Soulstone: Awakening: A LitRPG novel (World of Ruul Book 1)

by J. A. Cipriano

  “I’m gonna go with magic,” George said as I knelt down beside the chest.

  “Well, let’s do this,” I said, casting a quick glance at my health bar to make sure it was full.

  That done, I looked at the traps over once more. They didn’t seem terribly malevolent, but then again, traps in TG never did either. They just turned you into a pile of steaming mush the second you tripped them. Still, I’d disarmed my fair share of traps in Titan Gate.

  I shut my eyes as I concentrated on the skill and counted backwards from ten. As I opened my eyes and took a deep breath, I moved my hands forward until I touched the first trap while visualizing the disarm trap skill.

  “You have encountered a trap, would you like to try to disarm it?” Elizabeth asked, and as she spoke, it brought up a menu listing my options and probabilities of success. I had a ninety-seven percent chance of removing my hand and escaping without triggering the trap, but only a seventy percent chance of successfully disarming it.

  “Yeah, I want to try,” I said, taking a deep breath as I willed the trap to disarm with everything I had. No, I did more than that. I envisioned the trap already disarmed, believing that it wasn’t even there, and as my fingers began to glow with soft amber light, the trap dissolved.

  “You can now Disarm Traps. This skill is currently level one with one percent experience,” Elizabeth told me as a smile crossed my lips. There were three more traps on the chest, and as I reached out and touched them, I initiated my new skill. To be fair, I was a little worried because they all had a thirty percent chance to be triggered, but at the same time seventy percent was a lot.

  As the last trap dissolved a moment later, I heaved a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. The chest sat there before me fully disarmed and waiting to be opened. I reached out and grabbed the lid, and as I did, I realized the damned thing was locked.

  “Seriously?!” I growled, lifting the shoebox-sized chest and shaking it violently, which caused the contents to rattle around inside.

  “I guess we’re taking it with us?” George asked, annoyance filling his voice to the brim. “Because now that it’s disarmed, we can just go to town and get that thing opened and not stay out here in the goddamned rain.”

  “Fine,” I snapped, anger filling me as I shook the chest one last time. I’d been so ready for new items, I could taste them. Instead, all I got was a locked box I got to shove inside my inventory. Way less awesome. “Come on.”

  I trudged sullenly toward the portal, ignoring the rain as I reached out toward the rent in space and time and touched it. As my fingers pressed into the warm, gelatin-like surface, the entire world faded away so quickly, it was like I’d never been in the arena at all. As I blinked my eyes to orient myself to my new surroundings, I found myself standing in the muddy wasteland next to the sinkhole we’d fallen down so long ago.

  The others in my party were scattered around the portal picking off zombies and the like. Both Dark Heart and Crash were using spells, but Two’ Manchu had reequipped his bow.

  “Hey,” I said, waving at them as Crash’s spectral blade reduced a zombie to a smoldering pile of shards, causing my experience bar to move up a rather dismal one tenth of one percent. It was weird because only a few levels ago these things had given a butt load of experience, but now that I was level nine, even killing the cobalt demon had only netted me six percent.

  “Finally,” Two’ Manchu said, turning to look at us. “It feels like we’ve been waiting forever.” He sighed and rubbed his face with one meaty hand. “We got you something.”

  “Oh?” I asked as he reached into his pocket and pulled something out of his inventory.

  “Yep, one freshly severed ghoul nail.” He held a yellowed, scratched fingernail out to me. “When we arrived through the portal, there were a bunch of monsters, but Dark Heart and I were able to take ‘em.” He flexed.

  “Sweet,” I said, taking the nail, and like before, Elizabeth told me I had gained a quest item. “And thanks, Dark Heart.”

  “It’s cool. Now let’s get out of here.” She came toward us, her new sword in hand. “You guys have return to town scrolls? I have exactly zero desire to walk anywhere in the wasteland.” She nodded toward the sky where the sun was slowly setting, causing oranges and reds to spread out across the sky. “And undead monsters are stronger after dark.”

  “Good to know,” I said, reflexively patting my pocket to make sure I had the scrolls of escape, even though the gesture was sort of meaningless. “And yeah, we have scrolls.”

