The Curse of Rion Castle (The Neuro Book #2) LitRPG Series

by Andrei Livadny

  Seeing her, Mr. White let go of me and stepped toward her. Gusts of wind tore at his tattered cloak. His armor glinted dimly.

  Enea saw him too. "Dad? What's up? What're you doing here? How on earth did you level up so much?"

  He threw his arms around her and froze, unable to speak.

  End of Book Two

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  Dear Readers,

  Our authors have co-written a LitRPG anthology which contains tons of spoilers about their books. To read the stories and find the planted clues, check out our

  LitRPG anthology You're in Game! (LitRPG Stories from Bestselling Authors)

  You're in Game! is a collection of seven LitRPG novellas and short stories from V. Mahanenko (two stories set in the worlds of The Way of the Shaman and Galactogon respectively), M. Atamanov (a story set in the world of Perimeter Defense), A. Osadchuk (Mirror World), A. Livadny (a novella set in the world of The Neuro and Phantom Server), Andrew Novak (a story set in the new world of AlterGame, to be released on May 09 2017), and a LitRPG novella Countdown by P. Kornev.

  To check out the anthology, CLICK HERE!

  The MC's stats as of the second book's end:

  Alexatis. Level 44. Neuro

  Life, 329.5/329.5 (Stamina, 275 + Gear, 32.5 + The Charm of the Sovereign bonus, 22)

  Physical Energy, 170/170 (Strength, 155 + current abilities and the gear bonus, 15)

  Mental Energy, 248/248 (Intellect, 180 + current abilities and the gear bonus, 68)

  Physical Defense, 216.5 (Scaly Armor, 210 + Agility bonus, 6.5)

  Physical Attack, 106,3 (Mysterious Sword at 50% Durability, 25 pt. + Strength, 13 + the gear bonus, 2 + Intense Training, 6 + character level, 44 + the Charm of the Sovereign bonus, 8.3)

  Mental Defense, 89% (Self-Control + Spirit + the gear bonus + the Charm of the Sovereign bonus)

  Elemental Defense, 40% (Spirit + the Scaly Breastplate + Elemental Control)

  Mental Attack, 103.9 (spells studied, 50 + Unity of Schools, 2 + character level, 37 + the Charm of the Sovereign bonus, 8.9)

  Mental Energy Regeneration, 18.34 pt./sec (Spirit divided by 2 = 7.5 + 0,84 bonus from Synergy, Power of Reason and Self-Control + the Charm of the Sovereign bonus, 10)

  Strength, 15.5 (Secret Knowledge, 12+1 + the gear bonus, 0.5)

  Intellect, 24.8 (Secret Knowledge, 18+1 + the gear bonus, 0.8 + the ring, 3 + the Exorcist bonus, 2)

  Agility, 13 (12 + the gear bonus, 1)

  Stamina, 27.5 (24 + the underwear kit bonus, 2 + the Charm of the Sovereign bonus, 2)

  Spirit, 15 (13 + the Exorcist bonus, 2)

  Main Professions, Require activation

  Achievements:

  Celebrated Pioneer

  A map-making app available

  Clan Founder

  + 1,000 to Popularity, +1 to all Reputations

  Exorcist

  +2 to Intellect

  +2 to Spirit

  Centurion

  Allows you to instantly summon any of the Cohort's legionnaires for the duration of 30 sec+3 sec. per level.

  The Light of Passion

  +1 to all stats whenever the person you love is with you.

  Demon Slayer

  +10% to any damage dealt to the forces of Inferno

  First Amongst Equals

  +10,000 to your Experience awarded for completing a unique dungeon;

  +10,000 to your Experience for dealing a critical hit to an enemy whose level is twice that of yours

  Acclaimed Leader

  Your influence on other players will keep growing with every new level you receive

  The Neuro Development Branch:

  Secret Knowledge, 1:

  Observational Skills,1

  Spell Interception, 1

  Unity of Schools, 1

  Acquisition of Blows and Combos, 1

  Reflex Optimization, 1

  Unity of Origin, 1

  Legacy, 1. Not activated. Requires level 45

  Evolution, 1:

  Intense Training, 3

  Pain Threshold, 5

  Synergy, 5

  Crit, 3. Not activated. Requires level 45

  Power of Reason, 1:

  Insight, 1

  Self-Control, 4

  Enhanced Perception, 5

  Energy Transfer, 1:

  Elemental Control, 1 (activated ahead of schedule)

  Secret Knowledge:

  Eons ago, the Ancient Gods (sometimes also called the Founder Gods) tampered with our ancestors' evolution, endowing them with a number of abilities which are now almost completely extinct. Only occasionally do they resurface in certain individuals known as Neuros.

  You're one of them. Both your body and mind harbor a potential yet unlocked.

  +1 to Strength

  +1 to Intellect

  +1 to XP per each invested Ability pt.

  Observational Skills:

  You're highly perceptive. Whether reading ancient manuscripts or watching other people, you pay attention to every detail, immediately grasping the technique of a combat blow or a spell incantation. You can then enter the knowledge you thus receive into special books or dedicated parchment scrolls for further study.

