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

coral and the strange shapes that decades upon decades of slowly dripping water made on stone.

It was the first time he smiled in that damnable place that wasn’t followed by a murderous spree. Jacob reached his hand over the cold pile of ashes and reignited the Pyre.

Before the Fire Oppa could crawl out from the ashes, Jacob cupped his hands and focused on Kim’s face.

Not the one he remembered from her last moments but the smiling face from his dream. A ruby flame blossomed in his cupped palms and he tipped his hand so it rolled down into the growing Pyre.

It struck the gathering flames and caused the whole thing to rush up, scorching the low ceiling.

Pyre Ignited.

Your respawn location has been set to the Drowned Halls (West).

The Fire Oppa stokes the embers of your conviction.

Health, Stamina, Ampoules and Spell Gems restored.

You Kindle the Pyre.

“That was quick, four down, two to go,” the Fire Oppa said. Seeing Jacob’s determined face, he chuckled. “I take it you wish to press on.” The Fire Oppa raised his head proudly and though Jacob sat cross-legged in front of the fire in a dank briny hole underground, he addressed Jacob as if they were in the court of a king. “How might I assist you?”

Even though he killed a host of various drowned men and women, his total Souls were still less than a quarter of what he had lost in the Desecrated Catacombs. With a total of 4,350 Souls, he could only afford a single parameter reinforcement.

He increased his TMP to 10. It wouldn’t be enough to wear the [Elite Knight’s Helm] but it was a step toward it. He would still be left with 5 Guilt in any case.

The only way to keep his lower Guilt tier would be to remove his [Mace] as part of his loadout.

He would be able to use the [Elite Knight’s Gauntlets] if he did that, but it would mean losing a potentially valuable weapon. And he didn’t know enough of the area to take that risk.

Just because one type of monster was resistant to blunt damage didn’t mean that there would be one that was weak to it.

Jacob took a look over his parameters once more.

[Status]

Jacob Windsor

Covenant: None

Race: Kemora - Fae-touched (Human/Fairy)

Level: 21

Health: 132

Stamina: 94

Anima: 0

Souls: 1,493

Required Souls: 3,122

 

Parameters

VIT: 4

AGI: 8

END: 7

TMP: 10

STR: 10

DEX: 10

INT: 8

FTH: 3

Curse: Fractured Sight

Curse Level: 1

 

Spell Gem: Heat Blade (3/3)

Considering the sorry state of his armor, Jacob deposited it into his [Repair Kit] and gingerly set it within the Pyre.

It would take many more uses of the kit to make the relatively high cost worth it but without any merchants since the Steps of Penance, he would have been forced to detour to Hollow Dreams or else suffer broken equipment.

Neither were good choices.

Repairing everything took more than he expected, 323 Souls, but several items were in a very poor state. He was fast approaching the point where each parameter was harder and harder to reinforce.

After fixing his gear up to full durability he was about to leave when he remembered the 3 [Souls of a Wandering Knight] he picked up in the Desecrated Catacombs on his way out.

Never managed to find many of these. If they’re anything like the Soul of a Loving Father they aren’t worth much. Still, better check just to be sure.

Jacob took the first shimmering white wisp in his hand and crushed it, infusing the Souls held within into his body. His eyes shot open at the staggering number.

You use [Soul of a Wandering Knight].

Awarded 1,250 Souls.

Without hesitation he popped the remaining 2, granting him another 2,500 Souls for a total of 4,920. It was enough to bring Jacob’s TMP up to 11.

[Status]

Jacob Windsor

Covenant: None

Race: Kemora - Fae-touched (Human/Fairy)

Level: 22

Health: 132

Stamina: 94

Anima: 0

Souls: 1,798

Required Souls: 3,396

 

Parameters

VIT: 4

AGI: 8

END: 7

TMP: 11

STR: 10

DEX: 10

INT: 8

FTH: 3

Curse: Fractured Sight

Curse Level: 1

 

Spell Gem: Heat Blade (3/3)

Jacob wasted no time in swapping his current helm out for the elite variant.

The difference didn’t seem like much at first glance but the overall protection was nearly doubled from what he was used to.

Since most enemies didn’t use a single type of damage, with many using multiple types in the same swing at times, the overall protection was a valuable metric.

Even if it meant he only took 10 less damage from a blunt hit. If that attack was both blunt and fire damage he would take 25 less damage from the single hit. Though, considering the area, it was more likely to be chaos or water.

Two elements that the flimsier [Knight’s Helm] didn’t have any protection against. Somewhat more importantly to Jacob, was the working visor. He reached up and flicked the grated plate down to guard his face.

The helm was valuable for that alone. Dealing with people and not giving away any facial expressions was hard. An intact helm would help him since he had such an “honest face” as Kim used to tease.

With his [Elite Knight’s Helm] on, his Guilt jumped up 10 but with the effect of his [Ring of Blameless Guilt], it dropped to 5. At 11 TMP, that placed his Guilt at 45%. Still well within Tier 2.

He was getting used to the speed increase over his previously heavier Guilt tier back on Earth. It was amazing how much lighter and nimbler he could be.

He still had a lone [Dull Spark] and figured he should spend it. As much as he wanted to upgrade his [Longsword], he was all too keenly aware of his own frailty.

Instead, he spent the [Dull Spark] on getting his [Elite Knight’s Helm] to +1.

[Equipment Reinforcement]

Elite Knight's Helm [Helm] -> Elite Knight's Helm [Helm] +1

Cost: 600 Souls 

Physical Protection: 60 -> 72

Blunt: 20 -> 24

Slashing: 20 -> 24

Piercing: 20 -> 24

 

Magical Protection: 50 -> 60

Arcane: 15 -> 18

Fire: 15 -> 18

Water: 5 -> 6

Earth: 5 -> 6

Harmony: 5 -> 6

Chaos: 5 -> 6

 

Resistances

Bleed: 15 -> 18

Poison: 8 -> 9

Curse: 0 -> 0

Stability: 15 -> 18

Durability: 600/600 -> 650/650

Guilt: 4 -> 4

He shouldn’t have been surprised by the