Dissonance: A LitRPG Adventure, page 78
part #1 of Unbound Series
"Mags?" Callie whispered.
Magda was quiet and still.
With shaking hands, Callie reached out and placed it against Magda's heart.
All she felt was cold.
The shadows faded as the fog did, revealing a very surprised face behind a familiar black mask.
Ilia stood stock still while the world around her changed completely, and she placed a quick hand on the platform that floated next to her. The Dayne girl was bound hand and foot to the platform, unconscious since she had "rescued" her from her dire straits. Which was the only official story the Sworn was going to be offering. The platform itself was an elaborately-crafted slab of dark-stained wood, intricately inscribed with glowing sigils all around the outer edge. It hovered four feet above the ground and easily kept pace with the Sworn, but her hand gripped its edge possessively.
When the changes ceased, Ilia marveled at the land's transformation: hundreds of blossoms bloomed on nearby bushes and trees, and nearly a dozen unusual herbs filled the ground all around her. She quickly Analyzed twenty-four different growths, each a rare crafting material, and that was only the immediate area. Untouched treasures littered the forest path, many that crafters in Haarwatch and beyond would pay out the nose for; she only regretted she hadn't the Herbalism Skill needed to pick them.
I need to get back to Haarwatch, now.
Some of her contacts would pay top dollar for this information, but only if she was the first to deliver it.
With a happy skip in her step, Ilia increased her pace. She smirked at the unconscious girl and tossed back another stimulant potion; her old one was wearing off fast. With luck, she could make it back to Haarwatch in two days. She smiled, bright as the sun above.
This is a good day.
Vvim watched from above as the giants fell.
The few Risi that had not entered the Labyrinth writhed among the city streets, the ice they generated having faded at a rapid pace. Their bodies, every one of them, were broken in some fundamental way. Most bled from every orifice they had as they shook and trembled upon the stones. Their elemental hounds fell, too, connected somehow to the warriors. The Geist simply watched.
There was no mercy in those eyes.
But then, something strange happened.
As Vvim watched, part of the street collapsed. This was not in itself strange; many sinkholes had formed in Shelim, and many more would undoubtedly form in the future. No, what was truly odd was that this hole was formed by the burrowing of six large wurms.
Vvim perked up, his eyes of stone narrowing from his Tower.
The large wurms were perhaps ten feet long and as thick as a barrel, their four-piece jaws working the rock and dirt into a solid ramp. Only the nearest of the giants even paid attention, and they simply watched as a rusted creature made of overlapping steel plates creaked out of the tunnel. It was large, but not as large as even the smallest Risi Warrior, though its Spirit flared with a dark corruption that set Vvim's teeth on edge. It was not mechanical in nature, for Vvim's sharp senses could detect the distinct thrum of life Mana in its form, faint though it was.
The creature stopped at the top of the ramp, placing its hand at either side, and began speaking.
"You have been abandoned, giants," it began, though its voice did not originate from itself. Vvim squinted. "Your Mother is gone, never to return."
It's a sonic relay, Vvim determined in alarm. The rare etheric device was implanted in the creature's chest, the originating signal coming from far below.
"Even now, you suffer from her leaving, bereft of her gifts," the deep voice continued. "I can feel your pain. I ache along with you. But I come with glad tidings: join with me, and you shall have your vengeance upon the prey that defied you. Join with me and never be left behind again."
Slowly, and much to Vvim's surprise, one-by-one the giants struggled to their feet. They shuffled like the wakened dead, but the Geist could see the gleam of fury in their eyes. These creatures were not cowed or beaten, they were cornered wolves.
"No!" cried a voice among them, and the few standing warriors turned to regard a long-haired female Risi wearing bloodied robes. "You spin lies against the honored Mother, creature! It cannot be trusted! She will return! Grimmar will return from below to raise us above the prey, just as was promiiiiaiiaaaaa-!"
The witch was engulfed by flames, a massive twenty-foot-long wurm having emerged behind her. Its breath was instant death for their kind, and the giants all shuffled nervously away from its blind gaze.
"Grimmar has already perished," said the voice, its timbre steady and unchanged. "He was too weak for the Mother, and the Mother herself is vanquished."
"Who! Who did this?" The voice was one among the crowd, faceless, but it was taken up by almost every giant there.
"A creature that should not be, and that no longer is. Felix Nevarre perished along with the Mother." The voice rose in volume, quelling the whispers. "If you seek strength, then come. Come to my Domain and be set free."
The tunnel was lit with a crimson light from far below, and the metal creature gestured to it.
"Your new Father awaits."
Vvim watched as the giants, one by one, filed down into the darkness.
Within the black expanse of the Void, there was nothing.
And then there was something.
"Unf!"
