Inflame (The Completionist Chronicles Book 6) by Dakota Krout (best romantic novels in english TXT) 📕

Elves began to panic and the Dwarves began to chuckle expectantly. Joe looked down, checking the ground for any signs that the ritual was affecting the plant life in the area. Everything appeared to be normal until he swiped his hand across the grass.

The small green blades moved along with his hand, fluttering into the air and leaving a streak of dirt on the ground where he had touched. All of the weeds in the area had lost their root system, and someone had noticed Joe motion. “Bro! Dudes and Dudettes! Magic Bro Joe did it! Cha~a~arge!”

His new moniker was taken up as a war cry, which made Joe’s teeth ache, but he wasn't about to tell three-hundred-pound Dwarves coated in two hundred pounds of metal armor and carrying eighty pound weapons to stop… much of anything, really. He was just going to go ahead and let the Legion call him whatever they wanted to; so long as it kept them smiling at him.

The Dwarves flowed around Joe as if he were a rock in the center of a river, realizing that the human’s part had been played. He followed along, as there was nothing left for him to do here; the ritual was self-sustaining, and he really wanted to see the Guardian of this small fortress. The hard work was being done by his Dwarven comrades, and the only time he saw an Elf was when it was peeking down from a rooftop to send a deadly weapon or effect toward him… or laying on the ground, already sent to respawn.

A thunderous *crash* rang out as Havoc made his glorious return to the battlefield, destroying the portcullis and wooden gate at the front of the small fort with a single attack and a scream of frustration. “She got away! Abyss it, Francine! Legion! Slaughter everyone; tear this place down to the smallest stone! Leave only a single survivor so that they can spread the truth that their Commander happily abandons them when a single titled Noble arrives on the scene! They fear one? Wait until the Legion marches as a whole!”

Lord of Slaughter II has taken effect! The leader of the enemy troops in the area has abandoned their post. None can stand against you, and few will even try! All original effects increased by 5%. Elven morale has hit its lowest point. There's a 50% chance that your enemies will flee before you!

Joe allowed the Dwarves to go in first, as their physical stats and chances of survival were much higher than his own. He did not even have a proper weapon yet, since Havoc had said they would need to ‘visit a friend of his’ before they could find something ‘just right’. Joe took a moment to check his status sheet, though he knew that not much had changed.

Name: Joe ‘Tatum’s Chosen Legend’ Class: Reductionist

Profession I: Arcanologist (Max)

Profession II: Ritualistic Alchemist (1/20)

Profession III: None

Character Level: 19 Exp: 192,704 Exp to next level: 17,296

Rituarchitect Level: 10 Exp: 45,000 Exp debt: 9,600

Reductionist Level: 0 Exp: 476 Exp to next level: 524

Hit Points: 1,573/1,573

Mana: 1,336/2,152

Mana regen: 44.55/sec

Stamina: 898/1337

Stamina regen: 6.36/sec

Characteristic: Raw score

Strength: 129

Dexterity: 129

Constitution: 125

Intelligence: 138

Wisdom: 118

Dark Charisma: 80

Perception: 118

Luck: 60

Karmic Luck: 8

Joe was pulled from his introspection by a metal-clad hand grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around. He came face-to-face with Havoc; he had never seen the Dwarf have such a red face. He couldn't be sure, but Joe was almost positive that the Dwarf was close to weeping. However, he would never be able to tell behind those thick, reflective goggles the Dwarf wore at all times. Havoc was breathing heavily, gripping on to Joe so tightly that his Exquisite Shell was taking damage and starting to crack.

“If you ever… and I mean ever… run into Francine… you kill her, Joe. You do everything you can to kill her immediately.” Havoc’s voice was ragged as he shook his mentee. “You remember this, human. If by some terrible chance, those Elves win this war, and Francine is not back by my side… all you will find remaining of me or my research lab is a crater. I will be with her, one way or another.”

Mandatory Quest gained!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Quest gained: Living Revenge of the Fallen. Major General Havoc has issued a mandatory quest for you. He believes that the Elven Mage known as ‘Elfreeda’ is his lost ‘Francine’. Although there is no way for him to prove this, there are characteristics that lead him to believe that slaying this Elf would bring ‘Francine’ back to the Dwarven Oligarchy. If you encounter the Elf ‘Elfreeda’ and do not make an attempt on her life, Havoc will have nothing to do with you from that point forward. Rewards: Maximum reputation gained with Havoc. Potential asset for the Dwarven Oligarchy. Failure: Havoc destroys himself and everything that he can take with him.

Joe felt a pounding headache coming on. “I knew that I should not have read that quest right now. I abyssal knew it, and did it anyway.”

Havoc entered the fortress, practically dragging Joe along with him. The Dwarves that had entered beforehand seem to have run into a stalemate, not able to move forward, not able to retreat without being attacked. The Elves were hurling insults as barbed as their arrows, “Ay, it's getting pretty friggin’ short out there.”

“If you were wicked smart like we ah’, you'd go hang out in your own place! We cannot live under the same sky!”

“Look at these chowdaheads; they don't know the immensity of heaven an’ earth! Beat it in the amount of time it takes an incense stick to burn, or we’re gonna bust ya down!”

“It'll take a whole lotta time to describe what I'm going to do to ya, but it's going to happen in an instant, shorty!”

Havoc's goggles reflected the sight in front of him, though Joe could have sworn that the reflection was on fire. “Get those automatons up here! I can't do everything for you, ya lazy metal-shelled layabouts!