Thunderbowl Lanes, Allen Park, Michigan - 10:13 AM
My diamond ball was stowed away in a custom Sol Ligatus bag that hovered beside me, within easy reach since I was here to win. I stepped into the bowling alley and took a deep breath, taking in the atmosphere.
There had been few people outside due to a large meeting taking place on the other side of town, but those who were around saw fit to give us a warning that a powerful monster guarded the alley from within. I had thanked them and continued onward with a pep in my step.
A quality that was not mimicked by my companion, Jamie “Summer Shrapnel” Summers. She wore a deep frown because I had forced her to put her Seven-Tenners Bowling Shirt on over her plastic armor and come with me while the others helped out with the scenario. If she had a choice between here and there, she would have been long gone.
Taking another deep breath, I smiled. Everything was going to plan. The Angels would be in Ann Arbor, most of my points were deposited into my bank account to gain interest, and the Patron’s Ball was coming up. Things could still go wrong, of course, but I was feeling optimistic.
My gaze panned across the alley. Unlike most other Filbin-infested buildings, this one was kept neat and clean. Diamond ranked teams knew the value of keeping their place of residence clean and operable. Aside from a few places where it was obvious that fights had broken out, the place was spotless.
I looked out over a massive row of lanes with a blue and white city skyline motif. What used to be three different rooms were now one after the sole inhabitant knocked the walls down to better reign over his domain. Walking over the carpet of colorful shapes that seemed to be a staple in most bowling alleys from eras past, I navigated around the counter to stand a good ten feet away from the reason we were here.
Boss Perfect Game was a small-sized Filbin, which made him an extreme outlier in his species. Normally, only the large ones were in charge of the crews and any medium that took command would soon grow into the role. The top of his head only came to my knee, and he was covered in silver-green fur that was almost white in some spots. He was slightly rotund and wore a black bowling shirt similar to mine, except that it had yellow stripes horizontal across the chest and came with a pin-themed tie.
He had a diamond bowling ball just like mine, and it was comically large next to his diminutive frame. Lifting it up effortlessly, he took his stance. Eighty-nine other bowling balls, one on each of the other lanes, followed the same movement and raised into the air.
Behind me, Jamie bristled at the show of power. I simply felt excited.
Taking a few steps forward, Boss Perfect Game loosed his ball down the center of the lane. The others went at the same time with no lag whatsoever. There was no spin to any of the balls, each one traveling completely straight before colliding with the headpin. The sound of ninety strikes didn’t last long when they happened simultaneously, but it was loud.
“To say that I was disappointed in learning you had taken an apprentice would be an understatement,” the Filbin said, putting his hands behind his back as he waited for the lanes to reset the pins and return the balls.
“You don’t have to lie to me,” I returned as I set the bag on a nearby table. “I know you would have preferred that I died somewhere along the way. The only real disappointment is that I’m here now and you’ve got to deal with it.”
Jamie had hung back next to a defunct and broken vending machine, which was as close as she could get without the Filbin becoming ornery. She was here because it was the proper show of respect, but that didn’t mean she was among equals. There was a strict hierarchy and she was only considered an Elite, unlike us.
<<<>>>
[[Passive]]
Filbin Grandmaster
Lesser Filbins are in awe of your skill and your crew. You are met with respect no matter how begrudging wherever you go, and only those in a similar position can denounce you. The Seven-Tenners is a name known throughout all the bowling alleys in the land, and some Filbins will actively try to join your crew. All patches you add to your bowling shirt are automatically shared with your elites.
Boss Perfect Game is awaiting your challenge.
<<<>>>
The Filbin turned around to face us. He gave Jamie the briefest of glances before his brown eyes regarded me curiously. “Very well. I was attempting to be pleasant, but I won’t burden myself with falsehoods if they won’t be appreciated,” he said as he walked over to the ball return. “I wish you would have perished in a ditch, if only because then I wouldn’t have anyone contending my name. It would have pleased me greatly if your corpse also burned to ash in the process.”
“And it’s nice to meet you, too,” I replied with a grin. I put a hand to my chest. “As you know, I am Boss Anthony ‘Perfect Game’ Franklin. My one and only apprentice is Jamie ‘Summer Shrapnel’ Summers. She was the one who pulled the Seven-Tenners’ name out of gold and platinum and into the lofty heights of diamond. If you don’t like that she’s here, I can send her away.”
Perfect Game simply grunted, refusing to look at her again. I gave her a nod and she left in a hurry.
<<<>>>
[[Guild Chat]]
Jamie: Franklin’s done showing me off like I’m some kind of prized chicken at the county fair so I’m on my way to help.
Kayla: Good. The people are ready but I’ll stall them until you get here. Jeff and Mercury have been raring to go, and it’s become infectious. Hurry.
