dragonheartednovels

[D'sP] Deals Decided - Chapter 176

Jess scoffs, “I don’t care what she wants. All I need is a replacement for the lesser shadow wolf you killed. Once you have one, I don’t need you to release into the wilds or anything. I’ll just take it from there.”

Moota laughs, “As if it won’t end up in the wild afterwards. They already know we can move members of our species around. Anyway, what I want is a little more hefty, though only because cattle sort of need a herd to do anything in the wild. I’m thinking a her...

[Closed] Deciding the Short Story Prompt for Dec 2021

Below are the full prompts as the poll doesn't allow the full text. I'm going to run the poll for a week just like I did the submission because I don't know how active people will be over that time. The short story will be finished in December and will be available to all patrons. I'm thinking I will keep it patron only the month it comes out and the month after though if anyone has suggestions feel free to speak up.

System Apoc but Cat (Rory) - A short story about all the ch...

[NR] Kicking In The Gate - Chapter 343

The tasty food and its ordered energy wasn’t some kind of cultivation aid. Jason just truly enjoyed the artistry within it. Satisfied, Jason leaves behind a crowd of clapping elderly and stunned teens. The older crowd appreciating his ability to put down food and complimenting him on his strong body. The teens were shocked and disgusted that one of their own would show such unchained gluttony and eat food that might have come into contact with the skin of someone not in his direct family. 2021-12-01 11:01:04 +0000 UTC View Post

[NR] Chef Skills - Chapter 342

As Jason focuses inward and works on opening his first meridian further, the world continues around him. Time passes and the elderly come to respect him all the more for his dedication. While they aren’t powerful, the long years and for a few of them, time spent as teachers, has taught them to recognize when someone is actually focusing instead of just snoozing off. Not that Jason is in any position to notice this besides the fact he isn’t being bothered.

Jason finds the simple act ...

[D'sP] Observant Doyle - Chapter 175

Moota shrugs, “It isn’t so much sapient cows in general. Rather, your world just gained mana. While there are obviously going to be some things already figured out, the more magical stuff is still up in the air. If, for example, a lot of people took up swords, the newly formed ley lines and other such magical deposits would take on sword-like characteristics. This would create a self-sustaining cycle after a certain point and your world would be a haven for sword users.

“Like, you...

[D'sP] About Bloodlines - Chapter 174

Doyle waits for Moota to finalize the blessing before asking, ‘So, what is a bloodline?’

Ally speaks up at this point. “You actually have a monster with a bloodline already, the grassen goat. Remember how the description for it mentioned the herb being strong and the goat being just as strong? They both were at the level of creating a bloodline, though don’t think that means you now have two bloodlines.”

Moota nods, “A bloodline at the most basic level is the legacy of...

[NR] And The Road - Chapter 341

Even the plant at the center, despite being a lone pillar extending into the sky, has been hooked into this cycle. For while the fields can provide the foundation, it takes the plant to provide the finishing touch. Like a toy car, the walls are the body and the fields are the batteries. But the controller is needed to truly bring it to life. A single will to pull the various parts together and give order.

While Jason can’t quite see it yet, this small peak has allowed him to feel the ...

[NR] A Gate - Chapter 340

The next day Rosha and Courtney head out together while Jason sticks around until Sunday rolls around. At some point between those two times, Peter managed to sneak out. Jason wasn’t able to pin down when, but he didn’t really try too hard, either. Sunday was a big day.

A day that had finally arrived. The only thing to note was a message from the System, but with that message, the number of active travellers plummeted. Sure, many of them stuck around. Not everyone needed to leave an...

[Closed] Collecting Short Story Prompts for Dec 2021

[Submissions are Closed]

We've reached the goal and so A week out from the end of the month I'm here to ask all of you for short story prompts! I'll take the more popular ones (or that I just like) in the comments and make a poll at the start of the month. The winner will be made into a short story of a few thousand words.

Not many rules on what you can suggest at the moment. That will mostly be figured out as we go. Though there are two prompts I won't do that will be below. Besi...

[D'sP] Doyle And Ally Have A Visitor - Chapter 173

Doyle has returned to carving up the inner sphere of the seventh floor and more time passes. Outside in the town, the Barrais along with the carpenters have set up a field for most of the cows. Though they do have a smaller field inside the inner ring for their personal experiments and farm animals.

The one important feature at both fields is a small shrine with an Idol of a golden cow. Sure, the Idol isn’t actually made of gold but rather carved of wood and painted with some scavenge...

