Seventh Realm Part 1: A LitRPG Fantasy series (The Ten Realms Book 8)

by Michael Chatfield

  “Okay, boss. I’ll head over.”

  “Thanks.”

  Erik put the device to the side and worked on different ingredients. He took out a pad of paper and a pen, writing out his ideas.

  “Hmm, first I’ll take my blood and combine it in the cauldron with different ingredients. Then I’ll see how it works within my body. It might be that we have to combine the potions and the blood afterward instead of inside the body.”

  Rugrat walked into the training room and pulled off his shirt. An assistant took it away as he stripped off his boots and pants and stood there in his short shorts.

  He looked at the formation-carved pod in front of him.

  Rugrat turned around as medics inserted IVs into his veins. He grabbed the hydration mouthpiece they offered him between his teeth, drinking from it deeply. His body seemed to wake up. His cells felt revitalized as his mana gates opened, passively drawing in mana.

  “The mana pod will increase the density of mana to twice the predicted density in the Eighth Realm,” Qin said as she stood off to the side.

  “Sounds like a lot of juice.” Rugrat breathed in and out, feeling the warmth of mana building within his body. He moved toward the pod.

  “We will be monitoring you from the exterior. If there is any danger, we’ll shut everything down,” Tanya informed him.

  “Combining formations, pure magic, and mana gathering; I like it.”

  “There are a lot of experts in mana gathering. I just volunteered to be up here in Vuzgal,” Tanya replied.

  “Don’t sound so excited! Let's do this shit. For science or something.” Rugrat got into the pod. Medics attached the IV lines that ran through openings in the pod.

  Rugrat looked down at the formation between his toes and felt it on the carved metal under his back.

  The pod closed, and he was tilted backward until he lay flat.

  Locking bolts engaged as Rugrat breathed in, focusing and calming his mind. He turned his gaze to his Solid Mana Core.

  He shifted, getting comfortable in the pod.

  “We’re going to activate the formations now,” Qin said.

  “Give'er.”

  The formation plate under the pod glowed with energy. It was as if liquid mana were spreading through the formation, passing through the carved-out rune before reaching the base of the pod’s support.

  “We’re starting at the same density as the Sixth Realm.”

  The mana traced the formations and spread across the pod like branches reaching for the heavens.

  Rugrat pulled in a sudden breath as the mana surged through his body.

  Using his domain, he drew in the mana, compressing it externally and circulating it to increase its density, creating a cloud of mana vapor. It increased in density as it passed through his mana gates, creating snakes of mist. Circulations compressed it further, forming into liquid as it reached his solid core, nourishing it and causing it to grow slowly.

  “We’ll increase the density now,” Qin said.

  Rugrat drew in more and more mana. The mental strain piled up. He was trying to focus on everything and maintain control. Even with his domain, the mana was at two times the Seventh Realm’s density. He grunted, trying to refine the mana through his domain to make it easier to consume. His control kept slipping. It was like holding back the ocean with wooden box panels, and the box had fallen apart completely.

  Rugrat released his external control and focused on compressing the mana within his body.

  “Huh.” Rugrat increased the size of his Solid Mana Core. There was a ton of mana entering his core. Wait. Is this like negative pressure? “I have the capacity for more. If the density in my body isn’t as high as the outside, will it be easier for me to draw in enough mana?”

  “What are you saying?” Qin asked.

  “The mana here is so dense that it's got more pressure than most of the mana in my body. I could increase my cultivation by just sleeping here. Compressing it internally just speeds it up like I’m creating a vacuum in my body!”

  Rugrat laughed and focused on the compression. The amount of mana he drew in was increasing!

  His frustrations fell away as mana mist formed within the pod. He didn’t need to compress it as much to create drops.

  The pod slowly filled with mana mist and then mana vapor, twisting and creating vortices which Rugrat’s open mana gates drank in greedily.

  His Solid Mana Core shook as it reached a bottleneck. He drew in all the surrounding mana in one go, clearing the pod.

  Drops shot toward his mana core, assaulting it again and again, the pressure of compression and expansion fighting one another.

  A cracking noise sounded. Then a howling wind as the mana entering the pod shot into Rugrat's body. He groaned.

  “Increase the pressure!” Tanya yelled.

  Qin worked her console as the lines leading to the pod increased in brightness.

  The IV bags’ levels started to drop as if someone were drinking from them.

  “Increase the IV flow!” Medics moved to add on new IV bags.

  Rugrat’s mana channels appeared as he consumed mana like a ravenous beast.

  “More!”

  Qin looked at Tanya.

  “Do it.”

  Qin increased the density. Mana mist formed within the pod again, creeping around Rugrat, covering him. One could see the mana channels, the gates through his body, all leading to the mana core under his belly button.

  Rugrat's solid core had broken through into the higher stage. The amount of mana it drew in was immense, nearly four times that of his mid-grade Solid Mana Core.

  Newly formed, it seemed to be starving and consumed more mana.

  The mist once again formed into vapor around Rugrat.

  Time lost meaning for him as he drew in more and more mana.

  23

  War Footing

  Bai Ping looked around the secluded courtyard between houses.

