Isekai Magus: A LitRPG Progression Saga

by Han Yang

  You selected to claim a Minion Donkey. Consume 0.450 Zorta to summon this creature as a minion of the undead. Confirm (YES) - (NO)

  I accepted the .45 Zorta fee and watched the spell unfold. The assembled minotaurs watched something that was likely rare. When the translucent hands of the souls rose out of the ground, Oskatriver moved with lightning speed.

  He snatched another donkey from the resting hitch and slammed it into the feasting hands.

  The sight of the dead being stripped of flesh already gave me a shudder. Seeing a live animal endure their magical destruction revolting. He dragged the donkey a few feet away and the hands never turned or adjusted to continue to consume. The spell solely fixated on the donkey.

  “A pity,” Oskatriver bellowed. “Useless, but he can get me books!”

  His proud tone caused the others to grumble. Clearly, he really loved his books and the others expected this.

  “Out of my city by nightfall,” General Kadre said with a booming voice.

  The minotaur and his entourage continued plotting while eyeing me scornfully.

  “Okay, test complete. We can go shopping now,” he said. “Sort of.”

  I opened my mouth and closed it, not sure talking would help. We walked by countless trinket and jewelry vendors until we left the trading district. I grew confused but followed because I was happy to get away from General Kadre and the others who watched us intently.

  We turned right after arriving into the slave quarters of the city, walking counter to the arena. I could hear the roar of the crowd loving whatever competition thrilled them.

  I felt relieved to see minimal minotaurs and escape that situation. If I had to guess, they knew I wasn’t a human agent and at the same time not worth exploiting. It sure did feel like a foreshadowing to a future conflict.

  I didn’t want to tell them they should have locked me up. Then again, minotaurs were battle masters. Maybe they did expect me to return with an army and give them a challenge they wanted.

  I shook my head, seeing the stone wall on our left curve away. A few minutes of walking led us through a warehouse section. Not many workers used this area, and I welcomed the time to reflect.

  We stopped in front of a three or four story warehouse constructed of full trees. Even trees were used for roofing and a huge door told me minotaurs grew bigger than General Kadre.

  Oskatriver yanked the door open and said, “Ten items per Zorta.”

  When I saw a warehouse full of unorganized gear, I blanched. It was like someone had haphazardly tossed piles of weapons, armor, and camping supplies into the center of the building - and then grew that pile every day for years until it was a chaotic nightmare of a mess.

  “You have an hour total before I drag you out of here,” Oskatriver said.

  “Asha, open the bag,” I ordered, knowing a timer had just started and his goodwill could end at any minute.

  The glowing circles inside the bag revealed about eighty circles. Maybe ten per. Yeah, ten per for sure.

  I grabbed the bag and said, “Get in there and get everything you can that is valuable for our mission, nothing useless for trade yet.”

  He raced into the room, moving far faster than a human.

  I dug into the bag, quickly connecting to an orb.

  Consume 10 Zorta (YES) - (NO)

  I selected yes and did this ten times until my Zorta count was over a hundred.

  Necromancer Level 2 -} Necromancer Level 3 = 100 Zorta. (YES) or (NO)

  I selected yes.

  Nothing happened beside a slight shudder that ran down my spine. I went into my stat sheet to see the fated change.

  Magic Type 2: Necromancer

  Necromancy Level: 2

  Necromancer Minions: 4/15

  I frowned. This wasn’t the worst-case scenario, and a five to fifteen wasn’t the best. Maybe there was a key unlock at ten, and then twenty or something. Fifteen minions was triple what I had before and would certainly help.

  I saw more upgrades on the table, enough for me to have to consume another ten Zorta to accept them all. My charisma and perception shot up nicely, along with my intelligence and wisdom. Apparently, being honest in front of a brutish minotaur was wise.

