N.B.Dravenlord

[BETA-READ / Side Project] RoU | B1 | Chapter 5

(Be advised that this book contains a dark setting, strong romance, and explicit scenes. I do not recommend it for anyone under 18.)

Rise of the Unbound / Book 1: The Blade and The Pawn

• Cover / synopsis: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141212971 <-New Covers!

• Prologue - > h...

  2026-02-04 05:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post

AoP | B2 | Chapter 60: Spell Fusing

Seth once again hammered the giant creature with his fists, each blow landing with a dull thud against the stone. On the other side of its body, Nightmare tore at the Elemental as the corrosive smoke hissed while corroding the rock. Colossus did his best to hold the One-eyed Giant Elemental's attention and absorb its brutal blows. 

Seth felt the rising impatience from both his companions through Link; they wanted to use their Toughness-reducing spells, since at the moment ...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 59: One-eyed Giant Elemental

Seth, Nightmare, and Colossus became bringers of death in the cavern's gloom. They fell into a deadly rhythm, ambushing every patrol of Earth Elementals that strayed too far from the giant tree and its dozing guardian; in less than half a day, the remains of more than three dozen Elementals lay scattered across the cave's floor.

In no time, groups of three became groups of four, then groups of five, all huddled together, clearly aware of the threat and trying to stay safe. It made no di...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 58: Titan Gem Shard

Seth dashed toward the Earth Elemental in front of him while Colossus slammed into the two on the right. Flanking them from the side, Nightmare unleashed Mantle of Terror and the oppressive wave of bloodlust surged outward, washing over the trio of golem-like creatures. The direwolf followed with a concussive howl focused on the Elemental Colossus was already engaging. The creature's stone form shuddered as the scorpion began to strike with his tails and pincers.

For the past few clashe...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 57: Bridge

After an hour that felt both short and agonizingly long, Seth pushed himself stiffly to his feet, done healing thanks to aether in his body. The searing pain from their fight with the Ice Elemental had subsided to a dull, throbbing ache that settled deep in his bones. Nearby, Kaelen was assessing his range of motion, twisting his torso to test the wound in his side.

Once satisfied, the Dark Assassin, Seth, and Nightmare left their small refuge carved into the rock face and continued alo...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 56: Limits

Seth's eyes widened. Volantis. The name made him jolt, pulling him back to his visit to Asethka with Marcus—the meeting with the Oracle Guild's Earl and the casual mention of his mother's homeland.

Was that why Seth's parents had come to Kastal? Had his father chosen this kingdom not because it was weak, but because it was a puppet of his mother's nation? A poor colony forced to send back all its valuable resources?

Or was that some sort of sanctuary, a place Draeria's ...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 55: Differences

Pushing himself up as his entire body screamed in protest, Seth looked over at Nightmare. 'You okay?'

'Yeah,' the direwolf answered while limping toward a shallow alcove in the cavern wall. 'It's not like you could give me a potion, anyway.'

Seth grimaced. Nightmare was right. The distortion field's chaotic aether was still prickling against his skin. It had rendered his Protecting Belt, his bracelet, and his Storing Ring useless during the fight. And no...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 54: Ice Elemental

Seth ran a few steps behind Kaelen, Nightmare pacing silently at his side. The direwolf remained tense, a low growl rumbling in his chest as his crimson eyes lingered on the assassin's back.

They took a left, their boots skidding and dashed down a steep slope. With an unnerving sense of direction, the assassin had found a narrow, winding path that descended several levels into the heart of the cave. They weaved through the labyrinth of tunnels, catching fleeting glimpses of Elementalsâ€...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 53: Protect

A splash. Then cold. So cold it bit into Colossus' inside. The darkness dragged him under, deeper and deeper.

Is this what it's like to be dead? the scorpion wondered. The thought wasn't scary. It was quiet. At least he had done the right thing up until the end. He had protected Seth—the one who had given his life a purpose. I wish I could have helped more… protected him longer… been his unbreakable shell forever.

But things didn't always go the way he want...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 52: Truce (BONUS CHAPTER)

(Last chapter was short, so here's a bonus chapter! Don't forget to read Chapter 51!)

Seth's face hardened into a cold mask as he gritted his teeth. He had to find Colossus—and fast. Every second he lingered here could make a difference.

He glanced at Kaelen, who spun his daggers ahead before briefly looking to his right at the massive Molten Titan. The creature had just finished slaughtering the last of the Elementals and was retreating the way it had come, apparently deciding ...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 51: Molten Titan

Before Seth could even react, Colossus and Nightmare burst from the teardrop necklace, materializing on either side of him in defensive stances. The five Earth Elementals exhaled through the hollow gaps that served as their nostrils, and they repeatedly lifted their front paws, ready to charge.

'You should've stayed inside,' Seth muttered mentally to them, raising his fists. His gaze flicked to the other creatures inside the large cavern—too many of them were within earshot. ...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 50: Deviants

For the next two days, Seth, Colossus, and Nightmare scoured the winding tunnels in search of an Earth Seed. On the first day, they'd stumbled upon a region heavy with the acrid scent of ash, where skittish Fire Elementals darted between molten cracks. After a brief hunt for any Essence or Seed they could easily snatch and sell, they'd left empty-handed and decided to focus their efforts on finding an area rich in Colossus's affinity.

