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

as if clearing a speck of dust, and struck the Scout in the right shoulder, aiming for a bundle of nerves that should paralyze the arm.

Ruwen turned to strike the Scout’s neck, when a loud crack sounded, and blue lightning covered the Silent Spotter. The Scout shook violently, and the light arced to Ruwen, causing his entire body to tingle. His Health dropped by ninety as the Scout’s shaking became more violent.

And then, in another loud blast, the Silent Spotter exploded in a red mist. The light faded and Ruwen looked down at himself. Blood and chunks of the Scout covered him. He slowly turned to face Xavier.

Xavier hadn’t moved, but the Mage’s hood faced Ruwen and he assumed the Celestial Remnant looked at him.

“We were trying to do this quietly,” Ruwen said.

“Really? I assumed you were purposefully making all that noise as you walked.”

Like the first Shade’s rule Ruwen had ever heard, he knew he only had himself to blame. He hadn’t actually told Xavier to be quiet because the Celestial Remnant moved silently all the time.

Interestingly, the armor had absorbed the blood, but the chunks remained, and Ruwen channeled Energy into Scrub, cleaning himself off. His skin itched from Xavier’s spell. “Your spell jumps targets.”

“I know.”

That meant Xavier had done it knowing Ruwen would take damage. “You could have killed me.”

“A leader so weak deserves death.”

Before Ruwen could respond, Sift spoke in Chat.

Are you trying to bring the entire army here? Sift asked.

Just a miscommunication, Ruwen responded.

A loud one, Sift said.

Is Whiskers still watching the entrance? Hamma asked.

Ruwen focused on Whiskers and looked out the cat’s eyes. The single guard now had nine others with him. Their attack had not gone unnoticed.

Head for the rally point, Ruwen said. The plan hasn’t changed.

Chapter 56

The four of them stood in a tight circle a thousand feet from the cave entrance, but spoke using Chat so no one could hear them.

If there are ten guards now, the plan needs to change, Hamma said.

Ruwen shook his head. One or ten, the concept is the same. I look like a follower of Izac in this armor and it will allow me to get close. When I attack, they’ll blow all their crowd control as they try to kill me.

Hamma frowned. That’s why ten makes a difference. How can you survive that?

Ruwen kept his mental voice calm. I’ll survive because my Armor Class is double that of someone in full plate with a tower shield, and my Resistances are all eighty percent or higher. We can’t take the chance of even a couple of them focusing on any of you.

Sift stood up straight. I could help.

I know, Ruwen said. But we haven’t been in a proper fight since you lost half your Sifting ability. The Air Meridian you gained came at a cost.

What about the Bone Sculptor? Sift said.

You fought the minions. These guys are smarter. You can’t just shrug off spells like you used to. I certainly don’t want to experiment now when the risk to me is so low.

Hamma and Sift both looked unhappy. Xavier stared at the sun, totally oblivious. The Celestial Remnant’s behavior angered Ruwen, but he pushed it away. Xavier didn’t want to be here, and he didn’t know or care for Ruwen, and his actions expressed that.

Hamma pointed at the Mage as if reading Ruwen’s thoughts. What about Xavier?

Ruwen tried his best to answer carefully. Xavier is new, and all I know is he doesn’t like water and his spells sometimes chain. I don’t want the worry or distraction.

Worry is useless and demonstrates one of your weaknesses as a leader, Xavier said.

Ruwen turned to the Celestial Remnant, who remained fixated on the sun. Thanks for the input.

Hamma leaned toward Ruwen. A chaining spell would work well on them. They are grouped tightly.

Sift shifted from foot to foot, his desire to move painful to see.

Ruwen put his hands on Hamma’s shoulders. I’ll be in the middle of that group too, and Xavier can save his spells for the fight down below. Rami will notify you when the fighting starts, and you’ll only be five hundred feet away. Okay?

Hamma reluctantly nodded.

Remember, Hamma and Xavier stay fifty feet back. Sift, once you enter the fight, protect my back. Let’s go get Lylan.

Hamma and Sift nodded, and Ruwen moved toward the cave entrance. Five hundred feet from the enemy the others stopped, and he continued alone. He slowed to a walk and triggered the level eight Worker ability Insect Repellant. It created an adjustable one hundred foot barrier to keep out insects.

Every Naktos follower Ruwen had encountered liked to throw vials of liquid, usually acid, and he hoped the barrier would stop or at least slow the projectiles. He centered the barrier behind him so it started ten feet in front of his body and protected anyone ninety feet behind him.

Next, Ruwen channeled twenty Energy per second into the level five Worker spell Calm. It added thirty percent to his Persuasion and added two to his Charisma. The Charisma probably didn’t help as much since the Overseer hood covered his face, but maybe it would make his voice sound friendlier. He hoped the spell and the armor would get him near the entrance.

Ruwen used the tone and words from the description on his Overseer armor to speak, not trying to hide his presence anymore. His fifteen points in Hey You would make him sound like a native to the Naktos followers. “A servant of the almighty god requires safe haven from his ally, Naktos. Blood demands it!”

Slowing further, Ruwen spoke louder, almost shouting. “A servant of the almighty god requires safe haven from his ally, Naktos. Blood demands it!”

The entrance came into view, but Ruwen walked at an angle, as if unaware of its presence. This time he spoke softer and stumbled, as if exhausted. “A servant of the almighty god requires safe haven from his ally, Naktos. Blood demands it.”

Through Whiskers, Ruwen watched the confusion he caused. Thirty feet