Chapter 13
“My name is Deryssa Val’dor.”
Deryssa bowed slightly, her movements demonstrating an effortless grace. Even though mostly translucent, her skin had the same mesmerizing tapestry of black and grey swirls as Ruin’s, and it shimmered subtly with prismatic light with her every shift in position. Four delicate wings enh...
2024-09-21 05:33:54 +0000 UTC View PostPrologue
Naktos watched with morbid curiosity and a significant amount of anticipation as Ruwen and Lalquinrial battled. Naktos floated deep in the chaotic energy surrounding Tower Island. Soul power coated his body like armor, protecting him from damage. His extended senses would be impossible to detect amid the frantic battle above.
<... 2024-09-21 05:31:59 +0000 UTC View Post[Author's Note - updated the spells in this chapter a bit since I first posted it.]
The first item Ash picked up looked like an old-fashioned water flask.
Name: Artesian Flask
Quality: Uncommon
Durabili...
2024-09-20 21:16:28 +0000 UTC View PostHey!
A quick note about today's Divine Awakening chapter. It's not where I want it so I'll release it tomorrow. Sorry about the delay.
Take care,
AFK
2024-09-19 22:08:12 +0000 UTC View Post[Author's Note - this chapter is rougher than normal as I haven't had a chance to read through it again and it hasn't gone to the editor either.]
Chapter 49
Ash stood alone in the tunnel, his senses alert for any additional wraiths. The flickering torchlight cast long, tripping shadows along the stone walls. The air felt thin,...
2024-09-18 05:29:13 +0000 UTC View PostHi!
I didn’t get that third chapter finished, so only two chapters tonight. As I said in my earlier update, starting next week, I’ll be prioritizing the book 11 chapters so we should get three chapters consistently.
The end of chapter 12 tonight is something I’d intended for much later in the book, possibly even the end, but I...
2024-09-14 06:26:37 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 12
Ruin read the details on the second Array and found it came from an item.
Band of Remembrance
The Band of Remembrance is one of the eight artifacts associated with the eight spires that create the boundaries of the Destruction Realm. Little is known about the Heritages associated with the b...
Chapter 11
Ruin returned to his body and found himself wearing the items he’d equipped. He expected to find them scattered across the ground, not reflecting how he'd dressed in the vault. He wondered what that looked like to someone watching his physical body and made a note to have Rami observe him next time.
Vex remained airborne...
2024-09-14 06:23:59 +0000 UTC View PostHey!
Just wanted to drop a note to let everyone know I'm only going to post two chapters a week of Divine Awakening on Royal Road for a while until I can build up more of a buffer. I also need to focus on Book 11 so my goal for a bit will be getting those three chapters done and then writing as many Ash chapters as I can. This will likely ...
2024-09-13 18:32:35 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 48
Nomad sat in front of Ash. “What was that thing?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“You seem a little jumpy.”
Ash sighed. "Sorry." Then he told a half-truth. "My display keeps appearing suddenly, and it's giving me problems."
Nomad squeezed his eyes tightly and rubbed them. "I know. Everyone’s att...
2024-09-13 18:21:53 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 47
"Those are the two brothers in the beginning of the Bible, right?" Ash asked.
Bruja nodded. "The story goes that Cain became jealous of Abel and killed him. There is a massive mythology around Cain because he was cursed by God."
"Cursed? Like you said my blood is?"
"Yeah, but here's the interesting part. I’m ...
2024-09-11 20:37:21 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 46
The stairs spiraled downward for about thirty feet and opened into a chamber fifty feet across. Five tunnels exited the chamber, and stone benches sat against the walls between the passages. Torches lined the walls, providing plenty of light.
As soon as Ash's foot touched the stone floor, a surge of experience coursed thro...
2024-09-09 22:57:13 +0000 UTC View Post[Author's Note: As I said in the update there is a lot of info dumping in this chapter, and I'm not sure how to fix it yet.]
Chapter 11
Ruin returned to his body and found himself wearing the items he’d equipped. He expected to find them scattered across the ground, not reflecting exactly how he'd dressed in the vault. He wondered ...
2024-09-07 07:37:18 +0000 UTC View PostHi!
I’m sending out this update early. I only have one chapter for book 11 tonight, and I’m not super happy with it either. It details the Inheritance/Heritage system and it reads like a huge info dump. Not sure how I’m going to fix it yet. I will do my best to get another chapter out this weekend but I can’t promise it.
Book...
2024-09-06 22:47:12 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 45
Ash’s feet sank into the soft dunes as he sprinted across the sand, his lungs burning from the scorching heat. Behind him, the rest of the group staggered through the shifting terrain, struggling to keep pace. The sound of heavy boots sinking into sand mixed with the dry rasp of their breathing.
