All Chapters of Rise of the Peerless God of War: Chapter 91
- Chapter 100
145 chapters
Chapter 91
Draven ran like his life depended on it. Which it did.His enhanced legs carried him up the rocky mountain slope faster than any normal person could move. Boulders and loose stones blurred past him as he bounded from rock to rock, the blood magic still singing in his veins.But he could feel it fading. The incredible rush of power was starting to ebb, like water draining from a broken bucket. Maybe eight minutes left. Maybe less.Behind him, voices echoed off the mountain walls. The Shadow Moon operatives were following, but his magical speed kept him ahead of them. For now.The terrain kept getting steeper. What had started as a gentle slope was turning into a proper mountain climb. Draven's enhanced strength made it easy, but he knew that when the magic wore off, this would be impossible terrain for a tired man."Come on," he muttered to himself, leaping over a gap between two rock formations. "There's got to be somewhere to make a stand."The fog was thinner up here. He could actua
Chapter 92
The area was wind and mist and the sick feeling of falling through nothing.Draven plummeted through the fog like a rock, his stomach somewhere up near his throat. The air rushed past him so fast it was hard to breathe, hard to think, hard to do anything but fall."Okay," he said to himself, trying to stay calm. "This was definitely one of my stupider ideas."But panic wouldn't help him now. He needed to think. Figure out how to survive this mess he'd gotten himself into.The blood magic was completely gone. He could feel the exhaustion creeping into his muscles, the price of using forbidden techniques. But he still had his regular fire magic. That had to count for something.The problem was he couldn't see anything. The fog was so thick he might as well have been falling through soup. No way to tell how far he'd fallen or how much farther he had to go."Come on, think," he muttered to himself. "What can I do here?"Draven spread his arms and legs wide, trying to catch as much air as
Chapter 93
Darkness was falling fast. The thin light filtering through the massive canopy was fading to gray, and Draven could hear the forest changing around him. Night sounds. Rustling in the underbrush. Things moving that hadn't been moving during the day."Just great," he muttered, shifting his position on the wide branch. His shoulder still ached like hell, and sitting against the tree trunk wasn't exactly comfortable. "Alone in a strange forest with god knows what hunting me."At least he was off the ground. The branch he'd found was easily six feet wide, like a natural platform built into the side of the giant tree. From up here he could see through the fog better, maybe a hundred feet in any direction.Not that there was much to see. Just more trees, more mist, more rocky ground that looked exactly like every other part of this weird forest.He was starting to wonder if he'd ever find his way out when he heard something that made him freeze.Running footsteps.Someone was crashing throug
Chapter 94
Morning light filtered through the thick canopy, turning the fog into golden ribbons that danced between the giant trees. Draven had barely slept, keeping watch through the night for any sign of Elena's pursuers returning.The girl stirred against his shoulder, then jerked awake with a gasp."It's okay," Draven said quickly. "You're safe. It's morning."Elena looked around in confusion, taking in the massive branch they were sitting on and the forest floor far below. For a moment she seemed to have forgotten where she was."Oh," she said, pulling his shirt tighter around her shoulders. "The tree. I remember now." She looked at him with worried eyes. "Did they come back?""No. Haven't heard anything since they left last night." Draven stretched carefully, his injured shoulder protesting the movement. "But they'll probably start searching again soon. We should get moving."Elena nodded and started to hand him back his shirt."Keep it for now," he said. "You need it more than I do.""Tha
Chapter 95
Draven crouched behind the boulder, watching the settlement through the morning mist. The scarred leader was nowhere to be seen now. Maybe the kidnappers had moved on. Maybe they'd given up searching this area."We need supplies," Elena said quietly beside him. "Food, water, maybe information about the roads out of here.""It's too risky.""We can't keep wandering around the mountains forever. I'm exhausted, you're hurt, and we don't even know where we're going."Draven knew she was right. They'd been walking for hours after spotting the kidnappers, trying to circle around the settlement. But they kept coming back to the same problem. This was the only town for miles, and they needed help."Alright," he said. "But we go in careful. And we need a story.""What kind of story?""We're adventurers. On a job." Draven thought for a moment. "Hunting rare mountain herbs for an alchemist back in the capital. That explains why we're out here, why we look rough, and why we might have coin to spe