  The Alvan Soldiers were covered in dirt and signs of battle, their eyes cold as they accepted their new orders.

  Everyone there was a true member of the Alva military. They talked in low voices, excited at the prospect of seeing their friends again. They all knew that Vuzgal had been targeted and could be attacked soon.

  Colonel Domonos walked into the square.

  Everyone snapped to attention.

  “At ease.”

  Formations overlaid the place so that no one would be able to spy on them.

  “We have reports that the Willful Institute will attempt to attack Vuzgal. You are the first group that will be shifted back home. There you will resupply and reorganize. Tiger Regiment will support Alva and the mobilization of the reserve units, while Dragon Regiment will return to their posts in Vuzgal.” Domonos let his words sink in.

  “You have been the backbone of the Adventurer’s Guild offensive. You helped to transform them into the fighting force they are today. While you come from the Dragon or Tiger Regiments, we have trained and worked together constantly. We are two units, but the same military. Grab your gear. We’ll be rotating out in four hours.”

  Colonel Yui stood in a mana barrier tower on the inner wall that broke up Vuzgal. He had been to the city nearly every week, working with the forces there. Now he commanded them all.

  He straightened up in his armor, his eyes tracking the traders and caravans streaming out of Vuzgal.

  His eyes drifted to the totem with lines of people extending out of it.

  Major Kanoa walked up. “Guess we’ll need a second totem for them streaming back in.”

  “Thankfully, that’s for someone else to worry about,” Yui said. “Anything?”

  “Nothing. I’ve got my people patrolling in the air, though your dad’s the one who’ll find out when the United Sect Army arrives first.”

  “I always thought he was a seer when we were growing up. He’d always predict what was going to happen before it did. When I got older, I thought he was paranoid as hell. Now I
think it was just prudent planning.”

  “Good to know that you had such faith in me.” Elan reached the top of the stairs, his lips pressed together in a bemused smile. “There is still no word from the cities, though they are all preparing.”

  “How long until they attack?” Yui asked.

  “At least a few days.”

  “Well, we have a few options depending on how much information we want to give away.” Yui looked at his father and Kanoa. “One: we repeat what Erik and Rugrat did in the first battle of Vuzgal. We bleed them as they try to reach Vuzgal. Hit them with traps. Hit them with artillery and bombs from the air force. If we use traps, we can kill many more, as it will be under their mana barriers, though they will know that we are tracking them somehow. Two: if we don’t use artillery and bombs, we will cause less damage, but they’ll think that we can’t see them all the time, which opens them up to make more mistakes. I personally think we should go with the first option. What do you think?”

  “I agree,” Kanoa nodded.

  “I think the first as well. Information is power. But once they enter the valley, they won’t be able to hide from us, anyway.”

  “Okay. Well, let’s start with this inspection.” Yui led them into the center of the tower. Mana barrier formations took up the ceiling and the floor, a thin thread of mana rising from the bottom formation into the formation above.

  They moved off to the side, stepping onto a teleportation formation. Yui nodded to the officer working the console.

  The room changed; strips of light formations lit up the transportation room. One could hear movement through the corridors that led out of the room.

  Yui led them out of the room and through the corridors.

  “If they do attack, I don’t think they’ll expect our defenses to be so dense. Hundreds of bunkers, miles of tunnels connecting them. Teleportation rooms to keep people and supplies moving,” Kanoa said.

  “It’s an impressive network.” Yui stepped onto a rising platform. The formations activated, and they shot up.

  They stepped off, seeing more people moving around. They nodded to the trio, but didn’t stop walking.

  “We’re in the belly of the bunker fortifications now,” Elan said as they walked upstairs to the next floor.

  “They built an entire system to move ammunition as fast as possible. Matt and his blueprint office went wild. With the dungeon core and its size, they could move all the earth they wanted.”

  They got to the top of the stairs. Straight ahead was a full bathroom and shower. On the left side, there were a few bunk beds stacked so closely one couldn’t turn over.

  “Stamina and mana recovery formations.” Yui pointed at the runes carved into the beds.

  “Coupled with their cultivation, they’d need what? An hour or two of downtime to reach one hundred percent?” Kanoa calculated.

  “Scary.” Yui opened a heavy metal door to the right. “Imagine fighting an enemy that has people with the energy to fight for days on end, then rest for an hour and be ready to fight again.”

  They passed through a switchback corridor, entering the true bunker with natural light streaming in. There were two people set back from the thin slits that showed the outside world. They were looking through formation-enhanced binoculars at the open ground in front of Vuzgal.

  The others rushed to their feet, disturbing their card game.

  “Sir,” one man said, going pale.

  “You’re not going to be alert all the time just watching the fields. We’re on twenty-five percent. Only need one spotter per section,” Yui reminded them.

  “Ah, yes, sir.” The man nodded.

  “Those weapons ready?” Yui pointed at the repeaters and FAL style rifles that were loaded and ready behind the firing slits.

  “Yes, sir. They’re ranged and readied. When given the word, we just need to put them in their mounts and we’ll be ready to fire.”