  Warning! The level of the blow or spell you intend to study cannot exceed that of your character.

  Each Ability point invested gives +2% to your chances of studying the blow or the spell (regardless of whether the object of your study is an NPC or another player).

  Spell Interception:

  The fact that all spells are recited in the Founders' language combined with your ability to lip read allows you to learn any spell.

  Warning! In order to successfully intercept a spell, the caster (observation target) should be located within your direct line of vision. At level 1, your lip-reading range is set at 30 feet.

  Each Ability point invested adds 2 ft. to your lip-reading range.

  Spell Interception does not preclude other possible ways of spell studying.

  Acquisition of Blows and Combos:

  You effortlessly memorize new movements while watching combat practice or live combat. Later, this allows you to make a drawing of the blow or even combo technique from memory, recreating both attack and defense maneuvers.

  Requires Observational Skills and Intense Training.

  Each Ability point invested adds +2% to your chances of studying a blow or a combo.

  Unity of Origin:

  According to legend, all living beings in the Universe used to have a single ancestor. Some might snicker saying that an orc and a human being can't possibly share ancestry. Still, every legend harbors a grain of truth.

  Each Ability point invested adds +2% to your chances of intercepting a spell or learning a new blow typical of other races, regardless of their affiliation (Light vs. Dark).

  Unity of Schools:

  Some time ago, you chanced upon an ancient book. As you struggled through it, trying to make sense of the faded writings on its crumbling pages, you were surprised to discover the writer's heretic ideas. According to the book's author, all types of magic and sorcery, including elemental and mind control, are firmly rooted in the long-forgotten school of Chaos.

  Later, as you watched the effects produced by various schools of magic, your conclusions confirmed the ancient author's ideas. The powers of Chaos had been the foundation of all modern schools and practices.

  Each Ability point invested adds +2% to the Range, Strength and Duration of every spell you study, as well as removes all bans and penalties for combining various kinds of magic and sorcery.

  Reflex Optimization:

  As you watch wildlife species (whose survival depends on their highest levels of ergonomics), you can learn and adopt their energy preservation skills. Your movements become more precise and calculated.

  Each Ability point invested gives -2% to your mental and physical energy expenditures in combat.

  Evolution:

  The activation
of this particular characteristic allows you to receive a small but continuous boost to your main stats, depending on the type of your daily activities. These changes will be visible as special boost bars situated opposite their respective characteristics in your character panel. For instance, if you read a lot you might notice the increase of your Intellect boost bar. Once the bar is full, you will receive +1 pt. to its respective characteristic.

  The above boost does not cancel traditional characteristic leveling. Neither does it affect your items' bonuses.

  Intense Training:

  Each spell or blow you study requires constant perfecting. In order to improve your attack and defense skills, you need to practice a lot, creating your own combinations and turning new moves into reflexes.

  Ability bonus: your damage, defense, mob control and aura range will improve. This only applies to the physical and magic skills you use on a regular basis, without affecting those you've learned but failed to apply.

  Each Ability point invested adds +5% to attack strength.

  Pain Threshold:

  You learn to control pain. You might have already discovered, by extreme trial and error, that you don't experience pain as long as your Health is above 80%. As your HP dwindle, you start experiencing an increasing pain.

  Each Ability point invested raises your pain threshold 3%. The maximum pain threshold allowed is 50% HP.

  Synergy:

  Everything in our world is interconnected. You can use various sources of energy, including elements, ancient artifacts and places of power marked by megalithic monuments. As you study them and listen intently to the world around you, you begin to tune in into various energy currents, allowing you to locate their sources and use them to restore your powers and even life.

  Starting at level 20, you'll be able to trap and store any excess physical or mental energy within energy crystals.

  +5% to your physical and mental energy regeneration speed.

  Power of Reason:

  A Neuro's intellect affects everything he or she does.

  Every 30 pt. Intellect add +3% to both attack and defense and +5% to the XP received for successfully using the blows or spells you've learned from other characters. All such blows or spells will add +3% to your chances of dealing critical damage or, when used in defense, to your chances of reusing the blow or spell with decreased cooldown times and -50% of required energy expenditure.

  +10% to your mental energy regeneration speed.

  Insight:

  You're constantly busy studying everything around you, analyzing the nature of all events and perfecting your abilities and skills. Your goal is to get to the bottom of everything trying to work out how things work instead of mindlessly using them, be it a spell, a blow or a professional skill.

  Each Ability point invested gives -3% to cooldown times and energy expenditure required for all types of physical and mental attack, defense and impact.

  +2% to profession leveling speed for all farming and manufacturing professions.

  Self-Control:

  You have a natural 25% resistance to all kinds of magic and mind control. You can successfully resist mental attacks, preserving clarity of mind.

  Each Ability point invested adds +2% to your chances of repelling a negative effect or boosting a positive one, be it a spell or your opponent's ability. +2% to your chances of successfully casting a spell when attacked. +3% to mental energy regeneration speed.

