《Young World (Isekai/Litrpg)》Ch 22: Memo #01
Advertisement
The circle of red widened and started roiling with different hues of crimson, as if it was a wine red sea being shaken up by the hand of an angry god. Suddenly, dozens more circles appeared next to it and all across the sky above us. There were more colored red, some were gold, silver, pure white, or even purple. All of them shifting and shimmering as if they were alive. The caravan came to a stop, the beetles needing to be calmed for the first time since we’d begun our trek. Everyone was terrified, pointing at the sky and rambling.
When the activity in the circles reached what seemed to be a fervor, they broke, tearing into rifts. I felt an immediate boost in strength as my Borne of Two Worlds ability activated. They were portals, and something was about to come through.
A massive claw gripped the edge of the first portal. Massive, red, and scaled, it was soon joined by another on the opposite end. Slowly, a powerful and massive head broke through. It was covered in blood red scales, its massive yellow eyes visible even at the extreme distance we were from it. The beast pulled its body halfway through the portal, revealing wings that when spread they seemed to cast the entire world in shadow. It roared, revealing rows of black teeth, and I could feel my soul shake within my body as the vibrations in the air hit me. It was a dragon, terrifying, glorious, and radiating heat and strength so great we could feel it from the ground.
It pulled the rest of its body through, and its wing began beating, carrying it higher into the sky where it released a triumphant burst of flame before diving, and disappearing behind us. Leaving behind only a trail of smoke.
We sat and watched as this process was repeated with each of the other portals, releasing dragons of all types that flew with powerful wingbeats in different directions. After around a half hour, the portals had vanished, and a powerful new race had entered the world. A notification filled my vision.
A Choice has been granted through the efforts of champion Cormac
This Choice has been made
The god of XXXXX has welcomed dragons into this world
So that's what a choice could do. I'd remembered Ren complaining about the lack of dragons in the world, and the choice I'd earned him by completing the system quest had allowed him to bring them through. I wondered if his choice was related to the fact that I kept a different race from entering Tu'reyne, or if he could've done anything and merely chose that.
Advertisement
I dismissed the notification and looked around the rest of the camp. No one's eyes were on me, which was good. I’d only ever introduced myself as Cor, so that gave me a bit of cover. Not that I’d been shy about my origins before, but in my defense I hadn’t really realized the full scope of what was going on. A person's sense of scale is bound to change when they see dragons tear their way through portals and burst out into the sky above you. I saw people subtly move their heads as they dismissed the notification and started to talk to one another. I went to sit back down in the spot I’d claimed, when I noticed Zervrack behind me.
His eyes were wide and a sharp tooth smile was spread wide across his face. “This was you?” He asked, pointing up at the sky.
I looked around to make sure no one was listening before bending down to whisper. “Yes, but let’s keep it on the down low.”
Zevrack nodded and dropped to all fours, lowering his body as close to the beetle as possible. “Is this low enough?”
I sighed, but rather than arguing I just dropped down too. “Yeah, that’s fine. I didn’t know that dragons would be the result, in my defense.”
Zevrack nodded. “Yes, if you’d known I’d bet you would have worked much harder and made it happen sooner, yes?”
“Uh, sure.”
The kobold started tapping his fingers excitedly. “I knew it was the right decision to allow you to be my companion. Now when I see the clan I can tell them that we helped bring the gods back into the world.”
“Yeah, let’s keep that between ourselves and Elle until then, okay?”
He nodded, his smile not leaving even though after being outside his pile of blankets and coats so long he was starting to shiver.
Geode started yelling at different drivers and guards. “Alright, let’s get moving! Yeah, dragons, very incredible, absolutely awe inspiring, but if we don’t want to camp in the snow or miss our schedule we gotta load up and scuttle out.”
I nodded, and stood back up to return to my post. Zevrack did the same, scurrying away and re-burying himself in his warm nest. I managed a glance back at Elle, who had that same feverish look I’d seen on her face in the past, as she scribbled furiously into a notebook, while a guard practically dragged her back onto her ride.
