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

survive Weslyn’s Watch and navigate the deadly Smog Rifts blind, came from the direct south while those from the Corpse Garden and Stalking Wood from the southeast.

Few people came belowground as Jacob did from the east.

Which gave him a unique approach as he entered the village from the east and would arrive at the Crossing closer to the center of town from a different direction than most.

He looked up at the Fire Oppa. “I’m going to hold onto my Souls until I can make that weapon.” Jacob reached forward and pet the Fire Oppa from his fiery ears to his thrashing, flaming tail. “One more Pyre,” he said with conviction. “You better be waiting for me at the Smog Rifts, Fire Oppa. Just a few days and I’ll be there to reignite your Pyre.”

The look of sweet love and adoration startled Jacob for a moment. He smiled at the tenderness, at the wash of warm emotions that came over him.

The Fire Oppa looked directly into his eyes and said, “I believe you, Jacob. Out of millions of humans, you were the only one who not only took me up on my request but have gone above and beyond in doing so. I look forward to seeing you in the Smog Rifts.”

Steeling his conviction once more, Jacob stood up and put on his helm. He had a merchant to see.

26

Jacob approached the Fog Gate in the distance slowly. Towering moss-covered brick walls of nearby buildings blocked the sun down this alley and created perfect hiding spots just above as the alleyway widened.

Just the perfect spots for Vacant Assassins to ambush him.

The problem was, being undead they had infinite patience. As Jacob drew nearer, he kept his shield raised and constantly glanced over his shoulder to make sure nothing was sneaking up behind him.

As he neared the edge of the closest building he could see a tattered leather pant leg. It wasn’t a good enough angle to see the Assassin itself, but he knew it was there.

Being undead, they didn’t even need to breathe which made them perfect ambushers.

Rather than fight two or more of them – because they were never alone – Jacob came around the corner in a diving roll. Tucking his shoulder he hit the dirt hard in a clattering roll. A blade swiped at the air where he would have been if he hadn’t fully committed to the roll.

As soon as he felt the ground beneath his feet, he sprang up and twisted about. His sword came flashing up in a sharp curving arc. Moon Crests the Horizon took off the Assassin’s left arm, a wickedly curved dagger held in its hand.

Jacob knew it would have two such blades. Even as his sword completed its arc he raised his shield to absorb the coming blow. The ring of steel echoed off the closed space around him.

The stench of the rotting Assassin assaulted him as Jacob pressed forward, shield-charging the first Assassin into a second Assassin behind the first.

A third Assassin burst out of the shadows. Too invested in the shield charge, he could do nothing as the Assassin stuck a blade in his hip and ripped it out with brutal efficiency.

Luckily, he moved too far for the wretched thing to get in a backstab but that cruel blow still took off a quarter of his Health. A few more points dribbled out as his blood flowed from the pulsing wound.

Pushing the pain away, Jacob continued his charge until both bodies crunched against the building on the opposite side of the alley. Stunned and disoriented, Jacob could have taken one of them out then and there.

He pivoted on his leading foot, leaned into the stacked pair of Assassins against the wall and rolled across their stunned bodies just in time for the third Assassin to lunge forward with both daggers out.

They plunged deep into its cohort’s leather jerkin and the red fires in the first Assassin’s eyes winked out. Still turning, Jacob raised his blade high and snapped it down on the outstretched arms of the third Assassin.

Lightning Cracks Stone severed them at the elbow. They stuck out of the dead Assassin at a comically awkward angle, their bony hands still clutched tightly to the daggers implanted in the first Assassin’s chest.

Reversing the stroke, Moon Crests the Horizon took out the unarmed Assassin’s throat.

Up came his shield, Jacob fell back a step as the second Assassin – the only threat now – pushed off the corpse of its companion and came at him. Its daggers twirled faster than he could keep track but he felt confident with his [Kite Shield] poised to absorb any blow.

As soon as it struck, he would counter in the moment it took the Vacant Assassin to recover.

But the Assassin seemed more than happy to menacingly twirl its daggers about in a complex and… distracting weave.

Realizing his mistake, Jacob set his feet apart. While his leading leg stayed put, his left leg slipped further behind him. He snapped them together, quick-stepping backward at the same time as he reversed the grip on his sword and jabbed it behind him.

The slight bowing motion he gave the Assassin in front of him gave the Sword Form its namesake.

Courtier’s Bow took the sneaking fourth Assassin in the chest even as it crept up behind Jacob. Leaving his sword impaled in the creature’s chest, Jacob raised his shield and bashed aside the glinting, diving daggers of the second Assassin.

Without a weapon to take advantage of the parry, he instead drove the edge of his [Kite Shield] into the withered, cowled face; aiming for the twin ruby glow of its eyes.

The blow made a sickening crunch as it caved in part of the creature’s withered face. Its cowl fell back, revealing a mostly bald head with patches of scraggly hair still clinging to its jerky-looking skin.

Twisting about, turning his back to the second Assassin, Jacob snapped his hand forward and took hold of his [Longsword] impaled in the fourth