“And this is why I never let you bet the whole purse,” Jazzjak said, his finger tapping the margin on his tablet. “If I’d blinked, you would have flushed twenty million more DP down a molten drain.”
Sog’s black fingers flexed. “It was a sure thing. I mean 5 to 1! You even said so yourself.”
“I never said it was a sure thing,” Jazzjak replied. “The only thing I believe is a sure thing right now is when Max fights. Everything else has a risk...
2025-09-22 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 39
L looked to be about thirty, maybe younger, but the scars on his upper body and face were a testament to the hard life the man lived.
He had shaved his head; the shadow of growth that set in was intentional and not due to a lack of ability to grow.
L was only a few inches taller than Francis. He wasn’t large like Vella, but moved with a natural grace.
I should be faster and stronger than he is. The problem is fighting hand-to-hand. If he has th...
2025-09-21 13:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Clouds drifted clear of the moon, leaving the forest bright enough to draw soft outlines around every treetop. Max hovered just above that line, Bob keeping them afloat as they stayed stealth, eyes focused on one object. Below, in a clearing a few miles from Sunreach’s wall, Miranna and Shale Spark circled a lumbering stone‑skinned hound.
She’s baiting the left shoulder again.
Letting it think that her side is open. She’ll switch at the last breath.
2025-09-21 13:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Miranna slipped onto a roof along the west parapet just as the bells of Sunreach rang out. Some of the elves still wanted to call it Iriandalon, but the unity of a kingdom had made a choice. A single name was needed for a single body.
It was the seventh hour according to the bells. The sun stretched along the streets below, casting streams of light that gave everything a warm glow. She leaned against the warm stone, letting the wind tug gold hair from its braid, her mind focused on othe...
2025-09-20 13:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 38
Standing outside a shrine to the gods Francis didn’t really worship felt weird.
Well… maybe it’s not that I don’t believe in them--it's more of why the heck should I even think about them? What have they ever done for me?
Struggling with that thought, he almost jumped straight up when Baxter put a hand on his shoulder.
“Are you excited?” the king asked. “I remember the first time I ever met a priestess. I mean, I’d met a f...
2025-09-20 13:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 37
Having dried off and dressed as quickly as possible, Francis found himself gathered with King Baxter and his advisors.
“Sage, do you have an answer to Captain Vella’s question?” Baxter asked.
He nodded.
“While I do not yet have an answer from the gods, the ability to delay the attack would provide us more time to burn down a larger section of the forest. Are you certain the other army will not attack if we do that?”
“They have only lined ...
2025-09-19 13:00:13 +0000 UTC
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Thirty years after the birth of this world and their daughter had come. Many things had changed in such a short time. One was the private practice yard in Sunreach that had multiple racks of wooden weapons set up. Each looked new, always repaired by Max after they had endured the beating and abuse they saw every week. Today, the wind blew stronger, somehow carrying the smell of salt from the distant sea.
Miranna stood barefoot in the chalk ring, her practice sword resting across her fit...
2025-09-19 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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[ Unique Bloodline Created ]
[ Awaiting System’s Acceptance ]
[ Bloodline Modified ]
[ Bloodline Accepted ]
[ Bloodline – Unique – Modified – Bloodline of Tanila]
[ Bonuses Determined ]
[ +150 % to All Stats ]
[ A Mother’s True Love Protects – When defending her child, bonuses rise to 300 % ]
Tanila closed the windows for the hundredth time, her fingers trembling with a combination of wonder and fear. L...
2025-09-18 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 36
He didn’t flinch as Baxter stared at him.
“You seem confident, Sage skill or not,” the king stated.
“Tell me, my King,” Francis said. “Should I cower and hide like those in the towers that fail to come to the aid of their own people? Should I treat you as the mages have treated you? Should I tell the gods they have chosen poorly in giving me a tool to aid you and your men? I will not. You have prayed for help in the coming battle. Here I stand....
2025-09-18 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Rakonath couldn’t believe the difference his bloodline made in everything. His speed in the air made yesterday’s flights feel like a slow glide. Power thrummed through marrow and scale. Even his dragon core, nestled like a jeweled furnace in his stomach, pulsed hotter and steadier.
Max… you and I… whatever we become, I look forward to devouring those foolish enough to stand in our path.
[ Unique Bloodline Created ]
[ Awaiting System’s Acceptance ]
[ Bloodl...
