Life Reset: Salvation (Life Reset - Neo Book 6)

by Shemer Kuznits

  “Given the army’s unfortunate losses recently, we’ve accumulated a surplus,” he answered carefully. “Alas, all basic food.”

  “That will do,” I said. “I’ve resurrected our soldiers, but the bonetises are gone for good. How many can we summon given our existing supply?”

  “The stonemasons have produced a significant amount of limestone in your absence; enough for 850 bonetises.”

  “Great. I leave it to you to summon them and ship them to the army the next time I open a portal at their location.”

  “Of course, my lord.”

  “What about the research project?” I asked.

  “It is done. Romil had requested to inform you of their findings in person.”

  “Alright.” My interest was piqued. It was the first time the intelligent goblinette had asked for me.

  I followed the seneschal to the Research Center where Romil and her crew were standing nervously as they waited for us to arrive. One of the blackboards was covered with a piece of fabric.

  The bespectacled goblinette bowed to me. “Chief.”

  “You wanted to see me?”

  “Yes.” She smiled brightly. “We’ve finished the research.” She approached the covered blackboard. “I give you the culmination of multi-species architecture, the crown achievement of our humble group…” She pulled back the fabric. “The Battle Fortress.”

  “Very nice,” I murmured. The blackboard showed an elegant design of a large, walled-off structure. Ballistae, catapults, and other siege weapons were mounted on the battlements. The walls were thick and there was a secondary inner keep our allies could fall back to if the first layer was breached. Fortified barricades dotted the inner parts of the massive buildings, allowing our forces to take shelter and retaliate against an invading force.

  Romil brightened at the compliment. “It is a gargantuan-sized, Expert-ranked structure. As you can see here—” she pointed at the siege engines, “we’ve employed an automated triggering system for the war machines, which can be operated by a minimal crew, leaving most of the space on the battlements for defenders. There are also numerous one-way passages along the walls, from which soldiers can storm outside en masse to mop up attackers.”

  “I’m impressed,” I said. “It’s more than I hoped for – well done.”

  The goblinette coughed embarrassedly. “There’s only one thing, Chief …”

  “Yeah?”

  “The building is rather expensive,” she said hesitantly. “The book you provided us with helped integrate all the different aspects, but not very efficiently, I’m afraid. It requires far more materials to construct than it would otherwise need.”

  “How much more?”

  She looked at Kaedric.

  “This project will necessitate 20,000 lumber, 10,000 stone, 5,000 metal and leather, and 100 bones to construct,” my seneschal said without missing a beat.

  “Holy crap,” I said. “Can we afford it?”

  “The lumber, leather, and bones, certainly,” Kaedric replied. “Our many new stonemasons are working diligently and should amass the required amount of stone within three days. However, it will take 15 days to produce the necessary metal on our own. We may use the Export Office to bring in the needed amount. We have just enough lumber remaining to trade for it, even after setting aside the amount necessary for the building itself.”

  “Do it,” I said. “Then we’ll have everything we need, right?”

  “Almost, my lord. The only true problem remaining is the build points cost.”

  With so many building materials put together, and for an Expert-ranked structure at that, it was clear the construction effort required would be significant. “How much?”

  “Exactly 200,000 BP,” Kaedric said evenly. “We will have to rush it with energy if we hope to complete it in under a year.”

  “Damn.” We had over 300,000 EP in our clan’s reserves. Though I expected to have double that amount once we reached the battleground, it would still not be enough to resurrect the entire army, and now I had another large expense I had to use it for. There was no helping it, though. We were going to have to make it work. Somehow.

  “Great job, all of you.” I nodded at Romil and her three goblin researchers. “And not just because of the battle fortress. All the recent upgrades in our city – they’re your design, right?”

  “Yes, Chief,” Romil said, lowering her eyes though she was smiling.

  “Keep it up. The four of you helped bring our clan to greatness, and I expect you to keep doing that for as long as it stands.”

