《Risky Sailing》Chapter Three: The embodiments
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Millions of miles away on the South continent of primeway, a group of Three heaven ordained beings argued. "We must do this." Destiny stated flatly. She was the embodiment of fate, a beautiful translucent and golden woman. With long glowing hair and silvery eyes that contrasted with her golden body. She stared daringly at Doom, a dark and misty creature. Who's humanoid body was all he had of humanity. His hands were claws and his feet were clouds. His body was as translucent as Destiny, but with a dark and purplish color. His face was in a snarl. "We don't have to do anything! Unless you've received an order from heaven?" The situation for the World of Primeway was dire. Something atrocious was coming. Something that broke all the ordinances and laws set to protect the world. Doom who had lost all feelings for life and existence, was not as appalled to the Apocalyptic event approaching as the other two beings he argued with. Fortune, or lady luck as some called her, though she hated that name was apprehensive about the whole thing. Her green and orange figure only listening to the others fight and not really considering the argument. Destiny smiled. "We do have orders from heaven." She said clearly having held this back for her final convincing blow. "We are commissioned to keep this world in balance." Both doom and fortune looked at her and frowned. This was their main priority since conception, to keep balance on Primeway. If Destiny spoke that this calamity would bring unbalance then they would have to take some form of action. "Y...you can't." Doom said his anger turning into worry. Destiny nodded. "I have used my last ounce of power to speak the fate of this apocalypse, if it fails great things will come. But if it succeeds then it will bring unbalance for millennia." Fortune just rolled her eyes. But doom’s face twisted into a hateful expression. "How dare you force us to act in such a way!" He shouted, but there was nothing they could do. Once the fate had been spoken by Destiny all their hands were tied. Long ago one of them might have been able to undo the damage, but now their power was gone. All three of them had spent their last energy reserves. And heaven had been closed ever since. Not allowing them to recharge. Or giving them direction like it always had in the past. This was how they knew something was coming, the gates to Heaven were only ever closed in the most dire circumstances. And they had all been getting premonitions about the end of Primeway. "So what do we do destiny?" Fortune asked with an uncaring tone. "We have no power, and no control over the world. And if we tell the petty humans about this it will only start a war or something." Humans were so fearful, always letting their worries get in the way of their senses. Doom stayed quiet crossing his arms and looking at Destiny. He also wanted to know what it was she planned to do about this. The translucent woman grinned, Now that they had to help her save Primeway she could get past all that silly arguing about why they should. "We must ask the Spirit giver to create a Heavenly Rune." Her statement once again got immediate reactions. Fortune sighed but doom released such an angry aura that the two women were a bit taken aback. "You would have us speak to that thing!!! The monster that put us all in shackles." The spirit Giver had been the one to chose the Embodiments from the world and make them who they were. He was Heavenly ordained to do so of course, but Doom had never been happy about being one of the ones chosen. Destiny put her hands on her hips and stared Doom down. "Yes! We have to. Would you rather go against our main priority?" None of them were willing to even consider doing so, it could be detrimental to their souls and corrupt them. Something no'one chose willingly. Doom snarled. "Fine, but since this is all your doing. And you are forcing me against my will and blackmailing me like this then I demand that you allow ME to pick who it is that receives this rune." Destiny rose an eyebrow at his demand but didn't see why it mattered. A Heavenly rune was something too powerful to thwart, and one made by the spirit Giver would be ten times as powerful. No matter who had it they would become very powerful. "Fine, if it will stop your complaining. You may choose who you will." She agreed. After all Doom might talk a big game but he would never risk soul corruption by trying to bring unbalance to the world.
