[Removed for Amazon] Quest Academy: Book 4 - (Chapters 28, 29, 30 and 31)
Added 2024-09-10 15:16:47 +0000 UTCHey Everyone,
Sorry for the big delay on chapters the last while. It's been hectic and I've only now gotten back into the groove with writing. I've hopefully got nothing to distract me for the next few months, so I don't anticipate any breaks in the Monday releases.
DragonCon was a lot of fun, way more fun than last year. I got to meet a lot of really cool authors and readers at the LitRPG Raid event in the Hyatt. I didn't get sick, which was amazing and such a relief. When I came back, I went off with my family for a few days which was very much needed.
I had a lot of trouble with the chapters leading into the Gala. I re-wrote one particular chapter four times and hated each one a little bit more. I'm now happy with where it's at, but I'd be interested to know what you all think. There's some padding that will need to be done with descriptions, but I wanted to get the story itself across. Let me know what you think of them. :)
Anyways, short update this week. Hope you've all been doing great.
Brian
Comments
I am still hoping sal will end up with Divinity! lol
Sango
2025-02-23 00:10:53 +0000 UTCFINALLY! I put that up there to see if I could get a discussion brewing, and got…. Nothing. I mentioned it to a few of my more literary minded friends and they thought I would be flailed within minutes of it posting. Very disappointing. So thank you both for your responses.
Dr. Chaos
2024-10-15 18:39:17 +0000 UTCI don’t really want him to have a harem either. Divinity already said she’s alone in the future and that after their fight Sal and Hanna decide to be friends.
Dawn Zeleznik
2024-10-14 04:08:28 +0000 UTCNo. I will not be backing you up on this one.
C
2024-10-11 23:07:10 +0000 UTCNot going to lie all this Fabi stuff is really annoying. We haven't even really met the character and I am already disliking them due the way they have been introduced and written in.
ShadowOfHavoc
2024-10-07 01:45:04 +0000 UTCI hate to say this, but I don’t see how Sal can not have a polygamous marriage (harem) in the future. There are just too many powerful women who find or eventually will find him a desirable mate. Obviously Fabi, Destiny and Hanna are at the forefront, but also Vanessa, Lucia and Rochelle appear to have expressed their interest. And we can’t forget that Upgrade included herself among the guesses of a possible future wife for Sal. Additionally, with Fabi expressing interest in Sal, Anna Sakura could throw her corset in the ring just for grins. EVEN Erika is a possibility- since her being attracted to Sal is the only explanation for her bizarre “Here, I got you a frog!” behavior. Prestige even seems to have critically reassessed Sal and (if she’s not currently a married) I could see her successfully holding back all the other cougars in the area so she could take her shot. And finally, how could we forget the bodyguard/assassin Castelle who obviously has her eye on Sal now that he’s finally revealing how powerful he is. And I’m sure there are others. I’m not saying that Sal HAS to become horn dog so he can pass on his superior genetics en mass to the next generation, but (come on guys, back me up here) he’d be A COMPLETE FUCKING MORON not to. In a world where humanity is constantly fighting to continue to exist- the physically and mentally most powerful male would be the ultimate aphrodisiac…
Dr. Chaos
2024-09-21 03:51:48 +0000 UTCIt is obvious you people don't understand. The time in Brian's world does not move at the speed as ours. Once it becomes Monday in his world he will publish, till then we just need to wait. And wait, wait, wait. It will happen someday I swear.
Dale Medford
2024-09-17 14:22:56 +0000 UTCFeel free to update anytime now, but there's no pressure. (PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE PRESSURE)
C
2024-09-17 14:01:31 +0000 UTCI too keep checking
Matt
2024-09-17 11:43:30 +0000 UTCI keep checking, I can't help it. 😀
Alteron
2024-09-17 09:09:12 +0000 UTCOnly reason I’m asking is because being in new zealand I’m trying to figure out time and day difference for the Monday releases 🙂
Nate
2024-09-17 01:34:29 +0000 UTCAre the next chapters out soon?
Nate
2024-09-17 01:31:54 +0000 UTCThe way Sophia is super aggressive makes me wonder if restore was her only ability as well.
