Chapter 13
“My name is Deryssa Val’dor.”
Deryssa bowed slightly, her movements demonstrating an effortless grace. Even though mostly translucent, her skin had the same mesmerizing tapestry of black and grey swirls as Ruin’s, and it shimmered subtly with prismatic light with her every shift in position. Four delicate wings enhanced her surreal beauty, their twitching hinting at suppressed nervousness. Grey eyes, deep and enigmatic, met his gaze, framed by the flowing cascad...
2024-09-21 05:33:54 +0000 UTC
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Prologue
Naktos watched with morbid curiosity and a significant amount of anticipation as Ruwen and Lalquinrial battled. Naktos floated deep in the chaotic energy surrounding Tower Island. Soul power coated his body like armor, protecting him from damage. His extended senses would be impossible to detect amid the frantic battle above.
Naktos didn't understand Starfield’s strategy. He’d fight decisively to reach an objective and then falter at the very end, as if sabotaging him...
2024-09-21 05:31:59 +0000 UTC
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[Author's Note - updated the spells in this chapter a bit since I first posted it.]
The first item Ash picked up looked like an old-fashioned water flask.
Name: Artesian Flask
Quality: Uncommon
Durability: 100/100
Effect (Passive): Flask produces three gallons of clean water per day...
2024-09-20 21:16:28 +0000 UTC
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Hey!
A quick note about today's Divine Awakening chapter. It's not where I want it so I'll release it tomorrow. Sorry about the delay.
Take care,
AFK
2024-09-19 22:08:12 +0000 UTC
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[Author's Note - this chapter is rougher than normal as I haven't had a chance to read through it again and it hasn't gone to the editor either.]
Chapter 49
Ash stood alone in the tunnel, his senses alert for any additional wraiths. The flickering torchlight cast long, tripping shadows along the stone walls. The air felt thin, the complete lack of moisture causing the scent of old stone and decay to become overpowering. His mouth dry from the wraith’s greedy feeding, he s...
2024-09-18 05:29:13 +0000 UTC
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Hi!
I didn’t get that third chapter finished, so only two chapters tonight. As I said in my earlier update, starting next week, I’ll be prioritizing the book 11 chapters so we should get three chapters consistently.
The end of chapter 12 tonight is something I’d intended for much later in the book, possibly even the end, but I’m going to try it here and see if it allows me to better manage the worldbuilding and avoid info dumps. We’ll see how it goes together.
Than...
2024-09-14 06:26:37 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 12
Ruin read the details on the second Array and found it came from an item.
Band of Remembrance
The Band of Remembrance is one of the eight artifacts associated with the eight spires that create the boundaries of the Destruction Realm. Little is known about the Heritages associated with the bands, as they are closely guarded secrets of the noble families who possess them.
This Array had opened because of the silver ...
2024-09-14 06:25:34 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 11
Ruin returned to his body and found himself wearing the items he’d equipped. He expected to find them scattered across the ground, not reflecting how he'd dressed in the vault. He wondered what that looked like to someone watching his physical body and made a note to have Rami observe him next time.
Vex remained airborne somewhere and not visible to Ruin, so he opened his Display and accessed the Inheritance tab.
As if detecting Ruin's confusion, a pop-up asking...
2024-09-14 06:23:59 +0000 UTC
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Hey!
Just wanted to drop a note to let everyone know I'm only going to post two chapters a week of Divine Awakening on Royal Road for a while until I can build up more of a buffer. I also need to focus on Book 11 so my goal for a bit will be getting those three chapters done and then writing as many Ash chapters as I can. This will likely result in Patreon getting further ahead of Royal Road as I build up my buffer.
I rewrote sections of book 11's chapter 11, and I hope I made thi...
2024-09-13 18:32:35 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 48
Nomad sat in front of Ash. “What was that thing?”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“You seem a little jumpy.”
Ash sighed. "Sorry." Then he told a half-truth. "My display keeps appearing suddenly, and it's giving me problems."
Nomad squeezed his eyes tightly and rubbed them. "I know. Everyone’s attributes just appeared five minutes ago. You’re the only one I haven't checked with."
"Yeah, I can see them, but I haven’t assigned any of my...
2024-09-13 18:21:53 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 47
"Those are the two brothers in the beginning of the Bible, right?" Ash asked.
