Underworld - Sanctuary: A LitRPG Series

  Underworld

  Sanctuary

  Book 3

  By Apollos Thorne

  Copyright © 2017 by Apollos Thorne

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Thank you for purchasing!

  Don’t forget to review!

  Facebook Page

  Subscribe for Updates

  Begin Reading

  Patrons

  Zac James

  Zak Powell

  Zachary Dubuque

  Bud Terry

  Jason White

  Alexis Keane

  Kevin McKinney

  William Merrick

  I couldn’t do it without you guys!

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 – Primordial Cat

  Chapter 2 – Shapeshifting Powering Up

  Chapter 3 – Gathering Information

  Chapter 4 – Dungeon Planning

  Chapter 5 – We Have Bathrooms

  Chapter 6 – Departure

  Chapter 7 – The Tomb

  Chapter 8 – A Wraith’s Welcome

  Chapter 9 - Mushrooms

  Chapter 10 – The Imp’s Dungeon

  Chapter 11 – The Throne Room

  Chapter 12 - Feuer

  Chapter 13 - Pork

  Chapter 14 – Loot

  Chapter 15 – Homecoming

  Chapter 16 – Public Speaking

  Chapter 17 – Building

  Chapter 18 – Arcane Engineering

  Chapter 19 – Enraged

  Chapter 20 – Guardians

  Chapter 21 – Making Progress

  Chapter 22 – Kids

  Chapter 23 – Let There Be Bread

  Chapter 24 – Making Adjustments

  Chapter 25 – Things are Coming Together

  Chapter 26 – Power Leveling

  Chapter 27 – Light Magic

  Chapter 28 – Holy Cow

  Chapter 29 – Facing the Herd

  Chapter 30 – Waldemar

  Chapter 31 – Time to Hunt

  Chapter 1 – Primordial Cat

  With charred fists, I watched as the coal-like texture spread down my arms until it covered my entire body. My innards were not spared from the effects. Shapeshifting, being true to its name, began to change me.

  My mana was being spent at an unimaginable rate. It pushed at the edges of my physical form until I started to expand. Much like going In The Buff, I felt power well up inside my limbs and flesh, but where In The Buff would have found its limit, Primordial Cat Form had only begun. Scorching steam flexed inside me like honed muscle and yet I was not burned.

  Steam was only the beginning. Soon, the heat inside of me swelled into a raging furnace. It did not destroy me. We became one. As molten rock settled in its place, I took in the room in which I stood. Through the thick lens of overwhelming internal power, I found it difficult to look beyond myself. I was on all fours but stood taller than I had before my transformation. The stone walls cooked in the heat of my presence.

  Opening my jaw, I could feel the weapon that was now my breath and the strength of being able to crush stone like ice chips between my teeth.

  I rolled my neck, feeling strength that had surpassed muscle and bone. As naturally as taking a breath, I willed the hard substance of my back and spiked mane to kindle into liquid rock. The fluidity of my form was mine to command. Just as quickly as it had heated up, I encased myself in hardened rock, drawing the heat inside me.

  I had feared this form, knowing that Xaphan had possessed an ocean of mana to smother the life out of almost anything alive. But instead of swimming in that endless power, this was like the first time I had used Force Learn on Lord Darius. It was mouthwatering. It was intoxicating. If I could only get more of it, I could keep myself alive. I could protect my friends. I could protect Aeris.

  My consciousness started to fade as my vision dimmed. The power inside me began to deflate. Time’s up already?

  I regained consciousness a few seconds later. I lay face down with my cheek resting on the searing hot floor. Nothing was left of my clothes. I was being cooked alive in the remaining heat.

  Desperately, I tried to move, but there was no strength in my limbs. I had used every ounce of my mana, which had left me helpless for a few moments as my mana started to rebuild itself. What would have normally left me woozy had been bypassed by the pain of scalding skin.

  A pathetic cry was the first thing that I was able to manage in my weakened state.

  As if in response, a tumultuous wind screamed in through the entrance of the room. Instead of enhancing the heat, the air found three other doorways and exited in a rush, sucking out the heat from those tight quarters in seconds and leaving me shivering and burnt.

  Immediately, I curled up and healed myself with the mana that had already returned to me. Moments ago, I had felt jaw-dropping power, but the cost had left me completely helpless.

  Knowing the source of the wind that had just saved me from having to regrow even more skin, I lay there hugging my knees and hiding my frailty in shame. I was already healed, but this was not how I wanted anyone to see me, especially the woman I cared for.

  A warm hand settled on my shoulder.

  I turned toward her, onto my back, while Skeletal Armor covered me from the waist down. I hadn’t used my armor without undergarments before because I doubted it would be comfortable enough without them, but I’d forgo that comfort for the moment.

  I took a deep breath as Aeris looked down on me with a feigned smile. Her trembling proved she was only trying to put on a strong face.

  She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. When she saw I was alive and well, her annoyance became clear, and I saw genuine outrage glaring down at me.

  “Well, that went well,” I said sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood as I sat up.

  She finally spoke. “I hate it when you do this,” she admonished. “I hate it.”

