Sovereign Rising (The Gods' Game, Volume III): A LitRPG novel

by Rohan M Vider

  “I don’t know what the agent intends,” Xetil said, “but with him encamped on our very doorstep, this is our best chance of catching him. Do not squander it.” His eyes bored into Yiralla to make sure she understood his meaning.

  “I understand, sire. I will not fail.”

  “Make sure you do not,” said Xetil, nodding. “Now, when the free agent decides to move, as eventually he must, he will likely flee east along the mountains.” He snorted. “I doubt the elf would be so foolish as to come south, but he may be so reckless as to attempt to enter the Elder Forest. If he does that, you will follow.”

  Yiralla studied her god for a moment. “And what of the creature that lurks in the forest Heart?” she asked quietly.

  “Catch the free agent in the mountains and you will not have to contend with that blasted menace,” replied Xetil, waving off her comment irritably. “But if your hunt does take you into Crotana, be prepared to face it and other divine forces. Iyra has a company of paladins in the Elder Forest. If you encounter her dogs, you will destroy them. Is that clear?”

  “It will be my pleasure, my lord.”

  “Misteria may also be in play in Crotana. If you find any of her islanders there, you will inform me at once. I will know what she is about.”

  Curious, thought Yiralla. What could the goddess want in the mountain kingdom? “And if her forces interfere with my pursuit, my lord?”

  “Then destroy them. Without mercy.”

  “Your will, Divine.”

  Game Data

  Ability: Improved scrying

  Skill: Scrying.

  Description: This spell is an improved version of the basic scrying spell with an increased range. Additionally, it adds the data of the scryed area to the player’s map automatically.

  Rank: Apprentice.

  Cost: 80 essence.

  Execution time: 60 seconds.

  Area of effect: Radius of 1m x skill around target.

  Range: Maximum distance of 1km x skill.

  Duration: 5 seconds x skill.

  Chapter 9

  10 Octu 2603

  World portals are the pinnacle of essence engineering. Arcane constructs that instantaneously transport living and inanimate subjects alike between distant locations, they are unique amongst physical objects in that they have a fixed presence in the spirit realm. It is in fact, the beacon they create in the ether that facilitates teleportation in the physical realm. —Lillian Aimes, sorceress.

  Kyran was stretched out flat against the ledge with the rising sun to his back as he gazed down at the three dormant gargoyles in the pass. Today, he was much further south from the gargoyle-infested tower, in a stretch where the creatures’ numbers were much sparser.

  Buffed with his protective spells, and far enough away that the gargoyles hadn’t detected him yet, he was as ready as he could be. “Time to begin,” he murmured. Calling forth his essence, he cast his first spell.

  Kyran has cast ice wall (length: 51m, wall HP: 510, duration: 8 minutes, damage: 1 HP per second), 2 gargoyles frozen.

  Perfect, he thought as the spell encased his intended targets. The third gargoyle stirred and unfurled its wings, head swivelling as it tried to locate the attacker. Kyran rose to his feet, letting himself be detected. At the scrape of his armour, the gargoyle locked onto him and, kicking off its powerful haunches, rose into the air.

  Watching the creature winging its way towards him, Kyran drew his sword and cast freezing hands. Predictably, the gargoyle attempted to sky dive onto him.

  Prepared for the manoeuvre, he easily dodged out of the way, and laid into the creature with a flurry of blows the moment it was grounded.

  The gargoyle attempted to stave off his offensive with swipes of its own, but Kyran was having none of it. With both the creature’s companions slowly dying in the ice wall, Kyran could afford to attack recklessly. His fire shield would outlast the gargoyle’s attacks, he was sure, whereas it would not survive his onslaught.

  Sure enough, a few attacks later, the gargoyle succumbed.

  Kyran has hit a stone gargoyle for 37 damage. Remaining: 0 / 400 HP.

  A stone gargoyle has been killed.

  Breathing heavily, Kyran turned his gaze to the other two gargoyles. They were still trapped in the ice wall and would be dead in a few more minutes. As impatient as he was to continue, he knew he had to pace himself if he was going to be at this the entire day.

