Draconic Ascension - System Apocalypse Isekai LitRPG

Michael looked at the stone dais, illuminated by the glow of the blue leaves. Tairy was sitting on it with his legs crossed and eyes closed. The old dark elf opened his milky-white eyes and looked at Michael.

“Now that you’re here, there’s something we need to discuss.”

Michael raised his hand, shaking his head.

“Wait. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Unless it’s the same thing I’m talking about, save it for later. I heard you killed people.”

Michael went silent. The light in his eyes died, but was replaced by rock-solid, steeled conviction.

“I did what I had to do.”

Tairy looked at him with a complex expression.

“…I don’t doubt that, but I worry about how much this is affecting you.”

“It’s not affecting me at all. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it needed to be done. To protect my friends and family, and to defend myself, I decided to kill those enemies.”

“It was the first time you killed a person, kid. As if that wasn’t enough, it was a whole group who had already surrendered. Don’t give me that bullshit. I know you’re affected by it. Don’t lie to yourself.”

Silence ensued. After a few seconds, Michael spoke.

“I did not lie. It had to be done. Even if they ended up not coming back for revenge alongside an army, they had already killed and hurt other people. Killing them was the right way to end their disgusting actions.”

“And so, you became someone you despise? I’m not trying to make you feel guilty or tell you that you’re wrong. I am trying to make you understand your actions and your own justification.”

“I do not despise myself for having killed them. It wasn’t the honorable thing to do, but it was the right one.”

As he spoke, he felt his wavering heart become more solid. Talking with Tairy was helping him organize these thoughts in his previously muddled head, strengthening his determination.

“Because they hurt other people? Were their lives worth less than the lives of the people they killed or wounded? What is the weight of a single life?”

More silence.

“…I don’t know what is the worth of a single life. But I believe that the lives of innocents were worth more than theirs, who killed such innocents willingly. They had hurt a couple and left them to die just to draw me out. I do not regret my actions.”

At that moment, Tairy abruptly pointed at him with a serious expression.

“That’s it.”

“…What?”

“It’s not my place to say that what you did was wrong or right. I have killed far too many people for that. I care about you alone. So long as you do not regret your actions – so long as you believe in what you did – you will probably be fine. That’s what matters: your mental well-being.”

A bit stunned, Michael nodded.

“Yes. I believe that what I did was the best course of action. Guilt is not eating away at me. I was only a bit shocked since it was the first time I killed someone.”

The old man chuckled.

“Good. That’s good.”

His words kept resonating in Michael’s head. If it was someone like this, shouldn’t it be fine to share his secrets? He still hadn’t even heard anything about Dragons. Maybe Tairy would be able to tell him more? The old dark elf seemed genuinely concerned about him. The elf could be trusted. Michael began to speak.

“Old man-”

“Stop.”

Tairy raised his hand. Michael froze. His words died out in his throat. The elf continued to speak.

“I feel like I understand what’s going through your mind right now, so let me tell you this: don’t share your secret with anyone, including me. No matter what guesses me and Sullivan have, they’re just guesses. Do not tell us the truth. There are many ways to extract information from someone, even from us. Keep your secrets to yourself.”

“…Alright. Thanks, old man.”

Tairy nodded with a slightly embarrassed expression, waving Michael’s gratitude aside.

“What else did you want to talk about?

Michael smiled at Tairy’s attempt to change the subject. He went along with it, sitting down next to Tairy, and looking at the magic tree’s leaves. For some time, he simply stared at them, processing his conversation with Tairy. The old man patiently waited. Slowly, Michael pulled himself out of his thoughts. He still needed information, as he had agreed upon with Rose. He spoke.

“It’s about the Territory Wars.”

The dark elf nodded sagely.

“As expected. What do you want to know?”

“I need to know who’s worth becoming allies with.”

Tairy grinned.

“I didn’t think you would try to find allies. You’ve always fought alone.”

