Road to Mastery: A LitRPG Apocalypse

Chapter 280: Return of the Sage

Jack couldnt believe his eyes. Before him stood a man as eccentric as he was eye-catchinga worn-out jacket, crooked yellow teeth, wild hair, a mad glint in his gaze. He didnt smell, at least, but he seemed completely out of place surrounded by flying, robed cultivators.

Human (Earth-387), Level 170

Faction: -

Sage!? Jack asked. What the

Whos that guy? Dordok shouted, panting as he rushed into battle again. Is he with us?

Shol barely had time for a glance, making him furrow his brows. Immortals had excellent memory. Is that

Introductions can wait, the Sage said with a confident, if yellow, grin. Im here to rescue you.

Someone came to save my saviors! Dordok laughed. Isnt that a treat?

Quite.

Sage, what the hell, Jack said again. Arent you supposed to

An intense aura interrupted him. Maximus Lonihor erupted with power, releasing a supreme wind that blew both Dordok and Shol back. No one is rescuing anyone under my watch, he growled. The grin remained on his lips, but it had grown tighter, more thoughtful. Clearly, even he hadnt expected the Sage to arrive.

He rushed ahead, then abruptly disappeared.

The Sage was already dodging. He smoothly glided backward, avoiding one claw swipe, then leaned down to dodge a kick. Three more strikes came, each more vicious than the last, and each was masterfully dodged.

Jack was close to the epicenter of this clash, so he got a good look at the Sages moves. They were almost magical. He wasnt fast, but he predicted the leonines attacks before they came. His dodges looked almost choreographed.

Maximus paused. His eyes grew serious. You people are starting to piss me off.

Good kitties should go to sleep, the Sage said, pointing a finger at the leonine. Jack sensed nothing, but Maximuss eyes turned hazy. He recovered just a fraction of a second later, but in a high-level battle, even an instant was too long.

Shols foot smashed into the leonines cheek. Jack saw his face warp almost in slow motion before their opponent was catapulted to the side, crashing through several miles of air and into the ground like a cannonball.

Quick, the Sage said, tossing up an object that resembled a dark sphere. Everyone, to me!

They obeyedwhat choice did they have?and the Sages sphere quickly enlarged to engulf them. Inside it, Jack saw the space under space, a place where everything was real yet not, where distance was an illusion. Staying here extensively threatened to tear the soul out of his body, but the sphere somehow protected him, adding a hint of stability to the chaos.

In the distance, Maximus Lonihor shot up from the jungle, roaring as he drove a golden punch at them. The Sage clappedand instantly, space sucked them in. They were no longer in a jungle, but over an ocean with no hint of land in the horizon.

The dark sphere shrunk to its regular size and flew into the Sages hands. Well, thats one thing taken care of, he said. He pocketed the sphere, then fished out what looked like a groceries list from inside his robes and crossed out one line. He put it away again before Jack could read anything.

Jack struggled to speak. His mouth moved up and down a couple of times before he made sound. It was that simple? was all he said. We escaped?

For now, the Sage replied.

You can reuse that thing? Shol asked, eyeing the pocket where the sphere had gone.

Oh, yes. The Black Hole Church has all kinds of trinkets.

Everyone fell quiet at the abrupt revelation. Jack remembered that hed never told Shol about that. The silence was only broken by Dordok, who suddenly laughed uproariously. System bless you, Jack. I dont even need to knowIm loving this!

The Black Hole Church Shol said. Thats a potent statement.

The Sage shrugged. It is what it is. Didnt Jack tell you hes one of us?

Shol had never looked at Jack with such accusation.

Im not, he hurried to explain. It was offered, but Im still considering it.

Sure

If I can interrupt this tender questioning, the Sage said, were still not safe. The Warden could be flying over the planet as we speak to scout us out. Follow me.

Without another word, he flew down, diving into the blue sea with a splash.

Oh, Ill follow you alright, Dordok said, clearly in a great mood. He dove down as well. Jack and Shol did the same.

Entering the water, Jack was glad that he no longer needed to breathe. His enhanced senses and Dao perception let him perfectly make out the underwater terrain, the hundreds and thousands of fish swimming around them. This was a virgin sea, untouched by garbage, chemicals, or overfishing. The sheer wealth of marine wildlife was staggering. He didnt recognize more than a tenth of the species here.

His biologist sense tingled, but he let it wait for now.

Does the Sage know where hes going? he wondered as they dove ever deeper, only for his worries to be proven unnecessary almost immediately. The Sage slowed down as he approached the foot of an underwater mountain, then slipped under a rock protrusion and disappeared.

Reaching that spot, Jack saw an opening inside the rock directly above his head. It led to an underwater tunnel. Following it, he watched the rock walls slowly close around him until there was barely enough room for him to stretch his arms.

Then, abruptly, the walls widened again, and Jack surfaced into an underwater cave. There was air herethough he didnt need itand the rock walls stretched into a wide hall more than thirty feet deep. It wasnt spacious, but it could easily fit four people.

Well be safe here, the Sage said. Unless the Warden inspects the bottom of this ocean himself, nobody will find us.

While Jack was busy gawking, Shol and Dordok surfaced beside him. How the hell do you know about this place? Shol asked.

Because Im a Sage, the Sage said as if that explained everything.

Not convincing. Try again.

I just saved your life. I believe a little trust would go a long way.

Shol snorted but did not pursue the subject.

Now that were safe, can someone please explain what is going on? Dordok asked, pointing at Jack. How are you Level 179no, 181 already? Shit. What are you doing with Shol Pesna? And how do we know the Black Hole Church?