  Sinking to the ground in a cross-legged stance, he schooled himself to patience as he waited for the ice wall to finish off its victims.

  ✽✽✽

  After another three battles and an hour’s more work, Kyran sat down again to check the Game’s battle log.

  Battle Log (10 Octu 2603 AB)

  3 skirmishes fought.

  Combat results

  Creatures bonded: 0.

  Hostiles killed: 10 of 10 stone gargoyles.

  Levels gained

  Kyran: 1 level (9 SP, 2 AP). New combat level: Level 21.

  Items acquired

  None.

  Wiping away the sweat from his brow, he smiled. He had finally gained another level. Without hesitation, he invested the acquired skill points.

  Base skill in light armour has increased to 20. Physical defence: 30.7.

  Base skill in body control has increased to 11. Effective skill: 22.4.

  Remaining: 0 Combat SP, 3 AP.

  Just one more level to go before I can class, he thought eagerly.

  He glanced internally at the list of available combat abilities. He was tempted to learn ice bolt. Having a useable ranged attack would ease his skirmishes against the gargoyles, yet it would use two of his three remaining ability points, and he was loath to do so.

  Especially considering that he was faring well enough without it, and after he left the mountains, he was unlikely to encounter more of the stone creatures.

  Best to save the ability points for another more needed spell later on, he thought as he picked himself up and advanced down the pass to the next set of gargoyles, a pack of four this time.

  Hours later, Kyran was still battling the gargoyles. By this point he had killed dozens more of the creatures, but still hadn’t gained the elusive remaining level he needed to class. His pace had slowed considerably, both with the increased travel time required between encounters and the more frequent rest necessitated by his depleting essence pool.

  He was working his way further south along the pass when Gaesin shouted exuberantly in the battlegroup, “Kyran, come quickly, Adra is stirring. She’ll awake soon!”

  Kyran paused. He couldn’t be much further from his next level, but his reserve of essence was already much lower than he liked for combat, and he was worried about his downed companion. “I’m on my way,” he replied to Gaesin, before changing direction and heading back to camp.

  ✽✽✽

  Adra awoke to the sight of Gaesin leaning over her. Seeing her opened eyes, Gaesin called excitedly over his shoulder, “Kyran! Mirien! She’s awake.”

  Mirien? wondered Adra, puzzled. Who is Mirien? But she lost the thread of that thought as her attention was grabbed by something more immediate—blue sky. Wide open blue sky.

  Relief coursed through her as she was overcome by a welter of emotions. They had done it; they had escaped the labyrinth. She blinked back unshed tears.

  Despite Kyran’s assurances and plans, she had not truly believed they would ever leave Crotana’s subterranean world. In fact, Adra was surprised to find herself alive. She had not expected that either. She should have more faith in Kyran, she thought ruefully. He had proven himself capable of the impossible on more than one occasion.

  Gaesin was speaking to her. “Adra, are you alright?” With his help, she sat up and looked around. They were on a mountainside, she saw. Footsteps—more than one set—approached from behind. She turned around and saw Kyran and a stranger, a young elven woman.

  Happiness suffusing his face, Kyran knelt by her side. “Adra, how ar
e you doing?”

  Adra glanced obliquely at the woman, who watched them with undisguised interest, before turning to her young lord. “I am fine, Kyran. Just tired.” She hesitated, then asked, “What happened?”

  “You were hit by a concussive blast that knocked you out. We managed to put you on Aiken’s back and escape the kobolds through the south gate.” With a sidelong glance of his own at the elven woman, he said, “Our umm…plan in the square worked.”

  He doesn’t want to say too much in front of her either, thought Adra. Who is she? Taking her cue from Kyran, Adra only nodded in response even though she was bursting with questions. She looked down at the great bear, who had padded over and rested his head on her lap. “Thank you for carrying me, Aiken,” she said gravely.

  He huffed once in response.

  “Adra, Kyran killed Xetil’s champion!” said Gaesin excitedly. “All by himself, too!”