The sand stretched endles...
2024-09-06 21:39:07 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 44
The chamber fell silent, the only sound the distant whirring of Blueprint’s drone as she scouted all the larger tunnels in the lower section.
Ash stood in the center of the circular chamber, his eyes darting between the twenty-four doorways that had magically opened. Each portal, now revealed by the blood that had seeped...
2024-09-04 20:48:12 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 43
Ash returned the stares of the nineteen people gathered around the tunnel entrance. Notifications appeared, and unsure of what to say in the sudden silence, he glanced at them.
Ping!
You have gained the following Title...
Title: Backache
Quality:
2024-09-03 01:38:24 +0000 UTC
View Post
[Author's Note: I will try and get another chapter up today or tomorrow.]
Chapter 42 - Relay
Izzy tried to calm herself as she jogged down the tunnel. Nomad had sent everyone out of the room with the hole and black eel. Had Shamrock killed that horrid creature? It smelled awful.
Despite running marathons, Izzy felt herse...
2024-09-02 17:20:40 +0000 UTC View PostHey everyone,
I just added book 11 chapters 9 and 10 for Step Master and above. I unlocked chapter 8 for Harvester, and chapter 7 for Root. Sorry about the delay.
Have a great week.
Take care,
AFK
2024-09-02 02:53:16 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 10
Multiple sets of armor pulsed with hidden energy. Plate mail of shimmering silver, leather jerkins that absorbed the light, creating patches of shadows across their surface like camouflage, and helms adorned with gemstones that flickered with internal fire. Some armors were sleek and elegant, while others bristled with spikes. 2024-09-02 02:49:56 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 9
Ruin’s new and very full inventory had helpfully grouped items by quality. It started with fine and continued with rare, special, epic, and legendary.
The vast majority of fine-quality items centered on the armor and weapons of the warriors in the five towers.
Ruin had stacks with quantities over ten thousand for mu...
2024-09-02 02:47:17 +0000 UTC View PostHi!
As you’ve already noticed no doubt I only released one Book 11 chapter tonight. I have another almost ready that I hopefully can get out on Saturday. I was a single parent for part of the week and that ensured I had no extra time for writing.
Despite failing to write 3 chapters for both book 11 and Divine Awakening, I feel like...
2024-08-31 05:08:48 +0000 UTC View Post[Author's Note: As I said in this week's update, I should have another chapter released Saturday night. I was a single parent this week which is catastrophic for writing. Thank you for your patience and understanding.]
Chapter 8
To Ruin's relief Vex appeared, but he’d changed. A lot. Even with Ruin's new height, he had to look up a...
2024-08-31 05:07:42 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 41
Ash moved cautiously down the narrow tunnel. It sloped noticeably downward, and the air grew colder with each step. The dry, stale scent of ancient stone and dust filled his nostrils, and the faint echoes of his party as they entered the Shadow Eel room exaggerated the tunnel’s silence. His senses remained on high alert, L...
2024-08-30 18:53:16 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 40
Ding!
You have reached Level 2!
You have gained 2 unassigned attribute points!
You have gained 1 spell point!
Check appropriate displays for new capabilities.
Now that Ash knew the shadow eel had died, he released the bo...
2024-08-28 19:59:53 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 39
As Ash continued down the tunnel, Third Eye detected traces of energy flowing along every surface. Was this how the dungeon kept track of everyone? Staying alert, he concentrated on this faint power, tapping into his pitiful Crown energy to help him detect any patterns.
Third Eye picked up pools of power on the floor, whic...
2024-08-27 02:59:47 +0000 UTC View PostVarthon pointed at Rami. “And you’re far too valuable to throw your life away entering one of those towers. You need to concentrate on attaching your pathways. Your spiritual network is pitiful. You—”
Ruin didn’t even bother standing and interrupted the Void Wyrm with a single word.
“Open,” Ruin calmly commanded.
...
2024-08-24 08:15:12 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 6
Ruin sensed Rami use her Superior Telescopic Touch to absorb the contents of the book, and the new quest filled his vision.
Name: Harbinger’s Call
Description: The Harbinger speaks for their Verse.
Chapter 38
Before Ash could approach the loot, a notification appeared.
Ping!
You have gained the following Title...
Title: Overkill
Quality: Uncommon
Requirement:
As Ash moved forward, he triggered his new Third Eye ability, Lesser Ripple, and pushed it outward. Once past ten feet, his Mental Energy ticked down a percentage every three seconds, and the farther he extended the ability, the faster the Mental Energy dropped.
Sensory input swamped Ash, and he adjusted Lesser Ripple&nbs...
2024-08-22 05:26:57 +0000 UTC View Post