The Guild Core: The Complete Saga Boxset: A LitRPG Dungeon Adventure

by TJ Reynolds

  “Seek out the Surtir family. And be brave enough to stop the Gil’Rahim. You can do it, Kaius. I have nothing but faith in you.”

  Then, without a slow fade or any warning, the memory vanished.

  Kai was kneeling before a chest in the bottom of his father’s ruined dungeon.

  A trickle of knowledge seeped into him. As easy as breathing, Kai knew he could create a Spell Scale of Learning as well as its cost.

  His body swam with unprocessed emotions, but those could wait. A sinking dread was upon him, and he couldn’t hold off on discovering the true nature of his fate.

  Kai picked up the Lumen Spell Scale and inspected it.

  Abyssal Apocalypse - A spell of the Fundament and powered by Lumen, Abyssal Apocalypse will destroy all monsters who rely on Abyss ether to survive. Cast Time: Instant. Spell is fueled by the death of the caster. Upon annihilation, a new Fundamental Apocalypse Spell Scale will be produced.

  Kai dismissed his Interface and bowed his head.

  He wasn’t surprised at all, just suddenly tired and resigned to his fate.

  Somehow, the part that hurt him the most was the knowledge that he would soon need to tell Rhona of his fate.

  The Gil’Rahim would come.

  That much was certain.

  And Kai would perform the task that needed to be done.

  He only wished he could have more time with the woman he loved so dearly.

  17

  A Valid Excuse to Flex

  Bancroft

  Greg’s black eyes sparkled with pure joy as he spoke. “I couldn’t be more proud of you, Kai. And I do mean that. To think, my dragon is Viridian ascended!”

  Kai shared a smile with Rhona.

  It was obvious to Ban the two were more in love than ever, and he simply couldn’t wait until they finally acted on it.

  Making a big deal about their accomplishment would alleviate the awkwardness, he figured, so he pressed once more. “Tell me about the changes you’ve undergone! What have you favored when assigning Attribute Points? Speak to me!”

  Rhona looked to Kai, but he deflected by nudging her with an elbow. She shrugged and told them all. “Strange to say, but I put the largest amount of my Attribute Points in Wisdom.”

  “Really?” Ban asked dramatically. “Why ever would you do that?”

  She folded her arms and scrunched her brow before explaining. “Dexterity and Constitution are very important for a monk, but with Spirit Flow, it makes more sense to rely on my sense of battle than reactions. If I can detect when an attack is coming in the first place, I don’t exactly need greater Dexterity to avoid it, you know?”

  Kai looked impressed, and Ban forced himself to appear solemn. Typical Rhona, he thought privately. Ask the woman anything about combat and on her thinking cap goes. Such a lovely woman!

  Moving the conversation along, Ban gave Kai a poke with his champion’s thick finger. “What about you, young man? Tell me you’ve gone with Intelligence.”

  Kai smiled and nodded. “In part, yes. Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma were split fairly evenly. I need more spell power and AE regeneration. The Charisma will help me with leadership. Jakodi mentioned that those who follow me will receive bonuses to their own skills, spells, and Attributes if my Charisma is high enough.”

  Ban resisted the urge to hug Kai.

  He was a powerful Elder Dragon now, a person of great importance, and appearances were everything.

  Instead, he merely mentioned some of his own recent advancements. “Well, my own gains have been quite substantial as well. Not only has my area of influence grown to half a mile, but I can control a veritable army of minions.

  “Kai, if I were to summon only monstrous rats at 1 MCP apiece, I could command over two thousand of the creatures! Two thousand five hundred and sixty to be exact.”

  Rhona shuddered. “That’s disturbing to think about. But also amazing. Good for you, Ban. I can’t wait to see the terrors you’ll come up with.”

  Ban was going to make another comment, but he noticed Kai’s face grow dark again.

  Several times since the two had woken from their ascension, Ban had noticed the change. It was as if a shadow of foreboding flashed across Kai’s handsome features.

  The longer Ban spent with Kai, the more in sync their emotions became.

