Nexus Runner [EPIC Progression Fantasy litRPG]

Using Tether Slide, I launched toward the other whale, leaving the critically injured one to smash to bloody pulp on the stones. As I shot across the sky, I passed through the softly glowing protective dome covering Port Royale and the rain ceased.

Despite the battles raging around the perimeter, the center of town seemed almost tranquil. Well, the people racing toward the walls to help fight, or fleeing toward the central castle to hide kind of broke the idyllic scene, but overall it was still quite pleasant.

Behind me, the whale smashed down just inside the partially-wrecked wall and detonated in a fantastic explosion of bloody mess, drenching dozens of Base Camp tents packed into that sector.

"Congratulations, Lucas! You have defeated Deathwake Behemoth, level 73 mini boss. Bonus experience earned for defeating a higher-level enemy."

I'd get a bunch of extra experience for killing a monster that high-leveled from my Spartacus title, especially since it was a new kind of tough monster. Didn't get another level, but that wasn't surprising. One level-73 mini boss would probably win anyone else several levels, but not 10. So I just needed to kill a few more monsters.

The other Deathwake Behemoth saw me coming and pivoted toward me as soon as my golden grapple from Tether Slide pierced the distance and linked me to its side. It didn't fire another Abyssal Requiem beam, though. Instead, all of the nearby sharks swarmed in, forming a swirling vortex of deadly teeth around it. Identify surprised me by triggering.

"Death Gale Shiver. The ultimate group attack of the Deathwake Behemoth with its shiver of Skyreavers. Together, they form a terrifying maelstrom of pure destruction that unleashes overwhelming savagery across an enormous area. The longer the Death Gale Shiver is allowed to build, the greater the area affected."

"Damascus," I swore. Cyrus might want to keep a lower profile, but I had to say, "Really? Sharknado?"

"Such an underrated film," he replied softly, a laugh in his voice.

Thankfully, it seemed to take a while to get the powerful finishing move to activate. No way I'd give them that much time. So I triggered Tether Slide's Implacable ability.

"Implacable. Double your speed. Ignore any force attempting to deflect or impede your slide to your next tether point and add 500% more damage to your first strike."

The swirling sharks were speeding up, leaving glowing after-images of raking teeth behind, like a whirlwind that could eat everyone it touched. Awesome, if I was the one using it. The glowing, ghostly whirlwind of teeth started stretching down toward the ground in a deadly silver cloud. Sharknado indeed.

I triggered Energy Ward, just in case Implacable wasn't quite up to the task of protecting me from that mess of rending destruction. Focusing on Elemental Harmony, I tossed in a couple potions of Lightning Immunity to add a shock effect to my defensive aura.

Half a second later, I shot through the screening sphere of protective sharks. Between my defensive aura and Implacable shedding anything trying to stop my progress, I slipped through with nary a scratch, leaving several Skyreavers convulsing with electric shocks in my wake.

The huge Deathwake Behemoth clearly hadn't expected me to get through, but had been focused entirely on the still-building Death Gale Shiver spell.

"Surprise!" I shouted just before I hit it like a runaway truck, Maul first.

I drove the 3000 pound monster weapon into the side of the giant flying killer whale with all my strength and the extra 500% magnifier from Indomitable. The first whale had been super tough, so I also unleashed all the built-up charges collected from my boots and the force captured by my Magical Resistance as I passed through the Sharknado spell, plus the remaining 300 Potential Hammer charges that had built since my last use of the spell.

That was a lot of energy. It magnified an already-massive hit to totally insane levels. I smashed right through the flying whale's side, not slowing as I tore through its entire body, then erupted right through the far side in a geyser of disgusting gore.

The whale's giant body basically exploded at that point from all the concussive energy ripping through it, unleashing a tidal wave of gore and blood and absolute nastiness. The train-sized torso transformed into a literal nightmare flood that began raining down and would probably inundate half the town.

Thankfully, my mana shield and invisible helmet protected me from the deluge. Could have used a rainstorm right about then to help clean me off. Before the gore even began to fall, I prepared to trigger my recently-harvested spell, Shroud of Gears. Except, that only worked on clockwork insects. I was in the air, surrounded by still-spinning flying sharks.

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So I switched to Mana Desert.

"Create a wave of suppression out to 3 yards per level that snuffs out all active spells and mana-based abilities for 30 seconds."

The spell was at level 3. Instantly, my full-body mana shield winked out. So did the flight spell of all 15 of the nearby Skyreaver sharks. They lacked vocal chords to scream, but by their sudden panicked convulsing, they were smart enough to realize they were in trouble.

