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[Skill-Eater 4] Chapter 6: Overwhelming Might will Suffice

The reaver caught Edge’s iceblade with its free set of claws, which had been streaking down to sever its leg at the knee.

However, the monster had underestimated the momentum behind the blow, causing the sword to graze its limb before coming to a halt. It disengaged a heartbeat later to limit its exposure, but the damage had already been done.

The creature’s left hand was covered in rime from its proximity to his mana-forged weapon, though the frostbite wouldn’t do more than...

[Skill-Eater 4] Chapter 5: Fancy Meeting you Here

Edge picked up his spear and assumed a combat stance.

He cast his senses into his surroundings while warning Foebinder that an enemy was in their vicinity. By this point, his instincts were screaming that something was wrong—beyond the obvious threat of a monster prowling nearby. He sniffed at the air, wrinkling his nose while trying to locate the source of the stench.

For reasons he didn’t even pretend to understand, all monsters stank something fierce, and each horrid odor w...

[LotMG4] Chapter 77: Rapid Growth

Nick sat with his legs crossed, focusing on the rhythm of his heartbeat and the mana flowing out from his core, through his energetic channels, between his outstretched hands, and back.

Through the crystal wall, he cast his gaze across the submerged city the System had designated as a dungeon, studying the intricate flows of force mana forming the magic dome that held the water back. Meditating down here had sharpened his mage sight, letting him pick up minute details he would have miss...

[Skill-Eater 4] Chapter 4: The Tome of Skill-Eater

Edge stored the rubbings in his vault, spent a few minutes bouncing ideas off Foebinder while snacking on dried meat, then returned his attention to the task at hand.

Now that he had completed his mission and learned what he could, all that was left was to pop inside the temple. He wanted to see if there was anything he’d missed during his first visit, which had been interrupted by two jailbirds and a monster shortly after uncovering a secret space under the altar stone.

[LotMG4] Chapter 76: Sophia’s Demon

Three Weeks Later

Sophia extended her wrist-blades as the eagle she rode dove toward the trio of monsters flying below.

The fearsome creatures, which looked like mutant roosters the size of a barn, were circling a rocky plateau rising from the acidic mud that covered the floor of the dungeon—one of the few places where she could stop and rest within the most dangerous environment she had ever expl...

[Skill-Eater 4] Chapter 3: The History of Ord

Step by step, the navy blue of twilight faded away, leave Edge awash in ten thousand shades of gray.

Everything within Darkvision’s radius grew more distinct when tiny particles of mana rebounded from them as the ocular skill sharpened his senses to astonishing new heights.

While some details were difficult to discern in his monochrome world, he could make out most aspects of his environment better than ever—all the way down to the intricate texture formed by grains of soil co...

[Skill-Eater 4] Chapter 2: Return to the Beginning

Edge sprinted across the Ivory Plains with superhuman speed, devouring the miles beneath his boots as he made his way from Puppet Town toward the far corner of the biome.

Rue’s head was sticking out from the top of his backpack, watching the world go by with an occasional yip whenever the golden fox spotted something interesting. He laughed at his Companion’s antics—a welcome distraction that helped take his mind off their latest dilemma.

Puppet Town’s executive council ha...

[LotMG4] Chapter 75: Cause for Celebration

Everyone let out a cheer as the crowd pressed closer—excited to check out Aurora’s first Rare structure and find out how it worked.

The Item-Modification Station wasn’t the biggest building the System had generated, but it was the most impressive. The walls were formed from a rich red stone. They were inlaid with mosaic tiles depicting crafters laboring over weapons, armor, and other types of equipment, embedding glowing cores within them to grant the items magical properties.

[Skill-Eater 4] Chapter 1: A Problem with Tentacles

Sakura sank into the comforting depths of the armchair filling one corner of her underground lair, enjoying a moment of stillness and solitude before beginning another lengthy scrying session.

Yussuf the Red was in the ground, and the undead horde had been defeated, but she knew this was only the eye of the storm. Something had raised those bears from the dead and sent them stampeding for Puppet Town.

The mysterious entity was still out there, and the gods only knew what it was pl...

[Skill-Eater 4] Chapter 0: A Little Fireside Recap

“Hello, friends. Earl here. Come on in, pull up a chair, and keep me company for a while. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, so there’s no need to be shy. I have a cozy fire burning in the hearth and a frosty beverage with your name on it ready to be cracked open.

