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

Ampoule], but it hardly filled up a tenth of his Health.

It was enough that he was able to take off the [Ring of Boundless Fury] to prevent it from killing him again. But where were the healing effects of the Pyre?

Only then did Jacob notice the chill in the air. The Pyre’s flames were shrinking before his eyes.

The Fire Oppa appeared from the flames and whimpered suddenly, falling to the side and letting out a strangled whine of pain. The Pyre guttered and burned low as if it was never Kindled in the first place.

Checking his [Cinder Ampoules] confirmed it. Somehow, the Burgon Beast diminished the Pyre’s strength, despite being so far away at Journey’s End. Even undoing his improvements to it. Jacob rolled forward onto his knees and scooped up the Fire Oppa. His visor swung beneath his chin, still attached but hardly useable.

The Fire Oppa writhed and whimpered in pain. Jacob stared helplessly, infuriated that anything would hurt such a kind and loving soul. The flames that made up the Fire Oppa’s fur were dying.

Cupping his hands together beneath the Fire Oppa’s small body, Jacob shut his eyes and brought forth Kimberly’s face. The strength she gave him, the good times they had.

“Please don’t die on me,” Jacob said, his voice cracking with emotion.

Ruby flames flickered to life just before the Fire Oppa’s went out completely. Nothing happened for several heartbeats, but the Fire Oppa stopped whimpering. His breathing evened out.

The scarlet flames crawled all over the Fire Oppa, reigniting his flames and waking him up once more.

The Pyre surged with renewed strength, washing its welcoming heat over Jacob. Though he couldn’t help but notice it was significantly cooler still than before.

Pyre Ignited.

You stoke the embers of the Fire Oppa’s conviction.

Health, Stamina, Ampoules, and Spell Gems restored.

“You gave me quite the scare there,” Jacob admitted, giving the tiny Fire Oppa a hug.

“It has already extinguished two Pyres, I only just managed to flee before the Smog Rifts were snuffed out. It is angry. So very angry.” The Fire Oppa shivered, and Jacob lowered his hands into the Pyre’s flames. “Thank you.”

“Will this happen every time a Pyre is snuffed out?” Jacob asked.

“Yes. But I will be better prepared next time.”

Jacob stood and nodded grimly. He pulled out the [Duskblade]. “Do you know what this is? The Burgon Beast seems to fear it.”

The Fire Oppa looked at it, particularly at the red jewel in the hilt. “That is the Duskblade. The Burgon Beast has a reason to fear it. That is a sealing blade.

“It was used by the creature’s cruel former master to teach it ‘obedience.’ Houndmaster Vyrthis had a preternatural gift for inflicting pain. Take a closer look at the weapon. You will see what I mean.”

Jacob did just that.

[Duskblade]

Given to the great Houndmaster Vyrthis, this weapon has a history of bloodshed and cruelty dating back to its blood-soaked forging. As one of five sealing blades in existence, it is remarkably rare. Incapable of being upgraded, this blade drinks the Souls of those it has wounded, empowering itself while causing untold pain to the victim.

Over time the blade loses the gathered Souls, requiring a constant infusion of living Souls in order to keep its edge.

 

Physical Damage: 200

Type: Slashing, Piercing

Scaling: STR [B], INT [B]

Light Attack: 20 Stamina

Heavy Attack: 50 Stamina

 

Magical Damage: 100

Arcane: 0

Fire: 0

Water: 0

Earth: 0

Harmony: 100

Chaos: 0

 

Status Infliction

Bleed: 60

Poison: 0

 Curse: 0

Stagger: 40

Break: 10

Siphon: 500

 

Durability: 300/300

Guilt: 11

“Woah.”

The Fire Oppa looked up at Jacob. “It is a very rare weapon, as you likely know. Its bloody history is filled with subjugation, torture, and thievery. And it may just be one of the few weapons that could stand up to the Burgon Beast. Though your abhorrent mace did a surprisingly good job.”

“Vile Mace,” Jacob corrected, then shrugged. “But it’s destroyed, and I haven’t any Souls to repair it. The weapon has so much Guilt, I’m not sure I can use it.”

“That is one of its drawbacks,” the Fire Oppa said with a nod. “It drinks of its victims, and as it increases its power, it draws out their Guilt as well, adding to its own.”

Jacob looked over his parameters to see where he stood.

[Status]

Jacob Windsor

Covenant: Phoenix

Race: Kemora - Fae-touched (Human/Fairy)

Level: 26

Health: 132

Stamina: 94

Anima: 0

Souls: 0

Required Souls: 4,581

 

Parameters

VIT: 4

AGI: 8

END: 7

TMP: 15

STR: 10

DEX: 10

INT: 8

FTH: 3

Curse: Fractured Sight

Curse Level: 3

 

Spell Gem: Heat Blade (3/3)

Spell Gem: Flame Blade (1/1)

Tallying up his total Guilt, his jaw dropped. No wonder he was so horrendously slow. At tier 4 of Guilt, he was moving 50% slower and consuming half again as much Stamina as he should have been.

If he was going to put the [Duskblade] to work, he would need to lighten his Guilt. The Burgon Beast hit hard. Even if it was weakened, he was only going to get a few hits in without his….

“Dammit! It still has my shield!” Jacob cried as he attempted to summon the [Phoenix Tree Crest Shield] again and again to no avail. He didn’t even know that was possible.

“That may be a turn of luck in our favor,” Fenris said, pacing in the low-burning flames. “It cannot snuff out the phoenix tree’s crest so long as you remain alive. The shield will damage it from within, though how much I cannot say.”

Jacob took off his [Elite Knight’s Helm], storing it in his inventory. It was only a few points from being broken anyway. Without its 4 Guilt weighing him down, Jacob was pulled under the 75% threshold. He was back in the comfortable territory of tier 3 Guilt, though still much slower than he was recently used to.

Without a good shield, he would need to be even faster. His [Vile Mace] came off next, stored away since it was useless anyway. His [Longsword] was next, but still, he felt sluggish and weighed down.

Something didn’t add up. Then he remembered the affliction, Soulworn. The same one that Alec had. It prevented him from going back into Pyresouls Online, or at least he made it seem like he wouldn’t be able