Rogue Ascension: Book 5: First Ascension: A Progression LitRPG, page 3
He lost count of how many times May kissed his injured face. He was on the verge of going crazy.
He still had emotional whiplash from fulfilling his promise. He’d hurt and killed the devil. He’d avenged the fallen war siren seekers.
He’d once thought May and Curi dead. They were alive. And it had taken a lot out of him to get here, too.
Joey was a wreck.
Let yourself fall into oblivion, said the inner dragon.
The dragon reluctance made everything worse when Joey should rejoice. He’d slain the devil and saved the people he cared about.
But he was too tired. Too tripped up on druggy siren magic. And he was missing one arm and part of his face.
He couldn’t focus. He might be on the verge of dying. The others were seriously injured.
May was out of her mind, too.
Think, Joey, think! He had to stop her. He didn’t want to. His body felt heavy. Like he was filled with cement. Do something before it’s too late. Move it!
But giving in to the siren kisses would feel good. All the pain and weariness would go away.
Give in, hissed the inner dragon.
No! Joey roared internally.
This was not the time to rest. He couldn’t allow himself to fall to weakness. He had to stay strong.
His ambitions demanded him to act like the greatest.
Joey tried to move. He couldn’t. Not yet, at least.
He couldn’t wait. May licked her lips and came in for another kiss. This could be the one that overcame his Dragon Kingship buff.
That would screw them all unless he got a grip on the situation.
Joey tried a different approach. He solidified his tail with his measly leftovers of cold essence. He placed the dragon appendage between him and May.
She paused at that.
Please, don’t take this the wrong way.
He had to stop her before her siren charm magic owned him. They were still in danger in between the Storm Tides.
“Ah, yes, I’m being too careless,” May said, slumping to the side, looking frail and weak. “I’ve lost a lot of blood. I’m having a difficult time thinking.”
Blood loss. We can treat that. Joey’s fuzzy, fragmented mind tried to think of an answer.
What could he do? What could he do?
Health potion, right?
With immense effort, Joey tried to lift his hand. It flopped uselessly.
Fine then. He summoned a potion into his hand from his dungeon inventory.
His dragon tail wrapped around it and bumped it into May’s head. She looked at it deliriously. Confused.
A spark of recognition lit her eyes.
She shakily opened the bottle and drained the red liquid. Red light glowed under her pale skin. She found renewed vigor.
A spark of keen awareness entered her dark eyes.
“Do you have an essence potion?” May asked, patting Joey’s back. Keeping him awake.
Yeah, I do. Joey summoned one into his hand.
May opened the bottle and tilted his head back gently. She poured the contents into his mouth.
[You’ve recovered 500 EP. But you’re now immune to essence potions for the next hour.]
“Do you have any recovery abilities?” May asked.
Joey blinked slowly and licked his dried lips. He thought over May’s questions multiple times. Then he remembered he had the most useful blessing for this exact situation.
“Fuzzy, we could use your help, please,” Joey called. It wasn’t much of a prayer.
It worked well enough.
Reality ripped open near them. Then it zipped closed. Pink-on-white furred boots landed on the icy ground. A fully coated and layered Luvvy with a wolly pink-white hoodie stood before them now.
With the two-finger victory pose. “Here to help, boss!”
May took it all in stride. “Please heal us.”
“Helpful Lover Heal for all!” Luv spread her arms wide. Her spell shone pink-white on everyone. Fully powered, too.
Joey’s arm returned. His face became whole. That helped a bunch.
He was still tripping on siren charm, however.
“Helpful Lover Mentality, boop.” Luv poked his head and heavily reduced May’s siren charm effect on him.
He could think now. He could focus.
Joey stood. He looked frantically from May to Curi and back. Then he spotted monsters closing in from two different directions.
Of course, they wouldn’t stay away for long.
[Tidal Moon Monster: Man Snapper: Iceshell lvl 86.]
[Tidal Moon Monster: Man Snapper: Iceshell lvl 87.]
[Tidal Moon Monster: Man Snapper: Iceshell lvl 88.]