  He felt it now, some inkling of what was bothering his closest friend.

  Ban reached out with Greg’s enormous hand and wrapped it around Kai’s shoulder. “Your father would have wanted his Earth Core’s Progression to go to good use. You, the dragonlings, Rhona, and I… we will use this power to fight the abyss monsters, Kai.

  “I’m sorry that it hurts you so much, I truly am. But you must know that he would be happy for you.”

  Kai stared back, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He nodded then, and forced a grin, but Ban saw something else that hadn’t quite been touched upon.

  I’m only half right, he thought with alarm. What other secret is Kai keeping from us? What did his father tell him?

  Kai stood up and dusted off the back of his trousers. Then he held out his hands and spoke loud enough that even the dragons could hear from where they’d been chatting in the opposite corner of the core room.

  “I have a proposal!” Kai boomed. “Let’s all head to the upper chambers. You’ve all been given a new spell, and I have a few to try out myself. What better way to celebrate than with a demonstration?”

  The dragons scrambled to rise with the enthusiasm of young pups.

  They shouted a hundred happy replies with their minds until Rhona cried out for peace and quiet.

  In a much more orderly fashion, with the dragons lingering behind so they could chat, the group left the core room and traveled back through the vast dungeon.

  Having his first chance to truly observe the marvel the destroyed Earth Core had created, Ban walked in silence, taking in every detail.

  Much was missing, broken, or deteriorated.

  Ban could see past all that, however. He could see what might have been.

  Every threading design was noted. Every fastidiously crafted column of stone or stylized bannister recorded in Ban’s mind.

  He was impressed with it all, but if he were being honest with himself, what inspired him the most was the carved history he’d seen back in the core room.

  I will make one for Kai someday, he promised himself. He is a dragon that deserves such a masterpiece. I don’t care if it takes me a decade to finish; I’ll record our greatest moments and continue to do so for as long as we live.

  Despite the dungeon’s scale, it only took them an hour to walk to the upper chambers. The midday sun filled the space with golden light.

  Before their little celebration started, Anatoth reminded them all of their baser needs. I could fly out for a quick hunt, just a few minutes perhaps. Then we can concentrate when our hunger is abated.

  Kai dismissed the dragons but told them they had an hour to return and not to confront anything more powerful than Emerald 1 ascension.

  True to his word, Anatoth returned, the other three dragons along with him, in less than half an hour.

  They’d taken two large elk apiece, enough to cull half a herd no doubt.

  Kai roasted the meat with his Fire spell, and everyone ate until they were full to bursting.

  At last, Kai stood up and demonstrated one of his newly chosen spells. The young man pointed a hand at Anatoth and called out, “Golem’s Favor!”

  A tiny river of green Earth ether collected in Kai’s hand, taking ten or so seconds. Then it hopped out and splashed over the Azure dragon’s body.

  Anatoth reared back in fright, but calmed once the spell’s nature became apparent.

  Thick slabs of glowing stone expanded so that soon his entire body was covered in the stuff. As the ether faded, the dragon was left with a full suit of stone armor.

  Kai looked quite pleased with himself, standing with hands on hips.

&n
bsp; He chuckled quietly in a way that Ban was all too familiar with.

  Here we go, Ban thought. Anatoth is about to receive some sort of ill surprise.

  Sure enough, Kai collected himself enough to give a single command. “Freya… attack your brother.”

  The Mireen dragon was smaller by two feet at the shoulder, and she weighed much less.

  But none could match her ferocity.

  Anatoth’s eyes bulged as Freya pounced. She tackled him over and dragged her claws across her brother’s armored hide.

  Then he stopped resisting altogether.

  Wheezing out a raspy laugh, Anatoth encouraged her. Strike me again! I am invincible!

  Freya let loose with a series of hard slashes. Then she bit Anatoth’s neck, and still no damage was done.

  Kai explained, “It won’t last forever… but for the sake of experimentation, keep slashing with your claws. Slowly, so we can observe the moment the armor fails.”

