An alert beeped. The Seraphim was far enough from the planet to enter hyperspace.
“Ulysses, we got our next destination,” Guy said.
Ulysses sighed.
Arn snickered at him. “It does say captain on your uniform, Ulysses.”
Ulysses spun his chair around to meet Guy’s gaze.
“Look, man,” Guy said. “You’re one of us now, so you know how this works.” He pulled up his quest log and shared the newest one he received with everyone. “We need to go to the elvan homeworld.”
Ulysses looked at the screen that flashed ahead of him, asking if he wanted to accept the shared quest. He tapped Yes. “The elvan homeworld, eh? The birthplace of my people . . .”
“If you don’t want to take us there, that’s fine. We’ll get off and find another ship,” Guy said to him. “It’s your ship, Ulysses. Do what you want to do with it.”
“You’re right, Guy, it is my ship, and I’m the captain.” Ulysses spun his chair around and took the controls. “But you’re the party leader, and my level is too low to tackle this quest you fucking gave me alone.”
“To the elvan homeworld, then?” Arn asked.
“Well, Guy?” Ulysses said, facing Guy.
Guy looked at him strangely. “Huh?”
“To the elvan homeworld?” Ulysses reiterated. “That question was aimed at you, Guy.”
“Yeah, take us there.”
“All right, Arn,” Ulysses said. “Prepare us for a hyperspace jump.”
“Done.”
Serzax sat alone in his darkened chamber, deep within the castle of the Autumnfall Empire. He held a glass of wine in one hand and a star-dweller PDA in the other, its glowing screen casting blue light in the dark room, white letters listing a detailed report written by the sentinels in their language.
The sentinels had located several planets that might be suffering from the reality-altering corruption, or the affliction, as the fae folk called it. They needed to harvest the soul crystals from the afflicted population. But . . . not right away. It was best to let the affliction spread and allow the people to gain a few levels. Not too much, of course. They would be hard to kill if they got too strong—the afflicted just needed to be strong enough so that their deaths would yield more powerful soul crystals.
The soul crystal harvest was a necessary evil. It was the only way to prevent the same catastrophe that had struck Earth from striking the rest of the galaxy.
A knock thumped on Serzax’s chamber door.
“Enter.”
Serzax gave his wine glass a swirl, drank the last of its contents, and placed the empty glass on the table beside his chair. A ray of white light gleamed into the dark chamber, missing Serzax’s hooded form sitting on the chair by inches. He saw Leafblade stand in front of the door.
“Leafblade, what is it?”
The fae officer stepped forward as instructed to speak. “I have terrible news, milord.”
Serzax lowered the PDA, noting that Wylume was not there. “Speak.”
“Wylume has been killed, and his soul crystal taken by the Paladin—”
A fierce scream left Serzax’s mouth.
He threw the PDA across the chamber and flipped over the table near him; a wine glass shattered on the floor. Serzax’s rampage lasted two minutes, forcing him to take a deep breath and look at Leafblade, who tried his best not to let his legs shake. Leafblade did not do a particularly good job.
“My apologies for that primitive outburst,” Serzax said.
“No need to apologize,” Leafblade said. “Wylume was your son, after all.”
“He was to marry Averyl and secure this alliance.”
“Averyl, who was to be executed, and you did nothing to stop.”
“The emperor would not kill his daughter, just scare her into the marriage. And you know that.”
“I had my doubts. The emperor has made a lot of . . . questionable decisions as of late.”
“My son . . . is dead . . . and his bride to be, missing. That fucking Paladin . . .”
“Now what?”
“Now.” Serzax returned to his chair and found his PDA casting blue light on the ceiling. “Now, I will have to finish my son’s job. I will marry Averyl.”
Averyl’s marriage was essential for Serzax’s strategy. Sure, he could have just taken her by force, but then the empire would hate the sentinels and refuse to work as foot soldiers for the harvest. The marriage—along with helping the empire take over their planet—was all just a show to make Autumnfall co-operate with the grand plan.
Serzax needed Averyl, and he needed more soldiers. There was a finite number of sentinels.