[Tidal Moon Monster: Hull Crusher: Breaker lvl 90.]
[Tidal Moon Monster: Hull Crusher: Breaker lvl 92.]
[Tidal Moon Monster: Hull Crusher: Breaker lvl 94.]
“I suppose I can fight some more,” May said dully.
[I would rather not!] Curi flailed around, full of life after getting healed.
Joey had a powerful urge to run over and hug him. However, he had to handle business first.
Such as killing the advancing monsters. And dealing with the freaking dark moon dungeon entrance on the ground next to them.
“Well, if there’s ever a time for True Adventurer,” Joey said awkwardly, “it’s now.”
Scenic Discoverer + True Adventurer activated.
Joey’s mind flashed with his journey from the Western Zambwi Swamps to New Zam City to the Storm Tides. He caught his second wind in stamina and his entire essence supply filled up.
His cold essence topped out at 14,350 EP. His fated essence reached its new limit as predicted: 86,100 – six times more than his cold essence.
“Shadow gang, provide a good defensive service, aye?” Joey called.
“We’re ready to serve!” a clone shouted upon forming.
“Let me at them! Let me at them! I’ll tear up anyone in the way of the Shadow Prince and War Princess!” shouted a second clone.
“Our haters will know fear. They will drown in it even if they try to hide from it. The shadow gang will reach them all the same.” A third clone stared at its reflection in a knife.
More and more clones appeared, each with something to say. They were all armed to the teeth and empowered with a plethora of skills, attachments, and spells.
They had weapons galore, from ninja knives to swords, from magic pistols to sniper rifles. And, of course, they all had magic double-barrel shotguns.
Joey stopped after raising a platoon of sixty clones. He let them cut loose with a volley of sniper shots that tore apart the incoming monsters.
May watched with a plain expression. Her thoughts hidden behind fortress walls. Flashes of magic gunfire reflected in her dark eyes.
“I’m going to check on Curi,” Joey said.
“I shall join you to check on my attendant.”
That worked out perfectly.
Joey walked away from his heckling clones. He closed the distance fast before nearly trucking over Curi’s giant kraken body.
Big slimy tentacles floundered around him. Joey grabbed onto one and hoisted the kraken trader partially off the floor.
[Whoa, young great, whoa! I already tremble knowing the darkly rumored fables of your conquests. But there’s no need to conquer me, too! My old self is just too fragile for your mighty ways!]
“Curi!” Joey shouted, shaking the kraken back and forth. If it wasn’t for being a Level 100 Rogue with the Dragon Kingship singularity, this would’ve been too difficult to pull off.
In the background, monsters died in droves. The thick and icy hull crusher breakers had their shells drilled through by magic sniper fire or busted wide open by double-barrel shotgun blasts.
The man snapper iceshells couldn’t land their ice cannon shots on the nimble clones. The clones ganged up on the man snappers and burned them alive with gouts of Shade Dragon Breath.
Other clones ran circles around the hull crushers. They used air-cracking dragon tail whips to shatter their carapaces and smash them down.
The monsters of the Storm Tides were no match for the Level 100 Shade Dragon Rogue and his army of shadow clones. System messages of slain monsters appeared in the corner of Joey’s vision.
He didn’t pay them much mind.
He would receive no Experience until he ascended from the Tidal Moon Realm. He was unlikely to receive decent loot, too, unless he was extremely fortunate.
No matter.
Curi and May mattered.
[Can I have my tentacles under me, Joey, my boy? I’d like to get a good look at you after these hard months,] Curi requested.
Joey gave Curi one more shake from side-to-side as more double-barrel shotguns blasted through monsters behind him. Then he released the kraken trader and took a step back.
Joey’s first friend in Multiverse Z swept his tentacles around Joey and picked him up.
Without Analyze, all Joey would hear were flute-like and melodic shrills from Curi’s beak. Large dark eyes on a head the size of a hot-air balloon focused on Joey. Dark tree-trunk thick tentacles coiled around, two of them holding Joey up.
[Level 100,] Curi said, sounding awed based on the windy tone of his musical shrills. [And you’re a superior human. May I hazard a guess, young great, and say you have an epic singularity?]
