Bruce_Sentar

RD 5 Ch 14

The click of her heels echoed down the stone hall. The red velvet curtains and tapestries that she so favored did little to muffle the noise. But it was her castle, and she'd be damned if anyone took it from her.

"Saintess!" Two of the Mul Branova, rounded the corner and spotted her immediately, falling to their knees and bowing their heads. Her hair was sheer and temptingly cut for their Lord Bran.

Though he had disappeared, Simone would continue to lead the Mul Branova and carry...

RD 5 Ch 13

I frowned, finding myself in what I dared to call a utopia. A beautiful waterfall landed amidst a pond of impossibly beautiful women lounging in the water. Memories, both new and old, clashed strangely in my head, causing me to grip my face in an effort to ground myself. 

"What?" I said, knowing I sounded as stupid as I felt in the moment. A pounding headache threatened to split my forehead open. The mourning for Tarel and Kal felt fresh even as I realized they were a figment of th...

RD 5 Ch 12

The battle was a brutal sight dead bodies were piling up on either side. We had taken the field at no small risk, I felt a responcibility to make this count. If we could repell the army, perhaps we could get enough breathing room to do more than slowly lose ground.

Their stank of blood and the noise was a clatter of weapons, explosions of abilities and choatic shouting that made it impossible to organize the soldiers.

The demon general had begun to ignore me, instead cutting throu...

RD 5 Ch 11

I wasn't the only one moving to the edge of the fortress. The rest of Tarel's people were as well, each of them panting and red-eyed. Their tears had quickly dried and turned into rage, directly aimed at the demons. Their grief told me Tarel had been a good man and a fine leader. When this was done, I would honor him.

For now though, I needed their anger to forge them into a troop of soldiers that wouldn’t break at the first blow from the demon army below.

I held my sword high, ...

RD 5 Ch 10

Tarel confronted the oncoming demons in my stead like a valiant statue, one that refused to crumble.

As the powerful demons attempted to tear him down, I was preoccupied with my own problems, hacking and slashing at the demons before me. Too many were swarming me to die me down. I knew he was taking on too much.

“Tarel pull back, we're getting too far from the walls," I shouted over the demons howling with bloodlust. In the fighting our soldiers had followed us deeper to kill th...

RD 5 Ch 9

The group of soldiers followed me as we made our way back, looping through the hills and emerging near the fort itself. Meanwhile, the demonic army struggled to stay organized and moved through the hills with the same alacrity as our smaller group. 

"Lord Bran!" someone shouted as we approached the walls. I shaded my eyes to glance upwards, seeing Frank standing next to a gruff, mustached man. It was a good mustache and somehow he still had oil for it.

"What news do you have ...

RD 5 Ch 8

"Into the hills!" I shouted, leading the juggernaut back as it picked up steam coming at us faster.

The demon was at least nine feet tall, plated in armor like carapace with a few spots of dark veiny skin peeking out when it flexed its limbs. The helmetted head had a crown of horns stabbing up in every direction. It was rather impressive, and that didn’t take into account the battle axe almost as big as it was, that the demon swung around like it was a toy. The trick with them was tha...

RD 5 Ch 7

I wiped the demon blood off my blade, standing over the scout whose body was rapidly sinking into the ground, being reclaimed by the system.

"Could you please be a little more cautious?" I said, staring at the men behind me. I had to rush ahead and catch a scout before he could put the whole operation at risk. 

From the hills we could slide sideways into the army, and the demons were just as aware of that as we were. They had put a number of observers on and amongst the hills...

RD 5 Ch 6

Two weeks later, our fortress was bustling with new guests and fresh food. Our bellies were filled, and spirits were high, but I knew that there was more that had to be done.

I turned to the quest that I had completed, only to find it replaced with another.

[Drive off the demons.]

My expression soured at that guidance. My eyes shifted to the massive army in front of us. It was one thing to hold out in this situation, quite another to emerge victorious. Either way, it wasn't ...

RD 5 Ch 5

It had been three days since I had jumped down and taken on the demon masses in the field. Thankfully, I hadn't needed to step up again.

There was no shortage of men willing to bet their heels of bread on who would win. In some cases, men went down just to prove a point. Especially those who were veterans and thought they had something to show the newbies.

