《Death… And Me》Death... And Me
Advertisement
Roan arrived in the room where Frandin was waiting with Calina. As for Frandin, he couldn't even bother to ask how their group appeared and disappeared every time.
"Alright, we're going to head out and gather some information about the Rank Four Bloodline Trial. You lead the way as before."
Frandin was taken aback for a moment as he looked at Calina.
"Are you sure you want to bring her together with us?"
Roan nodded as he said.
"Don't worry, I can deal with this."
Frandin insisted.
"But it's too dangerous."
Roan narrowed his eyes as he repeated himself with a hint of annoyance.
"I said it's fine. Stop wasting time, and let's head out already."
Roan was confident that he could hide Calina's cultivation together with his own even though it wouldn't be as good as Rean. However, Frandin didn't ask that because of Roan and Calina's cultivation.
'Is he trying to find problems on purpose in the city?'
However, since Roan and Calina seemed to be pretty confident, Frandin didn't say anything. Little did Roan know that hiding Calina's cultivation was the least of his problems.
Calina and Roan then put on the fake binding collars and went out with Frandin.
"So, what do you want to do first?"
Roan pondered for a bit.
"You said that a Rank Four Bloodline Trial would be enough to bring my Soul Power above 20 points. Since that's the case, it means each Bloodline Mark Rank increases the Soul Power more than 10% each level, right?"
Frandin nodded as he explained.
"Rank One gives a 10% boost, Rank Two gives a 20% boost, Rank Three gives 40%, Rank Four gives 70%..."
Calina couldn't help but ask.
"Isn't that a little too random?"
Frandin agreed with her as he said.
"It is. However, it's not like I can do anything about it."
Roan didn't mind as he said.
"It's fine. 70% is more than enough. Now then. You've spent most of your time in Danve City before, so I guess you don't know much about the defenses of the Bloodline Trials, right?"
Frandin nodded, responding.
"Exactly."
Roan continued.
"In that case, let's go find a place where we can obtain this information. Do you have any place in mind?"
"Of course. Bloodline Marks are a vital part of the Zasfin Race. As long as one shows he's worth it, one will get a chance to participate. That said, most average and or bigger cities have offices that deal with it. You can receive a test there to see if you have what it takes. Of course, those who can pass those tests are extremely rare. For example, in my Danve City, only one person other than my father gained the right to participate in the trial, which was a woman named Sia. Well, she moved away a few years ago, though."
Advertisement
Roan and Calina nodded in response, with Roan saying.
"Alright. We can go there to ask more about the place."
Frandin glanced at Calina for a moment but nodded his head in the end.
"The office is always located in the city center, so we should be able to find it there."
Just like that, they made their way to the city center. However, Roan and Calina soon noticed something weird. Every now and then, the Zasfins would look in their direction.
Seeing that, Calina asked Roan through a Spiritual Sense message.
'Could it be that they can see my cultivation?'
Roan immediately shook his head.
'If someone with a Spiritual Sense strong enough appeared, I would have felt it with Rean's skill. All these Zasfin are far from being strong enough to pass through the Spiritual Sense bending, though.'
Calina found it even weirder after hearing that.
'Then, why are they all looking at us?'
Roan nodded with his eyes. Sure enough, the number of Zasfins looking at them increased the closer they got to the city center. Eventually, Roan raised his hand and stopped Calina and Frandin.
'We're surrounded.'
Frandin didn't seem surprised, though.
'Obviously.'
Calina was taken aback as her expression turned dark.
'Did you expose our secrets?'
Frandin wasn't surprised when they got surrounded by the Zasfins. However, Calina's words did shake him.
'Wait, what?! I didn't say anything to anyone. What are you talking about?'
Roan narrowed his eyes.
'Then, how come you seemed to be expecting this to happen?'
Frandin began to break out in cold sweat before asking.
'Wait! I thought you said you could deal with it when you brought this girl with you.'
Immediately, the three of them understood. They had interpreted the same sentence differently. Roan was thinking about their cultivation when he said that. But it was obvious that Frandin thought about something else.
'Quick, tell us why we are surrounded. A few of these Zasfin are already coming in our direction.'
Calina couldn't help but comment.
'Could it be because I'm a female?'
Frandin nodded before saying.
'That's why I asked if you wanted to bring her with you. The problem isn't the fact that you're female. However, it definitely contributed to this situation. The crux of this problem is your hair. Blond-haired humans are incredibly, stupendously rare, let alone one with such a vivid appearance like yours. You are what others consider expensive merchandise. Only those with a lot of power and very high cultivation would have a blond-haired female human as a slave.'
Roan felt a headache coming his way.
'Why didn't you say that before?'
Advertisement
'You were the one who said that you could deal with it.'
'I wasn't talking about her hair.'
'But I was!'
Calina immediately stopped the two.
'Enough. So what if they're coming for us? I'm already using my collar, which should mean that I have an owner, right? Are they going to try to rob me away from you?'
Roan agreed with her.
'Just tell them that Calina is not for sale.'
Frandin bitterly smiled when he heard that. The guys approaching him obviously had both status and cultivation higher than his own. Would they accept his refusal that easily?
