Chapter 1
Demon-Hunting Simulation
Boss Level
Thornbridge Dormitory
Asteady drumbeat pounded through my headset. I glanced at my flashing red health indicator and dove for cover behind a dumpster. Clicking over to my inventory screen, I assessed my wounds and checked the contents of my pack. What I wouldn’t give for a healing elixir right about now. Instead, I’d traded a slew of experience coins for a swanky new leather jacket and an upgraded pair of matching boots.
At least the boots came with an ankle-strapped demon blade. Not that it would do me any good if I were dead.
My partner took cover about twenty feet away. She nodded, sending a wave of neon pink hair cascading into her face, and gave me a flurry of hand signals.
Shadows lengthened down the street. Adrenaline simmered inside my body as I crouched low, preparing to strike. A demon spotted my location and sprinted toward me, forcing me to roll out of its path. I reached for my ankle weapon.
“Flank right, flank right! Demon on your six!” Tanya’s high-pitched screech blasted into my ears, and I winced at the volume.
“Thanks, Tanya—I see it!” I mashed a series of buttons into the controller, sending my avatar into a sequence of aerial kicks, culminating in a forward slash with my blade.
The demon landed on its back, and before it recovered I planted one of my knee-high leather boots against its heaving chest and used my spellcaster rune to send him back to the underworld. Light speared from my hand. The demon disintegrated, leaving behind bare pavement.
A smug grin spread across my lips, and my fingers hovered over the controller buttons as I fought temptation.
“Don’t do it, Elle. Not again,” Tanya warned in a tone I was sure she’d matched with the shaking of her head.
Must resist a dance move . . .
“I can’t help it. It’s half the reason I play.” I pressed the button sequence that made my avatar shimmy then spin in a tight circle on her heels.
Yeah, these boots were totally worth the upgrade.
I doubled down on the dance moves—mostly to annoy Tanya—before taking stock of our location. Deserted urban landscape. Oil slicks streaked the pavement, and neon signs flickered weakly over shuttered businesses. No glowing orbs or health refills. Not an experience coin in sight.
It was quiet . . . Too quiet.
“Well, that’s one demon down. Only—”
The in-game music soared, and a horde of invading monsters flooded the screen. Tanya’s cursing erupted through my headset as she did her best to evade the onslaught.
There went my health indicator. It flashed red a second time and slowly drained as the horde cut us down side by side. The monsters were fast—brutal. No series of choreographed moves or cheat codes was enough to stop them.
Blood splattered the screen, congealing in the words “GAME OVER.” I groaned into the mic and dropped my head against the couch cushion. My glorious dance moves had been premature. Wrinkling my nose in defeat, I sank my hand into the bag of cheddar cheese puffs next to my hip.
“We were so close! I thought we had it that time.” I stuffed a handful of puffs into my mouth and absently wiped the cheese dust from my fingers. An orange smear appeared on my favorite “Will Slay for Coffee” sweatshirt. My scowl deepened as I tried to brush it away.
“This level is the worst, but we almost made it to the boss. We’re getting better. Wanna try again?” Tanya asked.
“Can’t,” I said around another mouthful of cheese puffs, which was as close as I was getting to dinner tonight. “My shift starts in an hour. I have to get to work.”
Tanya scoffed. “Youareworking. You showed the business end of your blade to that rage demon. Besides, you’re honing your fighting skills through hand-eye coordination. That counts.”
“I mean work that pays the bills, T. Tuition doesn’t pay for itself. Plus, I’ve racked up an enormous tab at the taco stand in the quad. They told me if I don’t square up I’m cut off. Allegedly, my expensive-ass meal plan doesn’t cover food trucks.”
A gasp sounded over the line. “You poor thing. The horrors of suffering through guacamole withdrawals. It’s an epidemic.”
“Very funny, but it’s a serious problem,” I grumbled under my breath.
“I bet it is. Anyways, hit me up this weekend—we’ll practice our training again. I may even let you do your dance moves without judgment.”
