Scorching Ascension - [Progression Litrpg Apocalypse]

"Obviously, I didn't stay long," Liz said as she worked the grease out of her hand onto her knee. "I hoped to get the bonus, but I didn't make it in time. When I was running for the portal, a freaking raccoon tried to get me. It had big claws—kinda like yours, but without the fire. It was feral. I was hearing screaming and shouting everywhere. Gerald said there were crows swooping down on people, knocking them down with strong gusts of wind."

Ethan listened quietly, eyes wide, while Liz continued her retelling.

"They just… went crazy. I hope cats and dogs didn't lose it as well, otherwise…"

She let that thought linger, and Ethan had to nod. He hadn't thought of that. He'd known there was going to be some chaos, sure. But he never thought animals would turn against everyone.

"It's going to be dangerous when we get back out there," Ethan said after a moment.

Liz snorted. "You mean if? Who knows how long this is going to take? And who says they'll let us head back to our world after? Remember that 'inhabited realms' line when this all started? God knows what's out there…"

She shook her head. "Anyway. I'll let you do your business. Whatever it was you were doing before I interrupted. Just let us know when you want to leave, okay? Thanks. Really. We owe you one. I owe you one."

And with that, she left. Ethan watched her make her way back toward the others, then shook his head.

I hope the old bastard got out alright.

Ethan brought up his wand menu and started examining the available upgrades when he noticed a new category.

General Arcanum upgrades

Title: Acquire an Arcanum title, unlocking special abilities and effects for Lesser Arcanums - 30 fragments

When had this shown up? Was it because he'd hit level 10?

Reading through it, Ethan had to admit that he was intrigued. So there were upgrades limited to specific Arcanums, and there were general ones that affected them all? He wondered what other kinds of general upgrades could be unlocked. Turning his attention back to available upgrade, he pursed his lips.

This is probably worth it. Unfortunately, I don't have enough for it just yet. I would have if I hadn't gotten the mana regeneration upgrade earlier but then again, I'm going to have enough juice to practice with the flames now. Which is just as important.

It wasn't a big deal. He just needed a couple of lizardlings and he'd have enough for the title. Aside from that, he had the Spellform Bonus and Spell Capacity available to upgrade, aside from the tier that is, and none felt like a priority just yet. Ethan was content waiting a bit more to get the title.

Now that he'd gotten a preview of what traits could be, he was excited to see what an Arcanum title would do. Who knows? Maybe he'd get a title that would net him more fragments.

With that out of the way, Ethan stood up. He felt good, and his injuries were fading into the background. He could certainly use a good shower and a nap, but he was far from exhausted. He could still go for at least a few more hours. Even though it was probably getting close to his usual bedtime.

The effect of stats, I'm guessing.

Heading toward the trio, he found them sitting quietly in their corner. All three focused on him when he approached, then the man and the scared nervously looked away, unable—or unwilling—to look him in the eyes.

Either way, Ethan didn't really care.

Liz stood up and gave him a wide smile. "Ready to go, boss?"

Ethan gave her a nod and turned and left. At least, if they found more people, he could find out if they'd learned something he hadn't. And once that's done, he'd be on his way.

With the trio trailing right behind him, Ethan headed back to the tunnel he'd come from.

***

A couple of minutes after passing the set of stairs where he'd fought the lizardlings and where the man who had ambushed him lay, out of view, the group came upon another flight of stairs leading down. No torches lit this one up, but thankfully, they'd picked up a couple from the camp. Plus, there was enough light filtering from some light wells, illuminating a few dead lizardlings here and there. A couple of minutes later, they found an older man laying down on his face with a pool of blood under his head, which made Ethan's stomach clench while the the trio paled.

Must be the work of that psycho…

Martha was hiccuping for a few minutes after they went past him, while Gerald seemed to be walking around like a stranger in his own body.

Ethan sometimes forgot that most people didn't experience death this closely. Or this often.

A couple of corridors later, with only their steps echoing in the dark tunnels, they reached another well-lit, wide room full of dead lizardlings. Someone behind inhaled sharply as the details of the room became clearer.

The lizardlings weren't just dead. They'd been massacred. Most were dismembered in one fashion or another, and no cut was clean. A few had their heads crushed in, as if they'd been bludgeoned.

The blood hasn't dried yet.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Ethan stood still at the entrance, scanning the room for a moment or for any hint at what may have caused this, and he almost jumped out of his skin when Liz whispered. "Was this you?"

Ethan noticed all three of his tag-alongs—especially Martha and Gerald—were standing further away than usual.

"No. But whatever did this might still be around. If you want to stay safe, stay back."

Ethan began walking forward, then stopped. He needed to make something clear, in case it wasn't. He looked Liz and the other two in the eyes. "If something shows up, I can't protect you. I mean that I might not even be able to. Don't forget it."

Liz nodded gravely at the warning, and so did Gerald after a couple of seconds while Martha held her head between her hands.

She's really not handling this well.

