Immortal Kings: A LitRPG Adventure (The World Over Book 2) Read online

  © 2022 Marc Mulero. All rights reserved.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Please Read! It’s Important!

  Chapter 1

  Smider’s Peak

  Aegis looked down at his hands, at the cuts and bruises lingering from scaling a mountain that goats made look so easy. His skin flickered out of existence for the briefest of instants, as it often did since he equipped the Afterlife set shield. But none of that mattered right now.

  He looked up to see a giant black lacquered castle shimmering beneath rays of sunlight in the distance.

  The Immortal Kings’ guild house. Finally.

  He glanced back to see his brother, Oofan, towering over him, and his friends dusting themselves off not far behind.

  “Well, laddie, this is about as far as the road goes for me.” Oofan dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder. “The title ‘Guildhopper’ doesn’t bode too well in castles like that, ey?”

  Aegis’ lips folded into a line as he peered at the burly Diant. Even after weeks of knowing, moments of awe still struck him. How could it be that Oofan – the Great Axe of Strathmar – with round ale-flushed cheeks, long beard, beefy body and all… how could it be that he was his frail little brother back in Belna?

  “I could really use you in there.”

  “I’d be carried in with pikes in my belly.” Oofan laughed heartily. “Not every day an Idol wins the rarest loot in the land and drops from the guild right after. Kind of leaves a mark.” He hooted as if recalling some great dungeon raid. “Anyway, don’t fret now. This ain’t hostile territory, and the Immortal Kings aren’t interested in the Warlord Trinket from what I can tell. So just go in there and plead your case. Use your party as witnesses of what you did in Hearthden.”

  Aegis gulped and shook his head. The castle was daunting even from far away, which kind of reminded him of the crazy witch’s dungeon in Egbar’s Moat, the one Arcureal – the gondolier – had given them a tour of some time ago.

  “We’re a bunch of low-level choochoos trying to ally with the second-most famous guild in the land...”

  Oofan scratched his chin. “Now laddie, I wouldn’t open with that. No guild likes to be called second best to anyone. Remember, though it’s true they’re number two, maybe even number three in raid clearing Accomplishments… economically, they are number one. I’d lead with that.”

  “Mm.” Aegis straightened, holding firmly onto the collar of the jacket he threw over his armor to look more ‘presentable.’

  Oofan hovered over Aegis’ shoulder so they were both peering at the guild house ear-to-ear. Aegis could smell his brother’s morning ale breath.

  “Remember, you’re the head of a guild now. You represent all of us – low-levels, Guildhoppers, and Fejjer merchant allies alike, aye? They’re going to give you a hard time in there, no doubt about it. But one thing is for sure: Once you’re done, they’ll know who you are. What you represent. Joke or not because of your level, the stories will trickle in from Hearthden if they haven’t already. Trust me. Just be your charming self.” He laughed and slapped his back. “And! Once you’ve had your fill of politicking, you must level. So together we can enter the arena as brothers, explore the limits of the elixir that binds us, and I can show you why I think mom is still alive.”

  Aegis held up his hand, which Oofan grabbed hard in a show of brotherly love.

  “Remember, you have my seal. Write me.” Oof rose to full height.

  “What will you do?”

  “Begin gathering guild-friendly items of course, so one day Shields of Strathmar could be a grand contender to all these fuddy duddies.”

  “I wish I could do more, Oof.” Aegis activated his lens and clicked his rap sheet, reminding himself that he was only a level ten Imbuer, to Oofan’s sixty-two Shardswinger.

  “Please. You’re a Transcendent! You’ve already shocked the land with your skill. You’ve walked the walk, now show us that you can talk the talk too. Farewell, brother.”

  Flatpuss stomped over to Oofan with Teeny purring at her side, both of whom stepped in the Diant’s way. She put her arms to her hips and pursed her lips, eyeing him. “Oy, now where do you think you’re going, love?” She raised an eyebrow.