“That’s right. Now scoot your chair a little closer. I promise not to bite. I’ve always wanted to do one of these and Doc said it would be good for my recovery to find something to take my mind off my injuri...

[LotMG4] Chapter 74: The Dark Crystal Cavern

The messenger turned to Nick and said, “We found a regional resource, and the System confirmed it’s within the city limits.” He grew even more excited when the man told him what types of mana the site provided. Claiming it will let us place Aurora’s first Rare building.

“Go on then.” Kenji grinned. “I’ll grab the rest of the committee. When you get back, we can place that building. After that, we should throw a party to celebrate the accomplishment and welcome o...

[LotMG4] Chapter 73: Bad Timing and New Friends

Nick opened the front door of his home as the horizon began to glow, heralding the beginning of a new day.

He tossed his boots into his magic bag—mentally separating them from the dirt covering every inch before pulling them out, stepping inside, and setting his boots against the wall. His scouting run had taken longer than Kenji had anticipated, but by the time they reached the border of the biome, they were certain the monster that had slaughtered Abby’s people had returned to the...

[LotMG4] Chapter 72: Lending a Hand

Nick set five rocks in a circle, which the students were using as chairs until the woodworkers had time to craft more furniture.

For a while, no one said anything, giving the leaders of the refugees time to decompress from their ordeal and get some food and water into their systems. The battered pair looked weary, sad, and relieved all at the same time—trauma and hope writ clear on their faces.

The losses they had suffered tugged on his heartstrings, reminding him that while hum...

[LotMG4] Chapter 71: Refugees

Nick was watching the sunset while jogging around the lake when the watchtower’s alarm bell rang.

He had heard it before on several occasions, thanks to the drills Kenji had been conducting to prepare Aurora for a range of emergencies. At first, he thought the city was under attack. Accompanied by a surge of adrenaline, he activated Force Acceleration and began sprinting back to town, moving so fast that he sent a tremendous plume of dust billowing into the air.

But when he coun...

[Skill-Eater 3] Book 3 Wrap Up

Hey everybody, Magnus here.

We've reached the end of another volume and things are going well. So far, the Amazon launch of the series is working out, thanks to everyone who lend me a hand during this critical period.

As always, there will be a 1 week break so I can catch up on editing, followed by a recap and then the start of book 4. No schedule changes this time around, we will be sticking with 5 days a week for the foreseeable future.

Take care!

[Skill-Eater 3] Epilogue: Corpse and Shield

Far to the southeast, two figures were standing atop the best vantage point the high-threat biome had to offer.

While one was staring down at the ruins of the Gilded Heights and the other was peering into the distance while facing Puppet Town, both were contemplating the events that had taken place over the past few days.

The man known as Shield swore as the surface beneath him shifted, then turned to look at the girl standing next to him. He repressed the urge to shudder, althoug...

[LotMG4] Chapter 70: Running Water and Not-So-Terminal Velocity

Nick woke up feeling amazing—still wrapping his head around the idea that he had a bedroom and a home to call his own.

Even without a mattress, his blanket-cushioned bed was far more comfortable than lying on the ground and he slept better with stout walls to guard his back and a roof over his head. He spent a few minutes stretching out while enjoying the moment before getting dressed and grabbing his pack.

When he made his way downstairs, Shaun was sitting at the kitchen table ...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 95: Breaking the Board

One Day Later

The Mayor of Puppet Town smiled as she cast her gaze across the crowd.

Nearly everyone in the settlement had turned out for today’s event. She wished Earl and the other warriors who were recovering from their wounds could be here, but they needed to rest, and this announcement was too important to put off until later.

Lured by the promise of a feast and free booze,...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 94: Stopping the Stampede

“I’m using my ultimate!” Edge cried as he stepped in front of his team and activated Overdrive.

Thanks to the technique he’d learned during his battle with Yussuf, he managed to stay in his body instead of entering his core, fighting to maintain focus through the molten tide of magic infusing every fiber of his being as the great engine roared to life behind his ribs.

Everyone’s Mantle thickened, outlining their features in electric ruby light as Overdrive boosted the au...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 93: Battlefield Test Drive

Able’s joke dispelled the tension in the air, and Edge chuckled as he sprang into motion.

Accompanied by the cacophony of large-scale combat, the kill team activated an assortment of skills and magitech devices to hide themselves from the horde. Then they rappelled from the wall… or just leapt straight to the ground in the case of Able, Tessa, and Edge.

