《The Entropic Knight - a litRPG Story》Chapter 10
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Welcome challenger to the final contest here in the home of Elouan’s chosen. You may battle wills with them in any way you choose. You may not retreat from this contest.
I may choose the battle? Perhaps the system will let me choose something that plays to my strengths. Right what strengths have we got? We have a longsword with some rudimentary skill and understanding. We have a ring that protects us against arcane damage, and some other magic items, or potentially magic items. We have no idea what they are or what they do. Come on brain, what else do we have access to? We have no other notable skills, items or abilities. We have no boots. All we have is an abnormally large LUCK stat for our level.
In front of Jarrod there was a bowl in the forest clearing. As if a giant had taken a large scoop of soil away at some time long in the past, and then some creatures had created a wall of stone to hold the soil back. This was further surrounded by stone benches arranged in tiers providing an arena of sorts. There in the middle of an otherwise abandoned arena stood three goblins. The one to the left, looked similar to the Champion encountered previously, except he (and very clearly a he) was naked all over, had a large double crescent bladed axe on the ground to his side. His face covered with a spiralling red tattoo which travelled from his forehead, down both shoulders and his left arm, covering the left-hand side of his chest as well.
[Elite Goblin Berserker] [Level ???]
To the right stood a young lithe female goblin. One that looked barely on the cusp of maturity, long red hair in a double braid cascaded down her back. The goblin was wearing a skin-tight leather outfit, clearly of much superior construction to his own leather armour. On her hips she wore a deadly looking rapier and paired parrying dagger on her other hip. She unlike the berserker stood at ease, arms folded across her chest whilst watching Jarrod with a coy smile caressing her lips.
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[Elite Goblin Femme Fatale] [Level ???]
Then in the centre, sat rather than standing was the oldest looking creature Jarrod had ever seen. This was clearly the goblin in charge of everything. It was sat on the most ostentatious, ornate chair he had ever seen. It was carved from a heavy dense wood that had its own shine in the grain, had gilding along the edges which could possibly have been made from some small amount of gold. The create was definitely a goblin, it had all the same features as the other goblins Jarrod had seen, but its skin was a washed out green, very definitely leaning towards grey. Its head had started to shrivel, and what little hair it had were wisps of white fluff. Its eyes milky with cataracts, and where other goblins had sharp teeth for tearing out flesh, this one had at best stumps and at worst gums. It wore a set of ratty midnight blue robes, moth eaten through with the threads fraying. In his arms were cradled a large ornate sceptre of brass, topped with what appeared to be a huge ruby. As Jarrod took a step into the clearing, its true size became more obvious, the depression alone easily stretched over 200 metres across the middle and was a perfect circle from what he could see. Watching him make his way to the edge of the arena, the ancient goblin levered himself to his feet, holding onto the arms of his throne.
[Goblin Archmagi] [Level ???]
“Greeting’s challenger. It has been many cycles since any dared challenge the gauntlet Elouan had laid down. Ample are the rewards if you are to overcome us in this, your final challenge. It has been so long that I am the only one of the three of us who remembers the last challenger. A young imperious elf who thought himself our superiors and was taught the utter folly of his ways. It was in fact so long ago, that of the three standing before you, I was the only one alive to witness the act. Standing to my sides are Kyauta, our master of strength and battle. If you are to choose the trial by combat, he will be your foe. The young lady you see is Kulicke, master of guile. If you are to choose the trial of speed and cunning, it will be her you face. Finally, if you will forgive an old one his grandstanding, I am Lecuippius, primate, Archmagi, master of fire and wielder of the final flame of Elouan. If you choose the trial of spirit and magic, it will be me that you face.
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Now that you have seen all three of us, heard our names, judged our worthiness, I must ask challenger. What challenge do you wish to partake of?”
Jarrod took his time, considering the elder creatures’ words. He was eloquent, surprisingly so. Hmm, this old bugger had better conversation than 90% of Woodend. How the hell have they been here on the outskirts of our village, and no one knew?
“Tell me, Lecu, how is it that a village of so many of your kind exists so close to human lands, without any of us knowing?”
“The land is not close young one. We are over a week’s journey into the forest now, it is by the grace and power of the Gods that you stand before me. But enough pontification, you are here to choose a challenge. Choose a challenge you shall”
“I was reliably informed that I may choose a challenge of my own devising, not that they would all be laid out before me. I do not think I could even put up a challenge against of your experts, or you yourself.
In addition – once I have chosen a challenge, may I choose whom to challenge? For example - if I were to desire a footrace, could I choose you Lecu as my opponent?”
