JaceVAmor

Upcoming Schedule

Epilogue chapters are coming. The first two will also be going on royalroad, but the rest will be exclusive to patreon. I expect to have at least a dozen by the end.

Once those are done, I'd also like to write the first chapters of my second story.

After that, I'll take a break from posting while I decide exactly what to do next, whether it's diving right into the second story or rewriting all or some of Unchosen Champion before moving on.

Basically, my release schedu...

Chapter 405: Relentless Combatants

Coop felt the animalistic determination to challenge the Icon of Mana smoldering in his blood. It was like a rival was occupying territory that should belong to him. He wasn’t terrified by its transparent display of defensive prowess, he was aggravated by it. His hand was steady as he raised his sword, and before the Icon took another step through the searing fallout of Lyriel’s magical barrage, he took action.

Just in case the Icon’s unwavering march was all a bluff, Coop followe...

Chapter 404: Final Judgment

The upper chamber of the Ark could hardly be considered a regular room by any earthly standards. The sheer size was disproportionate to a human sense of scale. It was like an entire unfurnished palace situated at the top of its kingdom, too clean to seem abandoned, but too grand and organized to be anything less.

Similar to the rest of the alien ship, the magnitude was hard to believe, even when standing inside of it. On the bright side, there didn’t seem to be additional levels to cl...

Chapter 403: All In

The indistinct buzz of the protective mana shield had become a constant accompaniment to the battle for Ghost Reef. The turtle shell shaped projection flickered with energy ever since the first weeks of the Eradication Protocol. It protected the courtyard from a bombardment of attacks so that the fighters could concentrate on the raiders that rushed in from all angles.

The low, humming sound had become a subconscious reassurance for the defenders who fought for the island. It was the fe...

Chapter 402: Hurricane Season

Balor swung his hammer continuously. He had never had to work or fight for such a long uninterrupted period in his long life and by all accounts of human intentions, this was just the beginning. While defending the courtyard of Ghost Reef he always had another target, and if he could move a little faster, there were still more. For days, then weeks, and months, he pummeled monsters that sought to wipe out his sworn companions, too strained to formulate alternative ideas, knowing that years an...

Chapter 401: Besieged

Marcus was the last to leave the War Room. He had been a constant presence, refusing to take any breaks after his arrival back during the beginning of the Eradication Protocol. With his exit, the auditorium-like shelter was finally empty, falling into a dormancy that was only broken by the rumbling of war in the distance above and below.

One by one, all of the world’s authorities took their leave from the command post in favor of personally lending their hands to the defense of Ghost ...

Chapter 400: Mana Singularity

Coop was having as close to a spiritual experience with mana as was possible for someone like him. He wasn’t the kind of person who would consciously delve into contemplative meditation. In fact, he was much more likely to end up taking a nap if he tried.

Seeking inner peace or universal truths was of no interest to him when he could lay in a hammock on the beach and just relax, but that didn’t mean he was incapable of a thoughtless trance or two. Narrowing his focus to concentrate ...

Chapter 399: D-Day

Edith Buford ignored the stuffy atmosphere, absorbed in her own personal ruminations. She was surrounded by other anxious volunteers from Ghost Reef, quietly having nervous conversations while bracing against waves and the occasional burst of firepower that rocked the sea. They were packed like sardines, but at this point they were all members of one large humanity-wide family, so the proximity was not a problem.

She had turned inward with her thoughts and was reminiscing about the pre-...

Chapter 398: The Cavalry

Bryan embedded the bottom of his oversized tower shield into the ashen ground and braced his shoulder against the inside, digging his toes even deeper through the debris as he anticipated an impact. The symbolic shield of his Secutor class was marked with creases from where Coop had crushed it in the past, but through diligent repairs and later upgrades, the armament was stronger than ever.

Just as the wielder had grown, gaining levels and experience, so had his equipment. At the peak o...

Chapter 397: The Sacred Avenger

Gibson leaned heavily on the winged hilt of his sacred sword as he rested on one knee and waited for the fireworks. Though his features were hidden beneath his armor, his posture proudly displayed the role he was playing. The unspoken message was that as long as his weapon burned, he would keep fighting on behalf of the Lighthouse.

The Sword of Avenging Light was actually a Ghost Reef Standard Issue Sword, but through his mana it was noticeably enchanted. It became something completely ...

