Isekai Magus: A LitRPG Progression Saga

by Han Yang

  “And done,” the reaper replied, sliding back into my chest.

  “Return to me my new minions, avoid fighting,” I commanded.

  Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap!

  The crews on the siege weapons hustled to ready their weapons. The soaring rocks soared high before descending into the unknown.

  The sound of cracking trees and screaming orcs barely rose over their war cries. I saw the first of the banners flapping near the clearing.

  My four new minions rushed between enemy cavalry, spells peppering their ruined bones until they exploded.

  I quickly dismissed their notifications, reaching out to not only claim the Zorta they left behind but to connect to the freshly deceased orcs from the latest volley. The increased shaking and the extra loud cries for blood made the situation clear, the main army was nearing.

  When my spell engulfed the area, I received an interesting prompt.

  You have connected to 11 orcs and 6 wargs beyond claim - Consume 121.092 (YES) - (NO)

  I selected yes, noticing the four orbs over my recently defeated minions zip into my body.

  “They’re ruining their dead,” I grumbled.

  “Good, it’s more effort on their part. Last time I scouted this army, they held a two to one advantage against our numbers. They’re hesitating because of Sprinkles,” Asha said.

  “I can’t constantly bring up -” A chain of snaps drowned out my voice, causing me to pause. “The dead and manage him. I also can’t send him to get his shield with all their aerial units taking off.”

  A dozen wyverns launched above the canopy to the northeast. A griffin and dragon flew directly up the road. The reality of the situation hit me then. The enemy had trudged through the storm to reach me. If the storm had never cleared…

  I shook my head, thanking the gods.

  I snickered because I knew where Prince Tao and his griffin rider were going.

  “I bet they're going to be pissed,” I said with a chuckle.

  The latest volley slammed down right into the tree line where the enemy assembled.

  “Famo is amazing,” Asha said.

  “Yes, well worth his costs,” I said proudly, reaching out for the dead again.

  I could see the enemy trying to kill their own wounded and scoffed. Instead of casting my spell, I waited, deciding to steal the Zorta instead. The sight of orcs brutally hacking at their pleading brethren brought joy to my heart. The bastards deserved to die when all they had to do was leave us the hell alone.

  The orc scrum ended, and a whole new rotation of rocks were flung forward. The enemy commander must have been out in the back of the army because these front units were not advancing, merely forming.

  A rain of arrows erupted from the back of the cavalry. A whole lot of the projectiles lost straight flight, twerking from hitting canopy leaves. Those that made it through fell well short of my lines. If the enemy had siege weapons, they would have to have slogged them through muddy jungle, but so far, nothing revealed itself as a counter to our longer range.

  My troops stayed stoic, watching the enemy find their resolve and form their regiments.

  A shriek of rage in the distance told me the humans riding the griffin and dragon noted their lost troops, increasing speed and fleeing their allies.

  “There goes Prince Tao, another of his plots foiled. That man is going to be pissed when the time for reckoning comes due,” I said, watching the duo fly away.

  I did relish in the fact their troops had become mine.

  The latest volley of boulders smashed into the forming ranks and chaos ensued. I reached out, sending a connection through the area.

  You have connected to 34 orcs, 9 trolls, and 17 wargs beyond claim - Consume 473.033 (YES) - (NO)

  I selected yes, enjoying the easy gains. I saw frustrated healers, noting I was stealing their revivals quicker than they could lock onto their dead and cast their spells.

  Another volley belched forth, swooshing from our back lines.

  A massive chieftain strode from the trees, leaping out of the path from a launched boulder. His lieutenant burst into a gory mess as the stone continued soaring, eventually sinking then jumping out of the soft soil.

  I reached out, attempting to connect to the freshly dead. The orc chieftain called on his units to advance, bellowing a fierce war cry. The efforts to contain the dead were minimal this time, the army focused on our ranks.

  You have connected to 21 orcs, 19 trolls, and 9 wargs. Select (ALL) (GROUP) (SINGLE) and consume or claim.

