Player Reached the Top. LitRPG Series. Book X, page 1
PLAYER REACHED
THE TOP
BOOK X
by Rick Scar
Hello dear reader!
My name is Rick Scar and I am an author of several fantasy series. Here is my Adventure LitRPG Series PLAYER REACH THE TOP.
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Two Thousand Forty-Four. The world of games changed long ago.
"Ascension" has become one of the most popular VRMMO games. It is a huge world divided into a hundred Floors, with each Floor a boundless location with its own countries, tribes, and millions of players.
The object of the game is to unlock all the gates and conquer the top.
Having joined the game, Will Thomson doesn't realize that he is all by himself. Then he accepts the first quest ...
Cursed Rat: level 46 ...
Text Copyright © 2023 Dmitry Mikhalek
All rights reserved.
No part of this book can be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the author.
Introduced by Valeria Kornosenko.
Translated by Ingrid Wolf
Edited by Sanja Gajin
From the get-go of the Game, Raven’s been through a lot. But in the grand scheme of things, all his ups and downs are just stepping stones to greatness. Knowing this, he keeps pressing on, facing whatever comes his way and never wavering from his core beliefs. But now he’s hit another tough choice: to kill or to help? And it’s not just anyone; it’s about Abenkhriar, the Guard of his Floor and a servant to someone who’s not to be crossed.
CONTENT
Chapter 494. No Way Out
Chapter 495. A Taste of Heroic Power
Chapter 496. Hear My Curses
Chapter 497. Striking a Balance
Chapter 498. Playing Dirty
Chapter 499. Rikaral’s Wish
Chapter 500. Journey to Andlantia
Chapter 501. The Black Coin
Chapter 502. Crossing the Finish Line
Chapter 503. Disturbing News
Chapter 504. The Path of Evolution
Chapter 505. The Makings of a Plan
Chapter 506. Setting the Bait
Chapter 507. More Than Just a Stone
Chapter 508. Was It Worth It? Maybe
Chapter 509. Pushing the Boundaries
Chapter 510. The Conductor of Fire
Chapter 511. GR
Chapter 512. Victim of the Lich
Chapter 513. A Castle Full of Secrets
Chapter 514. The Hidden Passage
Chapter 515. An Intimate Gathering
Chapter 516. Finding a Clue
Chapter 517. A Feeble Attempt
Chapter 518. The Long-Awaited Completion
Chapter 519. Meeting the Lamia
Chapter 520. A Gift Worth Having
Chapter 521. Seeds of a New Age
Chapter 522. The Blockade
Chapter 523. To the Island
Chapter 524. I Can Relate
Chapter 525. A Choice to Make
Chapter 526. One More Time
Chapter 527. The Divine Body
Chapter 528. The Road to Hell Is Paved
Chapter 529. The Philosophy of Power
Chapter 530. A Hidden Function
Chapter 531. Simplicity Is Genius
Chapter 532. So Close to Happiness
Chapter 533. The Old Madman
Chapter 534. The Library of Legacies
Chapter 535. At Last, We Meet
Chapter 536. A Primer on Demons
Chapter 537. The Starting Point
Chapter 538. Demon Tattoos
Chapter 539. The Fortress City of Drikar
Chapter 540. LEGENDARY?
Chapter 541. A Bargain Rental
Chapter 542. The Keeper of Grudges
Chapter 543. A Looming Threat
Chapter 544. Which One First?
Chapter 494. No Way Out
Can he… can he really be a player?
This thought flashed through Raven’s mind, but he wasn’t one to jump to conclusions. There could be other explanations for the creature’s nature.
Recalling what Niarrah had told him about players from other servers, he remembered that any player she knew would’ve been blown away by interacting with the System.
On high alert, Raven weighed which skills to activate first, debated the usefulness of his pets, and pondered if his Charm of Good and Evil would counteract whatever artifact the Executor used to hide his info.
Voice of Truth.
He turned to the skill, which, according to its description, didn’t affect players (unless he figured out its mechanics to replicate them in the real world).
You cannot use Voice of Truth on this target
While the message left some ambiguity, it largely confirmed his suspicion that the entity before him was linked to the system.
Catching a subtle movement from the Executor, Raven noticed he wasn’t launching an attack. Instead, the Executor simply rested his sword on the ground and addressed him. “Given the circumstances, I’ll give you a chance.”
Raven wasn’t sure if another player would be notified about an attempt to use Voice of Truth on them, but this creature seemed clueless.
“Accept this crown, and we can forget this little misunderstanding.”
Without hesitating, Raven met the stranger’s gaze. “I don’t serve anyone anymore. No exceptions.”
With that declaration, he effectively shut down any negotiations and quickly downed another Small Chaos Mixture he’d purchased from the witches.
Had he not recently gone through his inventory, he might’ve forgotten he even had it. He’d overlooked it during his battles against Trix, Leorik, and the Royal Griffin.
Gearing up to activate his new Solid Cover skill alongside the potion, he assumed a battle-ready stance.