  They looked quite pleased with themselves as Kaedric and I left the building.

  “Is there any more you require of me, my lord?”

  I shook my head. “I’m going to swing by the Dreamer’s Lodge next, then I’m going to take it easy until tomorrow.” With my mana pool still essentially zero, there was little I could do. I couldn’t even teleport back to the army’s mobile shrine.

  “Understood, my lord.” The hob bowed and turned to leave.

  I stared after him. I was going to miss my stoic, efficiency-craving seneschal once my time here was over. I had no doubt that without his meticulous assistance, I wouldn’t have been able to make the clan into half of what it currently was.

  I suddenly realized I was looking at everything around me like it was the last time. I couldn’t help it. The final battle was less than five days away now. And one way or another, my time in NEO was coming to an end. It was my responsibility as the chief to make the most of it.

  I stopped to gawk as I arrived outside the Advanced Smithy. The interior was visible through an open wall section. The internal space had been redesigned and filled with advanced tools. Six goblin metalists were hard at work, operating presses and automatic hammers that banged on pieces of metal, churning out weapons and armor like a well-oiled assembly line. Towering above them all was Duladeen, our resident Expert-ranked Minotaur smith. She was working with a giant smith’s hammer, fashioning a blue-tinted ingot into shape.

  I moved on, reaching the Dreamer’s Lodge.

  Hoker rushed to me as soon as I opened the door. “Ah, welcome back, Shadow Lord! I’ve finished enchanting all the high-quality Viridium.” He gestured proudly at a large pile of pinkish beads.

  I’d nearly forgotten I had assigned him to make more beads for my shell. With a flick of my mind, I took over the dark mana that infused the metal, making the pile fuse down into a singular mass that rolled over to me, where I let it drop into a new spatial satchel. I now had 90 of the spheres – a respectable amount – which would allow me to manifest at least four sizable limbs.

  “Good job,” I said. “I hope it didn’t take you away too much from your normal work.”

  The goblin shrugged. “The army is fully equipped, and I’ve already amassed a stock of enchanted gear if you intend to summon some more soldiers.”

  That was unlikely, but who knew what the future held? Some bouldite mage could possess the ability to destroy my soldiers’ gear. It was always good to be prepared.

  “Will you need to use the worktable, Shadow Lord?” Hoker inquired.

  I hadn’t been planning to, but just to make sure, I looked at my gear. The headdress, ring, greaves, and gloves of the Dread Totem armor set were incompatible with Runecraft, as well as the Earring of the Warlord. My mithril vest, staff, and cougar fang were already enchanted to the best of my ability. “I don’t think there’s anything for me to do,” I said. “And it looks like you’re holding the fort pretty well on your own.”

  His chest puffed up a little at that. “Thank you, Shadow Lord.”

  I nodded at him. “Carry on.”

  I left the building and cut across the mushroom fields. The stalks were almost as tall as me, and the couple of goblin farmers that were working the land carried behind them a complicated-looking plow with rolling gears and churning pistons – a far cry from the ancient plow I’d originally recovered and renovated for their use.


  The construction yard external resource plot was somewhat less full than I remembered, but there were still high stacks arrayed in neat rows all over it.

  I shook my head as I caught myself again looking around as if it was the last time, so I cut straight east toward the inn.

  It was still the middle of the workday, so the place was empty of workers. There were plenty of players, though, mostly those who were recently rescued from Everance and wanted to join the war effort. I didn’t recognize many of them.

  I sat down at my favorite spot and Daimmen wasted no time sending Lolo my way with a glass of wine. I nodded at him in thanks and took a sip, enjoying the fruity flavor and the slight tinge that accompanied it.

  Looking around, I noticed the inn had undergone renovation as well. Gone were the crude benches and tables, replaced with varnished furniture and an assortment of handcrafted chairs in sizes appropriate for all types of races in the clan.

  “May I sit?”

  I looked up, noticing the player we’d rescued from Crowley’s clutches. “Of course. Ayelet, right?”

