The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) by A. Kay (best short books to read .TXT) 📕

shook her head. “Even though this is Fractal’s dungeon, I’m still handling the revivals, which will be obvious to anyone with a decent Perception value. And I can’t fight your war for you without the other gods crying favoritism.”

Ruwen’s shoulders slumped.

Blapy continued. “I can make the case to the gods for protecting the portal and its immediate surroundings, as my interest in Fractal and the portal here are rooted in self-interest and not helping one side or the other.”

Ruwen narrowed his eyes. “What self-interest?”

“I would be happy to discuss this with the Dungeon Master, but not the leader of New Eiru.”

Ruwen bit his lip and considered. He trusted that Blapy, even if acting in self-interest, wouldn’t harm Fractal. He was far less sure about the safety of himself. The numbers didn’t lie. He would not have enough people to defend this area without help, and giving away a region that his people wouldn’t use seemed harmless.

“What do you consider the immediate surroundings? I’ll need to provide the War Council with specific areas we won’t need to guard.”

“Fractal will help defend a two-mile radius around the portal. In exchange, the region underground, within this radius belongs to Fractal. This is your formal notification that Fractal’s intent is to expand the core dungeon into this new area.”

Ruwen frowned. “Two miles won’t include New Eiru or the temple.”

“Maybe I could justify that much expansion if you weren’t at war. Two miles is the most I can rationalize to the gods as things stand.”

This disappointed Ruwen, but it was better than nothing. At least this way, one of his flanks would be protected. “The troops you provide will report through the same chain of command as New Eiru’s warriors and will obey our commanders.”

“As long as they receive the same tiered pay structure as your troops,” Blapy responded.

It hadn’t occurred to Ruwen that he’d need to pay people once they revived. But people needed to rebuild their lives, and that took money. Of course they would need a wage. He really hoped his parents had a lot of terium. The last thing he wanted was to convert his Spirit into money. He needed that Spirit to continue his Fortification. And what had Blapy meant when she said Fractal would expand the core dungeon. Did that mean parts of the dungeon would be located here?

“Agreed,” Ruwen said.

“There is a final requirement,” Blapy said. “It is unusual.”

The negotiation had gone well and Ruwen felt pleased, but that disappeared with Blapy’s words. With a sense of dread, he forced out a question. “What?”

“You need to take someone with you,” Blapy said.

“Take them where?”

“Everywhere you go that is dangerous, that doesn’t require you to be alone.”

Of all the things Ruwen thought Blapy would request, this hadn’t crossed his mind. “You want me to add someone to my group?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Self-interest.”

Ruwen glanced over at Fractal, who peered at Ruwen through a flawless jade gemstone. Fractal, do you understand what Blapy wants of you and me?

Yes, yes, yes. Thrill quakes me. Fractal so special. Change everything.

The desire to understand everything happening here warred with the unhealthy need to control the situation. Fractal was in expert hands and didn’t need Ruwen’s input right now, while New Eiru sat on the brink of a second destruction and required his full attention. If he had to pick right now, logic dictated he stayed focused on New Eiru.

But Ruwen would worry every moment about Fractal’s well-being if he didn’t at least check some things. He owed it to the dungeon to make sure he wasn’t being taken advantage of. Rami, can you talk to your mom so one of knows what is happening. I just want to make sure Fractal understands what is occurring and I don’t have to worry about him.

Sure.

Half a minute later, Rami finally responded. It’s true this benefits Mom, but it makes Fractal invaluable if they succeed. You don’t need to worry.

Should I know what they’re doing?

Maybe later, if they make progress. It is worth taking the son with us.

Son? Never mind, it doesn’t matter. Thanks, Rami.

“I agree,” Ruwen said to Blapy.

The sphere disappeared, and Ruwen immediately noticed they were no longer alone. A being stood twenty-five feet from them. It looked like a column of sparkly dust with two white-blue slits for eyes. It wavered as if seen through a heat mirage, and vague arms and legs sometimes appeared. Wavy lines of energy rose from the oval head like static charged hair, and Ruwen’s skin prickled from the energy it gave off.

Ruwen’s Perception triggered.

Name: Celestial Remnant (Junior)

Deity: Not aligned

Class Type: Mage

Level: 26

Health: 0

Mana: 0

Energy: 9,811

Spirit: 0

Armor Class: 0

How could something not have any Health Points? And the Energy value seemed ridiculous for a level twenty-six Mage. A Mage with no Mana. Maybe his Perception had broken. Hidden gear under that weird form might explain the Energy, but not all the zeros. And what was a Celestial Remnant?

Ruwen triggered Analyze.

Target: Celestial Remnant (Junior)

Type: Energy

Strengths: Diffuse Structure, Energy Manipulation, Oxygen Independent, Pressure Resistant

Weaknesses: Moisture, High Wind, Turbulence

Disposition: Hostile

“It’s rude to Analyze someone without permission,” the Celestial Remnant said. A ball of what looked like molten lightning shot outward, directly at Ruwen.

Last Breath triggered and time slowed. Ruwen could likely dodge the magic spell, but it was large enough that it might hurt Fractal when it exploded. Ruwen couldn’t be one hundred percent sure Blapy would protect Fractal, and he couldn’t risk the Dungeon Keeper getting hurt.

Ruwen remembered the conversation Big D had with Slib in the cave when they’d first gotten their Divine Amulets during the camping trip. She had made it sound like Void Band users could launch spells of fire and ice and chaos. Workers didn’t get those types of spells, so that meant they could only come from one place. His Void Band.

With a thought, Ruwen expanded his Void Band, turning it to face the oncoming spell. It struck his Void Band and dropped into his Inventory. With another thought, he launched the spell back at the Celestial Remnant, pushing