  I selected claim, noticing Asha holding a hand up to maintain our crossbow fire. The enemy sent a few spells for Sprinkles to down him. He crouched, dodging the easy to predict and distant throws. The magic crackled by him, soaring toward the troll city.

  A brief glance showed the enemy at our back had formed but was stationary. Not wasting any more time, I focused on my spell.

  You have selected to claim 21 orcs, 19 trolls, and 9 wargs as minions for 271.021 Zorta. Select (YES) - (NO)

  When I selected yes, the reaper said, “I’ll just hang out with you, if this is the plan.”

  “Yes, I’ll be converting the dead as they fall,” I told him.

  The reaper nodded before he darkened the sky, pulling magic from my core until it blanketed the battlefield. Enemy lightning spells brightened the dimming day with their fierce magic. A blue sheen washed over our area while reapers fell from the sky.

  The void of night burned brightly from a sudden surge of spells.

  I stood in disbelief. The enemy unleashed a torrent of magic against the ghouls, and I gasped at the audacity of the orcs attacking the spirits.

  The intensity from the enemy spells lit the entire region, telling me a lot of the orcs held offensive magic. The sheer amount of power being shot into the dead ripped the air, creating crackling booms that sizzled with power.

  I shielded my eyes from the bright displays as any restraint or control from the orcs vanished.

  The reaper cackled madly in delight while the onslaught continued. The magic… it fed the ghouls who sent the magic to the reaper. The orc commanders cried out for a halt but failed to control their mages wasting their precious energy.

  A lot of the pent-up infantry orcs unleashed their spells, their rage finding an opening.

  When my minions rose and the spell completed, I ordered, “Kill the trolls.”

  The minions the main army had charged beyond turned, rushing toward the jungle. An advancing unit of trolls suddenly faced a small contingent of enemy minions charging them.

  The reaper turned to me and said, “You’re sitting at a surplus of 2332 mana. Thank the idiots who don’t know how reapers work. There are texts that say attacking us harms the Mancer. That is clearly not true, and I’m surprised these orcs held such knowledge.”

  “Likely the humans shared their information,” I said, and he merely nodded.

  Snap!

  The enemy charge slowed, running into the thick muck. The enemy chieftain bellowed out in frustration, his troops increasing their efforts and war cries for blood.

  This war boss, I could see it in his eyes and darting glances; he likely understood what was happening already. He could win, I think we both knew that. But… the cost would be high and the outcome in debate.

  Without a doubt, the storm had saved us. Between the cover allowing me to grab Sprinkles and our fresh cleared field being churned into a mud pit, the number advantage they had over us had faded.

  I watched a few of the front ranks fall to the ground, their boots sending them off balance. When they tripped, the next rank either used them as a platform or fell on top of their allies. This was all before the enemy ever reached our crossbow range.

  The enemy commander called for his geomancers to solidify the ground. For about fifty feet, the orcs found solid ground forming. Their mad dash back into mud didn’t help maintain their formation.

  Snap!

  The repeating sound of the
next volley of catapult rounds belched forth.

  “Start slinging trees, sidearm toss,” I ordered Sprinkles.

  He already held a dozen in his left arm and was quick to react. The catapult boulders crashed into the chaotic troll lines. The projectiles didn’t discriminate, smashing both the trolls and the recently resurrected minions who fought them. The battle was one sided. Trolls were meant to be ranged, not melee, and their reinforcements were struggling to kill my troops in the middle of the archers.

  I saw the chieftain glance over his shoulder, seeing his battle plans unravel. He doubled down, shouting at his troops to regain their feet. He even had his banner orc wave two new flags.

  A wolf and a golden nugget snapped at the top of the signal flag.

  The reserves and the cavalry who had let the infantry pass revealed themselves. At least a thousand plus orcs exited the tree line in the distance.