Dawn Zeleznik
2024-09-17 00:38:17 +0000 UTCI agree. I grew up in the Bronx, NY in a place that had over 140k people in 35 buildings and a few townhomes. I can only imagine the population of downtown Brooklyn or different sections of Manhattan. I'd at least double that number. Triple is probably closer to the truth.
Keith
2024-09-16 19:35:50 +0000 UTCIf Sophias main ability was invisibility or camouflage, I could imagine her and and Pedro going deep behind enemy lines, using Pedro's sight to report back demon movement.
Alteron
2024-09-16 08:34:15 +0000 UTCI’ve been wondering about Rob and the wider story. Why has he taken such an obvious interest in Sal, but never made any effort to make contact until the Tower trial. Everyone seems to be scared shitless of the guy and expected him to abduct Sal and chain him to a dungeon crafting station; however, he was actually decent to Sal and his team in the Tower. And is there a reason why we don’t know his last name? And why is Sophia so formidable, but we’re told she’s a Restorer. Is she (like Sal) also ‘moonlighting’ as a support? My reader’s sense is hinting that there’s a significant reveal coming. And if not, enquiring minds need more backstory!!
Dr. Chaos
2024-09-16 04:49:48 +0000 UTCThe interact between berry and trickster felt very berry but I'm curious as to how he can see through projected in invisibility picking out the inconsistency in illusions is in char from what we've seen. Did his previous power description Include seeing though others it been a bit since I've seen it.
Robert Pitchure
2024-09-15 04:15:57 +0000 UTC1) I think it's safe to assume patents or at the very least patent law still exists since bureaucracy, corporate greed and inventors are all still present in this society. Besides if it didn't exist, then someone would have bought all of Myth's blueprints on the q cred store and then sold them in a bundle for half the price. 2) They all have cellphones, or in this case tablets, which can take pictures and record videos. Hell Barry and Trickster showed nothing is stopping people from using their powers here. If one of these crafters has a perfect recall ability, or made/bought a hidden camera. They could easily copy Sal's data and recreate MythOS or make a general patent. He already said the basic idea behind the machine. Combining a 3d printer, refiner and engraver. Then Sal will need to pay that person a fee everytime he uses his own invention. It's happened dozens of times throughout history. It's why Thomas Edison is a household name and, if you live in New York, why your electric bill says CON Edison instead of Nicholas Tesla. 3) Yes it's possible for him to make connections here, but it's also possible for him to make enemies. And if Sal continues to do a piss poor job at keeping his secrets and negotiating the cost of his services. He's gonna end up like all those other brilliant inventors who's names were lost to history because they put a ton of effort into building cool shit, but no effort into marketing it.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-09-15 04:15:51 +0000 UTCTrust me you get use to it lol
Robert Pitchure
2024-09-15 04:11:34 +0000 UTCDo patents even exist in this world any more? Upgrade just needs to make sure that no one emails the document to themselves, otherwise, there should be no way for anyone to remember all the details of the OS that he created, while working on it for a few hours one night. And it's possible that he is going to make some great contacts with this little session.
Sam
2024-09-14 23:54:35 +0000 UTCDamn, I cant believe this was only four days ago.
Maakolo
2024-09-14 22:21:17 +0000 UTCI'm starting to think that people who's parents spendt the most time at front, are the most powerful. So what did Sals parents do?
Alteron
2024-09-14 18:11:37 +0000 UTCOk, Sophia is going wild with tracker. But what is her skill, we know she does restores with it. So when she was in school what did her q-card call her skill. Petros Allsight was used for appraisals. So what is her skill????? And Sal did not even get attacked and made his first shirt to protect himself. But twice now he has had to use his armor to take out something and he has not once made any better equipment. I would have thought he would at least upgrade his gun to do more damage. Or worked on more frost type damage to take out the hulker. You said Sal was scared of demons but here some are doing damage to him and he does nothing. Not even making sure his armor is back to level it was at to take out the hulker. He left it at a degraded state, thought he was scared of demons?????? He is able to do restore after all he has done so several times in the story line.
Dale Medford
2024-09-14 13:39:10 +0000 UTCI forgot about that. Sounds like a story an intelligence officer would tell 🤣.
