The Machine God

[TLD] Chapter 5 - Gifts

Chapter 5

Gifts

The first of the rings was plain in design, though the material it was made of was different to the others he’d examined so far.

He pushed Qi into it and immed...

[TLD] Chapter 4 - Debt

Chapter 4

Debt

Azratheon woke to distant birdsong.

The thought came slowly, sluggish. Birds meant daylight. Daylight meant he’d slept longer than intended.

He opened his...

[TLD] Chapter 3 - Earned

Chapter 3

Earned

The wolf’s muscles tensed. Its haunches lowered. Its eyes shifted between them, intelligent. Assessing.

Azratheon moved without thinking. He stepped closer to...

[TLD] Chapter 2 - Broken Inheritance

Chapter 2

Broken Inheritance

Consciousness returned like surfacing from deep water.

Azratheon became aware of his body first. Pain, dull and distant. Exhaustion weighing down hi...

[TLD] Chapter 1 - Hatching

Chapter 1

Hatching

“Find it, mongrel.”

A boot caught her between the shoulders, and she stumbled from the tunnel into the chamber.

The heat from the heart of the volca...

This is not a chapter post.

Hello everyone!

First, I wanted to take a moment and say thank you for all of the support. I deeply appreciate it. It makes me very happy to know that so many people are enjoying The Machine ...

Chapter 100 - Sleipnir

Chapter 100

Sleipnir

The announcement chimed softly through the first-class pod, pulling Alexander from sleep.

“Arrival at Primary Orbital Station in five minutes. Please gath...

Chapter 99 - Captain’s Terms

Chapter 99

Captain’s Terms

“We need a captain for a ship,” Alexander said. “And crew to run it.”

“Short term or ongoing?”

“Permanent position.” 

Chapter 98 - Service Record

Chapter 98

Service Record

The concierge stepped back as they emerged into the familiar private landing room.

“Will there be anything else, Mr. Rooke?”

“No, thank you...

Chapter 97 - Help Wanted

Chapter 97

Help Wanted

Talia pulled up her tablet. “Alexander asked me to look into this a few weeks back, so I’ve had time to work through the options.”

She slid the tabl...

Chapter 96 - Borrowing Trouble

Chapter 96

Borrowing Trouble

The dining area had transformed over the past months. Augustus had acquired a long table, solid wood built to last, that could comfortably seat twelve. To...

Chapter 95 - Four Months

Chapter 95

Four Months

Four months after the Multiversal Solo Combat Challenge, Alexander floated above the clouds.

He lay back in the air, arms behind his head, watching the su...

Chapter 94 - Drug Dealers

Chapter 94

Drug Dealers

Two months later.

The Queen of Hearts arrived precisely on time.

Augustus opened the terrace doors as the Doorman’s door slid in...

Chapter 93 - Freedom

Chapter 93

Freedom

Annie charged at him. She was at least as big as a draft horse, maybe larger. Metal scales glinted across patches of her hide, stitched into leathery flesh like arm...

Chapter 92 - Waves

Chapter 92

Waves

Alexander paused on the terrace, breathing it all in. Salt air carried the warmth of sun-baked stone, mixing with the faint scent of olive trees from the gardens. The...

Chapter 91 - Aftermath

Chapter 91

Aftermath

Despite exhaustion, pain, and injuries, the team stayed up late. Blood was washed away first. Armor removed. Wounds tended. Comfortable clothes worn. Then they ga...

Chapter 90 - Vigil

Chapter 90

Vigil

Light erupted in the center of the living room.

Talia materialized in a flash, katana sheathed at her hip, drone hovering at her shoulder. The disorientation la...

Chapter 89 - One Vote from Extinction

Chapter 89

One Vote from Extinction

The Inner Council’s emergency chamber sat at the heart of the Nexus, buried beneath kilometers of armor and shielding. The massive metroplex serv...

Chapter 88 - The Weight of Dreams

Chapter 88

The Weight of Dreams

The Queen of Hearts stood over Vel’thanis. Blood ran down the left side of her face from temple to jaw. The alien’s psychic hammer had cracked some...

Chapter 87 - Machine God

Chapter 87

Machine God

The Qi cannons swiveled toward him and opened fire. The nearest level fired first, then a heartbeat later the next joined in, then the next. The wave rolled upw...

Chapter 86 - No Words

Chapter 86

No Words

The countdown ticked its final seconds. Alexander kept his breathing steady, forcing himself not to glance upward at the gap in the ceiling directly above him. Fif...

Chapter 85 - Pure Will

Chapter 85

Pure Will

Augustus fell.

The force wall had caught him square in the chest, sending him tumbling backward through empty space. He reconjured his wand to his hand whil...

Chapter 84 - Will and Structure

Chapter 84

Will and Structure

“Third Dynasty,” Augustus said, breaking the silence. “I don’t believe that’s from my world.”

Erasmus glanced up from examining a float...

Chapter 83 - Blood in the Water

Chapter 83

Blood in the Water

Annie scrambled to the platform’s edge and jumped.

Density Flux Control kicked in instinctively, lightening her body to carry her farther from th...

Chapter 82 - First Blood

Chapter 82

First Blood

The countdown had been ticking for over four minutes now. Neither had spoken. The knight stood in perfect stillness, longsword planted tip-down before him, helm...

Chapter 81 - Dreams Collide (continued)

Chapter 81

Dreams Collide (continued)

The Queen of Hearts stood within her cylindrical barrier, examining the creature across from her with undisguised fascination. The arena stretche...

Chapter 80 - Dreams Collide

Chapter 80

Dreams Collide

[SYSTEM STATUS UPDATE]

Phase One Launch: Active. Multiversal Solo Combat Challenge initializing.

[DREAMER MATCHING PROTO...