Felix jumped back – as did Tinuriel, whilst Reth backed away until the other two were just within the radius of the Air Bubble. The corpse stood up and smiled, “Ah,” the raspy, clicking voice emanated from the slack-jawed, open maw. “A Versewalker and Escorts.” It reached down and picked up the odd sword. “I’ll be taking your Core.” Almost faster than he could react, it launched at Felix.
He ducked the blow and loosed a point-blank shot from the clo...
2024-07-10 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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I want to see who your favorite hero secondary character is. We all love Lyn (after all, it's her story), but there are all of these other heroes to choose to root for!
The character with the highest vote will get an extra chapter in Book 3 (beyond what I've already planned).
If you want to, drop a comment providing reasoning for your answer! I love seeing the why behind why people chose what they did.
2024-07-10 01:15:04 +0000 UTC
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1
Trisha bid Volio goodnight as the Archer hero went down to the guest house. She set Ginavieve in her crib and cast a simple spell that would soothe her to sleep. Laying down in bed, she turned over as Ben laid down. He took a deep breath in before letting it out. “What are you thinking?” Trisha asked him, turning to look at him. Her husband was staring at the ceiling with his thinking face on.
“I’ve been thinking about the letter. You had a weird ...
2024-07-09 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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The screeching, flying shapes surged up and over the railing. Tinuriel ran forward and cut through several of them, activating several Skills. Bastion, Icy Shell, Aura of Frost.
The snow and ice swirled around...
2024-07-09 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Kory itched his new leg where the flesh merged with the prosthetic. It was a strange feeling, as he could still feel sensations below that point, but it was dull and muted. He had left Trisha’s hospital for a single reason: he was scared. For the first time in his life, he was truly terrified. The Demonic Dragon was back, and he didn’t want anything to do with it.
He had stopped by Fort Watch and received the package from this fu...
2024-07-08 16:00:10 +0000 UTC
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Tinuriel stood at the double doors that would allow ingress or egress to and from the train interior, and Reth was sitting next to Felix, fiddling with his staff as the electrical components on the top arced and glowed. The rest of the car was solid metal, save for the window that Felix looked out from as he held his hand over the control panel, yellow electricity arcing from his fingertips as he felt the thrum of the pistons as tiny pulses along his hand. It felt like haptic feedback from VR...
2024-07-08 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Hi there everyone!
Thank you so much for coming over to Patreon to read Ruinous Return and/or Versewalker!
This post is meant for the Ruinous Return crowd.
The story is just about to hit its 1-week mark on Rising Stars on Royal Road. What does this mean? Well, stories have 21 days to 'climb' up the ranks after they hit the top 50 of Rising Stars (All).
That means there are 2 weeks left for the story to climb up. I've only ever been up...
2024-07-08 03:49:39 +0000 UTC
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BIG REVELATIONS INCOMING!
1
Lyn had been inside ruined temples to Aelor before. They were dotted around Ghomar, with many having been converted to non-religious use. She crept silently up a set of stairs to the second floor – where she knew the innermost chambers would be. She ducked into an alcove behind a statue and had to wait as two priests stood at the edge of the railing overlooking the main floor below. It gave her time to t...
2024-07-07 16:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Lyn spent much of that evening with Brad in discussion. She had to call Bhelarm to their meeting, and Brad put together a list of what he needed to begin. He would be developing and producing antibiotics, poultices that could act as rapid-application bandages – like what he had used on Vael – so that she wouldn’t have to distribute healers amongst her forces. He took up residence in the throne room of the Demonic Dragon, settling in one of the sumptu...
2024-07-06 16:00:11 +0000 UTC
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Lyn finished walking Gael through the spell, and he finished the verses. After waiting several seconds, her breathing steadied. Good thing they’re both the same blood type, she thought. She released the shadow spell and saw to her satisfaction that Gael’s blood spell did work as she envisioned it. Vael’s veins were knit back together, and even though the skin was still ruptured through, her blood was staying in
2024-07-05 16:00:09 +0000 UTC
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Ghostwalk, Undetectable Step.
