SlaughterBot

215: Ant

Jo sat beside Beth, both of them with their backs against a wall—a wall that was shaking. The dim blue light of the Trade Link lit their faces and the many people around them. Around them, the ca...

214: Transformation

Nicolai’s body leapt up the tower. Even with his Soul turned a warring tangle, it had accepted the drive the AIs gave it: Move forwards! Climb! And thus this chaotic Soul was able to uti...

213: The Rush

Paxolnaz, outside the circle, watched with deep satisfaction. The human was a fool. It had expected it would be forced to endure more difficulties and trickery, but the human had simply… taken th...

212: Undead Swordsman

After retrieving all of his items and stuffing them into the Big Mouth, Nicolai activated the Cherubic Surgeon Permit. He couldn’t afford to go any longer missing an arm—he would need it for wh...

211: Monster

There were many mistakes in how they arranged themselves around him, and more in the measures they took before moving off.

They took his weapons and Imbued—they were quite confused by the s...

210: Shark in the Nets

[Author Note: on RR there was a fair bit of debate/complaints over the 'Karl Returns' chapter. I felt there was some credence to the complaints so I've edited that chapter a bit - now it should be ...

209: Escape Artist

‘Piece of shit…’ snarled Vikrum, kicking at the shield. He’d shoot it but he had no ammo. Still, with his great strength he was making good progress. Actually, the punches and kicks seemed ...

208: A Climactic Battle

‘None can pass. In, or out,’ spoke Vikrum with a widening grin and a glance around at the great dome shield that encased the two of them.

‘Good,’ said Nicolai, and attacked.

He ...

207: Peace Negotiations

As Vikrum had regrouped his people and moved toward the Coalition, he’d known it would be a difficult fight.

Already he’d lost many people, and after this lighting-quick attack from Viper...

206: Hit and Run

Nicolai slipped through the castle. Around him moved groups of Chosen, rushing and yelling, but he was unseen by all. Rendered a living shadow beneath his shimmer poncho, his Soul shelled as necess...

205: Soul Food

Nicolai’s surprise was complete. He didn’t understand how someone could be there, the room had been empty just a second ago when he’d checked and it would have taken someone longer than thatâ...

204: Gunfight

The site of conflict between Chosen and Coalition was easily found. Drones sped around towers and gunfire echoed off the stonework.

Nicolai led the others to a vantage point from where they l...

203: Module Space

Nicolai’s eyes narrowed in response to the guilt he felt from the Modules. They knew what the problem was.

Probably they’re just happy to stay asleep, said Cyberwarfare....

202: Grand Theft

Over the following days the Coalition grew.

Word had spread quick, people passing on Nicolai’s video whenever groups came into contact with one another.

With this, the demand for amen...

201: Murderer

Over the next few days events ramped up. That first time the Chosen emerged they were quick to move and attack anyone spotted moving around. Battles erupted but they stayed minor—in those first d...

200: Coalition

‘So. Here we all are,’ said Nicolai, eyeing the big men and big women (status wise, at any rate) around him. Leaders of all the major groups who’d come to join the Coalition. He and the other...

199: Investigation

Nicolai flowed through the castle like an oil leak. He poured through holes in the ground, slid around blockages and squeezed through gaps. He floated over chasms, and used C4 to blow his way throu...

198: Nascent Skinwalker

Nicolai was alerted after moving halfway up the stairs, his Soul Sense moving ahead of him as always. He’d seen the door to the safe-place was hanging open. That was wrong: against protocol. The ...

197: Karl Returns

[Author Note:

After doing some more edits on Death of an Angel , the chapter ended up very long so I decided I'll split it in half when released on RR. To ensure the patreon releases mirror t...

195: Pressure

Paxolnaz had been stuck down in the depths, slaving for its Master, when it felt the Ripples. Ripples that it understood immediately.

The Denizen had had its bodily form destroyed. Its Soul h...

194: Death of an Angel

[Author Note:

Hey guys, so some of you mentioned on Monday's chapter that it seemed odd that in spite of finally getting the anti-material rifle, he was basically just chilling and not going ...

193: Route Forward

Nicolai gazed down at the Major Node forming on his palm. The Node was his world, his entire focus. There was no more.

This is a fight, he told the Thrill. The most important fig...