  “Good.” With that she pulled out her own scroll and vanished in a flare of light. Crash wasted no time following her, but Two’ Manchu didn’t. Instead, he smirked at me.

  “You go on ahead. I want to get the next level. I only need a couple more kills. I’ll catch up with you.” He shooed me away with one hand. “Seriously, go. I’ll be fine.” He stomped around a little. “I’m just going to wait for the monsters to respawn, since I don’t want to accidentally fall into another sinkhole.”

  “You sure?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at the barbarian. “It could be dangerous. I could stick around if you like.”

  “Nah, you guys are harshing my experience gain by being so much higher level. Go turn in the quest while I catch up.” He waved at me. “If it’s like TG, I’ll still get the rewards since it shows completed in my log too. I’ll really only be a few minutes.”

  “Well, have fun then,” I said, pulling out my return to town scroll. “Later.”

  “Try not to die,” George added as I initiated the scroll and teleported back to town.

  36

  As the Town of Silver Gables appeared in front of me for the first time in what felt like forever, I couldn’t help but give a little cry of joy. Crash and Dark Heart were nowhere to be found, but as water burbled in the fountain in town square, and the sky overhead twisted toward night, I realized I’d never been happier to get to town. No, it wasn’t just that. It was that I’d survived my first day in this virtual world. I’d killed a few bosses and beaten a dungeon. I’d finished a quest.

  Sure, I didn’t have any super awesome gear to show for all of that, and I’d broken my scythe, but I was level nine and had an epic feeling quest to turn in. While I had no idea what would be in store for me tomorrow, I couldn’t help but feel relief flood through me. Tomorrow would bring what it would, but for today? Today, I had survived, and I would continue to survive. No, not just survive. I would win.

  “So, what’s the plan, boss?” George asked, glancing up at me. He was sitting on the ground beside me scratching his ears with his foot.

  “First, we go see Dora and then we get this box opened. After that, we turn in the quest.” I patted my leg, trying to indicate the quest items and smirked because it was silly. They weren’t actually in my pocket. Man, I really needed to stop doing that.

  “I’m surprised you don’t want to turn in the quest first and see what cool shit you get,” George said, hopping along beside me as we made our way across the cobblestone streets. Part of me was a bit shocked we didn’t see Crash or Dark Heart, but at the same time, I wasn’t that worried about them. They had to be around here somewhere, since they showed up in my party window with The Town of Silver Gables as their location.

  “For all I know, turning in the quest will instantly obligate me to do something else. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to sell some junk, get my scythe repaired, and all that first.” I shrugged at the bunny. “There’s plenty of time before the timer on this quest runs out to do that.”

  “That’s an excellent point,” George said, grinning at me. “I guess you’re smarter than I thought.” He shook his head, causing his ears to flop around his face. “But don’t go getting a big head.”

  “I’ll do my best not to,” I said as we approached Dora. She was standing there alternatively glaring daggers at Dark Heart and making googly eyes at Crash.

  “Oh, Kahn!” she said, turning
away from the rusty sword Dark Heart was offering her and moving toward me. She clasped my hands in hers and shook them. “Can you believe the nerve of this one?” She glanced over her shoulder at the paladin. “She says I’m not paying enough for that piece of junk sword she’s got.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me. She’s a real nut buster, that one,” I said, glancing past Dora at Dark Heart who scowled at me, and I’ll admit it, her anger gave me all kinds of selfish joy. Crash grinned, turned away, and began to busy himself looking through various knick knacks before Dark Heart looked at him.

  “So, what have you got for me?” Dora asked a touch of squee in her voice. “Whatever it is, I’m sure I’ll absolutely treasure it forever.”

  “Just some stuff from a dungeon. “Nothing too dramatic,” I replied, smiling at her as I showed her all the junk I’d collected during the fight. Oddly, a lot of the items had a P next to them in parentheses, and as I sold them, I realized why. The money I received upon their sale was automatically distributed between the four of us. Well, that was cool.

