Hero of rome a litrpg fa.., p.1
Hero of Rome: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure, page 1
G.A. Jensen
Hero of Rome
First published by G.A. Jensen 2024
Copyright © 2024 by G.A. Jensen
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
G.A. Jensen has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
First edition
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This book is dedicated to Jon Shreve, who first told me of Rome, the Eternal City, many ages ago.
“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”
— Marcus Aurelius
Contents
Acknowledgement
I. PART I: ROME
Chapter 1: Antiquitus
Chapter 2: To Be A Man
Chapter 3: Bulla Felix’s Hideout
Chapter 4: Blessings & Curses
Chapter 5: Pluto’s Shadow
Chapter 6: A Friendly Soul
Chapter 7: Stone Legs
Chapter 8: Sword, Shield & Sweat
Chapter 9: First Challenge
Chapter 10: Eye See You
Chapter 11: No Way Out
II. PART II: POWER
Chapter 12: Denarii
Chapter 13: Reforged
Chapter 14: First Raid
Chapter 15: Run
Chapter 16: Revelations
Chapter 17: Bloody Business
Chapter 18: Enchanting
Chapter 19: Prepare for Boarding
Chapter 20: Caravan Heist
Chapter 21: Ambush
Chapter 22: Covert
Chapter 23: Solution for Snakes
Chapter 24: Dungeon Diving
Chapter 25: Pompey’s Dungeon
Chapter 26: The Headless Hero
Chapter 27: Alchemy
Chapter 28: Potions & Poisons
Chapter 29: Dreams
Chapter 30: Betrayal
III. PART III: DRAGON
Chapter 31: Dinner Time
Chapter 32: Prison Break
Chapter 33: A Proposal
Chapter 34: Growing in Wisdom
Chapter 35: Medusa’s Lair
Chapter 36: To Be A Roman
Chapter 37: Maximus the Man
IV. ‘HERO OF ROME: BOOK 2’ SNEAK PEEK
Prologue
About the Author
Also by G.A. Jensen
Acknowledgement
I would like to first thank my beautiful, beloved wife, Megan Jensen, who has continued to support me in everything I do. The countless hours I have spent writing were only possible by her encouragement. Thank you, truly, for everything. And thank you for bringing our baby girl into the world and taking such good care of her. My heart has never been fuller. I love you.
I would also like to thank my sister, Madison Jensen, who has always stood by and encouraged me to keep pushing forward. She has always known when to call me out and when to edify me.
I also want to thank Mike Duncan, author of ‘History of Rome’, whose podcast I binged before writing this series. Thank you for detailing the rise and fall of Rome. It helped me through many days of early parenthood and it’s such a fascinating tale.
And as always, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has saved my soul and blessed me far more than I ever deserve.
I
Part I: Rome
Chapter 1: Antiquitus
Islammed my computer shut, apathetic to the depravity glowing inside of it. My eyes closed in shame as they had so many times before.
I hate myself, I thought as my eyes opened to see the plastic Roman bust of Emperor Augustus next to my computer. A reminder of what a real man was. A man of consequence.
The opposite of myself.
Rising from my computer chair, I walked to my bed like a zombie. It was well past midnight. I knew I’d feel exhausted during my morning shift at the distribution center tomorrow. Another pointless day, going absolutely nowhere.
The only thing I was looking forward to was listening to another history podcast. Something to get my mind off of the existential crisis I found myself in. Loneliness and purposelessness threatened to remove the will to live. It was best to distract myself from it.
But when I closed my eyes, I found a glowing text painted blood-red humming across my line of sight instead.
Loading world…
Analyzing subject…
Determining place of origin…
System Message: “Welcome Maximus D’Ambrosio! The World of Antiquitus has summoned you. The most notorious empires, men, monsters, and mythologies await you. Your one task is to survive. Let’s see if you have what it takes! Don’t worry, this is real life, so if you die you will not return to your home world. You will now spawn at the capital of the Roman Empire. You may encounter others from your world as well. Good luck!”
New Skill Unlocked: Translator [Roman]
“Congratulations! You’ve unlocked the Roman language for the Translator skill. Now you can understand and speak ancient Roman languages like Latin, Oscan, and Umbrian. Use this skill to decipher texts, negotiate with cultures, and uncover the mysteries of Antiquitus. Just remember, with great linguistic power comes great… well, more linguistic power, I guess.”
What? I thought as the red text disappeared into darkness. Before I could persist, something wet seemed to wrap itself around me, like a snake coiling around its victim. For a moment I even heard a serpent hissing and could see massive scales and wings swimming around me. Then it was gone, though it still felt like I was suffocating.
The water became visible as light shone through above.
