Player Reached the Top. LitRPG series. Book I Page 32

  “Hush!”

  “Your answer, White Raven!”

  “I told you to close your mouth! Do you mind? I'm trying to think here.” Having said it, he found that it was suddenly hard to breathe. Lamia, angered again, had begun to smother him with the tail.

  “Stop! Aargh … I got it, excuse me!”

  After choking him a little more, she left the rogue on the floor.

  “How does it feel? Has more oxygen come to your brain? Is it easier to think now?

  “…uck you!” Will said to himself.

  Nevertheless, he had already decided: he still would manage to raise his levels. Though he did aim to be in the first line of rating, it would be amazing to be ahead of all. It soothed his ego.

  “I agree. Tell me where this place is.”

  …

  “ Rga-a-akh!!!”

  “You have died, being the sacrifice of the Lamia-priestess's ritual.

  - 5 levels;

  You are under influence ‘Weakness’. Your stats are lowered by 100%;

  Regeneration: - 100%;

  You are under influence ‘Grief’

  Your desire to battle - 0

  All attacks cause 100% less damage.

  During seven hours the number of the got experience will be reduced by 100%;

  You cannot accept tasks.”

  Awarded the title: ‘Hungry for death’

  Description: you have managed to glance at the seamy side of life due to your laying down voluntarily on Lamia's altar and feeling improbable pain, only for satisfaction of your interest.”

  “Skill: ‘One foot on the flip side.’

  Rank: Unique.

  Passive skill: Apprentice.

  Description: After death, you revive with 1% HP and become impregnable for three seconds.

  Action: automatically.

  Cooldown: 10 days.

  Features: If you are able to survive after you respawn, then death consequences will not be applied to you.”

  “Name: White Raven

  Level: 41.”

  He endured the torments twice more, but this time the priestess did not torture him, spending only five minutes for each ritual. Despite the slump in his levels, he discovered that his points of characteristics and skills were not lost. This meant he would receive nothing until he had reached 57 level.

  Debuffs were so cruel. There was only one road for him back to the real world.

  Chapter 88. The fall which millions memorized

  News of the death of Raven was widespread and caused shockwaves. Nobody could imagine how it was possible to lose fifteen levels in such a short period of time. The only thing that came to ordinary players mind’s was that White Raven had “become attached” in the den of a monster near to the boss. An absurd assumption, but they could not think up anything better. Only “TOPs” guessed the actual reasons, but remained silent.

  Many had seen cases of the loss of one level. One of the most famous players, with the nickname Karak, held the record when he lost four levels. Fulfilling his secret quest chain of tasks, he was deceived by a witch, disguised as a kind old woman, who offered a vial of potion for Karak’s help in getting rid of the monster who lived near her house. This potion would allegedly increase the warrior’s strength by ten points.

  As a result, Karak posted a video showing how, after he drank the potion, his levels had been pulled out from him in the form of light that usually shrouded players after leveling. Thus, his ordeal served as a warning to others to be attentive.

  It occurred on the second Floor, though similar cases with instant loss of levels seldom happened on other Floors.

  Dangerous mobs, which killed players, either managed to drop near the corpses and to eat some part of them, or inhaled light from their evaporating bodies, pulling out levels. Next time out, the mobs were stronger, than before.

  But to lose fifteen levels for half an hour?! Those looking through the ratings at that moment, seeing the lead player plummet, stared at the screen and thought that it a glitch. The one, who had always been ahead of the pack, was now in second place, behind Crimson Berserker.

  Mollie knew about it at once, as she received notifications for anytime White Raven’s levels changed. It became her habit. Having received the first notification, she threw a glance at the ratings, convinced he had achieved 57 level. But she stopped short, her eyes wide, trying to accept what she was watching.

  Kingmaker did not speculate. She was going to write him but knew he was offline. Because of Raven’s membership in her guild, such statuses as “online” and “offline” were displayed opposite each member’s name. Having regretted that she had not sent him a friend request for the opportunity to communicate by email in the real world, she wrote him asking him what had happened. But she sent it before reading it. Ten minutes later, the tone of her letter was scandalous.

  It was difficult to explain what was happening with Raven’s levels. Mollie had a couple of ideas, she had to find out the truth…

  Her enemy, Crimson Berserker, was at the top again, so her mood was foul. Though Raven’s rating dipped, Kingmaker was sure that it would not be for long. Wherever he was, he would pick himself up off the ground and make it to the top. So her clan would top for a price, of course. In her head she already had several ideas about how to catch Raven on consistent basis, but for now Mollie just had to find him. With a sigh, she went back into her clan’s affairs.

  …

  While Crimson Berserker, with his party, fulfilled the epic quest chain, it was reported to him about the changes in the rating.

  When Ronnie got the high-priced information, he could not believe what he had read. Raven had written that he did not even know what Floor he was on, but the minimum level of an enemy that he came across was 40. Nobody in their right mind would swallow this story. But Ronnie had to believe it.

  That accounted for his improbable damage and his huge number of Influence points. Where he was only one player, so there were a lot of unexplored territories due to the titles that he had been awarded and stats increased.

  And now, looking at his rival’s level, Crimson Berserker smiled sadly. Being one of the TOPs, he understood what such falling in levels meant. Either it had been caused by an unimaginably difficult epic rank quest (he had the suspicion that an epic quest in this game was not limited), or he had become the victim of possession of some improbable unique skill. Perhaps it was something else, but whatever it was, Raven became much stronger than he had been before being displaced to second place.