Joey smiled ear to ear. “Yeah, Curi, you’re right. I’ve evolved a singularity to epic when I entered that dungeon. Oh, and I’m a Dungeon Master, by the way.”
Wait for it. Wait for it.
[You can do that?]
Boom! There it is.
Joey’s time inside the dungeon spent reading bug expressions helped here. He could easily track the shifts in tone and tentacle movements to read Curi better.
When Curi’s tentacles froze up, Joey was certain Curi was truly shocked.
[I consider myself a very imaginative kraken. It’s a part of being named Curious. Having imagination only makes one more curious, you see? But, Joey, I honestly can’t fathom what you’ve been through even though I’ve watched some of your journeys and heard plenty more.]
Curi’s tentacles trembled.
[Aqua Star City’s denizens were shouting and screaming your name like a grand hero of the entire beginner challenge area. You, Joey, have become that rising star who burns forever bright. But I can also imagine the amount of pain you must’ve gone through.]
It was nice knowing denizens thought well of him in Aqua Star City. He might be well-known to all denizens across the beginner challenge area now. But Joey sensed something was wrong with Curi.
“Hey, hey, wait. It’s okay, Curi. It’s going to be okay.” He patted the tentacles holding him. “I’ve done a lot. And I’ve survived and come back stronger. Remember what you told me?”
[I can remember quite a lot. Yet, I don’t think I’ve said enough to you, Joey. I’m honestly regretting that before our departure.]
“Well, within the time we had, you said more than enough.” Joey squirmed around to get a hold of Curi’s tentacle with his arms. “You said the path to greatness is to want power. And I have it, Curi. I have so much power I can barely find the time to use it wisely. So I’m here for you, my friend. To show you what I can do. Because I owe a major part of my success to you.”
That was a lot to say. It came out wild and unscripted. No filter.
Fine by Joey. He was riding high on joy. And the lingering siren charm from May’s cheek-kisses.
Curi was alive. They were back together. And Joey wanted him to come along on the next adventure. Or to be safe wherever the Renegades called home.
The voyager kraken stared at Joey for a long while. Then he lowered Joey back down to the icy floor and uncoiled his tentacles slowly.
Curi flattened himself as low as he could go. Was this his attempt to kneel or prostrate?
“Wait, Curi, no,” Joey said. “You don’t have to do that my friend.”
[Now, now, allow me this show of fealty to you, Joey. Or should I say Prince Joey? I know Princess Maylolee was trying to keep that from me, but I’ve heard the news circulate around Aqua Star City. How silly of you all to think I would remain ignorant. But nonetheless! I, Curious of the Far-Reaching Clan, solemnly swear my service to further your greatness in all endeavors, Prince Joey Eclipse. My knowledge, powers, and health is yours to use, grow, and spend as you see fit.]
“Does that mean you’ll follow me into the wider multiverse?” Joey asked, almost breathless.
[Wherever you wish to go, I’ll follow. If you’ll have old Curi, my prince.]
Joey threw himself at the spot between Curi’s large, dark eyes. He didn’t hug too hard.
He still had his Dragon Kingship activated and didn’t want to hurt Curi. The voyager kraken hugged back.
Once they separated, Joey had a good look at Curi’s analysis. And came away with a surprise.
[Tidal Moon Denizen: Voyager Kraken: Trader lvl 92: His only weapon is being a lovable elder. And having a guy like you who’ll rain hell on anything that tries to hurt him.]
“You’ve picked up twelve levels since I last saw you, Curi.”
[Are you kidding? What’s twelve levels compared to the sixty you’ve assembled, my prince? Must we put down Old Curi already? Have I signed my life away to a terrifying and fiendish great who’s revealing his true colors?] Curi tapped his head with a tentacle. [This is what my curiosity would get me, my clutch mother once said. Doom and gloom!]
Joey backpedaled away, laughing behind his hands. All his troubles. All his pains and concerns. All the terrifying, monstrous, unbelievable experiences. They melted away.