  Oofan chuckled and bent to pet the large cat that head-butted him lovingly. “I’m banned from these parts, as you well know. But I’ll see you all soon, aye?”

  They all looked up to see Oofan’s gryphon descending from the sky.

  “When you going to get me one of those?” Flat closed one eye and put her hand over her head to shield from the sun.

  “We have to get you all high enough for ground mounts first.” Oof smiled widely. “One step at a time.”

  A gust of wind rustled Oofan’s plain brown cloak, showing off his glimmering moonstone armor beneath. His translucent shard-tipped axe shined along with it, reminding all of the approaching party members that they had a long way to go.

  “I bid you all farewell for now, and Godspeed in there.”

  With a mighty hop, Oofan mounted Ara and flew off.

  “Left to our own devices, I see.” Silverline sniffed haughtily as he approached and snapped shut a large tome. “Well, I suppose we should get to it, then.” He summoned a curtain that hung mid-air and swiftly changed behind it into darker, more up-scale Spell Weaver robes. “Alright everyone, we’re done scaling mountains and hiking trails for the day. Change into your best attire.” He scoffed and threw up a curtain for Flatpuss. “I don’t need to see that. Please cover up—”

  “Oy. Never seen a pair-o-nickers before? I’m sure Resuel over there has a lovely one.” Flat peeked over her curtain.

  Aegis tried his best to hold back a smile as Resuel and Silver both blushed.

  “I feel like we’re a bunch of kids going off to church.” Lee Thal stuffed a jet-black curtain into his bag and tugged uncomfortably at his leather jacket dripping with shadow Essence.

  “You look badass,” Aegis assured. “And you,” he turned to Flat, one step closer to bursting out laughing, “it’s funny to see you in pants.”

  She grimaced and then scratched herself inappropriately, causing Silverline to scoff once again.

  “Maybe we should leave her outside…”

  “Nonsense!” Aegis lured them forward. “She’s our charm.”

  “I thought Resuel was our charm,” Flat said plainly.

  “You’re… a different type.” Aegis smirked over his shoulder.

  As they crossed the threshold, Aegis’ lens read:

  Smider’s Peak discovered! Experience awarded.

  A freshly landscaped garden suddenly bloomed into view leading up to the castle. Trimmed bushes lining their path were fashioned into high-pointed crowns, stone pathways underfoot were immaculately polished, and the floral arrangements were held by angelic statues towering over them.

  “Can you imagine the dice spent j
ust to keep this place running?” Aegis gawked. “I’d guess thirty twenty-sided a day.”

  “Don’t tell the Lazy Stones that’s your guess. They might just disband our alliance on the spot.” Silver pointed at Natives pushing brooms around and trimming trees. “Two-hundred twenty-sided, at least.”

  “You’re both off.” Resuel neatly folded her curtain away, revealing a pearl-colored dress elegantly cut at the shoulders, with a half-tail running down one leg to accentuate chicness the others simply did not possess… except for maybe Silver. “Landscaping, gardening, castle upkeep, culling. Seven-hundred twenty-sided. And I thought Noristil had high bills. What? Running an inn means you look through the details.”

  “It’s not that, love. That dress.” Flat raised her eyebrows. “Can see myself getting lost in you, I mean it. I mean… what?”

  Silver lit a tiny flame on his finger and whipped it straight at her nose.

  “Ow!” She patted it out to leave harmless char where it landed. “Don’t pretend you wouldn’t pay good dice for a show like that!”

  After walking past fountains more lavish than Silver’s finest spells, and stepping over a marble bridge prettier than Resuel, they had finally come to the Immortal Kings’ guild house. The castle was ten times the size of Hearthden, making Aegis wonder why the Painters, or whatever governing body, couldn’t spend some dice to protect Homebounds the same way.

  “Imagine the Roaring Bandits tried to storm this place?” Aegis wondered aloud.

  “They’d trip on their own spears in the gardens alone,” Silver said evenly.