  She sat down. “Yes. I wanted to thank you in person for rescuing me.”

  I shook my head. “It’s mostly Raystia and the rest of the Mob Squad you should be thanking. They’re the ones who freed you, I only helped them get away.”

  “You’re too modest,” she said. “It’s only thanks to you that they were in a position to free me. And from what I’ve learned, this entire haven is your doing alone. You’re like an angel sent to help us players.”

  I chuckled. “In this reality, the angels – the Outriders – are the enemies. But I get what you mean, and you are most welcome.” It felt good to see the people I helped getting better.

  “I wish there was something I could do to pay you back,” she said.

  I shook my head. “Seeing you here and safe is all the thanks I need. From what I heard, you’ve been through some hard times.”

  Her expression fell and her eyes became haunted. “It was … terrible. Even before I was captured, I was always hungry. Every single coin I got went to buying food, so I couldn’t even afford the tools to earn more. Then, when Crowley’s thugs caught me, it got even worse. They fed me rarely … a little more if I had any breakthrough to show them, which didn’t happen very often.” She smiled sadly. “As a junior researcher on the outside, there wasn’t much I could do from inside a prison cell.”

  “I’m sorry.” My own experience of being imprisoned was brief. I couldn’t imagine being in her place; alone, helpless, and malnourished. “They’re feeding you alright here?”

  She smiled more easily. “Oh yes. Lolo keeps sneaking me treats, even though I’m about to burst.” She lowered her voice. “I think she likes me; she snuck in a plate of something exotic when her father wasn’t looking. The other players said that was the sort of food they needed to spend gold on to get. It was delicious.”

  I returned her smile. “Glad to hear they’re taking good care of you. If there’s anything else I can do for you, don’t hesitate to ask. Or you can talk to Kaedric if I’m not around.”

  “I’m alright,” she said. “I got a bunk room with a bunch of other players, free food, and some intriguing nocturnal flora to explore.”

  “We’re big on nocturnal things out here.” I winked at her.

  She giggled. “I noticed. Well, I better be off, others are waiting to speak with you.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Others?”

  “The word is out that the final big fight is coming. Everyone feels like this is the end. For better or for worse. Some of them want to exchange a few parting words.”

  Many of the players I was most acquainted with were back with the army, but I still recognized some of the others present, and as Ayelet stepped away, another one approached.

  “Hey, Oren,” Jaelon said.

  “Where’s your buddy, Nesteph?” I asked.

  Jaelon grimaced. “He’s with the army. I had enough of fighting after the last battle. I’m not cut out to handle this level of brutal realism, but Nesteph decided he wanted to fight. I try to help out around the clan, I’m a pretty good woodworker – been giving a hand to Ryuk, the goblin carpenter.”

  “Ah, that explains the new furniture around here,” I said.

  “Yeah, I thought this place needed a little facelift. Don’t get me wrong, coarse wood has a sort of rustic charm, but I prefer my dining chair to be without splinters.”

  I guffawed a little. “I can agree with that.”

  He smiled. “Anyway, I wanted to thank you for bringing all of us here. Can I buy you a drink as thanks?”

  “I sort of own the place,” I pointed out.

  He shrugged. “You can pay for it; I still would like to raise a glass with you.”

  “Why not,” I said and motioned for the innkeeper to bring more glasses.

  The player and I toasted our drinks and spent a few more minutes reminiscing about our adventures.

  After Jaelon came Tenchi. The half-serpentine player slithered along, also offering his thanks and sharing another drink with me.

  More players came and the rest of the day turned into a haze of toasts, laughs, and shared comradery.

  The workers started arriving at the inn in droves for their end of the day meal several hours later. Tika was one of the last to arrive. She sat down next to me, holding my hand, while Daimmen bustled around us, raising a veritable banquet on our small table.

  A slight flex of my boss aura ensured we weren’t bothered, and the two of us shared a quiet meal, often holding each other’s gaze. These were our last moments together, and I wanted to etch her every feature deep in my mind.

