The Homeseeker: Elemental Adventurer LitRPG [Isekai] (Series Complete!)

Zalan's mind was ablaze with rage and confusion. He had been so handily overwhelmed, that he didn't even have time to put up a real fight. Rep was behind him, arms and legs bound by summoned Elemental Earth, but free from a second set of the Shackles of Stasis. Trying desperately to speak, Zalan could do no more than shuffle around about an inch on the rooftop. The Artifact locked every muscle tight.

"What is the meaning of this detainment?" Rep asked, anger and authority in his voice.

"Who are you?" a guard asked, stepping right into his face.

"Answer my question first," Rep demanded.

"You should know well to fear me," the guard said. "I am known as Erin the Eviscerator in Moonwell."

"Fear you?" Rep asked, annoyed.

"You have no idea what I am capable of," Erin said, leaning in close.

Zalan watched as the other guards climbed their way to the roof, closing in around Rep to intimidate him further. Zalan tried further to break free of his binds, making no progress. The Artifact held firm, shining as it showed off its superior strength over him.

To Zalan's surprise, Rep scoffed and smirked at their display.

"You exude nothing to be afraid of. But you all reek with abundant fear," Rep said boldly.

"Then you know nothing of fear," Erin snarled.

"I have faced down the Mind of Madness within the very mines it cursed. Tell a man who has conquered the Depths of Despair that he does not know fear and you will know yourself to be nothing more than a fool," Rep snapped.

Erin slid back a fraction, pulling away from Rep's face. He turned to the other guards uncertainly.

"Who are you?" he asked, this time sounding more curious.

"I am Rep, and with me is Zalan, a near-champion of the Elemental Rage Tournament," Rep flicked his head Zalan's way. "For what reason have you decided to provoke us?"

The guards turned into a huddle beside Zalan, whispering just quietly enough that he couldn't hear. But from what he could see from the looks on their faces, they were unnerved by Rep's words. Zalan was amazed at how composed Rep was, throwing confident words their way as though they were the ones on trial. Despite him still being cuffed together by shackles of earth.

One guard broke from the pack looking somewhat nervous. Rep raised his chin and looked down at him.

"You violated the law. You used Elemental Power within the walls in an undesignated area," the guard explained, sounding overly formal with extra enunciation.

Rep's chin lowered, his annoyance and rage somewhat subsiding.

"I see. Surely you could have simply spoken to us before you came to attack us," Rep said.

"Surely you understand that these are desperate times. His Elemental Light is a beacon to all monsters in the darkness of the night. We thought that you may be part of some group that wished to bring destruction to the realm," the guard explained.

Rep's features softened, a slight concern on his face.

"No, of course not. I care for this realm, same as you good people. I apologize for our disturbance," Rep said.

"I appreciate your understanding." The guard nodded, looking much more at ease.

Rep flexed his arms and imbued his hands, melting off the rock cuffs in a brilliant display of fire. The guards openly expressed their awe, taking a step back from him with wide eyes.

"Can you free my friend now?" Rep pointed to Zalan with an open palm.

"No. Just because you apologize does not mean you did not violate the law."
The guard shook his head, somewhat apologetically. "He must remain in the Shackles of Stasis until morning."

Zalan's eyes twitched in shock, he couldn't imagine being completely inert for another minute, much less several hours. Rep shot him a quick glance and nodded slightly.

"If that is the price of the crimes, then we will take no issue in paying. I hope you may allow us to remain in the inn tonight. We have already paid for our room," Rep said.

Zalan's eyes went as far open as he could extend them, staring daggers into Rep. He tried to scream through his eyes and tell them he should be let go. Darting around in their sockets, Zalan desperately tried to communicate in some way. The guards around Rep relaxed, looking to one another with gratitude. No one was giving Zalan a second thought. Internally screaming, he was left ignored as the first few guards began to climb down the ladder.

"We can allow you to remain in the room, but we will have to post someone outside to ensure you do not free him. That same guard will have to release him tomorrow morning. If we find you have released him from the Artifact, yourself, there will be consequences," the man warned.

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Rep nodded graciously.

"As should be expected. We apologize for any fright we caused you," Rep said.

Zalan's eyes had gone red with strain, he was fuming. With what little movement his eyes offered, he tried to scream that he wasn't sorry and he hoped everyone on the roof had their teeth kicked in. Rep finally looked his way and gave him an apologetic shrug. Zalan rolled his eyes, successfully portraying one of the hundred annoyed emotions boiling within him.

Rep slung his friend over his shoulder and slid down the ladder on the side. Shuffling away quickly, Rep entered the inn and raced to their room. Shutting the door behind him, he plopped Zalan on his cot lying down and sat on his own bed, a shocked grin on his face.

"Did you see the way they listened to me?" Rep asked.

Zalan could say nothing, and stared with half open eyelids.

"I was thinking as fast as I spoke!" Rep continued. "I knew they were emblazoned with fear, and I tried to be the voice of sheer confidence to make them see me as someone above fear. That talk about the Mind of Madness seemed to work much better than I initially expected. But it was true that I did not fear them in the slightest. Even their rock binds to hold us in place could be easily broken. I think they were mostly around Levels 5 or 6. We could have taken a few out if we were more prepared." Rep was bouncing excitedly on his cot.

