Against the Beast: Terraunum Origins, #1

By R.J. Batla

One man may hold the key to stopping a monster. When he comes face to face with the beast, will he rise up and succeed, or will he be the next victim?

In Terraunum, Rangers are the most powerful Senturians in the military. Blessed with Quantum Powers, they are the special forces assigned the missions no one else wants, or can even do.

Royn Crowell's first assignment is a tough one - stranded on the West Side of the Breaks with a commanding officer that hates him and unwilling to let him to use his gifts.

Talk of demons finally forces the captain's hand, and sends Royn on his first mission. Unfortunately he comes face to face with the most feared creature in Terraunum. With the situation getting worse by the minute, can Royn find a way to defeat the monsters, or will his death mark the first in a long line and threaten all humans on Terraunum?

Sword and Sorcery, Superhero, Military, and Steampunk elements combine in the fast-paced, action packed adventure in Terraunum, where monsters and men clash in a battle for survival.

The first novella in the "Terraunum Origins" series, chronicling the characters from FIRE EYES AWAKENED, first book in the "Senturians of Terraunum" series coming out in 2017.

"The author has married the military and the fantastic really well."

"I very much enjoyed the mix of military action with superhero powers, and Against the Beast DELIVERS!"

"If you like a protagonist with a strong moral compass and the powers to go with it, then you'll love this novella."

"It's one of those stories that you can't stop reading."

Grab a copy and join the adventure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.J. Batla
• Release date: Jul 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386153498

Book preview

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, R.J. Batla, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

AGAINST THE BEAST: A Terraunum Origins Novella

Copyright © 2016 by R.J. Batla

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Cover design and Illustration by:

Damjan Gjorgievski

Editor:

Melissa Jackson good-girl-editing

Dedication

Other books by R.J. Batla

Map of Terraunum

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Did you enjoy AGAINST THE BEAST?

Other Books by R.J. Batla

Preview of Fire Eyes Awakened

Fire Eyes Awakened – Chapter 1

Fire Eyes Awakened - Chapter 2

Fire Eyes Awakened - Chapter 3

About R.J. Batla

Dedication

Thanks to God, my wife and kids, my family, and all those who have encouraged me along the way.

And to you the reader, thank you!

This is just the beginning...

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Smalltown hero gets his new powers and they almost kill him for it. Then they ask him to save them all. Figures. Can Jayton survive the journey?

The first in the Senturians of Terraunum Series, FIRE EYES AWAKENED combines epic fantasy with fantastic powers. Join the action and adventure!

Against The Beast

A Terraunum Origins Novella

Map of Terraunum

C:\Users\HB78236\Documents\Personal\Book - To Add to File\Terraunum Map and World\TerraunumMap_LR (1).jpg

Chapter 1

P rivate Crowell, get over here!

Royn Crowell dropped his shovel, abandoning the latrine he’d just been digging, and hustled to stand at attention in front of Captain Crane. Great, what can he have me do now? Snapping to attention, he said, Sir, yes, sir!

The husky captain put his hands behind his back and paced in front of him. Crowell, my company had been here for six months before you showed up. We didn’t ask for any Ranger help, yet here you are.

Sir, I was assigned this post. I didn’t—

Captain Crane scowled. Nonetheless, private, you’re here trying to help us when we don’t need it. We have Senturians here with all of the Six Powers. I don’t need some snot-nosed Ranger who thinks he’s better than the rest of us gumming up my carefully run company. Tell me again what your special abilities are that qualified you to be here?

Here we go again. Sir, my Quantum Powers are Mindspeak and Teleportation. I’m also an accomplished Air user.

Captain Crane stopped his pacing and stared at Royn. And when did you finish your Ranger training? How many assignments have you had?

Royn barely kept from sighing and rolling his eyes, Two months ago. This is my first assignment.

The captain grunted, Exactly. Green. Untested. But since you’re here, I may as well put you to doing something other than digging privy holes.

Holy cow, am I going to get to do some actual Ranger work instead of manual labor?

He started pacing again, Private, the locals are restless. They don’t like us, but they do like the goods we have, and we need the food they grow. Recently, when they’ve come Fort Highway to trade, we’ve heard talk that people are dying. As stupid as I think this outreach mission is, we’re supposed to help the people here on the West Side of the Breaks. I’m not wasting the valuable time of my men, so this falls to you. Seems like a good job for a half breed anyway. Royn let the insult slide.

They say something evil is lurking in the forest southwest of here, toward the Shadow Mountains. I want you to go root it out. He stopped nose to nose, his rotten breath almost gagging Royn. The captain grinned maniacally with yellow stained teeth and two-day-old stubble, And I want you to do it now, private.

Sir, yes, sir! Who will be going with me, sir?

Why, no one, private!

But, sir, Rangers usually work in pairs—

Did I stutter? he said, the grin dropping and his familiar scowl coming back as he turned to leave. And don’t come back until you’ve figured out what’s got them stirred up, rambling on about death and devils walking around. Now get going, soldier!

Sir, yes, sir! Royn said, about-facing and running to the supply shed, snatching up his sword as he went and strapping it to his hip. He grabbed as much gear as he could, putting some in his pack and others on his belt pouches: rations, water jugs, spare knives, first aid kits—anything needed to survive in the wilds around Fort Highway for the foreseeable future.

Pack loaded down, he draped a cloak around his shoulders as he stepped through the wooden gate in the stone wall and walked the thirty feet to where the trail entered the Wald Forest. Eyeing the mangled trees, he had no idea how anything lived there. But beneath those bent, dark trunks there was abundant life, well adapted to defending itself. If it didn’t bite, sting, or