Changing Goals and More Short Stories

Note: tldr at the end

Hello Everyone,

I have a $1,000 goal to reduce my availability at work and write more. That, sadly, isn’t sustainable anymore and so I will have to change it. The two big catches is my mom pays the insurance for the car I drive and taxes. You might ask why my mom insuring my car is a problem.

Well, my mom is against getting the covid vaccine and will soon lose her job. That will mean the cost will fall on me. I am actually happy that ...

[NR] That Would Be A Problem - Chapter 339

Jason gestures at himself, “A large part of my current path is separating as much of the System’s influence from me as possible so I’ve seen a few things. But the short answer is, who defends NeoRealm if the System ever fails?”

Peter shrugs, “Well, like mentioned we have a good number of high-level people around, anyway.”

Jason shakes his head, “No, you won’t. If you build your house on a rock and that rock vanishes, what happens to your house? The System is suppor...

[NR] Pantheons and Heavenly Courts - Chapter 338

Courtney gestures in the direction of the bamboo stalk, “Then what about those things? They have tribulation in their name.”

Gregor shrugs, “They can generate a burst of lightning that those who have observed agree that it is like tribulation lightning. I don’t know if it is exactly the same mind you. That would require me to both have witnessed someone breaking through the ninth bottleneck and the founder needing to use the stalks again. As it is, the nine bamboo have been used...

[D'sP] Discussing The Afterlife - Chapter 172

Outside of the town border, the crazed being shouts of what might be insults at the crowd. Though this is only a guess as no one physically present can understand them. They do however notice that even if the being isn’t fading anymore; they have started to change. The being got quieter and quieter as their limbs and head fold into their torso.

Not in a body horror way, oddly enough. Rather, it is more like a shadow puppet when the hand it is cast from is balled up into a fist. Just a...

[D'sP] They Lose Their Self - Chapter 171

Out in the field in front of the town of Wolf’s Rest, Ace is standing with half his core people and a hundred commoners. He watches as thirty some cattle walk in their direction, seemingly not spooked by so many people. In fact, they walk right up to Ace and start to graze with the bull offering its benoted horn to him. Ace shrugs and takes the note off, after which the bull joins the other cattle in grazing.

Jim laughs at this, “Well that is one way to deliver a note! Looks like qu...

[NR] Pre-History Ages Mentioned - Chapter 337

Jason is panting as he finishes his rant. Everyone is looking at him strangely. He hadn’t really revealed any of this before, even to Rosha and Courtney so it all came out of nowhere.

Gregor tries to say something a few times but can’t figure out the words. Rosha and Courtney are mostly just stunned that Jason broke down that way as he seemed to always be solid as a rock. So it falls to Peter to pick up the conversation.

Though Peter has his own bombshells to drop. “Well, it...

[NR] Jason Rants - Chapter 336

Gregor laughs, “You travellers just have the benefit of coming from somewhere that is temporally out of sync in your favor. Now if I understand things right what Jason there has to offer you would be like someone coming to NeoRealm before the power systems were figured out.

“On the other hand, it also sounds like some of you have the benefit of a longer lifespan. I’m going to assume a normal human life of about 80 to 110 years? Anyway, some of you already double that through wealt...

[D'sP] What Does It Say? - Chapter 170

Satisfied Doyle focuses on the big ball of stone he has decided to carve up. Of course, he could get down into and carve it up with a bunch of tiny lines and swirls. But even with the patience of a dungeon core, Doyle doubts it would be tolerable. If only because it might take until the whole thing is finished for any effect to come into play. Sure, he isn’t depending on getting some spiffy new nonsense on the floor. But it would be a waste.

Instead, Doyle has a different plan. Until ...

[NR] Talking Around Rosha - Chapter 335

The memorial would never be a popular attraction. The very work put into that pushed the limits of illusion and craftsmanship so far that the rules broke made sure of it. Once seen, a person would feel unwilling to point others towards it. This memorial truly kept the memory alive in all of its gory and horrific detail. Most definitely not a place to bring the family as it were.

After experiencing it, the group understood exactly why Peter put it as the last place to visit. Such a power...

[NR] Painful Memories - Chapter 334

Now, having seen the fancy houses, extravagant art, and the breathtaking view from the viewing platform the group approaches the final place marked for their trip right as the sun is about to set. It isn’t central to anything, in fact, the final point is out of the way and very much off the beaten path. Still, the place has great importance for their final place to visit is the memorial to remember what defeating the swarm bears cost. From what Gregor had told them, it was crafted by true m...

