“Thank you.”
Max nodded, gently squeezing Cordellia’s hand as he smiled at her.
“You’re family. Never forget that.”
Her eyes began to leak again at those words, and she nodded, their healer on one side of her and Tanila on the other.
He could only imagine how she felt and what she was dealing with. Hundreds of questions ran through his mind, but none needed to be asked right now. Max also knew he or the others would never ask most.
“So she got away?...
2025-05-31 13:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Einar couldn’t take his eyes off the rune-covered metal ball in his hand. An orphoite core… to give this away… Arngrim may crap himself whe
Einar couldn’t take his eyes off the rune-covered metal ball in his hand.
An orphoite core… to give this away… Arngrim may crap himself when he sees this.
Next to him, Avitue continued to breathe slowly, sleep having taken over quickly.
Shifting slightly, he took one last look, put it back in the po...
2025-05-30 13:35:32 +0000 UTC
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Tanila wanted nothing more than to wipe the smug look off her sister's face. The tip of her sword had managed to cut her before her Wizard Step had gotten her to safety.
She’s faster… has to be a skill!
“You’re getting predictable!’ Atheila cried out, grinning from ear to ear.
Frost Nova exploded out from Tanila again, her older sister once again slowing down just slightly as the spell covered fifty yards of the torn-up area they fought on.
Even with...
2025-05-30 13:00:06 +0000 UTC
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“Sometimes I wonder just what other surprises you have in store,” Bartia muttered. “Now I have others within the city asking if they can mee
“Sometimes I wonder just what other surprises you have in store,” Bartia muttered. “Now I have others within the city asking if they can meet with you.”
Einar chuckled and shrugged.
“I have been blessed with some friends who know about the customs and beliefs of the realms we have visited. Thorve over there was a boon to...
2025-05-29 18:54:53 +0000 UTC
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Atheila’s swords clanged against each other as she let out a roar, a similar aura coming from her.
“She’s passed the 60th floor!” Fowl exclaimed.
Max wanted to help but had promised he wouldn’t unless there was no other option.
Like Tanila, her older sister’s presence seemed to come from her in waves. Her golden eyes had a red tint around the edges.
Only the trio of elves standing near Cordellia didn’t seem affected by this display of power; the rest of t...
2025-05-29 13:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Before you burn me down with pitchforks... I gota say I launched something today on RR that I've had in development for over a month.
Perhaps some of you remember those stories where you choose as a reader the path. So I had one uploaded about a month ago on RR and it's live (chapter 1).
Since I write the next chapter based on the vote, it's like a 1 chapter a week or something output, so not stealing a ton from the rest of stuff I've got going.
If you want to be part of...
2025-05-28 19:53:27 +0000 UTC
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“I am fine. You four go. If Max needs me, I will come.”
Tanila gave a pair of scales a good scratching on Rakonath’s neck, smiling as the dragon trilled slightly.
“You know, when he told me that he had a dragon, at first I didn’t believe him,” she stated. “Then I, of course, knew it had to be true because sometimes it feels like Max craps gold coins.”
A low thrum came from Rakonath who gazed at Max with his silver eyes.
“And then I met you for t...
2025-05-28 13:00:06 +0000 UTC
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“My Father… he… for a brief moment of my childhood, he was kinder. Not like Max’s parents are but… less cruel. When I got my elemental mastery skill on my choosing day, he doted on me even. It is a skill that he has, and he spent many weeks talking about all the things it could eventually become.
“I had an older brother who ended up in a fight with Atheila, and she killed him. The reason for the fight was often debated and looking back now I believe my pare...
2025-05-27 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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“This isn’t my fight. Asking me to take part in it puts myself and the remaining dragons on this world at risk.”
Max let out the breath he had been holding slowly.
“I understand. With Rakonath joining me, you may still be in the crosshairs.”
“Far less than if two or three dragons come to aid in a fight that has nothing to do with us. We have stayed away from your kind and the other races after the man whose name you hid behind slaughtered our two grea...
2025-05-26 13:00:11 +0000 UTC
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Well I'm back home after a much needed vacation.
I'll just jump right into it.
Book 9 of UL1 is uploaded and starts on May 26th! It ends July 26th. There will be a chapter each day and then 2 chapters per day starting July 20th.
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to each and everyone of you who have been with me on this journey with Max and the gang :) Fear not I've got more planned for after book 9 but we're going to see a whole different system and new ch...
