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

"Thank the Lord you are leaving us," a guard said as she pulled the gates open for Rep, Zalan, Slauson, and all his Fleshless.

"Good to know I will be missed," Slauson said with deadpan sarcasm.

"Not you, Slauson. Those wretched creatures you brought in with you. I do not care that they are under your control, I simply wish to never see them again. Someone came screaming to me just minutes ago saying they were in battle. I know they make all of us feel unnerved. Especially the large one with the crown," the guard said.

The Fleshless King Docrun flinched at the mention of his crown, placing a severed hand atop it protectively.

"Be careful out there." The guard waved, quickly shutting the gate behind the last Fleshless.

"Form a perimeter," Slauson said immediately.

Zalan looked over, confused, until he saw the Fleshless surround them in a wide ring, King Docrun at the head. The creatures stumbled and shambled in step with the three living in the center. More disturbed than comforted by the scene, Zalan looked at Slauson with interest.

"So, how did you get control over the Resurrector? We tried with five people and couldn't get it," Zalan said.

"I froze him in place. A trivially easy battle, especially when his body does not exude warmth. He will remain frozen much longer than a living being," Slauson said.

"Trivally easy," Zalan murmured under his breath in a mocking tone.

"How was your travel to Castle Docrun?" Rep asked.

"I hired a crew to come along with me with the funds I received from winning the earlier bouts of the Elemental Rage Tournament. We had to navigate what seemed like the aftermath of a flood to make it in, and when we reached the Chaos Chamber, they said their work was done. They did not even assist me in taking my father outside in order to bury him. Luckily, we had already cleared the monsters on the way in, so it was rather simple to give him a proper grave. I also dug graves for the two others in the chamber, I believe from the city of Nightfall.

"Then, my curiosity got the better of me. I had to know why Father was in the castle. I pressed onward, discovering the Fleshless and the king. And when I took control of them, I went further, up to the tallest tower to discover a room of vast treasures. I have been quite wealthy since. I had all the Fleshless gather piles of gold. It was part of how I was able to get them into the city. I paid all the guards handsomely and assured them the Fleshless were under my control. And that is mostly true, but the king refuses to be separated from his crown. He even manages to disobey my orders if you touch it. Otherwise, they are under my full control."

Rep nodded, appreciating the explanation. Zalan looked up at King Docrun's crown, remembering the battle he had with him in Castle Docrun. Removing his crown was the only reason they survived.

"You seem to be doing well for yourself since the tournament," Rep said. "You even carry yourself differently."

Zalan knew what Rep meant. There was an air of confidence around Slauson, free of the derisive arrogance in the tournament. He stood straighter, like the weight of shame or fear no longer hung over him. And he didn't look nearly as desperate anymore, like his eyes were full of life.

"Me?" Slauson scoffed. "The two of you have changed immensely. From what little I interacted with you, Rep, you seem to be leagues more confident and powerful. And Zalan no longer looks as though he is ready to burn the realm to the ground for having slighted him. I first didn't recognize him without a scowl."

"And I first didn't recognize you without finding you brooding in a corner on your own," Zalan said.

Slauson smiled, then stopped suddenly. All the Fleshless around the trio had turned their attention toward something to the side in a distance. Rep, Zalan, and Slauson watched closely. King Docrun grunted and bound off, two Fleshless trailing behind. The remaining closed the holes in the circle, creating a tighter formation around those they wanted to protect.

"What are they even seeing right now?" Zalan asked, confused.

"I do not know. Fleshless are a strange creature," Slauson said, watching the king closely as he scampered. "I know they obey my command so long as I hold the Artifact, but they have no way of communicating with me. They neither write nor mime meaning. They mindlessly follow commands without any opinion on the matter. Sometimes it is unsettling."

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"Do they have…" Zalan hesitated before asking, wondering if it was a stupid question. "Personalities?"

"Hints of one," Slauson replied. "For example, the king goes into a frenzy if his crown is involved. He can outright refuse my commands."

"I thought they had no choice but to accept orders," Rep said.

"As did I, before meeting this one."