Ethan felt for her. But there wasn't much he could do about it.

With his warning spoken, Ethan turned and walked into the room. He was a bit intrigued by what had caused this, and he wanted to find the perpetrator. With his recently acquired trait and high Toughness, he believed he could take on whatever it was. Lizardlings weren't that strong, so outside of the gore, this wasn't that impressive of a display.

Then again, the creature probably got a good boost from the kills. The fragments were gone. If this was a monster, would it give out more fragments when he killed it?

Maybe. He guessed he would soon find out.

Behind him, Liz's steps echoed behind him, but the other two didn't. For a moment. But considering the empty corridors behind them, they soon followed, unwilling to be left behind.

"Are you trying to find what killed them?" whispered Liz as she stepped over a glassy-eyed lizardling.

Ethan looked sideways at her. She seemed a bit incredulous, but clearly, the nerves were affecting her as well. "Yup. Probably worth the experience. And the fragments."

She was quiet for a moment, then she asked, "Can I help?"

Well, he hadn't expected that. Ethan smiled and shrugged. "Why not," he said. Then he recalled something he forgot to ask about. "By the way, did you get a kill notification on that lizardling I killed? The level 8?"

"Yes."

Ethan nodded, eyes scanning the corridor ahead. That was good to know. People could cooperate and take down stronger targets and each would get a share of the levels. There might be even a way to do the same with fragments. He glanced sideways at the woman and down at the glowing bolt in her crossbow. "Good. Now, let's—"

His voice cut off as a loud croak filled the hall

Ethan ignited his claws and leaned lower to the ground, ready to dodge, while the others froze. "Back up. Quickly," he whispered, eyes on the dark tunnel ahead.

A heavy shuffle reached his ear. A loud plop sound, before another loud call filled the hall. Then another plopping sound that made Ethan think of something heavy and soft and a second later, the monster was out.

[Toad - Level 16]

A brown-skinned giant toad stepped out of the dark tunnel. Blood was still marring its face, while two large, yellow eyes stared dumbly at Ethan. It was easily as tall as he was, and significantly larger.

Ethan swallowed, then shoved his astonishment aside. Stay on it. Keep it busy, he thought to himself as he stared at the monstrous beast. He didn't even dare to blink and he hoped the others backed up fast enough, because he couldn't probably couldn't stop its attacks. Whatever they were.

Prolly has to do with its tongue.

His throat felt dry, but he didn't dare twitch a muscle. He was waiting. Waiting for the attack he'd have to dodge. Tensed, he watched, and a second later, the toad's mouth opened, and a blob of pink peeked out—

Ethan threw himself aside and rolled. Behind him, there was an impact, then a loud scream filled the hall, followed by a sickening squelch.

Ethan got to his feet and didn't dare look away from his target. Instead, he surged forward, running full speed at the toad while its tongue was still out.

He didn't believe they'd have the advantage in a long, drawn out fight. So they had to end this quickly.

A blue bolt hit the monster on its off-white stomach, but it barely cut through the thick hide. Still, the toad didn't enjoy that—both of its eyes swiveled to the left toward Liz, which Ethan used to get closer. It pulled back its tongue, and Ethan felt a shiver at the dismembered human hand still stuck to it as the tongue passed him by, barely a couple of feet away.

The distracted toad turned its attention back to him, its yellow eye swiveling to track him. It began opening its mouth to bite or maybe shoot its tongue at him, but Ethan was already upon it. It spat its tongue out, and he jumped to the side, rolling before he got up clambered up its side.

The toad recoiled, trying to shake him off, but it was no use, and it was about to be even harder to get rid of him.

Ethan shoved his burning claws into its left eye, and the talons sunk into the squishy orbs a sizzling squelch that was both satisfying and disturbing.

The toad squealed and tried to bite down on him, but he'd already jumped away. Its tongue shot out in his general direction, but its aim was off, considering the missing eye.

Another bolt landed, and this time, it almost hit the right eye. Another squeal of rage escaped the toad as Ethan, capitalizing on the monster's distraction, jumped up and landed on the beast's back this time and as soon as his knees hit the tough—and uncomfortably wet—skin of the monster, he began tearing into the back of its neck, slicing deep gouges, tearing away skin, muscles, and sinew. It screeched, and Ethan, using his left arm as anchor, leaned forward and shoved his flaming right claws into its right eye socket as well.

The beast shrieked while Ethan took a second to survey the scene. From this angle, he could see the other three.

Liz was a few paces to the right, eyes wide but focused as she prepared another bolt, while in the center of the room, Gerald was dragging a bleeding and dismembered Martha back. She was pale. Passed out.

The toad had ripped her arm off at the shoulder.

Whatever this toad was, it seemed to have put most of its effort and magic into its tongue. Ethan looked down at the smoking and torn hide of the toad and began clawing his way toward its brain, through its burst eye.

The toad squealed even louder, and Ethan lost himself in the smell of burnt blood and flesh.