“The Territory Wars aren’t the kind of scenario I can tackle alone. Capturing Flags and Territory is easy, but I need people to defend what I conquer. It’s an event created for large teams.”

“That’s only natural. The Villages are more than a safe haven; they’re a place for people to make connections. Teaming up is a matter of course. You’re simply an abnormality.”

Michael acknowledged it. Because of his Dragon blood, he hadn’t needed to form a group of people for support. In truth, Mages were better suited for team play. Because they were unable to cast multiple spells at the same time, they needed protection when using an offensive Skill. Warriors fulfilled that role, guarding the Mages and allowing them to focus on firepower. However, because his casting speed was so fast, Michael could alternate between attack and defense quickly enough not to need other people. But, that only mattered in a fight. In a large-scale scenario like the Territory Wars, he needed allies.

“Can’t you tell me who the most outstanding but also trustworthy people are?”

Tairy laughed.

“The System won’t let me share the personal information of any contestant. Besides, there is no way for me to know who exactly is trustworthy and who isn’t. All I can do is tell you the names of remarkable individuals that contacted me.”

Michael nodded. It was certainly better than nothing. Even though Tairy said that he couldn’t tell who was trustworthy, he felt confident that the old man wouldn’t tell him of a potential enemy. He trusted Tairy’s judgement. Tairy raised two fingers.

“There are two people who have caught my eye. Naturally, both are Mages that have come to me. The first one is called Christopher Hunt, while the second one’s name is Claire Williams.”

“How good are they?”

“You’ll have to see for yourself. I can’t say more.”

Michael clicked his tongue.

“Thank you, old man.”

His fingers drew symbols in the air. An ethereal, floating mouth came into being. As it opened, Rose’s voice could be heard.

“Michael. Did you find out anything?”

“I’ve got two names, but I don’t know if you guys already knew about them. Christopher Hunt and Claire Williams.”

“Nobody comes to mind, but others must know them if the Mage NPC spoke about them. I’ve had no luck with the Warrior NPC. Won’t tell me anything.”

She sounded vexed. Michael spoke in a soothing tone.

“Don’t worry. We’ll start with the names I was told and branch out from there. How is the progress with other teams?”

“It’s going reasonably well. There are groups too afraid to team up with you, but there are even more that are eager to get on your good side. Progress is slow, but we’re approaching something like an organization with you at the head.”

He smiled. They were good news. Truthfully, he had expected his killings to frighten far more people, but it seemed that the experience of the Tutorial Zone so far had gotten at least some of them used to the idea of killing and death.

Out of everyone who’s trying to become an ally, I’ll probably only find a few trustworthy companions.

He needed to keep his eyes open. It wasn’t as if he could read minds, but he hoped that he would be able to differentiate real allies from the rest.

First, I’ll reach out to Christopher and Claire after finding them.

He spoke.

“Good. We keep moving. After dealing with Derek, the Territory Wars will go on. Our Village must prepare itself.”

“I agree. I’m glad we’re managing to do this. I’ll put in more effort, so defeat Derek as soon as possible, okay? I believe in you.”

Michael smiled.

“Alright. Talk to you later, Rose.”

He dismissed the Whisper spell. His relationship with Rose had improved considerably after their conversation about it. He acknowledged that her regret about trying to kill him was real, while she tried her best to prove it. With the contract that he would kill her if she betrayed him in place, the situation had actually become rather positive. They weren’t exactly friends, at least not yet, but she could be considered to be his greatest ally in Bluestone.

Well, it’s not like I know a lot of people, anyway.

His interactions with others in Bluestone Village had been mostly limited to Sullivan, Tairy, and Rose. He let out a breath as this thought hit him. He turned to his teacher, who was looking at him.

“I’m gonna go and try to draw in more people. When something resembling a network is in place, I’ll kill Derek.”

His words were said in a firm tone which surprised even himself. The decision to kill Derek had already been made. Tairy nodded and replied.