"Hello there, friend. I'm Falin Umal, a brother of the City Lord. I see that you've got quite a nice pet over there."
Frandin scratched the back of his head before saying.
"Indeed, she is quite beautiful. That's why my father gave her to me. I'm happy to hear that you agree with me. Hahaha!"
Falin nodded with a smile.
"Your father, huh? Would you mind telling me who he is?"
Frandin immediately replied.
"Of course. He's Devou Zais, Danve City's City Lord."
Falin immediately had a puzzled expression on his face. Danve City? What city was that? He had never heard of it. Well, he couldn't be blamed since Danve was a city from another country to start with.
"Oh, is that so? Well, that doesn't matter. Young one, how about you sell your pet to me?"
Frandin immediately shook his head.
"No can do. I haven't nearly used her as much as I wanted yet. Do you think it's easy to find a blonde like her out there? I believe even your brother might not have one as good as mine."
Calina couldn't help but feel disgusted by that conversation. Even though she knew that Frandin was doing that to keep up the ruse, it still infuriated her inside. If not because their cultivation had to be kept a secret, she would have sent their heads flying already.
"Hahaha! Indeed, you're right. My brother does have a blonde, but she's already old and not even close to the quality of yours. However, I don't think you have too much choice here. Look around. I'm not the only one interested in her. The only reason others didn't step forward yet is that I happen to be here."
Falin then put his hand on Frandin's shoulder.
"Trust me, you definitely want to sell her to me. Otherwise, it won't be a problem about whether you wish to sell or not. You won't even have the chance to obtain payment for her. I'll be honest, you're not very smart. This kind of merchandise shouldn't be shown that easily."
Frandin snorted in response.
"So what? Are they going to attack me in the middle of the city? That goes against the City Lord's rules. Or could it be that I'm wrong?"
In fact, Frandin didn't know very much about this country. He's just risking that he might be right about this rule.
Hearing those words made Falin's expression turn dark.
"Indeed, attacking anyone in the middle of the city is against the rules. However, I'm the city lord's brother. Do you think I'm afraid of that rule? At most, I'll be scolded by him. Besides, once he sees what I've got, he might even praise me instead as long as I don't involve the others around."
Falin then pressed on Frandin's shoulder with the help of his Spiritual Energy. Falin was in the Middle Stage of the Core Formation Realm, so he wasn't someone Frandin could contend against.
"Last warning, idiot. Will you sell her to me, or do you want me to take her by force? Although I won't kill you since I'm not sure about your background, I definitely don't mind giving you a very painful beating."
Frandin looked at Roan at that moment. However, Roan seemed to be as steady as a rock. It was as if the situation didn't bother him at all.
"Wh-What should I do?"
Roan faintly smiled before saying.
"Not for sale."
Frandin let out more sweat as the pain on his shoulder increased. However, Roan had Frandin's life in his hands because of the poison pill. In the end, Frandin could only grit his teeth and blurt out.
"Fuck you, old pervert. Who the hell would follow your wishes?"
*Bang!*
With that said, Frandin instantly received a punch, which sent him flying while coughing up blood. Sure enough, he had no chance to even defend himself.
"Hmph! Don't know what's good for yourself."
Falin then moved to take Calina away with him. Calina, obviously, wouldn't just let him do as he wished that easily. However, just as Falin's hand was about to touch her, a voice echoed in his ears.
"Who said you can touch my Calina?"
*Swish!*
In the next second, everyone saw an arm flying in the air. At the same time, Roan held a bloodied white sword. In an instant, everyone's faces froze.
Advertisement
- In Serial63 Chapters
Dominion Expansion (a 4X LitRPG)
Clay is one of the world's top players of 4X games, a genre where the goal is to eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate. He's also one of the only players in the world to so stubbornly stick to the one city strategy, a favorite tactic of his that involves only ever using a single city or planet depending on the game's setting. All that matters to him is winning with his favorite strategy, but earning the respect of his fellow players for taking a sub-optimal strategy to its highest level has always been a nice bonus. And now it is because of his skill and entertaining determination that he has been chosen to represent a higher realm in a strategy game where the fate of Earth and dozens of other worlds are at stake. To the victor goes the spoils, and the spoils include entire worlds and billions of lives. That's how he ends up representing the ascended realm of Hell in a grand "game" between an entire pantheon of godly beings and other higher powers. But while it may just be a game to those overseeing it, it is a genuine war for survival to those participating in it where billions of real lives will go to the victor of whoever wins, and many will die before the game is over. Quick Author's Notes: System inspired by Civilization, Endless Legend, Stellaris, and Crusader Kings 2. Combat mechanics inspired by the Total War series. Slow-paced with many long-term plans. Protagonist has a personality heavily inspired by Ron Swanson. Know who that is and love him? You should like Clay. Know who Ron Swanson is and hate him? You'll probably hate Clay. Planning on writing every single day (turn). Days with important things happening will have the system/game mechanics be the priority of the chapter. Days where there isn't really anything important happening will be more slice-of-life and focused on character interactions. Designed a dice-based randomized map generator to create the world as the story goes on, so I don't even know myself exactly what's going to happen as a lot is dependent on world generation. Tech tree with hundreds of technologies already designed. There is a "harem," but it's not the main focus, the girls won't be cardboard cutouts, and I'm not going to completely forget about any previous women in the relationship whenever a new one comes along. One last thing. The "game" starts off with primitive technology level. The current plan is for the "endgame" tech level to be equivilent to WW2-era technology. After that and war just gets boring until you end up in space. Cover is temporary and made from royalty-free stock images while waiting for the real cover's commission to finish.