Once everyone made it down, the warriors waited for a clear lane to appear and then took their leave of the battlefield, spri...

[LotMG4] Chapter 69: Welcome Home

Nick crossed Aurora with a spring in his step, excited to find out what the builders had in store for him today.

Liz caught up to him along the way, and they made the rest of the trip together. As they made their way over to where the construction crew was hard at work, he ran his gaze across the fruits of their labor.

Dozens of foundations had already been dug, and people were busy carting the dirt away. Lumber, ceramic pipes, and roofing tiles were piled nearby, and the first ba...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 92: The Shambling Horde

Puppet Town awoke before dawn.

Magelights illuminated the crowded streets as every able-bodied person in the settlement prepared for the horde’s arrival. The stampede was approaching the border of the plains and would reach the wall sometime in the early afternoon.

A half dozen crews had spent the night in the field and were waiting for the reanimated bears to cross through the borderlands. They were comprised of every beast rider in town, along with a handful of mobility specia...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 91: Counting the Hours

Puppet Town had five days before the stampede arrived at their doorstep, and they didn’t intend to waste a second.

When Edge walked past the public green, the peacekeepers and militia were undergoing a rigorous training regimen. These exercises were open to anyone, regardless of their affiliation. At Able’s request, he joined in for an hour or so each day. His participation was good for morale, and the drills taught him how to fight in formation during large-scale engagements.

[LotMG4] Chapter 68: Guest Lecture

Nick spent the next few days training like crazy.

His people had converted a portion of the hollow mesa into a workout area that was designed to condition superhuman bodies. They had invented machines for Strength training that involved lifting heavy stones to target specific muscle groups and come up with tools to assist individuals who were working on their Dexterity and Toughness too.

It soon became one of the most popular areas in the settlement—a spot where people could enj...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 90: Visiting the Forge

Edge’s next stop was one of his favorite places in town—the crafting collective known as the Forge.

The Forge was a sprawling cluster of buildings where the craftmasters and their apprentices lived and plied their trade. It included a series of adjoining workshops and a spacious storefront where people could place custom orders and browse the wares on display.

The establishment was expensive, but it provided some of the best equipment the settlement had to offer. Edge didn’t...

[LotMG4] Chapter 67: Soil and Stone

When Nick ran into Elizabeth, she let him know there was a change of plans and the committee was meeting outside the city limits.

They were kicking off today’s session by checking in with a team that had formed a few days ago, which would oversee Aurora’s agricultural efforts. “They’re ready to report on their progress,” she explained. “Stan and the others are already there.”

Side by side, they started walking south, following the river that had led them to the lake ...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 89: Applied Combat Anatomy

Edge walked over to Sasha and Riller, who had ambushed the jobo alpha and were keeping it restrained so he could Extract its powers.

“Thanks, guys. I really appreciate all the help with advancing my skills.”

“Of course,” Riller replied.

“We’re in this together, after all.” Sasha smiled and then gestured toward the stage-two beast.

Riller’s Poison Arrow had incapacitated the muscular creature, and she’d tossed a net over it just in case it had any fina...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 88: Ranged Attack Skill

Edge was so excited that he had trouble falling asleep.

While Repel Water was well on the way to becoming a decent weapon in its own right, using it as an attack required multiple fields that had to be aligned just right. Achieving that level of precision wouldn’t always be possible mid-fight, and using the skill would be impractical in situations where he didn’t want to drench the battlefield.

All that aside, the water drill configuration of Repel was a fantastic addition to ...

[LotMG4] Chapter 66: Trial of Mastery

Nick spent the rest of the day training, pushing himself until sweat soaked his shirt and his limbs were trembling.

He quaffed his Flask of Restoration to take the edge off his exhaustion and went to bed early, sleeping for over eight hours straight for the first time since returning to Earth. His dreams were filled with the ringing chime of blade against blade as his subconscious picked up where his practice left off. He woke up feeling remarkably refreshed, ready to face the trial of ...

[Skill-Eater 3] Chapter 87: Having a Blast

After speaking with Sakura about such weighty matters, Edge needed another drink.

He joined Rita and Sam in the common room of the Pioneer. When she pulled out a stool from behind the counter, he took a seat at the end of the bar, letting the music and the murmur of countless conversations wash over him. Half the patrons were covered in bandages, but their spirits were high after defeating the Claws.

He was developing a taste for fine alcohol after sampling Trapper’s private res...