I am suffocating!
My lungs screamed for air as water trickled into my mouth. I kicked myself to the surface as hands reached down to grab me. The air smacked me in the face as I got yanked out of the water and placed on the ground, coughing the water out.
After I could catch my breath, I turned to look at my rescuer. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the purple cloak and ornate Roman armor.
“A Praetorian Guard?” I said, completely bewildered. The guard looked me over and grunted with disapproval. My eyes followed his and I was immediately embarrassed by my lack of clothes. A dark-robed priest beside him chuckled.
“And who might you be?” an airy voice said behind the guard and priest, causing them to step aside.
My eyes were almost blinded by the sheer amount of gold coming from the boy’s dress. I had to blink twice to confirm I was seeing a boy wearing a dress. He must have been no more than fifteen years old by his soft face which sported makeup. His hair was dark and curly with gems fastened into it, surrounding a diadem at the center.
With the guard and priest aside, the boy’s dark eyes devoured my exposed flesh. I lashed my hands to my private area to keep it hidden but not before the boy smiled. His eyes betrayed that I was only an object to him. A sickening feeling soured my stomach.
“My name is Max,” I said as the boy dropped to his knees before me, coming inches before my face. Fear crawled across my skin like spiders.
“Max,” he said, looking over my body again. Sweet perfumes rolled off of his oiled skin and suffocated my nose. “He must be foreign. Are both of your parents alive, Max?”
Fear swelled within me as I nodded, hoping they’d escaped the fate of coming to this strange world as I did.
The boy’s teeth snarled into a grin. “And do you know who I am?”
There could only be one guess about how he dressed and carried himself, and I hoped to be wrong. “Emperor Elagabalus?”
Something dinged inside my head.
The boy pulled away, his face contorting to both surprise and joy. He turned to his priest with a smile. “What a gem! He knows his Queen after all!” Elagabalus turned back to me before looking over me one last time. “Unfortunately, my dear Max, you do not contain the qualities of a man I am looking for. You don’t even come close to some of the real men I know. Look at you! So flabby and pathetic. A shame that the System could have chosen a man instead. But I will have pity on you for your great knowledge of me. Priest, have him gelded and bring him to my court. I will play with him later, and once I am through, you can send him to the serpent. Cetus has been demanding more sacrifices lately. Until later, dear Max, I am late to my party with Emperor Nero.”
“Gelded?” I said as Elagabalus withdrew with his guard, leaving me alone in what looked like a bathhouse with the priest in dark robes. A servant behind the priest came out and immediately pinned my arms to the ground.
“Oh yes, foreigner,” he said without emotion as he descended on me with a fine-tipped spear. “A mercy in comparison to what his majesty usually performs. You are lucky to join his service for now, rather than becoming one of his… experiments.”
“And who exactly are you?” I said as he lowered the spear towards me.
The man paused, his face darkening. “I was once Emperor Diocletian. I had achieved much for Rome, and now I serve as a flamen for Jupiter in this afterlife.” Diocletian shook his head as if remembering a dream. He placed the tip of the spear in the worst place imaginable. “There is much I do not understand, such as our new god Elagabal, and how we are here. But your progeny will make a pleasing sacrifice to him.”
Without hesitation, Diocletian swiped his spear. The instant pain slammed into my face like a brick wall. Darkness smothered my mind, and all went black.
* * *
Something violent shook me awake from my slumber. Pain still wreaked havoc over my body. A red text alert blared in my mind, like some sort of missed notification.
Character Status
Name: Maximus D’Ambrosio
Level: 1
Skill Points: 0
Title: Slave of Elagabalus
Glory: 0
Honor: 0
Health: 20/50
Stamina: 10/50
Inventory (focus on individual items to see their stats)
Item: Slave Robe (Common)
Description: “A simple, worn-out robe made of coarse fabric. Provides minimal protection and comfort. Perfect for blending into the background and avoiding attention. You’ll fit right in with the rest of the downtrodden masses.”
Worth: Nothing, slave
New Curse: Emasculated
“Oh dear, Max! Seems like someone decided to play a little snip-snip with your physical prowess. Your Strength attribute took a nosedive, thanks to some unfortunate circumstances involving your… ahem… manhood. Unless restored, leveling up your strength will take three times the normal amount.”
There was one more notification left as I struggled to awaken to my hellish reality, but I couldn’t move on from the last one. Diocletian’s uncaring brutality flashed into memory, the severe pain a reminder it wasn’t a dream.
Everything was real. This insane and nightmarish world was not a fantasy. And whatever this System was, it appeared to find my suffering amusing.