Once everyone had been loaded back up, Geode and the other drivers began pushing the beetles harder than they were before to make up for lost time. They didn’t complain, instead just moving their six legs as quickly as was asked of them. The change in speed was likely more difficult for the passengers than it was for them. The previously smooth ride became bumpy at this speed, and we skipped over a planned break trying to make up for lost time. We’d only just barely made it back into the caverns when it was time to stop for the night.
Advertisement
Once we were back in the caverns I found myself immediately beginning to miss the sun and sky above my head, and even the cold wind that had blown against us as we rode. I climbed down from the lead beetle and started helping people unload their camp supplies for the night, breaking off occasionally to help Geode with anything he needed.
Once we were done I got out my weapons and walked a short distance from the camp before I began going through drills, both to limber up after the long ride and just to train. I went through some basic motions, starting with bare handed shadowboxing, then I moved on to work with my dagger, then the sword. Finally I started to work on mixing and matching everything I’d picked up so far. Casting partial spells, while making strikes with my sword, adding in the occasional acrobatic movements. As I trained I felt my mind wander to watching the dragons emerge. The sheer power and force of them was unlike anything I’d experienced before. They reminded me of seeing a tornado, or a forest fire, but greater, even more destructive. The thought of them filled me with excitement, and I could feel my heart race even beyond where the training had brought it. I wanted to meet one of them, to see what else the world held. There were so many opportunities here that I’d never have had on Earth, I could explore it forever, build something here.
I finished off my training by burning out the last of my flash step spell, dividing it down to inches, and moving rapidly back and forth, trying to acclimate more to the disorientation that came with the spell. It was still odd, and felt strange every time I used it, but it was growing easier. I turned to walk back to the camp and dismissed the notifications I received showing I’d gained a point in both barehanded and acrobatics. Solid gains for the day.
Before I’d gone too far I heard a noise behind me, a kind of rapid flapping that was growing louder. I turned around and drew my sword just in time for a massive black shape to slam into me, rolling me across the ground until I was at the edge of camp. I forced myself up and started looking around for what had hit me. I couldn’t find it until I heard a scream and swiveled around to see a massive black pair of wings flying toward the ceiling of the cavern. There was a second scream and I swiveled to see two more shapes swooping down.
They were bats, massive and leathery with sharp fangs. Not nearly so cute as the ones I was familiar with on Earth. I activated a quartered stone toss spell, gathering the dust that surrounded me into a heavy rock and firing it at one of them as it made another pass. My shot struck true and it crashed into the ground just a few yards from me. I drew my sword and leapt, slamming it into the beast's neck and killing it instantly.
When I looked up, the other guards and Zevrack had all joined the fray. Confused and scared merchants fled to the safety of the beetles. Zevrack managed to leap onto one as it swooped and he let it carry him high into the sky as he started raking into it with his claws. There was a screech, and Zevrack managed to just barely drag himself onto it’s back and adjust it’s wings so that when the bat slammed into the hard ground he was able to leap safely off at the last minute.
The remaining bat was covered in cuts and hits from the dwarven caravan guards that remained. It made one more attempt at the merchants, managing to grasp Tinsel in its claws, but he surprised me by pulling a small dagger, seemingly from nowhere and cutting a deep gash across the creature's wing. It gave an unholy screech and collapsed, giving the dwarven guards a chance to finish it off.
I looked around, keeping my eyes and ears open for any more of the creatures, but sensing nothing. I turned to Zevrack. “Everything seems clear.”
He gave a nod and approached the bat I’d slain, lifting up one of its wings in his claws. I could see the gears turning as a smile slowly made its way across his face.