  Name: Damien Moonguard

  Race: Human

  Affiliation: Ostriva

  Zorta: 8.338

  Nordan Score: 4600

  Ostriva Score: 207,500

  Location: Ikara Valley

  Magic Type: Healer

  Healer Level: 4

  Magic Type 2: Necromancer

  Necromancy Level: 3

  Necromancer Minions: 4/15

  Fighting Level: Pathetic

  Mana: 22/30

  Mana Recharge: 4

  Strength: 6

  Stamina: 5

  Dexterity: 4

  Constitution: 7

  Willpower: 6

  Cultivation: 7

  Intelligence: 29

  Wisdom: 29

  Charisma: 22

  Tracking: 3

  Endurance: 6

  Perception: 12

  Burst: 4

  Reflex: 4

  Healing: 5

  Melee Combat: 4

  Aim: 2

  Hunger: 4

  Thirst: 3

  Aging: 59 years until death.

  “Aw, I’m no longer neutral,” I said.

  Oskatriver snorted and said, “You going in too?”

  “No, take me to where I can get some minions,” I said with a smile.

  “This may shock you, but our slaves are expensive. We use them effectively. Then, when they die, they become food or fertilizer. You were led out of the upper slave market for a reason. Think of our slaves as traded goods not wasted goods. However, we do have those too worthless for even the pits. Yes, I’m talking about goblins,” he said in a gruff tone.

  “You don’t want me getting a small army from your slaves?” I asked.

  “Finally catching on. I can sell you nose picking goblins at five Zorta per, but I’m telling you, they're prolific breeders and easy to find in the valley,” he said. “And they’re only worth a fraction of a Zorta each. They hold value here because they manage the shit. Literally. They’re good at walking shit from a to b and that’s about it. Even then they fall in sometimes, but they never complain, so they have their place in our society.”

  Asha darted to the door. “Three would work best. Enough to frontline for a few seconds. They’ll be brittle and useless long term. Even a jenix could kill them. No sense in over investing. You mentioned a korb earlier,” Asha said this line to Oskatriven.

  “No,” he replied. “Goblins, that’s it, and I think you know why?”

  I pointed back into the warehouse, and Asha tossed a fancy sword onto the ground.

  “No to the korb because you would be aiding a potential threat later?” I asked.

  “Close enough,” he grumbled, walking back into the main alley. When he rounded the corner he accidentally punted a three and a half foot tall female goblin. She smacked into a stone wall and her head burst open. The way her brains splattered against the stone reminded me of tossing paint against a wall. “Not free. You’ll claim her so I don’t have to pay the fine.”

  Her orb floated over her body, and I sighed. “I guess, but you owe me.”

  “Funny,” he said dryly.

  I closed my eyes, willed my spirit into a powerful force and reached out to connect to her orb. The defenses were pathetic, and I overpowered her resistances with ease. My cultivation clearly was improving even if this was an easy target.

  You selected to claim Snorka Tasa. Consume 0.259 Zorta to summon this creature as a minion of the undead. Confirm (YES) - (NO)

  I selected yes, watching the spell of the magic summon the blackness. When the ghoulish hands finished their grisly task of consuming her flesh all that remained was the gore splatter upon the wall.

  The skeleton joined my little minion army, fitting in without any special attention required.


  Another goblin walked from around a corner a few hundred feet down the alley. The young goblin lad whistled a tune, carrying a pail with glee.

  Oskatriver burst into a run, closing the distance incredibly fast. He jumped up at least twenty feet high and slammed both feet into the oblivious goblin.

  A diabolical laugh escaped his lips as he enjoyed smushing the goblin into a paste.

  “Claim it,” he ordered with a sneer. The gentle giant librarian from earlier seemed to have darkened.

  I went through the cultivation process of winning over the colorful orb floating over the ruined body.

  You selected to claim a goblin beyond saving, menu reverting to consume.

  “Ruined that one,” I said dryly, not letting the young goblin’s sudden death faze me.

  He frowned, flicking the gore off his feet. “Wonder what the threshold of their destruction is?”

  “I can record my findings as I discover them and then sell the data to you,” I said.

  “Ugh, you should just give them to me so I don’t end you,” he said with a sneer.