Jeff: Our bad, Kay.
Mercury: Our bad nothing! We’re excited to go fight the… Elastothingies. The transforming baddies. The whatever the Warmonger called them.
Anthony: Elastomobiles, and be careful.
Mercury: That name is stupid. I’m going to call them Elastothingies. It’s just as dumb but more fun to say. Anyway, have fun with your relaxing game of bowling!
<<<>>>
I let out a chuckle as I snapped away the text box. The guild would end up doing most of the work bringing the scenario to an end whether the Allen Park natives liked it or not, and I wasn’t about to start worrying about them now. They would be fine.
“Something amusing?” Perfect Game asked with a frown.
“Just player stuff, nothing to worry yourself over,” I answered while I unzipped the bag containing my bowling ball and retrieved it.
Back when I had first gotten the item, it had been a heavy 30-pounder that would have never seen regulation play. That had been back when it was gold. Now, it was diamond rank just like the crew and it had doubled in weight. I moved it effortlessly regardless; wielding it with my high Strength was no issue whatsoever.
“Who said I was worried?” the Filbin sniffed as his ball came through the return. It was made of diamond just like mine, and he put his fingers into the holes to lift it up. “Nothing about you worries me, and only a fool would think so highly of themselves in my presence.”
“This certainly wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been called a fool,” I said with a jovial laugh. “Mind if I join you for a bit before I make my official challenge? It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to bowl for pleasure, and I’ve got some time.”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“If you need a warm up, then I won’t deny you one,” Boss Perfect Game replied before taking his stance.
“Thanks. Appreciate it.” I set up on the lane next to him, putting my name into the computer so it could keep track of my score. Lifting My Diamond Bowling Ball, I let it hover as I cracked my knuckles.
Beside me, the Filbin toed the line as he continued playing and effortlessly rolled a strike. Unlike before, none of the other balls had come off of their returns or rolled down the lane. He wasn’t using his tricks anymore, and I knew he was resting in preparation. I didn’t need to see his aura to see that he was already taking things seriously.
“Man, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a few weeks since I was in Ireland,” I said, trying to strike up a conversation.
Once his lane started replacing the pins, I grabbed my bowling ball and took my own stance. I took a breath, then a few steps, and let it loose. The ball spun as it made its way down the lane.
Whereas Boss Perfect Game preferred straight lines whenever he played, I loved hooks. My bowling ball nearly dipped into the gutter before the spin took, and it veered perfectly into the pins to earn myself a strike. Like him, I didn’t do anything special with telekinesis. It was all skill.
“I was invited as an MVP,” I continued as I backed away from the line, heading towards the seats so the Filbin could go next. “Pretty nice. Only fifty people were—”
“I don’t care to listen to you prattle on about whatever it is you want to say,” the Filbin said, giving me a sharp look. “We are not friends, nor comrades. I don’t care how well you have done for the Seven-Tenners, it does not make us anything. You are here to graciously hand me my next victory and nothing more.”
“Sure. Heard, loud and clear,” I replied with a smile and a thumbs up. “I just thought you wouldn’t mind some conversation. It’s gotta be lonely here.”
Frustration bristled through his aura as he turned away from me. “If I wanted social interaction, then I would have put together a crew to lead. I certainly don’t need pity from someone like you.”
“See, I just figured it was a short thing,” I said while he took his stance. “Seeing as you’re still small, and you didn’t want to knock around any of the mediums or larges that came your way. Could be you didn’t want to be towered over.”
The frustration didn’t last as he reined in his emotions. Once again he bowled, and once again he hit a strike. When he turned around, there was a look of peace in his eyes. “Your mind games are pitiable, Boss Anthony Franklin. They will not work on me.”
“Can’t fault a guy for trying,” I said with another grin. My attitude was grating on him, no matter what he was saying, and I stood up to grab my ball. “If you want to get down to business, then let’s get down to business. I’m here for your blessing and patch. I’m willing to bet my bowling ball here as well as the name. I’ll never call myself Perfect Game again.”
“You shouldn’t be using my name as you are now,” the Filbin barked, shaking his head as I lazily tossed the ball forward without stepping towards the line. “But I know how persistent you humans are. Always thinking something belongs to you just because you’ve claimed it.”
I watched as the ball arched towards the headpin again and I got another strike before replying. “Could just leave now and continue using the name if you’d prefer.”
“What would possibly possess you to think I would prefer that outcome?” Boss Perfect Game asked with a scowl. His aura was starting to become prickly again. “I will accept the bet after you set the terms as the challenging party. How do you wish to be defeated today?”
“Since we’re both going to do exceedingly well and neither of us will want to play forever, these are the rules,” I said, crossing my arms as I looked down at the Filbin. “Forget playing whole games. Instead, we go until one of us misses a strike.”