Bruja nodded. "The story goes that Cain became jealous of Abel and killed him. There is a massive mythology around Cain because he was cursed by God."
"Cursed? Like you said my blood is?"
"Yeah, but here's the interesting part. I’m ninety-nine percent sure I knew all the gods that lived or visited this planet, and none of them possessed the magic in your blood. In fact, I don't p...
2024-09-11 20:37:21 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 46
The stairs spiraled downward for about thirty feet and opened into a chamber fifty feet across. Five tunnels exited the chamber, and stone benches sat against the walls between the passages. Torches lined the walls, providing plenty of light.
As soon as Ash's foot touched the stone floor, a surge of experience coursed through his body, and minimized notifications appeared.
The middle of the room contained the wooden remains of chairs and tables, and seventeen tiny...
2024-09-09 22:57:13 +0000 UTC
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[Author's Note: As I said in the update there is a lot of info dumping in this chapter, and I'm not sure how to fix it yet.]
Chapter 11
Ruin returned to his body and found himself wearing the items he’d equipped. He expected to find them scattered across the ground, not reflecting exactly how he'd dressed in the vault. He wondered what that looked like to someone watching his physical body and made a note to have Rami observe him next time.
Vex was still flying around some...
2024-09-07 07:37:18 +0000 UTC
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Hi!
I’m sending out this update early. I only have one chapter for book 11 tonight, and I’m not super happy with it either. It details the Inheritance/Heritage system and it reads like a huge info dump. Not sure how I’m going to fix it yet. I will do my best to get another chapter out this weekend but I can’t promise it.
Books are all at the post office, so expect them next week or so.
I opened up all the Divine Awakening chapters that are on Royal Road to Fr...
2024-09-06 22:47:12 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 45
Ash’s feet sank into the soft dunes as he sprinted across the sand, his lungs burning from the scorching heat. Behind him, the rest of the group staggered through the shifting terrain, struggling to keep pace. The sound of heavy boots sinking into sand mixed with the dry rasp of their breathing.
The sand stretched endlessly in every direction, the dunes towering above them like great golden waves. Before them, half-buried in the desert, loomed the crumbling ruins of a...
2024-09-06 21:39:07 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 44
The chamber fell silent, the only sound the distant whirring of Blueprint’s drone as she scouted all the larger tunnels in the lower section.
Ash stood in the center of the circular chamber, his eyes darting between the twenty-four doorways that had magically opened. Each portal, now revealed by the blood that had seeped into the ancient carvings, loomed ominously.
The basin where he’d fought and defeated the three Scarab Guardians was still slick with blood, ...
2024-09-04 20:48:12 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 43
Ash returned the stares of the nineteen people gathered around the tunnel entrance. Notifications appeared, and unsure of what to say in the sudden silence, he glanced at them.
Ping!
You have gained the following Title...
Title: Backache
Quality: Rare
Requirement: Carry your party by defeating three or more creatures double your level s...
2024-09-03 01:38:24 +0000 UTC
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[Author's Note: I will try and get another chapter up today or tomorrow.]
Chapter 42 - Relay
Izzy tried to calm herself as she jogged down the tunnel. Nomad had sent everyone out of the room with the hole and black eel. Had Shamrock killed that horrid creature? It smelled awful.
Despite running marathons, Izzy felt herself hyperventilating. This place felt strange, and the creatures she’d seen didn’t seem possible. Now there were groups behind them that, from the ...
2024-09-02 17:20:40 +0000 UTC
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Hey everyone,
I just added book 11 chapters 9 and 10 for Step Master and above. I unlocked chapter 8 for Harvester, and chapter 7 for Root. Sorry about the delay.
Have a great week.
Take care,
AFK
2024-09-02 02:53:16 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 10
Multiple sets of armor pulsed with hidden energy. Plate mail of shimmering silver, leather jerkins that absorbed the light, creating patches of shadows across their surface like camouflage, and helms adorned with gemstones that flickered with internal fire. Some armors were sleek and elegant, while others bristled with spikes.
Four swords, a mace, three bows with quivers, and a whip was all that remained of the weapons. Many of them had runes carved across their surface...