More of them were winning more than we were losing, which made me particularly happy. Yet, not everything about the current si...

RD 5 Ch 4

As the demon squared up against me, I raised my sword high into the air.

My men delivered a rallying cry from the wall, that shook the ground and caused the morale gauge to rocket upwards.

The demon scoffed, "Humans are so weak. I can't believe their leader would step down here to his own slaughter. I was hoping just to kill a few decent fighters and break their spirits, while you all slowly starve to death behind your walls.”

“I suppose you won't be getting what you wan...

August AMA

We got a little behind with things due to DragonCon prep, but here's the AMA we recorded last month.

RD 5 Ch 3

Diving headfirst into the demons could be seen as problematic to many of the men watching from the wall. However, Soulgaze had already told me that the fodder at the front of the army wasn't enough to concern me. So, I threw myself in, gathering my strength.

This time, the fight wouldn't be like the nightmare earlier. Instead, I would plow through the swarm of demons. I had a fighting style perfectly fit for the battlefield. 

Gathering my strength, I cut the demons in front o...

RD 5 Ch 2

I sputtered as I sat up, struggling with the softness of the bedding beneath me. It was as if I could sink into the silk. 

"My lord," a concerned voice said from my side. I turned to look and found myself struggling as I realized both my sides were claimed by fantastically gorgeous women. 

Each time my eyes moved they found one better than the last. They were so beautiful that I had trouble believing my eyes. Especially when they began to rouse and rub their soft silken ...

RD 5 Story Thus Far + Ch 1

Story Thus Far

The world had changed, deviating significantly from what Bran had expected. He wasn't omniscient, but even accounting for the changes he had caused in the current timeline, the current situation was hard to piece together.

The differences left Bran with only one conclusion: someone else was either aware of the changes he was making to the current timeline, or someone else had come back with him. 

Based on the way the changes were happenin...

Patreon Update 9-2-2025

Alright!

I feel like that was a solid book. Though I know there are people reading this who haven't read the whole thing yet, so I'll resist spoiling it.

I'm just getting back from DragonCon, things went great. I was on my feet for 18+ hours each day.

Lots of panels, signings and then author shop talk. Lots of meeting, for an author there's a back side of the cons where Amazon, Audible, agents and publishers talk to you. I did take a break in a green room only to meet Christ...

AO 7 Ch 43 END

Several days later, much to Emlyn’s delight, she managed to not only gain access to but also complete control over the Royal Zenov Library. For whatever reason, no one wanted to tell her no, and I didn't blame them. She could be quite cranky when she was cross.

Then again, most of the time people took one look at me and were willing to take the rings off their fingers and empty their pockets for my anchors. They must really appreciate all our help.

Once we were able to go throug...

AO 7 Ch 42

Emlyn was panicking, yet doing her best to defend Ard amidst the wild situation they had all found themselves in. She didn't know what to do besides swing her sword and hope one of the others did.

Yet amidst it all, she felt a tremble in her soul. It wasn't as if her soul itself were quaking, but rather the very foundation on which it rested was shifting. 

Without another thought, she spun around to look at Ard as he put a tarnished, cracked crown on his head.

Emlyn had...

AO 7 Ch 41

"So, uh, I scratched my cheek. "How does it feel to have been in a race for... how long?" I hazarded.

She squinted at me. "Long enough." 

"Alright, you've been in this race long enough against me. Yet, I wasn't even aware of it until now? Also, I'm guessing 'long enough' is longer than I've even been alive. So, now that I've caught up, how does it feel?" I egged her on. 

"Shut your damn mouth!" She screamed loud enough to shake the palace. "Just because you're abou...

AO 7 Ch 40

By the time I woke up from Soulgard, it was already the next morning. I had run away, so to speak, because I needed to get something else done than just lay in bed with Ditzy.

Now I was in the dungeon cell, hoping that we’d be ready to leave and I couldn’t get dragged back to bed with Ditzy. It was lovely, but left me with the feeling that I’d eaten a few too many sugary berries and needed a break before I did nothing but sit and eat for the rest of my life.

"Ard, how are yo...

AO 7 Ch 39

I woke up in the Ardenium palace’s bedroom with Ditzy already launching herself at me and wrapping me in a hug. 

"It's so frustrating," she growled, "not being able to do anything when you are in trouble." 

