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

Taking Auto’s Large form into account, Garath knew that the Chimerist would take a reduced 18 damage per second between his Plague and Blight. At that rate, it would take quite a while to bring down the increasingly angry Man-Bear beneath him. Not going anywhere soon, Garath stole a glance to check Auto’s Healthbar, and a giddy smile stretched across his face.

Though Handsome’s Mana Regeneration rate was nowhere near that of his Summoner, the ugly winged demon had apparently regained enough of his magical energy while riding Maimon’s face like a bucking bronco that he was able to get back in the fight. While Garath was reviewing Auto’s debuffs, a second stack of Q.E. was added to the list, refreshing the duration of Handsome’s spell and doubling the damage Auto would take every second from the single-target, stackable DoT. Things were coming together, and Garath felt better about his chances.

Until Auto triggered a BeastScape transformation.

Whatever new mutant animal the Chimerist was turning into, it was much smaller than his Man-Bear form, Garath reasoned, because the iron grip he’d had around Auto’s neck went suddenly slack. Garath’s Chuck Taylors made contact with the infield dirt for the first time in several painfully long seconds when Auto’s transformation came to an end.

In a flash, a stout quadruped with a thick orange coat, a fluffy tail tipped with a white flag, and a mouth so full of sharp pointed teeth that Garath wasn’t even sure how they all fit, whirled around to face him with a snarl. The new form was quite a bit smaller than the Man-Bear, but still bore a resemblance, leading Garath to believe it was probably still a bear hybrid, perhaps mixed with a fox. Auto began another transformation immediately after freeing himself of Garath’s unwanted hug. But before he finished the shift, Bill came barreling in from right field with an open mouth and violent intentions.

The Fel Hound wrapped it’s maw around Auto’s left foreleg and shook his head viciously, tearing into the muscle while the Chimerist swelled back into the bipedal Man-Bear hybrid form. In less than a second, Bill was hanging in the air with Auto’s arm still clenched between his teeth.

Garath gathered his Mana, channeling it into the 3 second cast of Haunt. Handsome, once again out of Mana after applying a third stack of Q.E. to the Chimerist, flapped his skin-and-bone wings - flying toward the Man-Bear with reckless abandon. Auto’s Healthbar showed that he was under 30% and dropping rapidly, but there was a reason he had chosen the hybrid of human and bear.

With a show of incredible Strength, Auto ended Bill’s life by lifting the arm the hound was chewing on and slashing at the demon-dog with the other. The savage attack opened Bill’s neck, hot gooey blood cascaded to the ground and his limp body fell to the ground. Handsome reached Auto’s melee range, flying toward his head in an ill-advised attempt to harass him like he had Maimon. Auto jumped at the demon and slashed, spilling Handsome’s intestines onto the infield. Handsome joined Bill, the Dreadreaver, and Sharon on Auto’s growing list of kills, leaving the Necrologist alone to face his friend.

A white specter flew from Garath’s chest and into Auto as he charged. The blood of his demons was still dripping from the Chimerist’s claws and face. The visage was startling, and panic crept up his spine.

Indecision during battle is the easiest way to lose. Garath knew that, and despite his analytical side screaming at him to flee, he knew he couldn’t get far enough from Auto even if he’d had more time. A glance at Auto’s Healthbar revealed that the Chimerist, only a few feet away now, had less than 10% of his maximum HP. Garath wouldn’t be able to complete a long spell cast before Auto closed to melee range, and adding more damage-over-time wouldn’t help much if Garath took a few hits like those that had just obliterated his demons.

There was only one thing left for him to do. Praying to Satan for a critical hit, Garath poured Mana into casting Death Bolt. The one-second cast time felt like an eternity as Garath watched, almost as if in slow motion, as Auto’s clawed hands rose for an attack. Auto’s right hand came down as the orb of black energy shot out from between Garath’s raised staff and outstretched hand. Both attacks landed simultaneously.

The Death Bolt connected with Auto’s neck, just under where Garath had been aiming and the Chimerist’s Healthbar dropped to below 5% and continued to drop from the damage-over-time effects already in place. Auto’s right hand came down against Garath’s neck, followed shortly by a left that connected with the top of the Necrologist’s head, finding purchase and ripping away a sizeable chunk of skin from his face

The pain felt peripheral to the Necrologist. His body coursed with adrenaline. Even with parts of his face missing, his Healthbar empty, and soaked in blood and entrails, Garath still felt pretty.

And then, he was standing between Sharon and Maimon just outside the system-approved arena.

All members of your Party have died. You have lost the duel.

Chapter Fifteen – Things are Coming Together

Maimon and Garath had buried the hatchet after the duel, each feeling much better after sating their testosterone-fueled rage. Garath didn’t see the two of them becoming bosom companions by any stretch of the imagination, but they’d shaken hands and agreed to let bygones be bygones. With that out of the way, the duelers and their handful of spectators followed Garath back to his cliff top and made preparations for the dinner that the Necrologist had promised everyone.

The unmistakable smell of campfire blended with the tang of the ocean, creating a scent that reminded Garath of summer. It brought back memories of late nights telling stories as a Boy Scout and of the friends he shared his youth with. The delightful scent and fond nostalgia were a welcome