by Ryan DeBruyn
She had transformed into her raven form and sent Azoth to find Rocky. She couldn’t stop thinking about the stupid man. His decision to come here had seemed so rushed but what she was witnessing made it worthwhile.
What followed wasn’t a pretty victory, but they had managed to save thousands upon thousands of humans today. She knew that would cause some issues in the Territory for a time, but she wanted to believe that they could overcome it. Rocky would say something like, “That many bodies working together, will find a solution!”
She thought again about his class change. Sela had never heard of a Chimeran Knight before. She considered it. The class Seraphim was considered extremely powerful because of its reduction in Etherience. What rarity of class was Rocky’s if it created extra Etherience? This savior quest alone was going to award him a massive bonus!
The flying shape of a mechanoid going airborne caught her attention and broke her musings. The four-legged form that was Azoth flew away from the same location, heading west. She squinted, trying to see if a shape resided on the birdbrain’s back. She clicked her radio, “Sela Ardensai here. Rockland, are you ok? Over.”
Static hissed, but no response came. She tried her mental connection with Azoth next,
Azoth’s presence echoed pure sadness into her mind,
Ernest landed beside her and pointed to the retreating Chimera. “Selaphelia, yes?” At her nod, Ernest continued, “Rockland is leaving on his pet to the south. He won’t attack my people, right?”
“What happened out there?”
Ernest looked at the soil beneath his feet. “The person in control of us killed many humans that Rockland escorted. I have only seen grown men cry like that when they lose someone very dear to them.” He choked on his words and continued staring at the soil.
Sela watched Azoth shrink into the distance and nodded. He definitely needed some space, but did that include space from her? Every part of her wanted to transform into a raven and follow after the big lout. He needed her, but if she didn’t leave soon, Azoth would be out of range.
She prepared to follow Rocky but was interrupted as someone sprinted to her side. She saluted Letoya and commanded, “Report!” She glanced after Rocky’s retreating shadow—if Letoya was quick, she could still catch up.
“The Golem Knights are retreating. The enemy is organizing for a response attack. Smith says we have to get out of here now.”
Sela froze. Letoya took off to relay her orders to others. Sela looked longingly after Azoth and Rocky. She sighed and let her head fall before looking back up, snapping into commander mode.
Meeting Ernest’s eyes, she pointed. “Cover the retreating humans, and help the Knights disengage. You caused most of this—it is time to repent.”
Ernest saluted her and flew away. Sela looked over the running, walking, and limping survivors who streamed passed her. This was going to be a tough day, and they really could have used Rockland. She shook her head and turned around to see where she could help most, but a figure crossed her line of sight.
She blinked as Rockland limped toward her. She studied him and was horrified to realize he was missing a foot, until she noticed that smoke poured from the wound instead of blood. It was his clone.
The clone carried a body over his shoulders, guiding a second survivor with an arm around their waist. Tears of dark black liquid leaked from its eyes. How had the clone managed to hold itself together? She rushed to it and caught both bodies as the Skill puffed into smoke. She Analyzed them quickly.
Nadine Shealds
Apprentice-Gourmet
Level 18
Health Points 15 / 110
--
Lacy Obs
Apprentice-Witch
Level 18
Health Points 19 / 80
Sela recognized the names and placed the women on the ground. The women’s wounds bled freely, and they were each missing a limb. They were dying. Sela had two Health Potions and wasn’t sure if they would be enough for the severity of the injuries. She clicked her radio. “Sela here. I need a healer at the retreat point, now! Over.”
Nadine’s condition was worse than Lacy’s. Sela poured a potion down Nadine’s throat, praying that it would buy her time.
A response came from the ship. “Scourge. ETA five minutes. Over.”
She glanced at the sky and spotted the ship slowing. Five minutes would be too late for one of these women.
She checked her skills page. The ship dropped off nearly twenty thousand survivors and had given her just over forty million Etherience—enough to push her into level twelve. Maybe her skills could help. She had access to a ‘heal over time’ skill, Rejuvenate, in her third tier, but its effects were not purely healing based. They were more on par with the Elixir of Shortened sleep, but the description said it aided body repair and recuperation.
She sunk two points into it and cast the Skill on both women. Nadine’s health bar continued to drop, but Lacy’s stabilized. At least she had a chance of saving them. She silently urged the ship to arrive.
She refreshed the Skill whenever her Ether regenerated enough to do so. As the ship descended, she poured her second healing potion down Nadine’s throat. It gave her a few more minutes, which was all she needed.
She sighed with relief as a group flooded off the ship with extra Healing Potions and took over for her. She tried to tell Azoth the excellent news, but he was too far away. Her heart panged, and she clutched it. Her other skill option in the third tier was stronger than Rejuvenate. In the long run, she had just placed valuable skill points in a counterproductive way.
