Chapter 34
A blood-curdling scream coming from behind him finally snapped Thaden out of his anger-fueled fugue state. Stumbling to a stop, he realized that he had been operating pretty much on autopilot as his feet led him to the Mausoleum of Despair Dungeon, as having traveled to it quite a few times over the last few months, he barely had to pay attention to his route. It helped that he didn’t have to really pay attention to his surroundings, as none of the Undead would attack him...
2024-01-29 17:34:00 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 33
“How is he moving so quickly? Isn’t he a Support Class?”
Sarah ignored the grumbling coming from Diallo as she tried to keep up with the rest of her party. She could understand where he was coming from, however, as the strange Support Class was moving rapidly through the town, forcing them to practically run to keep him in sight despite the fact that he was technically only walking.
“And what’s with that robe? It makes me want to look away from h...
2024-01-28 21:03:33 +0000 UTC
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As I said on a chapter I posted yesterday for my new book, I decided to push through with this new story because it was all I could think about! Once it's done, I'll be getting back to Fusionist Book 5, which I'm thinking will be in about 2 weeks or less, and then I'll be able to concentrate on it going forward.
I only got one chapter done today because I had to go to the post office and drop of signed paperbacks for beta-readers and some end of fiscal year accounting stuff that n...
2024-01-26 22:08:17 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 32
Thaden’s accumulated PICK finally gave out after he hit Level 35, which was a slight disappointment, but it was better than nothing. After gaining another 20 Mentality with the Level-ups, he was now at 112 – giving him a base of 1,120 Mana, which was just short of being able to cast Lesser Resurrection. However, with his robe, he was able to more than afford the cost, which was exactly what he had been hoping for.
At Level 33, Thaden was again abl...
2024-01-26 20:12:16 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 31
Thaden threw himself down on his bed, feeling absolutely wiped after the experience of choosing his Class evolution. Despite his exhaustion, he couldn’t help but be excited at the prospect of his new Class, as Lifewarden seemed like it could really be a gamechanger, allowing him to actually damage enemies that attacked him. Granted, the Class description said that there was only a chance of that happening, but fortunately he had already done something to help that along w...
2024-01-25 23:56:34 +0000 UTC
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So, I was going to write more Fusionist today, but I couldn't get my mind off this story. I decided to keep going with it for now, as it's getting pretty far into the story, and I'll probably keep at it until it's done. I'm hoping that it won't be more than 2 weeks before it's complete, and then I can concentrate fully on The Fusionist Book 5.
Chapter 30
“Look, I know it’s a risk, but it’s the only way we’re going to get ahead and stand ...
2024-01-25 19:45:39 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 29
Thaden instructed his accumulated PICK to fulfill the last of the requirements to reach Level 21.
PICK requirements met! 5,800/5,800
Increase Personal Level? Y / N
Note: This can only be completed while not currently in combat and while not in a dungeon.
Level up! You are now a Level 21 Assistant Healer!
As part of the Leveling process, you have received the following:<...
2024-01-24 22:38:59 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 28
The message window filled Thaden’s entire vision, so it was virtually impossible for him to look at anything else. Thankfully, it explained what had happened; at the same time, it also made his heart drop at what it also indicated for him specifically.
Congratulations, Contenders!
After successfully completing your Training program, you are now ready to enter the world of Tarth! As a reminder, this world is as real as your Earth, and h...
2024-01-24 17:25:48 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 27
“Watch out! Coming through!”
Thaden moved away from the unfamiliar Charee carrying a large stack of chairs further into the Adventurer Coalition building, barely avoiding causing an accident that would’ve disturbed more than just the two of them. The mess it might’ve caused would’ve impeded the dozens of other Charee flitting around the building, scrambling around with a frenzy that bordered on hysterical, as they attempted to get everything ready. It was al...
2024-01-23 21:52:18 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 26
Without access to a Support Class Representative, there really wasn’t anything that Thaden could do to get a new Class. And without a new Class, he couldn’t advance past Level 21, which meant no more spells or stat points gained through Leveling-up, and essentially no development. What it also meant was that any PICK that he would’ve normally earned was now lost, similar to what had happened with the lost PICK from his Achievements. That was a disappointment at the ti...