“It’s good to have a goal, but there’s one thing you must not forget.”

“What is it?”

Tairy pointed at him.

“At the end of the day, your personal power is most important. Even if you kill this Derek, you’ll only be able to ensure the safety and life of your loved ones if you’re powerful enough. Obtain information about more Dungeons and keep completing Sullivan’s quests. Leveling up is the most important part of the Tutorial.”

Michael nodded. It was true that he had been neglecting his personal power a bit after discovering Redglow’s situation. His eagerness to free his friends made him feel as if things were more urgent than they actually were. He faced this from a new perspective.

It’s true that James and the others are under Derek’s thumb, but they don’t seem to be in immediate danger.

Of course, that was something that could change at the drop of a hat. So long as they remained under Derek’s control, they would be forced to follow the man’s orders, even into threatening situations.

Am I powerful enough to easily deal with Derek, his organization, and the aftermath?

Michael knew that he was the strongest contestant out of everyone he’d seen so far, but there was no merit to underestimating his enemies. He spoke.

“I’ll go complete a few quests while Rose looks for Christopher and Claire. Thanks, old man.”

Tairy waved at him dismissively.

“Just go already. And don’t die, kid.”

He smiled. He had grown used to the dark elf’s tough affection. Feeling thankful for the conversation they had shared, he turned around and walked in the direction of the Town Hall. As he made his way through the winding dirt roads, he received as much attention as he expected.

Are there even people who still don’t know who I am? How did the news spread so quickly?

He didn’t know if he should feel relieved or worried. For better or worse, to create proper alliances within Bluestone, the people would need to know about him. Lost in his thoughts, Michael arrived at the Town Hall. There was a small line outside. As he got ready to get in line, those in the line turned to him. After flinching, they parted, giving him way. He tilted his head and spoke.

“You don’t need to do that. I can wait.”

The people in the line threw glances at one another before one of them stepped forward with a determined expression.

“You’re Michael Gray. We know you. You’re Bluestone’s greatest combatant, who’s helping us succeed in the Territory Wars. Letting you cut the line is the least we could do.”

Oh?

There was definite fear in their expressions, but also respect. After a few seconds of silence, Michael started walking and nodded.

“Alright. Thank you.”

As he entered the Hall, he felt all the dark elves’ gazes being drawn to him. Sitting on his throne, Sullivan looked at him with a grin. There were no other humans in the hall. The Town Chief spoke.

“Michael. Have you come for information?”

Michael smiled. There was no fooling someone with centuries under their belt.

“Yeah, but also for a quest. What can you tell me about the Territory Wars and outstanding people in this village?”

Sullivan chuckled, staring at him as if he were a mystical creature.

“Word of your deeds have reached even me. First and foremost, I commend you, Michael. You did what was necessary.”

Michael nodded with a serene expression.

“Yes, I know. I’ve made my peace with that.”

“Good. Now, three kilometers east of the Village, there are six grizzly bears. Bring me their heads. As for information about the Territory Wars, what I can say is limited because of my position. What I can tell you is that you’re doing well, though not as well as some of the other Villages.”

He nodded. That was a matter of course. Information about Yellowbright was starting to reach Rose’s ears, and she had passed them on to him. Even though nothing was very clear, Yellowbright appeared to be under the control of an organization even better constructed than Derek’s. At the same time, Sullivan’s words reassured him that he could succeed so long as he kept doing what he was doing.

If I continue trying to improve and coordinate Bluestone’s efforts, in addition to my personal power, I’ll be able to win this.

Michael smiled.

“That’ll be enough for now. Thank you, Sullivan.”

Sullivan laughed.

“I look forward to what exactly you’re going to become. I ask of you, don’t stop surprising me. As a gift, I’ll give you the location of a Dungeon,” Sullivan spoke with a toothy grin, “I believe it will be an adequate challenge to your current self.”