  On reaching level 5, this ability will allow you to consciously control your mental energy distribution between several recipients — for instance, a magic artifact or an item of gear.

  Enhanced Perception:

  You learn with remarkable ease. Your outlook isn't limited by racial or class prejudices. You're free from all phobias and superstitions.

  As a result, you see and notice a lot compared to others. Your night vision and reduced visibility navigation skills are considerably superior to theirs. At level 20, you will receive a new primary skill, Twilight Vision, which you can consequently level up and improve.

  Enhanced Perception allows you to detect danger before others can. It also adds +20% to your chances of seeing a stealthed-up enemy stalking you. Each Ability point invested adds +1 to your Field of Vision Range.

  Legacy:

  From now on, you can control the ancient blood magic which exists in synergy with nature. The Founders' artifacts will reveal their secret properties to you alone.

  Any acquired spells will be available 3 levels earlier than required.

  -5% to Mental Energy required to cast a spell.

  Crit:

  +10% to your chances of dealing a critical hit. +5% to your chances of dealing damage with the Element of Chaos in a successful (i.e., not blocked by the enemy) attack. Every new level of the ability adds +3% to your chances of dealing elemental damage.

  Energy Transfer:

  You've learned to accumulate the surrounding Elements' energy in order to transfer it to stones or charge up magic scrolls. Every new level of the ability adds +5% to both energy accumulation and energy transfer rates.

  Elemental Control:

  Avctivated ahead of schedule

  +20 to Resistance to the Elements

  Currently, in order to interact with the elements, you're required to use one of the Founders' artifacts built for that purpose. Direct interaction is available from level 10.

  Requirements:

  Intellect, 25

  Willpower, 25

  Also by Andrei Livadny

  The Edge of Reality (Phantom Server Book #1)

  He is a cyber dweller. A gamer who's grown up in the web of virtual illusion woven from hundreds of phantom worlds. His biggest dream is to dump the real world for good.

  His desperate hunger of new experiences forces him to take a risk and become one of the first proud owners of a neuronet implant. The new gadget becomes part of him — but soon it's not enough. If only he could finally burn all his bridges and make a step beyond the real world!

  He soon gets this opportunity. A new universe, overflowing with mystery and unimaginable, mind-blowing authenticity, opens up before him.

  This is Phantom Server. The game of the future where your pursuit of an adrenaline rush soon turns into a battle for survival. But the most terrifying mystery lies ahead when you gradually start to realize: this is a road of no return. Your every decision may become your last. Your every step leads you further along the abyss between life and death.

  The Outlaw (Phantom Server Book #2)

  The Eurasia fleet has entered the Darg star system. The unsuspecting players look forward to the adventure of their lifetimes. Zander alone is now facing a harsh and unpredictable “alternative storyline”.

  The girl he loved is gone. His nervous system is impregnated with artificial neurons that contain fragments of ancient AIs and their identities. Zander's body is implanted with alien artifacts that allow him to survive in the deadly cyberspace of Phantom Server. But his unique development branch pushes him toward the edge of the precipice where his every step may become his last; where future itself is vague and uncertain.

  Black Sun (Phantom Server Book #3)

  Zander and his gamer friends used to face danger without fear, finding strength in the promise of a safe respawn. Nothing could harm or destroy them. This was only a game... or was it?

  A game, played in an ancient hyperspace network. A game involving dozens of real-life alien civilizations. Earth is deserted. The fate of humanity is unknown.

  The few human survivors are now stuck in the Darg star system. All they can do is fight to the last. They must find the Phantom Server — the nucleus of the interstellar network created by the ancient civilization of the Founders. In order to live, they must solve its mystery or die trying.

  The Crystal Sphere (The Neuro Book #1)

  Alex is one of us. An office rat during daytime, he spends sleepless nights playing his favorite MMO game: a familiar, predictable world which is about to collap
se. A new virtual universe arrives to replace it, aggressively devouring all others: the Crystal Sphere.

  Alex gets involved in testing new technologies which promise to revolutionize gaming. Fitted out with a neuroimplant which provides a 100% authenticity of experience, he has to survive in the Crystal Sphere against all odds. What is he turning into? Will he become yet another expendable test subject — or the first player to transcend reality?

  Humans have to deal with the treacherous nature of cyberspace in this powerful prequel to Phantom Server.

  Blind Punch (Expansion: The History of the Galaxy Book #1)

  Year 2197.

  Earth is suffering from the consequences of an environmental catastrophe. Cities the size of continents are drowning in a toxic industrial fog.

  Max Bourne is a typical teenager. Like billions of other people, he is forced to live in the protective shell of the individual life support module. His habitat is the virtual Layer. But one day, circumstances force the young man to leave the in-mode. He has no idea that fate will lead him through unimaginable hardships, bring him face to face with military AIs, and teach him to survive in the distant Outlands. He will come to understand that the sum of all technologies, possessed by the four leading corporations of Earth, can either open the way to the stars or destroy human civilization.