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Once they were all in agreement the three beings left the South continent and headed upwards past the clouds and sky spirits, traveling miles and miles in less then the blink of an eye. Around a million miles up the edge of the South continent came into view. The world of Primeway was incomprehensively large. It's oceans and continents filled with more living beings and various forms of existence then even a Heavenly being could categorize. But the geography was simple, there were three continents and three oceans. The North continent, a land of chaos. Where the Dark star Sun shone over the sky. The Sun was dark blue and put off only Chaos energy. Which filtered into the elements of death and darkness and the sort. Thus those born on the continent often had the Chaos affinity, not as a rule but most often. Then there was the south continent, it's Hopping prayer sun a bright white and burning with Celestial energy. The land was filled with celestial beings and had elements of Light and life. Most born there were akin to the celestial elements, considered the most powerful of the three Energies. And lastly there was the west continent, it's Heavy-thanks sun was a yellow colored beauty that gave off Geo energy. And the land under it produced beings of the Earth, water, and natural elements. These were considered the least powerful by most beings, but many great warriors rose from the West continent. The world was beautiful and the oceans around the contents were likewise a wounder. Their size almost ten times as wide as the continents. The three suns that lit the world never set, always staying over the continents they guarded and only making circles in the sky. Years were measured by the 365 day cycle of the sun's brightness. As it got dimmer winter would begin, and as it got brighter summer would start. The days were measured by the circles it made, one complete circle around the sky for every 24 hours.
The suns were also gateways, the paths to ascension for those living on Primeway. Once a Channeler reached his pique, the highest level of cultivation possible on this planet, something that would have inevitably taken dozens of millennia he would fly up off Primeway and into the sun. Ascending to the higher Worlds. Never to return. This was the goal for every beast man or spirit, to ascend to the heavenly realm. A channeler could only ever ascend through the sun of his element though, Chaos for chaos and celestial for celestial. Though it wasn't for certain, it was believed on Primeway that each sun led to a different Heavenly world. Many glory eyed men sung the great stories of women, drink, and glory after ascension.
After the three embodiments were high enough the Spirit giver came into view. he was a Dragon, a beast so massive his body wrapped around the World over three times. He had a leg on every continent and his face was thousands of miles long. No ordinary Channeler could see him, and only the three embodiments had spoken to him in over seven hundred million years. To make things easier for the old beast, whose long body was glowing Red and golden even brighter then the suns. The three embodiments increased their size to miles high and hovered in front of his face. "What have you come for?" The ancient and patient voice spoke in their minds. He could not use his regular mouth to speak or his voice would resonate through his body and the whole world would hear him. This was the Spirit giver. Or the Great Spirit Giving Dragon as his heavenly name called him. He was the source of all the Spirit energy on Primeway, the Three suns buffeted the planet with energy on the surface but the spirit Giver's legs burrowed deep into the ground and earth to convey energy into the entire world. Allowing the soil to produce life and the waters to move. He also kept the energy from the three suns from burning the whole planet to a crisp. He had been on Primeway for longer then any other being, and had never moved or spoken. He could sense everything that happened on the world but could only intervene if the Heavens ordered him to do so. Destiny spoke for all the Embodiments. "We have come for a favor. We are all in agreement and request you give us a Heavenly Rune." The Dragon's expression didn't change he just stared unsurprised. He had probably heard their conversation, though that would make him even more powerful then the three embodiments believed as they were invisible and intangible to everything on Primeway. "This is not a little thing that you ask me to do. I assume this is brought on by the coming battle?" The three embodiments stared at the old beast, he spoke of it like he knew what it was that was coming. Each wanted to ask him what he knew, but knew it would be useless the Spirit giver was never forthcoming about the future. He could predict the future for thousands of years ahead with his knowledge and wisdom, but wouldn't even disclose the weather for tomorrow when asked about it. Destiny nodded at the Dragon. "Yes, if the calamity befalls the world then it will bring unbalance. We must do everything in our power to stop it."