Michael blinked, listening intently.

“Four kilometers south of Bluestone Village, the entrance to the Dungeon lies under the glow of three giant mushrooms. It will be simple to find. Good hunting.”

He turned around after thanking Sullivan and walked toward the entrance under the watchful eyes of the dark elf guards. It was time for him to complete his quest.

***

Michael looked at the red pillars of light as they turned blue. Despite that, he appeared to be lost in thought.

As expected.

It had been five days since he killed the group of enemies who had targeted him. He had barely gotten any sleep. His plan to destroy Derek’s organization from the inside seemed to be going well; the different Parties he had recruited were going after the nearest Flags and guarding them. Rose and her team had also followed his directions and made remarkable progress in uniting other teams, taking and defending Territory more easily. Overall, Bluestone Village’s Territory had grown by almost 25%, even though the Flags changed owners frequently.

The defenders are almost gone.

The time between him sending teams after certain Flags and their capture had been far too small. He also heard no signs of fighting or struggle. The Flags seemed to have been simply given up. It wasn’t like he didn’t have any idea why, however.

Derek is running away.

It was only a matter of course that someone would be sent to investigate after eleven men disappeared, especially since he had committed the mistake of leaving their corpses in the open. Since the information had spread even throughout Bluestone, it was obvious that Derek and the other Villages would be aware of what had happened. It had become common knowledge. In hindsight, he should have incinerated them completely and made Derek believe that the group had deserted, but there was no use crying over spilled milk. Given that Derek’s defenders had retreated, the man had likely caught wind of the group’s demise. He was now avoiding Michael and Bluestone’s Territory. That didn’t mean Michael would do the same. His plan to go after Redglow remained the same, as it would until Derek was dealt with.

I need to strike while the iron’s hot.

There were other Villages whose Territory he could conquer, but his current goal was to deal with Derek. Everything else came after helping his friends. He didn’t know for how long the Territory Wars lasted, but there should still be quite a bit of time left; it had been less than a week since it had begun, after all.

Michael turned around and looked at the wall in front of him. It was as plain as could be. The glowing mushrooms were the only thing that adorned it. However, it was part of one of the many columns that held up the underground’s ceiling. A Mana Blade was created and sunk into the stone without issue. He didn’t stop to admire his offensive power. Mentally, he focused on making the Blade less dense, just enough so that it could be used to climb without searing straight through the stone. He attempted to pierce the stone again. This time, it was more difficult.

Perfect.

And so, he began his climb. The ground got further and further away, but he wasn’t afraid of the height. Once he judged he should be around fifty meters above the ground, he carved himself footholds and places to grab. After some effort, he managed to create several holes in the pillar and turned around, laying his back against it. He dismissed the Mana Blade once he felt that he was secure enough and looked at the scenery before him. This far above the ground, his field of view was much wider, but it was harder to make out details.

Time to see if it works.

His two Circles revolved around his Heart strongly. In the spiritual realm, his astral self opened his eyes. He started manually redirecting mana toward his eyes. At first, it only hindered him, as if making his vision blurry, but he then imbued the mana with a specific “intention.” His desire was to improve his visual acuity, becoming capable of seeing farther and better. He had no spell or Skill for this but believed it was worth a try. He theorized about the Skill’s existence. Soon, he was proven right.

[You have made progress toward acquiring a new Skill.]

By this point, he could already see much better than mere minutes ago. It wasn’t perfect and certainly not as effective as a proper spell, but it was good enough to confirm what he needed to. As he expected, all the Redglow Flags near Bluestone Village that he could see were undefended. To the east, Greenwood members faced Bluestone’s in battle. It was a common sight. With the help of Rose’s network, Michael had been able to create something that at least resembled a coordinated effort. His ability to use Whisper at will helped quite a bit. It shouldn’t be long before another Mage formed their first Circle and became able to use it, either.