  Once we finished our date, Tika wordlessly entwined her fingers with mine and pulled me into our house, where we shared our bodies. Sometime later, as exhaustion claimed me, I drifted into the hazy bliss of sleep.

  When I awoke the next morning Tika’s side of the bed was empty. I couldn’t remember the last time my spouse had awoken before me.

  She understood the situation better than me. Last night was us saying goodbye. Anything else we might have said afterward would only diminish that.

  I got out of bed with a heavy heart and put on my armor. Now I realized the reason for the state of nostalgia that hit me yesterday. My heart had understood what my mind had only now figured out.

  This was the last time I would see the valley.

  Once I rejoined the army, I would never come back.

  ***

  “Well, it’s about damn time!” Vic exaggeratedly stretched the brand-new body I conjured up for him, reaching out with arms twice their normal length. “What took you so long?”

  “I had to wait out the death debuff’s duration,” I said. “You should feel pretty good right now, I put in 5,000 MP and almost all of my health to create this body for you.”

  “It’s not bad,” he admitted, checking himself over. “I got enough mass now to be walking around Ogre-sized.”

  “Please don’t.” I winced, imagining my unruly companion lumbering through the settlement as a purple Ogre, bellowing his particular strain of humor for everyone to hear.

  Vic chuckled. “Don’t worry, Boss. I got zero interest in looking like a big dumb puppet. Looking like a small dumb puppet is quite enough. Besides, shaping down from an Ogre to a cloak that fits your size would be too much of a hassle. Hmm …” He rubbed his chin. “Unless I shifted into something bigger. Hey, how would you like to walk around with a huge mat draped around your shoulder? I have faith in your ability to pull off the ‘princess in a way-too-long overflowing garment’ look.”

  “I’ll pass. Are you up to date with what’s going on?”

  “Sure. SLTV is broadcasting the army’s progression nonstop. It’s all the rage in the VI pool. Even PPTV’s ratings took a hit for that one.”

  I grimaced. Puppet Porn TV. I didn’t need a reminder of that depraved channel’s existence.

  “Prude.”

  “Pervert.”
<
br />   “Pusillanimous.”

  I ignored him, drew out my Demon Staff, and started channeling my mana into it.

  “Gave up already? It’s a hard comeback from pusillanimous, I’ll give you that.”

  “Let it go, Vic, I’m busy.” I proceeded to fill my staff’s storage with three fresh Direball spells.

  “So I won,” Vic said smugly. “That’s another one for me.”

  “Just get on already,” I said.

  “You got it, Boss.”

  Vic’s body reduced to an amorphous blob, sending a tendril toward my neck, and assumed his normal Vicloak shape around my shoulders.

  Lirian was waiting outside the inn. She looked at me expectantly. “Are you ready, Father?”

  There was a sense of formality in her tone. It was as if the entire day I had spent in the clan led up to that simple question.

  “I am.”

  24 - Inspiration

  Lirian and I appeared amid the marching army. I lurched, catching myself just before falling, the strain of having teleported such a long distance hitting me like a truck.

  The soldiers around us shifted, maintaining a respectful distance from us.

  “Where’s Sullivan?” I asked, looking around.

  “He and the other officers are riding at the front, Chief,” one of the soldiers said.

  “Thanks.” I paused and studied the hob’s bruised face. “What happened to you?”

  He winced. “One of the Ogres turned into an elite and Rhyno challenged her. There were some … ricochets.”

  “Anyone die?”

  “No, Chief. Actually, they seemed to have hit it off. Once they finished hitting each other, that is.”

  I cracked a grin at that and cast Heal Followers, bringing the helpful hob and several others back to full health.

  Lirian and I picked up our pace toward the front of the marching army. The soldiers parted before us before closing seamlessly behind.

  The front ranks of the foot soldiers opened, revealing hundreds of bonetis-mounted riders. Two mounts were quickly offered to us, and we trotted them along to the head of the army.