A Small Chaos Mixture
Rank: Diamond
Description: A potion crafted in the Alchemy Institute of Adamarona. Transfers 25% of a user’s random attribute to another random attribute.
Duration: 1 hour
25% of your Agility added to your Intelligence
Time left: 1 hour
The system message popped up just as the Executor spoke: “Pretty gutsy.” After a tension-filled pause, he shrugged and raised his sword. “Guess I’ll have to force it on you then.”
He was no longer just a gatekeeper with the duty of crowning a new servant; he was a warrior, ready to take down the audacious intruder in his domain.
The next moment, his body emitted that familiar smoke, but Raven was already in motion. Spotting the opponent’s aura coalescing into an Ether skill in his chest, the rogue instantly used Leap. He narrowly dodged the energy beam shooting from the sword’s tip, reaching the Executor before he could assume a defensive stance, and swiftly applied Torture.
Certain habits become second nature, working like reflexes. The sequence of moves Raven executed next had been honed through countless battles.
Once the environment around them shifted and time seemed to split into two distinct flows, he targeted the Executor’s eyes and ears. But things didn’t go as planned.
No matter how prepared Raven was for surprises, the opponent’s ability to rapidly break free from the skill caught him off guard. He was the first to do so since Raven had acquired Torture.
A sudden, powerful jab to Raven’s abdomen sent him flying a score of feet. Before he could land, a sword strike nearly cleaved him in half.
Solid Cover.
― 1 600 HP
The move drained a third of the cover’s strength, but it fully absorbed the blow, allowing Raven to retaliate. He hurled an Air Knife at the Executor as a diversion, rolled back, and unleashed the Ether version of Snap of Fingers.
The potent energy wave, summoned by this simple gesture, surged forward, stunning the opponent almost instantly.
Raven was poised to continue his assault, leveraging the effects of his Charm of Good and Evil, which the Executor’s mist hadn’t blocked. But he halted, sensing imminent danger from the seemingly vulnerable enemy. Trusting his instincts, he readied his daggers, perfectly timing them to parry a sudden thrust.
Did this bastard deflect my attack? Or did it just fail?
Two notifications flashed before him. He dismissed the first and quickly scanned the second, frustration evident on his face.
The enemy’s level had to exceed 270, the limit of his Identification skill. However, given that Raven was holding his own, the enemy likely wasn’t above level 350.
The Charm of Good and Evil enables you to see through deception within its range.
Name: ???
Title: ???
Level: ???
HP: ???
In the mere five seconds they’d been clashing, their heightened Agility allowed them to gauge each other’s capabilities.
“So, you wield Ether power too,” the Executor remarked, appraising Raven anew. “I’ve underestimated you.”
His protective mist began to fade, likely a precursor to his next move.
In response, Raven summoned his squad of newly-recruited Dukes. His older pets, including Kharses, Nergal, and Abaddon, wouldn’t be much help in this skirmish.
Directing h
Deploying his most formidable allies wasn’t a decision he took lightly. But if he were to fall in this battle, he’d go all out, not holding anything back.
As the five Dukes materialized, the Executor seemed to recognize something about them. However, they allowed him no time for reflection, immediately engaging him in close combat.
Since Raven couldn’t access the full profiles and skills of his subordinates, he had to rely on basic commands like Stall, Attack, or Block. Yet, this seemed to be enough. Positioned at the focal point of the opponent’s onslaught, he could quickly detect shifts and adapt accordingly.
Two minutes in, the tide began to turn. The Executor’s form bore increasing signs of damage, but Raven’s warriors weren’t faring much better. Two were teetering on the brink of permanent death, a clear testament to the opponent’s formidable might.
Raven couldn’t dodge every blow. He lost half his HP, and the only reason he retained the remainder was the passive skill embedded in Evil-In’s Pendant. With a slim 5% chance, it would restore 30% of HP, and Raven seemed to be riding a wave of good fortune. Since successfully pilfering the Royal Seal, he had activated the pendant’s skill three times.
In the fray, Raven had shifted into his Golden Dragon and Demon of Murder forms. Yet, without unleashing the Destructive Hand of Pure Rage, his impact was minimal. The Executor primarily utilized three Ether skills, leaning heavily on standard in-game abilities, some of which were familiar to Raven. Dead Breath, a favorite among ghost/undead class players, and Misty Blade, associated with Spirit Whisperers.
Thanks to the backing of his death deities, Raven managed to keep the enemy at bay until he had to withdraw Morrigan and Osiris, both critically weakened. From that point, the Executor intensified his assault. Without a clear opening for a decisive strike, Raven contemplated deploying Dancing of Time. Unfortunately, given the enemy’s adeptness at dodging all mind-control skills, its effectiveness was uncertain. Still...
This can’t go on.
The obscured HP bar of the enemy and his evident vast power meant Raven would have to play his trump cards sooner or later. Why wait?
Dancing of Time.
Attention! This skill is not available in your current location.
Shit.
Confronted with an unprecedented situation for the second time (though the skill’s description did hint at location-based restrictions), Raven’s concentration wavered.
