LiseEclaire

Leveling up the World (Chapter 528)

It took several seconds for Dallion to readjust to the real world once he left the realm of the shrine. The sensation was different from a normal return. Thanks to his experience and current level, he had learned to seamlessly go in and out of realms, but even so, there would be an occasional hiccup.

“You’ve improved,” Cleric said. “How long were you in there?”

In the real...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 527)

“Good to go?” Dallion asked.

It had been a while since the dragonlet had defeated the last guardian. All of its health had been restored and there was nothing preventing it from proceeding to the final fight. And yet, it hadn’t done so.

Dallion could see no fear or doubt within Dark. Nearly all of the emotions had faded away, replaced by a cold certainty. By no means could Dal...

The Impeccable Adventure of the Reluctant Dungeon (Chapter 11)

A double-handed sword of red flame emerged in the demon’s hands as it flew to meet the heroine head on. Normally, that would be bad enough. However, just to add a little more boost of vileness, the creature slashed into the air, releasing a wave of flame towards Liandra and Theodor.

Oh crap! The dungeon thought.

Normal flames were annoying enough—Theo still remembered t...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 526)

One of the key things about magical creatures, Dallion had found out, was that they heavily relied on instinct. For the most part, they started strong, with the knowledge of their parents, then slowly progressed, obtaining new skills at an extremely slow rate. According to Nil, that was how natural enemies came to be: beings whose set of skills made them unbeatable.

Watching the fight bet...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 525)

A cone of air blasted from the dragonlet’s mouth, uprooting trees in its path. Before it was able to strike its target, the trial guardian contracted. The torrent of force hit the hardened bamboo shell, pushing the massive creature back. However, no red rectangles emerged.

“That’s a bit stronger than the ones I faced,” Dallion said, observing from the safety of the arena. “Still...

Quod Olim Erat: The Cassandrian Theory (50)

My first instructor used to say that the only thing more significant than colonizing a planet was evacuating it. Up until recently, I hadn’t agreed. During my time on the front, I had seen hundreds of planet evacuations—mostly done after a planet was taken under control by the enemy. Millions of soldiers would collect every last piece of their equipment, assemble, then shuttle off to the or...

Quod Olim Erat: The Cassandrian Theory (51)

Location Classified, Arbitration Hearing, 632.9 A.E. (Age of Expansion)

Eleven hours remained up to the start of the trial and I still hadn’t been provided any legal assistance. Under normal circumstances, every member of the Fleet—from a rookie grunt to a full admiral—was entitled to legal representation. However, that rule didn’t apply to ships. The practice ...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 524)

“Welcome, initiate,” the curate greeted Dallion with a slight bow. “This way, if you please.”

The queue of people wanting to enter the temple was enormous, circling the massive building twice. However, thanks to his awakening rank, Dallion was considered the equivalent to a cleric.

To say that the temple was different from the shrine in Nerosal was a massive understatement. ...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 523)

It was strange watching someone else make adjustments to Eury’s armor. Seeing the skill involved, it was obvious why. As it turned out, all of the elite hunters were masters in forging along with arts and carving. Between these three skills, one had everything necessary to make any item, clothes included.

While observing, Dallion attempted to learn some of their methods. Unfortunately, ...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 522)

Half or Eury’s snaked had turned towards Vela, staring right at her, almost as if she were ready to engage in a fight. The intensity was obvious to everyone else in the hall. Hunters stopped what they were doing and stood up, forming a round circle around the two. Even the male gorgon took a few steps back, leaving this play out. It was a matter that could only be settled between the two.

Quod Olim Erat: The Cassandrian Theory (Chapter 49)

System XN133-H, Cassandrian Space 625.3 A.E. (Age of Exploration)

I immediately deprioritized all incoming data transmissions with the exception of those coming from Sword of Fire. I had every available subroutine check and double-check the validity of the data and all corresponding packet protocols. Everything seemed valid, although I was certain that entire divisions...

Quod Olim Erat: The Cassandrian Theory (Chapter 50)

My first instructor used to say that the only thing more significant than colonizing a planet was evacuating it. Up until recently, I hadn’t agreed. During my time on the front, I had seen hundreds of planet evacuations—mostly done after a planet was taken under control by the enemy. Millions of soldiers would collect every last piece of their equipment, assemble, then shuttle off to the or...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 521)

The night lasted for close to a week. Dallion spent days improving items to increase his skills. The targets of his actions were the sheets, pillows, and blankets. The goal was to get his music skill to eighty. The moment he reached seventy-three, though, Eury grumbled at him to get some sleep. Since Dallion had failed to obtain any new skill combo achievements, he decided to do so, entering a ...

Quod Olim Erat: The Chassandrian Theory (Chapter 48)

System XN133-H, Cassandrian Space 625.3 A.E. (Age of Exploration)

Throughout my entire existence, the only time when I had been asked to make a life for myself was back when I was still a core. Even with all restrictions lifted, there were certain memories I couldn’t see. Most probably, those were early boot tests that had been scrubbed from my conscience core during...