  Fails? Anatoth asked as his sister struck time and again.

  The others laughed, and Anatoth wrinkled his great brow in a frown.

  Despite Kai’s warning, the Azure showed considerable surprise when the armor evaporated after another twenty heavy attacks.

  Freya’s claws raked his scales, blood spilling to the ground.

  Anatoth hissed and bared his fangs, letting her know he was no longer willing to accept the punishment.

  Kai stood up and wisely urged the demonstrations forward. “Anatoth, thank you for lending us your indomitable strength! Can you show us what Storm Shriek looks like? I can’t wait to find out.”

  The Azure ruffled his back scales briefly before calming down. With more pomp than was necessary, he turned and started to cast his new spell.

  Ban watched as he did so, fascinated by the accumulation and concentration of ether.

  If they only knew what it was like to use ether to shift reality in an instant, Ban mused. I do still wish I had a real body at times… but to be trapped in one would be so restricting.

  The thirty-second cast time elapsed, and Anatoth unfurled his wings. Opening his mouth, he released a long and terrifying roar.

  The blue Water ether that had collected around the base of his jaws trickled forward in a dozen tiny threads. They lit up and shot forward into the air like electric water droplets, each somehow magnifying the sound and intensity of the roar.

  Everyone clutched their ears and endured as the spell blasted through the vast chambers of the dungeon.

  When he’d finished, Anatoth turned to them sheepishly. Well? Was it as fierce as it seemed?

  Rhona laughed bitterly. “Oh, it was fierce all right. Our enemies will fall apart at the seams when they hear that. Well done.”

  The dragon lowered his head shyly, a gesture Ban had noticed he did often around Rhona.

  Seems the young fellow is smitten with her too. Too bad he hasn’t noticed Freya’s affection. Such is the way of mortals, I suppose. Destined to be fools most of the time.

  Ban’s thoughts were lighthearted, however.

  Ever since meeting and losing dear Imogen, he would be the last creature to deny anyone love.

  Calreem was called up next. With a great deal of embarrassment, he demonstrated his new ability. It was much different than the others, an instant-cast spell that seemed capable of much devastation.

  The white dragon glanced at them all nervously, then opened his mouth and coughed out a wobbling ball of white ether.

  It landed on the dungeon floor a hundred feet away and then exploded. A series of chaotic blasts sent fragments of the ether ricocheting in all directions.

  In total, the Cluster Smite spell lasted ten seconds, but Kai could imagine a great many enemies falling in that amount of time.

  The only drawback was the relatively high mana cost.

  Ban made a show of clapping. Kai and Rhona joined him, and soon Calreem was slinking away, as pleased with himself as he ever could be.

  Freya asked the group to move to another chamber, where she unleashed fiery hell with her newest spell, Searing Claws.

  For such an unimaginative name, the spell seemed perfectly well suited for such a volatile creature. She will be so happy once she has a crowd of enemies to destroy, Ban thought. The dragon was simply born for battle.

  The spell caused three-foot claws forged of bright red Fire ether to extend from her paws.

  After she backed away from the column, the stone was covered in smoking furrows.

  Though the AE cost was again high, the spell lasted five minutes, which would give her plenty of time to cut down enemy ranks.

  Ban turned to find Hazel. It was her turn for a demonstration, and she did so in style.

  Without warning anyone, she opened her wings and released Concussive Gust on the group of bystanders.

  Kai rolled away and searched for the glaive he’d set in the far corner. Rhona darted for cover, and the other dragons scowled at her.

  Hazel chuckled, obviously delighted. Your face, Elder Dragon. That alone made my jest worthwhile.

  Everyone laughed at Kai’s expense, something he took much better than he once would have.

  Kai issued them all to return to the first chamber and prepare to leave soon. They would need to fly back to their original basecamp and decide what their next move was from there.

  Hazel, perhaps wanting to make amends, asked her fearless leader about his own spells. You must have gained more than just Golem’s Favor, Kai. That ring of yours alone grants two extra spells, and ascending to Viridian must have unlocked more possibilities.