  “What? Where?” asked Adra, looking around in alarm.

  Rolling his eyes at the youth, Kyran laid a calming hand on Adra. “It happened days ago,” he assured her. “In the dwarven city. Lesh was the one who made the enslaving collars.”

  Aiken growled angrily at the mention of the collars and sent a series of images that made clear his savage satisfaction at Lesh’s death. Adra rubbed her eyes. She had missed a lot it seemed, but the important thing was that they were all alive. “Where are we now?”

  “We are outside the south gate. We have been camped here the past few days, waiting for you to recover. Once you are back on your feet, we will begin our journey across the Skarral range.” Kyran paused, then turned to the elven woman. “Adra, meet Mirien. She is from the Brotherhood—”

  Kyran got no further. Adra surged to her feet. Instinctively, her knives found their way to her hands, and she bared her fangs at the elf.

  Mirien sprang back and warily held out her own blades. Kyran’s mouth dropped open in shock, momentarily at loss for words as his gaze slid between the two women braced for battle.

  Aiken’s snort of amusement—startlingly loud—dropped into the silence. The tableau froze as all eyes swung to the bear, who lay stretched out on the ground, seemingly unperturbed by the imminent threat of violence.

  In the pause, Gaesin spoke. “Adra, it’s alright. She is on our side.”

  Adra snarled. “She is Brotherhood filth! How can that be?” she demanded.

  Gaesin shrugged helplessly and looked to Kyran as if to say, ‘You explain it.’

  Kyran pursed his lips in thought as he studied the two women. “Adra,” he said gently, “sit down, please and I will explain.” He turned to the elven woman. “You too, Mirien.”

  Adra glared at her young lord for a second, wondering if she should comply. Kyran, she reminded herself, was not from this world and at times was entirely too trusting. He might well be unaware of the evil the Brotherhood had committed on behalf of their cause.

  Adra’s eyes flicked to Gaesin and Aiken. Both the other party members also appeared unthreatened by the elven woman. Reluctantly, Adra sheathed her knives and, keeping a wary eye on the Brotherhood soldier, retook her place by the campfire. She would hear out Kyran first, she decided, before she made up her mind entirely.

  ✽✽✽

  A little later, Adra was fully caught up on the party’s doings since her collapse. Kyran, too, it appeared, did not fully trust the Brotherhood woman. While they sat around the fire, he used the battlegroup’s telepathic link to privately communicate to Adra the information he had withheld from Mirien as well as his suspicions and concerns about the Brotherhood’s intentions.

  Adra listened attentively to Kyran’s words and after he was done said, “I don’t know that we can trust her, Kyran. I have seen with my own eyes the remains of the Brotherhood’s work, and the atrocities they commit in the name of their cause. The Brotherhood is ruthless, and allying with them would be a mistake. Sooner or later, they will betray us for their own ends.”

  “Perhaps you are right, Adra, but we need allies. On our own, we will not survive long. The Brotherhood may be those allies, or they may not. Time will tell. But first we need to learn more of them, and of what lies beyond the propaganda and rumours. Then we’ll decide.”

  “Only make certain you do not close your heart to allies amongst the gods.” Adra licked her lips. “Auriel, I am sure—”

  “You are right, Adra,” Kyran broke in gently. “We may also find allies amongst the gods. Iyra, especially, may be open to an alliance, but do not forget, I have met the gods and have seen the remains of their handiwork, too. I am as sceptical of their good intentions as you are of the Brotherhood’s.”

  Kyran fell into a heavy silence for so long that Adra thought he would not go on. Then he said, “I fear we will be forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, and that whatever our choice, it will be a bloody one.”

  Adra considered Kyran’s words carefully. She had not given him enough credit, it seemed. He had thought through the consequences of his choices more clearly and honestly than she had expected.

  He could be a great leader one day, she thought. Despite her own preferences, she knew that whatever choice he made, she would follow him. He had earned her loyalty. “Are those our only choices?” she asked softly. “The gods or the Brotherhood?”