  The two regiments raised weapons, bayed to the blood gods, and then charged forward. The field was a ruined mess. Their second units struggled far more than the first. The warg commanders rotated these troops off to the flank, finding fresh mud to churn.

  The advancing front ranks were getting hammered by trees, Sprinkles whipped the trunks like kindling. Shield walls formed, doing little to halt the power of a tree thrown by a cyclops.

  Unfortunately, his aim was shit.

  Whenever a tree crashed into the enemy formations, bodies flew as the weight of the tree crushed or sent orcs flying. Big holes in the shield wall formed. In short, it was devastating.

  The savage situation of war deteriorated. Orcs beheaded orcs, thinking their allies were rising from the dead. The reality of the situation was that the injured were simply trying to stand again. The idiot chieftain was going to lose if they kept that up.

  A tree went high, missing both the front ranks and the reserves. The next three tore massive holes into the formations. Still, the orcs closed the gap, ever nearing. If their formation reached us, we’d still lose, but the biggest part of the battle was about to transpire.

  The magical exchange of mages loomed with some already charging spells only waiting for the effective distance to close.

  “Ready!” Asha called out.

  I prepared my spell, knowing it would be one of the most pivotal moments of the battle.

  “Aim!”

  Arrows rained down in the hundreds from advancing trolls, reaching our lines. Goblins and trolls cried out. A few fell from their stands while most of my army fought under cover. The repetitive thud of arrows thunking into wood covered the battlefield.

  The front ranks of the orcs neared magical range and were well within our crossbow range.

  “Fire!”

  The clattering snap of crossbows deafened the battlefield. Bolts zipped forwards, soaring in a swarming cloud of anger. I watched in fascination as the front ranks raised shields.

  Our bolts lifted, their natural flight rising from the speed of their ejection. The bracing enemy grew confused as the expected weapons of death zipped over their heads.

  The reserves stumbled, caught off guard. They hastily hefted their shields, trying to establish a wall. The unknowing back ranks continued to stomp through the muck, not realizing what had transpired. When they trudged forward until they crashed into the front rank, they knocked their shielding allies down.

  Crack! Bang!

  The projectiles slammed into the reserves, and I watched hundreds of fierce orcs topple.

  Not letting a second go by, I unleashed my condensing magic, letting it wash over the battlefield. With a bonus surge from the ample time, I ejected a domination spell.

  The black magic fought the brightening spells of the orc mages within the front companies. Lightning, fireballs, arcane magic, and more zoomed forth in retaliation while my magic locked onto the dead.

  You have connected to 213 orcs. Select (ALL) (GROUP) (SINGLE) and Consume or Claim.

  A lot happened in a short amount of time. The most important thing was that the enemy’s front ranks reached magic range.

  The first volley of enemy spells cracked, ponged, crackled, and exploded against blue shielding that flickered intensely. Across our lines, the mages in charge of shielding wavered and most collapsed. I knew there would be no stopping the second volley. I decided to sacrifice my prized minions to protect my main army.

  “Mages, hold nothing back! Sprinkles, Mini, and my undead knights, CHARGE!” I bellowed, hastily returning to my summons.

  16 orcs have resisted your claim attempt. You have selected to raise 197 orcs as minions for 1532.129 Zorta. This will incur Nordan points. Do you confirm (YES) - (NO)

  I quickly selected yes, seeing the reaper leap into action.

  The goblins and trolls charged spells quickly, racing to get their round of magic off before the enemy infantry could expel their second attack.

  The sky blotted into a void of blackness, only to be combated by the sheer brilliance that fifteen hundred mages could produce.

  This was the telling moment of the conflict. Not the reapers descending from the sky. Not the undead racing for a flank attack. Not the crossbows or the siege rounds wrecking formations. Not the undead carving through the ranged trolls.

  The magic of the mundane goblins - when leveled - had devastating effects.

  Of course, our enemy wasn’t brain dead. The front ranks locked shields, slow walking in a turtle formation to brace for the onslaught.

