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

“Hopefully,” I agreed, a sudden sinking feeling in my stomach.

“Jax, we can’t do anything here, not without unlimited mana. Once we’re back at the Tower, if they haven’t come forward, I’ll come up with a way to find them, and we can check it out to see what the problem was, okay?” Oracle reassured me, and I nodded in acceptance, relaxing slightly.

“Thanks, Oracle. Okay, where are we with the camps?” I asked Romanus.

“I’ve dispatched forty Legionnaires to each camp; they’re on their way already. Each team has orders to take command of the camps, secure anything and everything, and capture the ships. Both teams are led by a Primus, and they are under strict instructions to avoid casualties in the civilians, and to kill every last man who raises a weapon to us. The soldiers are to be given the chance to surrender. If they don’t… that’s their choice to make,” he finished calmly.

“Good enough for me,” I said flatly. “Do we have many spare potions?” Romanus nodded in affirmation. “We can find some. Which ones do you need?”

“Mana, mainly; a half dozen or so, if they’re not needed, and a few Health and Stamina? Ideally, I’d like my team to have two each of Stamina and Health, with myself and Arrin, and Yen, actually, carrying half a dozen mana each, if you can spare them.”

We’ll sort it,” was all he said as we crossed the deck and headed down into the ship again. As we passed a pair of Golems that were adding in sections of decking to the upper levels, I paused and watched them for a moment.

“How large are the entrances to the Sunken City?” I asked hopefully.

“Not large enough, unfortunately,” Romanus said, understanding my line of thought immediately. “The centuries of seawater and storms, combined with the growth of the plants, has resulted in increasingly small entrances, and while we could make them bigger, to make even one large enough for the Golems would take several days.”

“Damn, and that’d be several days of the Golems NOT working on the ship. Fair enough. Shame, though,” I said, having indulged in a momentary mental picture of me strolling casually through the ruins below, with the Golems clearing the way.

“It was something I considered as soon as you had stated that you wanted to explore the ruins, Jax. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be. I did consider having Augustus take them along to the camps, but in all honesty, the difference they make to the ship’s construction here is immense, and considering that I need Augustus to remain with me here in order to direct them, I made the decision that it was best not to create an opening large enough.”

“That’s fine,” I said, nodding my acceptance. I’d have sent the Golems to the camps, personally, rather than risking the deaths of our people, but Romanus knew his men better than I did, and I accepted that. Besides, a single mis-phrased order could have disastrous consequences, and I really didn’t want to risk that. I thought back to the sight of the Golem literally ripping the arms off a troll and beating it to death ‘with the wet ends,’ as per an idle order I’d given, and I shook my head in fond remembrance of the goblin slaughter.

For now, until we had either a truly sentient Golem to command them, or Oracle and I were managing it together, I wanted them to perform basic tasks. Once we were back at the Tower and Heph or Seneschal could take over their direct control, that might change, but for now, simple laborers were more valuable.

Especially ones that could lift the equivalent of a car and hold it in place without complaint while skilled workers secured it.

I was directed through the ship, working my way down to the gangplank and out onto the clearing, where we paused our conversation as we joined my team.

“Be careful, Lord Jax,” Romanus said gruffly. “I know that you need to grow, that you need the experience that only battle can give you, and that, in this case, only you and your companion know truly what you are looking for, but remember: without you, the Empire falls apart, as do our lives.”

“I will, Romanus. But the Empire doesn’t fall if a single man does. You would need to take over in the Tower and look after our people, until you can find someone to rule in my place.”

“I couldn’t…” he said, aghast.

“You are in charge when I’m gone,” I said firmly. “I have a council in place in the Tower already. If I die, you are to lead the people there and secure it, protect them, and keep the Empire alive. That’s an order, Romanus. I might not have known you long, but I trust you, and I know Augustus, and he and the rest of the Legion trust you. They’ll be needed.”

“I will look after things until you return,” Romanus said slowly. “But I cannot lead the Empire, Jax. I’m a Legionnaire, which means I follow and I protect. I do not lead. Please, choose another.”

“Then that’s something we need to discuss later, but for now, you’re in charge,” I insisted firmly before turning to the rest of my team.

Lydia, Jian, Arrin, Stephanos, and Miren stood waiting calmly. Bane moved around from behind me to lean against a pile of boxes, and Grizz, Tang, and Yen moved in closer from where they’d been standing, still talking quietly. As the others faded back and returned to the ship to carry out their duties, I looked around the small group and smiled.

“Well… who’s ready for an adventure?” I asked them.

Chapter Twelve

There were grins all around as the team got ready, and I checked my gear as well. In addition to the new Legion armor, I carried, of course, my naginata. The shield I’d looted from one of the Twins was secured by a convenient armor hook, covering my two back-sheathed silvery Drow short swords. As if those