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

him - though it would only be the first time for Emily - and in himself for holding out a shred of hope that she hadn’t always intended on stabbing him in the back.

With a world-weary sigh, Jacob shook his head and lifted his gaze to meet hers. Did she always have those dead eyes? Or was he just better at reading people now?

There was nothing behind them, no warmth or emotion. Her face was twisted up into a smile but he could see the way she held her dagger a little too tightly.

So that was it. She had no other weapon then and with such a pitiful weapon she would need to get close to use it to any effect.

Very close.

“Jakey, sweetums? You know I don’t like it when you go off into your own world like that!” she cried, quickening her pace.

I’m so tired of this, he thought as he waited for her to get close enough to strike at his heart. He kept his shield close, knowing he would need to time it perfectly if she struck to bat the weapon aside and execute a riposte.

His other arm, holding his [Mace], he let spread wide in a welcoming gesture. He was practically inviting her to stab him.

She came in like she was going to hug him. Emily even said something, though Jacob wasn’t paying attention to her words anymore. He watched the telltale sign of her impending betrayal.

The tendons on the back of her hand stood out starkly and she came into the “hug” a little too fast. But aside from that, she seemed genuinely to want to embrace him. She was good.

Her knife flashed out, but Jacob was prepared. Out swept his [Plank Shield] and her arm went wide.

Emily’s eyes were as round as saucers. Her betrayal had been reversed. For a brief moment, she was stunned. Jacob had set her up for a perfect riposte. For once, Emily had not disappointed him.

“If I ever see you again,” Jacob said, already twisting and pivoting on one foot, raising his [Mace] as it whipped around at her head. “I will kill you.”

His words rang out just as his [Mace] connected with her head. He shut his eyes against the scene and Emily dropped to her knees bonelessly.

She was dead before she ever hit the ground. Her body broke apart into fiery red motes and she was sent back to her shard.

Dark spirit Emily Cooper was vanquished.

Awarded 5,448 Souls.

Dying at a Crossing was much less dangerous than dying while invading another’s shard. Only a portion of Souls were dropped at a Crossing. A nod, perhaps, to the fact that Crossings could not be wholly avoided.

Invading was a choice. Emily had lost all of her Souls.

As the blood-red vestiges of Emily’s aura vanished, Jacob couldn’t help but feel like the whole affair was a little cathartic.

While he doubted he would ever be able to fathom why she wanted to betray him, at least he had some closure.

Jacob walked the quiet, deserted halls back to the Pyre to spend his hard-earned Souls. They would make a massive leap in his power. Amassing the 10,828 Souls he now possessed had taken him most of the day.

And, he had to admit, seeing Emily again had somehow left him feeling drained. As much as he didn’t want to stay in the area any longer, since it would likely invite further invasions, he needed to spend his Souls and rest.

Time he would need to make up. But at least at the Pyre, he would be safe. From invasions and monsters both.

The upside was, he now had a sizeable amount of Souls. Enough to splurge on some much-needed parameter reinforcement.

Instead of being ahead, he was surely behind the frontrunners now. Not for the first time he wondered if he spent too long there grinding out Souls. As a side effect, he received a few extra items as well. Rare items that he would need later on, so having a few early would only stack the odds in his favor.

As he pushed open the rough plank door to the Pyre room, he wondered if his newfound strength would let him rush through the Asylum of Silent Sorrows. If he could press on quickly through the asylum he could make it back into the lead.

Both areas were major obstacles for most players. Jacob had barely been able to get past the Corpse Garden last time and he had help. Many others had gotten stuck in the asylum, lost in the labyrinthine passages, and the terrifying monsters that lurked its silent halls.

“Back so soon?” asked Brother Aker. “My, you have really put that whip through the wringer, haven’t you, brother?”

“Indeed I have,” Jacob said with a relieved smile, as the soothing warmth of the Pyre washed away his weariness and fatigue.

That purchase and the happenstance of wearing the ring at the right time had made dealing with the Graceful Penitents a trivial matter. Despite the high cost of the whip, it more than paid for itself many times over.

“Well, if you want another one, I’ve got plenty. Looks like yours is about ready to snap in half.”

A glance at the durability of the [Bladed Whip] confirmed Brother Aker’s words. He barely had 50 durability left. He wasn’t used to such low levels of durability and hadn’t thought to check it.

I guess it was a good thing I came back and didn’t try to press on.

Staring into the Pyre, Jacob extended his hand to the snoozing Fire Oppa. He woke to Jacob’s touch so quickly that he doubted the little guy was actually asleep at all.

Each parameter reinforcement still cost under 1,000 Souls, except for the 9th increase, letting Jacob boost his power considerably more than any other player should have access to at the moment. Especially not so far back as he was.

When he was playing his first time through, he narrowly made it out of the Stalking Woods at Level 6. This time, he was going to