  A guard holding his helmet cleared his throat from atop the staircase. Truth be told, the castle gates were so massive and awe-inspiring that they didn’t even notice him.

  Upon closer look however, this was no ordinary guard. Aegis’ lens read:

  Levo Len – Level ??

  Idol

  Guild: Immortal Kings

  Rank: Castle-Watcher

  Infusion: Plasma

  Class: Crosspear

  Health: ---------???----------

  Armor: ??

  Temperament: Neutral

  “Greetings, travelers. I can see you are clearly lost,” the guard began. “How you even managed to get this far is beyond me—”

  Oofan’s axe, Aegis wanted to blurt, but kept the thought to himself.

  “—but if you need a portal out, or a transport to lower lands, I suppose we can make arrangements.”

  Flat nudged Aegis forward.

  “Um, hello sir. I’m Aegis, the Guild Throne of Shields of Strathmar—”

  “I can see that.” The guard smiled as if addressing a child, tapping his lens.

  “Of course. And these are my most trusted friends. Silverline, Hand of the Throne.” He showcased the Seles, who bowed his head gracefully. “Flatpuss—”

  The man sneered. “Let me stop you right there, traveler. The Iron Rank team of the Immortal Kings is preparing for an epic level raid this evening, one the Beta Knights managed to clear last night. Therefore, as you can imagine, the level of thought, strategy, and stress is quite high in the guild house as of right now, so I’m afraid any plea for gear is going to have to wait a decade or two.”

  “Ugh, rude much?” Flat sneered back, only whispering loud enough for her friends to hear.

  “I’d like to carve our emblem into his throat.” Lee Thal hissed in Aegis’ other ear.

  Silver and Resuel only side-eyed one another.

  As much as his friends represented different thoughts in his head, Aegis took a deep breath and mustered the resolve he could. “Sir, we are not interested in any charity that the Immortal Kings may offer us in the coming years, but rather would like to extend our hand in friendship and deliver a message to the Guild Throne.”

  The guard started down the marble staircase, plate armor clinking with every step. In the sunlight, his lining sparkled gold, which matched the points of his trident, as if an angelic aura had just been ignited around him.

  The group collectively took the tiniest step back.

  He seemed taller all of a sudden, even though he was close in height to Aegis. And they could tell his custom form-fitted armor would allow him to move more swiftly than a leather wearer if he had to. Aegis secretly drooled in envy, thinking about begging for the name of his armor smith.

  “I was being courteous earlier, when I offered a portal.” His nose crinkled with annoyance. “Now however, I have a mind to summon one and shove you through. And trust me,” he moved in to be nose-to-nose with Aegis, “you won’t like where I send you.”

  Aegis gulped, and then blinked one too many times to reset his composure. He reached into his bag and pulled out his guild charter. “I… know we’re young in level, Sir Levo, but I think you’ll find we have adequate allies to request audience, just for a minute.”

  Levo’s expression was unmoved as he watched on, likely amazed that this Idol was still yapping after a threat from some fifty-level higher Crosspear.

  Aegis unraveled his charter, moving his thumb quickly over Oofan’s name to cover it. He coughed once before saying, “So as you can see, Meekas from the Lazy Stones has signed as a sworn ally to Shields, as has Hatchet Turner, and Senoah Static.”

  Levo narrowed his eyes. “There are rumors of all these Idols summoned to one location…”

  Aegis eyes lit up. “So you have heard.”

  Levo shook his head and replied, “Coincidence. I shooed away some jester who claimed a Homebound was under attack by an IVI guild. He also named some high-levels that coincidently wound up on your guild charter.”

  “Not a coincidence, sir.”

  “Oh? So you’re in league with this jester? Some rouse to steal one of our golden crowns?” Levo sniffed in the fresh air as if he was alone enjoying the gardens. “Alright, Aegis. Out of respect for what your guild may grow to be one day, I’ll be sending an Ethedin out to port you wherever you please. We have runes all over the land.” He eyed the rest of the group briefly before turning away. “And I don’t want to hear that one of my NIIs found you crawling around our hedges, hear?”

