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Ended up working much better as a v2, but as you can see it's basically a rewrite with a LOT of added content after the first couple pages. It's not as action heavy as I initially wanted, but that's because I needed to address that important sub-plot I left hanging earlier in the book.

What happens next is gonna be... SO f*cking fun 🤩

*********

NEW REMINDER: BOOK 3 CONTENT/SPOILERS ARE NOT TO BE MENTIONED OUTSIDE OF CHAPTER LEAK ANNOUNCEMENT POSTS. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING.

*********A FEW RULES & REMINDERS:

Chapters will be dropping as Bryce completes them. That means anywhere from every 1 to 2 weeks on average, though sometimes waits may be longer.

Recall that these are rough chapters, with no editing other than a single pass-through as Bryce writes.

On a similar note, we are not asking for advice or corrections at this time. If Bryce wants feedback, we will certainly reach out, thank you! If you want to voice concerns or complaints about the chapter, you may now do so over on the Reddit discussion thread below! Notifications are turned off on those conversations, so they're a free-for-all now (within the rules of the subreddit, obviously)!

👉 👉 👉 THE REDDIT THREAD 👈👈👈

Comments

M.Vo.

Day made!!

Jim McDonnell

The last “story so far” was July 18. Probably time for a new one

Nahar

Great work as always and I think this one was a lot better. Glad to see it addressed why they weren’t sent to Forrester before.

Gama

Phenomenal work! Just reading this my chest was tight with Rei’s anxiety. It was flooding through the screen. Additionally, I loved all the extra content. It really fleshed out the chapter and characters. Can’t wait for the next one!

akalasedge

Oooh. Yeah, looping back to resolve the whole line of trauma from the finals? Absolutely here for it, love this. <3

Mike Gilbert

I truly enjoy the direction you are taking this, the mental aspects are often overlooked in the more heroic action stories. The trauma the character has undergone being acknowledged and worked through makes this more impactful as it signals that this more real, that the things that are forcing the growth have unintended consequences that need to be addressed. The handling of this and the way it is being addressed makes these characters much more complete, complex and believable, with all the strengths and weaknesses that would be expected from a complete character. Thank you for continuing to give us an incredible story with all the character growth I could ever as for

Giggz

Didn't miss action at all with all the intensity built into that chapter. Gave me tingles! Let's go Rei!

Nomad

Great chapter! Glad to see references to Catcher’s class freaking out over Arthas and starting to address the black projected elephant in the room. Even with pushing out his 1v2 in class, this was a lot more satisfying in the end. One continuity note: in Chapter 38, Rei is already B5 but in this chapter he is 1 upgrade away. “—but along with Shido’s shiny new B5 rank”

Katie Hallatt

I like this version better. Good job to Rei working through his fear - not sure I could have done it - or even a civilian but he's been through so much his willpower alone could have helped him through the worst of it. I am surprised he only felt fear tho and not anger at the projection, even it's misplaced, anger at everything really and it might be better to feel after the fear.

Victory Holcomb

Excellent edits. Much clearer to understand.

Hope

Thank you, i really liked how things are starting to come together. I believe that he should be approaching the B6 as he was B5 when siderov skewered him. and addressing the Mental health aspect is something i wish more authors did.

Colby Golightly

I understand his fear, I just feel that compared to everything he has faced before, it shouldn’t be all consuming as it is now. He has literally fought people 3 tiers above him and his whole entire life has been facing pain and/or death. Absolutely love the book and can’t wait to see what the end goal of the book is!

MzFin

I have been so engrossed with reading each chapter as they drop that i just reread iron prince (3rd time) and fire song (2nd time). I love how book three is coming. Keep it up Bryce! excellent writing

Robert Gibson

"Good stuff" isn't strong enough. Excellent work... unfortunately, we're waiting for the next part to drop, yet again. ;-)

Dungeonborn

I think Rei tries to punch the projection and will lose to the S0 stats. Then he’ll either ask to try again immediately or after he helped Aria.

