《The Account of the Golden Bamboo》Prologue (2)
Advertisement
It was four days after the speech given by the leader of the Garden of Irises. Midnight had just arrived, donning her starry coat. It was almost spring so cloudless night skies like this one was a rare occurrence. On a rocky hill, some whispers can be heard coming from the inside of a cave.
Inside the cramped cave stood four hooded and masked figures, revealing only their eyes. The cave was dimly lit by several torches but it was still too dark for their eyes to be visible. The four ominous figures surrounded a smooth rock, on which was a damped paper map.
As the light from the torch flickered, the right figure shivered and complained, “How can it be this cold even inside a cave? I’m trembling!” It was a man’s voice. He further exaggerated his shivering and said, “See? I told you I’m trembling!”
The top figure sneered at him and gave him a nasty look.
“Soon, you’ll wish it was colder!” The bottom figure responded. “Focus on the map!”
Suddenly, a small rock near the left figure cracked with a loud thud. Everyone else’s attention was drawn to the left figure. The three figures instantly realised that the left figure had just slammed her fist onto the rock and cracked it. It was a feat not even an experienced martial artist can accomplish easily. Inwardly, they were all impressed by her skills.
“What more is there to wait? The longer we stay here, the longer that filthy scum stays alive!” A woman’s voice echoed in the cave.
The top figure looked at her and gave an approving nod.
The left figure continued, “That traitor… He betrayed us! He betrayed all Eustacians! I… I…”
The top figure interrupted, “I know, I know. By morning, everything will have ended. Wait for just a bit more.” He then looked at the bottom figure and calmy said, “Please continue.”
Advertisement
The bottom figure thanked him and announced, “There is drastic change in the number and position of guards. Perhaps there’s an information leak. We’ll deal with that in time.” He then pointed to a few locations on the map.
“These will be our new breakthrough chokepoints,” he gave the left figure a brief glance and continued, “and I’ll add more personnel to your team from mine.”
Unable to contain her rage, the left figure exclaimed, “We’ll give all’em grey rats hell! For Eustacia!”
Normally, the top figure would give her a piercing look for being so loud but this time, her passion resonated strongly within him, so much so he did not notice that he was bobbing his head to her words.
“Well said. Except for these changes, everything shall proceed as planned. I hereby conclude the emergency meeting. To your destinated locations!” announced the bottom figure.
*
The four figures disbanded and swiftly reached their assigned locations, assassinating any guards who came in their way. Not a minute later, some smoke can be seen coming from the west.
“Library’s on fire! Quick! Hurry and put it out!” Someone screamed.
“What do you think I’m doing, idiot? Argh… Damn it! It’s getting bigger! Get all the people on duty here. And hurry!” Another voice responded.
Suddenly, a swarm of people poured into the Amber Manor through the southwest entrance. Dozens of guards near that entrance were killed before they could even react.
As chaos quickly ensued, a hooded figure who was hiding behind a tree muttered to himself, “That’s my cue.”
Masking his sprinting sounds with the clattering noise from weapons clashing against each other, he dashed towards the east wall of the Amber Manor. The wall was over two meters tall, but he leaped over it effortlessly.
Advertisement
He landed on the grass ground silently and tumbled forward. Immediately, he covered the nearby guard’s mouth with his left palm, and simultaneously slit the guard’s throat with a sword on his right. This entire process took no more than a second.
Before the falling body of that guard had even reached the ground, he hopped onto the second floor of a big mansion and entered by breaking through the window. The screams and taunts from the west meant not a single soul paid heed to the breaking of the window.
It was dark as a veil inside the mansion, but the hooded figure ran at full speed in the hallway, turning corners when needed. After passing by some doors, he suddenly stopped in place and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before opening his eyes and exhaling. He repeated this process once more before muttering to himself, “You are ready for this.”
“Bang”! He slammed open the door to his right. Raising his foot, he crossed over the threshold.