What was it about this man? It was far too soon to call this love, wasn’t it? Why would Rocky run away from her?
She sniffed and shook off her thoughts. Rockland needed to wait. Sela could find him, but right now, the retreat needed her. She struggled for a few more heartbeats. “Come on Sela, it’s just a boy. Get to work,” she mumbled to herself.
After setting aside her feelings for Rocky, she walked onto the ship and made her way to the Control Room. She wanted an overview and fumed when she found the Satellite techs studying a shape moving in the ocean. She shouted, “Is that tactically relevant?”
One of the technicians stood and saluted. “The Satellite is not in a location to see our position or the retreat ma’am. We are not the ones in control of the location. That is headquarters.”
Sela clicked her mouth shut and nodded. “What are you looking at, then?”
A massive white form frothed the waves as they broke over its rising bulk. The Satellite seemed to be holding position on the object, but by the change in coordinates, Sela realized it was following the shape.
She moved away and got an update on the retreat instead of fixating on the strange white tube. Three golems were forming in the middle of the ‘city’ for a countercharge. Twenty Mechano-Lords held their attention for now.
The ship loaded up the stragglers and quickly reached capacity. They wouldn’t be able to evacuate any more than they already had, and she passed orders. “Tell everyone to stop liberating slaves. We have very little time left, and if we try to save everyone, we will save no one.”
A general needed to make the tough decisions—a gasp from the Satellite techs interrupted her pep talk.
She walked over and found herself looking at a body of water surrounded by land. In the center of that water was a black hole, and the white body led directly into it. “Where is this?”
One of the technicians responded. “The Mediterranean Sea, ma’am.”
She smiled despite their situation. She had found Atlantis.
Afterword
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About Ryan DeBruyn
Ryan has always been a dream chaser. His first career was as a professional athlete, which taught him the dedication and perseverance needed to chase fantastic goals. A devastating injury removed Ryan from this world before his prime, and taught him the value of an education.
His first book began as a hobby project while he attended Georgian College. Using his hard fought lessons, in motivation, discipline and hard work Ryan published his first book in February 2019.
He is a recent graduate in the field of Electrical Engineering and a full-time author.
Here’s hoping you enjoy the worlds he creates as much as he does!
Connect with Ryan:
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About Mountaindale Press
Dakota and Danielle Krout, a husband and wife team, strive to create as well as publish excellent fantasy and science fiction novels. Self-publishing The Divine Dungeon: Dungeon Born in 2016 transformed their careers from Dakota’s military and programming background and Danielle’s Ph.D. in pharmacology to President and CEO, respectively, of a small press. Their goal is to share their success with other authors and provide captivating fiction to readers with the purpose of solidifying Mountaindale Press as the place ‘Where Fantasy Transforms Reality.’
Connect with Mountaindale Press:
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Mountaindale Press Titles
GameLit and LitRPG
The Completionist Chronicles and The Divine Dungeon by Dakota Krout
A Touch of Power by Jay Boyce
Red Mage by Xander Boyce
Space Seasons by Dawn Chapman
Ether Collapse by Ryan DeBruyn
Bloodgames by Christian J. Gilliland
Wolfman Warlock by James Hunter and Dakota Krout
Axe Druid and Mephisto’s Magic Online by Christopher Johns
Skeleton in Space by Andries Louws
Chronicles of Ethan by John L. Monk
Pixel Dust by David Petrie
Artorian’s Archives by Dennis Vanderkerken and Dakota Krout
Appendix
Adam Weatherbee – A survivor from Kingston who has a unique class giving him the ability to take control of golems. Apprentice Stone-Summoner
Adam’s Elites – A group of individuals from Kingston that have now formed a group with Adam and his minion Golems.
Alchemy is the Basis of All – Alchemy guild located on Helion Prime. Is studying gasoline which was traded to him by someone in Florida.
Alex Watt – 11-year-old young man that Rocky met while entering Ottawa. Family was massacred by Corsair’s goons. Died during the Ottawa Exodus Struggle
Altar of Michabo – A place of power that is linked to the Algonquin Guild. This place of power is billions of years old and was created to link another realm (Spirit Realm) to Gaia. This gives the benefit of Rebirth to our hero but at what cost?
Algonquin Grotto – This is where Selaphelia Ardensai chose to start the settlement of survivors. It was chosen because of its natural defenses in the mountains and cliff faces that surround it on three sides. On the fourth side is a large river that runs through Algonquin Park.
Algonquin Park – Is the full Algonquin Park as seen in our current world.
Algonquin Valley – Is the Territory of Rockland Barkclay, and it sits within Algonquin Park. It is quite large but does not encompass the entirety of the current Algonquin Park from present day Earth.
