Rot Heart: A LitRPG of Rot Magic in an Ancient World (Book 1 completed)

Div watched Dana as she agonized over what she should report to the Thesios clan captain. A detail that didn't escape the officer's experienced gaze.

"What is it, explorer?" He insisted. "Why are you not answering? Are those barbarians threatening you?"

"No! Captain!" Dana blurted. "Explorer Dana Opheo of the seventh expeditionary corps, reporting."

Div held back a sigh. If Dana told them about the artifact, the Kheironite squad would want to take it from them. But, if she didn't tell them, they'd wonder why she was traveling with them.

She was supposed to be stationed days upstream from their position.

Sharing a look with Lugsellos and Gennorina, Div and his friends prepared for a confrontation. It would be best not to waste too much time on this, the mountaineers were still chasing after them.

Lugsellos was subtly using Empathic Resonance to influence the hoplites. However, while the skill had the potential to be powerful, it was hard to use due to its strict requirements on the user.

It wasn't as simple as picking an emotion for the others to feel. Lugsellos had to infect them with his own emotions. It meant that if he wanted the squad to be pacific, he himself needed to feel that way.

It was hard to suppress his distrust for soldiers who were so quick to dismiss them

Gennorina, on the other hand, was silently communicating with Suce, telling the spirit to stay hidden in the pebble until she gave the sign.

As for Div, he had already started weaving two Turn spells inside the weakest soldiers. Unfortunately, all of them were at the Evolved Rank.

Six against four. Three, depending on what Dana would choose to do.

He didn't fancy their odds.

"I encountered those three traveling south in an abandoned village a few days from here," Dana said. "I was going to keep an eye on them while they were in my patrol area, but we were attacked by several scouting parties. Outnumbered, I left with the Lieniens."

"I see…" the captain said, glancing toward the boat. "And what are those three doing? Traveling? Why?"

Div was about to speak up when Dana waved her hand at him, telling him to keep his mouth shut. He decided to follow her lead.

It was clear to him that she was trying to balance her duty to Kheiron with her loyalty to him and his friends. Purposely omitting the artifact from her story was already more than he should have expected.

For her, giving up the crystal to the squad was the objectively right move. She didn't share their reasons for bringing it to Trabine. Div didn't want Kheiron to have this extra leverage.

If anything, Dana should have wanted to hand over the artifact. Shift the danger to the hoplites who would have to figure out how they would bring it to their superiors.

But she wasn't doing that. She was helping them.

Dana didn't have to make up a false story to explain their presence here. Telling the truth wouldn't get them in trouble.

Hearing her explanation, the captain nodded. "Everything seems to be in order. Except, you didn't mention what that thing siphoning mana on your boat was. If I were of the suspicious kind, I would wager it was one of the artifacts the mountaineers use to destroy the land."

At his words, his men tensed up. Weapons already in hand, the hoplites stood at the ready.

"What if it was?" Dana asked.

Div shook his head. This wasn't going to turn out well.

The captain narrowed his eyes at Dana's answer, his tone turning cold. "Then I'd be forced to assume you've betrayed us."

Dana didn't move. "I haven't betrayed anyone."

"You're not reporting the truth. That is betrayal."

He raised a hand. The silent signal was all it took. The nearest hoplite lunged forward—toward Dana.

Div reacted first.

The air around the boat cracked as he snapped the first Turn spell into motion, turning the attacking soldier's internal rotlife against him.

"Gennorina!" he barked.

The druid whispered something inaudible to all but Suce, the pebble in her palm bursting with light. Suce surged forth, striking the earth beneath the hoplites and knocking two of them off balance.

"Hold!" Dana shouted, but no one listened.

Another hoplite, faster than the rest, was already mid-leap toward Div.

Lugsellos hastily fired an arrow, forcing the attacker to adjust his trajectory.

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The hoplite's spear met Div's shield. Pushing against the enemy's spear, he activated his second Turn spell, taking another hoplite down.

The captain didn't even flinch. "So be it," he said, "Death to traitors and barbarians."

Dana cursed. She still hadn't drawn her weapon. Her fingers twitched as her eyes darted between the two sides.

She couldn't raise her weapons against her own people. But, over the past few days, she'd grown fond of the Camboacians, she didn't want to let them die either.

Div spun, intercepting the captain as he was charging toward Gennorina. The Kheironite leader was strong. Stronger than all of them.

To reach the rank of captain in the Kheironite army, one needed to be at least in the mid-ranges of the Evolved Rank. Furthermore, it wasn't just any captain, he was of the Thesios clan. Born with a spear in his hands.

His grizzled temples were a sign that he was too old to rise higher, but it hinted at experience. A true veteran.

Div was pushed back several steps. He took more hits than he should, but he was the only one who could. He could always heal. Genno wouldn't survive.

