Drake's LitRPG Megabundle (7 Books)

by Adam Drake

  God damnit! Rob thought as he finally entered the forest he'd initially spotted the camp from. He'd continually checked his map, careful to approach from the right angle.

  As he stalked through the trees, he caught glimpses of the dragon overhead. When it was spotted by the pech, things would get interesting. But that didn't matter to Rob. Let them be the ones to be afraid.

  Once he was close, he crawled through the bushes until he reached the ledge which overlooked the camp. Below, little had changed. His people were still in the stockades, looking more sullen than before. Perhaps they realized the mistake they'd made and thought their king was dead as a result.

  The pech had assembled the oxen animals in a cleared space and were busy strapping packs and gear to them. It looked like they were preparing to move out, back to the Blighted Wastes where they'd slithered from.

  They would never get the chance.

  Rob's heart was beating a thousand times a second in his chest. His excitement was making him heady. But he needed to keep it together. A glance at the dragon's counter showed only twelve minutes left. After that, who knew what the great creature would do once the charm ended.

  His main concern was for his people. The last thing he wanted was for any of them to get hurt. The only way he could mitigate that was to have the dragon attack pech on the edges of the camp, at least initially.

  In the distance, he spotted the dragon scudding across the sky. It had noticed the camp and appeared to be waiting for Rob.

  Below, the pech hadn't spotted the great flying beast as the skilled hunter was keeping the sun behind it. The subterfuge wouldn't last.

  With a final look over the camp below, Rob felt emboldened to stand and walk out of the bushes, revealing himself.

  There was a cluster of six pech near the stream, filling jugs and waterskins for their journey.

  On a hunch he didn't need to be near the dragon to give a command, he pointed at the pech and said, “Burn!”

  Immediately, the dragon altered its course and banked hard toward the oblivious pech. It dipped down over the trees and Rob realized it was keeping itself hidden for as long as possible.

  Rob held his breath as the dragon suddenly flew over the clearing, revealing itself to all below.

  There were shouts of alarm and some screams from the people in the stockades.

  The pech at the river didn't even have a chance. Some turned at the sounds behind them, but even if they wanted to, they would never have escaped in time.

  The dragon belched hellfire down upon them. As it passed over, it turned its head to continue blasting them until it had moved out of range. Then it banked away to make another run.

  The camp erupted into chaos. Pech were running about, uncertain what to do. Rob saw the leader run out of a tent and take in the scene.

  That's right, asshole, Rob thought. This is what you get.

  Rob pointed at a group of pech that were running for the trees. “Burn!”

  The dragon whipped its head around as it flew over the camp and spouted fire into the treeline as the pech sought to escape to cover. The forest exploded into an inferno and pech screamed.

  The people in the stockades stood up, terror on their faces. They watched in wide-eyed horror as the dragon spat death around the camp. They couldn't have realized it was an ally.

  He needed to go to them and reassure them it was alright. Mace in hand and buckler at his side, he moved down the incline of the ledge, and then headed across the clearing.

  As he did, he pointed at another group of pech fleeing through the forest on the opposite side and said, “Burn!”

  The dragon flew over him and shot flames at the pech. The space between the trees acted like funnels allowing the fire to reach deep into the forest.

  A wide-eyed pech ran at Rob, but he realized it was only trying to get away from the dragon. Rob collided with the slaver with a running Shield Bash, causing the pech to tumble backwards, unconscious. He stood over it and slammed his mace down on its head with all his strength.

  You have killed a Pech Warrior. You have gained 350 experience points toward your next level.

  On the pech's belt was a round ring of keys. Knowing they could be useful he scooped them up.

  As he approached the stockades some of his people spotted him and shouted in surprise. Caught between the terror of the dragon, and seeing their king, their surprise looked all the more comical.

  Taking advantage of the chaos, some people had managed to open the stockade gates. At the furthest stockade, two pech interceded, forcing the people back with savage attacks with their shock sticks.

  Angered, Rob pointed at the two and said, “Attack!”

  From behind him the dragon zipped over, its tail dipping down close enough to touch. Instead of breathing fire this time, the beast simply opened its great maw and snapped the two pech into its jaws. As it sailed away, it mashed the pech over and over in its jaws.

  A quick glance told him there wasn't much time left on the dragon counter. Seven minutes.

  Finally reaching the stockades, Rob smiled at all the people who were spilling out of them. They crowded around him with amazement and fear, asking questions he couldn't answer right then. He needed them to listen.

  “Everyone, head due east to those trees over there! Keep going! No matter what happens get to the trog tunnels! You'll be safe!”

  More questions, but there wasn't any time.

  Over their heads he saw a group of pech on the pack animals, trying to ride them away.

  He pointed at them and said, “Burn!”

