I walked ahead of the group with Lyria at my side. Neither of us spoke much, which was hardly a surprise.
We hadn’t had much time to think with all the chaos, and even now, we were wading through knee-high piles of twisted, vaguely humanoid rat corpses. I had just likely pissed off some p...
2024-09-20 18:10:08 +0000 UTC View PostVitus
I touched the grommet’s aura, confirming he was either as powerful as a small twig or exceptionally gifted at hiding his strength.
“Caution,” I said slowly. “Something is wrong here.”
The seven of us, drenched in blood and hardened after a full d...
2024-09-18 16:57:42 +0000 UTC View PostI woke with something hard and earthy in my mouth. I sat up, tried to bite down, and found my teeth sinking into something with the texture of a potato.
Several pairs of hands urged me back down. I noticed black veins bulging across my body and a feeling of… something. There was ...
2024-09-16 17:23:08 +0000 UTC View PostI strained my eyes against the darkness, breath coming in quick gasps as I searched for whatever had triggered my Mana Sense a moment ago. I had my back to the grommets, a Viperlilly-infused Elemental Spike already summoned and clutched in my hand, and my party gathered behind me. The narrow size...
2024-09-13 18:37:08 +0000 UTC View PostShawnForReal from Discord mentioned how it would be helpful if we had a running list of characters so far in the story. I thought it was a great idea and decided to put it all together today. While I was at it, I also compiled all the items and abilities for Brynn and Lyria, just as a kind of "bo...
2024-09-12 15:16:29 +0000 UTC View PostOriander
Behind me, the work continued. The sound was a constant clink and clatter as the men and women worked on the containment room being built behind my throne.
The work had already taken longer than intended, but nothing could be done. Two men and two wo...
2024-09-11 16:08:17 +0000 UTC View PostEver since discovering the hidden grommet tunnels, I had wondered where the hell the dirt went. As a kid who dug himself many pointless holes at the beach back on Earth, I knew every hole or tunnel created piles of material. It had to go somewhere, but in the case of these dungeon tunnels, the ma...
2024-09-11 14:42:21 +0000 UTC View Post“Hey ho,” the white-robed cleric said. He was still squinting up at me. As a kid, my grandma had a pet chihuahua, and I was never sure if it was thinking about biting me or about to fall asleep. The grommet hero gave me the exact same impression. His voice was even more scratchy and wobbly th...
2024-09-09 17:01:50 +0000 UTC View PostThe sound of creaking and groaning wood filled the chamber. After granting my fusion class, the massive bone tree rumbled and began to vibrate. To my disbelief, the tree seemed to be growing in reverse. The thick, dark-mana-studded branches withered, shrank, and retreated into the main trunk.
... 2024-09-06 16:58:49 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 78 - Fusion
The list of potential class options floated in my view. To my surprise, Voidgaze displayed a separate message for me, as if I was inspecting the readout itself. A separate window of information popped up into my view. I hadn’t seen Voidgaze do somethin...
2024-09-04 16:26:38 +0000 UTC View PostThe cave chamber smelled horrible. The stench of the flaming pieces of Eclipsed, the somewhat burned and poison-beamed baby head with spider legs boss, and my own unbathed scent had all begun to marinate. It wasn’t the best environment for total focus, but I was doing my best.
I sat cross...
2024-09-02 16:13:06 +0000 UTC View PostI stood alone in the chamber with the dead dungeon guardian’s corpse, the still-steaming remains of the Eclipsed, and the massive bone tree. My eyes were still on the cavity in the center of the tree, but I knew I had a little more to do before I should approach and find out if the tree could u...
2024-09-02 15:55:02 +0000 UTC View PostI blinked and saw Lyria leaning over me, her red hair dangling in front of my face. “Brynn?” she asked.
I was surprised to find I was completely refreshed. Every shred of the dark mana lingering in my body was gone. The only thing convincing me I hadn’t imagined it was the sensation a...
2024-08-30 13:20:22 +0000 UTC View PostI was in a featureless, white room.
A blurry figure walked toward me. His form came into focus with each step as if his body was pulling itself together from nothing, taking shape before my eyes.
In moments, he appeared very much real.
The man wore a black robe with silver inscr...
2024-08-30 13:18:30 +0000 UTC View PostI walked toward the Eclipsed with the strangest sensation of… fullness. With each step, the creature’s eyes followed me, body still drifting above the tangle of roots where its legs should be, but otherwise motionless.
The desire to use the new dark power came with odd, unfamiliar impul...