  She sat on her knees at my side. Her arms hung loosely as if she had just undergone the same thing that I had.

  How many times had I broken my promise to her? Just yesterday, I had determined to start putting the others first. The problem was, I needed to continue pushing myself and also be there for the others, for her, but I had no idea how to accomplish both of those things? This wasn’t selfish like the time I went off exploring The Belly before the others had caught up to help. I wasn’t putting the others in danger. Sure, there was risk to me, but it was necessary… The memory of what happened the first time I had used the blue spell Magma came to mind. If it wasn’t for Mel being there, I probably would have died from the intoxicating fumes that my own spell had given off as we fled The Belly. Not that there was the danger of death looming, just a lot of pain, but I really was being arrogant. I should have told someone I was coming here and what I was going to do.

  “I’m sorry, Aeris. Even with 1,000 Intelligence it’s like there are holes in my thinking. I just didn’t want to wake anyone,” I replied soberly.

  “I know you didn’t,” she said with a sigh. Leaning forward with her hands on her knees, she continued, “And just because your stats are high doesn’t mean you’re a different person. You’ve always gotten so focused on what you have to do that you ignore the possible consequences. It makes you focused and quick to act, but you need to learn when to turn that part of yourself off.”

  Seeing that she had switched from her angry posture to one of hopeful irritation, I couldn’t help but respond. “So, what you’re saying is if I fee
l like putting myself in a position where I might end up passed out naked in a giant frying pan, I should talk to you first?”

  Her jaw muscles clenched just before her fist dug into the muscle at the base of my shoulder.

  “You’re a jerk,” she yelled in a huff.

  I looked in awe at the rigid muscles of my arm. Where she had hit me pulsed like a new bruise.

  “How in the world did you hit me so hard?” I asked, rubbing my arm. Her punch had been so fast. But was her speed enough to make up for her lack of strength?

  “I don’t just have a talent in Wind Magic, I also have one with Dexterity, remember?” she muttered. “Well, I was at first torn as to whether I should work on my Intelligence next, or Dex. I think it would be a waste to not at least get my Dex to 1,000 for the bonus.”

  I shook my head to acknowledge her logic before responding. “What is your Dexterity right now?”

  “837. I also got my Strength and Constitution to 100.”

  “What?! When?”

  Aeris stood up, putting her hands on her hips as if to show herself to me for the first time. She shook her head. Her tight dark blue leather armor hugged her arms and legs. It was thicker in places that were common targets like her torso, shoulders, forearms, and thighs. She even had a solid collar that curled back from her neck, offering protection without restricting her movement. Her brown hair was back in a long braid, keeping her hair in order and out of her face. It also wouldn’t get in the way when she used her wind magic. She was still naturally petite, but there was no denying her muscle build was tauter than before and much better defined.

  “What do you mean when? We killed a Hell Hound, about one hundred Imps, hundreds more in the Belly, a dark elf, a succubus…”

  “What level are you now?” I asked, holding up my hands as if begging for peace.

  She opened her character sheet and showed me.

  Name: Aeris

  Age: 17

  Level: 387

  Attributes

  Strength: 100

  Dexterity: 837

  Constitution: 103

  Intelligence: 103

  Wisdom: 1,004

  I quickly added up her stat points in my head and realized she had 42 more levels worth of stats than she should at her level. About 210 more. Astonished, I didn’t hesitate to ask her about it.

  “One part of my talent is that I gain stat points in Dexterity faster than normal when exerting myself. My talent info doesn’t say how fast, though, so it’s hard for me to calculate,” she said.

  “You’re incredible,” I replied, getting to my feet and allowing Skeletal Armor to finish its job and encase my upper body as well. In The Buff also filled me with the increase in size I had grown accustomed to. I supposed it was time to get used to my armor without undergarments if I could expect them to burn up every time I used this form.

  She turned away when she noticed I was still shirtless. It took a few seconds for Skeletal Armor to finish the process of covering me. “You’re just trying to get me to forget that I’m angry with you.”

  “Is it working?”

  She gave me a sarcasm filled eyeroll as she shook her head.

  “I’m sorry,” I said playfully. “But, will you accompany me as I try to power level this new spell?”

  “Hey! I have some power leveling I need to do as well. But yes, I’ll rescue you when you need it. I’ll be two rooms over working on Dexterity.”

  I nodded, happy to hear she wouldn’t just be sitting here watching me.

  “Since I’m going to be up all night, you better heal me,” she added, just as Russ entered the room with Olivia at his side.

  “You better heal us as well,” Russ called out.

  They weren’t alone. Skyler was there with the Sledge brothers, then Travis followed them in with Clarissa and Audrey. Trevon was with Mel, Chris, Steve and three of our Dexterity-based fighters who I was less familiar with. It suddenly struck me that all three of them were female… Why had I been thinking they were guys? I really did need to focus on getting to know everyone better. Lydia followed after with Richard in tow. Everyone was here.

  Had they been listening to our conversation?

  Crossing his arms across his chest, Skyler said, “Same here. Throw us a Heal.”