  Aegis turned to Silver in a panic. They’d come all this way, scaled three mountains, and nearly soiled their pants at the types of beasts they’d encountered along the way – suffering no harm thanks to Oofan slaying them – but still…

  He looked to the ground, thinking. Thinking.

  There must be something I can do. Some way— No, I shouldn’t. That message is for the Guild Throne.

  Aegis sighed, realizing that he may never even meet the Guild Throne if he didn’t take this leap.

  “Urias Thundersharp sends his regards,” he blurted, causing Levo to freeze in his tracks.

  He turned in such shock, that it was as if Urias himself had spoken the words. “What did you just say to me?”

  “You served with him, didn’t you?” Aegis read in between the lines. “You were guildmates once upon a time.”

  He noticed Levo’s hand clench tightly around his trident.

  Uh oh.

  “What could you, a level ten, know about him?” Levo stalked over once more. “You’re fresh from the world over. Nothing more than a neutral critter in the gardens, yet you utter the name of greatness. Who put you up to it? Is this some mind-attack on me?”

  “I swear it! I know him. I found him in the Death Realm, and summoned him to fight Grathbane in the Battle for Hearthden. You see, Levo Len, I have no other reason to be here but to plead my case. We don’t want items, nor dice. Just audience.” Aegis unhooked his shield and presented it with both hands, drawing Levo’s eyes to it.

  It flickered out of existence for an instant, and when Levo’s lens registered the set name, he backed up in awe.

  “What… are you?” Levo’s mouth hung open. “I’ve been to the deepest dungeons and the highest of mountains in Strathmar, and never, never have I even heard of this level-less artifact.”

  “Urias led me to it in the Death Realm. Please,” he beseec
hed, “hear us out. We need alliance against the Idol-versus-Idol guilds, particularly the Roaring Bandits. Otherwise, no Homebounds will be safe for anyone, especially incoming Idols from Belna. Please, Levo, you have to help us–”

  “My word, lad.” Levo’s brow was all furrowed concern now as he grabbed onto Aegis’ arm and looked to the group.

  “It’s true, love.” Flat shrugged. “I saw ‘em. Big ‘ol king with long hair. Tall as an isocorpse, I tell ya. As intimidating as a maeldron.”

  “We all saw him,” Silver reiterated.

  “Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here in these ridiculous outfits.” Lee hissed. “Begging a bodyguard to get into a castle.”

  Levo remained in place for a moment, letting everything sink in, and then eventually nodded and turned for the last time. “Come with me.”

  Aegis’ smile grew from ear-to-ear.

  “Just you.”

  The smile dropped just as fast.

  “I’m sorry. If I bring in a group of low-levels dressed for the ball, I’m afraid the current Guild Throne would have my head.”

  Was that malice in his voice? Does he miss Urias? Aegis thought to himself as he hesitantly followed behind.

  Aegis clapped the shield onto his back as he remained on Levo’s heel. Up the lacquered steps he went, breaking his neck to trace the vast gothic-style doors lined with golden hinges that lay before them. It looked like he wasn’t a high enough level to even open it, let alone peruse around inside.

  “Not a word until spoken to.” Levo put on his winged helmet, keeping one eye on Aegis until he acknowledged.

  Then with one gloved hand, Levo yanked down a smoothly oiled lever and pushed open the massive double-doors, which bellowed like a yawning maeldron.

  The main hall inside was even more miraculous than the gardens they trekked past to get there. Ornate pillars extended so high it was difficult to see the designs at the top, the red carpet was so wide and immaculately clean that Aegis wouldn’t mind laying down on it to take a rest. And the statues… all with armor the same color as Levo’s, were mid-attack in different stances. Broadbashes, Undercuts, Spell Weavers, Ethedins – Aegis guessed them all based on their battle styles.