Everyone went silent. That certainly qualifies as “crazy”.

  Cyrus started talking first. “Orion… could you have killed the Broodmother at that point?”

  “No way,” I said instantly. “I only managed to kill it at level 13 before at the half point I leveled up due to the adds, and it instantly refilled my health and mana.”

  “And what do you think, could anyone from today’s tournament do it?”

  I started thinking. My strongest opponents were Athos, Cyrus and Kaelith. Even if we assume they were level 12 at the time, I had a hard time imagining Cyrus or Kaelith beat an elite on their own, with a 5+ level disadvantage.

  Not because they didn’t have the skill, but because their classes were not meant for doing that. Then again, neither was the ranger.

  Athos would have been more feasible. If the troll was level 17 and he was level 12, that would have made the level difference the same as in my Broodmother situation. If they somehow leveled up during the fight, and abused the level up mechanic, I could see it happening.

  But that was still a reach. Not to mention, Athos was in Oakenlight at the time, since this was a couple hours after the Briar was killed.

  “There’s a slim chance a Swordsman like Athos could have done it, with about as much luck as I had. But he was nowhere near Dryhollow at the time.”

  “That’s my conclusion as well,” Cyrus nodded. “That means there’s a player out there, who we haven’t seen today, capable of feats potentially surpassing ours.”

  Rebecca stood up. “It looks like we’re arriving at Dukewood; that’s my stop. But I’ll save you pretty faces the time and tell you: it was a Paladin.”

  A Paladin? Rafael was the strongest Paladin I knew, and although he was good, this was not a feat he could have done at that time. And he also wasn’t really a solo player.

  “Dukewood ahead! Five-minute port!” The captain called, and we decided to leave the topic at that.

  The village appeared around a bend in the coastline. It was a small timber village built next to a river and a massive oak forest that came right down to the water’s edge. Wooden piers extended into the harbor, and I could see the distinctive architecture: houses built into and around some of the ancient trees, connected by rope bridges and platforms.

  Soon, a handful of passengers disembarked, replaced by new travelers heading further up the coast, towards lands still unknown to me.

  An hour later, we reached Twinfire.

  This village was much stranger; it almost didn’t fit into the scenery. It was built on volcanic rock where two hot springs fed into the ocean, creating permanent plumes of steam that rose from the harbor. The buildings were constructed from black stone, and even from the boat I could feel the humid warmth radiating from the shore.

  “Great place if you want to delve into alchemy,” Cyrus said. “Been here a couple days ago. Those thermal vents help the locals in potion brewing.”

  More passengers exchanged, and we were off again.

  The sun had continued its descent toward the horizon, when Maelridge came into view. This village clung to steep cliffs overlooking the sea, connected to the water below by a series of witchback paths and a mechanical lift system that used counterweights to haul cargo up and down.

  “Engineering marvel,” Stone said appreciatively. “I’d love to see it in action.”

  “Crafters of this world are way more advanced than you’d think based on first look,” Sylph agreed.

  Our second-to-last stop was Twinsong, a fishing village built around a natural harbor at the very edge of the peninsula. The settlement was split into two parts by a chasm right at the middle, with only a single bridge crossing from one side to the other.

  As we left Twinsong behind, the sun touched the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. It was quite possibly the most beautiful sunset I had seen in the last couple of years.

  Granted, living in the UK, that was not as big an achievement as it sounded.

  The boat’s lanterns were lit, casting warm light across the deck.

  “Look!” one of the other passengers, a player, called out, pointing over the side of the ferry.

  People rushed to the railing, and I joined them.

  Something massive moved beneath the surface; a shadow easily as long as our boat, gliding through the depths with lazy grace. As it rose closer to the surface, I caught glimpses of bioluminescent patterns running along its flanks, pulsing with soft blue light.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “It’s a Leviathan,” a sailor said, not looking particularly concerned. “Pretty common in these waters, especially between Twinsong and Tidemark. They don’t bother ships unless you’re foolish enough to try and hunt them.”

  The creature surfaced briefly, a barnacle-encrusted head the size of a small house breaking the waves before diving again. Its tail was as wide as a village square.

  It slapped the water once, sending waves all around it, before disappearing into the depths.

  The deck was silent for a long moment.

  “This game is insane,” Sylph finally said, and we all nodded in agreement.

  Around half an hour and a couple drinks later (when my “Dizzy” debuff on my sidebar turned into “Drunk”, decreasing my movement speed and giving me a cloudy mind feel) the captain announced our last stop.

  “Tidemark approaching!” he called. “Final port! All passengers prepare for arrival!”

  The city appeared gradually, growing from a distant cluster of lights into something that took my breath away.

  Tidemark was nothing like the villages.

  It sprawled across the coastline, easily ten times like the size of Carpa, with proper stone walls rising from the waterfront. Towers punctuated the skyline; watch posts, lighthouses and what looked like mage sanctums with crystalline tops that glowed with ambient mana.

  The harbor itself was massive, dozens of piers extending into the water like fingers, each one crowded with vessels of all sizes. Merchant ships, fishing boats, naval crafts with the Count’s banner flying from their masts dotted the docks.