And now that the Paladin has demonstrated that he and his friends are strong enough to kill them . . . at this rate, we will have less sentinels to work with.
“The sentinels tell me they have a lead on the Paladin’s ship,” Leafblade added.
“Find them.”
“At once, milord.” Leafblade bowed and turned to leave. He stopped at the light coming from the door and held up a sword. “I almost forgot. I recovered your son’s Nocturnal Blade. The Paladin did not take it after he killed him.”
“Really? Never mind then.”
“Hmm?”
“Leave the Nocturnal Blade where you stand.”
“At once.”
“I will find them myself.”
Leafblade laid the Nocturnal Blade on the floor, spun, and left. Serzax placed his PDA on the table, lowered his cloak’s hood to reveal his long silver hair, and ambled to the Nocturnal Blade.
Serzax retrieved the Nocturnal Blade and opened his Status screen to review it. It had been a while since he fought.
Serzax Sheer
Class: Nox Knight LVL 30
Subclass: Mage LVL 15
HP: 1716/1716
MP: 526/526
Serzax grinned and sheathed the Nocturnal Blade to his back.
“I have a bride to take back and a son to avenge.”
Final Stats
Guy Sutherland
Class: Paladin LVL 15
Subclass: None
HP: 886/886
MP: 216/216
AP: 0/100
LP: 8/10
EXP: 2334/3797
Attributes
Strength: 62
Dexterity: 43
Vitality: 92
Agility: 24
Intelligence: 25
Wisdom: 26
Charisma: 27
Flight Stats
Flight Speed: N/A
Flight Time: N/A
Combat Stats
Attack Bonus: 51
Magic Attack Bonus: 12
Healing Potency: 13
Defense: 48
Magic Defense: 18
Critical Hit Rate: 4%
Attack Speed Bonus: 1.2
Persuasion: 1
Ranged Attack Bonus: N/A
Equipment and Skills
Main: Asteria’s Sword | Attack: 20 | Vitality +1
Asteriarite: HP +10
Secondary: None
Armor: Iron Breastplate | Defense: 18 | Vitality +2
Accessory: Lesser Pendant of Protection | Magic Defense: 10 | Vitality +3, HP +10
Asteriarite: HP +10
Wings: None
Sigils Equipped: Guardian Light Heart
Current Skills: Storm Slash, Lay on Hands
Passive Traits: Equip Sigil: Guardian, Born a Star-Dweller, Immune to Light Elemental Damage, Enable High Altitude Flight, The Will to Stand
Rachael Leighton
Class: Medic LVL 10
Subclass: None
HP: 344/344
MP: 248/248
AP: 0/100
LP: 10/10
EXP: 1382/2357
Attributes
Strength: 47
Dexterity: 33
Vitality: 22
Agility: 19
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 68
Charisma: 21
Flight Stats
Flight Speed: 114 KP/H
Flight Time: Minutes 14 Seconds 42
Combat Stats
Attack Bonus: 26
Magic Attack Bonus: 10
Healing Potency: 36
Defense: 11
Magic Defense: 9
Critical Hit Rate: 3%
Attack Speed Bonus: 0.95
Persuasion: 1
Ranged Attack Bonus: N/A
Equipment and Skills
Main: Oak Staff | Attack: 3, Healing Potency: 2
Asteriarite: Wisdom +1
Secondary: None
Armor: Silver Chain Robe | Defense: 4, Magic Defense: 3
Accessory: None
Wings: Fae Wings
Sigils Equipped: Triage, Heart, Transmogrification, Restore, Recovery
Current Skills: Medica, Recovery Orb, Regeneration
Passive Traits: Equip Sigil: Triage, Born a Star-Dweller, Born with Wings, Boost Healing Range, Enable High Altitude Flight, Ethereal Regeneration
Zuran Firethorn
Class: Mage LVL 13
Subclass: None
HP: 338/338
MP: 844/844
AP: 0/100
LP: 10/10
EXP: 1389/3138
Attributes
Strength: 23
Dexterity: 24
Vitality: 22
Agility: 25
Intelligence: 86
Wisdom: 56
Charisma: 39
Flight Stats
Flight Speed: 114 KP/H
Flight Time: Minutes 12 Seconds 18