Getting some height – Shadestep.
Felix turned invisible as he warped through the darkness and alighted atop one of the buildings. ...
2024-07-05 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Lyn held Cataclysm as the timer above ticked down. When it reached the Elenthian symbol for zero…the oceans roiled and bubbled. A horde of monstrosities similar to the first wave approached – less in total, but they were larger. This is going to suck, she thought, knowing that these creatures’ lack of mana-charged weaponry could do no real damage to her. Thank God for that Ironhide body enhancement. Not only that, but her armor...
2024-07-04 16:00:08 +0000 UTC
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They emerged into a dim, dark alleyway. Refuse was piled inside metal, mesh boxes akin to dumpsters but much lighter in weight. The scent assaulted Felix’s nostrils and he almost retched. Tinuriel – whose elven senses were much sharper – turned away and expunged her stomach contents. “Disgusting,” she muttered as she caught her breath.
Looking back at her, Felix saw that her and Reth’s physiq...
2024-07-04 14:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Hello wonderful readers! A few announcements below!
Versewalker
Chapters are still dropping M-F until the end of Volume 2, which should be reached before the end of July (Chapter 88 is when Volume 2 comes to a conclusion).
Ruinous Return.
You've got all of Book 1 (as promised on the banner ad on Royal Road), but I haven't put down a 'release' schedule for the continuing chapters. So, I am going to do that now.
2024-07-03 16:56:42 +0000 UTC
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Lyn descended the corridor flanked by her two companions. The next chamber was another square. This one was not covered in coral, however, but instead looked to be some type of ruined temple. Combat, Lyn knew instinctively. She glanced back at the twins, “Ready?” Both nodded, and she went through her set of internal spells. Her muscles bulged, surging with power, and her senses sharpened as the numerous combat effects took hold. She touched the pil...
2024-07-03 16:22:08 +0000 UTC
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< Author Note - 4.5k word chapter. Longer than usual. Lots of intercharacter moments, level up, crafting, etc. >
The empress went into the VBV alongside two guards. They went to the conference table, and Felix sent a citizen of the VBV to go get Melanie from Ethdellin. She arrived after a short wait. Tinuriel chose to head over to the house and fall asleep; the first time Felix had seen her truly exhausted. Lucifer split off from Felix and sat down as well.
The empress stood...
2024-07-03 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Lyn led her allies down the hallway. It was square, like they all were, but it was once more covered in oceanic elements. Multi-color, prismatic coral was the most prominent, but there was a sheen of liquid coating the walls. Lyn touched it with the tip of Cataclysm’s spear, and it sizzled. She had encountered only a handful of dungeons with the other heroes that had this level of change to the chambers and corridors – something that was almost always consi...
2024-07-02 19:56:05 +0000 UTC
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We still have Earth Shield, the Contingent Heal on each of us, and the stored Revive. Despite the defenses and ready-to-fire Magic/Power effects, Felix felt a cold surge of fear spread through him. This thing that was supposedly just some artificial intelligence had not only hacked through reality to corrupt a Dungeon encounter, but now was interacting with a Universe without being in a Dungeon. And, it had possessed a...
2024-07-02 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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Lyn stepped through the portal and was met with yet another square room with a square pedestal. This room, however, looked ancient even by dungeon standards. Every surface was covered in coral, and she could tell it was razor-sharp just by the look. Gael and Vael stepped through behind her and Gael whistled, “Impressive.”
Lyn poured mana into Cataclysm, “I have a feeling this will be water themed,” she stated as she willed the weapon to shift into...
2024-07-01 19:18:10 +0000 UTC
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Tinuriel leaped through the portal, blazing with blue energy as she released a battle cry. The swirling tempest of ice, rime, and snow billowed around her and chilled her foes. Immediately, she raised her hand and unleashed a Magic/Power effect, “Frost Pulse!” As the power coalesced in her palm, several dozen arbalest bolts launched into her, and she was stabbed at with multiple pikes and spears.
