Shocker's Stories

EA Chapter 23 - Brawler Vs Brawler

It was well past noon, and the Brawler Tournament was in full swing. The first few rounds had, unsurprisingly, been knock down, drag out fights that left the arena in an awful state. Brawlers, by their nature, were tanks who could dish out and endure large amounts of damage, even as rookies. It was more exciting than the Cler...

EA Chapter 22 - The Hawks Take Flight

The silence hanging over the arena had grown so thick that one could cut it with a knife. The instructors, seated upon their raised dais, watched Luna with some fascination.

“You...” Lethe glared at her, venom flashing in her eyes. “Take this seriously!”

“I am taking it seriously,” Luna replied. “And...

EA Chapter 21 - Let the Games Begin

The start of the Cadet’s Tournament was marked by an opening ceremony, presided over by the instructors of the Citadel who were congregated on a dais overlooking the cadets. And, at the head of the group, was the head of the Citadel: Master Yifang.

Luna had only seen the much-vaunted Arcanist a handful of times since ...

EA Chapter 20 - Intermission: The Ashlands Massacre

Wailing sandstorms crossed the dunes of the Ashlands, kicking up great grey clouds that were near blinding in their intensity. The Ninth Expeditionary Force had, by Captain Quirk’s estimation, ventured deeper than any prior expedition.

But it was as if the world itself was actively working to hamper their efforts. The...

EA Chapter 19 - The Branding Rune

“I have to admit,” Kane said, tilting his head to one side, “for a Tin-rank cadet, you have some truly phenomenal qi control.”

Luna said nothing initially, too focused on balancing her weight solely on the index and middle fingers of her right hand. It was tough enough to do, even without the great weights on he...

Chapter 18 - Tournament Preparation

One of the books open on Luna’s desk was a faded tome with pages that had been yellowed with age, a text detailing ashborn anatomy. On the left was a great black and white illustration, depicting a massive creature with stony skin, leathery wings protruding from its sides, and a snarling drake-shaped head. The two soldiers ...

Chapter 17 - The Weight of Training

When the weekend came about, two days in which there were no classes and the cadets were given a measure of freedom, Luna decided it was in her best interest to at least hear Calvert out on his offer.

Yet when she arrived at the expansive platform, the sky blanketed with thick grey clouds, she did not find the old man w...

EA Chapter 16 - Days of an Academic

When it came to classes, Luna considered herself to be astute and well-read. But that still led to her having notions that raised concerned eyebrows.

Proctor Castor, the lecturer on military theory, posed a hypothetical to the class on one verdant morning. "How would you, as a field commander, deal with a rebellion with...

EA Chapter 15 - Asserting Dominance

Luna led the way toward the middle of the arena, where Gallow Cade was standing to attention with her hands behind her back. She watched the girls with a sharp gaze. "I expect punctuality, cadets. An extra minute of waiting, and I would have had to start deducting points from you all."

"Apologies, Sergeant," Syri said, ...

EA Chapter 14 - Last Place Squad

In the first few days that followed, Luna found herself immersed in a whirlwind of classes and drills that served as a basic introduction to life at the Citadel. The classes were simple affairs, where the students were usually broken up into lectures that best reflected their strengths and affinities. For Luna this entailed l...

EA Chapter 13 - Welcome to the Academy

The various students enrolled at the Citadel were lodged at the myriad towers that dotted the structure. Luna would later come to find that the more accomplished and tenured students, those on the verge of graduation, were moved to the upper towers near the peak of the Citadel to reflect their station. But the youngsters and ...

EA Chapter 12 - First Test

The path from the airship docks, at the base of the Citadel, was flanked on either side by flapping flags that all bore the flag of Elthreme. Everywhere she looked, Luna could see patrolling guards and security emplacements. They scarcely paid any mind to her, or any other soldiers coming from the docked airships. But any man...

Chapter 11 - Flight to the Citadel

Luna had flown plenty of times in the past. Usually under her own power, via a levitation spell. Occasionally astride a tamed griffon. And, once or twice, on the back of a drake. The latter was the worst. It certainly looked imposing, flying around on a giant fire-breathing reptile But the smell of sulphur and burning gasses ...

Chapter 10 - Farewell to Home

The next day, a group of men from the docked airship arrived to give Luna a cadet's uniform. It was a rather striking thing, a formal white jacket coupled with black trousers and leather boots that glinted whenever the light struck them. The jacket sported gold embroidery that shone like starlight. The kit came with a pair of...

EA Chapter 9 -War With the Gods

After being given time to dress, and drinking a concoction of fruit juices that her mother insisted on, Luna ventured outside with the stranger, who was flanked by a pair of guards toting halberd rifles. She'd been out cold for an entire day, apparently, and it was already dark by the time she'd come to.