Combat Stats
Attack Bonus: 11
Magic Attack Bonus: 63
Healing Potency: 28
Defense: 11
Magic Defense: 43
Critical Hit Rate: 2%
Attack Speed Bonus: 1.25
Persuasion: 1
Ranged Attack Bonus: N/A
Equipment and Skills
Main: Novice Caster’s Spellbook | Magic Attack: 20 | Intelligence +2
Asteriarite: Intelligence +1
Secondary: None
Armor: Casting Shawl | Defense: 4, Magic Defense: 5 | Intelligence +2
Asteriarite: Intelligence +1
Accessory: Silver Earrings | Magic Defense: 10 | Intelligence +2
Asteriarite: Intelligence +1
Wings: Fae Wings
Sigils Equipped: Magus, Target, Projectile, Fire, Adversaries
Current Skills: Fire, Fireball, Firestorm
Passive Traits: Equip Sigil: Magus, Born a Land-Dweller, Born with Wings, Exploit Elemental Weakness, Enable High Altitude Flight, Ethereal Regeneration
Kam
Class: Spell Lancer LVL 12
Subclass: None
HP: 428/428
MP: 325/325
AP: 0/100
LP: 10/10
EXP: 1549/2853
Attributes
Strength: 57
Dexterity: 37
Vitality: 24
Agility: 22
Intelligence: 77
Wisdom: 24
Charisma: 21
Flight Stats
Flight Speed: N/A
Flight Time: N/A
Combat Stats
Attack Bonus: 38
Magic Attack Bonus: 48
Healing Potency: 12
Defense: 18
Magic Defense: 39
Critical Hit Rate: 3%
Attack Speed Bonus: 1.1
Persuasion: 1
Ranged Attack Bonus: N/A
Equipment and Skills
Main: Heavy Lance | Attack: 10, Magic Attack: 10 | Strength +1, Intelligence +1
Asteriarite: Strength +1
Secondary: None
Armor: Iron Hauberk | Defense: 10, Magic Defense: 4 | Strength +1, Intelligence +1
Accessory: Silver Spiked Bracelets | Magic Defense: 10 | Intelligence +1, Vitality +1
Asteriarite: Strength +1
Wings: None
Sigils Equipped: Gae Bulg, Water, Transmogrification
Current Skills: Astral Swipe, Elemental Attunement, Become One with the Elements
Passive Traits: Equip Sigil: Gae Bulg, Born a Land-Dweller, Elemental Magic Boost, Enable High Altitude Flight
Ulysses Archambeau
Class: Ranger LVL 2
Subclass: None
HP: 107/107
MP: 0/0
AP: 0/100
LP: 10/10
EXP: 150/1100
Attributes
Strength: 23
Dexterity: 17
Vitality: 14
Agility: 36
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 13
Charisma: 11
Flight Stats
Flight Speed: N/A
Flight Time: N/A
Combat Stats
Attack Bonus: 11
Magic Attack Bonus: 6
Healing Potency: 6
Defense: 4
Magic Defense: 4
Critical Hit Rate: 1%
Attack Speed Bonus: 1.8
Persuasion: 0
Ranged Attack Bonus: 40
Equipment and Skills
Main: Emeraldal’s Bow | Ranged Attack: 40
Asteriarite: Agility +1
Asteriarite: Agility +1
Secondary: None
Armor: None
Accessory: None
Wings: None
Sigils Equipped: Hunter
Current Skills: Barrage
Passive Traits: Equip Sigil: Hunter, Born a Star-Dweller, Hunter’s Eye
Xanthe Eisheth
Class: Blade Dancer LVL 13
Subclass: None
HP: 543/543
MP: 0/0
AP: 0/100
LP: 10/10
EXP: 207/3138
Attributes
Strength: 30
Dexterity: 39
Vitality: 24
Agility: 56
Intelligence: 22
Wisdom: 24
Charisma: 82
Flight Stats
Flight Speed: 121 KP/H
Flight Time: Minutes 13 Seconds 0
Combat Stats
Attack Bonus: 27
Magic Attack Bonus: 11
Healing Potency: 12
Defense: 14
Magic Defense: 22
Critical Hit Rate: 3%
Attack Speed Bonus: 2.8
Persuasion: 4
Ranged Attack Bonus: N/A
Equipment and Skills
Main: Steel Edge | Attack: 6 | Charisma +1
Asteriarite: Charisma +1
Secondary: Heavy Kilij | Attack: 6 | Strength +1
Armor: Crimson Bedlah | Defense: 6, Magic Defense: 4 | Charisma +1, Strength +1
Accessory: Red Choker | Magic Defense: 10 | Strength +1, Charisma +1