  “Yes, well, sugar gets you more than salt,” I said, quoting my mother.

  Oskatriver grumbled and consumed the orb of the goblin. He didn’t comment and led me to a warehouse further from the upper city. An overwhelming horrid stench assaulted my nostrils. Even the jenix skeleton shook its head.

  I pinched my nose, coming around a corner to see two goblins rolling bone dice outside the big building.

  “Ten Zorta,” Oskatriver said, pointing to the two males.

  These two were larger than the female, and I considered that a small victory. They wore ragged loincloths. The green coloration had forest brown and black tiger stripes. Their bodies held minor scars and neither carried a weapon.

  I raised a finger to the two goblins who stared at us with blinking eyes of confusion. If I had to guess, they were normally avoided and left alone.

  “Kill,” I ordered.

  The jenix skeleton lunged, closing the distance in a single leap. The female skeleton raced to help.

  The first victim collapsed, not even putting up a fight. Large holes spurted blood onto the street from where the cat’s fangs punctured the neck.

  The second goblin ran, making it only a few feet before my skeletons tackled it. The screams drew a few curious onlookers as the jenix mauled the other goblin to death. Throaty screams filled with liquid until they became a gurgle.

  Watching the scene unfold left both Oskatriver and me uncaring. The goblins were fodder and a step in my path to getting home. I simply had to break some eggs to make my omelette.

  The death throes of the goblin ended, and the attack was over in less than a minute. I reached into my sack and gave two orbs to Oskatriver. He ingested the Zorta without a word.

  Turning my attention to the goblin orbs, I reached out and instantly felt acceptance. I had to wonder if my minions ending their lives helped, or was it just because they were that pitiful.

  You selected to claim a Gars Garka. Consume 0.288 Zorta to summon this creature as a minion of the undead. Confirm (YES) - (NO)

  You selected to claim a Beskar Darka. Consume 0.269 Zorta to summon this creature as a minion of the undead. Confirm (YES) - (NO)

  I confirmed yes, watching the tornado of black magic crash down, ripping up the hands of the undead. The bodies were consumed quickly until two more white skeletons joined my army.

  Brittle feeble minions to replace a mighty centaur. Not exactly what I hoped for, but I could work with it.

  “Hopefully, your guide is done,” Oskatriver said, clearly tired of my presence.

  I didn’t fault him for wanting me to be gone. My usefulness had ended for now. He didn’t need to placate me. I firmly understood this place held oodles of Zorta to trade, and they were fairly lax in allowing traders into their cities. Much more so than say, Tarb.

  My five new minions followed close behind me. One of the goblins hopped on the donkey’s back, struggling to ride the boney frame. I found it amusing while Oskatriver didn’t care.

  When we arrived at the big door, a pile of swords, armor, shields, bows and arrows waited outside the building. A lot of it was plain, some of it decent, and none of it amazing.

  “The skeletons will clank a lot with all that on,” Oskatriver said with a snort.

  Asha tossed four large bags with back frames out. I went about stuffing the items into the bags. A few minutes in, and I had the bags loaded. Asha left the warehouse with two small teepee tents bound tightly.

  “Nothing amazing but great value, and we can use it all. I saw preserver jars. Let me get them, and then we should be done,” he said.

  A few minutes later, he came out with a sack that clanked from glass clattering. Oskatriver didn’t care to count our items and accepted my twenty Zorta overpayment for the three goblins as more than enough.

  If I had to guess, this was a ‘free for all’ warehouse. Stealing goblin gear probably resulted in a lot of junk stockpiling.

  As we readied to leave, each goblin struggled with their sacks. The donkey barely managed the tents, and even I helped carry supplies with a ruck on my back.

  Oskatriver impatiently marched us out of the city, through the fields, and into the jungle over the next twenty minutes.

  When we hit our initial meeting spot, the minotaur stopped and said, “I would send the elva in for your next trade. We will suffer losses in the coming war, and humans will fill our conquered quarters. If you come to trade even with an army of the undead, you're a human and should expect pushback.” He turned to Asha. “Ask for Oska the librarian and they will summon me.”