  “That goes for all of us!” Richard said earnestly. “I’m going to take over the watch for now. I’m adding everyone to a group and I’m going to keep it active at all times. It’ll help me level my spell.”

  The lot of them stood there looking at me expectantly.

  When I first arrived in the Underworld they had all been strangers. I hadn’t trusted them then, but, even as I grew to know them and how dependable they could be, I still wasn’t giving them the trust they had earned. That needed to change.

  Eyeing my mana, I saw I now had close to 25k MP. I didn’t spare any mana and cast a cloud of Advanced Heal that filled the room and smothered everyone.

  I saw the eagerness in their faces as they left to find a suitable place to train their unique talents.

  A few of the ones I had grown the closest to remained. Russ and Olivia, Travis, Mel and, of course, Aeris.

  I looked at them blankly, still unsure what had just happened.

  Travis chuckled. “You really think a single one of us didn’t know you would be up to something tonight? Everyone was just kind of waiting around until they sensed your mana spike, then they came to find you.”

  He wore one of the white long-sleeved shirts the Mistress’s Lich had packed that hugged his athletic form tightly. His legs were more exposed with his black athletic shorts and running shoes. He looked comfortable.

  “Why didn’t anyone just ask me to heal their exhaustion?” I asked, grabbing a fist full of hair on the back of my head.

  “We wanted to give you space,” Olivia chided. She was also dressed comfortably, except instead of athletic gear she wore a plain white tank top and a loose-fitting black knee-high skirt. It was such a simple look, but for the first time I thought I understood why Mel and Russ found her so attractive. There was a grin hidden behind her disdain.

  Hadn’t the Head Mistress’s Lich packed us any extra clothing that wasn’t black and white?

  I just shook my head. “I really am oblivious.”

  They all nodded their heads as one.

  They left a few minutes later, leaving Aeris and me alone.

  “You knew this was going to happen? Them showing up?” I asked her.

  “Yep,” she replied, closing the distance between us with a large stride. “Have you learned your lesson for the night?”

  I reached out and pulled her close to me. “I think so, but I don’t know if it’s that simple.”

  “Don’t worry. I have four brothers. I’m sure a few decades from now it’ll finally sink in.”

  “How many sisters do you have?”

  “Three.”

  I couldn’t help but whistle.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll keep you in line.”

  ***

  When Aeris had gone, I looked at the popup I had received during my escapade trying Shapeshifting for the first time.

  Primordial Cat Form

  Level: 2

  Cost: 99,100 Mana Per Second (19,820 with buffs)

  HP: NA (See Magma Manipulation.)

  Strength: +5,050, +1% Strength

  Dexterity: +5,050, +1% Dexterity

  Special Abilities: Body of Magma, Magma, Manipulation, Magma Regeneration.

  Body of Magma: Your body is transformed into one that consists entirely of magma.

  Magma Manipulation: Because your being exists within a magma state, you have full control over the magma itself. Harden or soften your body at will.

  Magma Regeneration: If magma is displaced from your body, you are able to return to your Primordial Cat form indefinitely, unless 75% of your magma is lost.

  Note: You do not take damage to your HP. Any attack that removes or separates magma from your body leaves you weak
er.

  Next Level:

  Cost: 98,200 Mana Per Second

  +50 Strength

  +1% Strength

  +50 Dexterity

  +1% Dexterity

  It had taken only one cast for it to reach the second level. That was great news, but there were so many questions that came with this discovery. Did it only level quickly because I had used up all of my mana or was it based on the number of times I cast the form? It was something I’d have to test.

  Sitting down to Meditate, I came up with a game plan. Having over 206k MP took a while to restore, but with meditation, my Mana Per Minute was multiplied by 10 after 5 minutes. Since it took a full minute before my MPM started to increase, it really was something I could only use after battle when I was sure I’d be completely safe. Now was the perfect time to use it. In less than ten minutes, my MP was completely restored.

  I stood, preparing myself for another cast of Primordial Cat Form. While it was leveling quickly, I’d take advantage and cast it over and over again until it started to slow. Even then, it would likely be too costly to get much use out of except in extreme situations. That didn’t mean I couldn’t use mana manipulation. Remembering the mantis and how it used Shapeshifting to mix more than one form, I knew there had to be a more practical use of my forms. Especially the really costly ones like this. The only thing left to do was to experiment.

  I tried to visualize what I needed to do. There were two things I had to try to accomplish during the next cast. One, I had to hold the heat in so that after I returned to normal, I didn’t get burned. Secondly, I needed to uncast the spell before I fully ran out of mana. If I couldn’t get these two things down quickly, it was going to be a long night. After going over what I needed to do, it was time to try again.

  Heat began to well up inside me and I started to change shape. If I could get the hang of casting and uncasting this form, I’d soon need to calculate how long it took to change back and forth.

  Keeping my focus on containing my heat, I recalled Xaphan who had approached me without giving off heat, which meant it was possible. As soon as I reached the same staggering level of power I had felt on my first cast, I encased my body in solid igneous rock. At least this part was easier than I feared.