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The Dragon snorted his nostrils flaring but his head not moving an inch. "This I'm afraid is not in your power at all to stop. Even if I do give you the rune, it could only be used by a mortal being. And as powerful as they are, this is above their heads." The hope inside of Destiny fell, the Spirit giver never spoke lightly. If he foresaw no hope for the world then there truly was no hope for it. Still it was her nature to try anyway. "We accept that." She spoke for all of them though the other embodiments didn't feel the same, they still didn't interject. "But we still desire the heavenly rune. And as the laws of heaven state, as long as all three of us require something of you, you can chose to give it." She quoted the statute knowing that the Dragon never moved on anything without heaven being behind him. "Yes I know the laws well my friend." He said slowly, clearly debating his decision. Destiny was hopeful. Finally the Dragon spoke again. "I will do this thing, but I can not waste my own power to create a Heavenly Rune." He would need all of it if heaven called him to leave Primeway and fight, but he didn't say that. "Instead I will give you one I have been saving for six hundred millennia." Destiny didn't let her expression show her disappointment. A regular Heavenly rune was a powerful thing indeed, but not as powerful as they needed. One made from the Spirit Giver himself would have granted a man enough strength to rend one of the continents in two. "Thank you Great and honored Spirit Giving Dragon." She said with a bow, she would take anything she could get. Even with no hope of it ever being enough, she had to do something. Her family was still on Primeway, most of them anyway. And she still loved them dearly. because of her power she'd turned them into one of the most influential Families on the South continent. "You are welcome Destiny." The dragon told her and immediately a glowing rune appeared in front of her. It's shape was circular with the most intricate designs imaginable all around it. Even with her heavenly memory she knew that she wouldn't be able to remember all the little twists and corners that made it up. Maybe after a hundred years of hard study but by then the design would be useless. Heavenly runes could only ever be used once. "Be careful who you give this to." The Spirit giver told them. "It was made by an ascended mortal who wished to give his favorite descendant a head start in life. He spent three thousand years pouring power into the design until it became a Heavenly Rune. Then opened a message channel through the Dark star Sun with the undead soul of his greatest enemy. It was the most successful attempt at communication between Primeway and the world's above in over a billion years. But fortunately I was able to intercept the message and inform those above." The three embodiments were stunned. None of them knew what was past the sun Gates, and in their long, long lives had never even imagined someone could communicate from the world's above. The spirit Giver ignored their expressions and continued. "It is made to be put on a weapon. Any weapon from what the message said. A soul weapon or even a wooden stick or club. I am not certain what the desired effect is as the message said it would be a surprise, but if the rune is not drawn correctly then it will result in an explosion that will kill everything for over a million miles and may tear a whole in the world shield." The three embodiments listened very carefully to other instructions from the dragon as Destiny put the rune gently in a pouch and tied it to the belt around her golden robe. Heavenly runes really were amazing.
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- In Serial20 Chapters
Sword System Academia
2/17 NOTICE: I'm putting this on hiatus, possibly permanently. I didn't want to spam with an "update chapter", so hopefully here and in the story blurb will get enough eyeballs. There are a couple reasons for ending SSA for now. 1) I wrote the next chapter but wasn't happy with it. I've been less and less satisfied with SSA's quality the more I thought about it. Part of the reason is... 2) I am seriously thinking about trying to publish some novels to help pay the bills, since I don't have my other source of income anymore. I have never asked for anything from SSA readers, no money, not even a review or rating. SSA is written for fun to amuse myself, primarily, and I would kind of feel bad actually charging someone money for something as unserious as that. I don't think it is good enough to ask anything in return. To use an analogy from music, SSA is more like a jam session with a bunch of friends. You're just chiling and having fun playing some music. I mean, if you are Mozart or even Eminem, your jam session is good enough to sell, but for an amateur beginner like myself, haha, no. If I want to publish something, I feel like I need to go the proper route of practice and rehearsals, which might be more similar to a classical concert performance. With SSA, I work from worldbuilding notes and a loose outline, but what you are essentially getting is the first draft with lots of so-called pantsing. Pushing out a web novel like this also means it is very difficult to go back and improve things without breaking everything else downstream. I wanted to try this "jamming" approach, as it was a good way to teach me about another aspect of writing, but to move forward, I think I need to hone my "classical" techniques, which emphasize rewriting, or at least, revising outlines. 