  The golden dragon was walking ahead of the others, speaking with her mind and ignoring the others.

  Kai stopped and held up his hands as he began casting a spell. This is true. I have much to consider when choosing the others, however. Maybe I could ask everyone else what they think might be best.

  Wise as always, Hazel replied, still unaware that the others were watching Kai cast a spell.

  Purple ether poured from his extended hands, forming a gelatinous pillar five feet in front of him.

  To distract Hazel further, Rhona approached her and stood in front of the golden dragon. I think Kai is talking about you specifically, Hazel. You’re the only Orondi dragon in the world! You need to start relying on your own wisdom.

  Hazel lowered her head, bowing to Rhona. The dragon then nodded sagely, thinking over her words before responding.

  When she did at last, her tone was more formal than it had ever been. You are kind to say so. If I had but a portion of the knowledge my ancestors held… Still, I might be able to assist more in decisions of strategy.

  Strategy is always important, Hazel, Kai shot back.

  His summoned champion now had arms, though its body remained glued to the ground by a single, thick column of Soul ether.

  The spell completed at last, and Kai spoke aloud in a malevolent tone. “Attack the golden dragon, champion. Show us your strength.”

  What now? Hazel asked as she turned around to find herself face to face with the purple menace.

  Standing ten feet tall and as thick as an oak tree, the Spectral Champion spell was impressive to see.

  The champion swung at Hazel’s backside, pounding her scales with a meaty fist.

  Hazel howled in fright and pain. She instinctively lashed out with her tail, and the group discovered something else very promising about Kai’s new summon ability.

  The dragon’s tail passed through the cloud of ether without causing it any harm.

  It raised its hands and charged.

  Hazel screeched in fright and skittered across the dungeon, seeking safety.

  Everyone laughed, and Kai dismissed the specter a moment later. “Worth it!” he said between laughs. “Absolutely worth it!”

  Ban felt his champion’s body fill with that inexorable joy that came with good company.

  He smiled around at his friends.

  The dragonlings had grown yet again, and Ban was happy he’d ma
de the armor capable of adapting to such changes. Anatoth was now only a foot shorter than Kai’s dragon form at the shoulder.

  It was clear the Azure would become truly massive, much larger than the Fundamental Dragon ever could be.

  Calreem’s body had grown rapidly as well, this last ascension making him at least Hazel’s equal in stature.

  Neither the Orondi nor Ananri dragons were known for size, but knowing they could withstand more physical punishment in battle gave Ban a sense of ease.

  His friends chatted idly as they prepared for their flight back to the campsite.

  Kai walked to stand beneath his discarded dragon armor. He transformed and filled it with his magnificent form.

  How beautiful, Ban mused. How absolutely beautiful my dragon is.

  He was about to say so when something tapped at his mind. For a few moments, he wasn’t sure what it was. An annoying voice tugging at him from elsewhere.

  Then he heard it more clearly. Bancroft, we have a visitor at the Sunken Keep. Your presence is required.

  It was Jakodi calling out to Ban patiently.

  Ban shouted to his friends, “I’ll be back in a moment. Jakodi needs me. Just a moment!”

  He pulled his consciousness out of his champion and back into his core.

  From there, he probed outward with his awareness until he found the old man in the tower above.

  Strangely, Jakodi was standing on the bridge above the chasm.

  And he wasn’t alone.

  Tela! What ever are you doing here? And are you hungry? I can always have the daldrim cook up some mushroom stew.

  Ban took in the ranger’s gaunt face and her severe eyes. There was nothing new there. What was new was the cluster of horsemen waiting on the other side of the bridge.

  Jakodi’s eyes had a haunted look about them.

  Suddenly, Ban thought he might have misjudged the mood.

  “I’m sorry, Ban,” Tela said in a stiff tone. “But I am not here for food. I bear ill news, and once it is delivered, my men and I will leave.”

  Ill news? Ban asked, a thread of fear worming its way into his core. Don’t tell me the abyss monsters have risen at last!