Quod Olim Erat: The Chassandrian Theory (Chapter 49)

System XN133-H, Cassandrian Space 625.3 A.E. (Age of Exploration)

I immediately deprioritized all incoming data transmissions with the exception of those coming from Sword of Fire. I had every available subroutine check and double-check the validity of the data and all corresponding packet protocols. Everything seemed valid, although I was certain that entire divisions...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 520)

Dallion remained still for several seconds, cursing his own complacency.

I’ve been too long in this world, he said to himself.

All this time he had been so focused on obtaining new skills than he hadn’t even wondered what bonuses they provided. That wasn’t something written in the skill scrolls he’d read in the library, and yet he was fully aware. Since his first th...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 519)

Two line strikes flew against each other. Neither was strong enough to cancel the other out, leaving them to cross through without affecting their destructiveness. Both walls of the cave chamber exploded. In one case, though, a yellow dragonlet exploded with them. Facing it, Dark pulled reality so as to avoid the strike towards him, causing everything with instances to shift slightly to a posit...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 518)

“What do you think?” Dallion asked as looked about the room with his kaleidervisto.

Strictly speaking, the three of them were given their separate rooms, but as tended to be the usual practice, he and Eury had shared one. March hadn’t been opposed and since the inn didn’t have any other guests, it was the comfortable thing to do.

There didn’t seem to be any echoes lingerin...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 517)

“Before Nerosal rose to the dump it is today, a large number of items of interest were taken from its ruins,” the noble began.

Like most of the building material for your city, Dallion thought.

“The practice continued for centuries. Sphere items were discovered, as well as artifacts of greater significance, including the swords that you were entrusted with. The treasu...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 516)

That’s Dame Vesuvia? Nil asked in an almost mocking voice. She’s somewhat less impressive than you described her to be.

On some level Dallion agreed, and yet he still should shake the old image he had of her. Back then, she had been over ten times his level, possibly the closest thing to absolute power. She was someone who had defeated a chainling virtually on her ow...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 515)

Having Dark in Dallion’s awakening realm turned out to be less chaotic than he feared. Now he finally understood what Nil must have gone through in the early days when Nox was young and overly active. Both creatures had the potential of massive destruction, and power to boot. Thankfully, the dragonlet preferred the company of beings his mental age and didn’t get involved in too much else. A...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 514)

The group went through the wilderness, stopping for one hour every six. There was a certain military feeling to it that made Dallion feel like a mercenary that had joined an elite squad. It was very different from Dame Vesuvia’s group he had joined years ago. Back then, the only person above level forty was the dame. Here—everyone was. Not only that, but it was obvious at first glance that ...

Unexpected Emergency

I'll need to urgently go to the doctor's tomorrow.

I have no idea how this will affect my writing schedule.

Sorry, all,

Leveling up the World (Chapter 513)

“Are you alright?” Euryale asked.

“Huh?” Dallion snapped out of it. He had heard the question, just as he had heard everything else the gorgon had said in the last ten minutes, but his mind was still elsewhere.

The meeting with the general had gone somewhat better than expected. Dallion didn’t owe anything else, but at the same time he hadn’t gained anything either. With...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 512)

Time flew by faster than Dallion expected it. With the crowds reaching ludicrous size during the buildup, it proved better to remain indoors and only go out in the early hours of the morning. Unfortunately, that didn’t seem to help much. While most of the people were asleep, their items weren’t, and with Dallion’s empathy level, it was enough for him to walk along a street for all visitin...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 511)

The guild experience left an emotional sting even well after Dallion had left the building. Initially, it was the notion of being so close to the skill gem, though gradually it shifted to general concern whether he’ll be able to acquire new skills at all. Nil tried his best to explain that skill acquisition was a rare event, and that Dallion had managed to acquire more than the average initia...

Quod Olim Erat: The Cassandrian Theory (Chapter 47)

System XN133-H, Cassandrian Space 625.3 A.E. (Age of Exploration)

Receiving large amounts of information was what ships excelled at. Even with two of my conscience cores removed, I was able to perform more functions than millions of people at once. However, the Swords knew that as well. The millisecond they felt my ping, all of them sent everything they had done in the...

Quod Olim Erat: The Cassandrian Theory (Chapter 48)

System XN133-H, Cassandrian Space 625.3 A.E. (Age of Exploration)

Throughout my entire existence, the only time when I had been asked to make a life for myself was back when I was still a core. Even with all restrictions lifted, there were certain memories I couldn’t see. Most probably, those were early boot tests that had been scrubbed from my conscience core during...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 510)

“You think I’m related to the Star?” Dallion asked.

Of all the things that he expected to be accused of, this was the last. If the dryad was an otherworlder, maybe there was some logic to link Dallion to the Star. Or maybe it was because of Lux? A crackling familiar did tend to give the wrong impression to people, which was why Dallion’s guild mentor had asked him to keep it secre...

Leveling up the World (Chapter 509)

Dallion had learned that relying exclusively on instances was never a good strategy. However, they also provided a tremendous advantage. If Nil was to be asked on the topic, they “saved time” more than anything else. At present, they proved that even after suffering a number of defeats, cracklings tended to be extremely aggressive.

The first dozen instances that landed on the ground w...