Luke sat with his face lit by the pale glow of the system screen hovering before him. The list of skills scrolled past like phantoms made of
Luke sat with his face lit by the pale glow of the system screen hovering before him. The list of skills scrolled past like phantoms made of light, but his decision was already made.
“All for the plan.”
[You have acquired the ...
2025-08-24 14:38:37 +0000 UTC View PostLuke had finally reached level 60 in his profession as Guardian Botanist of Mother Freya. For the first time, the system offered him a choic
Luke had finally reached level 60 in his profession as Guardian Botanist of Mother Freya. For the first time, the system offered him a choice of skills exclusive to that path. He drew in a slow breath, steadying himself, and began reading carefully. ...
2025-08-24 11:02:02 +0000 UTC View PostEleanor closed the door softly, leaning against it with arms crossed. She said nothing, only stared at him, her eyes narrowing, sharp and un
Eleanor closed the door softly, leaning against it with arms crossed. She said nothing, only stared at him, her eyes narrowing, sharp and unforgiving. The silence stretched. The air felt heavy.
I should probably say something…
...
2025-08-23 15:35:01 +0000 UTC View PostA full day had passed since Luke wrapped up his preparations to seize the Second Fortress. Now he was roaming the Safe Zone, looking for Jac
A full day had passed since Luke wrapped up his preparations to seize the Second Fortress. Now he was roaming the Safe Zone, looking for Jack. He had left early, using the excuse to burn through the last of his Bastion notes at the marketplace.
Allison stepped into the center of the main fire. She was no good with speeches, but some things needed to be said. “I’d like to say a few w
Allison stepped into the center of the main fire. She was no good with speeches, but some things needed to be said.
“I’d like to say a few words,” she began, steadying herself. She couldn’t just be Allison now. She had to be Allison...
2025-08-22 23:18:26 +0000 UTC View PostIn front of Luke’s hideout stretched a massive field of crops that spread deep into the forest. The entire plantation was the result of his
In front of Luke’s hideout stretched a massive field of crops that spread deep into the forest. The entire plantation was the result of his
In front of Luke’s hideout stretched a massive field of crops that spread deep into the forest. The...
2025-08-22 04:22:34 +0000 UTC View PostAllison could barely stay upright. Her body was in tatters, blood dripping steadily from her wounds. The Ant Queen’s katana was gone, shatte
Allison could barely stay upright. Her body was in tatters, blood dripping steadily from her wounds. The Ant Queen’s katana was gone, shattered, and with it, the carapace enchantment that had been her shield. Now, if even a single blow landed cle...
2025-08-22 00:37:47 +0000 UTC View PostLuke peeked out from the flap of the tent, scanning Conrad’s bandit camp. It sat deep in the forest, inside what people called the “gray zon
Luke peeked out from the flap of the tent, scanning Conrad’s bandit camp. It sat deep in the forest, inside what people called the “gray zone.” Technically neutral ground, but not really. The Safe Zone lay on one side, the Midnight Wardens ...
2025-08-21 04:49:03 +0000 UTC View PostLuke and Jack had been walking through the forest for two hours, a pack of bandits trailing behind them as escorts. “Caw!” A crow screeched
Luke and Jack had been walking through the forest for two hours, a pack of bandits trailing behind them as escorts. “Caw!” A crow screeched
Luke and Jack had been walking through the forest for two hours, a pack of bandits trailing behin...
2025-08-21 04:19:42 +0000 UTC View PostLuke studied the situation carefully. He was in his work area as a woodcutter, the forest where his group usually labored. Normally, a few B
Luke studied the situation carefully. He was in his work area as a woodcutter, the forest where his group usually labored. Normally, a few Bastion soldiers patrolled the grounds to protect the workers, but something was off. There were far more soldi...