  The minotaur said no more and left abruptly.

  I watched his rapid pace take him far away. When his form retreated from view, I let out a sigh of relief.

  “That was close,” I said.

  “Eh, that’s how they work. If they weren’t planning on invading Tarb, we would have gotten in and out without issues. Plus, I triggered an alert. Best to get our move on,” Asha said, stepping off to get back to our party.

  The incessant clanging was loud, and we paused a few times. Eventually, I removed a bag from one of the goblins and told the minion to scout with my jenix cat.

  An hour and a half later, I really missed Sven, my centaur minion, because my arms and thighs burned. The donkey was slow, my back ached, and I grew concerned we had procured too much junk.

  The cat, though, that fancy skeletal feline brought me at least a half dozen pigeon type squirrels. I would consume the Zorta while on the go, adding to my meager stockpile.

  After leaving the valley for the Nordan highlands, Asha created a path through the tall trees. When we arrived at our hidden spot, I braced for the worst, hoping the half day we were gone would have been restful and without issue.

  When Jark exited the tent flap with a smile I sighed again.

  Tarla burst out, lunging into my arms and knocking me over. We tumbled to the ground, and I couldn’t help but chuckle with a smile. Our courting had been exceedingly careful and slow. Being welcomed by a woman this intensely was new and - and - and I loved it.

  I gave her a tender kiss to say thanks.

  “I was so worried,” she exclaimed.

  Bell came out to loom over us while Tarla smothered me. “I take it everything went well?”

  “Yes and no. I lost Sven but there’s six hundred and something Z in one of these bags. We have basic armor to sort, and I leveled up to necromancer three, fifteen minions. Just need to find the minions,” I said, pinching Tarla’s butt. “Get off me my fiery redhead. Oh, I got you a tent to carry.”

  “What!?” she blurted. She had complained about our lack of privacy and not enjoying sleeping with five people in an awkward ball. “You lost our large pack mule and downgraded to an actual donkey,” Tarla said in a teasing tone.

  “Yeah, we need to hurry and sort all this. I want to start moving north right away,” I said.

  “You worr
ied?” Jark asked with concern, his eyes darting around. “I’ll start breaking down the current canvas.”

  Asha said, “Master Damien made a few waves, but in doing so earned a large amount of needed supplies and Zorta.”

  “Let’s just say I’d rather send someone else in my stead next time, but we made good connections. Oh, and I’m screwed because I sorta betrayed humanity. I’m in the low two hundred thousand range for Ostriva points,” I admitted, stripping my bag off.

  I dumped the supplies, and a second later Asha did the same. The goblins followed suit until we had our own pile of crummy gear in the forest to sort from.

  “Wait, how did that happen?” Bell asked.

  I told her the story, and her face dropped in sadness. “My parents,” she muttered.

  “Ask yourself, Bell, will your mother flee the city before a horde arrives, and if they breach the walls, will the king not send aid?” I asked.

  “You think it's more or less raiding?” she asked.

  “I don’t see them wanting to make Tarb a minotaur city, but I could be wrong. Plus, it’ll take a month at least for an army to transition. However, the gods deemed my blathering to be a betrayal. And if I’m right there, an army forming, and we need to get out of the area,” I said.

  I found a decent sword and a set of studded leathers. I went through the piles until I had new boots, arm guards, and the leathers equipped. For the first time, I felt like a peon soldier. At least I had weapons and armor meant for war finally.

  The ladies ended up wearing male armor to protect their bodies. Bell plucked a nice bow out of the supplies, claiming it.

  Tarla grabbed a padded helmet with a neck cover. All this gear would be dreadful in the summer heat, and I certainly was glad Bell still had her water magic.

  Atta girl.

  When we finished sorting the items, we looked pitiful. We were a band of adventurers in hand me down gear, and I loved it. Upgrading mattered, and I quickly went about inspecting the others.

  A pile of unused items sat on the forest floor along with most of the preserving jars.