  “Well, now that you’re satisfied, I guess I can help her,” Dora grumbled, turning toward Dark Heart with a sigh. “You are satisfied, aren’t you?” she added hopefully, a lascivious grin spreading across her face as she looked over her shoulder at me.

  “Mostly. Now, I just need to find a guy who can repair weapons and armor. Wouldn’t happen to know who could do that?” I smiled at her while George rolled his eyes and mouthed the word, “dumbass.”

  “Joe the blacksmith can,” she said, pointing down the street to my left. “You’ll find the shop at the end of the road. Just for future reference, any blacksmith ought to be able to help you with repair jobs, but if you carry whetstones, you can use those to repair most minor battle damage in the field.”

  “Good to know,” I said, looking toward the spot in her cart she indicated. Sure enough there was a pouch of whetstones sitting there, along with armor polish, and various other essential items I’d neglected to buy when starting out. “Actually, I want to buy some more stuff.”

  Dark Heart scowled at me as Dora turned pointedly away from her and rushed toward me. “Sure, thing, Kahn.”

  A moment later, I had purchased some whetstones and armor polish, along with a lock pick, flint, some matches, and a few various other essentials she had stocked. I wasn’t sure if fish hooks and line would be useful, but at this point it was better to be safe than sorry. Still, I was a bit disappointed she didn’t sell any haste or healing potions. That shit had been handy.

  “Thanks,” I said, waving to her as we concluded our business and I made my way toward Joe the blacksmith.

  “Don’t be a stranger,” Dora called back before turning to face Dark Heart. “Now, what was this about me not paying enough?” She punctuated the sentence with a snort. “I’ll have you know I’m not paying a Rhuvian more, and if you think you can wait me out, let’s just say I’m made of time. I can literally stay here and wait forever.”

  A laugh bubbled from my lips as I shook my head, glad I’d just taken the money Dora had offered me. If I hadn’t life would be a lot less fun, that was for sure. Still, I probably ought to explore the town a bit more. Hell, a bunch of shops lined the street, and I hadn’t even known it.

  As my gaze swept over the road, I saw a butcher, a baker, and even a candlestick maker. I made a mental note to visit them as I approached a large storefront on the corner. The sound of metal on metal filled my ears as I approached and pushed my way through the heavy leather strips that barred the entrance.

  The heat inside the tiny front room was overwhelming, but I ignored it as I looked around for the source of the clanging. The shop was nearly empty, containing only a few racks, most of which were also empty. I wasn’t sure if that was because the blacksmith was sold out or if he was just bad at his job, but neither were promising. I’d half-hoped to find a pair of daggers I could buy with my newfound wealth, but alas, it was not to be.

  “Hello?” I called, setting my sights on the only other door in the room and moving toward it. I was fairly sure Joe had to be inside, but the last thing I wanted to do was startle him and get a blacksmith’s hammer to the face.

  The clanging stopped abruptly, and before I’d made it halfway across the room, a girl wearing lime green leather overalls and covered from head to toe in soot burst through the doorway. She stared at me with wild pink eyes and pushed her huge black glasses up into her short pink spikey cyberpunk hair.

  “What do you want?” she barked, wiping her annoyed face with the back of one leather-gloved hand, smearing more soot across her cheeks. “Can’t you see I’m busy here?” She took another step forward and gesturing behind her at the door. “I’ve got a ton of orders to catch up on and no time for gawkers.”

  “Um, yeah, sorry.” I grinned sheepishly. “I was hoping you might be able to repair my scythe. I broke it in a fight.” I pulled the busted weapon out of my inventory and held it in front of myself like an offering. “I was told you were the best in town.”

  Her eyes narrowed into slits, and I could have sworn she looked like she was about to hit me with her massive black hammer as she marched angrily over to me and snatched the weapon from my hands.

  “What did this bad man do to you?” she asked the scythe, running one gloved hand down the bone haft while turning away from me like she was trying to protect it from me.

  “I broke it fighting a cobalt demon,” I replied, trying to sound apologetic, even though I didn’t know why.

  “Cobalt demons are hard-skinned monsters. Of course, they can damage your weapon.” She shook her head. “You need Damascus steel if you want to use edged weapons against monsters like that.”