  Their own mages hastily cast blue shielding, absorbing a lot of the magic until many of them fell from mana exhaustion.

  The poor mages quickly found a friendly blade attacking them for falling.

  The front line faltered and collapsed when the rest of the magic smashed their shields. A fully empowered level ten fireball could easily melt a thin shield. A washing of magical rain continued to muddy the terrain, and the lightning crashed down hard, zapping hundreds instead of single targets.

  Additional orcs collapsed, stunned or killed by the continuing ferocity of the goblins and trolls.

  Tarla’s swirling vortex of magic intensified until she ejected an expanding fireball. The magic raced across the muddy field. I saw an orc give up, diving to avoid the spell instead of blocking it.

  When the inferno crashed into the tightly paced orcs, it incinerated at least thirty foes. A gust of air magic sent the ashes scattering, orbs glowing brightly in the space they vacated.

  The whole time the slowly advancing enemy died, the reapers finished their work. My new minions rose from the dead, right in the middle of the reserves felled by the crossbow rounds.

  Again, I ordered, “Attack the trolls, move at all haste.”

  “They’ll reach our lines if you don’t rotate the attack,” Asha said.

  “I know,” I replied. “I just need those trolls to not drop another volley of arrows into our formations.”

  “They lost, the tide is already in our favor,” Tarla predicted.

  She pointed to the minion army I had ordered to charge forward. Much like the enemy, my minions were stuck in the ruined field, desperate to reach the enemy as ordered. Sprinkles moved ahead of the rest, but not by much. He towered above the others, giving the enemy an easy target.

  Tarla asked. “Why sacrifice Sprinkles?”

  “The greater good,” I said sadly. “The greater good.”

  I knew mages generally had enough mana to manage two powerful spells, this would be a third volley for the enemy front line which startled me. And boy oh boy did they charge up their spells until the very air sizzled with power.

  The front ranks, the cavalry, and the reserves all launched a thousand plus spells at my behemoth. I ordered him to dive into the enemy front line, knowing there was no stopping the tremendous amount of magic being spewed in his direction.

  The hundreds of spells that hit his lunging frame caused massive implosions of condensing energy. The fact he jumped over the enemy only gave further reason to willingly sacrifice my greatest asset.

 
; Crackle!

  The air sucked in, pulling me forward as the vortex of energy destabilized. I watched, not willing to say goodbye to my friend without seeing his demise.

  BOOM!

  I immediately cast a heal area, limiting the scope to my troops only.

  “Dammit!” the reaper grumbled, and I stumbled.

  You have consumed 1833/3900 Mana to heal injured troops.

  Minion Sprinkles has died and is beyond recovery. Travel to the location of his demise to recover 1192 Zorta.

  I reached out, touching everything I could that had died. I immediately bypassed the prompts, hurrying to find the consume option.

  You selected to consume 845 orcs, 233 trolls, 27 wargs, 36 goblins, and 1 cyclops for a total of 10733 Zorta. Confirm (YES) - (NO)

  When I selected yes, I fist pumped the air.

  On the battlefield, the orc formation turned to butcher their dead, completely losing any consistency to their charge. Mini and the lidka flanked the falling front ranks, crashing into the disorganized orcs.

  The real slaughter started as the enemy commander screamed to advance while his troops were in disarray.

  Snap! Crack!

  The crossbow units had reloaded, firing their second volley into the reserves.

  “That’s going to leave a mark,” Asha said dryly.

  “Yup, and I have a whole lot of Z this time,” I said, seeing a golden dragon the size of a ship approaching from the north. “Well shit, Torro’s coming. Best to hold back for his arrival.”

  Asha glanced up, seeing what I saw. “Reload crossbows, advance the scouts, ready your magic!”

  “He knows we’ll have to react,” I said. “Fall back, we have to hope Mini and the undead can hold long enough while we prepare for the coming aerial attack.”

  The dragon roared loud enough to demand the attention of everyone. A white flag flew under the beast, and my jaw dropped.