Chapter 396: Transcendence

Exploring the Ark had been a profoundly complex experience for Lyriel. More than a physical challenge, it was a mental ordeal, with her thoughts swinging from one extreme to another. Her past as the last leader of her planet, witnessing the ultimate sacrifice of her family, friends, and subjects, all to ensure her survival weighed heavily on her consciousness. The Ark had always represented the last sliver of hope in an otherwise unforgiving universe, but even that had been taken away, leavin...

Chapter 395: Applied Learning

Legions of hellfire demons were replaced by swarms of alien parasites as they climbed the tower. As a result, Coop was forced onto his backfoot, unexpectedly confronting new enemies.

His momentum had already been relatively choppy, building up on one platform only to be interrupted each time they skipped to the next level, but it was truly impeded by a complete reset of the field. It was like a hairpin turn had been introduced to an uphill straightaway. He was spinning his wheels, despe...

Chapter 394: Demon Hunter

Coop fought every single battle like it might be his last. Whether his opponent was a Hellhound, Boxing Golem, or the more advanced variants of the Demons, he put everything on the line and engaged them with all of his skills. Anything less would have been unacceptable negligence, especially inside the tower.

He was no prizefighter and he had no preconceived notions of fair play. He had never undergone the type of structured training that a professional might experience, instead fightin...

Chapter 393: Icon of the Storm

Charlie had been sheltered. There was no denying it, but an acknowledgment did nothing to protect her from the fear buried deep in her heart. It leapt from her chest and choked her breath away once she was left with no one else to rely upon.

Her trembling fingers squeezed her gnarled storm staff in an effort to stay still. She held the unique weapon tight against her chest in a feeble attempt to draw strength from the inanimate object while partially shielding her face from the approach...

Chapter 392: In and Out of Time

Camila shot across the shrouded golden dunes, entering the monument of sand without any fear. Her only concern was reaching her grandmother and cousin, knowing that every second they remained inside the cathedral of sand could push them closer to their last. Fighting inside the storm was accepting an enormous disadvantage, but sometimes it couldn’t be avoided.

The kinetic aura that normally protected her from the wind also repelled the sand that would have otherwise collided with her ...

Chapter 391: Escape from Neon Park

Camila’s eyes were fixed on the ever-encroaching wall of sand. It had completely consumed the horizon, merging with the crimson sheen that had been evenly distributed across the planet until the entire planet was painted red. The wafting sands transformed the corrupting haze into a mixture of hues that shifted from pink to gold depending on subtle changes in perspective. Camila thought the shades of color could have been beautiful in a less threatening context.

The expanding sands slo...

Chapter 390: Rage!

Coop completed another mistjump, sweeping through the world of mists to skip right up to the next level. Before his presence was noticed beyond the edge of the platform, he was already scanning for a golem near the center of the fused hexagonal platforms, all of their previous triumphs fueling his decisiveness. The target for his opening combo wouldn’t have any chance to prepare itself.

As they successfully conquered an individual section on each level, he was growing increasingly con...

Chapter 389: Progress

Dozens of levels up the spiraling tower, another bout of violence intruded on the cold interior of the Ark. The assault extended a growing chain of continuous fighting, rising from the depths of the tower, showing no sign of stopping. Where most of the Ark was calm, quiet, with only the oozing substrate within each hexagonal cell shifting colors, the clashing disturbance on the tower was loud and conspicuous. It mirrored the stream that rose from the bedrock, climbing the floors with only one...

Chapter 388: Withdrawal

On the shore of the Min River, in a mountainous area of Fujian, China, a trio of enormous phantom battleships idled with uncanny stillness. The way the vessels floated on the water made them seem completely weightless, belying their actual magnitude with their unique constitutions. Each had triple masts and an equal number of decks, with nearly a hundred cannons a piece. They were mobile fortresses armed with more than enough siege weapons to contend with the most dangerous threats, and that ...

Chapter 387: Unrealized Gains

That Coop had already been pushed to use Inheritance of the Mists was an ominous sign for the future. The Horned Demon was still only the equivalent of a normal enemy, but with it being surrounded by allied Hellhounds, Golems, and Imps, combined with its clearly superior stats, Coop felt he had no choice other than unleashing his ultimate ability. In that sense, the Apparition of the Fated Hero was right to suggest Coop needed to keep growing.

Coop shook his head, disappointed with hims...

