Rewind: A Grimdark LitRPG Series (Pyresouls Apocalypse, Book 1) by James Callum (reading tree .txt) 📕

a puff of ash, broken. That second of confusion was instantly seized by the Gnawing Hunger. Though its forearm could no longer hold it up.

Rather than fight against it, the monster leaned into the fall, rolling right over Jacob and crushing the life out of him in the process.

You Died.

Dying was never something that a person could get used to. Jacob bolted up into the sitting position, reaching out for the [Vile Mace] that would not heed his call.

It took a moment for his mind to catch up to the warm, soothing sensation of the Pyre. To recognize he was safe.

“Well, that’s four grand of Souls I’m never getting back.” He pulled out the [Black Ember] and studied it. “At least I have what I came here for.”

It looked no different than any other lump of coal. Perhaps a little more spherical than was normal.

The more he studied it, however, the more he noticed. There was a subtle aphotic property to it that sucked in the light around it.

The Pyre’s light seemed diminished when he held up the ember. Not liking the implications of that, Jacob stuffed it away. If he was going to take advantage of his death putting some distance between himself and the Gnawing Hunger, he would need to get a move on.

“I need these repaired really quic-” Jacob started then cursed.

“Mhm,” the Fire Oppa said sympathetically.

Without his Souls, he couldn’t repair his [Vile Mace] or his armor.

“You better get going,” Fenris reminded him. “Your new playmate is looking for you. And here, Camilla left this for you.” From within the ashes of the Pyre, the Fire Oppa dug out a familiar ring. He scooped up the [Ring of Broken Vows], replacing the dulled burn of the [Ring of Boundless Fury].

He gave the Fire Oppa an affectionate pet then hopped up to his feet.

“At least Camilla made it out.” Summoning his [Longsword] and [Phoenix Tree Crest Shield], Jacob cast one look back at the Fire Oppa. “This should all be over soon.”

The look Fenris gave him didn’t seem so sure.

31

Jacob ran into a lone Rot Soldier on his way out of the Smog Rifts, but the experience was enough that he was no longer sure of the [Vile Mace’s] supremacy.

When Jacob used his [Longsword], he sipped his Stamina, leaving more than enough to absorb a heavy blow or dodge aside if he needed. While it did take considerably more hits to down a Rot Soldier, he could still pinpoint their weak spots and exploit them, increasing his damage.

Using his well-known Sword Forms, his [Longsword] was capable of dealing an average of 350 to the Rot Soldiers. About half of what the [Vile Mace] could do with a heavy attack.

But Jacob could execute three such Sword Forms with just enough Stamina left over to absorb an attack with his shield raised. True, one or two hits of his [Vile Mace] was slightly faster, but if another Rot Soldier appeared he couldn’t deal with it without swapping to his sword.

After he factored in the cost of having to recover his Stamina after two hits with the [Vile Mace], one light and one heavy, he was fairly sure it came to a wash.

In the time it took him to swing the [Vile Mace] twice he could flow from Moon Crests the Horizon to Lightning Cracks Stone then reverse to Wind Parts the Grass.

All three Sword Forms combined consumed less than the staggering 90 Stamina those two mace strikes cost.

Now that he had some Souls, he would repair the [Vile Mace] but keep it in reserve for stronger monsters. Like the Burgon Beast.

From what Alec told him, there was a single Pyre at Journey’s End to the west. That Pyre was in front of the Burgon Beast’s cage and it was the first one the monstrosity would attack.

With less than a tenth of the Souls he had on him, Jacob would have just enough to repair his [Vile Mace] and probably his [Knight’s Armor]. Having a gaping hole in the middle invited an uncomfortable breeze across his stomach as he hurried through the narrow canyon to the west.

He pulled up short when he came to a raised section of the canyon with a charred black tree. It was a marker Alec had told him about. Behind that tree, he would find a dead mage with another [Spell Gem] and a Sorcerous set of armor.

But where was Camilla?

The woman stepped out from behind the wide tree, wearing a set of flowing black robes hemmed in gold. They were tattered in such a way as to give the appearance of rolling smoke.

Camilla kept the cowl down, electing instead to keep her floppy black hat on. She did a little twirl, the ruffled edges of gold caught the perpetually wan light of Lormar and glittered like the scales of a fish leaping out of the water.

Jacob was glad the visor of his helm kept him from spoiling the mood with his goofy grin. “Looks good. I take it you found the Spell Gem?”

She started at that and put a hand to her mouth, letting a slight gasp escape her lips.

Before she could say anything, Jacob continued shaking his head. “Don’t worry. It would suit you better than me.” He looked up and down her. The robes looked good on her, they flowed and fluttered with the perpetual breeze caught in the canyon.

“Are you ready?” he asked. “You can still back out if you want,” he reminded her.

Camilla raised two fingers. “Twice now I’ve left you alone. The first because I chose to, the second because you asked me. And twice you have died. To the same monster no less. I think you need me.”

Jacob couldn’t argue with that, nor did he want to. He would more than gladly accept the help. He was going to need it.

Together they walked the few yards to the west where the canyon floor suddenly dropped out.

Journey’s End was aptly named. The way down was a sheer slope