Monsoon117 posts
Posts: 563
Files: 49
399 Gaming the System
Florence nodded."In exchange for a dispersal of your own moral codes?"I scoffed."You think that's all I'm going to ask for?"Florence frowned."It isn't?"I steepled my hands."Oh, I'm taking everything I can."Chapter BeginFlorence rolled his eyes."Ah ...
398 A Hollow Invasion
They dwarfed the size of skyscrapers. It was like a large metropolis floated over our heads. As the shadows covered our guild, Hybrids fought on the outer hulls, many having drilled their way inside. Behind the vessels, the void of space howled out, feasting on Earth's air. Helios reached up wit...
397 Laughing in the Rain
I blinked, and everything returned to normal in an instant. My hands trembled, my guild's destruction leaving me hollowed out inside. Taking a deep breath, I sent another message to Shalahora. The shadow oozed from the ground, his eyes as clear as cyan glass.He murmured."You wish to tread in...
396 To Embrace the End
Shalahora tapped my forehead."How many minds do you have free at this moment?""About nine.""And how many may die before you lose your sanity?"I wanted to lie as I clenched my jaw."I can lose eight, and they come back quickly, too."Shalahora lowered his arm."My las...
395 A Shattering Mirror
I raised a palm."Don't think for a second we're on amenable terms. You've got ground you need to gain before I consider you an effective subordinate. You slip up in any way, and we're done. Do you understand me?"Neel gave me a two-fingered salute."Aye aye, sir. Loud and c...
394 A Mired Past
My eyes narrowed."And what makes you so sure?"Neel scoffed."Kiddo, I knew you before the system."I leaned back. Neel stood tall."Daniel Hillside. Certified punk. A tough boxer. And someone who took beatings from his daddy before dishing one back. Good one, by the way. That prick ...
393 The Weight of Worlds
Still groggy, Helios wiped the sleep out of his eyes before a bolt of dark lightning snapped into the ground beside him. The boom and thunder woke him up seconds before Helios tilted his head. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples."What have you done now? Running an experiment to see if you ...
392 A City Alive
Plazia laughed aloud but thought in a whisper."At times, a man only needs a monster, and he will find his fury. And I have no alms with being a monster if that is what is needed."I tapped my side."Ah. You're giving them something to fight for. Be careful with manipulating people like...
391 Normalcy's Might
Finding his cause of concern, Plazia rested on a basalt throne in the middle of the room, having moved a few bookshelves to do so. Torix rested on a leather couch like Diesel, and the lich's metal skeleton gleamed darkly in the lamplight. As he approached, he turned to me."Ah, Daniel. You me...
390 A Warped Past
It gestured to a circle made with mosaic stones on the ground. Everywhere else was beaten and bare earth. I sat cross-legged in the ring."Thanks. So, about Hod, what was he like before being eldritchified?"The elders peered at one another, murmuring with guttural tones and noises. Making out...
I'm Returning to Writing
Hey everybody. I know that most of you have likely moved on after waiting for literal years between my posts. I can't blame any of you for having resentment or for despising how I've handled the story in general. I want you all to know I'm sorry for how I lacked the will, determination, ...
My First Book is Published
Hello everyone. I've finally accomplished a lifetime goal of publishing my work, and in a form I'm proud of. Getting it out there has been preying on my anxieties in many ways, but I've pushed through and handled it. I could never have done this without all of your support. It's genu...
389 The Tasks of a Ruler
It gave me a salute before launching away once more. I ogled where it once stood, stunned by how it handled things I'd forgotten. Shaking out my surprise, I looked around, finding the guild coming to life. Architects built in the distance, the blue core's barrier sheened over the horizon, an...
388 Artifacts and Delegation
Before moving on, I had my extra psyches inspect my different status screens further. I might be missing something they'd find. They handled that while I returned to my current task - making the amulets for everybody. This would ensure their safety while I left, letting them go anywhere without ...
387 The Makings of an Empire
Before I fell into my work, a crash erupted in the distance. Trees fell as an architect golem sliced the forest apart with its bladed feet. Kessiah walked beside it, pointing it in different directions. Further out, a guardian golem inspected people, ensuring nothing happened here. The executive toi...