  In the young man’s eyes glinted cold determination, and he set to completing his mission with increased eagerness. The berserker’s companions, who also noticed the fall of their leader’s competitor for the right to be called the best, saw Crimson Berserker get excited. So they braced their energies too and started giving the mission 140%.

  ***

  Pak began to send letters again, hoping to learn firsthand what had occurred, but Will was inaccessible. Now he was sleeping, exhausted from his endured agonies and deaths.

  ***

  The next morning met Will with pleasant sunlight and a guest sitting in the kitchen. Sleepy and mumbling, he was on his way to the toilet when he saw something out of the corner of his eye. Will took a few steps back, peeked around the corner, then shuddered, the drowsiness instantly evaporated.

  “Father? You’ve arrived earlier than I expected you.”

  His dad typed something on his old laptop, sitting at the table and drinking green tea. Not tall but well-built and dressed in a tidy suit, the man in his late forties gave a friendly smile. His weathered face and pleasant demeanor had given Will a feeling of being protected since his boyhood. His eyes shone with fatherly love and a barely noticeable melancholy.

  “Hi, spy!” The man left the table and hugged his son. “Damn, you look like hell. I remember when you got out of the army, you looked better than this. But now you're just…scary. You've become so thin, and there are bags under your eyes as
deep as soup bowls.”

  “But, Dad, unlike you, I don’t have to look better. I don’t have to spoil clients’ first impressions.”

  “Well...” Darius looked at the capsule, burst out laughing, and continued. “You should go for a walk outside more often. Maybe get a pet.”

  Will noted that his father’s laughter was sad; this meant he was buried in thoughts about work.

  “Dad, are you ok?” Will asked seriously.

  “Don't stuff you head with that nonsense. I will solve my own problems, as always.”

  “Problems at work?”

  “Go and tidy up.” Darius waved him away. “I’ve made some porridge there. You need to eat a proper meal instead of junk food. You're always in a hurry.”

  “Has Lea told you that I paid her school for three months?”

  “Yes. Good for you.” The man put a hand on his son's shoulder. “Whatever you’re doing in this virtuality, I see that you’ve succeeded in it. I’m so proud of you, Will. Just please don’t ruin yourself. Your sister will never forgive herself. She’ll be guilt-ridden for the rest of her life. At least have pity on her…”

  “I... I’ll try…” Will whispered, clenching his fists.

  …

  After breakfast, they sat at the table and discussed plans for the day.

  “How many days are you going to stay here?

  “I think a week, if there’s no force majeure. But, you know how it is.” His father gave a crooked smile.

  It was true. Even on weekends and holidays, the administration appealed to his father to solve their urgent problems. Of course, they paid him well, sending Darius off on one business trip or another, solving affairs with customers and suppliers and blah, blah, blah. He had been working there for more than fifteen years. Being in good-standing, his father was gradually climbing the corporate ladder.

  “So we’ve got a couple of days, yes?”

  “I hope so, but I’m afraid, I’ll be busy. We have to settle something.”

  “You call me a spy, but you don’t want to tell me about yourself? Do you still consider me a kid?” Will teased.

  “Uhm.”

  “Spill it already, please.”

  “I think you’re right. Maybe a fresh pair of eyes will uncover something new…”

  …

  “You want to start your own business? Right now? Why? And where are you planning to get money? Don't even tell me you're gonna ask for another loan.”

  “Don’t start, Will!” his father grumbled. “Just remember how you saved money for your own goals. You got exactly what you wanted, and now we can pay for Lea’s studies. It was you who inspired me. I’ve put a lot of thought into this, but I’m afraid I’ll letting you down if my dream crashed and burned. I think now is that time. I want my daughter to study at the best college, and you too. It’ll be much more expensive than this private school.”

  “And yet, you want one more loan? Let's at least pay off our old scores, and after that we can discuss your plan.” Will did not wish his father to be so stressed all the time. So clearing his debts had to take precedent, to relieve his head and cardiac pain.

  “But…”

  “Dad, that’s my opinion. You’re in too big of a hurry. The fact that I managed to pay for my studies is a coincidence, no more. I’m a long way away from high salaries, but I get what I want. We need to be patient…”

  “ Heh…” Darius rubbed his temple. “When did you become so clever? Or, maybe, I just did not notice it because I’ve been away so long?”

  “Right on both counts.” Will softly smiled.

  “If you noticed, I’d bought the ingredients for your favourite dish. I think both of us should clear our heads.”

  “Perhaps, you’re right.” Darius stretched his back and rubbed his hands, saying “Let's get cooking.”

  Will smiled, looking at his father, but his internal beast hid its dark grin, looking at him with shining, half-closed red eyes. He would realize the dreams of his family. He would support his sister, so she would never worry about money. There would be a time when his father would always be able to spent time with his children.

  It was time to become more furious, more ruthless, and more impudent! He would shake the pockets of every absent-minded being, without distinction as to race, and would reach the top of the divided world.

  To be continued…

  From the author

  Hello, friends!

  Thank you very much for your support! It’s very important for me that you understand that the translation is a great deal, and I hope you will not judge strictly.

  If you like my story, consider leaving a review, please. Let it be short, never mind, every your feedback is the best reward for my team and me. I read all the review you leave and always wait for them.

  Thank you! I wish you lots of interesting books ahead!

  And also I wish you to be rich!

  If you have no opportunity to review on Amazon, welcome to my publish pages:

  Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46022629-player-reached-the-top-litrpg-series?ac=1&from_search=true

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rick.scar.5

  Facebook litrpg groups:

  LitRPG books

  LitRPG Forum

  Litrpg. Fantasy. Sci-fi

  GameLit Society