Shadow Seer (Rogue Merchant Book #3): LitRPG Series by Roman Prokofiev (english reading book TXT) 📗

swept in a desperate fight. The video was apparently filmed by one of the attackers, as the camera “danced” when the recorder’s flying mount maneuvered, escaping possible fire. A pleasant female voice commented on the events.

A large-scale faction war is heating up in Dorsa, one of the main Russian-speaking realms. Together with a coalition of players, the House of Darkness, the world’s most powerful faction headed by the goddess Ananizarte, launched a continent-wide conquest. Over the first week, the alliance destroyed more than ten castles of players unwilling to bend the knee and occupied and subjugated four independent Kingdoms. The northwest of Dorsa is on fire, with more than a hundred thousand non-playing characters taking part in warfare.

 

Marching troops appeared onscreen. Two-pronged banners with white crowns fluttered in the wind above Irchi shock troopers, the skies above dotted with endless drax swarms. Narrow warships with dragon-shaped snouts and birds of prey plowed the grey waves, and the stern faces of sailors loomed above the umbos of their raven-emblazoned blue shields. Furiously screaming, an avalanche of cavalry poured over the ranks of footmen with interlocked shields.

“Eleventh castle in one week,” Abel said, stopping the newscast. “They’re forging ahead like tanks—a sight to behold.”

“Yeah, everybody who didn’t succumb to the House is done with. They’re fleeing south, to the Long Sea and the Fairs,” Olaf agreed, contemplating the freeze-frame. “There are thousands of them already, dozens of clans. Mostly farmers, but...”

“They’re running to the Reds, and the Reds are worried. They are next in line to be attacked,” Komtur said. “Phoenix have contacted me twice, suggesting that it is time for us to remember the old treaties.”

“And you?”

“I promised our support, of course. We need to stick to our word. Can you explain how they’re doing it, demolishing everything in their path? That’s real heavy.”

“It is. Still, it’s simple,” Olaf spoke up. “I’d even say, primitive. The player coalition around the House of Darkness grew to a thousand players, but naturally, our dear PROJECT is playing the first fiddle.”

“That’s not that many. We could rally the same numbers, and Phoenix even more.”

“True, but Ananizarte made them stronger. The entire war engine of the House of Darkness is in motion. Twelve hordes, not including the auxiliary ones. For each attack, they concentrate the maximum number of forces in a small area. Other than players, they’ve engaged elite NPC troops, veterans of the Three Continents War. But that’s not the point. Even the hierarchies of the House fight in battles! Two or three of them have been noticed at each taken castle. These creatures are half-divine, able to boost the others while being as powerful as an entire raid.”

“The dragon couple?”

“Not just them. There were almost a dozen various offspring and minions of the Lady, but some of them either escaped or disappeared. It doesn’t really matter. In short, they support each assault. The Silver Guards knew everything and prepared for an attack.” Olaf nodded at the image of the destroyed castle. “They’ve assembled more than five hundred people but didn’t even stand a chance.”

Komtur grunted, perplexed.

“Now I see why Phoenix are so worried. How can we even stop this steamrolling?”

“Harness our forces,” Olaf replied without hesitation. “Fight them across the board. Create an alliance of southern NPC Kingdoms, form a united front. But this is utopia; nobody will bother with that.”

“Is it even possible to neutralize the House of Darkness?”

“It’s extremely hard. In the entire history of Sphere, there were only two successful attempts at fighting off gods. Well, three, if we count the Pandas defending their Astral stronghold from Ananizarte. Each time required colossal effort and concentration of troops.”

“How do they move their forces so quickly?” Balian the Raccoon asked. “There are hundreds of leagues between the castles.”

“Right. This is their Achilles’ heel,” Olaf said, nodding. “They’re using players, constantly jumping through pentagrams most likely created by PROJECT’s portal masters. They even cast a Great Pentagram to get to Black River and Cardeval. Ingredients for portal rituals have gone up in price—PROJECT are buying so much that local markets already have a shortage. We could pull the plug on it by cutting off the supply.”

“A trade war? Did you get bitten by Cat?” Komtur asked, snickering.

“This is a realistic way to stop the expansion,” the Prophet insisted. “I need Cat! He’s the only one who can do it. Order him to return, pressure him. He’s not listening to me.”

Chapter 18

HALF AN HOUR LATER, I boarded the Abyssal. I was alone. The ship was in turmoil, and the crew was searching every inch. Thrainul and Fayana immediately walked up to me.

“HotCat, are you back? We’re in trouble—Rocky’s missing! We’ve looked everywhere, but he’s nowhere to be found! Have you seen him onshore?”

“Alas, I have bad news,” I said with a sigh, touching the jade figurine of a fencer inside my pocket. “I haven’t seen him, but on my way back, I found this next to a group of ghosts...”

I gave Thrainul the Gravekeeper’s hat and rapier. The captain stared at them for a few seconds and finally clenched his large hairy fist.

“What a blockhead! Dammit, why did he go there?”

“I have no idea,” I confessed. “But why are you worried? He’s an NPC. In a day, he’ll respawn at the circle he’s bound to. Will you keep his stuff?”

“Fine... How are you, anyway? Did you find what you were looking for?”

“We’ve seen the global message,” Fayana added. “Could it be it’s connected to your quest?”

I gave her a silent look, not saying anything. She stared back, undeterred. Her eyes were piercing blue, her expression stubborn. A curious lady with an attitude to match. I winked at her and replied,

“No. It’s not.”

“A funny coincidence,” Fayana said, musing.

“Don’t ask me what the quest’s about and what I did there,