The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) by A. Kay (best short books to read .TXT) 📕

a Bleed debuff appeared under her portrait.

“No,” Sift whispered.

Lylan’s Health flashed yellow as it dropped under twenty percent, and Ruwen’s stomach twisted.

Lylan’s Health bar jumped upward past fifty percent, dropped again, and then went to full.

“Oh, no,” Hamma said.

“What’s happening?” Sift asked.

“They’re healing her,” Hamma said.

A moment later, the Vertigo debuff reappeared as the Bleed one dropped away. Three seconds after that, another debuff appeared: Unconscious.

Lylan hadn’t died and gone back to New Eiru. They had taken her prisoner.

Chapter 55

Sift turned to Ruwen.

“Buff up,” Ruwen said.

Sift nodded, his relief visible.

Lir, what Temple Guardian is closest to my location? Ruwen asked.

The underground Guardian searching the inner circle.

How soon can it be here?

With its current settings, approximately twenty-three minutes.

Send it and have it find some place to hide within a mile of this location.

As you wish, Architect Starfield.

Rami, can you please direct Whiskers in a circuit around those three guards Lylan marked near the entrance? I want to make sure they’re alone.

Sure.

Ruwen looked at his current five Banner buffs, chosen to aid them in their searching the past three days.

Awareness – Perception increased by 25%

Forced March – Movement speed increased by 35%

Muffle – Sound decreased by 35%

Notice – Detect Trap increased by 30%

Grit - Endurance increased by 35%

Ruwen dismissed them and immediately picked four new ones more appropriate for the oncoming danger.

Renew – Healing received 30% more effective

Havoc – Damage increased by 25%

Unrelenting – Regeneration rates increased by 30%

Indestructible – Armor Class increased by 25%

For the last Warlord Banner spot, Ruwen had nine excellent choices. He considered each of them.

Awareness – Perception increased by 25%

Vigor – Resilience increased by 50%

Blur – Haste increased by 25%

Blockade – Parry and Block increased by 25%

Advanced – Attributes increased by 20%

Cripple – Critical Strike increased by 20%

Bludgeon – Power Strike increased by 20%

Untouchable – Dodge increased by 25%

Tutor – Experience increased by 20%

All the Warlord Banner buffs were beneficial, but some, like the Haste, Critical Strike, and Power Strike really helped Sift and Ruwen. The experience buff was more appropriate for a leveling dungeon dive, not for saving a friend. Parry and Block worked better for weapon and shield users, and that didn’t really fit their group.

That left the Perception, Resilience, Attribute, and Dodge buffs. While Perception always had value, Lylan had already marked many of the enemy, and when the fighting started, it would be less helpful. Resilience might help against whatever gas was in that cavern, but the Scarf of Freshness would counter that. Only two remained, a twenty percent increase to all Attributes, or a twenty-five percent increase in Dodge.

Avoiding damage completely with Dodge would help Hamma manage her Mana usage. But Sift and Ruwen had trained to avoid damage or mitigate its effects, so this increase would only be marginal. Xavier didn’t even have a proper body, so physical damage might not even be a factor for him. Hamma of course, shouldn’t be anywhere near the fighting.

That left Advanced, which increased everyone’s Attributes by twenty percent. It was like gaining four or five levels worth of advancement. Not only that, Attribute increases affected everything, from Regen rates to Haste. This likely offered the most benefit for everyone, and he added it as his fifth Warlord Banner buff.

Ruwen cast his self buffs and channeled one Energy per second into the Collector spell Chaff. He didn’t cast the Fighter spell Petrify for an additional five percent armor as he didn’t want to spend the five Energy per second on a stat that had already been buffed so much.

Power Nap - Out of Combat Health Regeneration 50%

Leeching Blow - Heal for 25% damage inflicted

Hustle – Increase Haste 10%

Sick Day – Increase Resistances 10%

Chaff – Increase Haste 25%

Then Ruwen finished with the rest of his group buffs:

Relentless - Energy Regeneration increased by 25%

Quartermaster’s Yell - 20% reduced spell cost, potions 20% more effective

Emissary’s Shout - Perception 10%, Speed 10%

Warlord’s Roar - 50% damage, 50% Armor Class

Finally, he needed to decide who to place the Bodyguard spell on. Sift should rarely take damage but would die permanently, while Hamma would take more damage but would revive at the temple.

Ruwen channeled ten Energy per second into Bodyguard and placed it on Hamma, reasoning she could keep Sift alive with heals if she stayed alive. Now Ruwen would take twenty percent of the damage Hamma received.

Hamma handed Ruwen a small piece of bread and then a cup, which he took a sip from. The bread tasted dry and flat while the liquid tasted like watered down wine. Ruwen read the notifications as two new buffs appeared.

Tring!

Hamma has gifted you…

Name: Blessed Communion Wafer (Level 3)

Quality: Uncommon

Quantity: 1

Weight: 0.1 lbs.

Effect (Passive): +6 Stamina, +3 Strength.

Duration: 60 minutes

Description: This blessed wafer is purified, and its natural benefits enhanced.

Tring!

Hamma has gifted you…

Name: Blessed Communion Wine (Level 3)

Quality: Uncommon

Quantity: 1

Weight: 0.1 lbs.

Effect (Passive): +6 Wisdom, +3 Intelligence

Duration: 60 minutes

Description: This blessed wine is purified, and its natural benefits enhanced.

Did Whiskers see anyone else? Ruwen asked.

No, Rami replied.

Do you think this is a mistake?

Maybe, but some things are necessary, despite the danger.

Ruwen faced Sift. “You and Hamma will take the south target. Xavier and I the north. We’ll coordinate via Chat. Then collapse on the guard at the entrance and head down.”

Sift nodded and Ruwen looked at Hamma. “You okay with that?”

Hamma nodded.

Xavier still stared at the sun and Ruwen decided he didn’t care if the Mage stayed here.

“Let’s go,” Ruwen said.

As they moved toward the targets two miles away, Ruwen glanced over his most important stats. Leveling to twenty-three, Fortifying his body to Gold, the new Overseer armor, and the power of his Warlord build and all its buffs, made him feel like a one-man army.

Pools

Health: 1,434/1,434

Mana: 639/639

Energy: 1,956/1,956

Attributes

Strength: 71

Stamina: 106

Dexterity: 65

Intelligence: 58

Wisdom: 55

Charisma: 33

Ratings

Armor Class: 3,280

Critical Chance: 92%

Haste: 132%

Dodge: 172%

Perception: 147%

Regeneration

Health Regeneration per second: 3.95

Mana Regeneration per second: 4.96

Energy Regeneration per second: 88.81

Ruwen’s fists were equivalent to hammers, and his Worker ability Brawl added twenty percent to his unarmed damage, while his ninety-five levels of Unarmed Combat skill added another forty-seven