Broken Core [LitRPG • Cultivation • Post Apocalyptic • Romance]

The burning waves of heat washed over James, flowing against his toughened skin as he watched the stars overhead.

It's always so beautiful at night. The stars are so bright.

A month had passed since he started raiding the residential area and subsequent houses on that side of the city. Holding up his hand, he pulled on his soul and water poured from his clenched fist, only to be picked up by the wind and evaporated.

So much has changed. Almost too much.

Lowering his hand, he ran it across his armor. Soft fur rested against his skin, with iron hard scales and feathers overtop. His pants were the same and his boots mimicked them. Most of his arms were covered, and only his hands and head were shown. He was comfortable and protected as he watched the stars. Pulling up his character sheet, he looked it over.

Name: James Matson

Soul Strength: 5.23

Soul Skills

Soul Siphon

Soul Strike

Soul Blade

Soul Crafting: Level 3/10

Soul Water: Level 2/10

Skills

Regeneration: Level 10/10

Pain Resistance: Level 8/10

Heat Resistance: Level 10/10

Poison Resistance: Level 5/10

Rot Resistance: Level 6/10

Corruption Resistance: Level 5/10

Corrosion Resistance: Level 5/10

Piercing Resistance: Level 4/10

Improvised Weapons: Level 3/10

Crude Tanning: Level 5/10

Crude Leatherwork: Level 5/10

Crude Armor Crafting: Level 5/10

The only new skill he had gained was Soul Water, and as his Soul Strength had leveled, he hadn't unlocked anything else. He was well into the foundation stage or the equivalent and nearly to those that created solid cores. Another month of fighting would see him over the edge and back to where he was before arriving in the city.

He didn't know how long it would take to reach the nascent soul, but for the first time, he was cultivating his body. That was something he didn't practice before. As his soul grew, his body tempered, and the weird monsters of the residential area couldn't harm him anymore. Well…the minotaur could, but his sword cut through them now.

Eating random mushrooms and odd plants had leveled his resistances nicely. But it was getting harder, and he knew he needed to fight tougher Forsaken if he wanted to keep improving. That's what led him to sit out at night and level his Heat Resistance. Weeks of work had allowed him to watch the stars without pain.

What section do I attack next? I don't dare go to the city center. Maybe the industrial area out to the west. I bet those smokestacks and factories hold many strong monsters. Or they will be weaker than the residential area that is already fleeing from me.

Sighing, he closed his eyes. The days were passing swiftly as he grew stronger. The minuscule amount of growth he got from the souls added up, but it was taking too long. He needed to leave the city and start exploring the wastelands. He needed to find a city and learn where he was in the world. That and real clothes would be nice.

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Touching his armor again, he smiled. What will people think when they see me?

Slipping into the realm of dreams, James fully relaxed. His vulture friends would wake him in the morning, and he could get started again.

Morning came all too quickly for Luna as she raced out of her hidden crevice. The vast wasteland of destroyed buildings and crumbling plant life stretched all around her. But it was the cackling laughs that made her sprint.

Why are they after me? I should have shaken them by now!

For the last week she had been on the run, fleeing from a pack of giant black wolves with flesh falling from their bodies. It always regrew, but it sizzled and rotted the ground, and she didn't dare let it touch her.

Panting for each breath, she kicked up dirt as she avoided buildings and brush. Her fur was matted, and she was desperately hungry and thirsty. Her energy was waning, and she knew she wouldn't last much longer.

Why did I think it would be a good idea to visit the wastelands? What did I hope to achieve?

Eyeing the city a few miles away, she tried to pick up her pace. If she could get among the buildings, she might be able to lose the wolves. Maybe she could even get the other Forsaken to kill them while she slunk away.

I have to try. I don't know how I'll survive the city, but I don't have a choice.

With each breath she took, she pushed herself harder as she listened to the pack of wolves race behind her.

