His words stunned everyone in the court. Talking back at Niko was one thing, but being so rude and even dragging his mother into the conversation was a whole new level of rough plays. The kind that didn’t just cut, but twisted the blade. Niko’s face went white. In the distance, someone chuckled, low and amused. He then knew for certain that people were secretly mocking him. Memories of his time back in his clan played before his eyes in flashes. Cold halls. Disturbing whispers. His mother’s voice, sharp as glass. “Be better than them. You're the reason people look down on us. If only you're not so useless. Why can't you be like your cousins bringing honor to their mother? You're the reason I'm suffering now.” “It’s pathetic, really,” Theon sucked his teeth and sighed, voice lazy like he was commenting on the weather. “Even I, an orphan, am better than you. At least I know my mom died to protect me. How about you? Can your mom do the same?” Niko’s nose flared, his lips trembled.

Theon's eyes glinted, wickedness physically visible in them. One of the boys approached him where he was on the floor, trying to get to his feet. “You little dog, crawling looks good on you.” His leg lifted, boots aimed straight towards Theon's hand. Familiar trick. One centimeter from his hand, Theon moved. He shifted his hand slightly, two fingers aiming towards the boy's ankle. Crack. The boy's eyes went wide with shock. Theon rolled to the side and the boy hit the platform, sucking in a ragged breath. Theon quickly stood up while the boy winced, clutching his ankle. If not because he was attacked by the school trash, he would have been howling in pain. Being knocked down was one thing, bawling was double disgrace. “Did you twist your ankle? Does it hurt?” Theon asked softly, brows furrowed, as if worried. “You!” The boy snarled and immediately winced. Even opening his mouth to talk sent jolts of pain rushing through his spine and straight to his legs. The othe

Dusk moon peak The estate was located behind Lolite peak, among the lands and areas Archmage Mavis controlled, where some of his higher ranked inner court disciples were given residences. Jareth didn't qualify for this honor. He still had his room in Ascension court. However, because he was the archmage’s favorite, a courtyard was spared for him where he sometimes stayed. The residence was all his own, along with a small servants quarters attached. The Dusk moon peak had better access to energy required for cultivation and absorption. It was the inner court after all. Jareth often stayed there when he was trying to break through a new tier or bridge. He has been staying here for days ever since he got injured. Currently, he was sitting sulky on a garden chair, face staring blankly at the trees. His arms and feet were wrapped up. Although they'd been burned into place, it still ached and required fragile care. His face was sulky, mouth pouty. According to the timing, the m

The desert sun was baking hot, turning the air into something dry and sandy, scraping the lungs with each inhale. Hooves thundered against the sun baked grounds, screeches followed, alongside a powerful wave of dust rising like a miasma. Theon's heart pounded raggedly against his ribs as he waited for their approach. “System, show me the rewards you issued for the second mission.” Beep! A blue panel appeared before him. Theon's eyes ran over them, barely understanding a thing. He simply tapped on a short sword and a black cape. The short black sword appeared in his free left hand, while the cape affixed itself to his shoulders. “Awooo!” The first monster landed before him. The ground shook the moment the beast landed before him, kicking up clouds of dust and debris. Theon swirled the spear in his grasp. The spear weighed at least fifty kilograms, but in his hands, he was handling it like some irrelevant toy. His eyes scanned the beast. “Hecephalus!” It was a b

NYXAR DOMINION, CONTROL ROOMSolvyn stood in a hidden chamber watching as Reza adjusted and tampered with the portal system, specifically singling out Theon and tapping level twelve. Theon’s bracelet flashed red at the spot, and he disappeared from the platform where other kids were waiting to be taken. Reza's lip turned up in a wicked smirk. He looked left, right, backwards, before finally sneaking out. Solvyn chuckled and shook his head. A woman dressed in a black assasin’s gear beside him had her brows furrowed. She was holding a brown sword in hand, watching beside Solvyn. Numerous block shaped crystals were on the wall, showing various levels of the monster realm. Solvyn directed a string of energy to that of level twelve, making the blank large middle crystal light up, showing clearly every part of level twelve. Levels one to three were packed with students, who were in groups, hunting monsters, and surrounding them. Easy victory. For groups that had a reasonable degree of