King Docrun raised his golden scepter high and stabbed it deep into the ground ahead. A Sand Shark leapt out of the ground, a tear in its tail. One of the Fleshless at Docrun's side tackled the monster to the ground before it could dive back within the earth. King Docrun and the other Fleshless beat at it while it flailed powerfully, trying to free itself. With enough swinging, it got some leverage of its neck and bit off the whole arm of one of the Fleshless. The undead creature didn't even give a double take to the loss of limb and switched from punching to kicking the monster.

With enough blows, the Sand Shark rolled over, dead. A few more blows were delivered to ensure it was as lifeless as they were. The three Fleshless rushed back to the perimeter around Rep, Zalan, and Slauson.

"Who receives the Experience for that kill?" Rep asked, curious.

"I wish I knew," Slauson said. "It is certainly not me. But none of the Fleshless gain Experience, so far as I've seen. It might just fly off into the ether, granting no one additional power."

"It would be pretty convenient to get a bunch of Experience while you were sleeping by sending them out on expeditions," Zalan said.

"Indeed. But it seems that any Experience I want must be gained by my own hands. Though, if I were inclined to join them in battle, I could get a few points per kill. Even if I only deliver a single blow and they do the rest of the work," Slauson said.

Nodding in understanding, Zalan wondered how he would go about using the Fleshless to gain Levels if he had control over them. Maybe send them out against powerful enemies, but only blast it once with Elemental Power from a distance. That way he would never be in any danger. But even a single Sand Shark was enough to eat off a limb. A larger battle would probably come with more losses for Fleshless. He would have to figure out a way to only send them against monsters they could handle, that also gave him Experience.

Shaking his head, Zalan tossed the thoughts away. There were more relevant things to think about. Slauson seemed to be thinking the same thing as he asked his next question.

"What can you tell me of Nold? How is one able to steal an Elemental Power?" he asked.

Zalan sighed, not looking forward to recounting the events. Rep waited expectantly, looking as though he was willing to tell the story if Zalan didn't want to. Zalan ran a hand through his hair and began.

"He goes by Morloch now. He manipulated me into going into a particular part of a mountain in the center of the Island of Remains," Zalan said. "There was an Artifact called a Transfer Table that allowed him to take my power."

"That Artifact only works if the attribute is transferred willingly," Slauson said, shocked.

"He was holding Rep's life as ransom," Zalan explained.

"I see you left out the important part for some reason. Then it was a more than worthy trade. I am surprised he let you leave with your lives intact," Slauson acknowledged.

"He didn't. Not on purpose. We got into a fight and he overpowered us. But when he tried to kill us, we got out of there with the Homeseeker," Zalan said.

"We believe all of his previous students were not as fortunate to be able to escape after having their power stolen," Rep added.

"How powerful was Nold in your battle? Did you fare well? If he uses a Transfer Table, then he must have a cap to some of his stolen powers," Slauson suggested.

Zalan shrugged, not knowing exactly how to place Morloch's power.

"He's become ascended," Zalan said.

"Meaning?"

"He has access to five different Elemental Powers," Rep said. "With them in his control, he can kill Elementals. And we could barely hold our own. His Elemental Fire is manageable, but his Elemental Lightning has some bite. And I believe his Elemental Wind is naturally gained. He can fly, and summons tornadoes on a whim. Elemental Water and Sand, I am not as certain regarding his power."

Slauson considered this for a few seconds, walking with his mouth twisted in thought. The stumbling steps and shuffles of the surrounding Fleshless made it hard for them to be left with quiet thoughts. Zalan thought they were too uncanny looking to ever be comfortable around them.

"You traveled with Nold, and trained for the tournament with him," Slauson listed. "You went on a journey to an island and learned much on the way. How do you feel about him now? How do you intend to deal with Morloch when we go into battle with him in Aetheria?"

Zalan saw Rep look his way. Last time they spoke on the matter of how Zalan should handle Morloch, he was hesitant. He had never taken a life before and he wasn't sure how he would feel about it. Even now, Zalan had never taken a human life and had to contend with the thought. But he didn't think for very long before replying to his allies.

"Oh, we gotta kill him. For sure, that guy's gotta die," Zalan said confidently. "Last time we fought, it was clear he was too far gone. Plus everything he's done since… Definitely needs to be put to death."

Rep and Slauson both looked satisfied.

"Indeed he does," Slauson agreed.