End of an Era (Project Chrysalis Book 2), John Gold [ebook reader online txt] 📗

I’m going to avenge us on all our enemies. My sword is ready; my shield, not so much.

I asked everyone I found on the way to Imir, but nobody has heard about the Hunters. All I’ve found out are rumors about very strong people. I do notice that all the information I get about them is immediately deleted from the network, so it’s very possible that Lunar itself is keeping things under wraps. If I’m right, I’ll be able to pick up a hidden class after I beat the trial. What other kind of reward could there be for us geniuses? If nothing else, I’m intrigued by how secretive everything is.

It’s a five-day trip to Zirda from the sea, and there are woods and plains on the other side of the mountain, meaning that I have twelve days in reserve before the trial starts. I need a shield, and only the best will do.

The ocean is beautiful. The water soothes my nerves, and it even gives me the chance to work on my resistance to physical damage. On the boat from Heron to Sural, I did a lot of diving in search of poisonous fish. That was when I found out that you take continuous physical damage once you’re a hundred meters down, something I’m only too happy to leverage right now.

It’s a funny picture: a boy lying on the ocean bed with stones in his hands as he thinks about the mistakes he’s made in his life. Eliza has probably written another petition requesting urgent psychological care for me, and I’ll bet the station ArtIn has already turned her down.

I needed to calm down, throw any pursuers off the scent, and boost my resistance. Water is perfect for all those. To keep things interesting, I catch poisonous fish, open shells, and check to see how my spells work under water. None of the local fauna exceed Level 200, though there are plenty of plants. On the other hand, the lower I go, the fewer plants there are and the more dangerous the predators are. Anyway, the underwater world is beautiful. When I picked up the money I got for my loot, I bought almost two thousand flasks of underwater breathing potions. I burn six of them an hour, a hundred and forty-four every normal day, and almost three hundred in each of my days. That gives me eleven or twelve days in total. It’s just a shame that I can’t use blood magic, otherwise, I’d be able to level up much faster.

The ocean is a wondrous vision down there at the bottom. The fish, the rays of sunlight, the underwater scenery… It’s all so calming. I’m starting to realize why father likes fishing so much.

I was right about a few things. Father can’t just be a simple fisherman if he was able to break the blacksmith’s arm and pick his cell lock. His mastery in battle is impressive too. Of all the admittedly weak opponents I’ve had to deal with, father has been the most experienced and masterful, with a combination of skills I’ve only seen in marauders and thieves. On the other hand, father is definitely a craftsman. I saw what he can make with wood and bone. There just isn’t enough information… So, he was a marauder, and then he took up fishing? How did he change his class? How was he able to use his main class skill to pick locks? All I have are questions…

The dark used to scare me, but my fear left me the day I learned how to use it. Today is my seventh underwater, and I’ve gotten all the way down to eight hundred meters beneath the surface. When I combine my lights, I can see everything around me, even the underwater cleft I’ve been climbing down. There’s more than just the dark; I can’t help but notice an enormous squid swimming along with the current.

Monster, Kraken Spawn, Level 770. Raid boss.

The beast is easing its way toward my lantern with hundred-meter tentacles. The body itself looks two hundred meters long. The bright light must have attracted its attention, and it looks poised to taste whatever’s creating it.

I thought I knew how fast I could swim, but it turns out that I can do even better. The squid reached out his tentacles, though it left me in peace when they didn’t make contact with anything. If a raid boss at that level is just spawn, what must the Kraken’s level be? Has to be well past 1500…and those are the creatures living a kilometer deep in the ocean? Fun times. I make a mental note to come back once I’ve leveled up enough. Although, I don’t have any spells that really work down here.

I’m wading out when I see a message pop up.

Forced disconnection… In 3… 2… 1

Vaalsie is standing next to the capsule, his expression one of rage and disgust. The old man’s haughty face makes him look like some kind of scarecrow.

“Anji Ganet, you’re being transferred to a different orphanage. Gather your belongings and come with me.”

I follow silently, knowing full well what’s going to happen.

We get to the exit, the aerocar waiting outside, and I see Eliza, Galboa, and Finx standing next to it. I feel more rage than confusion.

“I don’t think you understood, Miss Donovan,” I say, so that only Vaalsie and Eliza can hear me. “Didn’t I make it clear to you that tricks like these would only backfire?”

Galboa calmly raises both hands, and pain flashes through me at the mere sight of him. My thoughts cross, it’s hard to think, my head feels tight… But I’ll never fall for something like this.

“Anji, Miss Donovan said you’re being transferred.” Galboa is just as direct as ever, speaking what’s on his mind without a hint of insult. I love that about him. “I know we haven’t seen