2025-09-17 13:00:12 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 35
“Tell me, Francis Lancaster, how did you come by that phrase?” Vella asked. The captain’s brown eyes were narrowed as she waited for an answer after the tent had been cleared.
“I’m going to tell you something. You won’t believe me, though, it will require you to summon Nehemiah.”
“That wrinkly ball of skin? Why would I want to summon him?”
“Because I have a skill of the Sage rank and because you and your father, General Stenson, will wa...
2025-09-17 13:00:10 +0000 UTC
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Einar and the rest of the Vikings all stopped at the same time upon reaching the dueling area. A massive room was sunk into the floor, easily ten yards below a section of stone that bordered a hundred-yard square area. Columns, choke point tunnels, sections with uneven ground and other obstacles filled different areas of the square, which was marred in some sections where weapons had removed stone.
“What is this place?” Thorodd asked.
Akrini chuckled and pointed...
2025-09-17 10:57:21 +0000 UTC
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“If this report is correct, you have the bones of half a giant back in Mighahm,” Stenri said, glancing up from the paper Einar had given him. “You do realize that retrieving any of this right now is basically impossible.”
“I do,” Einar replied. “It is merely a record of everything we currently possess and have for trade. If things go as planned, then we should acquire more in the coming weeks or months, and I wanted to see what you might be able to procure for us in exchan...
2025-09-16 21:14:13 +0000 UTC
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[ Unique Bloodline Created ]
[ Awaiting System’s Acceptance ]
[ Bloodline Accepted ]
[ Bloodline – Unique – Bloodline of the Broken ]
[ Bonuses Determined ]
[ +35% to All Stats ]
[ Immunity to Mental, Psychological, and Emotional Attacks up to 3 Tiers Above Current Tier ]
Cordellia read the windows twice. Then a third time, because her vision blurred and her fingers wouldn’t stop trembling. Tears slid hot over her cheeks and fell onto the amberwood railing of t...
2025-09-16 13:00:11 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 34
The sound of the morning bell barely woke Francis.
"It's earlier than usual," Michael grunted as he sat up. "What gives?"
Having said nothing, Francis felt a boot land against his chest a few seconds later.
“You awake?” his brother asked. “Either be dead or get up. I don’t want to get in trouble because you’re slacking.”
“Don’t worry,” Francis said. “I’ll be ready in a minute.” Tossing his brother's boot back at him, he sat an...
2025-09-16 13:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Fowl stared at his screen, still amazed at what the system had given him.
[ Unique Bloodline Created ]
[ Awaiting System’s Acceptance ]
[ Bloodline Accepted ]
[ Bloodline - Unique - Bloodline of the Chosen one of a God ]
[ Bonus’s Determined ]
[ 40% Bonus to All Stats ]
[ 40% Bonus to Hit Points ]
[ 25% Bonus to All Physical, Mental and Magical Resistances ]
“If you don’t stop looking like that at your information, I’m going to t...
2025-09-15 13:00:11 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 33
Gritting his teeth, Francis blocked the dagger aimed at his head and dodged left, only getting a slight cut in his thigh in return.
This was the sixth time he had faced this enemy, and only now was he beginning to learn what she was capable of.
He had determined the beast was a she because none of the other tiger-kins had breasts and he saw how the others around her reacted as he got close.
She danced and weaved around the line of beastkin; each animal she...
2025-09-15 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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[ Unique Bloodline Created ]
[ Awaiting System’s Acceptance ]
[ Bloodline Accepted ]
[ Bloodline - Unique - Bloodline of the Bound Demon ]
[ Bonus’s Determined ]
[ 60% Bonus to All Stats ]
[ 25% Bonus to Hit Points ]
Sog stared at the notification again as he considered what a bloodline like this meant for him.
How many of my kind would kill every one of our kind or do worse for such a chance to possess this kind of strength?...
2025-09-14 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 32
“I’m sorry, you what?” Kels asked. “How can you expect me to let you go into the forest, being what you are?”
“And how do you plan on stopping me?” Francis asked.
Kels frowned and shook his head. “You do realize that I’m now tasked with keeping you safe? With all of the magical protection gone, and our camp in the state it is, Stenson felt I should… watch you.”
“I’m not looking for a babysitter, so unless you're ...
2025-09-14 13:00:05 +0000 UTC
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“You okay?” Sog asked. “Do I need to give you a hug?”
“Oh go hump a–” Jazzjak said, pausing to look at Fowl.
“An ogre,” the dwarf whispered.
“An ogre!” their helper finished.