Together we fell toward the hard stones below. I twisted mid-air and unleashed a dozen exploding crystal blades from Stiletto Quiver at a group of 4 Stormpiercer swordfish. They were swimming closer to the wall, preparing to rake across a line of defenders they'd just caught with their immobilizing spell.

Just as I fired, a huge, brown humanoid monster appeared on top of the wall. It was weirdly rounded, with bulbous limbs and a squat, round head. It ponderously flung one hand out and launched what I'd mistaken as its hand into the air to clobber the nearest Stormpiercer. When I zoomed my vision on the thing, Identify triggered and I had to laugh.

"Potato Golem. Rare. A construct of the one and only Potato Salad Shaman, this surprisingly durable golem attacks by throwing potatoes from its own body or unleashing its ultimate Potato Salad Barrage. Laugh if you want, but don't get hit."

The unexpected counterattack sent the Stormpiercers shooting into the air to bank around for another pass. The surprise move made my first volley miss, but I corrected and fired again. This time, most of the blades found their mark, despite the distance.

A line of explosions walked down the sides of 3 of the huge swordfish, blowing ghastly holes in their bodies. They faltered and quickly fell to arrows and spells hurled up from the line of defenders. The last Stormpiercer nimbly dodged aside and swept higher into the sky, though.

By that time, I'd fallen below the limit of Mana Desert and my mana came alive again. I instantly set my tether point on that last Stormpiercer. Behind me, the Skyreavers were too busy panicking to realize they might be able to start flying again. They all smashed into the ground like really chunky missiles and exploded against the unyielding stones. Several kill notifications scrolled across the corner of my vision.

As I soared between the spires of the town castle, I triggered Loot and Soul Feed on the monsters I'd killed. Probably should have done that before they covered so much of the town in bloody mess. Mists of stinking black smoke and clouds of white energy poured up from nearly half the town. Luckily, I'd had my full-body mana shield active earlier, so most of the blood had flowed off already. I still held my breath as the vestiges of monster nastiness evaporated off of my clothing.

I liked my current Harvested spells, so resisted the urge to cast Harvest and see if maybe I could get that Abyssal Requiem spell. That one would be great, but I bet I'd get another chance to pick it up from another Deathwake Behemoth.

The Stormpiercer I targeted with Tether Slide tried to dodge, but my spell unerringly dragged me in. By the time the monster realized its amazing agility had failed and tried to turn to hit me with its immobilizing spell, I was already upon it. I slammed into its side with Echo and Scalebiter leading the way. My blades punched deep and I poured Divergent Strike through Echo.

That might be overkill, but I really wanted to use the spell at least once during the fight. The monster basically exploded, again sending a rain of gore and blood and one sword-length nose cascading toward the ground. Maybe I should change up my attacks, but hitting monsters so hard they exploded was just so very satisfying. This time I remembered to trigger Loot and Soul Feed right away.

As I fell toward the ground, I summoned Switchblade, pulled myself on my hover bike, and gunned it, changing my fall to an epic glide. I remembered to wave to the defenders on the north wall I'd just saved from the Stormpiercers.

Some waved back, but one of them soared about a dozen feet into the air, and I realized it was Tony, wearing his fantasy Iron Man power armor, a sweet suit made out of black metal, trimmed in silver. I'd never seen it in action, and it looked totally boss. Maybe they hadn't needed my help so much, after all.

I waved and Tony just raised his arms, hands wide in the universal 'Really?' pose. Definitely didn't look happy about me stealing his kills. I guess he should have finished them off faster.

I landed near the southern wall where I'd left my team. They'd finished routing both attacks on that side, and I even got a few cheers when I banished Switchblade in time to land in a crouch on the top of the wall.

"Good job everyone."

"That was awesome," Steve laughed, high-fiving me.

"You did make an incredible mess," Ruby added, nodding back toward the still-smoldering rubble where the giant Leviathan crab had crashed. Most of the monster had dissolved when I cast Loot, but it left lots of destruction behind.

I shrugged and grinned. "Better than the alternative."

"True," she said and leaned against me for a moment before pulling away to check on her patients. How could she smell like flowers immediately after a battle that left me covered in nastiness and smelling like the insides of a whale?

I triggered a Laundry Day potion and savored the full-body cleansing until Tomas interrupted the moment.

"Looks like the other hordes attacking the far side of town are retreating too!"

I wasn't surprised. I'd taken out their air support and hadn't noticed any Leviathans attacking the north side of town. That force had probably been more a distracting squad to split our defenses.

We'd done it. Elizabeth might be nuts, but Port Royale was our only safe harbor. If we'd lost it, most people probably wouldn't have survived the stage. There were far too few of us left as it was. We had to fight smarter.

That was a discussion for later. Now, with the monsters gone, it was time for the best part of a battle: checking the loot.