Asteriarite: Strength +1
Asteriarite: Strength +1
Wings: Shadow Angel Wings
Sigils Equipped: Enthrall, Swiftness, Blade, Manipulation
Current Skills: Brisk Strike, Lightning Dash, Dance with the Music, Alluring Waltz
Passive Traits: Equip Sigil: Enthrall, Born a Land-Dweller, Born with Wings, Dual-Wield, Enable High Altitude Flight, Flight of the Eagle
Henrietta Hamilton
Class: Berserker LVL 5
Subclass: None
HP: 252/252
MP: 0/0
AP: 0/100
LP: 10/10
EXP: 1309/1464
Attributes
Strength: 50
Dexterity: 32
Vitality: 24
Agility: 17
Intelligence: 14
Wisdom: 15
Charisma: 16
Flight Stats
Flight Speed: N/A
Flight Time: N/A
Combat Stats
Attack Bonus: 40
Magic Attack Bonus: 7
Healing Potency: 7
Defense:
20
Magic Defense: 4
Critical Hit Rate: 3%
Attack Speed Bonus: 0.85
Persuasion: 0
Ranged Attack Bonus: N/A
Equipment and Skills
Main: Autumnfall Cutter | Attack: 15
Asteriarite: Strength +1
Asteriarite: Strength +1
Asteriarite: Strength +1
Secondary: None
Armor: Autumnfall Cuirass | Defense: 12 | Strength +1, Vitality +1
Accessory: None
Wings: None
Sigils Equipped: Gladiator, Wide
Current Skills: Thundering Blow, Wide Cleave
Passive Traits: Equip Sigil: Gladiator, Born a Land-Dweller, The Will to Stand
Afterword
Thank you for reading Star Paladin!
This book, characters, and the world was something that had been in my mind for decades. True, the original concept wasn’t a full-on LitRPG since that genre didn’t exist back then, but the story was heavily inspired by various JRPGs I have played since the early ‘90s. In fact, these characters had come to me after playing Final Fantasy IV or Final Fantasy II, as they called it back in the SNES days. The ideas for the universe just grew and grew as time went on. Soon afterward, I had realized I had a talent for storytelling, and in 2016, I published my first novel.
Where is this series going? Lots of exciting places, that’s where! Star Paladin isn’t just the start of a new series. It’s the start of a new expansive universe I plan to create. How big? Well, I had about twenty books in mind, but keep in mind that count was made some twenty years ago when I was fantasizing about this universe. Knowing me and the fact that all my books end up longer than planned, I’ll probably need more.
I’m not sure when the next book will be available, as of the time I’m writing this (on November 5, 2020). But to tide you over, check out a cyberpunk series I have out called Cyber Witch: 2082. It's not quite LitRPG, but it contains many gamelit elements, as Shadowrun was one of the major influences on that.
Well, that’s enough rambling from me. If you want to be the first to hear about my next book releases, please subscribe to my mailing list. And if you loved this book, please leave a review. It helps, especially those five-star ones! Also, be sure to recommend this to other people who love LitRPGs so that they can experience the awesome adventure you did!
Thank you again for reading!
Until next time!
Eddie R. Hicks
Keep in touch
What’s the best way to learn of my new releases? Subscribe to my mailing list. Don’t worry, I’m not a fan of spam, you’ll only get emailed my new releases or promos.
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Star Paladin: A LitRPG Space Fantasy (Sword of Asteria Book 1) Page 43