2024-01-23 18:15:54 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 25
Thaden smiled as he saw the first of the Achievements pass through his feed.
Congratulations for solo slaying a monster 12 or more Levels above your own!
Achievement received: No Fear IV
Bonus reward: 12,500 PICK
Contender World First Achievement: 50,000 PICK
Congratulations for solo slaying a monster 15 or more Levels above your own!
Achievement ...
2024-01-22 22:39:41 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 24
Groggily stretching as he awakened, Thaden felt a crick in his neck and instinctively cast Minor Regeneration upon himself. As the slight pain in his upper body muscles disappeared, the smell of old, dusty bones and muffled decay assaulted his senses, and he opened his eyes in shock.
“I’ve really got to stop falling asleep inside these dungeons,” he muttered to himself as the memory of where he was flashed back to him. He made sure his ...
2024-01-22 18:28:45 +0000 UTC
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I'm trying to figure out a good name for my newest story about a healer that I've been posting, but want to hear what you might think about some options.
If you have any other thoughts, please let me know in the comments!
2024-01-21 20:00:25 +0000 UTC
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I'm getting further and further through both books! As I get closer to completing my new story, I'll probably work on it a little more each week, but as soon as it's done I'll be going full-speed on The Fusionist Book 5 to finish that up as well.
Here are my plans for next week:
Sunday: I have some stuff related to covers and other business stuff to take care of this day, as well as my daughters piano recital, so no writing this day; I'm also hopi...
2024-01-19 22:41:09 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 14
“What you’ve managed to do in such a short time is absolutely ridiculous, but it’s going to quickly make the Providers useless.”
Larek listened to Vanders as they – along with Fendra – sat in the dining room, which had thankfully been cleaned up after the mess that the Combat Fusionist had inadvertently created two days ago when he chopped off the Supreme Provider’s head. He nodded, agreeing – at least in part – with what the Martial was saying.
<...
2024-01-19 22:36:12 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 13
Nedira still hadn’t woken up by the time Larek went to sleep that night, his exhaustion from the day finally catching up with him. From the fight against the Sand Vultures, the explosions that nearly killed himself and the woman sleeping in the bed next to him, the multiple tense situations after arriving in Tarvada, and hours spent creating Fusions, his body and mind were spent. He had finished almost all of what he needed for his initial batch of Fusions for the next st...
2024-01-19 16:39:49 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 12
“Are you sure this will work?” the refugee from Harvana asked, looking at the handcart in confusion. Vanders looked at him, the starving man standing there with his shirt off in the late-day sun, his ribs quite visible under his skin. Still, he hadn’t hesitated to volunteer to do some work, especially when it was hinted that there would be food as a reward when it was all finished.
The Grand Provider had wanted to use people from inside the city to help with thi...
2024-01-18 19:28:52 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 23
Thaden threw himself out of the encircling Undead, narrowly missing being skewered by the creepy bone appendage of the multi-legged monster trying to pounce on him. He normally would’ve had his Minor Repulsion Field up to block the attack, but he was also being assaulted by a trio of Phantasmal Shriekers.
He had found out the hard way that it was much better to be stabbed by something rather than lie helpless as the Shriekers caused him to become to...
2024-01-17 23:55:28 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 22
Cautiously peeking into the open space, Thaden was glad he already had his Minor Repulsion Field activated, because even as he stuck his head inside, two Zombie Maulers reached out to grab him from either side of the opening. They were completely quiet and positioned just like a deliberate jump-scare inside a haunted house attraction around Halloween, and the ambush was only enhanced when a pair of Skeleton Warriors were across from the opening in full view...
2024-01-17 20:51:30 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 21
After daybreak, which was hard to see because the fog rolled in again just after dawn, Thaden ate some breakfast before untying his rope from his makeshift sleeping spot in the tree. Despite his lack of sleep the latter half of the night, when he was prepared for another attack at any time, nothing appeared to disturb his stay. During that time, he was able to check his message feed and found that he had acquired more PICK, adding to the total he still had accumulated...
