After settling the matter with the protesters and convincing them to disperse, I invited them all to hang around the Hearthwood a little longer. Mac was about ready with a Mana Generator upgrade, which would bolster the zeal distribution throughout the area. The Mana Generator upgrade would hopefully enable the creation of more Level-Reducing Sentry Towers.
Those things had saved my rear more times than I could count, so as far as I was concerned, the more of them we had, the better. Fo...
2024-01-12 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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By the time we finished several days later, I felt an exquisite sense of exhaustion. It was the tired feeling of a job well done and a life well lived. My hips ached, which was a hard thing to happen for a Demigod.
I probably could have focused my zeal on them and made the feeling disappear, but I didn’t want to. There was something satisfying about feeling tired in this manner that I didn’t want to give up. It was the few remaining vestiges left from when I’d been a mere man, ins...
2024-01-10 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Alright, so I gotta take down the Amazon Apocalypse 2 chapters per KU rules. Sorry!
Anyway, here's Myrina from the Amazon Apocalypse series! She's getting the cover for book 3. I actually went back and forth about this being the book 2 cover since a lot of book 2 happens on Themyscira (see background) but Bridget made more sense given the context of book 1 and what people will expect when going into book 2.
Book 2 should be going live sometime in the next few hours (and is probabl...
2024-01-09 08:00:05 +0000 UTC
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“These rewards are amazing!” Sava said as she went through the full and unabridged list. “There’s so many potions here I’ve never even heard of! But thanks to the Substance Analyzer, we could reverse engineer copies out of them...”
“Ha, I suppose you’re right. I don’t think this merit shop was meant to be combined with The Wanderer. We can get all sorts of rare and exotic alchemical creations without even trying now.” I gave Sava an approving smile. “But that’s f...
2024-01-08 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Not long after, I was sitting in my throne room. The place seemed the same as ever. Tall walls, red tapestries, imposing throne up many flights of brilliant stairs.
Perhaps I was biased, but in my eyes, it looked even better than Dean’s daughter’s throne in the capital of Deania. This was good because going forward, I would be in charge of not just Deania but all the surrounding nations that had pledged their vassalage to me. My throne damn well better be imposing if I was to be som...
2024-01-07 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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I returned home after a long day of work and figured that as long as I was building for the rest of Deania, the Hearthwood deserved some attention as well. And where better to practice than on the grounds of my own castle complex?
There were a lot of buildings in that area now, with more cropping up all the time. I suppose it might even qualify as a palace these days, especially with all the extra buildings.
“Mac, I want to practice some architecture stuff. Bridges, columns, tha...
2024-01-06 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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“Come on, Theo. It’s just a little party,” Dean said over a board game.
My old friends and I sat at a table in the newly reconstructed Castle Mac playing a board game. Something still wasn’t quite right about the pieces, but we’d gotten as close as we could remember.
Sam was winning, but he often excelled at this one in particular. Dean and I had few armies left on the board and desperately fought over the gold mine. Obtaining it would be our last chance to oppose Sam’...
2024-01-05 16:00:11 +0000 UTC
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Forward:
Just as a reminder, Spellheart 10 starts today and will likely continue until March. The book will hopefully be done/nearly done by then. I am going to attempt to maintain 5 chapters per week throughout, but if I get really stuck or have some sort of real life thing I may have to slow down a bit. I may have to move apartments at some point during this, which could cause a few day's delay as I pack/unpack.
This is the usual "The Story So Far..." section that...
2024-01-05 15:06:51 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys, I'm here to shill Spellheart to you. Above are a bunch of characters of the type you'll find in Spellheart. They're AI generated, but still pretty hot. And there's an entire planet of them out there somewhere in the vast multiverse!
Anyway, if the images didn't convince you, I'll have to try with words. I know most of you guys on here are not Spellheart readers, but I'd like you to be!
Spellheart is a first-person gamelit cultivation series. If I were to give it tags, th...
2024-01-03 18:50:25 +0000 UTC
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If you want to read the patreon version, now's your last chance. Chapters are coming down in another two or three days. I'm aiming for an early January release.
The book will go live from here: https://amzn.to/3vfZvdt
Also: I'm working on redoing my website. https://www.marvinknightbooks.com/
Right now, I'm thinking of having an art gal...
2023-12-31 16:00:10 +0000 UTC
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Spoiler warning! Some of these give away how the story goes. If you haven't finished yet don't peek past here.