"Well, hello to you too, Ditzy. I'm sorry about that." I hugged Ditzy back. "But what would you have done?" 

"Smashed their skulls," Ditzy responded quickly. "Run them through with a spear and show that damn Arthur that he doesn't know shit about war. The...

AO 7 Ch 38

The dinner swung into full momentum almost immediately. The Zenovian royals clearly knew their way around the social battlefield.

In no time, everyone was wheeling and dealing, strategically picking each others’ alliances apart. It was not unlike watching a pack of animals tear through a carcass left in the midday sun.

Once again I was seeing proof that I wanted nothing to do with ruling a country. This was not my idea of a group I wanted to continually be surrounded by. But for...

AO 7 Ch 37

I had to bite my lip to stop from squealing in joy. The ambiance that the princess had set was absolutely, positively perfect for the murder mystery party.

The torches on the side were replaced with candles, and the much smaller flame barely lit up the room, casting long, flickering shadows all over the five long tables. Each of them glittered with gold and silver like a dozen knives flashing in the dark.

I was certain they would soon be filled with food and surrounded by a copiou...

AO 7 Ch 36

I whistled happily as Maribelle and Ditzy spiffed me up for my meeting with Gabriella, as well as the dinner afterwards. Though I was going to be in attire suitable for mourning, it didn’t matter.

"You're never this happy, particularly about getting dressed up," Emlyn squinted at me suspiciously. 

"Of course I'm happy. We're gonna go to a dinner," I said my voice practically bouncing. 

"Nuh-uh. You can't fool me," Emlyn tutted. "There's something more to this."&n...

AO 7 Ch 35

“Come in!" I shouted. Deciding that if no one else was going to, I would dig into the sandwiches. I just had to take the top layer off so I could find ones with no or minimal Maribelle blood. Then, after a moment, I realized it didn't matter. They'd just be a little extra salty and metallic.

Really, it was perfect murder mystery food.

"Hello," A Vel'shae greeted me at the door. "Crown Princess Gabriella Zenov would like to invite you for dinner tonight. And in addition to dinner...

AO 7 Ch 34

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" I sang, as Augustus and several other heirs of the Zenov family took their seats.

They all bore similar traits: jet black hair, piercing blue eyes, and a tall, straight posture. I wasn't sure if their noble upbringing was the cause of their thinness, or if it was simply a blessed family trait. Regardless, they had come just prior to lunch, and I was prepared to deliver.

The fact that Eva's suite included a full-size dining room was beyond ridiculo...

AO 7 Ch 33

"Alright," I clapped my hands and glanced over at the goddesses. Ditzy was currently helping Missy put on an apron in the small kitchen amid Eva’s suits.

Really, living as a princess was beyond my wildest expectations and even a little tempting. Though, I wanted all the things, but none of the responsibility.

Maybe I’d have to just make a castle for myself and enjoy life like this. Not a bad idea. Though, I’d need someone with better decoration skills than my own to match Ev...

AO 7 Ch 32

Surprisingly, despite the assassination attempt, I was able to find sleep with relative ease. I drifted off, not to the land of dreams, but rather into Soulgard. I opened my eyes to find Missy standing over me. 

"You fell asleep far too easily," Missy deadpanned. Unlike outside she had changed to a purple dress, if you could call it that, of sheer strips that ran down her shoulders and were loosely gathered at her waist.

There was something tantalizing about it, I wanted to p...

AO 7 Ch 31

After ribbing Eva repeatedly about her suites in the palace, I promptly put Emlyn and the others in places they could sleep. Since Eva was the one hosting us, I felt some obligation to keep her company tonight above the rest. Of course in the main bedroom, because I was going to enjoy the luxury if I had it.

That's why I was currently backing her into a corner, savoring each delicious touch of our lips.

She was wearing a thin silk nightgown that brushed against my hips every time ...

AO 7 Ch 30

As Zuri stepped into the fray with the new monsters, we learned a lot quite quickly.

For example, I learned that they could lunge surprisingly fast despite the slow shuffle they'd been performing on their approach.

The monsters physically threw their entire body weight forward in a reckless attempt to grab and claw at Zuri.

However, she wasn't so easily caught. Spinning around the first wave of monsters, Zuri’s two blades slashed deeply into each of them, only to let out a...