The Foolish One
2024-09-13 12:58:15 +0000 UTCBut she could still be an intelligence officer for another group
Alteron
2024-09-13 11:13:37 +0000 UTCWhere they not childhood frenemies?
Alteron
2024-09-13 11:12:08 +0000 UTCWould also explain how Prestige knows her.
The Foolish One
2024-09-13 09:01:18 +0000 UTC🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 "He's an honor student in a room full of dropouts" I'm fucking dying! Oh god I'm stealing that!
Darnell Maxwell
2024-09-12 16:47:48 +0000 UTCGood point
Alteron
2024-09-12 16:21:28 +0000 UTCWhile I don't want to, I have to agree with you. Sal's abilities put him in a position where he doesn't understand how valuable his work is. He's an honor student in a room full of drop outs. The naivete is entertaining when it's not painful to watch. In the context of the story though, he isn't giving away resources so much as he is crafting future heros. Every person he has handed an advantage to so far is an ally. Maybe not this current room full of strangers (yeah that's kinda dumb considering the secrecy needed) but over all he is building an army of powerful individuals that will be there to protect him. You are not wrong about lost revenue though. Patients on these machines and the OS need to be in place. Substantial returns for the use of his skill pattern designs need to be payed out. There is lost revenue. Maybe your Arguement is something that Sal needs to here. It wouldn't come from Upgrade though as she doesn't see crafting as a business like that. Nor would it come from any of his friends. Maybe it's something Dr Ameye would say or even the Administration Class teacher Jez.
Chris Hoopes
2024-09-12 16:09:13 +0000 UTCWould explain why she is avoiding Sal, working on her weave too.
The Foolish One
2024-09-12 15:45:58 +0000 UTCI understand that. But that is a practice for the rich. Sal needs to make billions of dollars before the senior class graduates if he wants to establish his guild and scoop up Sakura's group. (God that sounds wierd out of context) Which is hard to do when you build a machine capable of starting the equivalent of the industrial revolution for your era. And instead of handing out nda's when seeking help on the project. You just announce the concept to a room full of crafters you've never met before. How is he supposed to make any money to finance his future when he doesn't realize the value of the products he makes. The man works in a goddamn auction house! Fabi please teach this knucklehead the value of a credit before he gets ripped off by the guild for a copy of Mythos machine blueprints. Or worse, puts the MythOS online for free. When he gets a stable income, purchases the building gets the guild approved and has set aside enough money to pay his staff. We'll be good. I won't care if he starts topping people in mana stones and repairs the weave of everybody on campus for free. My issue is that right now, he needs alot of money he doesn't have. And instead of using his skills and materials to make money. Sal's insecurities keep making him give stuff away for free because he feels that anything he touches is worth less than his self esteem.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-09-11 23:43:23 +0000 UTCThat's a sad situation but it makes sense. Thanks.
Chris Hoopes
2024-09-11 22:37:43 +0000 UTCThe other books in this series have been between 80-95 chapters.
Sam
2024-09-11 20:58:59 +0000 UTCI'm not sure of that. She feels most Skilled crafters cheat by flooding their creations with essence (most likely cause she can't access her skills) and Sal doesn't know how to craft any other way
Sam
2024-09-11 20:57:23 +0000 UTCHe helps his friends out now and his true friends will help him out later.
Sam
2024-09-11 20:55:31 +0000 UTCDarwin cruises are large ship cities where most of the non-skilled people live to hide from demons infesting the land. You have to have a lot of money or skills to buy yourself off the cruises unless they are relocating to a reclaimed area.
Sam
2024-09-11 20:54:32 +0000 UTCAs an apology I will take 3 more chapters sir
Travis Snelgrove
2024-09-11 20:37:27 +0000 UTCI wonder if Sophia was at one time a intelligence officer.
Alteron
2024-09-11 19:36:57 +0000 UTCI will second this as my country only has 5ish million people and the town next to where I am has around 170K people,
James Benton
2024-09-11 19:33:57 +0000 UTCI really loved the chapters, especially chapter 31, I have read it many times and it always makes me smile .