2025-05-24 19:43:37 +0000 UTC
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“You’ve got his attention,” Bartia said as she watched Einar and the others get ready. “You do realize he is intentionally requesting you come right now and not giving you any more time to prepare?”
The seven who were gathered chuckled, each nodding as they helped one another put on their armor and wiped off spots that needed a little extra attention.
“He’s not the first leader to make us appear on their terms,” Einar said as he gave Avitue’s mail shirt ...
2025-05-21 13:00:08 +0000 UTC
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There were quiet conversations taking place between different small groups of dwarves, each huddled in packs and glancing at him and the bone he stood near.
“You really think this is going to work?” Stefi asked.
Nodding, he wanted to ask if all dwarves stroked their beards as she was doing when nervous but resisted.
“You saw what I did to Baria’s hammer. All I need to do is damage it.”
Her sigh sounded more like a low growl as the dwarf frowned.
...
2025-05-19 13:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Welp it's the 18th. Officially my birthday.
Turned 50... hard to believe that I didn't find this passion till I was 47, almost 48.
As always, I'm grateful for each of you who support me and love my stories!
Remember! Book 8 ended today!
Book 9 starts the last week of May!
For Viking fans, I have a chapter set for Monday and Wednesday.
Enjoy your week!
2025-05-18 14:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Frustration wasn’t something he allowed himself to experience, yet there it was.
Damn you, Max. Your emotions have rubbed off on me.
The room they had trapped him in was a single piece of something he couldn’t figure out.
Each time he touched it the pain was excruciating, and yet it meant nothing.
He knew they couldn’t kill him. Doing so would mean what had to happen wouldn’t.
Still, the thought that they might keep him ...
2025-05-18 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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[ 50 Strength Consumed ]
[ 50 Dexterity Consumed ]
[ 50 Constitution Consumed ]
[ Consume is Locked ]
Yanking his spear free from the eye of the cyclops, Max tried to ignore the pain of what he felt inside.
“Anything?!”
He shook his head at Tanila and quickly got to work, hacking off fingers and any part he could of the sixty-foot-tall boss.
“I thought we’d never beat that one-eyed freak,” Fowl muttered. “It’s a good thing you could get ...
2025-05-18 13:10:01 +0000 UTC
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Rakonath slowly lifted the lid with a single claw, turned his head sideways, and peered into it.
“So are all these mine?”
“Nobody likes a greedy dragon,” Fowl teased.
“Ignore him,” Batrire said as she moved around to the other side of the chest. “Let me see what’s in there and… holy elf tits!”
Her rare outburst and description of the elf biology caused everyone to quickly hurry over and see what had caused her to do so.
“Two items each,” C...
2025-05-18 13:05:01 +0000 UTC
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Another roar came as Max circled the shark. The shark’s harpoon missed him and quickly returned to its left arm.
Max fired off three small bursts of flames overhead. He pulled back a little, slicing at the fishmen foolish enough to believe they could be anything more than a nuisance like a fly.
A small burst of flame washed over the boss, and it sent its harpoon at Rakonath, who twisted and spun, avoiding the attack as he circled around.
Flames danced along the water, yet ...
2025-05-18 13:00:14 +0000 UTC
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Rakonath roared after releasing a stream of fire upon one of the four ships the group was engaged with.
Tanila sent fireballs at two of the ships while helping Max summon air walls to deflect incoming attacks.
“I got a hit!” Fowl shouted as the cannon he was firing left a smoking hole in the ship on their port side.
“You’re still behind!” Cordellia called out as she raced to the third cannon on the starboard side and after a second to adjust aim, scored another suc...
2025-05-17 13:10:01 +0000 UTC
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“Another error is taking place on that same planet.”
None of the others replied as all five sensed the disturbance.
“The skill is active and attempting… to allow access to the tower for an unapproved… dragon?” one of the female watchers stated.
“Are those permitted access on that world?”
“None have ever attempted and –”
The same male watcher who pointed out the error was cut off as all the threads from that world pulsed simultaneously....
2025-05-17 13:05:01 +0000 UTC
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“Two hundred… in each stat.”
Max nodded and watched the red dragon as she sat down in the chair she always carried.
Part of him wanted to laugh about how she shifted forms and accepted the drink he gave her.
“That explains so much. It’s almost as if our father himself has put a special blessing on the two of you.”
He winced, and she saw it, cocking her head sideways.
“What?”
“It’s nothing. Just something I’ve been wondering...
2025-05-17 13:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Max looked at his friends, watching as each tried to process the discussion they had just had.