Chapter 96
The knocking stopped.Draven held his breath, listening. Footsteps moved away from their door, but he could hear them circling the cabin. Someone was checking the windows, testing for other ways in."What's happening?" Elena whispered."Shh." Draven moved to the window and peered out. A figure in dark clothes was examining their cabin from the outside, moving quietly around the perimeter.After a few minutes, the person gave up and walked away. But Draven noticed they didn't go back to the main camp. They headed toward a building on the edge of the settlement."False alarm," he lied to Elena. "Probably just someone checking on us."She looked skeptical but climbed back into bed. "See? They're just being careful. Looking out for us."Draven didn't sleep the rest of the night.Morning came with more of the same overwhelming friendliness. Marcus showed up with fresh bread and coffee, grinning like they were his favorite people in the world."Sleep well?" he asked, stepping into their cab
Chapter 97
"We're leaving," he said. "Right now."Elena was sitting on her bed, brushing her hair. She'd found some clean clothes and was getting ready for the celebration. "What are you talking about?""These people aren't adventurers. They're bandits.""That's impossible. They've been nothing but kind to us.""Elena, I saw their symbol. The claw and mountain pin on Marcus's belt. I've seen it on wanted posters."She turned to look at him. "You're serious.""Dead serious. We need to get out of here before they realize I know who they are.""But... but they fed us. They gave us shelter.""They're fattening us up for slaughter. Or worse." Draven started gathering their few possessions. "You said your family has money. That makes you valuable to them."Elena stood up, but she didn't move toward the door. "I can't. I'm so tired of running. I just want one normal night.""This isn't normal! These people kidnap and murder for a living!""You don't know that for sure. Maybe you misidentified the symbo
Chapter 98
The heavy footsteps stopped right outside their door. Draven could hear at least four different people, maybe more. His sword felt good in his hand, familiar and deadly."Elena," he whispered. "Can you hear me?"She managed a weak nod, but her eyes were glazed and unfocused. Whatever drug they'd given her was strong. Too strong for her to be any help in a fight."Elena," Marcus called through the door, his voice now completely different. Cold, professional, threatening. "We know you're the Voss girl. Your father's been very worried about you."Draven's jaw clenched. They'd known all along exactly who she was."In fact," Marcus continued, "he's offered quite a reward for your safe return. We thought we might collect that reward.""Go to hell," Draven called back."Now, now. No need for harsh language. We're all reasonable people here. Business people."There was a pause, then Marcus spoke again. "Elena, dear, are you feeling alright? You sounded a bit under the weather earlier."Elena
chapter 99
The bandits poured through the broken doorway like water through a dam. Draven met the first one with his sword, cutting him down before he could even raise his weapon. The second one got a boot to the face that sent him sprawling back into his companions.But there were too many of them. They kept coming, crowding into the small cabin with weapons drawn and murder in their eyes."Take him alive if you can!" Marcus shouted from somewhere behind the group. "But don't take any stupid risks!"A crossbow bolt flew past Draven's head and embedded itself in the wall behind Elena's bed. She screamed weakly, rolling off the bed and onto the floor where she lay curled up and shaking."Careful with those bolts!" Marcus yelled. "We need the girl breathing!"Draven used the confusion to his advantage, grabbing a fallen bandit's axe and hurling it at the crossbow shooter. The man went down with the axe buried in his chest, but two more bandits immediately took his place.Steel rang against steel a
Chapter 100
The bandit leader's sword came down hard, forcing Draven to step back. The man was stronger than he looked, and his technique was solid. Not just some thug who'd picked up a blade. This was someone who'd trained properly."Kill him!" the leader shouted to his men. "All of you, now!"The bandits surged forward as one, abandoning any pretense of a fair fight. Fifteen armed men crowded into and around the small cabin, weapons flashing in the firelight.Draven's sword became a blur of motion as he fought for his life. Block, parry, strike. His training took over, every movement precise and deadly. The pendant against his chest burned hot, feeding him memories of battles fought by warriors long dead.A bandit with a club rushed him from the left. Draven ducked under the swing and drove his sword up through the man's chest. Before the body even hit the ground, he'd spun to face the next attacker.A spear thrust came at his face. He deflected it with his blade and grabbed the shaft, yanking