  “Good work! Make sure you get some sleep and food. Can’t be alert all the time. Take this time to get ready.” Yui turned and left the forward section of the bunker. He passed the supply elevator and moved down the stairs.

  “Air exchanging formations are working well, and the heat-dissipating formations look good in there,” Kanoa said. “One hell of a piece of engineering.”

  “Over-engineered to hell. Maybe I’m not the paranoid one. Erik and Rugrat worked on the first series of designs, updating them all the time,” Elan said.

  “Oh, I don’t doubt it.”

  They went through more corridors before reaching another bunker. The rear section of the bunker was largely similar.

  Yui waved the troops hanging out to sit back down. He looked at the ladders that ran up the rear of the room to yet more rooms.

  “There are two armored gunner positions, dual repeaters or machine guns if needed. The lift goes up there so they can get ammunition if they need it. The trap door to the front of the bunker is bigger for the shells,” Kanoa said.

  “I haven’t seen the new artillery cannons yet.”

  They went through another metal door, through a switchback.

  “Shit,” Yui said, smiling.

  “One forty-centimeter, reinforced Earth Iron shield.”

  The artillery cannon was just that. An artillery cannon.

  “It’s in a hidden position, so the metal exterior doors have been closed over. Moving to the ready position, the exterior doors open to allow the barrel clearance. Then they will rotate from side to side with the artillery cannon to act as a second shield. The interior shield moves with the barrel, protecting the crew from incoming fire that makes it past the exterior doors. The cannon can elevate from zero to forty-five degrees. Its design is based on the railgun, but with that base charge cartridge.” Kanoa said.

  “Right, because of its weight of a hundred and fifty kilograms, the cartridge allows it to gain an initial velocity right into the teeth of the formations along the barrel that increase its velocity. It saves having to use the heat-dissipating blocks that are seen on the regular railguns.” Yui grinned.

  “With the same discarding sabot system as the railgun covered in formations. Damn thing is scary as hell.” The three men admired it.

  “It certainly sounds like it,” Elan said, bringing them back to reality as the artillery team stood around, not knowing how to react.

  “Ah.” Yui coughed. “Good work. We should head over to inspect the other bunkers. There are still the mortar bunkers, command bunkers, and supply caches.”

  “The whole roof comes off the mortar bunkers. With the mana barrier, they’re protected from the air. The Willful Institute will have one hell of a time trying to get close.”

  “If they can make it past your air force.”

  “Can’t let you ground-pounders take all the glory. About time you saw what we can do. Our shells start at one hundred kilos and go up to one thousand.”

  “Well, looks like the valley might be a little remodeled in the near future.”

  Mistress Mercy’s office was filled with people. While her uncle was away, she still had plenty of people within the Kostic Clan to help plan out the campaign she was put in command of.

  “Cousin Niklaus.” Mercy walked up to the scholarly man looking at the maps of the Beast Mountain Range.

  He turned and bowed to Mercy. “Cousin Mercy.”

  “Have you had progress?” She walked to the table past him.

  “The different units have been pulled together. Messengers should reach the lower realms shortly to apply pressure and incite attacks against the Beast Mountain Range. Once we arrive, we will clear up the rest.”

  “Very good. The quicker we can complete our mission, the better. High Elder Cai Bo is watching. If we can complete this task, our entire clan’s standing will increase.”

  “Yes, Cousin.”

  “Tell the commanders to pull it together or else they will have to tell the High Elder why it takes them so long to prepare.” Mercy’s voice dropped into a gro
wl.

  “I understand.”

  “The clan recommended you for this position. I hope they were right to do so.”

  Niklaus cupped his hands and bowed. “I shall endeavor to do my best for the clan and the Institute.”

  “Good.” Mercy turned and walked away. She didn’t have time to waste on wars and planning. She had to keep training. While it was odd that there was something happening in the First Realm, it was only the First Realm—nothing useful ever came from there.

  “Stand to! Stand to!” The voice rang through the bunker complex as Lieutenant Acosta jumped out of her bed with the rest of her command staff. They pulled on their clothes as they ran into the adjacent communications room.

  “Report!” Acosta yelled, pulling on her shirt.

  The night staff was fully awake, talking through communication devices. On the main wall, a projection formation showed the exterior of Vuzgal more than thirty meters above their heads.

  To the left side of the command center, a formation enhanced artillery cannon rested, hidden beneath layers of armor to defy the enemy’s sensing spells. Its hardened painted metal waited on shiny greased gears, ready to extend forward into firing position.

  Hopefully, you’ll remain our dirty little secret. Acosta averted her eyes.

  “Batteries are readying!” the sergeant on watch said as the first linked formation switched from red to green.

  “Artillery cannon five ready!”

  Another green.

  “Mortar bunker three ready!”

  Green lights appeared as the artillery company came alive, standing by, ready and waiting to open their metal shields and rain hell down upon their enemies.

  Acosta pulled on her body armor as she looked at the other bunkers. The machine-gun nests were at the ready, locked and loaded with guns mounted. The medical bay was ready and waiting to receive. Reserve and quick reaction forces were holding ready.

  The air force had pilots mounted and ready to fly. The whole of Dragon Regiment was alive and buzzing ready in their bunkers.