Haylock

37 - Truth

George Kraken, lord of Tropica village, ran for his life.

Each turn he took, there his pursuer was, taunting him. The cruel antagonist would snarl and laugh, his predatory eyes tracking every move. Sometimes he’d do nothing at all, merely watching as George turned and fled. 

No...

36 - Introductions

I watched Rocky closely, having sensed a visceral reaction from him when George fell to his knees.

Rocky, for whatever reason, saw it as a betrayal. An egregious insult.

So when Rocky exploded forward with his claws spread wide, I was ready. I flew to intercept him, not bothering to h...

35 - Correction

As Rocky walked the final stretch of sand between the fence and Fischer, he could hardly contain his excitement. The time of Fischer’s uncontested reign was finally at an end.

He had five cultivators with him, all of which were loyal to him. On top of that, he had the support of two non-c...

34 - Coincidence

Following the feast, I lay on the sands, one hand holding my stomach and the other resting against Maria.

“I never want to eat again,” she said, letting out a half-laugh, half-groan.

“See how you feel about that tomorrow,” I said. “But I get where you’re coming from. I don...

33 - Crabby

As George watched the spirit beast, he got the inkling that it was suffering from delusions of grandeur. He swallowed, his throat feeling dry.

Something was wrong.

It was hard for him to place exactly what it was, but he got the sense it wasn’t the mere existence of a powerful spiri...

32 - Congregation

The susurration of voices died, replaced by the sound of air rushing past my ears. Even after the blinding light of the exploding bubbles dissipated, an invisible current still moved around us, whipping at my clothes and hair.

I barely registered the sensations, instead focused on the Syste...

31 - Feast

Pleasant heat washed over me, making a smile spread over my face. Fragrant steam rose from the barbecue plate, bringing with it the scents of beef tallow, fresh fish, woodsmoke, and myriad herbs and spices. I’d seasoned each slab of mature blue fish with a different combination of seasonings, a...

30 - Self-Control

As Rocky soared through the darkened sky, he reconsidered his life choices.

He’d been launched dozens of kilometers into the air, the very world turning into a vast circle beneath him. At first, he’d been filled with joy—he had never graced such heights. The moment he began to descen...

29 - Chekhov's Crab

You, as a descendant of the great Kraken Rider, should beware anyone selling directions to the heavens. This does not, however, mean one shouldn’t try the techniques and meditations of other sects, churches, and families. Knowledge may be gleaned from the guidance of others, after all, even if ...

28 - Double Trouble

As he strode beneath a forest canopy, Deklan held his hand out, feeling the stray drops of rain that bounced off leaves above and fell toward the forest floor. Every few seconds, a tiny droplet splashed against his upturned palm. It made his smile spread even wider, and he lifted his face, enjoyi...

27 - Double-cross

Beneath a roiling sea of gray clouds, Barry shook his head at the people emerging from the prison. The traitors appeared genuinely shocked, bringing him no small amount of amusement. They’d truly thought their plans were unknown. 

He glanced at his lone companion, bending to scratch ...

26 - Escape

Within a dark and humid room, a devout man practiced his craft.

The scents of earth, mildew, and sweet herbs surrounded him, standing in stark contrast to the haze that usually filled his domain. It had taken Solomon most of a week to create this place of worship—the holy ground upon whic...

25 - Revenge

Now that Roger and Sharon had joined our heretical endeavors, the rest of the week sped by in a blur.

Each morning, I’d wake to a knock on the door, then receive a barrage of love from Maria while Roger scowled and Sharon smiled. After having breakfast on my porch, we’d all head down to...

24 - Trust

Beneath a hideously bright sky, Augustus Reginald Gormona squinted toward the rising sun, willing it to retreat behind the horizon.

As with everything lately, it didn’t go in his favor, and as the golden orb rose ever higher, taunting him, he turned his back to it, refusing to witness any...

23 - Hooked

As with every other cultivator, Roger and Sharon were fast learners when it came to knots. Their fingers deftly tied the thin lengths of line together, easily replicating my movements.

“How does this look?” Sharon asked, holding up her paternoster rig.

“Perfect, Mom!” Maria ga...

22 - Conspiracy

A soft breeze blew at my back, coming from the western mountains. The air swept along its currents had a hint of sweetness, my senses also detecting notes of wood, earth, and decaying leaves. The ocean lay before me, its softly lapping waves kicking up sea spray that joined the other aromas.

21 - Path to Power

I licked my lips, my consciousness warring with itself to understand the message I’d just received.

Seeking a distraction, I wandered over to the rods.

“Triton’s slick conch,” Brad swore.

“Agreed,” Greg replied, his gaze distant.

Maria leaned back on h...

20 - Nexus

“Okay, everyone,” I said, looking down at the bench before me. “Follow along.”

Maria and Deklan were on either side of me, the former grinning and the latter serious. The rest of the apprentice woodworkers were arrayed around the room, awaiting instruction behind their benches. We a...

19 - Treachery

The sun approached the western mountains as I crept down the rocks with three fish in my arms. When I reached the water, I set them down and washed them off one by one.

“So,” I said, glancing up at Deklan and Trent, “there are a bunch of ways to prepare fish.”

Deklan pursed hi...

18 - Seasonal

With Maria at my side, a fish flopping around at the end of my hook, and the afternoon sun high above, a brilliant blast exploded from Deklan.

I closed my eyes as a pulse of chi trailed the luminescence flying from Deklan’s taking-shape core. It slammed into me, almost knocking me from my...

17 - Oh Baby a Triple

When the sand beneath my feet turned to rocky headland, I took a deep breath of the salt-filled air. I had all the things I could need; an armful of rods, a smattering of friends with me, and Maria. As a stiff breeze blew past, Bumblebro and Queen Bee crawled down from my shoulder to take refuge ...

16 - Bees

Maria’s hand was once more in mine as we strode through the lush forest. She rested a watermelon-sized rock atop her other hand that was so big I’d almost call it a boulder. Bumblebro and Queen Bee sat on my shoulder, their wings twitching nervously. I reached up and patted the top of their h...

15 - Hivemind

For the first time in the last twenty-four hours, we moved leisurely.

Our fight, flight, and general tomfoolery within Gormona had been adrenaline-pumping and surprisingly enjoyable. But now that I was walking hand in hand with Maria and had a genial crab riding my shoulder, I was reminded ...

14 - The Seed of Rebellion

With chi-filled food powering our stride, we made it back to New Tropica in no time at all.

The moment we caught sight of the village, I stopped walking and leaned down toward Maria. “Are you seeing this too?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I was just wondering if the barbecue gave the...

13 - Fusion

You might recall that one of the first lines of this manual is: “Do not share this work with anyone other than the Kraken bloodline or their immediate family.” But since then, I have repeatedly stressed the importance of helping others. Selflessness lies at the core of our philosophy, and...