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

hope that Alice pulled him out of the machine. At least then he could ask for the precise date of the Collapse.

Maybe he had two days of grinding to do, or maybe somebody was an hour away from opening the Burgon Beast’s cage.

He cursed the Vile Covenant, and he cursed himself for being so reckless. He had allowed his emotions to cloud his better judgment and paid the price. If he alone suffered the consequences, he could live with that.

But his hatred had allowed events to spiral out of control. Days were lost that could have been spent gaining Souls and finding better equipment.

What sat heaviest on his soul was knowing that if he failed, billions of innocent lives would pay the price.

Once again, he was glad to have his helm covering his terrified expression. He nodded at Camilla, not trusting his voice to stay firm.

It was really happening.

He was going to face the Burgon Beast. The creature that started the Collapse and doomed billions to a fate worse than death.

Camilla set out ahead of him, but Jacob was quick to join her stride-for-stride. His resolve firmed with every broken blade they passed. Every rusted helmet or discarded gauntlet from ages long past.

By the time they reached the Pyre in front of that looming gate of black, Jacob was ready to fight.

Pyre Ignited.

Your respawn location has been set to Journey’s End.

The Fire Oppa stokes the embers of your conviction.

Health, Stamina, Ampoules, and Spell Gems restored.

You Kindle the Pyre.

“So, you’re here,” Fenris said, padding forward into Jacob’s lap.

“Think you can repair this?” Jacob asked, getting out his [Repair Kit] and the broken [Vile Mace].

“You’ve got the Souls for it,” the Fire Oppa said, turning to trot back to the Pyre and leap into the [Repair Box] with the mace.

A few bright flares of green fire broke free from the gap in the wooden box and the deed was done.

Having it fully restored normally would have been a pain. And though Jacob had no intention of staying, he didn’t want to be running all over Lormar looking for a merchant that could repair his stuff.

Not to mention, even at a cost of 300 Souls for the full repair it was still cheaper. Jacob put the rest of his damaged armor into the box, with only 150 Souls left he didn’t have the ability to repair everything to full. So he chose to repair everything he could up to at least 50% durability, including his [Longsword].

Soulless, Jacob reached out and pet the Fire Oppa one last time. “I have an idea but I’ll need your help,” Jacob said. “I don’t know how much you can assist-”

“I cannot help you directly fight the Burgon Beast,” Fenris said, though his eyes suggested there was more to his words than he could say.

“Are you bound by some law or rule that prevents you from helping?”

“You already know the answer.”

“But you can help indirectly.”

“In any way I can,” the Fire Oppa said, his fiery fur burning brighter.

Jacob turned to Camilla. “Can you move between your Cairns?”

“Of course, do you take me for an initiate?” came her acerbic reply. She colored and ducked her head, softening her tone, “Yes, I can. Why?”

“Bind yourself at another Cairn, one that is farthest away from here.” Then, on a whim, Jacob added the Pyres he had ignited so she would avoid them, hoping that his theory about the Burgon Beast was correct. “Meet back here when you’re done.”

He had no idea if it would destroy every Pyre in Lormar or if it specifically followed his path. In the end, it didn’t much matter.

If Camilla had a Cairn that was as far away from this one as possible while not being one of those that he listed then perhaps she stood a chance. He had no idea what would happen to her if the Cairn she bound to was destroyed.

He didn’t think she would wake up safe and sound like the millions of players in Pyresouls Online. That safety wouldn’t last for long, he knew.

“Take me to the Razor Pass Pyre.” As the words left Jacob’s mouth, the flames of the Pyre swirled and expanded to consume Jacob in their twisting brilliance.

When the flames receded he was sitting at a much smaller Pyre than he remembered, its flames burning lower and cooler. Oh right, this was the first Pyre I ever lit. I didn’t know how to Kindle… not that I really understand it now.

Even as he put his cupped palms together, he didn’t know how he willed the ruby flame into them. Or how it empowered the Pyre that suddenly leaped with strength and heat.

You Kindle the Pyre.

The Fire Oppa appeared within the flames and looked curiously at him. “Why are we back here?”

Jacob knelt by the Pyre and placed his hand within the warm embrace of the flames.

Your respawn location has been set to the Razor Pass.

The Fire Oppa stokes the embers of your conviction.

Health, Stamina, Ampoules, and Spell Gems restored.

“If I told you my theory of the Burgon Beast, could you tell me whether or not it was true?” Jacob asked, already guessing at the answer.

When Fenris shook his fiery, furry head, Jacob was hardly surprised.

“Just as I thought.”

“What about a simple question? Like, ‘will the Burgon Beast kill me?’”

“It will.”

“Can the Burgon Beast jump from Pyre to Pyre?” he asked.

The Fire Oppa tried to make a motion but seemed unable to. Instead, he remained silent.

“So much for that theory,” Jacob said with a snort.

He was hoping that he could find a loophole around whatever binding magic that was placed on Fenris. Clearly, the Fire Oppa had some sort of rules he had to obey.

Rules so powerful that he couldn’t even openly explain them or talk about them. Asking him questions when the poor thing desperately wanted to provide an answer but couldn’t, was torturous and cruel to Fenris.

It wouldn’t even work since the Fire Oppa couldn’t reply to him in any way. It wasn’t like he could use