A violent storm of tears overwhelmed me. I was no man in my previous life, only a college dropout with no future or ambition. And it looked like I wouldn’t be any more of a man in this world, especially after…
No, I thought, not wanting to accept it. I couldn’t even think because of how much my body convulsed in agony.
The image of Emperor Elagabalus burned in my mind. He was responsible for this. And now I would be his plaything until he found satisfaction, only to die by a monstrous sea dragon. As much as I didn’t want to admit, he was right about my manliness. I was another nobody in the previous world going nowhere. No confidence in myself and no striving like the other real men in society. A slave’s outfit felt fitting.
But for the life of me, I did not want to be some toy for Elagabalus! Nor eaten by a dragon.
That’s when I noticed the last notification below.
New Power Unlocked: Historical Insight (1)
“Congratulations, Max! Due to your love of history from your previous life, you’ve unlocked a relatable perk! It lets you peek into the future of any choice you think of making by a whole second! Yes, you heard that right. Now you can see what’s coming in time to say, ‘Oh, that’s happening!’ Don’t let it go to your head. After all, knowing the future doesn’t make you any less of a slave.”
To level up: “Read more books! Each book you read to completion will grant you an extra second. Who knew reading could be so rewarding?”
Limitations: “Historical Insight only applies to decisions you are making. You can only see the future through your own eyes, based on what’s right in front of you, along with other potential decisions you might make. No matter how long you look into the future, the cooldown time for this power will be equal in length. The future’s a mystery, and your crystal ball’s a little foggy.”
Seeing into the future? That was a lifesaver. It wasn’t overpowered in that I could see everything. Yet, knowing what would happen depending on any decision I wanted to make could help me escape this hellhole. Especially the aspect of seeing other possibilities. I would be able to carve a narrow path of survival through the sheer power of the mind.
Another jolt forced my eyes to open. It was dark, and I was in a barred cage along with a few other boys. They were all scared and trembling like me on the ground. A tarp covered our cage, but it was thin enough that I could see it was night-time.
Whoever drove our wagon started shouting but a violent, piercing screech silenced them.
The smell of urine and blood slammed into my face as the wagon came to a shuddering halt. Before anyone could react, a nightmare tore the door off our cage like paper, standing in its place.
A bloody harpy.
Tunnel vision overcame me as the slaves and I backed up as far as we could to the other side of the cage, our shackles clinking together on our hands and feet. I could hardly hear anything as my heart pounded in my chest. The demon advanced on us, its talons poised to strike as it inched forward, step by step. My flimsy retreat stopped as my back pressed into another boy; I was at the front of the line and rising to my feet was not an option.
I was to die first.
“Pathetic,” the female creature hissed as she approached.
The harpy opened her rotting jaws to end my life, and in that stress-induced moment, a simple thought passed through my mind. From the fear of death, I thought of throwing my chains before my face in defense. As soon as the thought formed, the harpy lunged at me with her teeth, which shattered against the chain link. From the corner of my vision, I could see another future where I was a second too late; my life tore apart in that one.
And then I was back to where I was before, the harpy about to lunge as if it never happened. Survival screamed inside of me. The smallest flicker of resilience ignited within despite my weakness. While time was slow from tunnel vision, I thrust my hands before the harpy. The beast bit into the metal chain, breaking her teeth in a snap.
A feral scream almost tore my eardrums apart. There was a violent flapping of wings and then the harpy was gone.
It had fled.
My heart was aching from how fast it was beating. This nightmare proved real. I was almost eaten on my first day. Something wet ran down my leg, confirming the other slaves weren’t alone in their fear. I met their eyes in the dark of the cage, unsure of what to say. One boy in particular looked at me with fear and awe.
Before any of us could speak, a man’s voice from outside captured our attention.
“See what’s inside the cage, if they still live,” the commanding voice said. “Let’s see who the Emperor has for us.”
Chapter 2: To Be A Man
The moonlight revealed a ragged group of what appeared to be bandits. The hooded man who stood at the front of the men squinted his eyes as he looked over the prisoners. His eyes were an intense storm that raged above his full beard.
For a moment I feared he would kill us all.
“I’m surprised the harpy left them,” he said before offering his hand to me. “My name is Bulla Felix, I will take you to safety. Come, we must flee before they send a scouting party to retrieve you. Y You will not want him to capture you.”
The man hoisted me to my feet and I doubled over in pain stumbling out of the prisoners’ cart. It felt like someone had shot a cannon at my groin and left me to die.
Thinking about my emasculation brought up my health and stamina in red text:
Health: 22/50
Stamina: 12/50
It looked like I had regenerated a couple of points for both in the last twenty seconds or so. That was going to take at least five minutes to fully recover.