  Behind the harbor district, the city rose in tiers up a hillside, buildings packed together in dense rows connected by main streets I could see even from here. Warehouses near the water gave way to shops and homes, then what looked like administrative buildings and estates higher up.

  At the very top, silhouetted against the sky, stood a fortress; the Knight’s Tower probably, where I’d been summoned to report.

  “Holy shit,” Stone breathed.

  “It’s a proper city,” Sylph said, sounding dazed.

  The contrast was staggering.

  We had spent a week in villages, small settlements with maybe a few hundred people and a handful of buildings. Carpa and Oakenlight were pretty big compared to normal sized villages, especially with all of the Spring Festival bringing them to life, but they were still dwarfed by the City of Tides.

  Tidemark held thousands, maybe tens of thousands of residents. It was civilization in a way we hadn’t yet experienced in Godsrealm. Hell, I hadn’t experienced this sort of population in years, even outside the game.

  The boat glided into its designated pier with practiced ease.

  Sailors called out to dockworkers, securing lines and lowering the gangplank. The smell of the city rolled over us: smoke from cooking fires, salt and fish from the market, the earthy scent of horses and leather.

  "Welcome to Tidemark!" the captain announced. "Mind your step on the gangplank, watch your belongings, and enjoy your stay in the jewel of the coast!"

  We gathered our things and filed off the boat with the other passengers, our boots hitting solid cobblestone for the first time in hours.

  The docks were alive even as evening fell. Merchants shouted about their wares, sailors rolled barrels toward warehouses, guards in the Count's livery patrolled in pairs, keeping watch over the organized chaos while the residents and the few players who had arrived before us were browsing the city. The contrast between the people of the land and the players was astonishing, not just due to their gear.

  NPCs were already accustomed to this place, but for the players, this was a true medieval city sprinkled with a whole bunch of epic fantasy tropes, and it was the first time in their lives experiencing such a thing.

  I, too, stood at the edge of the pier, taking it all in. Somewhere in this city were answers about Count Vizgrad's summons, new quests, better equipment, and challenges we couldn't even imagine yet.

  "This place is massive," Stone said, turning in a slow circle. "We could spend days just exploring."

  "We should," Cyrus agreed, "but not tonight. Most of us have business here tomorrow, and it's getting late."

  I checked the system time. Nearly eight pm.

  "Good point," I said. "I need to report to the Knight's Tower at eight. You guys have your own quests to pick up, right?"

  Various nods and affirmations from the group came my way.

  "Let's log out now, get some rest. Twelve-hour cooldown means we can be back right before morning."

  The crew agreed. One by one, we opened our menus.

  "See you all tomorrow," Cyrus said.

  "See you," we echoed.

  Stone clapped me on the shoulder. "Ready for whatever comes next, champion?"

  I looked up at the Knight's Tower on the hill, then back at my friends.

  "Ready," I said. “But I’d rather make the journey to the Tower today, get a head start for tomorrow.”

  “Alright, then,” Stone said, and waved me goodbye before logging off.

  I started walking, trying to get a sense of the route so I wouldn’t be scrambling in the morning.

  The streets of Tidemark were a labyrinth compared to Carpa's simple layout. Cobblestone roads wound upward in switchbacks, lined with shops that were closing for the night and taverns just hitting their stride. Lanterns hung at every corner, casting pools of warm light that pushed back the darkness.

  I passed through what looked like a craftsman's quarter—the ring of hammers on anvils echoing from workshops, the smell of leather and wood smoke heavy in the air. Higher up, the buildings grew more refined, stone replacing timber, gardens appearing behind iron gates.

  Guards were more prevalent here too, their patrols regular and professional. A few nodded to me as I passed, recognizing the adventurer's gear.

  The Knight's Tower loomed larger with each turn, until finally I stood at the base of the hill it crowned. A wide stone staircase led up to the fortress gates, flanked by statues of armored knights that seemed to watch my approach.

  Impressive. And slightly intimidating.

  I committed the route to memory—straight up from the harbor district, through the craftsman's quarter, past the residential estates, then the final climb. Fifteen minutes, maybe twenty if the streets were crowded.

  Satisfied, I found a quiet alcove near a shuttered bakery and opened my menu.

  Time to rest.

  The world faded to black.

  And tomorrow Tidemark awaited, and with it, the next chapter of our story.

  ?? November 2025 Writathon Winner

  ★★★★★

  LitRPG Progression Portal Fantasy Summoning

  DENIED BY SYSTEM - HE SUMMONS HIS OWN

  The System rejected him. The World took his wife. And now, his daughter...

  Sasaki Jin must master a forbidden power to ensure his child doesn't share her mother's fate. He will tear down the gods themselves to keep her safe.

  "A high-octane, addictive read that perfectly balances “dad energy” with cosmic power."

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  "If you’re a fan of Solo Leveling, then I think that you’ll enjoy this story, too."

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  Inspired by Solo Leveling & Pokemon...

  ? Competent MC: Street smart, ingenuity over luck.

  ? Unique Summons: Each with distinct personalities and powers.

  ? High Stakes: Death is a mistake away.

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