Of Magic and Steel

by Hokuto Ulrik

When his world ends in a flash of nuclear hellfire, Talisman Stryke is cast through the void between worlds where he gains abilities and items from a host of other worlds. The gifts from Fate will allow him to protect those that he will come to care for, but it will also make him many enemies along the way. HiE

2. From the Ashes of Defeat

Of Magic and Steel

From the Ashes of Defeat

The wind was biting cold as I climbed out of my car in front of the local superstore.

'Damn, it is chilly.' I thought as I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets in an effort to keep them warm. I quickly made my way inside to the warm interior of the store.

I headed over to the stationary aisle and grabbed a couple notebooks as well some lead and eraser refills before heading to the checkout.

As I stood in line, I saw a few airmen from the base just across the highway from the store pull out their cell phones at about the same time. Shrugging, I just figured it was a coincidence until, while I was paying for my purchases, all of them dropped their purchases and bolted for the doors and their vehicles.

'Okay, never seen anything like that while I was in.' I thought as I recalled my time in the military as I walked to my car.

As I reached my car, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. From the base, not even half a mile away, I heard the wail of the sirens that announced an air attack. At first, I thought that maybe they were doing an exercise or just testing the system, but the announcement that played was not one that would follow a test or an exercise scenario.

Then I heard it.

The high-pitched whistle of a warhead cutting through the air. I quickly lifted my head and began searching for it, hoping to see at least a flash of it so I knew the general area of where it would hit. I spotted it, and it was definitely no mortar round.

Time seemed to stop as I spotted the conical shape of a MIRV. My blood froze in the same instant.

'So this is the way the world ends.' I thought as everything moved back to full speed.

Everything was peaceful.

Then a flash of light as a miniature sun was born.

A wave of heat.

Then….

Nothingness.

.

.

.

.

I drifted in that nothingness for who knows how long. As I drifted, knowledge and memories were downloaded into my memory.

Wielding a massive six section sword against monsters of all types.

Casting spells using small glowing orbs the size of marbles.

The feeling of using weapons both familiar and alien.

Facing down men who fancied themselves gods.

Memories of fighting on hostile worlds against insurmountable odds.

Then, there was a feeling of intense pain as a green substance was infused into my body, making me stronger, faster, and more resilient.

Then suddenly, a feeling of cold and wet. The nothingness replaced with a field of white. As I lay there while my senses overloaded, I saw a pair of blurry figures approaching where I lay just as I slipped from consciousness.