Amber Dell – A member of the A-Team. A muscular Native American woman who is extremely pretty when she smiles. She also seems to take things a little too literally, often forgetting or not understanding the full meaning of things. Apprentice-Fencer
Amelia Nanospark – A Helion, who disguises herself as an Iridescent Kobold. Has a unique class of Nanospark that gives her control over her unique nanobots. With it she has created a resistance on Helion Prime against the tyranny of the Guild Collective.
Analyze – A skill that is common for almost all the individuals of the Etherverse. When scrutinizing an object or a person, the system will reveal some information based on your level in the skill. Skill can be countered or obfuscated.
Ancestral Guide – A perk of the Etherverse. Gaia was once predicated on privilege and the power ancestors passed down. Skills, training, gear etc. Ancestral guides were a constant companion that could train the truly fortunate.
Antarctica – A continent on Earth. Google it.
Apep – Essentially a black hole, another form of godly being similar to Gaia but more on par with a Star God. Instead of bringing light to a world, a Void god attempts to subvert worlds away from the light to gain power.
Apep’s Void Shoud / Stick – Pieces of gear worn first by the cultists of Apep, but were looted in book 2.
Apothis – One of the countless souls that Apep has at his command. Apep continually spins out his head priest, Apothis, to try to conquer worlds. Master-Necromonger
Arbuckle – A very rare metal that can be inscribed with powerful runes, and has the ability to convert hold a large Ether Pool to power them. This metal is required to create a shop, and seed shops. It is somewhat alive and grows more of itself.
Area of Effect (AoE) – A type of skill that creates an effect over a large area. This is usually damage or healing but can be slowing effects or other such effects.
Arena Dungeon – Controlled by the Dungeon core Maximus. This Dungeon becomes the first cardinal Dungeon of the Territory, Algonquin Valley.
Aretrean Bazaar – The Aretrean Bazaar is on Mount Olympus and is the shop our hero has access to currently.
Asgardians – A guild that once resided on Earth but has left when the Ether fled. They are still a powerhouse in the Etherverse.
Astrid – A member of the Territorial Council. Mid-Forties. Tailoress.
Atlantean Academy – A school Selaphelia attended when growing up. This school was attached to Atlantis and held a neutral faction for the guilds. All attendees were either nobility or very skilled.
Atlantean Guild Tower – This is a greater perk that was earned for the cleansing of the nearby Chalk River nuclear meltdown. This is a tower which links up through a satellite to the EtherNet. Thus providing our hero with more information on the current world.
Atrium – The lower levels of the Guild Tower. The Atrium is a massive cathedral that houses Quest Kiosk’s a desk that will house assistants, and an elevator that people on the list can use to access the upper tower.
Azoth – Rockland’s pet Chimera. Is able to speak and communicate first with Selaphelia and later with Rockland. Through them both is gaining Sapience. Dread-Chimera
Azrael – Rockland’s ancestor. Azrael was adopted by the Cathodiem guild and never was considered nobility. A new book is on its way with Azrael’s coming of age story. Ether Flows – Tech Duinn. Keep your eyes peeled.
Bag of Holding – A bag that has been enchanted to contain a massive Ethereal space inside. Our hero lucked into a very large bag of holding from a dungeon early after the crash.
Bailey – A young girl who first got into trouble for enticing young men to steal weapons from the guards. She has now become an adventurer and was captured and detained by LFD along with 400 other citizens. She continued to break free and farm for Etherience.
Bam-Bam – An Ogre boss that attacks the Territory.
Bancroft – Is a town located on the York River in Hastings County in the Canadian province of Ontario.
Bart – A member of the A-Team. Bart looks like a hell’s angel with tattoos, long hair and a biker jacket. There is a deep well of kindness in this man as seen through his deeds, from helping people survive to organizin
g the Territory.
Barry’s Bay – Is a community in the township of Madawaska Valley, Ontario, Canada.
Basalt Golem – A golem that converts from the roads. Tar Golem would also be an appropriate name. But Basalt sounds cooler.
Bathilda the Darkscale – Is the dragon under contract with Gaia. She had a necklace that gives her rights to live on Gaia, but she must obey the commands of Gaia to keep the planet in balance. Essentially an all-powerful bouncer who maintains order on the planet.
Batwing Bird – A type of monster that our group faces during the book.
Bear Tribe – Briefly mentioned by Selaphelia. A tribe within the Beastkin.
Beastkin – A race in the Etherverse that contains many tribes of difference beast-humanoids.
Blight Skill / Blighted Bog – A skill Sela learned at the Journeyman ranks.
Bloodlust Aura – A skill released by Bam-bam during combat.
Bone Breast Plate – A breastplate dropped by Rattlegore.
Brent – Is a community on Cedar Lake on the Petawawa River in northern Algonquin Provincial Park.
Bullet – Mutated peregrine falcon that had strong, wind-based skills, and that nearly killed Rocky and the group.