by James Hunter
He didn’t smile—couldn’t—but he dipped his head low in thanks, opalescent tears leaking down his cheeks.
Then, Arzokh was gone, disappearing through the immense portal, which snapped shut, leaving only the starless, cloud-strewn sky behind. Peace and fierce joy bloomed in my chest like a flower. Yep, maybe that hadn’t been the smart thing to do, but it was definitely the right choice—I’d be able to sleep tonight and look at myself in the mirror the next morning.
No amount of gold coin or sweet gear could replace that.
I turned back to the others, but stopped dead in my tracks as a group of ghostly apparitions appeared before me in a semicircle. All hard-faced Dokkalfar men. A few were big and bulky: bruisers and tanks in heavy plate mail, brandishing brutal two-handed weapons. One was whip-thin—built with the hard lines of a razor blade—wore dark leather armor, and carried a beefy warhammer that could’ve been a twin to my own. A Shadowmancer, then. Others sported the flowing robes of mages, while another still was decked out in conjured armor built from yellowing bones.
It was the man in the middle that drew my eye, though.
He was a taller than me, with broad shoulders and a swath of ebony hair streaked at the temples with silver. He stared at me from dark eyes like chips of burnt coal, set above a hooked nose and a thin, cruel mouth, while leaning casually on a double-edged sword pulsing with violet runes of power. The Jade Lord, Nangkri, in the flesh.
“I’m sorry,” I said, staring him dead in the eye, refusing to blink, “but I couldn’t do what you wanted. Even if it means I won’t ever get your blessing.”
For a second, he didn’t respond—he just stared at me, frosty and stone-faced. But then, his somber features began to loosen as the ghost of a smile appeared on his flat face. “I’m not angry, boy.” He shook his head. “No. I’m proud. For the past five hundred years, my descendants have told stories built on pride and lies, seeking the artifacts with the sole aim of eternally destroying Arzokh’s soul. All in a futile attempt to free me and my brothers from a curse that never existed.”
My jaw dropped. “Wait, what do you mean there’s no curse? If there’s no curse then why are the seven of you stuck here?”
“We’re not stuck,” Nangkri replied somberly, hands flexing and clenching around the hilt of his blade. “We’re held here only by guilt for a crime we committed, but could never atone for in life. Killing the Sky Maiden and her brood to get that gold … Well, it was a decision that haunted me every night and every waking moment. And then, when I finally died, I was forced to pass through this blighted land”—slowly, he looked left, then right—“to enter the sacred resting place of our people.
“Instead of simply passing on, I saw Arzokh, stranded forever in this place because of me. Because of my evil, my vanity, my pride. I saw a once wise, beautiful creature twisted into a monstrosity by a grief I inflicted on her out of greed. So, I refused to move on—and my brothers, faithful men that they are—have kept me company ever since. I chose to stay, to stand vigil for my transgression until the wrong I committed all those years ago could be righted.” His smile stretched as he reached out and clapped me on the shoulder.
“That’s why I picked you, Grim Jack. Why I ensured you received the crown. Because I saw mercy in you. I saw someone who might do the just thing. Only someone who could do that—who could throw away power for the sake of goodness—deserves my blessing and the mantle of the Jade Lord. A good leader, Jack, is not someone who blindly follows orders. No, such a person is a pawn. And neither is it the person who is willing to sell their soul for the power to rule.” He shook his head again. “Such a person is a despot.
“A true leader—someone others will follow out of respect instead of fear—is one who has vision, backed by the power of conviction and determination of will. You, Jack, have such vision, conviction, and will. Now, you also have my blessing. You’ve earned the right to be the new Jade Lord, ruler over the Dark Conclave, and Lord over all the Storme Marshes. And, as a symbol of your new position, I grant you these gifts—a little something to replace those ghastly relics you destroyed.” A series of notifications popped up, one after another:
<<<>>>
x1 Level Up!
You have (10) undistributed stat points. Stat points can be allocated at any time.
You have (2) unassigned proficiency points. Proficiency points can be allocated at any time.
<<<>>>
Quest Update: Path of the Jade Lord
Congratulations! You’ve traveled to the Twilight Lands and defeated the great Sky Maiden, Arzokh. However, by destroying the set of the Jade Lord in an act of mercy, you’ve freed her spirit, allowing her to enter Kuonela, the eternal resting place of Dragons. Moved by your act of kindness, the Jade Lord, Nangkri, has granted you his blessing and mantle. You are now the new Jade Lord, ruler over the Dark Conclave, and Lord over all the Storme Marshes. In appreciation for your efforts, Lord Nangkri has provided you with The Set of the Benevolent. Additionally, you’ve earned 40,000 EXP and 1000 Renown—in-world fame—for completing this ultra-rare quest. Greater renown elevates you within the ranks of Eldgard and can affect merchant prices when selling or buying.
<<<>>>
Notifications:
You’ve been appointed the Jade Lord, ruler over the newly revived Nangkri Dynasty!
You are now the High Commander of the six named Dokkalfar clans!
You have received the Cursus Honorum (Rank) of Consul!
