Titan: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 4) Jez Cajiao (top ten books of all time TXT) 📖

never be taken for granted. I have freed those of you who were enslaved, and I will never force anyone to take the Oaths against their will, but in order to know that we are all able to rely on each other, to enter the Great Tower, you must be sworn to me and to your fellow citizens. The Legion has already sworn their allegiance to me, and now it’s your turn. Again, if you choose not to, that’s fine. We will set you down in a village on the continent and leave you there, but you must choose now.” With that, I felt my mana start to dip as Oracle sent out the Oath, and I took the time to swig down a mana potion before describing the benefits of the Oath.

“As a citizen of the Empire, I will feed you all and house you for the next year for free, as well as pay a fair wage, based solely on your skills and abilities, not on your species.” I drank a second potion. “You will be required to work for the greater good of the Tower and ultimately the Empire, but you will be given training, protection, and opportunities you have never had before. Some of you, those who show themselves to be exceptional workers, highly skilled, or simply dedicated enough, will be given more. You will be given opportunities to earn Spellbooks, Skillbooks, or even occasionally, Memory Crystals that contain the memories of master craftsmen of the past.” I could feel more and more invitations being pushed out, and the mana drain kept rising, causing me to breathe deeply as I tried to ignore the draining feeling, and the incoming mana migraine.

“I ask you now to join with me in rebuilding the Empire, and take the Oath of the Great Tower.” I chugged the last potion I could manage, feeling myself shaking from the speed of mana regeneration and drain combatting each other.

Then it began. At first, it was a low rumble as a few started to say the words quietly, almost hesitantly, as though unsure they were doing it wrong. Then more joined them, and more.

Soon the clearing rang with the sounds, echoing down from the circling ships, and I felt the impending cost building further.

“I swear to obey Lord Jax and those he places over me; I will serve to the best of my ability, speak no lie to him when commanded otherwise, and treat all other citizens as family.

I will work for the greater good, being a shield to those that need it, a sword to those that deserve it, and a warden to the night.

“I will stand with my family, helping one another to reach the light, until the hour of my death or my Lord releases me from my oath.

“Lastly, I will not be a dick!”

“I, Lord Jax, do swear to protect and lead you, to be the shield that protects you and yours from the darkness, and the sword that avenges that which cannot be saved. As the Tower grows in strength, so shall you,” I called out, forcing myself to not sway as the last of my mana reserves bottomed out and my health started draining instead. It was nearly over, I knew, and I couldn’t afford to waste more potions. I’d used three Greater potions already, leaving me with only one of that caliber. I didn’t even know if Arrin had any, and we’d surely need them down below.

Several more seconds passed, the last voices dying away, and I felt the change in the air as almost six hundred people swore to follow me.

“Thank you all!” I called out to them. “Those who chose not to swear, please make your way forward to a Legionnaire and inform them, and they will make arrangements for you to be guided to a village.” With that, I turned away from the edge, moving slowly as I felt the drain finally stop, and my mana started to regenerate, along with my health.

“How many?” I asked Oracle, and she smiled.

“Just under six hundred took the Oath. I didn’t push it to the Legionnaires, as they already swore the Imperial Oath, as did Horkesh and her spiders.”

“Horkesh? Shit, I’d forgotten about her.” I grimaced, shaking my head at my poor memory. “Where…?” I immediately looked up and began searching the ships, until I found one on the outer edge, slowly circling. The hull was made of dark wood, or at least stained so badly that it looked dark, and as I watched, a spider clambered across one side of the hull and vanished over the top onto the deck. The ship trailed something as it went, and I frowned until I realized what it was… webs.

The entire ship was coated in them, and the spiders happily moved to and fro all over the ship.

“Uh, the crew of that ship...” I asked cautiously, and Mal spoke up.

“That’s the ‘Star’s Glory’, Bateman’s ship, if you remember that asshole? Turns out he was tryin’ to save money by not allowin’ his crew shore-leave, so when Horkesh and her pack took the ship, they got seven of the crew, the old captain included. The passengers, or former slaves, have been learnin’ to fly her, and seem happy to be with Horkesh, as it mighta been us that arranged it all, but it was her and her pack that freed ’em.”

“That’s a relief,” I said, exhaling shakily. “I’d never want to be on a ship full of them, myself…”

“You and me both,” Mal said with feeling.

“Jax…” Oracle interjected, and I turned to face her. “There were twelve that refused the Oath… not including Bateman and his crew; as slavers, I didn’t offer it to them.”

“Right?” I said, frowning and peering over the side. “I don’t see anyone talking to the Legionnaires, though…” I realized slowly as the group dispersed.

“I’ll make a note of any that come forward,” Romanus said. “Hopefully, they’re just waiting until there are fewer people to see