Michael watched the areas where the different-colored hues met. The contest for Territory between Greenwood and Bluestone was normal and expected, and he could understand why Redglow had run away.

But why is Yellowbright Village only going after Redglow?

He didn’t understand. All he knew about Yellowbright was that it was under the control of another large organization even greater than Derek’s, but he didn’t know if it was of the same kind. It didn’t seem to be, given its efficiency. If they wanted to they could certainly seize most of the Territory from all nearby Villages, including Bluestone Village. Michael couldn’t protect every Flag or every bit of Territory on his own, even though he was now being assisted by other teams. Yet, Yellowbright was focusing solely on Redglow Territory, as if it had a personal vendetta. He muttered to himself.

“I guess Derek messed with the wrong person.”

In a way, the man had done the same thing to Michael himself and was now trying to find a way out of the hole he had dug. Either way, this worked out in his favor. So long as he kept pressuring Derek’s organization alongside Yellowbright’s perfect offensive, he would certainly be able to find an opportunity to dismantle the whole thing. If Yellowbright didn’t beat him to the punch, that is.

Safely nestled in his spot fifty meters above the ground, he quickly cast the Whisper spell. His target was James. A voice came out of the floating mouth.

“Michael? I’ve been waiting for you to contact me. There’s something I need to tell you.”

It had been a day since they had last spoken to each other. Had something changed in the meantime?

“Sure. I was just going to ask you about the situation from your point of view. What is it?”

“Listen. Derek’s right-hand man is a Mage called Lohann. He’s been to the place where you killed those guys; I don’t know anything else about that, but ever since he returned he’s been sending scouts all over the place. I think that he’s looking for something, but I don’t know what it is.”

Michael furrowed his brow. It was vexing that James didn’t know much about what was going on, but that was a matter of course. He was only an ordinary member.

What would an enemy Mage look for after going to the site of my killings?

He replied.

“Alright. Let’s lay low for a bit. Since he’s sending out so many scouts and whatnot, it would be better for us to get a better understanding of what he’s doing. There’s also the possibility of you guys being found out.”

“I agree with laying low, but we’ll probably not be discovered. The only way we communicate is through Whisper.”

“Don’t let one of the scouts catch you in the middle of a call. It would be pretty damning.”

“I know, which is why I only accept when I know we’re safe. I think- Wait. Someone’s coming.”

The connection was cut off abruptly. Michael blinked. Ever so slowly, a bad feeling wormed its way to his heart, one that he couldn’t quite shake off. He cursed under his breath. It was the worst time for something like this to happen. James had been giving him information about Derek’s movements and teams, and he likely would have done the same thing this time around if he hadn’t been interrupted. His information was valuable. Derek no longer left Redglow Village and was avoiding Bluestone, but that didn’t mean his defense was impenetrable. Anything James could learn, he reported to Michael. Their cooperation had resulted in the capture of several of Derek’s men, and in the conversion of many others.

At the same time, Michael realized that the very core of Derek’s organization was firm. Those who had been coerced into joining were easy to change sides, but those who sincerely believed in Derek’s worldview would rather fight. Stealing his teams hadn’t been so simple.

I’ll carve a path all the way to the heart of Redglow Village if I have to.

He made his way down the pillar, grabbing a bag that had been left by its side on the floor. It contained the six heads of the grizzly bears he had been asked to kill. His determination was unshakable. He would rescue his friends, no matter what.

***

Derek raised his gaze from the map in front of him. It was a new one that struggled to keep up to date with the shifting Territories. The door to his room opened. He readied himself to yell and curse at whoever had been stupid enough to barge in uninvited, but stopped in his tracks. The visitor was Lohann, donning a slight smile. He carried with him a piece of paper, which he waved in the air. With a triumphant tone, he spoke.

“I found it.”

Derek’s brow furrowed.

“Found what?”

Lohann’s grin got wider.

“A possible weakness.”