[D'sP] Room Decorations - Chapter 169

Doyle could only shrug at the new limits that the elder assassin vines struggled under. Maybe if it didn’t make sense, he would be more annoyed but it was easy for him to see how such a thing would develop. In fact, it might even be his fault for how he raised the assassin vine. While he isn’t sure how to manage it, maybe an assassin vine that constantly had to be on the move would develop differently.

The one he grew after all just sat in one place for its entire life. In the wild,...

[D'sP] Creating Elders - Chapter 168

The lesser myconid troop guard also allowed Doyle to test one more thing out. It had a level requirement of 9 while the lesser myconids had a lower limit of 6. So with that in mind, Doyle went back to the sixth floor and temporarily cleared out enough space to put in six of the lesser myconids. Then he tried to smoosh them together. Even after putting them into a box and literally putting the squeeze on them, they did not form into a guard.

This was an important discovery as it told him...

[NR] The Platform And The Gallery - Chapter 333

But that was just the nobles showing off. Sure, the three special ones were an astounding display all on their own and each place was constructed to show off. But the nobles didn’t really care if you understood what you were seeing. They just cared about the other nobles who would understand it all, even if just through rote memorization. In fact, Jason had a feeling that they probably missed quite a bit from not getting the in-jokes.

The actual stops on the route went in the opposite...

[NR] Noble Houses - Chapter 332

The trio were just about to head out when Peter finally made it back with the passes. While it wouldn’t have been the end of the world if they missed him. Peter did have one other thing that proved well worth the wait. Unlike Gregor, Peter hadn’t grown up in the city and was gone often enough not to be jaded. This meant he actually knew the good places to check out and what path to take.

Sure, Gregor knew all of that. But like any other local, even the good attractions ended up bein...

[D'sP] Just Smoosh Them Together - Chapter 167

The only problem with Doyle wanting to use the sound of a hurdy-gurdy was he didn’t have one. As luck would have it, though he had at one point got excessively interested in them and their history. So while he couldn’t make a perfect copy, what he could make would get the sound he wanted. And it isn’t like he would be personally playing the thing. Rather, the sound would mostly be automated and more of a constant drone instead of music.

Doyle takes a dive into his memory to dredge...

[NR] Just A Letter - Chapter 331

Courtney sighs, “I hate what you just said because it means I can’t look at Rosha’s dad as evil.”

Jason holds both his hands up, “Woah there! Even if I haven’t heard much, I’m more than willing to bet he is evil to some extent. Rather, he seems more like one of those people who try to claim to be beyond morality. Sure, in this universe, morality isn’t an absolute thing. But claims like that are a lie because morality is partially subjective. They can’t claim to be beyo...

[NR] Gilded Cage - Chapter 330

Jason sighs, “Well, whatever happens I’m more than willing to reach into the System’s core and pull Lily back out.”

Courtney raises an eyebrow, “A bit extreme, but okay.”

Jason shrugs, “If you aren’t willing to go against the heavens once in a while what is the point of being strong? I’d do the same for the both of you. Though luckily enough you’re doing better irl than I am. Be a lot tougher for me to do anything there than it would be in NeoRealm.”

Ro...

[D'sP] Using The Strange Dungeon Stone - Chapter 166

The answer is simple enough. Just use the outer surface of the floor as the floor. On the sixth floor, that area had been set aside for the farms and was honestly way too much room. Though even if he had wanted to use it more actively, it wouldn’t have worked as well. After all, part of the way the floor was supposed to work is every tile looks almost the same. A curved floor would put lie to this and Doyle wasn’t sure he had enough control of the gravity to tweak things so a number of fl...

[D'sP] Start Of The Seventh Floor - Chapter 165

It took three more attempts on the boss floor before Doyle was able to start on his seventh floor. A bit off from his expectations but that is because the Founders changed their goal on the fifth floor. Instead of each dive being a proper attempt to conquer the floor, they instead started to try and feel out how the various enemies responded.

The first attempt by the town at actual strategy instead of depending entirely on tactics. To be fair to them, they didn’t need to strategize on...

[NR] All About What The System Hates - Chapter 329

Rosha shrugs and pulls back a sleeve to reveal a bracelet. “We’ve gotten some jewelry to help with that. Not everyone goes through the pointless action of cheaping out on their starter gear. Sure, the coins are worth something even once you hit ten, but why hold yourself back?”

Courtney coughs to draw attention. “It isn’t really fair to compare the two of you. Even if your father can’t directly give you money from the outset he still passed on some quick and valuable quests....