Zalan blinked a few times, wishing that he and Rep both knew Morse Code.

"Yes, I know you are quite uncomfortable. I recall how it felt when I was in the Artifact's grasp in the Island of Remains. Worse yet, I had to listen to Morloch tell me about how he intended to get your power with the Transfer Table. I will ensure they get you out of the chains as soon as possible. In the meantime, you should try to go to sleep so this will pass by as soon as possible," Rep said.

Zalan knew he would have a very hard time going to sleep when frozen in place. For one, his nose itched. And the chains glowed faintly, keeping him from being able to be in full darkness for sleep. He blinked to relay these ideas to Rep, channeling frustration with his eyes.

"Yes, good night to you, too," Rep said, rolling over on his back and turning away from Zalan.

Breathing as loudly as he could to express his irritation, Zalan closed his eyes and tried to find some rest. The shine of the Artifact danced just beyond his eyelids, pulling him up whenever he was just about to fall into slumber. If he could move his lips, Zalan certainly would have fallen asleep with a scowl on his face.

The next morning arrived agonizing hours later. Zalan had managed to find some sleep, but every bit of him felt sore and strained, like he needed to be pulled apart at each limb until he stretched back out. The moment sunlight crept into the room, Zalan stared at Rep waiting for him to rise. He blinked powerfully, trying to make any kind of sound. Rushing air out of his nose, he tried to signal Rep. Despite all his efforts, Zalan still had to wait for Rep to rouse himself naturally.

Rep rolled over and stretched luxuriously, rubbing his tired eyes with one hand and covering a yawn with the other. Zalan envied every little movement Rep made, his legs screaming for some sort of motion to come back to them. Rep opened his eyes and had his eyebrows twitch together in shock when he saw Zalan chained on his bed.

"Oh, right!" Rep said, getting up and bolting out of the room.

Zalan couldn't even turn his head to watch him leave. The steady sound of his breathing mixed with the sound of Moonwell waking up outside. Stands were being set up, and the sound of goods placed on them drummed in Zalan's ears. A few merchants began to call out to what must have been passing residents, advertising their wares. One of Zalan's eyes twitched at their voices. Even they sounded worried, as though apprehensive for something that might crash into their town. It was a cold confirmation in Zalan's heart that nowhere was safe.

"In here," Rep's voice came from the hall outside, and he threw the door open. "Please be quick."

The guard walked up to Zalan and placed his arm somewhere on the Shackles of Stasis. The feeling of several bones popping passed through Zalan as the Artifact fell, allowing him to move freely. He heaved a loud sigh of elated relief and rolled to a seated position, massaging his feet. His arms and knees popped so many times, it reminded Zalan of Yelsa, who often would pop her knuckles when nervous. He blinked in realization that he might see her soon, as she assured him that she lived in Aetheria. It was a bittersweet thought. He was happy to think about the reunion with an old friend, but wished it could have been in better circumstances.

"Do not use your Elemental Power in undesignated areas," the guard said before he left.

"I definitely won't," Zalan promised.

The guard nodded sharply in satisfaction and immediately left the room. Zalan continued to rub his newly freed limbs, pushing sensation back across his body.

"Did you sleep well?" Rep asked.

"You know I didn't," Zalan replied.

Zalan stood up and stretched his legs out, leaning far to get a good stretch. Rep waited patiently.

"That was really good, yesterday. The way you talked to the guards on the roof was really cool. I've never seen you act like that before," Zalan said, burying his frustrations to focus on the present.

"I do not believe I have. I certainly was not capable of such speech a few weeks ago."

Zalan smiled, happy to see Rep's improvement in his confidence. When they first met, Rep seemed so unsure of himself, and now he carried himself like someone who knew exactly what he was doing. It made Zalan grateful that he ever decided to become his guide. A worse person would just have left Zalan to deal with the realm on his own. But he just so happened to have been summoned into the realm by one of the best people within it.

"I'm good," Zalan said, pushing his arms up and popping his back one last time. "Let's get moving."

"Indeed, we have a full day of travel ahead. I hope it is a smooth one," Rep said, gathering his things.

Zalan picked up his sword and other items, making his way out of the inn quickly. He didn't want to waste any daylight with the kind of monsters that traveled on every road. Even sleeping in the binds of the Shackles of Stasis was preferable to keeping watch outside the walls of a city.

Traveling the path to the exit, Zalan took long strides to get his blood pumping as he moved, eager to feel every sense of touch he could. He looked at the modest city, noting that several buildings had additional spikes stabbed into their rooftops, as though garrisons for attacks. He wondered how many Bloodbeaks, Razortongues, or other creatures had swarmed cities, causing such additions to be necessary.

As he scanned the city idly, Zalan froze in his tracks, his blood running cold. A few dozen figures were standing alone in a dark alleyway. The one closest to the front had a neck that had an open gash in the side, but no blood ran from the gruesome wound. The head hung loosely, barely attached to the rest of the body. Rep stopped just next to Zalan, and gasped aloud.

"Fleshless," Zalan said. "They've found a way into the city."

"Worse than that," Rep pointed. "It's one we've seen before."

In the center of the group of Fleshless was one that Rep and Zalan barely escaped in their first encounter with it.

The reanimated corpse of King Docrun.