Death's Disciple [Sys Apoc, OP Villain MC, LitRPG] Chapter 12: 1.12 Raiding the Soul Pantry

Read chapter 12 of Death's Disciple [Sys Apoc, OP Villain MC, LitRPG] by TTReynolds on NovelPedia.

1.12 Raiding the Soul Pantry Chapter 12 Despite orks being taller than goblins, I would absolutely put them in the same category of green skinned fuckers as their shorter cousins. Though I don’t know for sure their familial relation, exactly, their penchant for ruthless assholery left me guessing they are not too far away on the family tree. Separated by a mere branch or two at most. All this being said, I wasn’t much put off by having to loot the three orks we killed. The System handled credits, splitting them between us. But we learned that their armor—what was left of it anyway—and their weapons we have to strip from them the old fashioned way. In the meantime, there was the matter of the two floating souls that my ability was showing to me. Two, not three, despite there being three corpses in front of me on the ground. Either the System was being rather fucking picky about what souls were worth harvesting, or there was some sort of criteria that I didn’t understand. Maybe it’s because I only landed the killing blow on two of them? I thought, remembering that for the last one it was Huwett that sent the arrow nailing its mortal flesh to the world while its spirit was left floating off to my sponsor in the great beyond. So only ones that I kill then? Good to know. For now… [Ability Activated: Soul Usher (F) Harvesting Soul Essence… Soul Essence absorbed: 7… Soul Essence absorbed: 8 Essence to next ability rank: 20/1000 Options available] It was apparent that the level of the monster killed determined the amount of soul essence harvested. I found it nice to see that the progress toward the next ability rank didn’t go down after spending the essence I had gained earlier. Which meant spending it didn’t slow down the ability progress. Really still only one option to pick though. [Consuming Stats: Essence Cost 10 (5 x 2) Sentient Spirit (Ork Scout) consumed, allocating gain based on Sentient’s highest stat. +2 Strength gained, +2 Vitality gained] The ork’s spirits gave me plus two to my stats, instead of plus one. Once more, the difference between a beast soul and a sentient soul showing itself. My already rather impressive stats were growing with every fight. I pulled up my status screen to see just how far things had come. [ Name: Adam Pierce Stats: Strength: 17 Dexterity: 44 (48) Vitality: 36 (37) Intelligence: 30 Willpower: 30 (31)] I swiped the status screen away, my eyes moving from the number to land off towards the woods instead. My thoughts shifted from what I had now, to instead the potential of what I may gain. Far off, among the trees and brush, my eyes followed the silver thread of my skill which was still attached to the ork scout. A scout that must have made it back to the settlement by now, and would lead me right to them. I looked off to above the wooded canopy, the light of day already fading. Soon. By the time camp had been made, a fire lit, tents erected, it had become quite dark. Everyone was tired, mentally and physically, but that didn’t remove the fact that someone had to stay up for first watch, to ensure the orks didn’t repeat their ambush while everyone was asleep. No one wanted to wake up finding a putrid, ugly green face looming over them. “I’ll take first watch, not a problem at all.” I said as I smiled at Barry when he asked for volunteers. “Sounds good to me. Nothing can sneak up on you, I’d bet.” He laughed, sending me a wink as he tousled his blonde hair. His smile was one that was infectious, and I found myself grinning back at him. “I doubt it,” I said, knowing already that I wouldn’t have anything sneaking up on me that night, as I would be the one doing the sneaking. The rest went to bed and I heard the confirming snores of their slumber within minutes. It was the sound that I had been waiting for and I stood up from the log we had placed near the fire and turned toward a direction in the trees. A silver thread led off into the distance, and activated my [Shade Stealth] skill before quietly m