2024-01-16 22:41:54 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 20
Thaden could feel the PICK he had accumulated siphon out of his body and into what was required to Level-up, and he quickly spent another 5,200 and then 5,500 to reach Levels 19 and then 20.
Level up! You are now a Level 19 Assistant Healer!
As part of the Leveling process, you have received the following:
Mentality +2
Celerity +1
Level up! You are now a Level 20 Assist...
2024-01-16 19:45:54 +0000 UTC
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I went back and changed a few numbers (such as some of the Advancement %s), but none of it should impact the overall story too much. Just balancing and other issues that needed to be fixed. Enjoy!
Chapter 19
Collapsing to his knees, Thaden looked around him in exhaustion, despite the fact that he hadn’t moved from the same spot in hours. The last of the Undead had collapsed as all semblance of animation left it, one of the many, many monsters that had atte...
2024-01-15 23:08:11 +0000 UTC
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I have some editing and posting on Royal Road I have to do on Sunday, which might carry over to Monday morning. The edits I have are for Global Diffusion, as I have a few revisions that I have to work on, and the edits I get back from my narrator... because Aetheric InFusion has been recorded on audio already! It's still going through edits, but I'm hopeful that it will be ready to go by the end of the month.
Here's my plan for next week:
Sunday:
2024-01-13 02:28:06 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 11
Closing the door behind him, Larek leaned up against it and slid to the floor before hanging his head in exhaustion. The pressure of constantly maintaining a façade of authority and competence toward the Mages and Martials of Tarvada was extremely wearing on him, and all he could think while he was doing it was that at some point, one of them would call him out for being a fraud.
Granted, he had a few abilities with Fusions and his Pattern Cohesion that made him much...
2024-01-12 22:53:22 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 10
It didn’t take long for Larek to see what the Naturalists outside in the fields were doing to grow the crops, and it quickly became clear that they weren’t using the same spell Rapid Plant Growth spell he already knew. Very similar, of course, but it wasn’t just a variation; instead, it was something new.
New Spell learned!
Nature’s Renewal
Magnitude: 30 X 30 foot area, fractional maturity
...
2024-01-12 17:53:07 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 9
Larek was barely holding it all together, and it took a great effort of will to keep his hands from shaking from nervousness. Ever since he’d made the decision to defend himself against the overbearing arrogance of the powerful Martial on the street, he felt like he was being swept away down a river of bluffs, lies, and misdirections, and it was all he could do to keep his head above water as the current carried him away.
The biggest problem was the sheer dichotomy o...
2024-01-11 19:38:38 +0000 UTC
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Last chapter for this story this week -- I'll be back to The Fusionist Book 5 tomorrow!
Chapter 18
As the Undead rapidly moved out of the fog, their intensely glowing red eyes staring at him with the hunger of those who crave the taste of warm flesh, Thaden was finally able to see what he was moving in to try and eat him.
Zombie Mauler – Medial
Level 24
>>>>>>>
2024-01-11 04:07:38 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 17
Thaden still had his Minor Repulsion Field active from when he was still in the town of Ashcleft, and he was prepared for the beasts that would likely attack him outside. He was expecting the same ones he had seen before when he had walked to town from the Vogmite Tunnels, such as the Wheat Rats, Venomous Snakes, and Grass Wolves…
…and while he saw them out in the fields and in the knee-high grass a little further away from town, none of them atta...
2024-01-10 17:46:10 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 16
“They’re… gone. I can’t believe… This wasn’t supposed to happen like this. We were supposed to keep everything relatively normal until the Contenders arrived, but now with this—” The Coalition Leader put his head in his hands and bent over, rocking back and forth. “What are we going to do?”
Thaden still wasn’t sure how this whole world worked, what with the people that had come decades ago to get the world ready for his people that were com...
2024-01-09 22:57:26 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 15
Boydlen showed him his room that he’d been staying in, which was a bit dusty from not being used in what appeared to be a long time – or perhaps never – but it was a little bit nicer than what he’d enjoyed at the Inn. It even had some modern cottony pillows that seemed like they would be more comfortable for him rather than the goosedown one at the Inn, which made him want to ask the Coalition Leader how all the décor came about, but decided in the end that he didn...
2024-01-09 19:17:19 +0000 UTC
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