The Tree of Ascension: A LitRPG Apocalypse (Peril's Prodigy Book 2) by Craig Kobayashi (ebook reader 7 inch TXT) 📕

certainly not against seasoned PvP healers, but Garath had a pretty good feeling that the late-game target swap would do the trick in this case.

Garath realized that Sharon had probably never been in a fight in her life, let alone a two-on-two system-sanctioned duel to the death featuring magic and Skills. Not that he had either, to be fair. But PvP had always been Garath’s true love in gaming, and he’d spent hours reading about two-on-two strategy and even more time putting that into practice. Even if it was only from behind the keyboard, Garath was confident that his experience would lead them to victory.

“You girls ready?” Auto shouted from second base.

“Almost,” Garath replied over one shoulder. “Give me two seconds.” He turned back to Sharon, switching back to their Party communication channel. *Any last questions?*

*Just one,* Sharon said, folding her arms over her chest. *How in tarnation did I let you talk me into this?*

*You know exactly how in tarnation I talked you into this,* he told her with a toothy grin. *The same way I talk you into anything. I just keep asking until you say yes. Let’s do this.*

Sharon looked at him dubiously, but nodded. Garath felt butterflies growing in his stomach as the message appeared before him to confirm the terms of the duel.

Maimon has challenged you to a system-sanctioned duel.

You now have the option to Accept, Decline, or Alter Duel Parameters.

Duel Parameters

Team size: two

Item Restrictions: no consumable items

Form Restrictions: no flying forms

Victory Condition: death of opponents

*Note: ‘death’ does not occur in a system-sanctioned duel. Any party killed during the duel will be restored to their condition at the start of the duel.

Garath chose ‘Accept’ and another window opened to inform him that the duel would begin as soon as all participants accepted the terms. A check mark appeared next to each of their names as they agreed. Shortly after, both prompts disappeared, and a semi-transparent timer began counting down from 10 in the center of his vision.

9. . .

8. . .

*Let’s both go House Cat as soon as it starts,* Garath said.

6. . .

*But won’t we take more damage?* Sharon asked, concerned.

4. . .

*Well, yeah. But have you ever tried to catch a cat that’s hellbent on not being caught?* Garath asked with a grin. *Split up. I’ll go right, you go left.*

Sharon huffed so hard that her cough drop fell out of her mouth.

2. . .

1. . .

*If he goes after you, just run and I’ll try to slow him down until you can get your Roots off. If he goes after me, make sure to keep me within range to heal,* Garath spat the last second instruction as the timer hit zero.

Garath and Sharon immediately shifted into their House Cat forms and tore off in opposite directions. The fluffy white Necrologist sprinted toward third base while Sharon high-tailed it to first in her plain looking, grey tabby form. Auto triggered a BeastScape transformation off the bat as well, shifting and swelling into some kind of fucked up mutant bear-human hybrid. Garath guessed the form would be classified as ‘Large’ by the system and it was absolutely vicious looking. Garath triggered Inspect on his old friend, hoping to gain more information about this current bastardization of nature he was wearing.

Auto

Form: Bear/Human (size: Large)

Health: 2,450/2,450

Level: 29

Class: Chimerist

Mana: 0/0

Garath decided quickly that getting hit by the monstrosity charging his way was a bad idea. He’d fought more than his fair share of melee characters as a healer in his gaming days. He knew the drill—kite like his life depended on it. He just hoped his House Cat form was faster than Auto’s Man-Bear.

He paid the 142 Mana cost to activate Plague as he sprinted across the infield toward third base. In his human form, activating Plague would have cost an additional 60 Mana - though it may not make the difference between victory and defeat in small skirmishes, in a Player versus Player type battle, 60 Mana very well may be the deciding factor. With the battle underway, Garath turned to his right and channeled Mana into the 3 second cast of Haunt. His intent was to reduce the Man-Bear’s movement speed and stack more damage-over-time. Unfortunately, this wasn’t Auto’s first run in with a caster. The instant his transformation was complete, he took off like a lightning bolt shot out of a gun on an intercept course toward the Necrologist. The massive, muscled mutant was faster than Garath had guessed it would be–by a lot. He cancelled the casting of Haunt with a thought and felt the Mana that had been pooling into the spell flow back into his center as Auto entered melee range. He ducked under a wicked swipe from claw-tipped fingers and scampered beneath Auto, sprinting toward Maimon. The Preacher had deserted their starting location at second base and was now on the pitcher’s mound.

*Roots would be good right now!* Garath called to Sharon as his fluffy white legs sent up a cloud of infield dirt. He needed to gain some distance if he hoped to use any Skills that required a casting time. He was fast in his House Cat form, but Auto was faster. *Like right now!*

A green glow appeared in front of Sharon’s feline form, then grew in intensity for a single second. Two thorny tendrils sprang up from the ground between the pitcher’s mound and third base. The roots shot forward and wrapped tightly around Auto’s left ankle. The charging beast came to an abrupt stop. His right leg attempted to catch up with Garath, but the rest of his body was thrown to the ground.

Garath jumped on the opportunity to land a Haunt on the Man-Bear as it struggled to free itself. When the cast was complete, a white specter came screaming out of his fluffy white chest. The unearthly form covered the distance between the Necrologist and his target in a blink. It sunk into Auto, slowing his movements and adding another damage-over-time effect.

Maimon