Dirty Dibbler

You’re forgetting about the trauma indicators. Logically your argument makes sense. Yes he’s faced scary things 1, 2, and 3 on the field and that may be adjacent to scary thing 4 so he should be fine, but that’s not how trauma works. Immediately after the sectionals attack he got himself back in the ring and was able to push past his anxiety to get through that portion of his trauma. That step was what enabled him to get back into the environment where his trauma occurred and do what you mentioned by facing off with his trainers, but facing a projection is a direct confrontation of his trauma. From his perspective at sectionals, he wasn’t in a life or death situation, he was being murdered and was 100% helpless to do anything about it. He was being stabbed over and over again with no ability to move or fight back or get away. He was Paralyzed…. He was Powerless…. And now he’s here, facing the embodiment of his abuser, and he’s in shock. What Bryce did here was “slowly” peel off the layers of that shock to the point where Rei found himself in position to take back control of that trauma and decide where it goes from here. Trauma sucks man, and it’s not usually a tear off the bandaid treatment like it’s being made out to be here, but as far as for the narrative of a story like this, Bryce did a great job representing it

Bearzz

I’ve been throughly enjoying book 3 looking forward to the full book being down with all edits done, thanks for the chapter (a guy can dream about more chapters faster though)

Russell Stephenson

The merger of these chapters and additional content leads nicely into what I can only imagine will a fantastic set of fight scenes. Beautiful!!!

gratch42

Every 5 chapters… so 45 will have one. Just been a while due to revisions, convention season, and Bryce’s company hitting various bumps and new projects.

Time to Sleep

I definitely had a tear fall reading this. And I’m just fine with that.

gratch42

Cool revision. Wonder if Dent will confide in them about her own dealings with trauma. Also excited to see where the last third (?) of this book starts heading… Reveal of first year systems/intersystems bracket addition to Galens. Firesong pushed to train against 2nd/3rd year squads? Sarah joins the “Screwed by Sid” 2nd year squad? Sarah trains Rei in speed techniques? So many cool threads ready to go. Though guessing we don’t actually get to Systems this book - probably depends on how much plot meat is in Firesong destroying first year Astra Systems teams… I’m sure Abel/Mind can spice it up somehow.

Garret Bazurto

“What happens next is gonna be... SO f*cking fun 🤩” … You have my attention. I have thought so much of this has been fun already. I really hope it involves Sarah. I enjoyed her scene and am itching to see what more develops there. Then there are inter systems and more team fight actions. I also hope we still get to see Rei vs the double phalanx scene somewhere else down the road. That was enjoyable.

Dee

Perfection, Bryce - Thank you!! Just what Monday really needed 😁

Sean

Does anyone know how to make the font bigger I have such a hard timing reading these chapters. Thank you

JustOneEmperor

I still hope that there will be consequences for whoever did the hack in the first place. As in it won't just get swept under the rug by Abel/ central by calling it the only means nessessary to save humanity with the archons about to overrun the galaxies. Even if the consequences only come after Rei and fire song crushed the war or whatever ^^

Sugoi

What are you reading on exactly? I can pinch and zoom in/out on my phone and on my pc there's a (+) and (-) to zoom in/out.

Dirty Dibbler

was able to push past his anxiety to get through that portion of his trauma. That step was what enabled him to get back into the environment where his trauma occurred and do what you mentioned by facing off with his trainers, but facing a projection is a direct confrontation of his trauma. From his perspective at sectionals, he wasn’t in a life or death situation, he was being murdered and was 100% helpless to do anything about it. He was being stabbed over and over again with no ability to move or fight back or get away. He was Paralyzed…. He was Powerless…. And now he’s here, facing the embodiment of his abuser, and he’s in shock. What Bryce did here was “slowly” peel off the layers of that shock to the point where Rei found himself in position to take back control of that trauma and decide where it goes from here. Trauma sucks man, and it’s not usually a tear off the bandaid treatment like it’s being made out to be here, but as far as for the narrative of a story like this, Bryce did a great job representing it

Nomad

I import the PDF into word on my phone. From there you can convert to a doc to increase font size, but I generally find that going into full screen in landscape mode makes the font clear enough even for my aging eyes.

Scott

iPhone, or google, turn your phone sideways. Much easier

Kory Leach

This version was SO much better. Thank you!

Sean

Thanks everyone, I use I phone I’m going to try to make it a pdf

Xien

This felt so real.... Trauma is no joke.... It takes community to pull you through too... #verywelldone

RULES OF THE GAME STEM

This is so good....Trauma is unpredictable and can be paralyzing. Great beginning...or middle to show that. I really love these books and characters!

Dirty Dibbler

With the tease of an evolution it got me thinking. So far Shido has been very reactive to Rei’s needs, in his fight with the Lasher he wished he had more reach and developed saber mode, in his fight with aria he needed more endurance and developed phalanx mode, after his assault by the projections where he was unable to get away he developed a movement ability. The same day we learned that in order for him to stay with his friends and not be transferred, that his friends needed to advance faster as well, the first shard is developed to help them do just that. So I ask you, what need is Rei facing now and how will Shido decide to try and resolve it? I mean, I’m hoping it’s sentience but not sure what void that will fill for the time being

Sam

Sentience...he's never alone. Someone to help keep him out of the hallucinations when Firesong aren't available.

