Limit Break Zero To Hero Book 1: A LitRPG Adventure Series by Pierce Mellow

Author:Pierce Mellow [Mellow, Pierce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2026-01-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter nine

Austin wandered down the dirt road that led back toward the city like he had all the time in the world, hands laced behind his head, elbows flared wide. The sun sat high overhead—bright and unapologetic—warming the top of his hair and the back of his neck. After the dungeon's cold dampness, the heat felt almost unreal, like he'd stepped out of a basement and into summer.

Each step kicked up little puffs of dust. The road smelled like dry earth and crushed grass, and somewhere off to the side, insects buzzed lazily in the weeds. It should've been peaceful.

But his mind wouldn't stop replaying what he'd just seen.

Logan flying.

The shield buckling.

Lady Elvareth's stare pinning him to the ground without even a spell.

And then Lira's team—moving through that dungeon like it was a practiced dance instead of a death maze.

He exhaled through his nose, trying to shake off the lingering adrenaline. He'd planned to grind all day like usual—hours of rabbicorns, steady gains, simple routine. But after watching that party operate like pros, it felt… stupid to charge right back in without thinking.

Man, he thought, those guys made the dungeon look like a playground. Like an easy-mode tutorial. I definitely need to step up my game.

He'd been surviving. Barely. Scraping by on instincts and luck and the occasional clever trick. Meanwhile, they were playing an entirely different game—team synergy, buffs, rotations, heals on rhythm.

He wasn't just behind.

He was outclassed.

By the time the city gates came into view, the sun had climbed a little higher, and Austin's stomach had started to remind him he hadn't actually eaten since… whenever. The air near the entrance was thick with movement—more people than he was used to seeing at this hour.

Dozens of adventurers streamed in and out like a tide. Leather armor squeaked. Metal clinked. Blades bumped against scabbards with every step. Voices overlapped into a constant hum—boasting, bargaining, complaining, laughing.

Near the gates, merchants had set up pushcarts and little makeshift stalls, like they could sense profit on the wind. Bottles of potion liquid caught the sunlight and glittered like jewels. A man shouted about discounted bandages. Another waved a short sword around like he was trying to hypnotize someone into buying it.

Austin slowed a fraction, eyebrow lifting.

A lot more people than usual, he thought. Probably because of all the academy students running around. Guess when nobles show up, everyone else wants in on the action too.

It made sense. Nobles meant attention. Attention meant opportunity. And opportunity always drew people who thought they could turn it into money—or fame—or both.

As he stepped through the gate, the familiar city noise wrapped around him. It wasn't the eerie dripping silence of the dungeon. This was living noise—boots on stone, horses snorting, someone calling out a greeting from a balcony above. He paused just inside, standing there for a second like a character who'd had their quest log updated against their will.

His routine had been interrupted. His plan for the day was gone. And for once, he didn't immediately know what to do next.

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