The goblin stood, stock still, a shocked look coming across his face before roaring, spittle flying from his mouth, eyes wide with rage and slowly rolling back till only the whites showed.
“HOW DARE YOU. The sacred challenge is one tradition long honoured by all of His Chosen. How dare you defile it and twist it to your own ends. Whilst it is true aeons past that the challenger could create their own challenge, never have you been able to select your opponent. You have also just forfeited that right, whether you choose a challenge of your own, or whether you choose one of the three laid out before you. It will now be me that you challenge, and it will be me that smites you down.”
Jarrod took a staggered step back, surprised at the vehemence the elderly goblin had responded with. Resisting the urge to reply flippantly, he may be slightly impulsive, he certainly didn’t have a death wish.
“So be it, I challenge you Lecuippius, to a game”
“A game?” was the incredulous reply “You would denigrate our most holy of rites to something decided by chance, with no skill involved?”
Smiling and nodding Jarrod’s simple reply was
“Yup. Come on, it’s the only real chance I would have. You are all clearly masters in combat, honed to within an inch of what perfection currently could be. I would have such a tiny infinitesimal chance that it’s not even funny. This way at least, there’s no way for either of us to be prepared.”
With that, Jarrod drew 5 coins from his goblin made satchel, waved them towards the elderly goblin and strode down the stairs to the centre of the amphitheatre.
“Well? Shall we?”
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High school life in a world where everyone has superpowers
So, um... how do I explain this simply? Okay, so... There's a girl, she's er... She's in high school, and, um... She has a superpower that mutes things? Also she lives? Yeah, sorry. The concept's too confusing isn't it? Warning: The stuff below is technically correct, but this fiction, with my other, is now on the failed pledge list. Shocking how a lack of updates for more than half a year actually meant something... Sorry for the delay, still not really up to writing for this series as of now (14/03/18 - remember I'm english, so correct) but I'm still trying to get into writing... Cover is thanks to Zenlith (WriTE's Founding Member). This fiction is signed under the 'The Pledge'... Some internet message in a forum about not dropping or giving a rushed ending in their fiction, otherwise meet the wrath of letting RRL mod Vocaloid have 'fun' with the fiction's description. So mainly for the sake of my fiction due to said wrath, I'll see this fiction through. Updates: up in the air... hopefully the day after this is edited, but we all have dreams. Warning for mild profanity, but it shouldn't happen too much for the innocent out there so don't take the warning to heart.
8 169LAST FEAST
The Red Dragon Empire has been the most powerful aggregate in the Burning Grasslands of the West. They summon talented individuals from another world. When passing through the summoning gate the beings will turn back into a child without memories. Sometimes they will make a mistake and the summoned being will have a defect. Blind, deaf, crippled, deformed, cannot manipulate mana and have unknown diseases. They can detect if the body isn’t in perfect condition. The discarded children wander around this unknown land until finally meeting their end. When luck strikes two people will come out of a single gate. They performed the ritual again and two people came out, one was in splendid form, and the other was twitching his shoulders, neck and saying words that’s foreign to the summoners. “Cream puff tiddy licking!” They marked Rus as a defect. With no knowledge, money, home and friends he must reclaim what’s rightfully his. Being snatched away from his world he remembers the difficulties of his life. The Red Dragon Empire just took away everything from the Boss of Tessaro Familia. With a smile that’s comparable to the ruler of hell, Rus whispered to himself. “Seventh rule of The Family: Always return favors.”
8 204Arch Legends
The Ether Divide Disaster claimed Orion White's parents. A botched research experiment that shattered the Earth and scattered its pieces throughout unknown galaxies and time. Humanity's former home world had vanished. The land of Orion enters a cosmos rich in Ether, the true source of dark energy. To survive in the new hostile environment, humans began to harness superpowers from the exposure to Ether. The Shadows, a foreign species, are constantly threatening humanity's survival. Orion enrolls in the Arch Academy, a school dedicated to the development of Arch Warriors. His journey to become an Arch Legend to reunite with his family across the galaxy begins by travelling back in time to train with the greatest legends of all time.
8 156Faery Knight - A Mirai Suenaga Adventure
On the colonized world of Pantheon, where humanity is lorded over by the enigmatic Archons, Mirai Suenaga survives the vicious invasion conducted by the alien Genjitsu, but the price she and humanity pay is high.Ten years later, as a teenage girl attending her second year of high-school in the city-state of Pan Pacifica, Mirai is a member of the Crimson Force Team, training to qualify as a fully fledged Faery Knight. Taking part in the Summer Tournament, where the various teams of the academy compete for dominance using their Battle Faeries, Mirai faces obstacles and adversaries as she aims for victory. But she will face her greatest challenge outside of the battle arena, when the Genjitsu choose to invade Pantheon yet again, and crush humanity once and for all.A sci-fi action adventure featuring the creation of Danny Choo, Mirai Suenaga.