2025-08-20 14:02:34 +0000 UTC View PostLuke sat inside Doug’s tavern, sharing a table with his lumberjack partner, Jack. A plate of fried potatoes had just been dropped in front o
Luke sat inside Doug’s tavern, sharing a table with his lumberjack partner, Jack. A plate of fried potatoes had just been dropped in front of them.
“This place is crawling with Bastion soldiers,” Jack remarked.
“I know…”
... 2025-08-20 02:54:47 +0000 UTC View PostA wanted poster had just been raised. The “photo” was nothing more than a hand-drawn sketch, but this one hit closer to the mark. Sharper de
A wanted poster had just been raised. The “photo” was nothing more than a hand-drawn sketch, but this one hit closer to the mark. Sharper details, a clearer resemblance, even his kukris had been sketched in.
They had artists this go...
2025-08-20 01:43:13 +0000 UTC View PostHe spotted her weaving through the market, steady steps, sharp eyes. Torchlight flickered across her light armor, and for one disorienting s
He spotted her weaving through the market, steady steps, sharp eyes. Torchlight flickered across her light armor, and for one disorienting second he forgot how to breathe. The necklace was already in his hand. Now or never.
“Excuse me…” 2025-08-19 04:51:00 +0000 UTC View Post
He stood across from a Bastion soldier, right in the middle of a tavern at the heart of enemy territory, surrounded by people who’d probably
He stood across from a Bastion soldier, right in the middle of a tavern at the heart of enemy territory, surrounded by people who’d probably kill him on sight if they knew who he was. And yet, that was exactly the point. As insane as it sounded, ...
2025-08-19 03:36:04 +0000 UTC View PostLuke left the Safe Zone and slipped back into the Wild Zone. On the way, he scanned every direction, paranoid enough to even hurl his kukris
Luke left the Safe Zone and slipped back into the Wild Zone. On the way, he scanned every direction, paranoid enough to even hurl his kukris at his own shadow just to be sure no one was tailing him. But he didn’t return to his old hideout. This tim...
2025-08-17 14:38:51 +0000 UTC View PostThe ninja woman had slipped her arm through his, clinging to him like they were lovers. “He’s not causing you any trouble, is he?” she asked
The ninja woman had slipped her arm through his, clinging to him like they were lovers.
“He’s not causing you any trouble, is he?” she asked Oswald.
A dozen conclusions hit him all at once. The first was the obvious one: this ...
2025-08-17 14:36:02 +0000 UTC View PostLuke strolled through the streets of the Safe Zone. Inside, he couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone’s eyes were on him, but he knew it w
Luke strolled through the streets of the Safe Zone. Inside, he couldn’t shake the feeling that everyone’s eyes were on him, but he knew it was just in his head. The place had changed since his last visit. It felt alive. People didn’t seem a...
2025-08-16 13:36:49 +0000 UTC View PostLuke was holed up in his temporary hideout in the Wild Zone, the old church where he had first found Artemis’s necklace. It had been his bas
Luke was holed up in his temporary hideout in the Wild Zone, the old church where he had first found Artemis’s necklace. It had been his base for the past few days.
“That ninja woman knew about the second fortress. She didn’t even look ...
2025-08-16 13:34:49 +0000 UTC View PostLuke kept putting distance between himself and the fortress. No Warden came after him, but he still pushed as far away as he could. The alar
Luke kept putting distance between himself and the fortress. No Warden came after him, but he still pushed as far away as he could. The alarms rang across the city, echoing off the stone, but he ignored them. Instead, he climbed to the top of a nearb...
2025-08-15 18:15:40 +0000 UTC View PostLuke was slammed against the wall, pinned by a hand he couldn’t even see. But when he swung his kukri through the air, the blade scraped som
Luke was slammed against the wall, pinned by a hand he couldn’t even see. But when he swung his kukri through the air, the blade scraped something metallic. The Midnight Warden Captain could turn invisible.
“Damn it!” He dismissed the k...