3) While I intend to try to make $$$, my actual current goal is to "get gud". I've spent a lot of time recently trying to understand the self-publishing industry, and I'm pretty sure I can make some money by using short-term strategies with my current amateur skill level. But I've seen too many authors come and go/burnout, and really, the only way that I think I can enjoy writing and still make money on a long-term basis is to become a better writer. And the next step for me, which I haven't done much before, is to spend more time on rewriting and outlines. That is pretty much antithetical to the way SSA is developing. I've always been kind of 20/80 plotting/pantsing, but I want to spend a lot more time outlining before I even start writing. SSA jam sessions don't really fit my goal anymore. If you're curious about what's next, read on... Among other regrets, I regret not finishing SSA. It's the first story I've dropped, but then again, it's the first web novel I've attempted, so I suppose that's not a surprise. I don't think traditional web novel formats suit me that well. The whole SSA story I had loosely planned (beyond a first book or major arc) is way too large as well. Big story = good for neverending webnovel with Patreons, bad for penniless and fickle writer like me. I am currently outlining a complete trilogy to another story in great detail. I want the story to end concisely, and I also want the chance to really spend a lot of time on the full outline to spot pacing problems, character issues, lost themes, and so on. I'll still share this story on RR. What I intend to do is finish book 1, flash-publish the whole thing here for a few weeks, then publish on the big Zon. Repeat for books 2 and 3. The upcoming story will be about crafting heroes. The backdrop is an isekai-like setting, where elves will summon humans to their world as heroes, but the whole hero crafting business is still in its infancy. The elven mage researchers are figuring out how to imbue heroes with power, while the heroes are trying to figure out how to use the powers that they gain. Humans are the best hero templates because they are blank and have no intrinsic magic. Or at least that what the elves thought. The human MC has his own secrets... There will be some similarities with litrpgs, but I would call it more a progression fantasy or gamelit story. For example, the stats are very low, at least initially. Say we have a stat called Str. Going from Str = 1 to Str = 2 is a huge deal. Also, going from Dex = 0 to Dex = 1 is an even bigger deal. I guess you could call it a "low-stat litrpg", haha. Also, the heroes won't be gaining stats simply by killing things or leveling up. You can't increase stats arbitrarily, either. There will be rules to how stats can increase, and how they work with each other. The elven mages will be figuring out these rules in order to craft stronger and stronger heroes. Some inspiration will be from cultivation magic systems, but there won't be overt cultivation, at least for now. A theme I really want to explore is the idea of interactions. That includes things like hero crafter vs hero, tactics vs strategy, skill synergies, racial interactions (dwarves, elves, etc), and son. Yeah, so hero crafting. I'm super excited about this project and venturing into publishing. If you want to check out the upcoming story, you can follow my RR author profile to see when it drops here. Finally... THANK YOU TO EVERYONE! I'm very sorry that SSA is stopping, but I hope at least some of you will find the next story at least as enjoyable, if not more. Thanks to all the readers who gave SSA a shot. Big hug or solid fistbump to all of you, whichever you prefer! I hope this message is not a downer but an upper, because I am psyched!! -purlcray -------------- BLURB: Talen, youngest Master of the Koroi, makes his way to the Empire's capital to salvage his clan's fate. But the bustling city has few opportunities for the traditionalist. For the old sword clans are fading. With the rise of alchemy, gold can purchase strength that ordinarily took years of training to cultivate. Sword artists, once rare and accomplished, are quickly growing in number, especially among the wealthy noble class. Even with such alchemy, though, no one has advanced to the rank of Grandmaster in countless years. Talen's true dream is to walk the path of a sword artist to the very end while fulfilling his clan duties. And then the Swordgeists return, fabled founders of all sword arts, gods who had touched the world long ago and vanished. These myths turned into reality warn of a coming threat. Alongside this warning, they issue an invitation to the Sword System Academy, a path to power beyond the mortal realm. But first, they will hold an entrance exam... Story notes:Sword System Academia blends elements of western and asian fantasy such as xianxia and litrpg. I took parts from different genres I enjoyed and twisted them into my own creation. There will be an explicit system, both of the litrpg kind and the hard(ish) magic kind, but it is embedded within an academic structure that will develop over the course of the story. This is my attempt to design a unique type of system, the System Academia.
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