Advertisement
Blackened Blood[Progression Fantasy]
Broken and lost by the dredges of this world a boy awakens once again into life's game within hallowed black halls, his first taste of new life cold and hunger along with the echoing drip of temptation. Deep sickness festering within in him. Given a second chance by either coincidence or something more sinister, follow the story of he who bleeds black. Betrayal, greed and blood littered in droves across this hellbound path. ********** 2000+ words daily for now, will reduce to thrice a week after the writathon. If it wasn't clear, this is a vampire story taking place in a high fantasy environment. Although while its main character is a vampire and that is one main focus of the story it will also lend itself to the magic side of this world as well. Basically, if you're interested in vampires or magic heavy stories, this will have something for you... probably. The synopsis is kinda vague but If you give it a shot, I think you'll like it. Also, feel free to drop any sort of constructive criticism since this is one of my first experiences writing in first person.Forgot to add that the story will be a little less action-orientated until around chapter 20+ when... well... read and see :) Any chapters with the * next to them have been edited or tweaked. I'll remove it once all of them are.
8 174World of Combat: A Dystopia Gamelit Series
In her world, single combat decides everything. It's her sixteenth birthday and Kiriai has a big decision to make. Will she fight for her dream to battle in the arena? Or buckle under her grandfather’s pressure to become a healer? Her best friend Eigo is an outcast from his scrounger family. On a recent expedition into the wastelands, he found a peculiar birthday gift for Kiriai—an AI trainer from a centuries-old, martial arts game. Could it give her the advantage she needs? Will Kiriai win the fight that decides her future? An impossible deadline, a persuasive mentor, and her own family all stand in Kiriai’s way. If she loses, she’ll be consigned to a mundane life, but more importantly, banned from the arena forever. Kiriai can't let that happen. Combat Origin is the first book in the World of Combat, young adult, dystopia series. If you like strong heroines, gamelit/litrpg and a good brawl, keep reading. Author note: I just discovered the Royal Road community and decided to jump in and participate. I posted Combat Origin, Book 1 during Nov and Dec of 2019 (before moving it to Amazon), followed by the short story prequel that gave backstory on two of the main characters. (non-Gamelit - because the gaming AI hasn't been found yet) Now, Book 5 has been finished and posted on Amazon, which allows me to leave a 10% sample here. The books are all free to read, If you have Kindle Unlimited. Please comment, ask questions, offer suggestions or just say hi. I'm hoping to connect with readers and improve my storytelling. -- Misty :) https://www.amazon.com/author/mistyzaugg https://mistyzaugg.com/
8 62Oddity
☾Don't tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon.☽The Autobots and deceptions had been at war for what felt like an eternity, and the deceptions were tired of losing. A stroke of genius compels Megatron to send his most loyal to search the planet for worthy humans to aid them in crushing the Autobot forces once and for all.Enter a small group of online friends who could never have anticipated that their compelling personalities and strong bonds would set them up as prime targets for an alien warlord. Published on:WattpadQuotevRoyalRoad Transformers Prime and all like characters belong to Hasbro
8 96Svails: Chains of Nebulas
Siyo Amano has turned of age to join the war against the Svails, a race of multi-dimensional beings, and the traitors of humanity known as the Rogues. Humanity has been fighting against this extra dimensional threat for 13 years as a defense unit named the Svail hunters. Much like her mother and current guardian, Siyo and her best friend Migro will now take a stand to defend the world of Nebulas.
8 200The sea wolf
This is not my book this is a book written by the late Jack London a wonderful author who wrote many stories all which have amazed me he died by committing suicide e.i. over dosing on drugs. God bless his soul rest in peace Jack London.
8 155Unbelievers
Not my story - written by isthatyoularry on Ao3Summary:It's Louis' senior year, and he's dead set on doing it right. However, along with his pair of cleats, a healthy dose of sarcasm and his ridiculous best friend, he's also got a complicated family, a terrifyingly uncertain future, and a mortal enemy making his life just that much worse. Mortal enemies "with benefits" was not exactly the plan.Or: The one where Louis and Harry definitely aren't friends, and football is everything.Disclaimer: None of this is real. Nothing in this is meant to imply anything, nor does this reflect my personal beliefs about anything or anyone. This is fiction.
8 208