TL;DR:

Next chapter (#44) is August 18 – looking to be at least 8K, might top 10K words (for reasons)

Release timing of chapters moved back 2 hours (noon EST)

Going to try to catch up and release 10 chapters over the four weeks starting August 18

Kidney stones are not out but not causing too many issues

Quick update is that I am mostly back on my feet though still drinking so, so, so much water. I can still tell where the stones are and they are mostly not causing too much pain.

The timing was really unfortunate because I won't have a chapter out until next Monday (so August 18th) because of the trip to go see my parents. There really is never a great time to get kidney stones but I feel for people waiting for chapters. That's part of why I try to communicate what's going on rather than leaving people hanging.

I am also going to be moving my chapter releases going forward from 10am EST to noon EST.

I really wanted to keep them early for those not in the US or people at work, even those commuting in the US on the west coast. The issue is that I have to get absolutely everything done the night before and sometimes I wish I could tweak them in the morning.

If I am able to build a backlog again, I will move them back to 10am EST.

As for the chapter release schedule, for a few reasons, I am going to try to release ten chapters over the four weeks following. Most likely, that is two the week of August 18th, then three the next week, then two, then three. I am really hoping for three that first week but could easily overload myself and not be able to deliver. Extra chapters will come on Fridays.

And unfortunately, I have hit everything I wanted to say so, to hit my necessary word count to publish, here's the first 500 words or so of a story I started about a year ago using the Path of Ascension magic system below. I might go back to it if we can get Aethon to confirm I can publish to Kindle or something using the PoA magic system. I think doing two stories at once would push me the right ways as a writer.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Loose *Crack* "Raaaawwwgh!"

Loose *Crack* "Come at me!"

Loose *Crack* "Ha, you think that's good enough? Eat my blade!"

Millie desperately wanted to roll her eyes at the yells but needed to keep loosing arrows using her [Repelling Strike] – expertly and painstakingly modified over years to work on her bow – to prevent the pompous asshole from getting eviscerated.

As Chadwickingtom – the dumbest name she'd ever heard – continued to loudly taunt and overreach in striking out at the rampaging bear-wolf hybrid creatures, she had to keep masterfully threading the needle between his wildly swinging appendages and striking the paws descending to end her nuisance of the day.

This was supposed to be an 'easy delve' with a 'well-oiled and experienced team'...

And of course, it was an awful environment – a heavily wooded area of mostly towering oaks and pines that made visibility tough, especially for spotting any additional attackers. Footing was at least decent despite some fallen leaves; the ground was dry.

It looked like it was mid-autumn. The leaves were a riot of greens, oranges, and reds and it smelled rather nice. Until the blood and guts started flying of course.

Suddenly, Millie had to use her movement skill [Fleet Feet] to get away from a rampaging monster, a bear-wolf hybrid called a Bwolf – the owner of the rift was not too creative in naming apparently… – that managed to dodge around the frontline of two fighters, swinging a massive and muddy paw tipped with claws that clearly glowed an ominous purplish green with a skill in her direction.

She quick-drew her bow and loosed.

*Boom* right between the eyes.

She was an excellent shot after all. She should be with her typical three hours of combat training most days.

It wasn't a killing blow but using [Repelling Strike], she managed to knock its head back hard enough that the mage and healer with her had time to get away as well.

Millie stepped forward, aiming to debilitate the beast enough that it couldn't reach her or the other squishy members of the party but it activated another skill, charging at her, mouth slavering with a disgusting goo that seemed to be acidic and smelled of sweaty feet and cinnamon.

Not a good combination.

Hopefully snickerdoodles weren't going to be ruined for her. She had a few in her pack that her father had baked.

She stepped behind one of the skinnier trees for cover as the jaws clamped down on the rough bark, taking a large chunk of the lovely pine. She hoped the sap gummed up its mouth but no such luck. The tree started to fall and she let her teammates know of the additional hazard with a shout of angle and timing. A simple "Timber!" wouldn't really do.

Of course, at their Tier, they could easily dodge a falling tree.

Millie quickly used her third skill, a birthday gift for reaching Tier 5 by age 25. [Multishot] sent out three glowing orange arrows that pierced three of the monster's paws, two back feet and its seemingly dominant right forepaw, making it hobble at best to move forward. She couldn't wait until she had more arrows with her new skill but focusing on independent control of each arrow first had been the right choice.

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