Alteron
2024-09-11 19:32:01 +0000 UTC"trust me, you get used to it." Lol
mark el
2024-09-11 18:25:17 +0000 UTCRichard "So this is where you've all been. I hate to disappoint you but we have a presentation to give and can't start until you arrive." Dr Ameye "The what? Oh yes that thing. Can't it wait Dick? We're almost at a break through."
Chris Hoopes
2024-09-11 12:01:52 +0000 UTCI agree that chapters 28 and 29 didn't seem all that necessary, with only a few informations that seemed important at all. However I still liked this batch a lot, my one gripe with it is the conversation between Sal and Petro where they talk about small town Silver Sanctuary and metropolis whatever the name is. They said that before being overrun it was a bustling metropolis, but also said that there were 100k people. The thing is, I live in a metropolis, and my >neighborhood< has over 100k people, with the city as a whole having millions. I feel like the numbers you used in the book, I think it was chapter 28, didn't make that much sense because of this. Either the population size is wrong or you meant something else and it was hard to understand
Davi(d)
2024-09-11 10:52:32 +0000 UTCChapters 28 and 29 were very hard to read almost seemed like they could be shortened and put into one chapter. The excitement of them getting to the Galla from the previous chapter then having to read through two chapters that almost felt like filler chapters. I felt like the only relevant things about the chapter was the area the event is being hosted if you were planning on doing something with that information later on and the pin he got.
Dillon Newman
2024-09-11 09:14:43 +0000 UTCI'm not saying thay anything you're saying isn't correct l actually agree with you,, what I'm saying is Sal seems oblivious to the situation at moment and Barry dropping that comment seems odd with Sal not reacting especially since so far Sal is still stuck on Divinity telling him she ends up alone
Thomas Todd
2024-09-11 06:33:20 +0000 UTCI don’t know where else youdve stopped it but such a social cliff. :P
Robert Smart
2024-09-11 03:41:18 +0000 UTCSo far loving it and liking Fabi. Just hope that because she is another crafter that resentment doesn't build. How they say opposites attract and all, will be interesting to see where it goes and how it plays out.
Nozzy
2024-09-11 03:11:39 +0000 UTCIn book 2 when Sal gives Divinity the monocle to make up, and she realizes it can pick up lies, she freezes when she realizes Sal is lying to her about not having feelings for her. I think it is a long game that Divinity is playing. I think that Sal and Fabi do date but once she finds out about the weave she ends it because she does not want to be indebted to one person so deeply. Just my thoughts.
Don
2024-09-11 02:54:33 +0000 UTCLong post. The short version is the chapters are great and my addiction is full blown. Glad to get that fix finally. As the Argentos fly an hour to the gala without crossing into a red zone I'm quickly reminded that a train going through the red zone took Sal to Quest Academy in the first book. The idea of small pockets of civilization with wastelands surrounding them just doesn't hold up well here. If the flying car can do speeds comparable to a 4 seater Cessna then your talking between 500 and 575 miles (880 to 986 km/h) That would be one hell of a secret the Hunters Guild has been keeping and it shows a huge success rate for land reclamation. Are humans really beating back the demons? Petro "Its a running joke that the reclamation Guilds are useless, but the failures of the past aren't down to them. It's the greed of everyone between the stages that's the problem." Ect. I really like this. The whole explanation gives us a deeper look into the world as it works. It's from the stand point of an adult with a better understanding. Truthfully it's not that different from how new construction works in real life. Maybe a little more extreme considering people die when a reclamation area is lost and in the real world the renovated areas just go out of buisness from financial failure. This kind of world building is great stuff. Castelle (a member of the Sentinel Squad not the Reconnaissance or Espionage Squads) seems like a plant for something further into the book. Using Assassins as the bouncers seems smart to me. Having Sophia be SO antagonistic is a little jarring though. I have to wonder if this is what you struggled with. Castelle is clearly a character you've put some thought into. I could believe just about anything more Sophia said would have started a tirade that would have everyone walking in sour as hell and pissed. Luckily Sophia is a classy broad and (even after 2 bottles of champagne) she keeps her composure. Wait... is she carrying a bottle with her at this point?!? No they went to get more booze as soon as they walked in. Clearly she left the bottle in the car. Oh Darwin Cruises. That and the Grafton reclamation are popular topics in the Gala. While Darwin cruises have been mentioned off handedly several times in the books, I don't think you've given a clear explanation of what they are. Atleast, I didn't see or get it if you did. This might be a nice place for some background dialogue explaining exactly what they are. It's always sounded to me like some kind of planned suicide/ final voyage type craziness. Honestly I don't know. Let's have another drink. I do know that Trickster is an interesting character. The way Barry acted with them felt right. Using Sal as a distraction like this kinda reminds me of the cafeteria scene in book 2. I have to wonder if trickster has personality splits or mental issues. I'd be interested in seeing them teach a master class. I love how you drop this in right before introducing Fabi, Sal "You think that Divinity was messing with us, and the whole Victoria and Fabi thing was a lie?" Barry "Nah, if anything Divinity was trying to get you to focus on something else and just picked a future where you found happiness with someone that wasn't her." So yeah, that's probably true in which case Sal is too distracted at the moment to realize what it means. Once Upgrade shows up I'll be honest. I was just laughing and had to stop and pour myself a drink. Can't wait for next week. Thanks for the chapters.