  From across the fire, Kyran looked her way. “No, but they are the best ones before us right now. Perhaps in time, other choices will reveal themselves.”

  “Very well, Kyran. I will go along with the plan. But for my part, I will remain vigilant for treachery.”

  “Thank you, Adra. That is all I ask.” Closing the mind-link, he asked aloud, “Do you think you will be recovered enough to resume our journey tomorrow?”

  “I will,” said Adra firmly.

  “Good, then we will set off at first light. Oh, and make sure you see to your classing. You have met all your requirements?”

  “Nearly,” said Adra, after gazing inwardly at her player data. “I only need to gain a little more experience to reach civilian level twenty. With some practice, I can advance tonight, I think.”

  “If you can, do so. But don’t strain yourself,” he warned. “Gaesin, Mirien, and I will share tonight’s watches between us.”

  Adra protested, “Kyran, I am well enough—”

  “No,” said Kyran, shaking his head. “We will need you at your best tomorrow. You take the time to rest, clear?”

  Adra nodded reluctantly.

  Kyran stood up and addressed the party at large. “I’ll take the first watch. Tomorrow, we begin the journey east. Make sure you all get what rest you can.”

  Gaesin and Mirien nodded, and Kyran walked off to the ledge. Adra turned her gaze to the elven woman, who was silently scrutinising her.

  “Peace?” Mirien asked softly.

  “Peace,” agreed Adra, managing not to growl the word out. She would not let go of her suspicions that easily, though. Adra would make sure to keep a careful eye on the Brotherhood woman and, at the first sign of treachery, would be there to catch her.

  ✽✽✽

  Kyran stared out at the darkness. His heart was lighter now that Adra was recovered. He had been more worried about her than he had realised. But now that she was awake, he suspected that matters would grow more complicated within the party.

  He had forgotten—perhaps deliberately—Adra’s own ties to the gods. He set his hand on Aiken’s head. For a change, the bear had joined him on watch. “What do you think, brother? Is it safe to leave the two of them alone?”

  Aiken smelled of amusement. The women will be fast friends soon, the bear’s sending promised.

  Kyran chuckled. “I don’t know about that, Aiken. But if you aren’t worried, I guess I shouldn’t be either.” Aiken huffed in emphatic agreement.

  A Game notice blinked for attention in Kyran’s mind. Still laughing at the bear’s response, he turned his eyes inwards and opened the message.

  Adra Maeko has chosen the path of a scout.


  Adra Maeko is now an apprentice-ranked scout.

  He smiled in pleasure as he studied Adra’s player data within his mind. Her new abilities would serve the party well in their journey through the wilds. He turned his attention back to the dark mountainside, only to be interrupted again by a barrage of Game messages.

  What—? he wondered, looking inwards again in surprise.

  The world portal at Deepholm, the capital of your domain, Labyrinth Deeps has been completed!

  Work has begun on the central guardroom.

  A new structure has been built!

  Structure: World portal

  Type: Strategic (essence structure).

  Rank: Unique.

  Available power: 100%.

  Status: Active.

  Special properties: Hidden (invisible to all other beings on Myelad by the thirteenth Well’s unique property: hidden veil).

  Description: World portals are marvels of modern essence engineering that allows instantaneous transport to other world portals.

  Congratulations! Your settlement, Deepholm, has advanced in rank from outpost to tower!

  Your settlement lord trait has changed from Squire of Deepholm to Knight of Deepholm.

  Knight of Deepholm: As a rank 2 (tower) settlement, Deepholm confers upon you, its steward, the title of Knight, which grants you the following benefits: +8% to all defences when within the settlement’s zone of control.

  Well, well, he thought, almost rubbing his hands in glee. He had long-ranging plans for Deepholm, and the world portal especially. With its construction, so much more was possible… Matters are progressing well all around.

  Tomorrow they would begin their journey across the mountain and, assuming everything went according to plan, he would soon gain new allies and learn more of the domains and its champions. And then…and then, he could decide, once and for all, where his future in this world lay.