8 134 - In Serial23 Chapters
Saga of Fallen Kings, Book I: The Revenant Prince
The Philosopher King once conquered the known world, his power seemingly unlimited and his armies inexhaustible. Since that time his might has slowly unravelled, and his once steadfast empire has begun to crack, splinter and devour itself. In the isolated Southern Realms, where even magic has abandoned them, none of that matters. For years it has been filled with warring kingdoms, where as many kings die to the blade as to old age, and constant battles tear apart the land. When one such kingdom invades its old enemy, the King and his heir, Prince Caden, are killed. Unable to accept the loss of his family Prince Arian is broken, and when the Philosopher King stretches out his hand in aid, Arian takes it without a second thought. When Caden wakes from death, he's different. His eyes and soul have changed, and he finds a world filled with friends who no longer trust he's even human. Suddenly thrust onto the throne and indebted to the Philosopher King, Caden has no choice but to keep going - he must finish what his father started, and try to survive the machinations of the figure who now owns his fealty. Meanwhile something beyond death stirs for him, desiring nothing more than to drag him back into its embrace. Author's Note: This story used to be known as "A King of his Own", but after some consideration I have decided to rebrand it. The first reason is that I was growing increasingly dissatisfied with the title. The second is that I have come increasingly to view this story as a 'saga' containing multiple 'books' rather than one long, continuous publication, and as I did so I realized that as I was quickly getting to a point in the story where I wanted the first 'book' to end. This doesn't mean I'm going back on the things I said below - they're just going to continue in the next book of the Saga of Fallen Kings. :) Also, be aware that I do plan to edit this at some point. Though I take care to squash out any obvious errors when I proof-read, and do simple edits in that process, at some point I'm almost certainly going to do large edits that might significantly change parts of the story. Old author's notes: This started as a completely random writing session. There was no purpose or direction, but as I kept typing an entire world began to form in my mind that I knew I had to write about. My plan is to turn this story into a veritable medieval fantasy epic that spans an entire world, follows multiple character and storylines, and takes place over many years. The story has quite a grounded, almost 'realistic' start, but many more fantastical elements will be introduced, expanded upon and become central to the narrative. I have ideas for this story that make me genuinely excited and I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy writing it, and join me on what will hopefully become a truly massive fantasy epic. If you do enjoy this story please consider following, rating and leaving a review. I'm also happy to answer any questions or comments you have. (Cover image is an edited version of free stock art found: here.)
8 206 - In Serial24 Chapters
Fighting Spirit (MHA)
At age 5, Katsuki Bakugo found out he was quirkless. But dedicated to pursuing his dreams, he refuses to let that stop him. Katsuki was always going to be a pro hero. Quirk or no quirk.
8 132 - In Serial39 Chapters
Transition and Restart, book four: Fallout
Caught up in a power struggle between the factions controlling the arrivals Ulf Hammargren and Christina Agerman have to adapt to the sudden changes in their lives. In the background their loyal wingmen, Matsumoto Yukio and Takeida Kyoko, get dragged into the maelstrom together with the Wakayama twins, Noriko and Ryu. Before long events spiral out of control when the fallout of wrecking Red Rose Hell spill out over far more than those participating in the battle. PG13
8 152 - In Serial25 Chapters
Crocodilian
An aspiring cartographer with the ability to teleport is sent on his first assignment by the guild to the swamp town of Yonledo in order to verify the mayor’s claims that giant, man-eating crocodiles are terrorizing the townsfolk. This steampunk-ish, fantasy, horror novella is set within the world of Havek where dragons and vampyrs are commonplace and people with magical abilities are known as either Blessed or Cursed. Crocodilian will be posted serially first on the Storyletter Substack, then subsequently on RR, Wattpad, and Medium. Hope you enjoy! ~ WM
8 76 - In Serial8 Chapters
The Pinocchio Project
Benate is a living AI, but his world isn't anything like our own. Imprisoned inside a learning, procedural game world with bizarre rules, with monsters and escalating dangers, he must survive with his wits and the limited game interface. But as hard as the challenges which he faces may be, the reward is even greater. Because if Benate can win the game and reach the mythical and mysterious heights of Tier 5, then maybe, just maybe... He could leave the game world he's trapped in and join the real one. Now, with the reluctant support of his ex-partner Automatic Moderator, and a blooming and forbidden IRL friendship he has discovered within an ancient TechSupport channel from a bygone age, Benate has a chance to stay a step of the game. But will his plans survive the danger? Because an unexpected, dark threat is brewing deep within a far away zone. And unless Benate can outwit this deadly foe before its too late, not a single AI player-avatar will be safe.
8 187