Chris Hoopes
2024-09-11 02:40:44 +0000 UTCI can just picture it now.
ReaderRoberta
2024-09-11 00:16:49 +0000 UTCLove it man! You just need to get them more screen time together!!
Kenneth Darlin
2024-09-10 23:42:46 +0000 UTCLiterally can’t wait till next Monday this is amazing
AJ
2024-09-10 22:51:53 +0000 UTCIt reads like Upgrade has been talking Sal up to Fabi, doing a little matchmaking. I enjoyed the chapters. Sophia is going to be a nightmare with her tracker. She already didn’t mind giving her opinion and now she can see more. It’s going to be funny. Thanks for the hard work. I’ll be waiting anxiously, along with a few others, for more.
Dawn Zeleznik
2024-09-10 22:29:33 +0000 UTC1) Loved every second of Barry shooting his shot at Trickster. I very much hope he gets that masterclass and now I want to see him interact with more illusionists in the future. 2) Can he just propose now. Please? Please! PLEASE! PLEASE!!! She's a functioning individual that actually understands the cost of materials and how insane the shit Sal does is. PLEASE TEACH HIM! Please help Sal understand his true value before he gives another freshman a multi billion dollar coat for free.
Darnell Maxwell
2024-09-10 21:58:11 +0000 UTCIt’s nice to see Barry taking something serious, even if it’s so he can cause more fuckery and chaos 😂 (I hope trickster does do a master class for Barry)
Nate
2024-09-10 21:10:45 +0000 UTCI am not sure what issues you had mate but man these chapters were a blast in a half. I swear every book gets better and better I am never left not wanting to read the next set. Just amazing.
Hakalakala
2024-09-10 21:09:28 +0000 UTCWith that kind of a reaction I hope to god that he actually ends up together with Fabi. Anyway, please upload again soon, this last chapter hyped me up too much qq.
Maakolo
2024-09-10 20:34:25 +0000 UTCEmpty you sleaves sir, no leaving us on a cliff like this :)
James Benton
2024-09-10 20:27:24 +0000 UTCI think that is a true bread crumb... I think it is either Fabi or Divinity and Divinity is doing what she can to ensure she wins the race. Which might just be tipping her competitions hand a bit early.
Dutch Palmer
2024-09-10 20:18:03 +0000 UTCI had the absolute joy to be on the receiving end of all chapters from book 3 till the last batch- for all of 3 days or so 😅
Dungeonborn
2024-09-10 20:02:02 +0000 UTCGreat chapters!
Tim Walloch
2024-09-10 19:49:39 +0000 UTCIntro the "guide" and Barry's interaction with the Trickster were fun. I am curious as to who the Hunters Bureau assassinates. Really loved the crafter gang reaction to Sal's fabricater. Looking forward to the rest of the chapters. I am interested to know who the brains were. Also, the after-party at the auction house should/ maybe reveal future guild members for Sal. You sir are making my day!
Ron Blondeau
2024-09-10 19:35:45 +0000 UTCI NEED MOREEEEEE
Sandmanslimz
2024-09-10 19:19:01 +0000 UTCYou're right. I just reread that part. The error message was a real quick mention then it was all about the sword and getting to the car.
