuse to get her to make a batch, or three.”

  I looked at my watch, like I had somewhere to be.

  “If you need help, use Game Chat. Don’t unless you really need it, or for level-up help. I’ll get your guild a contact email soon.”

  Waving goodbye, I waited for a couple of cars to go past, then crossed the street and headed home under the bright, warm May sun. It was an all too cheerful day to be killing things.

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