2025-08-15 18:12:23 +0000 UTC View PostLuke stood before the door that led to the mechanism chamber. A crescent moon was carved into the stone, watching like an unblinking eye. He
Luke stood before the door that led to the mechanism chamber. A crescent moon was carved into the stone, watching like an unblinking eye. He pressed his palms against the symbol and pushed. The door didn’t budge. Charlie stepped up beside him. They...
2025-08-15 18:10:29 +0000 UTC View PostThe monster stared at him in silence. It raised its spear, and in the dark of the corridor Luke caught the silhouette of the Midnight Warden
The monster stared at him in silence. It raised its spear, and in the dark of the corridor Luke caught the silhouette of the Midnight Warden emerging from the shadows. The twin red lights in its visor flared brighter as they locked onto him. For a fe...
2025-08-14 18:44:35 +0000 UTC View PostBartholomew sat in the meeting room, and the news was grim. A squad had returned from an expedition near the barrier, shaken, injured, and v
Bartholomew sat in the meeting room, and the news was grim. A squad had returned from an expedition near the barrier, shaken, injured, and visibly rattled. But the damage hadn’t been caused by some powerful beast. It had been the work of a single p...
2025-08-14 18:42:04 +0000 UTC View PostLuke moved through the shattered streets of the ruined city. The jagged silhouettes of half-collapsed buildings stretched across the rubble,
Luke moved through the shattered streets of the ruined city. The jagged silhouettes of half-collapsed buildings stretched across the rubble, and the echo of his footsteps bounced off cracked walls. His mind was still stuck on what had happened at the...
2025-08-13 17:30:29 +0000 UTC View PostLuke launched himself toward Ronan, only for a streak of blue lightning to rip through the air straight at him. At the last instant, he twis
Luke launched himself toward Ronan, only for a streak of blue lightning to rip through the air straight at him. At the last instant, he twisted midair, spinning on his axis before landing lightly on his feet, black cloak flaring open like wings. Thre...
2025-08-12 17:53:03 +0000 UTC View PostRonan had been stationed at the camp in front of the gate for a long time now, months, in fact. He would return to Bastion for a while, then
Ronan had been stationed at the camp in front of the gate for a long time now, months, in fact. He would return to Bastion for a while, then come back here, over and over again. A year ago, he never would have stayed away from the Safe Zone for so lo...
2025-08-12 17:52:54 +0000 UTC View PostLuke had made his choice. He didn’t feel a shred of regret about leaving the Deep Botanist behind. Honestly, either option would have been e
Luke had made his choice. He didn’t feel a shred of regret about leaving the Deep Botanist behind. Honestly, either option would have been excellent, both would have given him profession skills suited for combat, and that was what mattered most.<...
2025-08-11 21:00:14 +0000 UTC View PostA notification blinked into view. [Your profession Botanist of Mother Freya is undergoing a mandatory evolution!] Luke’s grin widened. This
A notification blinked into view. [Your profession Botanist of Mother Freya is undergoing a mandatory evolution!] Luke’s grin widened. This
A notification blinked into view.
[Your profession Botanist of Mother Freya is undergoi...
2025-08-11 20:59:57 +0000 UTC View PostLuke reached the castle grounds, where the trail grew barren and lifeless. The few blades of grass were withered and gray, nothing like the
Luke reached the castle grounds, where the trail grew barren and lifeless. The few blades of grass were withered and gray, nothing like the vibrant green of the surrounding forest. No enemies lurked nearby. The angel mask covered his face, his ticket ...
2025-08-10 19:47:33 +0000 UTC View PostThe forest shook beneath the weight of three charging minotaurs, each one thundering forward like a runaway siege beast. Heads low, horns an
The forest shook beneath the weight of three charging minotaurs, each one thundering forward like a runaway siege beast. Heads low, horns angled to kill, every pounding step sent vibrations rippling through the ground.
Luke stood in the center ...
2025-08-10 19:47:13 +0000 UTC View Post