Keith
2024-09-10 19:09:40 +0000 UTCNow the real fun at the gala is when the head honcho has to send Doc Ami to shut down the discussion so the presentation can begin. Then has to show up himself as the discussion doesn't end.
Dwayne Dilbeck
2024-09-10 19:09:26 +0000 UTCAwesome!!! Can’t wait to see what Fabi really thinks of Sal
Heather Herren
2024-09-10 18:35:32 +0000 UTCNext week can't come fast enough for me, so can't wait for them to see the machine and help him get it working.
John Curtis
2024-09-10 18:14:11 +0000 UTCNope it failed to make anything after having upgraded it's self. The time of 15hours was already explained as a bug in calculating the time to complete before the individual components were brought online.
Dwayne Dilbeck
2024-09-10 18:12:23 +0000 UTC🔥
Naotsugu97
2024-09-10 17:28:32 +0000 UTCI had a lot of fun reading the chapters! God am I excited for all of this. The Barry „plot“ had the right amount of awkwardness 👍😏. And the after party with Upgrade, Fabi and Mythos will be so much fun… how long will this book be 🙈😎. Well done!
Benjamin Hartmann
2024-09-10 17:03:08 +0000 UTCIt wasn't so much just the comment but Sal's complete lack of reaction which I thought was a bit strange
Thomas Todd
2024-09-10 16:44:30 +0000 UTCI think that’s just Barry being pure chaos
Brandon Baier
2024-09-10 16:42:29 +0000 UTCOmg it’s getting to good. I’ve been waiting for Fabi to join the mix!
Brandon Baier
2024-09-10 16:41:19 +0000 UTCHa! I totally called Sal and Fabi programming at the Gala
Tom
2024-09-10 16:39:26 +0000 UTCQuestion, Sal says his machine is not fabricating but I thought it was making that storm knife. I thought his issue was the time it takes for a piece to be made...15 hours for the knife. Also, Berry's antics were perfect Berry. I'm looking forward to what comes of that meeting. Next Monday can't get here soon enough!
Keith
2024-09-10 16:30:01 +0000 UTCOkay. Thanks for the chapters and all, but it's now apparent to me that four is just not nearly enough. I'm going to need you to at least triple it, preferably by tomorrow.
C
2024-09-10 16:24:58 +0000 UTCI thought the lead up was alright, interesting interaction with the “guide”, but I especially liked chapters 30 & 31, Trickster was a fun interaction, and 31 with Upgrade and Fabi, was just a pure joy.
Raymond Mouton
2024-09-10 16:16:06 +0000 UTCThat intro to Fabi was much better than I thought it would be. Sal's fumbling was to be expected but Upgrade was the icing on that particular cake. "Trust me, you get used to it." Can't wait for the afterparty!
Keith
2024-09-10 16:10:58 +0000 UTCThanks for the chapters, Barry's comment about Divinity looking into the future to see who Sal ends up with that isn't her seems a bit off since as far as we know nothing about Divinity seeing them together has been said and it's definitely something I think Sal would pick up on
Thomas Todd
2024-09-10 15:51:34 +0000 UTCEasily one of my favorite ongoing novels, an absolute joy to read -- and getting a batch of chapters is a thing of beauty.
Aaron
2024-09-10 15:47:14 +0000 UTCAbsolutely loved the chapters and all the interactions! Can't wait to see more of the crafter's reactions to Sal and his work! Still need to deliver the cane that already caught everyone's attention, and talk about getting the spot for Sal's guild, looking forward to the upcoming chapters! Had no issues with the lead-up to the Gala. Not sure what the previous iterations were like, but it introduced a new facet of Sal's parents very nicely!
Rielgesh
2024-09-10 15:46:27 +0000 UTCThanks!
R. Maxwell Steele
2024-09-10 15:45:54 +0000 UTCGlad you enjoyed the con. Thank you for the chapters.
Samantha K.
2024-09-10 15:19:05 +0000 UTCAwesome! Thanks for the chapters Brian. Hope you had a wonderful time at DragonCon.
Karen Shelton
2024-09-10 15:18:26 +0000 UTCSpeed
Joran Spans
2024-09-10 15:17:53 +0000 UTC