Div grimaced as the captain's spear carved a shallow line across his thigh, pain flaring like fire. He staggered, just barely staying upright. Behind him, Lugsellos fumbled to notch another arrow.

"Lug, fall back!" Div hissed, pivoting to shield the archer.

Another thrust came, fast and brutal. Div turned the spear aside with his shield but not fast enough. The blade scraped down the side of his leg, tearing through flesh and muscle. He cried out.

"Div!" Gennorina called, panic breaking through. Suce flared, shifting the earth from below the captain's feet, forcing him back.

Div collapsed to one knee, blood soaking into the ground beneath him.

The captain jumped back into the fray, taking but a step to stand over him, spear raised for a killing blow.

Then—

An arrow bounced off the captain's armguard. Sparks flew.

Dana.

She stood beside them, both holding her bow. Her eyes locked on the captain's.

"Explorer," he said, voice like ice. "You've made your choice."

"I have," Dana said. Her voice was low. Steady. "You're wrong. This fight… none of it should be happening."

The captain turned toward her. "You side with barbarians?"

Dana took a deep breath and prepared another arrow.

Deep down, she knew she was no match for the captain. She was buying time, unsure of what she expected to change.

One of the hoplites tried to flank her. Lugsellos fired an arrow. It struck the soldier's shoulder, throwing him off.

Div dragged himself upright with his shield, leaning on it like a crutch. "Genno, we need to bail. Can Suce propel the boat far from the shore?"

She nodded grimly. It wasn't impossible, but they needed to get back on first.

But then, everyone froze.

From behind the treeline, cloaked figures emerged one by one.

The mountaineers had arrived. Seeing their target besieged by their own allies, they didn't waste time and charged.

The Kheironite hoplites cursed, forming a hasty defensive line.

Div coughed, blood flecking his lips. "Perfect," he rasped. "Just what we needed."

Dana stood frozen for half a second. Then she turned, grabbed Div's arm, and pulled him toward the boat. "Go! Now!"

With Lugsellos and Gennorina helping, they got Div to board.

"Suce," Gennorina ordered.

The earth shook.

"You're not going anywhere!" The captain yelled.

With a single leap, he threw himself onto the boat. Letting Div fall to the floor, Dana sprung into action.

With only her dagger, Dana lunged.

The captain caught her wrist mid-thrust. His grip was like iron. He twisted—Dana gasped as her dagger clattered to the deck. In the same motion, he slammed his elbow into her sternum and drove her back.

She stumbled, air knocked from her lungs. The pain flared through her chest, but she didn't fall. Gritting her teeth, Dana threw herself at him again, fists clenched.

The captain didn't flinch.

He parried her strikes effortlessly, stepping around her like she was a child flailing in slow motion. A brutal knee to her ribs sent her crashing against the boat's railing. She felt something crack.

She couldn't breathe. Could barely think. But she stood again.

Div, half-conscious and bleeding, raised a hand, but couldn't muster the strength to cast. Lugsellos shouted her name, but couldn't get a clear shot without hitting her. Gennorina was screaming at Suce.

The boat shuddered violently.

Suce answered.

The riverbank behind them cracked open as stones burst from the soil, pushing the hull with the force of a small landslide. The vessel bucked. Water surged around it, foam spraying as it shot forward downriver.

The captain lost his balance for just an instant.

It was enough.

Dana launched herself at him again—this time not to fight, but to grapple. She crashed into him shoulder-first, wrapping her arms around his torso. Her vision blurred from pain, but she held on.

Together, they toppled.

With a roar, the captain struck her once, twice—trying to pry her off—but Dana clung tighter, dragging him with her as they fell over the edge of the boat.

They hit the water hard.

Cold, so cold.

Dana's lungs screamed as they were crushed under the river's current. She kicked off the captain's armor, pulling herself away just as he tried to grab her again. His spear had been lost. His armor dragged him down. His eyes locked on hers. Furious.

Then he vanished beneath the churning water.

Dana clawed her way back to the surface, gasping.

A hand.

She grasped it and slammed into the side of the boat, as Lug and Genno pulled her aboard.

"Div?" Dana coughed, blood flecking her lips.

"He'll be fine," Gennorina said, voice shaking. "Don't worry, he's channeling his healing skill."

Dana sank down beside him, limbs trembling. The world tilted.

The boat surged forward, leaving behind the battlefield. Mountaineers and Kheironites were locked in brutal chaos on the shore. Screams followed them, distant and drowned by the roar of the river.

Dana felt her chest tighten. Her compatriots wouldn't survive this.

The water was so cold.

Lugsellos was busy steering the boat.

Blood flowed inside her mouth.

Gennorina knelt beside her. "It'll be fine, Dana. I promise. I'm sorry."

Dana mustered a weak smile. Gennorina was a terrible liar.

Barely breathing, she gave one last look at Div. Then, she collapsed.