Chapter 386: The Fated Hero

Coop stepped through the mists, disappearing from the physical plane and reappearing a moment later in a completely different place to flank a new golem variant. He had already categorized the new type as the Molten variety, giving them a nickname based on their outer characteristics.

He pierced its heart with his trusty spear as he exited the world of mists, identifying the core of its structure by observing the flow of energy across its exposed veins of lava, a conclusion inspired by ...

Chapter 385: Groundwork

When the Hellhound suddenly twisted backwards, canceling its biting charge at the last possible second, its momentum sent a wall of scorching fire cascading forward. The hexagonal tile it shared with its target brightened with heat while the flames that cloaked its body threatened to smother its opponent.

Coop shifted ever so slightly, unflinching as the demon rose to its full height, setting up for a more devastating attack by pushing itself upright in an intimidating fashion. He compl...

Chapter 384: Martyrdom

Tzultacaj heaved himself across a bottomless rocky ravine, scrabbling in the dirt for a moment before securing a grip. He swung his leg up and hauled himself over the opposite side as soon as his fingers stopped sliding. In one motion he snatched his axe from the ground and took off running. He picked up speed, like a stone rolling downhill before driving into the thinning coastal forest ahead. He held his ancient weapon near the broadhead blade with just one hand, focused on fleeing instead ...

Chapter 383: Delirium and Doodads

In a region that had already been surrendered to the forces of mana, embers of human defiance still smoldered. Rather than sparks stirred by a feeble campfire struggling in the dank fog, the glimmer of resistance was ignited in the hearts of regular people who resisted. They had stepped forward, unbowed by the despair of defeat, illustrating the resolve to do whatever was necessary to hinder an unstoppable tide of enemies.

A small band from a tribal village had unanimously agreed to rem...

Chapter 382: Paradise Lost

“What happened to the golems?” Coop asked, referring to the companions of the Hellhound.

The other opponents had been excluded from his duel thanks to the efforts of Lyriel. When he glanced up, he didn’t see any obvious smoke trails or other signs of demonic beasts falling from the sky, which was good, but given Lyriel’s continued lack of confidence, he doubted she defeated them herself.

“They did not give chase when we followed you off the bridge.” She stated with cer...

Chapter 381: Hellhound

Coop guided Lyriel back toward the tower, hoping to continue their journey and find a way to use the Ark to their advantage. It seemed like Lyriel only needed a bit of encouragement before she was locked back in on her idea of success. Whether the Ark was actually on her side or not didn’t matter, so long as it provided the connection with mana necessary to enact her plan.

The laser focus she had on achieving her goal was a bit alarming to Coop. He appreciated the determination, but i...

Chapter 380: Seed of Knowledge

Coop jumped to a dozen different conclusions when presented with the panopticon configuration of the Ark. With Presence of Mind, he was detecting repressed auras from every single exposed compartment, whether they were dark red or golden yellow. Was the Ark actually a prison? Some kind of people-sized insectarium? Cold storage?

He needed the full story, but he was in the wrong place to actually receive it. Instead, he only managed to glean that it was absolutely not the sanctuary that t...

Chapter 379: Twisted Roots

Coop had formed a limited, clumsy understanding of how to interact with the Ark, but that was all it took to get them started on their quest to take control. When they set off on the highway built from hexagons, he was raring to go. A smidgen of progress was enough to trigger his competitive instincts and have him hyped to take action.

Once they found the command center, ship core, or whatever it was that Lyriel believed would grant the highest level of access, they would put a stop to ...

Chapter 378: Golden Wyrm God

The Chicago skyline had been laid bare. Jada watched as one of the last three skyscrapers in the city collapsed. The monuments of steel and glass had fallen one after the other over the past few weeks, gradually increasing in frequency, despite surviving for 500 days of the assimilation. The loss of another iconic building barely generated a change of expression, so much had already happened before they reached the end.

The atmosphere was full of debris, making the details of each build...

Chapter 377: Devil's Tower

Cody pumped his double-barrel ‘shotgun,’ ejecting two spent capsules that evaporated when they hit the air. Mana merely trickled from his palms into the magical weapon, contrary to the urgency of the situation. Reloading another set of shells took seconds longer than usual. It was an ominous sign that had him chewing his tongue.

He smashed the steel barrels into the toothy jaw of a reptilian monster as it eclipsed the edge of the rock edifice that he was responsible for controlling....