Chris Galbreath

Please please don’t make this book woke! This my favorite book series but I’ll drop it if it does.

Sugoi

I feel the mental aspects we seen here are necessary to a degree. It always crossed my mind how Rei and ig Aria would act once Parameter testing began. I don't believe it should be dragged long beyond another half or full chapter mainly due to how Rei has been written to act. He's headstrong and can face off against what is typically not an easy thing to overcome. We also have the whole sibling chapter coming soon, which will be even more teenage emotions going on. Rei arguably should be fine there, her choosing to come to Galens solely due to him shouldn't really be a problem at the end of the day. She wasn't aware of his existence and vice versa.

Sugoi

What Rei personally needs is a strong team, which Shido is doing wonders for. Once Chancery and Logan get their soon to be upgrades, Shido will surely start full on assisting Rei again. My guess is it will happen after this upcoming parameter testing or the next. Stronger projections would definitely force Rei and Shido into desiring more strength or reach to break through the defenses of the S ranks he will surely hit during his tests. Speed could also be one, so we can finally see Rei with his own Externals.

Dirty Dibbler

@chris Can you clarify what you mean by woke? Its definition has evolved over time so I’m not positive on how to respond. This was a chapter essentially about processing and overcoming trauma. Is it woke to work on improving mental health? If your answer to that is yes, that is the stigma on mental health that leads to an average of 18 veteran committing suicides every single day. If your answer is no, please clarify what you mean by woke.

James C

Sentience yet, but also advancement of Shido itself. I surmise there may be nasty surprises at end of year sectionals. So he would need to be approaching if not already crossed into A class user.

Dirty Dibbler

What do you mean by end of the year sectionals? The next collegiate tournament is globals which firesong isn’t going to, then systems and intersystems are in the summer. Since they mentioned snow on the ground in this chapter I’m assuming we’re still in winter so I doubt either of those are happening this book

Hope

If Bryce follows the pattern from the first 2 books, this one should get us to somewhere close to sectionals,

Jon

Are Friday drops Monday drops going forward now?

Dirty Dibbler

Also, Jasper is trans and Chancery has two dads, if that’s too woke for you then have a nice day and good luck finding a new series

Gwydion

I thought it wasn’t just Firesong not going to Globals. I thought globals were cancelled in favour of systems and intersystems.

Bea Mostert

GREAT chapter. It was I little weird for me that Forrester was a 'they', because for some reason I thought it was 'she'. Idk if there was a reference in book 2 or just my imagination. Could we maybe get some future art of them? Cause I have no idea how they look now. :)

Hope

Only the first year's as there wouldn't be enough competition

Jon

😭

Nathan

Damn. Started the book series a week ago and finally caught up. Guess it's a slow burn from here. Loving it so far! Can't believe you actually made Logan a likeable character. Well done! Any recommendations for other books to read? I kind of been blowing through some books series. I've read Cradle, Dungeon Crawler Carl, immmortal Great Souls, Mage Errant, and now this book. The only one I wouldn't give 10/10 is Mage Errant. It was alright but the ending didn't really stick for me. Felt like he should have kept progressing/continued the story past where it ended. Also read the first couple Arcane Ascension...might go back into it but I kind of stopped after the series split off into another trilogy and the prose is a bit jarring and I can't relate to the main character in some ways. Mainly the first one, I didn't feel like reading 2 extra trilogies that really weren't pulling me in to understand more about Arcane Acension and the prose and lack of relating to the character just made it so I wasn't hooked enough to deal with the other stuff.

Russell Stephenson

I'm not sure if you're a trauma therapist or a disabled veteran. Because you seem to have a very good grasp on trauma. I am a veteran and deal with it most days. Thanks for the insights.

Eneko

He who fights monsters goes absolutely insane

Nathan

I think Aria will get a shard and Rei will get an upgrade. My guess is Aria gets a rare skill on addition to the full body mod and Rei either gets an external or another user unique ability and/or another type shift upgrade. Maybe duelist would be the easiest for him to learn as he already has 2 types with swords. With that said what benefits do brawlers have over duelists? They both specialize in speed and cognition but duelists more so? I guess defense maybe? Also I think he's actually going to somehow win against this S0 which will trigger his evolution. Chancery and Logan joined months after Catcher and Viv so I don't think they are close to getting their shard if they even do.

Westik

Love being a part of the community. The disclaimer says chapters are supposed to drop every 1-2 weeks. Is that still a thing? Or am I missing something

Nathan

Your guess is as good as mine. He does have the caveat that the chapters can take longer. Also I see a trend we get a sneak peak a few days before the chapter drops so unfortunately probably no chapter today as I was hoping.

