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

nothing at the death of its summoner. A brief silence followed as the Party caught their breath.

"That wasn't so bad," Atlas said, wiping a bit of sweat from his brow. "Now what?" The Mage Smith pulled the poem out of his pocket and squinted to make out the words in the darkness.

“The Shaman should have a key,” Sharon pointed out, leaning over to inspect the corpse. She backed away immediately, pinching her nose and wrinkling her face. “These things smell terrible.”

Garath walked past Sharon to look as well. Hanging around its neck was a silver chain, tucked into its dark leather chest armor. With one fluffy little paw, Garath swiped at the necklace a few times until he managed to pull it out from under the tight-fitting leather. Sure enough, a large skeleton key was attached.

*The key is here, but let’s take the gear off his body first. Not it?* Garath said, moving around the corpse to see what else the Necro-Shaman may have that would be worth taking.

Atlas didn’t seem to have a problem playing around with the carcass and volunteered to do just that. While he did, Auto, Sharon, and Garath moved back to the massacre they’d enacted between the towers to collect the Mana Crystals hovering above the bodies they’d left there and anything else they thought might be useful. The crossbows may come in handy, but there was nothing left of the ones that had been in the tower that Daisy destroyed - so Auto shifted into his natural form and made his way up the other tower, pocketed the three crossbows and three daggers, and then met up with the rest of the Party standing near the corpse of the Necro-Shaman.

On the ground, between Atlas and the body of the gnoll magic-user, four pieces of equipment were laid out for everyone to take a look at. Garath walked from one to the next, inspecting each as he went.

Necro-Shaman Shaft

Attack Damage: 26-32

Attack Speed: 2.625

DPS (damage per second): 11.048

Durability: 9/30

Item Score: 56

Two-handed weapon

Type: Staff

Quality: Above Average

Rarity: Uncommon

Spell Targeting Assistance: Basic

+30 Wisdom

+30 Vitality

Gains attack damage +1 for each victim sacrificed to power the user’s spells

***Found in the place where the forgotten stay.

Item Requirements:

Level: 1

Class: Necro-Shaman

Dark Leather Leggings

Raiment Slot: Legs

Armor: +19

Magic Resistance: 0%

Durability: 3/10

Item Score: 44

Defense Rating: 19

Type: Leather Armor

Quality: Average

Rarity: Common

***Found in the place where the forgotten stay.

Item Requirements:

Level:1

Dark Leather Chest Guard

Raiment Slot: Chest

Armor: +29

Magic Resistance: 0%

Durability: 2/12

Item Score: 51

Defense Rating: 29

Type: Leather Armor

Quality: Average

Rarity: Common

***Found in the place where the forgotten stay.

Item Requirements:

Level:1

Gnoll Plumage

Raiment Slot: Head

Armor: +4

Magic Resistance: +10%

Durability: 19/20

Item Score: 68

Defense Rating: 40

Type: Cloth Armor

Quality: Average

Rarity: Common

+10 Wisdom

+10 Vitality

+5 Regeneration

-13% visual range

Item Requirements:

Level: 15

Class: Necro-Shaman

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot they’d be able to do with the loot from the Necro-Shaman. But Garath placed it in his Items panel, with a little help from Atlas. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever find a use for the Class-specific gear, but maybe he’d be able to disenchant them or something down the road.

With the looting complete, discussion moved to the key still hanging loosely on a chain around the Necro-Shaman’s neck. The poem had been unclear on exactly what would happen with the key, or who would need to go through the door, or what door it had even been talking about. With nothing else to go on, Atlas pulled on the chain and it broke free from the gnoll’s neck. In response, they all received a notification.

The first Necro-Shaman Key has been accepted.

One of you must use it to pass through the door in the next 30 seconds.

For each Key that reaches its expiration here, one member of your Party will be chosen at random to stay in Chuchusullay permanently.

When all five Keys have either been used to open a door or allowed to expire, some, if not all, are allowed to retire.

When Garath dismissed the prompt obscuring his vision, he saw that a door had appeared in the time it took him to read the system message. It was standing free of any building and made of cracked, worn wood. As everyone finished reading, they all looked at each other.

“I’m going first, aren’t I?” Atlas asked. “The consequence for letting a key expire is too severe to even consider. One of us is going to have to go, and I think I’m the best option. Sadly.”

*I think you’re right,* Garath told him gravely. *Sorry, man. Once you’re inside, try to use the Party communication channel to keep in touch with us. Like the poem said though, be quiet and stay low.*

“Alright,” Atlas replied, looking resigned as he pulled the key off the chain and approached the doorway. “Shit… here goes nothing.”

The Mage Smith slid the key into the lock, turned it, and twisted the handle. With a nervous glance back at the Party, he pushed it open. Garath craned his neck to see if he could get a look at what was beyond, but all he saw was blackness. A heavy fog rolled out in limb-like tendrils at ground level. Atlas took a deep breath and walked through the open door. As soon as he crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut behind him and the lock clicked back into place. Another notification appeared in Garath’s mind’s eye.

1 of 5 Keys have unlocked a door, a boost you receive will help you through the next four.

When he dismissed the prompt, Garath noticed a new buff icon next to his Healthbar, like a tiny version of a gnoll’s head with bones forming an X behind it. He willed more information to appear and read the information provided.

The Forgotten’s Blessing (1): +20% to all damage dealt, -20% to all damage received. The Forgotten’s Blessing will remain active for the remainder of your time in Chuchusullay.

*Slick buff,* Auto commented on the Party channel.

*No doubt,* Garath agreed.

“What do we do now?” Sharon asked.

Garath ignored her for the moment. *Atlas? Can you hear me?*

There was no response, so he turned to Sharon. *It’s safe to