Landing face-first upon featureless, non-extant, yet very real ground, Felix Nevarre broke his nose. Blood gushed for a moment, dripping down his face and spattering against the black.
Shit, that...hurt? Felix looked up, fighting off vertigo as he did so, the lack of anything proving more than his inner ear could handle. I'm alive?
With the rustle of wings and clack of hard talons, Pit landed next to him far more gracefully.
Pit! Felix threw an arm around his Companion's shoulders, pulling him in for a hug. Pit's wings batted excitedly against Felix's back and shoulders, while the tenku let out a series of trilling chirps. After the moment passed, Felix stood up with a grin and looked before them. For as far as they could see, the world was a featureless black. Only Pit and Felix himself were lit with a sourceless glow.
Where are we? It looked like the void where he had battled Grimmar for the shard, and where his Lessons of the Past Skill...He shook his head.
How did we get here, Pit? Weren't we—?
New Quest!
Escape the Void!
You have saved the Continent from the Maw, but all choices have consequences. As a result of becoming the Maw's Vessel, however briefly, you have been banished to the Void!
Find a way out, if you can!
Rewards: Freedom, Title, Varies
Good Luck!
Felix closed his eyes and sighed. At least we have each other for company, buddy.
A slap and clatter sounded behind him, and a voice let out a growling, high pitched whine.
What is this?! Where am I?!
Felix whipped around, heart beginning to pound as he found the Maw, gaunt and shaking in the guise of Lhel. It was barely standing up, yet it pinned Felix with furious blue-green eyes.
What have you wrought, Felix Nevarre?
AFTERWORD
We hope you enjoyed Dissonance! Since reviews are the lifeblood of indie publishing, we’d love it if you could leave a positive review on Amazon! Follow this link to be redirected to the Dissonance Amazon product page to leave your review.
Don’t miss out on future releases! Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. And as always, thank you for your support! You are the reason we’re able to bring these stories to life.
ABOUT NICOLI GONNELLA
Nicoli Gonnella spent his formative years atop a mountain, breathing deep of the world energy and expelling impurities from his soul. Also he went to school and stuff. He always wrote but now he's abandoned everything to do it full time. Readers give him strength, spirit bomb style, and there's no telling how strong he will become. This isn't even his final form.
He lives with his wife, two kids, and a corgi named Cornelius.
Connect with Nicoli Gonnella:
Discord.gg/sqQvJQhY8F
Patreon.com/Necariin
RoyalRoad.com/fiction/30321/Unbound
Facebook.com/Nicoli-Gonnella-Author-347428719693359
ABOUT MOUNTAINDALE PRESS
Dakota and Danielle Krout, a husband and wife team, strive to create as well as publish excellent fantasy and science fiction novels. Self-publishing The Divine Dungeon: Dungeon Born in 2016 transformed their careers from Dakota’s military and programming background and Danielle’s Ph.D. in pharmacology to President and CEO, respectively, of a small press. Their goal is to share their success with other authors and provide captivating fiction to readers with the purpose of solidifying Mountaindale Press as the place ‘Where Fantasy Transforms Reality.’
Connect with Mountaindale Press:
MountaindalePress.com
Facebook.com/MountaindalePress
Twitter.com/_Mountaindale
Instagram.com/MountaindalePress
MOUNTAINDALE PRESS TITLES
GameLit and LitRPG
The Completionist Chronicles,
The Divine Dungeon,
Full Murderhobo, and
Year of the Sword by Dakota Krout
Arcana Unlocked by Gregory Blackburn
A Touch of Power by Jay Boyce
Red Mage and
Farming Livia by Xander Boyce
Space Seasons by Dawn Chapman
Ether Collapse and
Ether Flows by Ryan DeBruyn
Dr. Druid by Maxwell Farmer
Bloodgames by Christian J. Gilliland
Unbound by Nicoli Gonnella
Threads of Fate by Michael Head
Lion’s Lineage by Rohan Hublikar and Dakota Krout
Wolfman Warlock by James Hunter and Dakota Krout
Axe Druid,
Mephisto’s Magic Online, and
High Table Hijinks by Christopher Johns
Skeleton in Space by Andries Louws
Dragon Core Chronicles by Lars Machmüller
Chronicles of Ethan by John L. Monk
Pixel Dust and
Necrotic Apocalypse by David Petrie
Viceroy’s Pride by Cale Plamann
Henchman by Carl Stubblefield
Artorian’s Archives by Dennis Vanderkerken and Dakota Krout
If you love LitRPG and GameLit, join these awesome communities on Facebook!
To learn more about LitRPG, talk to authors, and just have an awesome time, please join the LitRPG Group.
Nicoli Gonnella, Dissonance: A LitRPG Adventure