I am at least 30% sure these stats are correct. I changed things a lot of times, and I seem to have lost the ability to do basic math at some point shortly after becoming an author, but to the best of my abilities they should line up with a version of the story that exists.
...And assuming they aren't right, I left just enough vagueness in a few strategic sections that ...
2023-12-30 16:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Want to explore more of Earth? Themescira? Want to see the Dragon Lodge? What about the Chaos Wolf? Want to learn about other god-like beings in the Arcadia Multiverse and what they’re up to? How about hearing from Lyra (elf administrator of Carter’s shard from book 1.)
This is your chance to make your voice heard before I finish my outline of the book. As I work on Spellheart, I’ll be refining this outline on the side and getting ready to write the book.
So let me know what...
2023-12-29 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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At first glance, the city ruled by Elder Thalassa seemed prosperous. But that wealth came at the whim of an iron gauntlet, for within her domain, Thalassa's rule was absolute.
From the smallest farm to the largest workshop, everything within her city was owned and under her control. Trusted agents managed her assets on her behalf, but at the end of the day, from the wealthiest nobles to the poorest commoners, no one under her watch owned more than the clothes on their backs.
This ...
2023-12-28 18:00:08 +0000 UTC
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My return to Earth was swift, but my return to Crownhill even swifter. I had been in quite a rush to deal with things back home before, but now that Myrina was counting on me I had a fire in my chest. My only concern was how quickly I could get her here.
Was Lisette the last of my foes on this shard? I certainly hoped so. Because if there was anyone else the System still considered a contender for the title of Shardlord, I planned to cut a bloody swath through their forces before the su...
2023-12-28 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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The elders congratulated Myrina on finding a husband, and Kyrina promised to record it in the family records as officially as possible.
“With this, Elder Thalassa won’t be able to scheme against you in my absence.” Kyrina nudged Myrina in the side with her elbow.
Cyra nodded, eyes glassy and distant.
“As for you, Myrina. You’re getting married, not dying.” Kyrina held a finger up to Myrina. “While you no longer have any responsibilities to the Samhain family, I...
2023-12-27 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Before I knew it, I was on the warehouse’s lower floors. It was still empty since I’d built several and didn’t yet have enough workers to fill them all out.
This was one of the few private buildings in Shadefall that would be large enough for a match between D-grades. No wonder Myrina had called me here. She and her family had been planning on us having this duel from the beginning.
There were only four people in attendance. Cyra, Kyrina, Elder Elara the massive shieldmaiden...
2023-12-26 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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My lips locked with hers, and the moment I did so Myrina flung into action.
To say that Myrina was an active kisser would be like saying Sharky was a bit hungry. I felt her tongue slide past mine as she grabbed the back of my head.
She pulled herself up my torso, locking her legs behind my back.
I stumbled backward and eventually fell on my ass with Myrina on top of me. We held that position for several long moments, locked in a deep kiss.
Myrina finally let me up, now...
2023-12-25 16:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Merry Christmas! This short story is meant to take place shortly after the ending of book 2.
I did my best to avoid any book 2 spoilers. Enjoy, and happy holidays!
In the ruins of what used to be a strip mall, I found myself doing some holiday shopping.
After the apocalypse, picking up gifts for that special someone involved much more than browsing for stuff online and hitting a checkout button. Not only did I have to hike ...
2023-12-25 05:01:57 +0000 UTC
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After a few minutes struggling with the wizard’s communication device, I was finally able to click away and send a message. In total, it was an apology for disappearing, a brief explanation that something had come up, and a polite request that he repeat his last message.
After sending it out, I sat and waited. And waited. And waited.
There was no response.
"Dammit!" I cursed as I tossed the device down on the bed. I'd missed Galbatorix's reply to my question thanks to Lise...
2023-12-24 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Killing Lisette was a decent, if not the preferred outcome. She wouldn't be able to do what she did to any more of my people. But there was no guarantee that Doctor Roswell, Myrina, or anyone else could find a cure to undo what she had done to the others. There was a chance that the only one who could fix them was the woman who'd done whatever it was to them in the first place.
For that reason, I wanted to capture Lisette alive—if possible. Before, I'd dismissed the idea as beyond my ...
2023-12-23 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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If Lisette had waited just another day... I cursed. There was no point in crying over spilled milk. Or in this case, ruined plans. I'd just have to adapt.