But the old man...

EA Chapter 8 - Freshly Recruited

Luna opened her eyes to find herself not in her alcove, but rather in the semi-familiar surroundings of Tulpa's office. She sighed, annoyed, as she scanned the area.

As before, a rush of embers converged to recreate Tulpa's visage, the woman floating a few paces away from her. "Heeeeey!" she greeted, giving Luna a cheer...

EA Chapter 7 - Old Scratch

Helsen's home was as humble as the man himself, a bungalow that sat squat on the outer edge of the village. The building looked out over the sea. And, on a clear day, his home gave him a good enough view to make out the distant highlands to the north. The interior was sparsely decorated: just a bed, some cabinets, several wic...

EA Chapter 6 - Dire Crayfish

The sea monster was elephantine in size, scuttling about on his angular legs and swaying with the unease common in all undead. And, slowly, the slobbering monster turned his full attention to Luna. The young arcanist stared, growing tense, and could recognise the faint hints of intelligence stirring inside the crayfish's glow...

EA Chapter 5 - Creatures of the Mire

More undead were emerging from the water, retching and gargling as they trod upon the sands. The militia men pulled back, too dumbstruck with fear to attack. One or two drowned men wouldn't have been too daunting. Now there was more than ten.

Luna was unconcerned. She jumped back as a pair of the corpses loped toward he...

A New Story!

Hey all.

Just yesterday I launched another story on Royal Road, Empress Ascendant. An isekai progression fantasy focused around an evil overlord reincarnated into a xianxia-esque setting. Blurb and link below.

I'll be altering Patron rewards to that paying members will be given three chapters in a...

Chapter 82 - Home at Last

It was dark by the time Coin made it back to Elijah’s estate, by which point the numbing aches of his battle had fully subsided, and he was greeted to a sight that immediately made his heartbeat quicken: A coterie of guards standing to attention just outside, hurriedly conversing and gesturing to the mansion.

But what...

Chapter 81 - Down She Goes

Coin’s steady striding led him to a makeshift bridge forged from stone and wood, positioned over a great chasm that stretched down into impenetrable shadows. Lanterns had been hung from the sides of the bridge, providing some modest measure of illumination.

“Had a feeling you’d come,” Leona said, her voice echoi...

Chapter 80 - A Bloody Vengeance

Chaos had rapidly descended upon the Brotherhood’s bolthole. As soon as the goblin scouts returned, jabbering about seeing a squad of humans attacking them, two teams had been set up. One to hastily move or destroy any valuables that Velasco’s forces could make use of. The other was expected to reinforce the perimeter as ...

Chapter 79 - One Monstrous Man

Ten men had emerged from the darkness to clash blades with Domajor, and all ten had been brought down one by one. Severed limbs were scattered among the floor, while arterial sprays of blood had gushed along the windows and wallpaper.

A nightmare to clean, certainly. But Domajor was determined to ensure the corpses of h...

Chapter 78 - Freeing the Artisan

Despite the initial shock of the situation, the Manticores were quick to regroup. Ladoss ordered two of his men to bring the dead back to the tunnel’s exit, and then to venture topside to deliver the hand cannon to the archchancellor.

They still needed to finish their mission, but if things were to go south they neede...

Chapter 77 - A Smoking Gun

Coin had opted to simply use shapeshifting to replace his bloodied clothing when he first returned to Elijah's home, and he was damn glad of that decision. It made it so much easier to morph his body, not needing to worry about storing his clothing.

He followed after the Manticores soon after they entered the burned out...

Chapter 76 - Domajor Goes Forth

Essine watched Domajor nervously as the looming man continued his dusting. He walked through Elijah's study with the thoroughness of a professional killer, his duster like a blade that extinguished any stray mote of dust with ruthless efficiency.

"Are you... sure there is nothing this one can do to aid you? T...

Chapter 75 - Gravity is Indiscriminate

"Your friend..." Coin growled, glaring up at Velasco, "tried to kill me!"

"Oh?" Velasco tilted his head to the side. He kept his right hand outstretched, an aura of ghostly green light shimmering around his fingertips. Coin hadn't sensed any magic from the man when they first met. But now it was pouring off o...

Chapter 74 - We Meet Again

Coin sat silently on a bench outside the looming doors of Velasco's chamber. Many guards and civil servants had passed him by as he waited to be allowed inside, sparing him not a single glance.

That was, until, one woman came to a halt at his side. "Coin?"

The mention of his name made the mim...

Chapter 73 - In the Dark

Sentinel was an ancient city that had weathered many sieges, catastrophies, calamities, and assorted crises that had led to great sections of it being destroyed or washed away with the passage of time. Thus, beneath the streets that people strode about in their daily lives, stretched a network of underground catacombs, sewers...