  “Do you have anything like that?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. “Because if you do, I’d love to buy something. Perhaps a dagger or two?”

  “Uh, huh,” she said, waving the scythe at me in accusation. “You don’t seem like the type to take very good care of your gear. I’m not selling you something just for you to break it.”

  “I promise I’ll be very careful.” I took a cautious step forward. “I just didn’t know about the hard-skinned monsters thing, but let me assure you, if you were to sell me a dagger, I’d treasure it forever.”

  “I see what you’re doing,” she replied, stepping close to me and pressing one dirty hand against my chest while shaking her head at me so her hair fluttered through the air. “I’ll fix this for you. It’ll be ready in the morning. It’ll cost a thousand Rhuvians. In advance.” When I didn’t immediately give her money because I was wondering if I wanted to spend that much to repair the scythe, she continued. “After you pick it up, I’ll consider selling you something from the Damascus collection.” Her eyes narrowed further. “Consider.”

  “That feels like blackmail,” I replied, at which point, she shoved the broken scythe into my chest.

  “Then take your busted weapon and get out of my shop.” She turned to leave.

  “No, it’s fine. Fix the scythe.” I handed it to her along with the thousand Rhuvians. It sort of made my heart hurt to watch all that hard earned money go, but since a casual glance at my wallet let me know I still had over ten thousand Rhuvians, I wasn’t that concerned.

  “See you in the morning,” she said, snatching the scythe from me and disappearing into the back room. “Don’t hesitate to show yourself out.”

  I grumbled as I exited the building, the clang of her striking metal with her hammer already ringing in my ears.

  “She was kinda lame. Definitely, don’t think you’re gonna hit that. Pretty sure you should just go back to Dora’s place and remind her that you’re just a couple of mammals,” George said, looking up at me, and I realized I’d sort of forgotten about him while dealing with the blacksmith.

  “I don’t think she’s actually a mammal,” I said, but the bunny merely snorted at me.

  “Whatever, man. Can we go get something to eat now, or do you wanna go back in there and go zero for
two?” He gestured toward the blacksmith’s shop.

  “Nah, I’m good,” I said, staring past him at the locksmith’s shop across the way. “Let’s get the box opened first. Then we’ll turn in the quest and get something to eat. Cool?”

  “Fine,” George huffed as we crossed the street and entered the red-brick establishment. The room was sparse except for a large counter with a Grizzly Adams type sitting behind it. He had his feet propped up on the counter and was leaning back in his chair snoozing.

  “Um… sir?” I asked, and as I approached, my footsteps killed the silence in the room, causing the guy to sit up with a start and knock his black hat off his head and onto the counter in front of him.

  “What can I do for you?” he asked in a much louder voice than necessary while slapping his huge paws down on the counter for support. “I wasn’t asleep. I promise.”

  “Oh totally. I didn’t think you were,” I lied. “I was hoping you could open this box for me. I have a lock pick, but I’ve never actually used it.” I pulled out the chest I’d acquired from the cobalt demon and placed it on the counter between us.

  “I can open it for ten Rhuvians or teach you to open it for one hundred Rhuvians. What will it be?” he asked, looking up at me expectantly. “Either way is fine.”

  “Teach me,” I said with a sigh as I watched my wallet’s contents decrease by another hundred Rhuvians. I probably could have just learned to lock pick on my own, but whatever. It wasn’t like I’d ever actually picked a lock before. Besides, I was here, wasn’t I?

  “Okay,” he barked, standing up and coming around the counter. “Show me your lock pick.”

  As I pulled mine out, his face scrunched up in righteous indignation. “What the hell do you expect to pick with that? That’s the crappiest pick I’ve ever seen. Did Dora sell you that piece of junk? She did, didn’t she?” He shook his head, grinding his massive teeth together for a second. “No! I won’t have that piece of junk in my shop.” He slammed one enormous fist down on my pick, shattering it into dust before spinning on his heel and marching into the back room. The sound things being shoved around and crashing to the floor filled my ears while I stood there staring at my lock pick. It hadn’t been expensive, only ten Rhuvians, but still…