First, we had to get to the clinic. Nobody in town could hope to keep so many of Crownhill's elites down. If we didn't deal with them swiftly, who knew what Lisette might do with the rest of us occupied?
The three of us quickly threw on some clothes and rushed out into the hall. We jumped down the stairs all the way to the botto...
2023-12-22 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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I returned to the farmhouse that evening, since all my tools were out at my place. If I wanted to craft the talisman I had to leave Crown Hill. Sakura stayed in town, helping Margaret, but Bridget came back with me, just in case Lisette followed me home.
The evening was uninterrupted, though, and I was able to work in peace. Crafting the Talisman of Protection from Good and Evil was fairly straightforward, though as I finished it, I realized the quality of the Lava Elemental’s core wo...
2023-12-20 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Later the following day, I received news that our trap had been sprung. Rick's group was the lucky band to catch Lisette heading home after a long day of skulking about and sewing trouble. I wasn't sure how we hadn't caught her out in the streets with so many people on patrol, but here she was.
This was our chance.
"We need to get there quickly!" I told Sakura and Bridget.
The two of them had been waiting with me. They'd taken it upon themselves to make sure I was as immune ...
2023-12-18 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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"Terrance!” I yelled. "Terrance! Are you in there, buddy?"
There was no response. That was a bad sign, but I didn’t have long to worry about it.
My forces clashed with the now-mindless former policemen who'd been pulling a late shift with their Captain. It was one thing to fight the mindless hordes of Crownhill County Prison. It was entirely another to fight our own people.
These had been good men. Loyal men. Men who'd stay up late with their Captain because there was wo...
2023-12-17 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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We returned to Crownhill the following morning. Terrance’s police and the guards had heeded my warning and my instructions to be on the lookout for the dangerous woman, so guards were posted everywhere scanning for Lisette. Now that the sun was up and the night’s monsters gobbled up by Sharky, my companions and I returned to the city center to search for her once again.
“Sharky, you know the drill. Patrol the area around the city and eat any monsters you see coming our way.”
...
2023-12-16 16:00:07 +0000 UTC
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“And what—exactly—did I just walk in on, Carter?” Sakura demanded, hands on her hips.
“Well…” I shrugged sheepishly. “I wasn’t cheating on you… though that’s probably what it looked like.”
“Or Bridget?” Sakura asked. “You weren’t cheating on Bridget, either?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Not cheating on you, and not cheating on Bridget, either."
“Or Myrina?!” Sakura poked me in the chest with a finger. “You weren’t cheating on Myr...
2023-12-15 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Note: Back to the main story. Not much changed in this chapter, just in the last three chapters where Carter is discovering things. Main difference is that Lisette was found chained to a bed post and looked much less suspicious, so if you see a reference to that it isn't an inconsistency. I will try to keep you guys updated on any altered context as we go through the next 12 chapters to the end of the book.
Chapter 76
=========
Marcus, Kyle, and Lisette were go...
2023-12-13 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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I cleaned myself up a bit before making my way outside. Everyone was already gathered up and regrouping. Fortunately the people Terrance had already cuffed and rounded up were under control still, so we hadn't wiped out everyone in the old prison.
"All taken care of!" I announced as I left the prison. Several faces looked up at my approach.
"Carter! What was that? Toward the end there everybody in sight keeled over all at once..." Frank said, shaking his head. His team had withdra...
2023-12-12 16:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Suddenly, we were swarmed. The handcuffed people in the hallway and the rooms leading up to us started climbing to their feet one after another. By the time the screaming woman Kerrie had nudged into wakefulness finally ran out of breath, people were already breaking down the doors.
"Sounds like Rick and Frank are fighting!" Kerrie warned us. I could hear the clashing of steel and the sound of gunfire as well coming from elsewhere in the building.
Inwardly, I cursed. Michael's sle...
2023-12-11 16:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Before Terrance hauled Knuckles away, I asked him a bit about our next target. He seemed reluctant to speak at first, glancing up at the former police officer.
"Don't I get a lawyer or something?" Knuckles asked.
"Most of the city's former lawyers have switched to considerably more hands-on jobs," I replied. "Either that, or they were eaten by giant cockroach monsters."
"Well, I know the thing. Anything I say can be used against me blah blah legal bullshit..." Knuckles spat....
2023-12-10 16:00:04 +0000 UTC
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