2024-08-29 17:29:48 +0000 UTC View PostLyria
One Minute Earlier
My sword barely penetrated the thick, wood-like skin of the Eclipsed. I wished any of us had larger weapons, like axes or greatswords. Instead, it felt as though we were trying to cut through a tree with knives. Even my Basilisk’s G...
2024-08-28 18:25:07 +0000 UTC View PostNobody spoke as we neared the dungeon’s heart chamber. Ramzi’s soft humming provided a magical light around our bodies, helping us avoid bumping into supports and collapsing the tunnel.
Where the hell were the grommets, anyway? If they were watching us, they were taking great p...
2024-08-26 17:35:57 +0000 UTC View PostVitus
The boon I earned when I reached Iron had hardened my body until it could withstand intense punishment. But this was pushing even my limits. How much longer could we keep this up?
Sweat poured from me as I took a step forward, swiping my great ax left and right,...
2024-08-23 16:11:41 +0000 UTC View PostAbout thirty seconds ago, I had been feeling pretty good about the plan. All we needed to do was buy a little time. I had a laundry list of ideas for how I could do that. I could use my new Cloudfall skill with a Potion of Life to cause a distraction or create a no-fly zone between myself and Rak...
2024-08-21 16:53:40 +0000 UTC View PostVitus
I heard the sound of something running toward us with speed.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
I stood, readied my sword, and silently gestured for the others to prepare. Magic flared and gathered on weapons or in the hands of casters. Protective shields bu...
2024-08-19 17:30:45 +0000 UTC View PostI could see the paths available for the evolution of Elemental Projection in my mind.
Like before, my Soul corestone presented me with two options. The first showed me firing out three dart-like projectiles of elemental magic. They streaked forward in straight lines, apparently una...
2024-08-19 17:17:04 +0000 UTC View PostI checked my newly gained skill with a sense of anticipation. I saw two things before I read the details. One, it was a skill for my Heart corestone. Two, it was an active skill.
[Common] Active Skill: Mana Surge. [Tier 1] Temporarily boost the target’s mana regeneration speed. 2024-08-16 17:02:49 +0000 UTC View Post
[Rare Accomplishment] Defeat [1] Elite enemy within [Beastden] dungeon. [Reward - Rare Dungeon Diver’s Token] “What happened to the whole no bombs thing? Do you have a death wish, Seraphel? I’m just teasing… That was great. Next time, I think you should start with one...
2024-08-14 17:14:03 +0000 UTC View PostI cut my practice session short and meditated with Peace as we came closer to the red dot ahead. On my map, the tunnel seemed to bulge slightly, as if there was a larger chamber around the enemy.
On the one hand, it would be nice to fight with a little more breathing room. On the othe...
2024-08-12 18:02:35 +0000 UTC View PostLyria and I stopped a little before reaching camp. We used handfuls of dirt to rub the blood off our bodies and clothing. It kind of worked in the same way rubbing yourself with sandpaper would. Except all the blood we managed to scrub off was replaced by dirt, which was only a slight im...
2024-08-09 17:42:40 +0000 UTC View PostLyria stalked forward with her Basilisk’s Shield and sword drawn. Her posture was defensive and ready.
I could tell she was nervous, but I thought it was important to push her just as much as I was pushing myself.
“You really think this is necessary?” Lyria asked without taking ...
2024-08-07 17:41:48 +0000 UTC View PostLyria
Brynn moved ahead of me down the dungeon passage.
He walked with a kind of deadly purpose and confidence I hadn’t seen in him before. The clothes he bought for himself in Riverwell were halfway shredded and filthy, showing bits of his skin beneath. He had the ...
2024-08-05 16:18:19 +0000 UTC View PostRake
In retrospect, bringing a half-turned Forsaken may have been a mistake. The man was crazier than a cursed tomte. And I once knew a cursed tomte who said her secret ingredient to every soup was a shoe. A fuckin’ shoe.
Morrivan was kneeling in front of a...
2024-08-02 17:59:07 +0000 UTC View Post[Common Accomplishment] Defeat [1] enemy within [Beastden] dungeon without the help of allies. [Reward - Common Lone Dungeon Diver’s Token] “I feel like I’m really starting to get to know you, Brynn. Again, that is.
“There’s something in the way...
2024-07-31 15:59:16 +0000 UTC View PostMuscles burning, I held my bow fully drawn, waiting for a shot as I took in the newcomers.
All four were Woods between levels 30 and 45. One man and woman both had short-trimmed hair and the same vertical white bars tattooed on one cheek. They were both humans, maybe around thirty years old...
2024-07-29 18:11:33 +0000 UTC View Post