2024-07-01 14:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Bolvon sat up as his name was called. He rolled out of his bed and threw on his leather armor, fastened his knife-belt and bandolier with throwing daggers, darts, and an unstrung shortbow with a quiver to his belt and back. He opened the door to his chambers, and the Spymaster Velenna was standing in front of it. He bowed to the shorter woman, “Yes?”
“Lady Rivers demands the death of Poweno of the Conclave of the Fortress.”
Finally! A ch...
2024-06-30 19:03:43 +0000 UTC
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Due to the early interest based on follower-growth, and under the advice of mentor author Noct, I am launching Ruinous Return on Royal Road today!
Go on over and give it a follow / click on the first chapter if you'd like to help boost me up the algorithm.
2024-06-29 22:12:00 +0000 UTC
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The dungeon transported Lyn to the lip of the caldera. Looking down, the lava that she had once parted began to settle back into the depths of the summit. Looking out over the Valley of the Volcano, she could see very little. Rain poured from the skies, as if the sky was weeping in happiness at the declaration of Lyn’s coming efforts. She laughed and looked up into the swirling clouds above, letting the icy-cold rain splash against her skin. Her mana core, th...
2024-06-29 18:29:50 +0000 UTC
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Felix zoned out during the next thirty minutes of bargaining, negotiation, and statecraft. Thank God Melanie is here to deal with this stuff.
When do you want me to activate the secondary function on the boxes?
Once they leave the VBV. The boxes had two modes. One was a ‘both open’ mode, and the other mode would lock the box permanently before teleporting it away hundreds of miles in a random direction. Since they have the tome that they
2024-06-28 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Felix grabbed hold of one of the ropes hanging from the whale-transports, and joined a commuting crowd as they headed towards what he figured was the noble district. Ghostwalk.
He blended in as the crowd of people swam towards their various destinations, surreptitiously making a steady course to the palace. The main doors were open, and a line of people waited to enter. Felix eyed the golden spin...
2024-06-27 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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The Cover Art for Volume 2 is finished! Thanks to the wonderful Caneera (https://vgen.co/caneera) for their amazing work!
2024-06-27 03:50:46 +0000 UTC
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[Experience Awarded: 70]
After helping Felix get the guards who were unconscious into the small outpost and tying them up, Reth swam over to the Coralborn woman. “What’s your name?”
She spat – which just floated up and away from them – “You and your empire can go to the depths!”
Reth activated his Cloak of Stolen Identities and took on her appearance, causing her to gasp at the sudden realization. “That’s right, I am going to masquerade as you and get right...
2024-06-26 14:00:01 +0000 UTC
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The travel to the edge of the Coralith Empire was uneventful, but Reth insisted that they leave the submarine and go the rest of the way themselves. “Those types of large creatures would undoubtedly be seen as a threat, and we would be dealing with a reactionary force within hours.” So the trio left the submarine and Felix put it back into the inventory. The waters were slightly cooler now that they were deeper, but the environment was not as dark. Large swaths of kelp and coral glowed on...
2024-06-25 14:00:02 +0000 UTC
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The submarine made travel quick and safe. Lucifer was able to control it, so Tinuriel and Felix spent plenty of time indulging in each other in one of the crew quarters. In between that, chatting with Reth, and playing a few board games that Tinuriel had found in the VBV Recreation Room, the trio enjoyed the transit that lasted several days.
One particular topic of discussion was broached by Tinuriel, and both Felix and Reth immediately stopped their game of chess to pay attention to he...
2024-06-24 14:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Good day, evening, or when this finds you,
I am going to be out tomorrow for surgery, and won't be back for a few days. I have set the chapters of Versewalker to auto-drop from this Monday-Friday.
However, I won't be able to link the chapters with that 'Next Chapter' at the bottom of each post until I can sit down at my computer again.
Just giving you this heads-up.
Also - Ruinous Return Book 1 has been fully posted! I am working on Book 2. But the public...
2024-06-23 17:52:34 +0000 UTC
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