Advertisement
The Dungeon Challenge
The Dungeon Challenge beckons.Katha was taken, offered to the Challenge in exchange for mercy for the villagers of Reach. And now it’s up to siblings Malco and Reva, her only friends, to get her back. They’ll need the power of Archetypes. They’ll need levels. And for that, they’ll need to risk their lives. In their way stands a perilous journey, deadly traps, and terrible monsters. Omnipotent Godtouched plot in the shadows, and older conspiracies come to light to threaten the land itself. Larger than life, older than time, the Challenge itself lies in wait. It plays for keeps. You don’t get another try. -------------------------------------------------The Dungeon Challenge is my first stab at gamelit. A chapter a day for about a month and then Mon-Wed-Fri. Art by the wonderful Cáti Daehnhardt @catidaehnhardt
8 182The Ascension of Celestial Priest
The Ascension of The Celestial Priest Death due to a freak accident, Lukas was suddenly torn from his old life and thrust into a new existence where he found himself in a place he never thought possible...a new world were magic exists. Homesick and yet thrusting for the new knowledge Lukas will have to strive for more power and might as a Priest of Light just so he can protect himself and his new family long enough to find the answers he desperately needs.On why was he brought to the New World? What should he do from there? And if he will ever find a way back to his old life. Update Schedule: 2-4 Chapters per MonthUploaded Saturday Morning, nearly each week with more chapters guaranteed when they happen to be ready PS/Basically it’s an LGBT story that meshes fantasy with Cultivation elements together to form its own unique thing. I hope you enjoy. Please vote if you happen to like it and comment on the chapters below on how I can improve my storytelling. Laters and have fun :D. This Story is mainly published on Webnovel with Royalroads & Dreame as Secondary. For those interested to support this work, please visit my patreon page https://www.patreon.com/goldenmonarch. For now this account will exist purely for support. I will post an update on any changes.
8 142Surewinter
A young man's virtual life and real life become inextricably entwined when a player named Surewinter reaches out to him for help on a popular VRPG game, only to be discovered dead the next morning—her body washed up face down in a canal. Now a suspect, he's forced to navigate Abaddon Online, an illegal underground VR game where what's real and what's virtual is sometimes hard to discern, and clear his name before he becomes the next victim. He must earn the trust of a new guild, overcome the players set to kill him, and keep the true killer from knowing that he's closing in.
8 183End Boss
I am Varon of the Ravan family. The successor to one of the 5 great families that support the empire. I am a duke. And I am this story’s end boss. But I am also Ragnarok the great evil dragon, the Serpent king. I held power, title, glory and wealth and a easy life but I have given it up to be with her. My beloved. The red witch. The one who’s hated by all but me. She’s whose condemned by god. But today I will free her from her cage. I have prepared for every possible hindrance. I can’t afford to lose. My crimes are long. I will break her lock. I’ve lead and started wars from the shadows. I have imprisoned the souls of many and now my legions burn this empire. I have thrown this world into chaos. I am ready today the hero dies. So to break her free I shall slay the god that holds her. Even if the world dies in the process. I will get here back. For I am the evil dragon and she my evil goddess. And I will have her back. I hear her call. I miss her voice that just yesterday I could hear. The one called hero will not slay me for I know. I know I am this story’s end boss. How do I know this I am this story’s end. Because I am also a man from earth. And the ending to this story. I shall change it. See long dead is the man from earth. Long dead is the argonaut noble human. Long dead is the powerful dragon. Now there's only me Varon. A lonely man named Varon. But today I will be with her again. I am the end boss. But this time I shall slay the hero. I am Varon. At first I was simply Varon then Ragnarok memory’s came. Then the whispers that haunted me became her voice. Then the memory’s from earth came and with them so did a chance. A chance to be with her. A chance for victory. A chance for the end boss to win. It is time. Let’s begin the story. Can I best the other bosses?Can I defeat the coming hero? Am I allowed a happy ending after all that I have done? (Don’t remember where the cover photo came from but I think its from a manga.)
8 368The Rabbit And His Lover
Lark, who was born into a poor family, suffered separation from his parents when they were framed and murdered by the scheming government officials trying to survive and swearing revenge he becomes a thief (and a murderer). But the destination seems far when he suddenly gets killed and then reincarnates in the body of a rabbit. Trapped and force-fed carrots by an unexpected love interest, will he be able to get accustomed to his new life, and can he exact his revenge on the corrupt government and the empire that oversees it all without getting fat?
8 161Testament of Ezra
"Dragon's are able to fly. Thus they go whereever they please." Those words were spoken to Ezra by his father. Now Ezra has left his home in search of the adventure he has always dreamed of. Yet while he trained, the world fought against itself. He has been told tales of the great dragons that fly through the lands. The warriors who won wars, and the legends that inspired generations. The world finds itself in conflict with something long overdue to be resolved. Can he survive it, or will he rise above it all?
8 89