Batrire was slowly brushing her beard while Fowl was asleep beside her on the couch.
Cordellia stared up at the ceiling, making small noises with her lips as she blew air out.
Max wanted to sketch Tanila as she twisted the hair at the end of her braid around a finger, eyes shut the entire time.
“This is what I get for grouping with a human,” their archer said after a few ...
2025-05-16 13:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“I’m afraid nothing is going as we had hoped,” Osvif said. “Every blacksmith in town wants a literal giant arm or leg to fix our harpoons.”
Einar could see Bartia's expression and knew his face had to be red because of how hot it felt.
“They’re trying to take advantage of us, aren’t they?”
“Correct,” she replied. “I have tried to convince them otherwise but it appears that someone has gone through all the forges and convinced them to work together on ...
2025-05-15 13:00:10 +0000 UTC
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As soon as the five of them were seated, four worlds appeared behind the being. Each one floated and turned.
“Those are where we were,” Batrire whispered.
“Correct. You five have made choices that have impacted the future of each of these worlds. There are things in place here that I cannot tell you because your minds wouldn’t be able to comprehend the implications meaningfully, nor are you yet in a position to possess that knowledge. For now, let me reveal to ...
2025-05-15 13:00:06 +0000 UTC
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Vidar, Jepi, Thorodd, Ragna and Einar all sat at a small stone table, looking over the reports that had been handed out.
“So… you’re willing to trade all of these reagents?” Jepi asked. “I mean… we are your warriors, but surely you can’t plan on giving away all of this stuff.”
“I’m not giving it away,” Einar replied. “We need better equipment and each of us knows it will be months, perhaps even a year before we return home. Transporting bones we’ll not ne...
2025-05-14 13:00:15 +0000 UTC
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“So this is how they did it,” Cordellia said as she tossed the empty potion bottle and let it break against the ground. “Getting potions like this for placement.”
“I’m guessing they only counted the tournament kills,” Tanila added as she finished drinking her rewards. “Otherwise it would be pretty impossible that everyone killed exactly the same amount of Kraken.”
Max nodded, staring out across the volcanic zone at a mountain surrounded by thick black smoke. So m...
2025-05-14 13:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Einar felt a pit in his stomach grow as he rode through the first arch of Moghahm. The forge-smoke seemed to hover a dozen feet off the gr
Einar felt a pit in his stomach grow as he rode through the first arch of Moghahm.
The forge-smoke seemed to hover a dozen feet off the ground near it, and the sight that came into view left no doubt why Bartia had been so frustrated with Vikings.
There were a pair of dwarves, slightly smaller than him, in what loo...
2025-05-13 15:21:55 +0000 UTC
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Hey all -
It's the LAST week of school!
Someone remind me that I made a conscious choice to have 6 kids... the number of school events the last two weeks is exhausting. Most days I'm at the school 2-3x's for different events (award ceremonies / powder puff football / field day / band & orchestra concerts / etc).
This friday I'm leaving for Vacation (and my birthday).
I'll be 50 next week which is hard to believe.
I'll try to get a little writing in whi...
2025-05-13 13:09:26 +0000 UTC
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“I’m sorry, come again?” Fowl asked. “What does that even mean?”
Max was only slightly listening to them, his mind still reeling from what had just taken place.
I… she gave me her bloodline? How is that even possible?
Ask Tanila. She appears to know more than we do.
Still holding a few pieces of clothing, Max looked up at the woman he loved and saw that her gold eyes were wide.
“What… how did she do this?”
Riletta...
2025-05-13 13:00:03 +0000 UTC
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It’s funny how Tanila’s plan has gone perfectly so far.
You chose well. I’m quite certain she is smarter than you.
Max chuckled as he did not doubt that Bob was right.
His opponents were in their spots, and he stood there, weapon and shield in hand, ready for a match that was specifically designed for him.
Part of me wonders what they must think after watching what they witnessed. I mean they know one of them has to win.&...
2025-05-12 13:00:05 +0000 UTC
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The crowd’s shouting and cheers were slightly different than they had been for Fowl.
I guess they weren’t expecting what happened at all.
Unable to hide her amusement, Tanila smiled and waved when she heard her name announced.
Loud cheers came from the section where the merfolk were located.
Across the arena floor were her two opponents.
Just like Fowl described, the Aasaura was difficult to make out. Only a brief outline of something that wasn...
2025-05-11 13:00:02 +0000 UTC
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