The morning air in the yard of that hidden forest felt cool yet dense with pure natural energy. Unlike the piercing aura at the Valtherion Temple, the atmosphere around Alden’s treehouse flowed gently, seeping into the pores of Ethan’s skin and helping to restitch his once-cracked mana circuits.The sound of wind whooshed as Rey and Jaxon swung their wooden swords in the middle of the yard. The movements of the two young men were perfectly synchronized, reflecting years of disciplined training under the guidance of a former mage.Ethan stood at the edge of the yard, watching intently. On his shoulder, Rion looked far fresher. The small dragon occasionally released a thin vapor of cold air, but this time the vapor was not messy; instead, it condensed to form small ice crystals that floated before finally melting into the air. The pure aura of this forest, coupled with the magical berries he ate yesterday, triggered the foundation of Rion’s strength to grow more stable."How about it, E

The approaching footsteps stopped exactly two steps behind where Ethan sat. Even without turning around, the faint scent of herbal leaves clinging to Isyra’s new robed attire already told Ethan who had come. The quiet night darkness in Alden’s forest made every rustle of fabric sound incredibly distinct."You're not sleeping yet?" Isyra broke the silence, her voice low, as if afraid to ruin this rare night’s tranquility."A fugitive doesn't have the luxury of deep sleep, Isyra," Ethan answered flatly, his eyes still staring at the transparent dome of the protection spell above them. His right hand slowly stroked the back of Rion, who was snoring softly on his lap.Isyra walked forward, then seated herself on the same step, about a meter away beside Ethan. She hugged her knees, staring straight toward the stretch of grass that glowed faintly from the remnants of Rion’s ice magic earlier that afternoon."Ethan," Isyra paused her sentence, her finger

The rumble of the explosion from the direction of the southern forest still left a faint vibration beneath the soles of Ethan’s feet. Atop the steep stone cliff, the border wind blew fiercely, carrying the scent of sulfur and ash that burned the air.Jaxon remained frozen, his reddened eyes staring straight at the point of billowing black smoke in the distance. His jaw clenched so tightly that his neck muscles strained. He knew his mother, Elena, was activating her final protective veil down there to shield his father and young siblings."Jaxon," Ethan called out, his voice sounding as deep as desert ice. He placed his right hand upon the youth's sturdy shoulder. "If we turn back now, your mother's sacrifice will be in vain. The Black Dawn wants me. As long as we keep moving forward, most of the pursuers' focus will be split toward these mountains."Jaxon drew a sharp, trembling breath, then exhaled forcefully. He slammed the cliff wall beside him until sm

The magic cannons on the chests of the three Iron-Winged Vultures had reached their saturation point. The dense red light swirling within their mechanical muzzles illuminated the darkness of the valley that had just been cleared of mist. The air around the Altar of the Third Fang suddenly felt dry and hot, a sign that large-scale thermal energy was ready to be spewed to level the place."Ethan! Is the gate not ready yet?!" Jaxon shouted loudly, his voice nearly drowned out by the roar of the iron birds' engines in the sky. The burly youth planted both his feet deeply into the ground, raising his great axe horizontally across his chest, preparing to activate a pure physical defense technique to become a living shield."A little more!" Isyra replied, her hands quickly drawing a second-tier protective magic circle around the altar, even though she knew that thin shield would be shattered in an instant once Axandra's laser fire hit them.Ethan did not answer. His electric blue eyes stared

Ethan’s footsteps echoed along the damp corridors of the Aegis Cave. Inside, the ancient stone walls were not lined with oil torches, but rather with chunks of light blue raw Mana crystals that emitted a constant glow. The atmosphere within the cave was so dense with natural energy that every breath felt heavy yet refreshing to Ethan’s damaged mana circuits.Aqlan walked at the very front, his dragon-scaled leather robe shifting quietly as it brushed against the stone floor. Behind them, two klan warriors were still supporting Jaxon, whose condition was worsening by the minute. The burly youth's breathing sounded fractured and shallow, and the black coloration from the Necrotic Mana-Rust curse had now crept up to the base of his neck, forming horrifying streaks of magical decay.Isyra walked right by Jaxon’s side, both her hands continuously emitting a thin silver glow, a circuit-retaining magic she had mastered at the academy, to ensure the poison did not lock his heart before they r