PatienceHoney

I loved the books you mentioned - except for Immortal Great Souls, which I haven't heard of, I will need to check that one out. Series that I love that have similarities to Cradle and Mage Errant: 1. Sleyca, Super Supportive (super super super... slow burn, young protaganist, great writing) - in progress series RR 2. Jim Butcher, Codex Alera series - young protagonist, excellent story arc - this is what got me into this genre of fantasy/sci fi (completed series, books) 3. Shami Stovall Frith Chronicles and Astra Academy series - young protagonists, action packed (in progress, books) 4. J.M. Clark, Mark of the Fool series - young protaganist in school series, building story arc to world issues (in progress, books) 5. Sarah Lin, The Weirkey Chronicles - slower story with slice of life and interesting progression build (in progress, books) The only thing I can think of that is even somewhat close to DCC is Zogarth's Primal Hunter and it isn't a good fit. DCC is amazing with action, hilarity, building story arc, and fabulously absurd characters... Primal Hunter has some of that and is a good system apocalypse story - but is more solitary OP protagonist and less Princess Donut... sigh... good luck!

Nathan

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I've read Codex Alera but not the others. Any of these have an adorable couple like Rei and Aria? I love them.

Nathan

When did Valera Dent find out that Reidon was a Kamiya? I thought that would be a bigger reveal with more consequences but it's just added like a side note in Valera Dent's POV in chapter 40.

PatienceHoney

Frith Chronicles and Mark of the Fool each have adorable couples.

Nicholas Baker

Con season must not actually be over

Thunderbug

Reread the first rule/reminder

Andrey Gerasimenko

And? All he has to do is "heads up no chapter today"

Saint

The vast majority of scifi futuristic stories are inclusive if that's what you're trying to say. If you're just figuring that out now. its your loss. great story so far. i actually enjoy how we get to inclusive characters woven into the story.

Saint

it hasn't even been two weeks since this dropped. im just happy getting new content semi regularly.

Saint

my guess is that dent has known all along. With the MIND and Kes always communicating with her, its not a huge surprise to me that she knows more than she lets on.

Saint

my guess is early this week. its only been just under two weeks since this last revision dropped. (Sep 15-25 is only 10 days)

Saint

i love the primal hunter series, path of ascension, cradle, mage errant, Dungeon Crawler Carl, he who fights with monsters.... some other series that i enjoy to a lesser extent unbound, heretical fishing (slice of life progression fantasy), wandering inn, awaken online. if you like these i probably can think of a few more.

Nathan

I think the upset is that before the last chapter most chapters dropped on Fridays usually with a sneak peak before that. With that mind it's not hard to think the chapter won't come out Monday either. But the Patreon does have the caveat it can take longer. My hope is that its a really long chapter, something exciting happens in it, or he's working on multiple chapters to not leave us hanging in a weird spot. Either way, he did post that what happens next is going to be fun so I'm looking forward to it.

Westik

Last revision is not a new chapter. All good no disrespect or anything. I really enjoyed reading the new chapters consistently there for a while.

Russell Stephenson

I think that the wait will be worth it. This will be a long angsty action chapter.

Nicholas Baker

lol you’re right. Still wouldn’t hurt to have an announcement if it’s gunna be a bit. The periods of ghosting are the problem for me. I’m out for now. May check back in a few months. Probably only will be three or four chapters from here and I’ll be $20 richer.

Kory Leach

The kickstarter bundles that were delayed are finally shipping out. I’m guessing that is part of the delay.

Wraithmarked Creative

Andrey, I run a 12 person team and work 60-80 hours across a minimum of 6 days a week, usually 7. I respect you all implicitly, but I am the furthest thing from the full-time writers most Patreon creators in this field are, so I also expect a certain level of grace that those creators may not get. Doing my best here dude.

RULES OF THE GAME STEM

I agree with you about Mage Errant. I think the author left the series open to future additions. I recommend Kurtherian Gambit series, The Dark Messiah (after you read Kurtherian Gambit), The House Witch, The Lightening Struck Heart series, Fuse series, Fourth Wing, Iron Druid, Legend of the Arch Magus, The Tarot Sequence, Schooled in Magic.

Reaperess

I didnt get notifications for these 😭 My payment got wonky I got my debit card stolen and now Im playing catchup on lime 2 whole chapters. Lmao

John Senopole Jr

Can’t wait for the next chapter, hope it’s soon!

Alexander Dalton

What happened with this series? Why's the last chapter so long ago?