James stretched in the morning light as the vultures started flying back toward the residential district. With a small laugh, he realized they wanted to feast on the minotaur that remained. He had to admit they were amazingly tasty and once he moved on to the industrial district, he likely wouldn't have something as good again.

Brushing off the dust from the night, he started walking. He hadn't eaten in nearly a week as his reserves kept him full. He did learn that his reserves slowly drained and needed to be replenished every so often.

Cracking his knuckles, he started to enjoy his walk through the city. What used to take him an hour of wariness was only minutes as his increased strength let him speed down the street. The hounds had been eliminated completely or chased out of area. The lizards were all but gone and only the humanoid monsters remained. They did their best to talk him out of killing them, but the vultures needed to eat, and he needed their souls.

Reaching the apartments, he slowed his pace and scanned the buildings. They were silent as he walked. The ground didn't shake, nor did he hear the minotaur stomping. The sound of claws scraping wood was absent as he continued further towards the city center. He didn't dare reach the towering skyscrapers, but if he wanted to grow stronger, he had to push the boundaries of safety.

Minutes turned to an hour before he reached a section that held life. The humanoid Forsaken hissed in their apartments.

"He's here…"

"Flee…"

Chuckling, he watched the monsters try to run out rear entrances as he sprinted towards them. Apartments were emptying faster than he could give chase, but he did reach one group of twelve.

Throwing out his hand, he growled. Their small souls were caught in his grasp, and he pulled. His limit of six had greatly increased and a group of twelve was easy. Their screams filled the air as they fell to the ground thrashing.

"Please…"

"No…"

They pleaded as he walked over to them. "I wonder if you taste good." Licking his lips, he realized he was partially hungry. He hadn't tried eating the humanoid monsters yet.

Glancing at the vultures, he waved. Three of them swooped down and landed near his side. Bowing his head to them, they bowed in return as they turned their attention to his prey. Seconds passed before all twelve fell still.

"They're yours," James announced. "I'll hunt us down a minotaur."

Squawking, the vultures bowed their heads again before hopping forward. James started to walk away as the rest of the flock landed. Each one bowed their heads to him before tearing into the monsters. With a smile, he started scanning the streets for more fleeing monsters.

Luna reached the city as her body started to give out. Her pace was starting to slow, and the wolves were gaining ground. As she entered, she found herself among houses with Forsaken watching her movements. She couldn't tell what they were, but they watched from windows and shuffled their claws across the ground.

Not wanting to be attacked by more, she kept running. Her white fur was a beacon in the destroyed city, calling to all of the monsters. No matter how hard her heart pounded in her chest, she couldn't get away from the hungry eyes.

Minutes passed before she suddenly found herself in a section that felt truly dead. Flying overhead was a flock of vultures. Her heart nearly gave out as she raced towards them.

Maybe they are strong enough to kill the wolves. Or I'll just become another meal for them…

Claws were tearing into the stone behind her, and she didn't dare look back. Approaching the vultures, she suddenly felt a pressure wash over the area unlike anything she had felt before. To make matters worse, she could hear Forsaken fleeing the area as what she could only take as a humanoid Forsaken walked into the intersection. It took one look at her and turned its full attention to her.

Raising its arm, she felt a force rush past her. Howls of pain ripped through the air behind her, and she slid to a stop as the overwhelming pressure from the monster crashed into her. Glancing back, she panted as the wolves thrashed on the ground. Suddenly, their bodies exploded, sending gore over the street and nearby buildings.

Eyes wide, she turned back to the Forsaken. It glanced at her and started walking closer. The vultures swooped down and started picking at the remains of the wolves and her body shook with fear.

"Leave this one to me," it stated.

She caught the sight of the vultures bowing their heads as the Forsaken stopped in front of her. Trailing her eyes from its feathered body up to its head, she found a human frowning at her.

Whimpering, she felt her body reach its limit and collapse. The last thing she saw was the man kneeling next to her and his rough hands grabbing the scruff of her neck.