Sog started to laugh and gave the vorpal bunny a gentle pat on the arm. “That’s what I love about you. Soft on the outside, hard on the inside.”
“Let him be,” Cordellia said. “We got business to take care of.”
Another chuckle came from th...
2025-09-13 13:00:13 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 31
“You’re having second thoughts about all this?” Michael asked as they sat on the platform's edge, the King had overseen the battle from the day before.
“I’m… All I want to do is keep you safe,” Francis replied. “I… had thought that perhaps if I could save you… somehow keep you alive long enough and then make an escape… we’d be fine. I realize now thatthe dream isn’t going to work. Now…” He gestured with his hand at the la...
2025-09-13 13:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 30
Francis heard the bell and groaned.
How the hell did I die again?
As he started to roll over, his hand felt the weight of the blankets, their softness caressing his skin.
Sitting up quickly, he could see the small amount of light streaming through a pulled-back curtain.
“Hey, dumbass, it’s time to wake up,” Michael called out.
Groaning, he sat up and saw his brother chewing on a hunk of bread.
“What are those bells?” Fr...
2025-09-12 13:00:10 +0000 UTC
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Max couldn’t help but laugh as the others all rushed him, giving him hugs and slapping his shoulder.
“Well done, Max!” Rakonath exclaimed. “For a moment, I wondered what that crow was trying to do.”
“Bah, we both know that god knew our boy was too strong,” Batrire said. “The way his eyes moved when Max started to fly almost made me snort my ale out my nose.”
As the congratulations and words died down, Max turned to face Miranna, who was looking at him from ...
2025-09-12 13:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 29
An explosion erupted when the two spells connected, displayed on the magical screen the mages had created. Everything seemed fine for a moment before energy washed over the entire battlefield, tossing everyone nearby to the ground.
Where the sheets of black magic had been racing forward, they began to ignite with a green and red glow before arcing through the air.
Each drop of rain raced upward, no longer something that appeared to heal at all but instead a stre...
2025-09-11 13:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Max could feel the wind tear across the ridge of the mountain he stood upon. The arena was a mountain range, similar in some ways to the one he had faced Igarra on so long ago. Stone tops, thin air, and nothing soft as small clouds drifted between them. Across the gap, Dai-Tengu floated above his starting peak, his wings not flapping, almost as if the storm that surrounded him was all he needed to stay airborne.
His opponent continued to rise. Black feathers ring him like the ston...
2025-09-11 13:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Okay - I went through and double checked and I think that everything is 'right'
Feel free to double check cuz I'm seriously wondering what the heck is going on with Patreon right now... (they made changes last week to try and be more 'podcast' friendly.
2025-09-10 13:52:56 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 28
“Francis, you've got to get up,” Michael called out.
Grunting, Francis rolled over. “Phillip can go screw himself…”
“We’re not at that camp, you idiot,” Michael replied. “We’re in the King’s section. We’re in the area with the good food and soft beds.”
Blinking and yawning, Francis bolted up and saw that they were indeed in the tent he now remembered returning to the previous night.
“What time is it?!” Francis asked.
...
2025-09-10 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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“Final choice?” Jazzjak asked. “We’re going with Dai-Tengu?”
Max nodded at their helper, and the rabbit didn’t question him again, simply tapping on the glass table a few times before giving it one last solid thump.
“I’ve sent it. We should hear something back within seven days. Part of me is curious about why you chose that one, even though I warned you about his apparent ability to alter reality. Doesn’t that scare you?”
“It does a little bit, but eve...
2025-09-10 06:03:24 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 27
[ Trial of Training Initiated ]
[ Step 1 Completed ]
[ Step 2 Completed ]
[ Step 3 Completed ]
[ 1 Strength Gained ]
[ 2 Endurance Gained ]
[ Trial of Training Boon - Acquired ]
[ Trial of Training - While the three rings are equipped, all skill gains are tripled. Leaving a safe space with rings may result i...
2025-09-09 13:00:09 +0000 UTC
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“You’re pouting again,” Max pointed out. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Fowl grunted and turned the empty mug he held in his hand.
Both gods sat on a stone bench above the dwarven capital, watching life move like ants below.
“This whole fighting in the arena and I’m stuck here… doing… bah I don’t know,” his friend huffed. “We’re training people to fight, get stronger, make ale, and about a hundred other things. Meanwhile, you’re off fighting and vis...
2025-09-09 13:00:07 +0000 UTC
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