The Tree of Ascension: A LitRPG Apocalypse (Peril's Prodigy Book 2) Craig Kobayashi (top 5 books to read TXT) 📖

Garath looked at her uncomprehendingly, his jaw hanging open until he was able to choke out a single word. “How?”

Daisy placed her hands proudly on her hips and widened her stance. “First, I got Manual Targeting, then Spell Design, and then after I got Mana Manipulation, one of the system messages appeared to tell me about the title!”

Garath blinked rapidly, then turned to Athios and Warrion for further explanation, but they were just as lost as he was.

“Well done, kiddo!” Athios cheered. “That’s super freaking epic!”

Garath wanted to say something, anything, but he just couldn’t wrap his mind around the fact that this child had managed to learn non-Class Skills he hadn’t even conceived of. Spell Design? He had so many questions to ask her and didn’t know where to start. Garath bowed deeply to the girl, his silver tiara only inches away from the Elementalist’s face. “Sensei, please accept me as your student. I pledge my life to studying under your wise tutelage.”

Daisy took another step back and away from the Necrologist, scrunching up her nose and squinting at him from behind blond curls. “What?”

Athios laughed. “He wants you to teach him to be as super freaking epic as you are,” she translated.

“Oh,” Daisy said. She turned from Athios to look back at Garath like he was some kind of idiot. “Why didn’t you just say that, then? And also, while you’re here, when is my tryout to go to the Dungeon? I know you’ve done other tryouts, but you never responded to my message.”

Garath frowned. He knew the odds of the little girl agreeing to teach him how she unlocked all of those non-Class Skills would decrease dramatically if he told her she couldn’t be a part of the Dungeon team. “Let’s talk about it while we walk. Gary’s boys stacked some firewood and I was thinking you could start the campfire for me.”

"You want me to Blast! it?" she asked excitedly.

"Would you mind?" Garath asked, pleased at how easily her attention was diverted.

"Where?" she asked, looking to Brandon for an answer.

"On the other side of the statue," Brandon told her, pointing. "You didn't see them stacking the wood when you were flying?"

"I was playing tag with Dave, Brandon," Daisy said defensively. "He's a real crow, I had to focus."

Garath walked with Athios, Warrion, and the two children across the unkempt grass of the abandoned Legion Memorial Park. As they walked, Garath sent a message to the entire community, including Auto, Maimon, and the twins to meet him by the fire to discuss the Dungeon team’s next steps. When they reached the firewood stacked by Gary’s tireless gaggle of red-headed boys, Daisy stepped up to set it ablaze.

"Blast!" shouted Daisy, with both hands outstretched toward the large pile of dry sticks and twigs. An orb of flame shot from her hands to ignite the pile of dry wood, among a few other things. When the Blast! made impact with the heaping pile of sticks, they didn't simply catch on fire. Several were sent hurling through the air, spinning and burning like fireworks in the night sky. One hit Gary square in the chest, singing his favorite red, flannel shirt.

Gary brushed burning ashes off his chest and looked disapprovingly at Daisy for a moment, but then smiled warmly. "I guess it beats rubbing sticks together!"

Gary's boys scrambled around to put out the unplanned fires. Garath, Athios, and Warrion moved a few large rocks and logs around to act as seats for anyone who showed up. And then they waited.

Brandon got to work on crafting the rings. It didn’t take the young Jeweler long to make six and Garath excitedly triggered Inspect on one.

Wooden Band of Wisdom

Raiment Slot: Finger

Durability: 10/10

Item Score: 21

Quality: Average

Rarity: Common

+20 Wisdom

Created by the Jeweler, Brandon.

The Necrologist thanked the young man and slipped one of the wooden bands on each of his index fingers, handed two to a surprised and grateful Athios and pocketed the others to give to Sharon later.

Garath wasn’t sure who to expect at that point, but he wasn’t surprised when only a handful of people showed up. His speech in the Guild Hall a few days before had indeed been motivational and everyone in attendance had bought in on his plan for a better future, but after the excitement of Garath’s call-to-arms had faded, mortality showed its ugly face. These people, these survivors of the apocalypse that had already lost so many loved ones would have a hard time finding the strength to seek out more danger. Garath couldn’t blame them for being disinclined to risk their lives yet again to follow him into the Dungeon, after everything they’d already been through.

Daisy, Gary, and all five red-headed young men stayed by the fire with Garath, Athios and Warrion as they waited to see who would show up. Auto, Maimon, and the twins were the first to join them. Shortly after, Sharon took a seat beside Warrion on a moss-covered log closest to the fire. NickCarter strolled up and sat on a large rock, followed shortly by Curly and Raust who chatted quietly near the fire. Fergus, sweating like a pig, had apparently been on an evening jog before arriving. The Spirit Master, Andrea, was the last to show up; her quiet approach nearly went unnoticed.

Garath waited a few more minutes to see if any additional attendees would be joining, but stood to speak when he noticed the eyes of everyone there glancing at him with expectant expressions. “First, thanks for being here. Before we get started, I want to wait a few more minutes. I’m expecting a few more people that replied to my community thread. One is an Elementalist that's already at Level 31, Lorena is her name. She said she’d be bringing a friend along too. The second is a guy named Atlas. He’s a Mage Smith, and he’s also hoping to join our Dungeon team.”

As if by command, an