  Jace and Fumi suddenly appeared by his side. “You're alive,” Fumi said calmly, sounding a little disappointed. “Took you long enough.”

  Rob nodded at the dragon belching fire on the pech and pack animals. “Was busy making a friend. But that won't last. We need to get everyone out of here.” He gave Jace the ring of keys. “Use these once you're all clear. Just go! Get them to the tunnels!”

  Jace stared at him for a moment, his expression stolid. He said, “You are the right king, after all.” Then he was off herding people along.

  Fumi hadn't moved. “You should go!” Rob said to her.

  She gave him a dirty look with her eye. “I'm not going anywhere. You might need a cook.” With that she suddenly yanked her arms apart and the metal cuffs that bound her wrists snapped.

  Saif ran up to him, eyes wide and trying to speak around the bit in his mouth. Rob unclasped it.

  “My lord, I am so sorry!” Saif sputtered, pulling a collar from his neck. “I should have known it was pech taking the people!”

  “Don't worry about that now, you've got to run!” Rob looked to Fumi. “Take him out of here, please.”

  “Are you giving me a command?” Fumi said.

  Rob didn't have time for this and without thinking, barked, “Yes!”

  Fumi's raised her eyebrows. “Oh. Okay then.” She grabbed Saif by the arm and led the Sage quickly away.

  Rob checked over the stockades, making sure no one was left behind or too injured to move on their own. All three were empty.

  In the distance he could see the dragon taking liberties and blasting indiscriminately into the forest at surviving pech.

  Good, keep yourself busy, he thought.

  As he turned to race after his people, a tall pech blocked his way. It was the leader, and he looked furious.

  “You ruined my profits, man-king,” the pech said in stilted english. “I demand compensation.”

  Rob raised his eyebrows. “You stole my people and tried to take them as slaves. Go fuck yourself.”

  The pech held a pair of shock sticks in both its hands. “I will make you pay. We will fight to the death. My honor must be restored.”

  “An honorable slaver?” Rob said. “That's rich.” He hefted his mace. It would feel good bashing the pech's brains in, but there was no way he would last long against those shock sticks.

  The pech leered at him. “I will make you s
uffer and scream, man-king. I will take your skin and sell it on the market. I will gut you and dine on your innards.”

  Rob looked at him as if considering this. “You could do that,” he said. “Or, I could do this.” He pointed at the pech leader. “Attack!”

  “What-,” the pech said before suddenly being snatched up in the claws of the passing dragon.

  The pech screamed as it was taken away.

  Not wanting to stick around any longer, Rob ran for the trees. He could see some of his people waiting for him and he waved for them to keep going, which they reluctantly did.

  Once he clamored up the ledge to the treeline, he looked back. All the trees in view were ablaze. The camp had been razed and what pech were left had fled deep into the forest.

  He caught sight of the dragon flying low over the trees, searching. There was one minute left on its timer. Struck with a thought, Rob pointed at the furthest spot in the valley he could see and said, “Burn!”

  The dragon yanked itself around to fly in the new direction. Rob hoped it would be far enough away that when its timer ended, it would just keep going.

  He turned back to the forest and ran after his people.

  He quickly caught up with them. They were staying together as a group, hustling along. Jace moved between them, unlocking their metal bindings as they moved.

  Saif was being led along at a steady pace by Fumi. The Sage's face was covered in sweat. When he saw Rob approach he asked, “Did you charm that magnificent beast?”

  “Yes,” Rob said, motioning for everyone to keep moving. “Did it with a stone.”

  “How much time is left?” Saif asked, concerned.

  Rob looked at the timer just as it hit zero.

  You are no longer in control of a Rock-Cliff Dragon.

  The dragon icon vanished from his view.

  “None,” Rob said grimly. “I sent it away. Maybe it won't try to follow us.”

  Saif shook his head, his long gray robes billowing around his skinny frame as he ran. “Dragons are both temperamental and vindictive creatures. I fear we may see it again.”

  A shout ahead made them look. The forward element of the group had reached the end of the forest, before a clearing, and a long rocky trail led up the side of the mountain.

  The people slowed, and he realized their apprehension at stepping out from the trees. They'd be exposed.

  “It'll be okay,” Rob said as he passed through them to the clearing's edge. Maybe the dragon won't come back.

  A roar above made his stomach sink.

  The dragon appeared in the sky, flying low. Seeing Rob it landed in the clearing several dozen paces away and roared at him.

  Yeah, well, I guess I'd be pissed too if someone made me do their bidding against my will, Rob thought as he looked at the huge creature.

  He hefted his mace. If this thing was vindictive, then maybe it would be satisfied with Rob's death. Such a sacrifice could save his people. It was a faint hope, but there was little option left.