386 A Shadow, Reborn
Shalahora grabbed the stone, holding it in front of Hod."Are you willing to leave Hod's wake, or will you linger in his gloom?"Other Hod stood, his shadow looming over the Omega Strain."I am a parasite, feasting on a memory of what was."Other Hod reached out, and his voice deepen...
385 A Monster's Mind
I raised a brow."Hod? Aren't you worried he'll be eroded?"Shalahora wavered."It is the eldritch half that we must strengthen and quickly."Torix's eyes flared."Not that I disagree with you, but I'd estimate that to be his dominant half."Shalahora's form wav...
384 Of Alpha and Omega
After she fell asleep, I pulled myself out, feeling refreshed. I got back to work on mass-producing basic cored golems. I handled this in the golem creation facility I made a while back, though my new method of making the golems put out less residual heat than before. Halfway through making a batch ...
383 The Golemic Progenitor
It left a spike of fear in me.If this was Lehesion's eclipse attack, could I save this place in time? I stretched out my arms, imagining a singularity storm over the stars. I'd destroy the entire mountain in my defense. At the very least, I'd turn this place from a small mountain to a br...
382 An Earned Intermission
Helios frowned."Your lottery was vastly different than my own."Torix pressed his fingertips together."What did Elysium do to your rulers?"Helios crossed his arms."They ensured everyone's survival."I gawked. Helios shrugged."494 survivors. I am the only reason any rule...
381 Another Antecedence
"Seeing and knowing are distinct concepts. You should learn the difference."A wall smiled."You speak of sight? Would the blind preach to the able?"Helios inspected his hand."There is more than one way to see, and you shall soon know it."Helios stared at me and clasped his arm...
380 A Changed Albony
I shook my head at how insane the situation was, and seconds passed like eons. We all looked around before a flash of mana crossed over us. A muscled albony appeared, black stripes lining his furred body. He glanced around, his eyes pale and blind from birth. He stared at his hands."And here I i...
379 A Friend Found
At the same time, I pulled out my grimoire and handed it to Obolis."Use this to make the counter enchantment. At the very least, we'll need any cipheric effects voided in this space."Above us, several screams echoed out. I turned to Shalahora."What's happening?"Shalahora rais...
378 A Hopeful Death
I rolled my eyes and picked her up with a gravity well. I pointed at the vessel."Can they warp us there?""We need a main drive. There's one at Saphigia's center."I pulled us out of the area before one of the soldiers pointed at the body I had left behind. They shouted."Wh...
377 Relived
Gazing at the notification, a wave of calm passed over me. Enormous amounts of mana radiated in. My psyches crystallized, becoming rigid and dense. I swallowed back down a wave of nausea, and my trembling lessened to shaking. Clarity coursed, and motivation surged.That's right. I wasn't alon...
376 A Chat After Time's End
I flooded them, and they burst, the telepathic control of Lehesion weakening. I darted towards him, smashing his body apart once more. Taking out a few runic plates, I detonated them, deforming the area. Lehesion's body devolved into a collection of talking organs and speaking skin. The remnants...
375 A Might Unseen and Undeniable
Lehesion pulled himself from the void, and his eyes met mine. A grin grew over his face."Ah. It is you yet again. I thought we'd called a truce of sorts? Perhaps you wished for another thrashing."Energy plumed from me, ascendant mana billowing out like blood. The ocean ran red."I'...
374 What is to Come
Plazia laughed."Don't tempt him, child."I cracked my neck, and the echo sounded like steel cables tearing in the ocean."Eh, I'll take good care of him either way."Amara pointed at me."What of you then?"I squeezed my hands."I've got a status to attend to."I...
373 An Empire's Fall and Rise
My throat burned, but I kept it together. Althea sobbed beside me while several others broke down. On my shoulder, a group of flies landed. Plazia whispered through them."Remember their pain, for it may become your own."Even if he was rough as sandpaper, Plazia was right. I collected my thou...
372 A Broken Trust
The remnant coughed."Ahem. I would hope so, yes."I pulled out Valgus's shackles. I wrapped a chain around the remnant and gave it some mana, enough to psionically isolate. The diplomat screamed before I put my hand over his mouth.Torix's fiery eyes flared white."What madness has ...
