City of Fallen Souls: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 3) by Jez Cajiao (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📕

I grimaced and straightened up, banishing the concerns from my mind, I had more pressing things to worry about right now.

“Venta!” I said, turning back to her, and she jumped as I glared at her.

“Yes… my lord?” she said hesitantly.

“Bane said you were on the lookout for the Legion scouts… why, and who told you?” I asked.

“I… Skyking said we were to watch out for them, that they were up to something, and that they had to be stopped. Said the Legion was the one killing the kids, said they were ruled by vampires and monsters in the Enclave.”

“Skyking?” I asked, and she nodded jerkily, making me realize just how many bird-like mannerisms she and Amaat had. Her head was constantly on the move, focusing on me with one eye, then the other, then both, then scouting the room out.

“He’s the ruler of the Harpies,” she said quickly, “He’s our…their king.”

“And he sent you all out to look for the Legion. Any members of the Legion, or just those three?”

“Both! His officers described the three, but said we were to report any sightings of the Legion to them… there were more of my group up above. You know that, don’t you?” she asked suddenly, and the entire room seemed to stiffen.

“Explain,” I commanded her, and she pointed upward with one black claw.

“There were two on overwatch; there always are. One followed the three women, but the other would have been up there. She will have seen my group disappearing around here, even if she didn’t see the fight…”

“Fuck!” I snapped out, looking around the room. “Okay, we need to be ready, people! We can’t leave here, not yet, but it sounds like we’re going to get company unless we take them down quick! Barrett, get them ready,” I ordered, nodding to Lydia’s squad as I gestured to Tang, Amaat, and Venta, while Barrett started organizing our remaining people.

“Tang, I know you’re a scout; how good are you at stealth?” I asked him outright.

“Want me to steal your teeth?” he grinned at me.

“Hah, no… I want a lookout set up on the building across from us. Have you got any spells?” I asked, and he shook his head. “Well, fuck.” He reached into a small Bag of Holding and pulled out a vial, which he held up, grinning.

“I do have a smoke vial, though.” I glanced at it, realizing that it was actually two vials melded into one, one side filled with bright yellow, and the other with a noxious green tint. “What does it do?” I asked.

“When I break it, it makes a cloud of smoke and stuns most that breathe it in for a few seconds.”

“Right. Get up there, into that building. I want you to watch over us, and if they come to attack, smoke bomb them, then flank them.” I pointed out of the window to a nearby taller building, and he nodded, turning and slipping out of the door.

“Venta, I guess it’s time to roll the dice,” I said, shaking my head. “Get up there and eliminate the Harpies’ overwatch, Amaat. Chase her, make it look like she’s escaping, and then the pair of you kill anyone up there that’s watching us. If you get into trouble, lead them back down here, and we’ll be waiting with spells and arrows.” They both nodded, breaking away to speak quickly and confirm what they’d do between them.

As they took off, flying up to the trapdoor and getting ready, I pulled Barrett to the side, and we talked quickly, I outlined the orders I’d given, and he sent Miren, Arrin, and Stephanos up onto the walkway that led to the Trapdoor. All three were ready to either head up or give cover down here, as needed.

“Bane.” I said, and a second later, he was by my side. “I need you up there.” I said, gesturing to the roof. “I need you on watch, ready to protect the archers. I need you to have our back.”

“Always,” he said, vanishing as quickly as he had shown up.

My eyes found their way to Barrett and Jian, just as the others were getting into position, and I couldn’t help but grin.

I fucking loved this shit. My heart was pounding, and I had no idea if we were about to be attacked, or if I was just being paranoid, but the three of us stood in the middle of the room, ready for whatever was coming.

Venta and Amaat flew out of the trap door suddenly, and I squashed my second thoughts about whether I could trust her or not. It was time to toss the dice…

I thought back to the character in my favorite books who’d loved to say that, and I grinned as I admired my chosen weapon. I’d tried the naginata with him in mind, and damn, it’d been like I’d spent my life waiting for it. It just fit me: the reach, the power, the utter batshit insanity of a giant murderstick with a fucking sword on the end…

I fucking loved it.

I looked at Barrett and Jian again, catching the same mix of emotions in each other’s faces, and I nodded as Jian gestured to the door. He walked over to it, sheathing one of his scythes, and slowly pulled it open, looking back to me. I nodded again, and he peered out, staring up into the sky for long seconds before he froze. He moved quickly, stepping outside into the alley and looking up into the rain that had begun to fall over the last few minutes. Covering his eyes and staring, it didn’t take long before he was ducking back in.

“They’re coming, and they’re bringing friends,” he said, and Barrett called out immediately.

“Get ready!”

Jian moved back into the alleyway, staring upwards and counting quickly before ducking back inside.

“Amaat is leading at least a dozen back here. I couldn’t see Venta.”

“Get ready to give Amaat some support!” I shouted up, and Arrin, Stephanos, and Miren all