As he pondered deploying another potent weapon, Pandora’s Box, the Duke named Thanatos cast a spell. An open coffin materialized behind the Executor, chains emerging to ensnare and confine him.
As the chains began to encase the Executor, his blade released a mist that corroded and slowly dissolved them.
Recognizing the futility of trying to overpower such a formidable opponent, Raven resolved to conclude the battle swiftly. He couldn’t overlook the fact that his most potent abilities were being thwarted.
This has to work.
Pandora’s Box materialized in Raven’s grasp. He was about to invoke Imprisonment when an alternative idea surfaced. If his adversary was indeed a player, he might drop a coveted item. Perhaps his sword? Or the enigmatic crown?
This is the perfect chance to test the heroic powers.
Deciding on his course of action, Raven activated the one built-in skill of the item he hadn’t yet employed: Pandora’s Will.
Chapter 495. A Taste of Heroic Power
You are now an avatar of Hero Pandora!
+400 to all attributes
Attention! Pandora’s Box is partially sealed. (Seals removed: 2/10)
Only 20% of Pandora’s attributes are available.
Hero skills inactive.
Time left: 00:09:59
A surge of ancient power from the Box rapidly infused Raven, filling him to the brink. Intricate lines of ancient writing sprawled across his skin; upon closer look, he recognized several familiar symbols.
Once the energy transfer concluded, he found equilibrium. His eyes ignited with a legendary spiritual glow, and he felt invigorated with newfound strength.
Is this what it’s like to be boosted by four hundred levels all at once? Were all the heroes truly at Level Two Thousand?
This revelation made the true might of the heroes more comprehensible—and even more awe-inspiring.
The Executor seemed to grasp the shift in power dynamics. His previously aggressive approach now gave way to a more measured stance.
In the moments following Raven’s activation of the artifact, the Executor remained poised for battle. However, witnessing Raven’s metamorphosis, he relented. Any inkling of resistance evaporated. As a spirit native to the Shroud, he could perceive the latent power now coursing through his adversary.
It had been roughly fifteen centuries since the world of Ascension had fragmented into what became known as the Floors, severing the Executor from his native Shroud. Having spent eons in stasis, awakening only upon a candidate’s approach, he had never felt so vulnerable.
Though granted an exceptionally long life as a spirit, he wasn’t invincible. Like all beings, he had vulnerabilities and could be killed.
With the tide of battle shifting, the Executor, whose name was Neegh, recognized his slim chances of survival. In a desperate bid, he sought to flee, shedding the corporeal form bestowed upon him for this mission. This drastic measure would significantly weaken him, but it seemed the most viable option for survival.
The brief moment it took to activate Pandora’s Box allowed both combatants to devise new strategies.
Their plans unfurled simultaneously. Neegh used a secret skill to detach his spirit from his body, while Raven dismissed his pets, triggering a power he hadn’t anticipated using so soon.
But now he met the condition for using it.
Tireless.
Tireless
Rank: Heroic
Active skill: Apprentice
Speed: +1 000%
Cost: 6 000 energy
Duration: 3 minutes
Cooldown: 1 week
Congratulations! You are the first player to use a Heroic skill.
New title earned:
Successor to Heroes II
+ 10 to all attributes
+ 10 Luck
+ 10% to skill learning speed
The effects of the skill weren’t immediately apparent, but Raven felt them as soon as he moved. It was reminiscent of Dancing of Time, but a more potent version: he could manipulate the speed of any object without being anchored to a specific location.
With Tireless activated, Raven could traverse any distance at an astonishing pace. Considering his Agility, his current speed cap was roughly 200 miles per hour, or over 300 feet per second.
It actually feels more like Lightning Copy, he mused, lunging at his target with both daggers.
The blades sank into the Executor’s chest like a ravenous beast’s fangs, shredding it apart. As he unleashed a barrage of strikes on his foe, Raven halted suddenly, noticing the flames that once formed the Executor’s head abruptly extinguish, leaving the body lifeless.
“AAAAAH!”
A pain-filled scream caught Raven off guard, originating not from the fallen form, but from a point about six or seven feet behind him.
Whirling around, he spotted a familiar energy orb speeding away, heading for the bridge.
What the…?
A smirk formed on his face as realization dawned.
It must’ve been his Spirit Dagger.
When he first attacked, the Executor was in the midst of his escape tactic but was still affected, and far more intensely than Raven had anticipated. This weapon seemed poised to be the bane of all the Shroud’s ghostly inhabitants.
SPIRIT DAGGER
Description: One of the two daggers created for instantaneously killing any enemy. This dagger can send restless souls to another world, using them to replenish the owner’s mana and energy.
Throughout his journey in the game, Raven had only encountered a few ghosts, including Curtis. However, players who opted for a ghostly race were distinct from the NPC ghosts found in dungeons.
The entity before him lacked any physical form: a hazy silhouette bathed in luminescent blue energy with barely any discernible features. But what mattered more was that he could finally view the opponent’s profile information.