You now have access to the Keep interfaces for Yunnam (Ak-Hani clan), Rai Nam (Lisu clan), Baan Tung (La-Hun clan), Baan Luang (Karem clan), Mae Sawan (Chao-Yao clan), and Nan (Na-Ang clan)!
You can now appoint Magistrates to govern your Keeps!
Your relationship with the Viridian Empire has been lowered to Nemesis!
Your relationship with the Eldgard Rebellion has been raised to Exalted!
<<<>>>
Viridian Gate Online Universal Alert!
Notice: Traveler Grim Jack Shadowstrider, honorary member of the Ak-Hani clan, has completed the ultra-rare quest, Path of the Jade Lord! His faction, the Crimson Alliance, now owns the cities of Yunnam, Rai Nam, Baan Tung, Baan Luang, Mae Sawan, and Nan in the Storme Marshes!
Notice: Traveler Grim Jack Shadowstrider has been appointed Lord over the newly revived Nangkri Dynasty!
Notice: Grim Jack Shadowstrider is now a Nemesis of the Ever-Victorious Viridian Empire!
<<<>>>
I read over the message, feeling numb and stunned. This was huge … this would change everything. Not knowing what else to do, I toggled over to my inventory. The original set of the Jade Lord was gone, burned to slag in the magma river, but a new set had taken its place:
<<<>>>
Crown of the Benevolent
Armor Type: Medium; Obsidian Helm
Class: Ancient Artifact; Set Item
Base Defense: 51
Primary Effects:
Vitality Bonus = .75 x Character Level
Dexterity Bonus = .75 x Character Level
20% Resistance to Blunt Trauma Damage
Secondary Set Effects:
+10 to all Resistances per set piece worn
All Spell Costs are reduced by 20% (2 pieces)
+1 to Class Specific Skills (3 pieces)
The Crown of the Benevolent, hand forged by the Jade Lord, Nangkri, and imbued with a small part of his soul, radiates authority and power.
<<<>>>
Belt of the Benevolent
Armor Type: Medium; Obsidian Belt
Class: Ancient Artifact; Set Item
Base Defense: 43
Primary Effects:
Strength Bonus = .75 x Character Level
Constitution Bonus = .75 x Character Level
20% Resistance to Slashing Damage
Secondary Set Effects:
+10 to all Resistances per set piece worn
All Spell Costs are reduced by 20% (2 pieces)
+1 to Class Specific Skills (3 p
ieces)
The Belt of the Benevolent, hand forged by the Jade Lord, Nangkri, and imbued with a small part of his soul, radiates authority and power.
<<<>>>
Amulet of the Benevolent
Armor Type: Medium; Obsidian Amulet
Class: Ancient Artifact; Set Item
Base Defense: N/A
Primary Effects:
Intelligence Bonus = .75 x Character Level
Spirit Bonus = .75 x Character Level
20% Resistance to Piercing Damage
Secondary Set Effects:
+10 to all Resistances per set piece worn
All Spell Costs are reduced by 20% (2 pieces)
+1 to Class Specific Skills (3 pieces)
The Amulet of the Benevolent, hand forged by the Jade Lord, Nangkri, and imbued with a small part of his soul, radiates authority and power.
<<<>>>
Wow. I closed out. These pieces were almost identical to the original set—just better and crafted from gleaming black obsidian instead of yellowed bone.
“I can see you’re pleased,” Nangkri said with a grin, “and rightfully so. But that is not all. I have one final gift to offer you as a token of my profound appreciation. The Horn of the Ancients belonged to Isra Spiritcaller, one of the greatest chieftains of the Maa-Tál to ever live. She was also my great granddaughter. I would like you to keep her horn. Inside the sacred glade, it can be used to open the gateways to a host of different realms. However, it can also be used outside of the sacred clearing. Blow on it when in trouble, and my brothers and I will answer the call, appearing to do battle on your behalf. Be warned, though, the horn will only do so once.”
Quickly, I pulled up my inventory and accessed the horn, rechecking its properties:
<<<>>>
Horn of the Ancients
Weapon Type: Relic; Horn
Class: Ancient Artifact
Primary Effects:
Blow on the horn to open the seven nexus stones located in the Sacred Glade of the Dark Conclave.
Secondary Effects:
Blow on the horn outside of the Sacred Glade of the Dark Conclave to summon the Jade Lord and his brothers into battle for (1) hour. This ability can only be used once!
The Horn of the Ancients, once wielded by the mighty Dokkalfar Chieftain, Isra Spiritcaller, is said to have been forged in the belly of Svartalfheim by none other than Eitri Spark-Sprayer, godling of the Forge. Legend holds that one of great worth may call the heroes of old from the Halls of the Dead to fight on their behalf …
<<<>>>
Sure enough, the two previously locked effects were now available to me. I closed out the screen, turning my attention back on Nangkri.
“Fare thee well, Grim Jack,” the spectral Jade Lord said, offering me a thin, tight-lipped smile full of regret. “Be a better man and a better leader than I was.” He turned away, then he and his brothers strutted toward the columned Acropolis, fading and vanishing as they walked. Disappearing from one blink to the next.
