Shadow's Seventh Step: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure

SHADOW’S SEVENTH STEPA FANTASY LITRPG ADVENTUREDIVINE APOSTASYBOOK SEVEN A. F. KAY Shadow’s Seventh Step, Divine Apostasy Book 7 by A. F. Kay afkauthor.com Copyright © 2023 by A. F. Kay All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law or in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews or articles. For permission requests, contact the publisher at blackpyramidpress.com This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Published by Black Pyramid Press, LLC blackpyramidpress.com Book Cover by Magnetra's Design Editing by [email protected] Created with Vellum CONTENTS PrologueChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36Chapter 37Chapter 38Chapter 39Chapter 40Chapter 41Chapter 42Chapter 43Chapter 44Chapter 45Chapter 46Chapter 47Chapter 48Chapter 49Chapter 50Chapter 51Chapter 52Chapter 53Chapter 54Chapter 55Chapter 56Chapter 57Chapter 58Chapter 59Chapter 60Chapter 61Chapter 62Chapter 63Chapter 64Chapter 65Chapter 66Chapter 67Chapter 68Chapter 69Chapter 70Chapter 71Chapter 72Chapter 73Chapter 74Chapter 75Chapter 76Chapter 77Chapter 78Chapter 79Chapter 80Chapter 81Chapter 82Chapter 83Chapter 84Chapter 85Chapter 86Chapter 87Chapter 88Chapter 89EpilogueAppendixGlossaryAcknowledgmentsSpecial ThanksAuthor’s NoteLitrpg LinksLitrpg Facebook Group For Liam your laughter fills my heart. PROLOGUE [Author’s Note - Summaries of books 1 through 6 along with a glossary of people, places, and things can be found at afkauthor.com. In addition, the glossary can be found at the end of this book.] Lalquinrial stepped out of the portal and into an ancient ring of stones. He savored the humid air that held a hint of salt from the waves that crashed into nearby cliffs. A solitary moon hung like a lantern in the sky, bathing everything in soft light. The Darkness had seeped into this galaxy before Pen had stopped it, which made this planet a perfect location for further exploration into this part of the Universe. The Infernal Realm had gained a strong foothold here because of it, and Lalquinrial had visited many times. Five days had passed since Lalquinrial had trapped that problematic boy in an Infernal Bubble. It had taken that long to coordinate this meeting. Too impatient to walk, Lalquinrial teleported to the door of the lone structure. It stood out like a wart on the short grass of the field, but the isolation suited his needs. Lalquinrial reached for the doorknob and paused. For just a moment, it had felt as if someone's gaze had crossed his back. The others had agreed to come alone, but perhaps they’d brought protection, or, unlikely as it might be, helpers to spring a trap. Turning, Lalquinrial pushed his Divine Authority outward, hoping to trap whoever had triggered his senses. With the ease that comes with thousands of years of experience, he filtered out everything from the microorganisms in the soil to the fish in the nearby ocean, leaving nothing behind. Lalquinrial could count on one hand the beings capable of concealing themselves from his Divine Authority. Perhaps it had been the Companion, as she proved almost impossible to hide from. This felt different, though, and the touch so light he began to doubt his recollection. Perhaps meeting his brethren after so long had made him jumpy. Lalquinrial frowned and turned his attention back to the thick oak door, made to withstand harsh rain and howling winds. Opening it, he found his two guests already present. The men sat at a table in the center of an otherwise empty bar, a half pitcher of dark beer between them. That the bar had no other patrons didn’t surprise Lalquinrial. It took a special type of person to risk the dangers this building and its surroundings held. Now, with three of the most powerful gods in the Universe together, it would terrify anyone. Naktos smiled at Lalquinrial and slowly filled an empty third glass from the pitcher. Lalquinrial returned the smile, genuinely happy to see his spiritual brother. He had kept himself apart from the others, perhaps for too long, but that would soon change. Only two pieces remained. Izac stood and Lalquinrial grasped the red-haired god’s forearm. All the Disciples had their flaws, including himself, but Izac combined impatience, power, and anger. The trifecta made long-term relationships difficult. Izac wanted to rule this Universe, while Lalquinrial knew it only served as a stepping stone to true power. Eiru, Izac’s sister, worried Lalquinrial. Unlike Izac, her power had paired with patience and piercing Intelligence. Thankfully she had isolated herself from the other Disciples with her talk of throwing away Grave’s Spirit. Why would anyone wish to redistribute such a concentration of power? Lalquinrial turned to Naktos and flashed a sincere smile. White-grey hair like granite blended into sun-deprived pale skin. A scarf hid the two sacks on his neck that gave his kind power over poisoned air. They clasped forearms and bumped shoulders. “It is good to see you, Lal,” Naktos said. “I enjoyed meeting your daughter last year.” Lalquinrial grinned. “Liar. She is too much like her mother, and as she grows into her power, I’m beginning to worry for my safety.” They all laughed as they sat, and Lalquinrial took a sip of the dark beer, enjoying the balanced sweet and bitter smoothness of the drink. Naktos, with only seven connected Meridians, lacked brute Spiritual power. He compensated for this weakness with knowledge, planning, and alchemy. His scientific approach to problems appealed to Lalquinrial, and they had become friends during the eons they traveled with Pen. “I have the boy,” Lalquinrial said. Izac leaned forward, and Naktos went still as he prepared to absorb every detail of Lalquinrial’s report. Lalquinrial leaned back and pursed his