  He turned to speak to his people. Maybe if he kept the dragon busy long enough, they could find a place to hide.

  Saif appeared by his side. “My lord, I would like to handle this.”

  Rob blinked at the little Sage in surprise. “Handle that thing? How?”

  Saif didn't answer. He held up his bound wrists to Fumi and said, “Fumi, if you would, please.”

  The cook grabbed the metal bindings between the Sage's wrists and snapped them apart like they were made of twigs.

  “Thank you,” the Sage said, hiking up his robes and moving forward.

  “Saif, wait-,” Rob started to say, but was stopped by a look from Saif.

  In that instant he saw something in the Sage's eyes, dark and menacing. For a brief moment, Saif was no Sage, he was something else entirely.

  Saif said, “Wait here.”

  Rob felt compelled not to argue and watched helplessly as the little man walked out into the clearing.

  The huge dragon ceased its roaring to look at this tiny challenger.

  Undaunted, Saif marched forward until he was a dozen paces away from the creature.

  The dragon roared at him, then arched its head back. It opened its mouth and inhaled deeply, its huge belly expanding.

  “Saif!” Rob called, moving forward. But something inhumanly strong grabbed his arm, stopping him. He was surprised to see it was Fumi. The cook looked at him and shook her head.

  Rob could only turn to watch.

  Just as the dragon had almost filled its lungs with air, Saif raised his hands. Arcs of lightning exploded from his fingers.

  The bolts struck the dragon along its stomach, and Rob could see the scales glow under the barrage.

  The dragon shrieked and flames burst from its mouth upwards into the sky.

  Rob watched mesmorized as the Sage struck the dragon with lightning bolts, again and again.

  In its pain the dragon lowered its head and shot flames into the upper canopy of the trees. Rob and his people ducked as the forest was set ablaze above them.

  But Saif didn't waver, even as the gout of flames threatened to burn him. Instead, he continued to cast lightning.

  The electrical charge danced over the dragon's scaly hide, up its neck to its head, and out into its shuddering wings.

  With a menacing look at Saif, the dragon flapped its wings and took to the air in a desperate bid to escape.

  As soon as its height put it out of range, Saif ceased, his shoulders sagging. He watched as the dragon lifted itself higher to fly away, its scaly hide smoldering.

  Once it was gone, Rob ushered his people out of the burning forest and into the clearing. They huddled together, giving Saif frightened glances.

  Rob hurried over to Saif. “Are you okay?” he asked, amazed.

  The Sage looked meekly up at him, the darkness he saw before was gone. “Yes, thank you for your concern my lord. Might you have a mana potion to spare? It would be best I refilled my mana pool in case that beast returned.”

  As Saif guzzled the potion, Rob asked, “What spell was that? Lightning?”

  “Yes, it was. Fortunately, dragon scales are highly conductive. The damage of a lightning spell is greatly enhanced when applied liberally. Especially against the Rock-Cliff species of dragon.”

  “Is that so,” Rob said, bamboozled. He had a million questions, but knew they'd have to wait. He turned to the people who waited for his guidance. “Okay, folks, the dragon is gone, but we need to get to the trog tunnels before nightfall.”

  Exhausted, he ushered them along, Saif at his side.

  Behind them, the valley burned like a funeral pyre.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  They arrived at the trog tunnel shortly before nightfall. They didn't encounter any problems along the way, aside from navigating the rocky terrain, nor did the dragon return.

  They were met by Ynette who brought them to a small chamber to rest. Trogs appeared with food which everyone eagerly devoured.

  Not wanting to risk traveling at night, they were allowed to sleep on mats and bedding provided for them. In the morning, they had a hearty breakfast and Rob could see the transformation good food and rest had on his people.

  Before they moved on, the trogs gave each person a large sack full of food and supplies. Ynette explained that the Crimson Council wished to offer these as a gift, but Rob knew it was meant to influence his decision on using the trogs' tunnel services.

  “Thank them for me,” Rob said. “You have no idea how much this means to us. They've been subsisting on rat meat and rainwater for too long.”

  “The Council only wants you and your people to be well,” Ynette said. “And to grow into a profitable kingdom.”

  Rob was concerned about taking them through the tunnels. “I encountered some sort of green slime thing before. Is it gone?”

  Ynette nodded. “It most likely was an ooze, or perhaps a slime. There are many kinds of entities like that within the mountains. The rarest is t
he blood pudding, but those are only legend. The trogs have the ability to influence where these creatures move through the tunnels. Useful if an enemy is traveling through. But, for now, you don't have to worry. The tunnels are clear for your passage.”

  Ladened with supplies and happy faces, Rob and his people said goodbye to Ynette and the trogs.

  Several hours later, they arrived at the large cavern with the cages where they'd been held. People gave the cages scornful looks as they passed them by.