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

Even if he died, despite the horrible gauntlet it would be to return, he knew the way now. Next time he would do his best not to trigger the Skeletal Beast. While the monster took care of the players, it was a severe threat now.

Just as the Skeletal Beast was stomping away, Jacob hopped on the ladder. He gripped the vertical bars of the ladder tightly and set his boots against the outside of the same bars.

Taking a deep breath, Jacob relaxed his grip and started to slide down at an alarming pace. Modifying his grip and the pressure of his boots he was able to control his descent so that he touched the ground just as the beast left the room, none the wiser.

He took a moment to shake out his overheated hands before he took the southern exit to the room. With any luck, he could snag a few items before he ran into the Skeletal Beast.

The goal would be to run it straight toward the door at the northern end of the chamber then dive aside and hope he was fast enough not to be caught between the two deadly titans.

Tall decorated pillars marched along the middle of the spacious hall with bright flames set in the hollows of the pillars, casting long shadows in each direction. It would not have been out of place in a dwarven hall, or in any one of the many reboots to the Tolkien VR franchise.

Jacob managed to spot an azure wisp and raced for it hovering over the armored body of knight. He crept to it as quickly and quietly as he could, very aware that the beast was probably just around the bend.

It wasn’t the golden armor in the room filled with treasure, but it had its own charm with blue cloth, ridged steel plate, fine chainmail, and sturdy leather.

He managed to kneel and touch the wisp just as the gleam of bone caught his eye. The beast saw him, or sensed him – not that it mattered – and immediately barreled straight at him.

You gain [Elite Knight Helm].

You gain [Elite Knight Armor].

You gain [Elite Knight Leggings].

You gain [Elite Knight Gauntlets].

You gain [Ring of Boundless Fury].

You gain [Cloven Phoenix Tree Crest Shield].

Swiping his item notifications aside, Jacob ran for all he was worth, trying to keep close to the center of the hallway. Predictably, the beast charged straight through the pillars instead of weaving around them. The floor shook as it crashed into each of the stone supports, slowing it just enough that Jacob could keep ahead of its many new swiping claws.

“Now, Kim!” Jacob cried as he passed between the two ladders.

If he was going to die, it would be here. The room ahead was large, like a purpose-built arena it was wide and had no obstructions save for the two ladders.

The Skeletal Beast promptly charged into the room. Jacob was halfway to the large stone doors when an explosion warmed his back. Looking over his shoulder, not daring to stop or even slow, he saw another [Firebomb] explode on the Skeletal Beast’s back.

It didn’t hurt it, but it distracted it enough that it was torn between chasing Jacob and looking around for the new threat. “Thanks, Kim,” he said, even though there was no way she could hear him at that distance.

The pressure in the room dropped, Jacob’s ears popped and a great sucking wind pulled him toward the stone doors that were beginning to swing inward. If all went according to plan, he could get in while the opening was still small and dive aside to avoid the worst of whatever was to come.

Obviously, nothing ever goes according to plan.

Just as Jacob neared the doors, the Skeletal Beast lashed out. He was only brushed but the blow had staggering power behind it, enough to send him flying into the darkness ahead.

Jacob hit the ground in a tumble, his armor making enough of a racket to wake the dead. And whatever horrible monster they just unsealed.

Scrambling about in the dark, Jacob heard the Skeletal Beast break through the doors, shattering them with colossal strength. Debris rained everywhere, by some stroke of luck Jacob avoided getting crushed by tons of broken stone.

He was up on his feet rushing to the rear of the half-circle chamber. A figure stood there, tall and imperious. It wielded the same large hammer as it had on the carvings on the now-broken door.

Ducking to the side, Jacob veered around the suit of immobile armor and to the small altar behind. He spotted the ring immediately, an amazingly intricate band of gold and silver threads with a single cracked black diamond at its center.

Jacob reached for it, only to have his arm crushed beneath the grip of the knight that wasn’t actually just a suit of armor at all. He screamed as his bones turned to powder under the knight’s strength.

That would have been the end for Jacob if the Skeletal Beast didn’t collide with the knight and distract it. With the edges of his vision rapidly darkening, Jacob reached his other hand forward and grabbed the ring.

You gain [Ring of Broken Vows].

At that point, he thought he would be killed. But to his surprise the two ferocious beasts battled it out, giving Jacob enough time to not only flee the chamber but snag three more rings on the way out.

You gain [Ring of Calamitous Intent].

You gain [Ring of Covetous Breath].

You gain [Ring of Opportunity].

By the time Jacob left the room, Kim was already sprinting toward it. Jacob pulled her aside to stop her from running to her death. She resisted long enough to see his ruined arm, the metal gauntlet crushed like a tin can around his forearm.

She gasped staring in horrified shock at it. “Your arm… it looks like a smashed can of tomato chunks.”

Releasing her with his free hand, Jacob took out a [Cinder Ampoule] and restored his Health. The armor