Path of Spirit (Disgardium Book #6): LitRPG Series, Dan Sugralinov [the reader ebook .TXT] 📗

tough gig, but come on bro! Couldn’t you at least try? But nah, he just ran away instead. I’m surprised Scyth decided to make even more of a fool of himself, but I’m excited to see what’s coming. Counting the days to the Demonic Games!

 

Parturnax | +0.70m | 2 hours ago

 

I’m neither against nor for the class-A. But I think we can all agree that these Games are going to be fun. I’ve ordered two sacks of chips and jalapeno poppers and two hundred bottles of beer. The wife and kids are staying at the in-laws. I’m going to take a vacation and watch the whole Demonic Games!

 

What did you expect, Alex? I thought. For the crowd to carry you on their shoulders because you’re a good kid? Here it is, the other side of fame. At the height of the wave they deify you, but one wrong move and the vultures come down to tear you apart. The people want bread and entertainment.

I ground my teeth in anger and resentment. They would get what they wanted. I would win the Demonic Games, whatever it cost me.

“You awake, Alex?” I heard Maria say from outside the door.

“I’m getting up!”

“Alright. The store got some worthwhile groceries in stock, I’m making breakfast.”

The scent of fried eggs, bacon and coffee tickled my nostrils. Half closing my eyes, I drew in the air and smiled. The breathtaking aroma awoke my hunger and, more importantly, blasted away all my dark thoughts and lifted my spirits, which Donovan’s article and its top comments had ruined.

I took a shower and sat down at the table. It was just the two of us: Roj was catching up on sleep.

Maria told me that Hairo had hired a housekeeper for the boys, to clean up their apartments, do their laundry and cook for them. She’d already gotten to work, but Maria was still cooking for me.

“An untested person is too great a risk,” the bodyguard explained. “Your friends are unlikely to be targeted, but…”

“I like your cooking,” I interrupted her, glancing at my empty plate. “Could I have seconds?”

“Of course!” she fussed.

A holoprojector had appeared in the lounge. It was showing a criminal punishment. The channel was actually called Punishment TV. Judgment was short and the sentence applied immediately — society had done away with prisons. There were too many people on the planet, too little space. It was easier to strip criminals of their citizenship and send them somewhere like Cali Bottom. Or institute physical punishment and entertain millions with the spectacle.

“Change the channel if you want,” Maria said, putting a fresh plate of omelet in front of me. “By the way, they’re bringing in a food processor after lunch. There’ll be more options, so if you have any preferences, let me know.”

“I like orange juice. Not picky about food. Fries, burgers, hotdogs, pizza…”

“Uh-huh,” she laughed. “You can forget about all of that. Hairo’s orders. ‘That kid needs a healthy and nutritious diet!’ he said, so that’s what you’re going to get!”

“Sounds like a threat,” I smiled.

Her mention of Hairo reminded me of our problem with the local kingpin Diego Aranzabal. Judging by the fact that nobody had told me anything, the security officers must have had it in hand, but I still asked:

“What happened with Diego? Do you know?”

“Yes,” Maria darkened. “A few cargo flyers full of wild ones flew in last night. They’re getting settled in now. Right after that, Willy and Hairo will have a military council session.”

“A military council session?”

“Believe me, Alex, you’re better off out of it. Hairo has this problem under control. You take care of your own. They’ll catch someone from Diego’s circle, beat some intel out of him, learn the base layout, the boss’s schedule… Don’t think about it. The less you know, the less responsibility you have. Eat!”

At that moment, the holoprojector showed the sentence being carried out. Drone cameras shot the action up close as the whip tore flesh from the unlucky man’s back, spraying out blood… I nodded at it:

“Why do you watch this?”

“I’m doing my civic duty…” Maria stopped suddenly. “You do know how the system works, right?”

“The viewers set the punishment?”

“Not just the punishment. You can reduce the sentence too. This non-citizen kid was going to get a hundred lashes. He wouldn’t have survived; it’s a de facto death sentence. But what did he do? He took a community flyer to see the world, and on the way he flew into a high citizenship district. Probably by accident, but the law is the law.”

“What did you vote for?”

“Five lashes. He didn’t kill anyone or steal anything. Maybe he just wanted to see how citizens live, or he messed up the controls and flew the wrong way. But in the end, after all the votes were gathered from the audience, the judge declared the community’s sentence: ten lashes…” She clenched her teeth as she looked at the screen and the whip struck the boy again. “A lot of losers who watch this channel just want to see blood; they always vote for the death sentence or amputation, even for misdemeanors. Of course, after a few rounds, the judge AI cuts off idiots like that from the voting, but not right away. And I always think about how maybe my vote will be the one that someone needs to get a lighter sentence.”

“Something’s wrong with our world, Maria…” I put down my fork and moved my plate away. “Thanks.”

My appetite was gone. I climbed into my capsule deep in thought. The intragel washed over me and the world flashed…

And I was in the Bone and Fossil tavern on Mengoza, in the main hall full of clamoring people.

“Scyth!” Irita called over to me excitedly, getting up and waving to me from the