8 183Steelhaven: The Rising Darkness
War rages on in the 10th millennium. Two interplanetary alliances, the Kyklos United World Alliance and the New Era Powers, are engaged in an intergalactic war that spans across the galaxy, with the latter slowly but surely achieving victory over the former. In a move of desperation, the Crown Prince of one of KUWA's allied nations, the Kingdom of Icaria, Verigan Aekarios XIII, assembles a team of specialists from across the galaxy to aid the war effort and put a stop to the NEP's progress. As our heroes begin their journey to win the Second Icarian-Orion War, they will go through many trials and tribulations. From the more obvious and direct, such as the thousands of enemy soldiers aiming for their heads, to the more inconspicuous and insidious, such as the prejudices of governors less than enthused by Verigan's course of action, as well as some... darker forces at play. Will our heroes prevail in their quest to end this war? What do these dark forces hold in store for the people of Kyklos? And is there any way to stop them? Find out in Steelhaven: The Rising Darkness! A sci-fantasy novel, collaboratively written by Denver Solace, J.P. Stefanno, Derrik S., Kezo D. Source, and a few other friends. Also available on Wattpad under the name Denver Solace.
8 199Gods of Arkanoth
The hunter has been betrayed, left alone in the streets of a lugubrious district. Only one goal appears in his eyes: to avenge himself. In his quest to avenge himself, he'll encounter an enigmatic scientist who seems to hide his true nature, a savior pretending to be a God, and the terrible truth of those words, bringing him against something he'd never thought he'd have to affront. This is the odyssey of the hunter, in a quest to put a long overdue end to a war between two worlds. // What to expect:The beginning will surely be intriguing, most of what's happeing won't be directly explained, although there will be some hints about their true roles, but do not worry about some subjects never leaving that misty fog that is unanswered questions! The novel is divided in two parts, the first focusing on uncovering the well-hidden secrets the city of Arkanoth hides, be it concerning its making or its inhabitants. As for the second part, it will be an expedition into the unknown, we could, in a way, say the true start of the journey our three heroes will undertake! I won't say anything more about the second part or else I might tell you an important detail without realizing... As for magic, because yes, there is magic! Although you might not see the shadow of a spell in the first chapters, it will appear in later chapters and will be one of the main subjects of volume 2. There are three heroes, yes, but they will not appear directly. While the first two protagonists appear in quite the beginning, the third will take his time, taking some stroll in the Districts of Arkanoth while we focus on the story of the hunter. But that does not lessen his importance in the story a bit, trust me. What about these three heroes, you say? Well, they all have their own issues, from their character to their torments, and as the story progresses they will have to come clean with their past (character development is to be expected) and will find their reason for fighting, braving all odds. I draw my inspiration from mythology, more precisely Aztec mythology. I want to stay true to a certain extent about it and all the relations between the gods and their role, however I will still change some things to my liking, so do not expect for all of the mythology to be respected to the letter. Finally! I have to say English is a foreign langage for me, so I might not choose the best words or straight-up miswrite something, if it bothers your experience, just tell me in the comments and I'll look into it! It is also my first time writing a book, so some parts might seem sloppy, but I hope I will be able to improve throughout this journey so as to give the most enjoyable reading experience to you. // Who might enjoy this story: Firstly, if you like deep lore and stories in which past plays a big role, you will like how everything unravels to show the hidden truths of the world. However if you do not appreciate not instantly understanding what's happening or who - or even what - this person might be, then you might not appreciate the story. There will be disturbing and gore descriptions, so if you're sensitive, don't like reading about someone being beheaded and such, you should probably pass this one. There is strong langage, although I won't abuse it, I won't be lying saying no insults will appear. Finally, the heroes will not always win, they will sometime lose battles, be it important ones or unimportant, and they will, most of the time, not come out unscathed from those. // Time Schedule : once every two sundays at 7:pm Ps : feel free to tell me if something is bad, or feel wrong with the book, it really helps me. I've written till' chapter 4 (in my mother tongue, so I'll still have to translate), however I'll make some minor and major changes, thus it will take some time to post them. Schedule will probably not change after releasing chapter 4, so don't worry, it won't take even longer to post a chapter than it already is. Enjoy the ride :)
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