2024-09-02 02:49:56 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 9
Ruin’s new and very full inventory had helpfully grouped items by quality. It started with fine and continued with rare, special, epic, and legendary.
The vast majority of fine-quality items centered on the armor and weapons of the warriors in the five towers.
Ruin had stacks with quantities over ten thousand for multiple items: chipped bone shields, chain mail, and helms. With a thought, he sorted his inventory by quantity and sold all the low-quality armor and ...
2024-09-02 02:47:17 +0000 UTC
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Hi!
As you’ve already noticed no doubt I only released one Book 11 chapter tonight. I have another almost ready that I hopefully can get out on Saturday. I was a single parent for part of the week and that ensured I had no extra time for writing.
Despite failing to write 3 chapters for both book 11 and Divine Awakening, I feel like I’m making progress toward that goal.
In other updates, the RSI in my left wrist and arm is better, and I will mail out books on Tuesday. I c...
2024-08-31 05:08:48 +0000 UTC
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[Author's Note: As I said in this week's update, I should have another chapter released Saturday night. I was a single parent this week which is catastrophic for writing. Thank you for your patience and understanding.]
Chapter 8
To Ruin's relief Vex appeared, but he’d changed. A lot. Even with Ruin's new height, he had to look up at the horse.
Vex lost his demonic appearance and gained another set of wings just like Ruin. They had the luster of metal, but with a dark matte...
2024-08-31 05:07:42 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 41
Ash moved cautiously down the narrow tunnel. It sloped noticeably downward, and the air grew colder with each step. The dry, stale scent of ancient stone and dust filled his nostrils, and the faint echoes of his party as they entered the Shadow Eel room exaggerated the tunnel’s silence. His senses remained on high alert, Lesser Ripple scanning the area like a magic radar, ensuring nothing dangerous waited for him in the torch-lit passage.
The tunnel fina...
2024-08-30 18:53:16 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 40
Ding!
You have reached Level 2!
You have gained 2 unassigned attribute points!
You have gained 1 spell point!
Check appropriate displays for new capabilities.
Now that Ash knew the shadow eel had died, he released the body and got to his feet.
Ash closed the notification, excited to see what leveling entailed. He’d played enough games to know that leveling alw...
2024-08-28 19:59:53 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 39
As Ash continued down the tunnel, Third Eye detected traces of energy flowing along every surface. Was this how the dungeon kept track of everyone? Staying alert, he concentrated on this faint power, tapping into his pitiful Crown energy to help him detect any patterns.
Third Eye picked up pools of power on the floor, which it urged Ash to avoid. He withdrew Lesser Ripple, and the energy signatures disappeared. Extending Lesser Ripple again, he sm...
2024-08-27 02:59:47 +0000 UTC
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Varthon pointed at Rami. “And you’re far too valuable to throw your life away entering one of those towers. You need to concentrate on attaching your pathways. Your spiritual network is pitiful. You—”
Ruin didn’t even bother standing and interrupted the Void Wyrm with a single word.
“Open,” Ruin calmly commanded.
The five towers shook, and the ground vibrated. The dust of the pulverized throne rose into the air hiding the ground from sight.
Varthon glance...
2024-08-24 08:15:12 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 6
Ruin sensed Rami use her Superior Telescopic Touch to absorb the contents of the book, and the new quest filled his vision.
Name: Harbinger’s Call
Description: The Harbinger speaks for their Verse.
Step: 2 of Unknown
Step Description: Complete two of the following:&nb...
2024-08-24 08:13:47 +0000 UTC
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Chapter 38
Before Ash could approach the loot, a notification appeared.
Ping!
You have gained the following Title...
Title: Overkill
Quality: Uncommon
Requirement: Cause three times a creature’s max health in damage within three seconds.
Effect (Passive): Ju...
2024-08-24 02:03:07 +0000 UTC
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As Ash moved forward, he triggered his new Third Eye ability, Lesser Ripple, and pushed it outward. Once past ten feet, his Mental Energy ticked down a percentage every three seconds, and the farther he extended the ability, the faster the Mental Energy dropped.
Sensory input swamped Ash, and he adjusted Lesser Ripple to provide less detail. This slowed the drain on his Mental Energy and allowed him to comprehend what the ability detected.
The tunnel stretch...
2024-08-22 05:26:57 +0000 UTC
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