“Intriguing,” the monster said, stroking his furry chin. “I assume there will be rules in place that will increase the chance that either of us will miss. Neither of us have ever failed to get a strike, after all, else we wouldn’t be able to keep this name.”
I nodded. “You can do anything in your power to set up obstacles. You have your telekinesis, and I have mine. The only things we can’t touch mentally or physically are the pins and the other player’s bowling ball. If you want to throw a computer in my path, then feel free. If I want to tear up your floorboards to make yours go in a different direction, I can. We just can’t directly interfere with the ball or the pins. Putting up walls that block them completely is also a no go; there has to be a path around.”
The Filbin frowned. “And you want to destroy my alley in the process?”
“Don’t give me that,” I chuckled. “You can fix this place up lickity split. I know it’s in your power to do so.”
“That… is true,” he conceded, dropping his hand to his side. “Are there any other rules?”
“Yup. We’re alternating throws,” I added as I Pulled my bowling ball to my hand. “I’ll allow you to go first, as this is your home turf. The moment you knock down all your pins, I have ten seconds to bowl. Then vice versa, and we continue on until one of us misses.”
“The ball returns don’t work that quickly,” Boss Perfect Game noted as he looked down at the one beside him.
“Then it’s a good thing there’s several more bowling balls, huh?” I asked with a smile as I gestured all around us. “So, how about it?”
“First to miss a strike loses the moniker Perfect Game, we can affect everything in the alley aside from the pins and the balls being used to play, no impossible paths, and we have ten seconds to bowl after the pins are knocked down. Is that right?”
“Got it in one. The only thing I’ll add is that the game doesn’t start until I declare it has, and that’s when your first ten seconds starts.”
“This pleases me,” the Filbin said before holding out his hand. “Boss Anthony Franklin, I accept your challenge. I look forward to beating you and ensuring my name is back where it belongs once and for all.”
I shook his hand with a grin. “Perfect. Give me one moment, and then we’ll begin.”
“One moment for what?” he asked.
“I’ve come into quite a lot of power recently,” I answered jovially. “However, I’ve decided to acclimate to it slowly. Instead of doing it all at once, I’m taking my time. I’m about to take the first step on my journey of personal empowerment. Well, first next step. I’ve come rather far already, honestly.”
A sour look appeared on the monster’s face. “Then get on with it,” he urged with a shooing motion.
“Sure thing,” I replied. “Technically, I’m up to what should be the fifth scenario now. Missed out on the end of the Emperor’s Ascent, but Chernobyl sent me over and finishing Washington D.C. put me over it again. That lets me increase my base stats by 20. But wait, there’s more!”
“You don’t say,” he responded flatly.
“See, I’m an Angel of Death now, which means I get to pump even more points into my stats by virtue of being awesome,” I told him, becoming somewhat giddy. “You think the Anthony Franklin you’re dealing with now is easy prey, huh? Just you wait. I’m about to have a huge leap in power. A very, very costly one, but huge nonetheless.”
<<<>>>
[[Notice]]
Would you like to spend 1,717,500 points in order to increase the following stats?
Strength 50 -> 100
Dexterity 50 -> 100
Constitution 50 -> 100
Wisdom 50 -> 100
Willpower 50 -> 100
<<<>>>
I put one hand over my heart as the other one selected Yes and spent nearly 2 million points to double my base stats. The cost had doubled per point to get from fifty to sixty, and then almost quadrupled from sixty to seventy before returning to doubling. Every point between ninety and a hundred cost 18,000 points, and I had to do that with five different stats.
Worth it. It was a substantial increase that pushed everything higher. Increasing my Warmind abilities wasn’t going to be nearly as dramatic, but I did receive a lot of MVP accolades to spend on increasing them above the scenario limits so that wasn’t going to be inexpensive either.
Power rushed through my body, ready to be used, and I pulled up my status screen to see exactly where I stood.
<<<>>>
[[Status]]
Guildmaster Anthony Franklin
Class: Warmind
Race: Angel of Death
Patron: (Hidden)
Guild: Sol Ligatus
Patron Kills: 1
Player Kills: 73,067
Points: 581,743
Stats:
Hit Points: 7,595/6,905
Mental Points: 6,655/5,778 (300/300)
Strength: 259; Dexterity: 312; Constitution: 427; Wisdom: 340; Willpower: 331
<<<>>>
I nodded appreciatively at my spread, which looked fantastic to me all around aside from the Player Kills section, before turning towards Boss Perfect Game. There was a sense of unease in his aura now that I had gotten so much stronger, and he swallowed before firming up his feelings.
“Shall I begin now?” he asked, though his voice cracked.
“By all means,” I replied with a gesture. “We’ll start as soon as you throw your first ball. Good luck, friend.”
launch day!
r/LitRPG. The thread is !