“Jack,” Abby called as everyone rushed toward me, their expressions flashing between bewildered and astonished in turns. “What in the world just happened? Seriously. I am so freaking lost right now …”
I was on the verge of answering when my personal inbox pinged with a new message. Without even looking, I knew exactly who it was—the only person it could be, really. Osmark.
<<<>>>
Personal Message:
Jack,
I genuinely hoped you could be reasoned with. Obviously, I was mistaken. You’ve made yourself a nuisance once too often, and now you’ve left me with no choice but to eradicate you from the face of the map and find a new puppet to head the Rebellion. Prepare yourself, Jack. You have ten days. I’ll see you on the battlefield.
Best Regards,
Robert Osmark, High Emperor of the Viridian Empire
<<<>>>
I closed the menu and exited out of my interface, deeply disturbed by Osmark’s message. We’d won the day, despite all the odds, but this was just one battle in a much bigger war. And now? Now that war would be marching toward us with the tech genius Robert Osmark at its head.
“What happened,” I replied to Abby’s question, breaking into a small grin, “is that we just rolled the dice and won big. Huge. But our win is only going to buy us a little time. We’ve got ten days to come up with a way to beat Osmark and an army twenty times larger than ours.” I rubbed my hands together in anticipation. “So, let’s get planning ...”
Books, Mailing List, and Reviews
If you enjoyed reading about Jack, Cutter, Abby and the rest of the gang in Viridian Gate Online and want to stay in the loop about the latest book releases, awesomesauce promotional deals, and upcoming book giveaways be sure to subscribe to my Mailing List Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.You can also connect with me on my Facebook Fan Page: James Hunter Fan Page
Word-of-mouth and book reviews are crazy helpful for the success of any writer. If you really enjoyed reading about Jack and the gang, please consider leaving a short review—just a couple of lines about your overall reading experience. You can click here to leave a review at Amazon, and thank you in advance: Viridian Gate Online Books 1 - 3 Boxset
If you love my books and need more Viridian Gate Online right this minute, then you might want to pick up the next book in the series: Viridian Gate Online: Imperial Legion (Book 4)
VGO Reading Order
Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm (Book 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Crimson Alliance (Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: The Jade Lord (Book 3)
Viridian Gate Online: Imperial Legion (Book 4)
Viridian Gate Online: The Lich Priest (Book 5)
The Artificer DLC 1.1: A Viridian Gate Online Novel
Other Works by James A. Hunter
litRPG
War God’s Mantle: Ascension (Book 1)
Urban Fantasy
Strange Magic (Yancy Lazarus Episode One)
Cold Hearted (Yancy Lazarus Episode Two)
Flashback: Siren Song (Yancy Lazarus Episode 2.5)
Wendigo Rising (Yancy Lazarus Episode Three)
Flashback: The Morrigan (Yancy Lazarus Episode 3.5)
Savage Prophet (Yancy Lazarus Episode Four)
Brimstone Blues: A Yancy Lazarus Novel
***
MudMan (A Lazarus World Novel)
***
Two-Faced: Legend of the Treesinger
Books from Shadow Alley Press
Aaron Crash
Damnation Robot: Galactic Demon Hunters (Book 1)
Neutron Dragon Attack: Galactic Demon Hunters (Book 2)
eden Hudson
Revenge of the Bloodslinger: A Jubal Van Zandt Novel (Book 1)
Beautiful Corpse: A Jubal Van Zandt Novel (Book 2)
Soul Jar: A Jubal Van Zandt Novel (Book 3)
Garden of Time: A Jubal Van Zandt Novel (Book 4)
About the Author
Hey all, my name is James Hunter and I’m a writer, among other things. So just a little about me: I’m a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). I’m also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s a real thing. I’ve also been a missionary and international aid worker in Bangkok, Thailand. And, a space-ship captain, can’t forget that.
Okay … the last one is only in my imagination.
Currently, I’m a stay at home Dad—taking care of my two kids—while also writing full time, making up absurd stories that I hope people will continue to buy. When I’m not working, writing, or spending time with family, I occasionally eat and sleep.
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Special Thanks
I’d like to thank my wife, Jeanette, and my wonderful kids, Lucy and Sam. They are my constant motivation and inspiration. A special thanks to my parents, Greg and Lori. A quick shout out to my brother Aron and his whole brood—Eve, Brook, Grace, and Collin. Brit, probably you’ll never read this book either, but I love you too. Here’s to the folks of Team Hunter, my awesome Alpha and Beta readers who helped make this book both possible and good. And of course a big thanks to my editor, Tamara Blain who rocked this book (if you need editing, go to her, she’s seriously awesome: www.acloserlookediting.com/ ).
—James A. Hunter, April 2018
Copyright
Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm; Viridian Gate Online: Crimson Alliance; Viridian Gate Online: The Jade Lord are all works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2018 by James A. Hunter and Shadow Alley Press, Inc.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, email the publisher, subject line “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the email address below.
[email protected]