2026-01-08 23:37:41
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Chapter 290
One week.That's how long it took for Miko to stop hating Larok and start understanding him.The training was relentless. Every morning started with cold water and running. Every afternoon was combat drills until they couldn't lift their weapons. Every evening was endurance training that left them barely able to crawl to dinner.But they were getting better.Miko could see it. The way Garcia moved now—smoother, more confident even with one arm still healing. The way Liam's twin blades worked together instead of fighting each other. The way Blaze had stopped telegraphing his spear strikes.The way Miko himself could hold a defensive stance for an hour without his legs shaking.Progress. Slow. Painful. But real.Anna had recovered enough to join training. Not full intensity, but enough. Larok had her working on something different—meditation, he called it. Learning to sense corruption before it manifested."The Abyss has a feeling," he'd explained. "A wrongness you can detect if you kno
Chapter 289
Miko woke to someone dumping cold water on his face.He gasped, sat up sputtering. Larok stood over him with an empty bucket."Good morning," the old man said cheerfully. "Training starts now.""It's still dark outside," Miko protested."So? The Abyss doesn't care about daylight." Larok tossed the bucket aside. "You've got five minutes to get to the training grounds. Anyone who's late runs laps until I'm satisfied."He left. Miko heard him moving to the next room. More water. Blaze's cursing.Miko pulled himself out of bed. Every muscle hurt. His hands were still torn up from yesterday's climb. His back felt like someone had beaten it with clubs.Five minutes.He dressed fast. Found his way to the courtyard. The others were already gathering, looking as miserable as he felt.Except Larok. He looked fresh. Energized. Like he'd slept twelve hours instead of maybe three."Everyone here?" He counted heads. "Good. Follow me."They followed him through an archway to a large open space behin
Chapter 288
Dawn came cold and gray.Miko woke to Larok shaking his shoulder. "Time to move. We've got ground to cover."The team gathered their minimal supplies—mostly just weapons and whatever food they'd scavenged. Not much. They'd need to hunt or forage along the way."Which direction?" Garcia asked. Her arm was still in its splint, but she'd slept better than any of them. Probably used to functioning on no rest."North," Larok said. He pointed across the hills toward distant mountains. "See that peak? The one with the split top?"Everyone looked. The mountain was far. Really far."That's where we're going?" Blaze asked. "That's got to be three days at least.""Four if you walk slow," Larok agreed. "Three if you don't complain." He started walking. "Let's go."They followed. What else could they do?The first hour was quiet. Everyone too tired to talk. Just putting one foot in front of the other. The terrain was rough—hills and valleys, streams to cross, rocks to navigate.Anna was struggling
Chapter 287
Eighteen minutes.That's how long they had before Larok's head snapped up."They're back," he said. Standing in one fluid motion. "Faster than I expected."Miko felt it too. A pressure in the air. Like static before lightning. The forest around them went quiet—no birds, no insects, just silence."How far?" Garcia was already on her feet, good hand on her blade."Close." Larok grabbed his axe-hammer. "Too close. They tracked us faster than they should have been able to.""How?" Liam asked."Later." Larok pointed deeper into the forest. "Northeast. There's a ravine about a mile that way. Rough terrain. Will slow them down.""Will it slow us down?" Blaze asked, struggling upright."Yes. But less than it'll slow them." Larok was already moving. "Now. Before they close the distance."They ran.Not fast. None of them could manage fast. But steady. Garcia led despite her broken arm, picking the path with a strategist's eye. Anna and Liam stuck together, both still weak from their injuries. B
Chapter 286
The forest was darker than it should have been.Thick canopy blocked most of the sunlight, leaving everything in a green-tinted gloom. The ground was soft with years of fallen leaves. Quiet. Almost peaceful.They'd been walking for twenty minutes. Nobody had spoken since leaving the village. Too busy trying to process what they'd seen.Larok finally stopped in a small clearing. A stream ran through it, water clear and cold. He knelt by the edge, cupping his hands and drinking."This'll do," he said. "We're far enough from the village that collateral damage won't be an issue when the Trinide come looking.""When, not if," Blaze noted. He sat down heavily against a tree. "Great.""They'll come," Larok confirmed. "That's a given. Question is how prepared we are when they do."Miko sat on a fallen log. His hands were still shaking. Not from fear. From adrenaline burn-off. From watching Larok tear apart three immortal wraiths like they were made of tissue paper."How did you do that?" The
Chapter 285
Ten minutes.Anna's healing had worked miracles in that time. Liam was on his feet, the hole in his chest closed over with fresh pink skin. Garcia's arm was set and splinted. Blaze could move again without screaming. Akiya's throat was still bruised but she could breathe properly.Not perfect. But functional.The sounds of fighting outside had quieted. Miko pushed himself upright, testing his weight. His legs held. His spine didn't collapse. Good enough."Everyone ready?" Garcia asked. Her voice was steadier than it had any right to be."No," Blaze said. "But when has that ever stopped us?"They moved to the doorway. The street outside was a mess. Craters in the cobblestones. Buildings with walls blown out. Black ichor splattered everywhere.And in the center of it all, Larok stood with his axe-hammer resting on his shoulder. The three Trinide were circling him, wary now. All three had visible wounds—places where their flickering forms weren't quite solid anymore.Larok saw them emerg
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