MagnusGrey

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 82: Riller

Edge was woken before dawn by a knock at his door, a service that he’d paid Rita a few credits to arrange. He found a mealbox waiting when poked his head into the hall, with a smiling face drawn on a scrap of paper. Cute.

He let out a sleepy yawn, then got dressed and rinsed his ...

[LotMG3] Chapter 29: Shaun

Nick’s first shot picked up a cluster of rats and shoved them against the wall. His second sent the rest of the swarm flying over to join them. He used the final charge of his wand to bunch them tighter and then Veronica took her turn. She raised her wrist and then fired her grenade, covering t...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 81: Mortium

By the time that Edge stepped outside, the shadows were growing long, and a cool breeze was blowing in from the east. Any second now, the town’s magtech lanterns would spring to life, lighting up the main streets like glittering strings of jewels. 

Puppet Town never truly slept. But ...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 80: Gear

Edge nodded in satisfaction, pleased at what he saw. He finally looked like a hunter instead of someone who had survived the aftermath of a disaster. Each of his new items was well-made and was vastly superior to what he’d been wearing before.

The poncho was crafted from buffalo leather. ...

[LotMG3] Chapter 28: The Third Man

They took a break and ate lunch a few hours later, then continued on their way. Nick was glad to be back in the part of the facility that was inhabited by the construct swarm. The dirt-packed tunnels had felt considerably more claustrophobic, were harder to navigate, and smelled absolutely fuckin...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 79: Bee

Now that Edge had made some credits that were easy to explain, it was finally time to gear up. Or at least take the first step in what would become a lifelong pursuit of improving his equipment. 

While he couldn’t afford to buy a full kit today, he could pick up some necessities and ...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 78: Butcher

Half an hour later, Edge entered town through the north gate. After saying hello to the deputy on duty, he made his way over to a building located on the border of the hunters’ district and the town square. 

Izzio’s Delicatessen was a two-story, red brick affair with living space o...

[LotMG3] Chapter 27: Damage Healer

Ten minutes later, the last roach fell dead in the dirt, burning as Veronica's launcher reduced it to char and oily smoke. The battle had been hard fought, requiring the use of a napalm grenade and all three charges of Nick’s wand to outmaneuver their enemy.

The good news was that the fig...

[LotMG] Concept Art

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 77: Leap

Edge decided to start with leap, eager to try out his first mobility skill. 

After taking a long look around to make sure that nothing of note had arrived while he was busy, he sent his intentions into his core and activated his new power. He felt his reactor ...

[LotMG3] Chapter 26: Bug Battle

Nick conjured four mana darts as the skittering grew louder, echoing down the tunnel to his right.

A noise that his mind recognized as rapid footsteps… just as six giant insects rounded the corner three hundred feet ahead and came charging straight for them. Since the tunnel was long and ...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 76: Double

Once the jobo was lying limp in the vines, Edge willed [Extraction] to activate. His chains came slithering out from his wrists and went flying toward the bound beast, eager to hunt and feed.

When they appeared, he noticed that the living links were faster, longer, and stronger than before,...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 75: Surprise

When Edge looked up and got ready to dodge, there wasn’t just one fist headed his way, there were two. 

What’s going on? Did it somehow manage to heal its hand? But it wasn’t the beast’s wounded paw that was streaking toward his face like a bolt of pink lightning. Its ...

[LotMG3] Chapter 25: An Unfortunate Change of Scenery

Late on the duo’s third day of traveling together, their surroundings began to change. At first, it was just a faint scent that Nick couldn’t quite place, which grew stronger as the hours ticked past. They kept on walking for miles, making their way through those lonely halls of stone.

...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 74: Even

The jobo growled in frustration when its opener failed to connect, but it didn’t let up or back off. 

It had lost its momentum, and leap wouldn’t be as effective up close or without the sun at its back. But the beast still outweighed Edge by a good two hundred...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 73: Brawl

The jobo roared and came charging straight in. It bounded across the grass in alternating steps that launched it forward in a furious blur of talons and naked pink skin. Shit. It’s really pissed off. That must have been a good nap.

Edge didn’t panic as his heart began to pound....

[LotMG3] Chapter 24: Veronica and Nick

This marked the beginning of three days spent traveling together, as Veronica and Nick continued working their way toward the center of the floor. Although it was taking them far longer than he’d originally estimated, he was certain that they were getting close by now.

Part of the problem...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 72: Jobo

The jobo’s territory should be around here somewhere. Sure enough, after climbing the hill and taking a long look around, Edge spotted the creature he was seeking. A burly pink beast bounding through the grass with one hand tucked against its chest.

He ran his eyes across hi...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 71: Tip

Edge crossed the streets of Puppet Town in the misty morning light.

Although it hadn’t been long since the sun had risen, people were already up and about. Most were on their way to eat breakfast or taking care of one chore or another. The day started early in a settlement centered around...

[LotMG3] Chapter 23: Supply Run

Nick crept down the passageway with Veronica at his side, trying to move as quietly as possible without sacrificing speed in the process. She nodded her approval as he stepped between the piles of loose debris, keeping one eye on the tunnel ahead in case any gear-rats were headed their way.

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 70: Smith

Edge started walking toward the east end of town, heading over to a portion of the crafters’ quarter that was known as the Iron Boulevard.

His surroundings changed the moment that he crossed the street dividing the hunters’ and crafters’ districts. Although both quarters were industri...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 69: Offer

“Hello Blue,” Edge said in a soothing tone. “I’m here on invitation. Trapper asked me to stop by, so I’ll just head on over and say hello, if you don’t mind.”

The beast couldn’t understand his words, but she must have decided that Edge was a friend after their battle with th...

[LotMG3] Chapter 22: Intermission: Sophia and Devin

Sophia lashed out with her frost venom stinger, stabbing the giant cockroach in the middle of its hideous head.

She leapt out of the way as its mandibles snapped shut with the clack of chitin against chitin. She darted back to open some distance, letting the toxin finish the beast ...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 68: Hunters

Edge made his way out of the town square, heading west toward the hunters’ district. As he walked, he let the sights and sounds of Puppet Town wash over him, taking the temperature of a settlement that was changing by the hour.

Prison World had never been a game. With the convicts roaming...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 67: Mayor

Inside, two people were addressing various aides, who went rushing out the door shortly after he entered. When they left, only a woman and man remained. Edge knew them both from the feed, although he’d never met them in person. The woman’s name was Dialla, and she was the Mayor of Puppet Town...

[LotMG3] Chapter 21: Level 16

Thanks to their enhanced Survivor traits, they only needed four hours of sleep. Since he had already taken a nap after entering the tower, Nick volunteered to take the first watch.

When V propped her head against her pack and stretched out, he loaned her his temperature-regulating cloak to ...

[Skill-Eater] Chapter 66: Job

That was way too fucking close. Warren probably knows that I’m hiding something, but I don’t think that I gave Skill-Eater away. Going forward, I’ll have to be extremely careful not to tip him off. Or anyone else for that matter. 

I can’t let people find out about ...