Id like to know that last part, too, Shol added.

Jack sighed. Very well. Buckle down, everyone; this will be a long story.

He took a sit as well, since he remained injured, and began retelling. He explained about his adventures in Trial Planet, his conquering of the ninth ring, and his miraculous breakthrough. The only secret he kept was the Life Drop and its implicationsbesides that, he trusted these people enough to tell them everything.

He then spoke about his time in the Exploding Sun faction, and how one thing led to another, which led to him infiltrating one of the Animal Kingdoms most well-guarded locations to hunt down and assassinate their core members.

I know it sounds stupid when I say it like that, he finished, but its worked out pretty well so far. Ive gained forty levels in a month.

And youve almost died at least twice, Shol pointed out.

Making this my safest month since the Integration.

Fair enough.

And you came to rescue me? Dordok asked.

Of course, Jack replied. Youre my captainand you once risked your life to save me, a total stranger. What kind of man would I be if I didnt do the same?

Moisture welled up in the captains single eye. I knew I was right about you! he shouted, drawing Jack into a big hug. He then held him by the shoulders and asked, What about the Ram? Is the rest of the crew safe?

Jack bit his cheek. The captain cared about his crew and ship more than anything else. This question must have been burning his lips since the moment he was captured.

I dont know, Jack finally replied. Last I heard, they escaped from the Hounds by teleporting away. I can only hope theyre fine.

Dordok nodded. His gaze was inscrutable. Achilles died in the battle, he said. It was after you left. One of the Hounds tore him apart.

Jack took the news like a mallet to the skull. I see, he replied.

Its devastating, I know. He was a good man. The captain observed a few seconds of silence before continuing. The rest of them will be okay. Bomn will take care of them. He can carry my mantle with pride.

Do you think Vashter managed to recover from his wounds? Jack couldnt help asking.

Certainly. That is one resilient sailor. Im sure they found a way.

Then, Im glad Jack said, releasing a breath he didnt know hed been holding. Meeting the captain again brought back memoriesand seeing that they shared the same certainty of the crewmembers surviving relieved him.

Jack hadnt spent much time in the Trampling Ram, but he remembered it fondly.

Seeing that Jack and Dordok were done for now, Shol spoke up. What are you doing in Hell, Sage? he asked. And dont tell me youre only here for Jack.

Youre contradicting yourself. How can I answer your question without saying the answer?

What?

What?

Shol took a moment to parse through this. Are you saying youre only here for Jack?

Thats what I would say, if you hadnt told me not to say it.

Jack could see the monks temperature rising, so he quickly butted in to say, Dont test his patience, Sage. He has the fuse of a fuseless candle.

Right. I apologize, the Sage said, laughing lightly. Jack is a very promising prospect. He is worth the risk of me coming here. Plus, I can divine that things will probably be okay.

Shol narrowed his eyes. Say I believe you. How did you find us?

Because I am a sage.

Hmph. Im not like the idiots youre used to dealing with. Ive lived for centuries and dealt with all sorts of prophets. Even the Barren High cannot divine things like that.

I know they cant, but I can.

You are testing my limits.

A hint of Shols aura leaked out, soaking the cave in faint sunlight. Jack raised his hands. Can we all calm down, please?

This is important, Jack, Shol said. If this man has a way to track our location, I would like to know.

He saved our lives. Give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Besides, if he has a way to track anyones location, thats meor the captain, actually.

How did you all find me, anyway? Dordok asked.

I assaulted a late immortal, stole his prisoner scanner, tracked down every prisoner and confirmed your identity from a distance, then followed your dot on my scanner, Shol explained, but thats not important right now.

Right, the Sage said. You know what is? Coming up with a plan.

We dont need one, Shol shot him down. Jack, do you guarantee for this guy?

Jack considered it. The truth was, he knew almost nothing about the Sage. He shouldnt guarantee for him, but the man had helped him on so many occasions that he deserved at least this little bit of trust. Yes, he replied.

Good. Then, Sage, I should let you know we only followed you here to learn about your identity and goalswhich we didnt, but Jacks guarantee is good enough for me. Heres the plan: we go back outside, board Jacks starship, and teleport to a nearby planet, where an accomplice of ours is waiting to take us away.

Thats an excellent plan, the Sage said, except your accomplice has already been apprehended by the enemy.

Shols eyes narrowed. Impossible. I contacted them only a few minutes ago.

Theyre blackmailed to reply normally, but I assure you, theyre under enemy custody.

Oh yeah? And how would you know? Because youre a Sage?

That, too, but also because one of our members works as an undercover guard. Your accomplish is Vegna, right? The feshkur merchant captain?

Shol was visibly surprised. How could she have been caught? he asked. She knew the Kingdoms patrol patterns inside out.

It wasnt the Kingdom. The Hand of God tracked you down to the Eternal Gate, then performed a background check on every person on the planet when they lost your trail. You and Vegna have worked together beforeshe was one of the first they interrogated, and nobody can lie to the Inquisitors.

Wait. Why would the Hand of God be after us?

Not after you, the Sage corrected him. After Jack.

Shol turned an increasingly furious glare at Jack. And why, pray tell, he said slowly, would the Hand of God be after my honest little brother?

Jack, in turn, glared at the Sage. He hadnt told them about the Life Drop before, so naturally, he also hadnt mentioned anything about the Hand of God chasing him. Shol had no idea.

Start talking, Jack, Shol said heavily, and this time, you damn better stop hiding things or Ill whoop your ass so hard youll shit yourself.

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