Eventually, they did. The air had grown thick with E...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 49: Sharing the Benefits

Seth turned to face an Undead Giant panting a dozen feet away, the ruins of the Dark Elemental city stretching out around them. At his feet, a second identical creature lay still, its chest ripped open by five deep slashes. Green blood trickled from its mouth and seeped from the wounds to pool on the cracked stone beneath. Beside the corpse, three black crystals glinted in the dim light.

For three days, Seth had slain every convoy that had returned to the city. This was his most success...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 48: Dusk Scythes

Though he was battered and exhausted, Seth forced himself to his feet. Then, his attention was immediately drawn to the single object left behind by the vanquished elemental. The obsidian crystal pulsed with a malevolent inner light, and even from a distance he could feel the pure, dark energy inside. This was no mere beaststone.

He picked it up. The crystal was unnaturally cold, seeming to drink the warmth from his hand.

     Dusk Scythes...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 47: Against All Odds

The Dark Elemental Executioner moved. 

It didn't run or charge—it flowed across the stone floor and closed the distance with calm, terrifying speed. Seth braced himself, his core raging like an inferno in his chest and flooding every fiber of his being with primal energy. The creature's shadowy claws lashed out.

Seth met the strike with his gauntlets, and the impact sent a jarring shock through his bones. He was stronger than he had been a week ago, yet this creature was on...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 46: Dark Elemental Executioner

Seth remained concealed in the shadows, hidden by Illusionary Emptiness as he watched the carnage unfold. Driven into a suicidal frenzy by the fallen Seed, the Dark Elementals tore each other apart in a messy clash. Shadowy claws shredded incorporeal bodies left and right, while dark wisps of aether signaled each kill. Seth waited patiently even as his core awoke in his chest. The thing urged him to join the fray and prove who the true apex predator was in this dark cavern, yet he didn't yiel...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 45: Darkness vs Wind

Seth followed Nightmare, his senses alive with the new information of the direwolf's aether-infused howl flooding through Link. Seth had a perfect lock on the fleeing Dark Elemental, as if a glowing thread was leading him through the cavern's gloom. Ahead, Nightmare intercepted the panicked creature.

The moment the direwolf launched his assault and sank his fangs into the Dark Elemental, Seth felt something different through their shared senses: Shadow Bite was tearing through the creat...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 44: Predator Hunt

Seth carved open the chest of an Undead Giant, the corpse lying amidst the dissipating black smoke of Fog Shroud. They had specifically targeted these beasts for two reasons. The first was practical: their supply of Earth Elemental beaststones for Colossus was running dangerously low. The second was more emotional: it had given Seth a chance to use Night Veil, which had proven useless against the Dark Elementals because of their innate connection to the shadows. 

Seth plunged his h...

AoP | B2 | Interlude II: Devus (BONUS CHAPTER)

(BONUS CHAPTER so don't forget to read chapter 43! Oh, and Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays!)

Devus wiped the last smear of egg yolk from his plate with a thick crust of dark bread before shoving the whole thing in his mouth. The smell of fried bacon and toasted oats still hung thick in the small kitchen. That kind of weekend breakfast usually left him sluggish and happy, but today, it only fueled the nervousness buzzing beneath his skin.

"You're really going for a whole month?" 2025-12-26 05:08:01 +0000 UTC View Post

AoP | B2 | Chapter 43: Disrupting The Harvest

Seth cursed inwardly and finished the weakened Elemental before him with one last punch. As its black beaststone fell to the ground, Seth whirled to face the approaching trio, filling Intermediate Identify's grooves.

    Dark Elemental

    Potential: Iron Tier    Rank: 38 (Mid-Iron)

    Affinity: Darkness        &nbs...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 42: The Exploitation

Seth looked at the enslaved moles, and a deep sense of unease coiled in his gut. What do they use all this Dark aether for? he wondered.

From the corner of his vision, he noticed two Dark Elementals detaching from the group and leading a convoy of the fully charged moles away into the gloom. After a brief moment of hesitation, Seth decided to follow them. 

Sticking to the high ledges and deep shadows of the cavern, he moved like a ghost, letting his gaze scan for any...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 41: The Tenebrous Kingdom

'Let's kill that thing,' Seth said through Link, his body low to the ground as he crept forward.

'Oh, hell yeah,' Nightmare instantly answered. The direwolf moved out of the teardrop pendant before vanishing into Illusionary Emptiness and flanking to the side.

Just as Seth prepared to charge, the Dark Elemental's head snapped in his direction, its two hollow sockets locking onto him—the element of surprise was gone. Seth abandoned all pretense of stealth and da...

AoP | B2 | Chapter 40: Dark Elemental

Seth ducked under three head-sized fireballs that roared past him and grazed his back before rising and pushing aether through Huntbound Rush's grooves. He then charged toward the Fire Elemental standing a dozen feet away while Nightmare and Colossus continued to engage a Wind Elemental with a vortex-like body behind.

A surge of teal aether from Phantom Punch wrapped Seth's arm, the skeletal fist pulsing with raw power as he reared back his elbow. The Fire Elemental hissed and ...