He was the younger and weaker Joey again. Back on that raft. Seeing the Tidal Moon Realm for the first time while having his kraken business partner take him to landfall.
Joey had changed since then. But so much had stayed the same, too.
Once Joey recomposed himself, he noticed Curi hovering the tip of a tentacle over him. Mini tendrils slipped through the flap from the tentacle’s tip.
The thin and long tendrils pressed against Joey’s face and gently turned his head around. His body followed until he faced the princess and her attendant waiting off to the side.
Oh, yeah, thanks for looking out, Curi!
2. Being Trusted with a Royal VIP
Joey was still under the siren charm magic. It was dulling with time. Meeting May’s eyes reminded him of his admiration of her and her power.
A heady wave of heat passed through him. Sharp memories of her kisses replayed.
He remembered the sight of her licking her pink cupid bow lips. He remembered how soft her lips felt. Before the charm magic burst through.
Joey breathed deeply.
May swept her hair from her face slowly. The faintest blush of red colored her cheeks. The two stared at each other.
“We finished the monsters, by the way! No loot from them, though!” a clone yelled. There were thirty remaining in the platoon. “No thanks? Okay, that’s fine. You two keep being awkward. Shadow gang, poof out!”
They dispersed away after breaking the silence and making things even more awkward for Joey. But at least he had a better grasp of the situation.
Before he could say something, Luv reminded them she was still around. With a flying tackle against Joey’s back and a hug around his neck. ’
“Don’t forget about me, boss man!” Luv whined. “And hello, mister kraken, sir. You’re so cute in a slimy, tentacle way.”
[My dear, you are an unimaginably rare treasure I didn’t know existed until you existed before me! Multiverse Seraphim? Summoned Primordial Blessing? Level 100 Cleric? Where do I even begin?]
“You should begin now or later. I’m only around for another ninety minutes,” Luv explained.
Joey calmly removed Luv’s arms from around him.
When he turned back to May, she was suddenly next to Luv. Her dark eyes were on Luv’s angelic wings. Then May examined the fuzzy antenna extended from Luv’s forehead.
“Do you like them?” Luv smiled.
May nodded slowly.
“You’re secretly into cute things, aren’t you?”
May gave nothing away. Her expression was as flat as still water on a dark day.
“Ha! There’s no hiding it. I can always tell when there’s another lover of cuteness like me. Don’t worry. Someone in the city will get you fixed up to be the cutest around.”
“Ah, yeah, that reminds me. My city. Gotta get you all there.” Joey turned away from them. “I think it’ll be easier if we ride on Happy.”
“Little Happy Man is alive?” May asked.
Joey showed her.
He locked away twenty percent of his cold essence and summoned Little Happy Man as a giant millipede caravan driver. All 145 feet long, 15 feet tall and wide, and as pale as a ghost.
Little Happy Man’s many legs drummed on the icy ground softly. He twisted around and lifted his head to give everyone a nod, dark jelly eyes beaming with friendliness.
He let out a welcoming toot-toot.
“See, that’s the face of someone who appreciates cuteness,” Luv said, pointing at May’s face.
Joey turned to see.
But May’s face was as flat as ever. He’d missed it.
Is May into cute things? Like big stuffed toys and cuddly animals?
Joey would have to check for that later. They were in the middle of the icy, rocky tidal floor between Hail Tide and Lightning Tide. No boating craft in sight.
Joey assumed Curi, May, and the attendant had traveled by foot and tentacle. Then the smiling devil had ambushed them.
It was just like he remembered it. Glacial ice blocks stood out like miniature hills. Crags covered the floor, slick with ice.
He could hear distant monsters roaming around.
The only dark stain on everything was the dungeon entrance.
Joey pointed at the oddity. “I need to move that back to New Zam City. And secure it so you can crawl its guts and become its master.”
Nobody responded.
May went first. “Do you mean me?”
Joey blinked his one eye. “Yes, you. Consider it your birthday gift. And happy birthday, you’re going to become a Dungeon Master.”
“Oh, okay, thank you, Joey. What is it like to be a Dungeon Master?”
