2026-04-09 05:34:21
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Chapter 296
The walls were carved with symbols that hurt to read. The ceiling was lost in darkness. And in the center— A pillar. Not stone. Not metal. Something between. Pulsing with that same wrong-blue light. And chained to it was a man. Miko's father. He looked the same. Older maybe. Thinner. But the same face Miko remembered. The same features. The same— No. Not the same. Something was wrong. The way he hung there. Lifeless. Like a puppet with cut strings. "Dad," Miko breathed. He ran forward. Didn't think. Just moved. He reached the pillar. Reached for his father. Tried to pull him away from the chains. His father's eyes snapped open. Black. Completely black. Like the Trinide. And his hand shot out. Grabbed Miko's throat. Squeezed. Miko couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. His father's grip was like iron. Impossibly strong. The man's mouth opened. When he spoke, the voice was his father's. But wrong. Layered. Like multiple voices speaking at once. "Welcome, my son," the thing wear
Chapter 295
The cave was quiet except for the sound of breathing. Miko sat with his back against the stone wall, staff across his lap. Garcia was beside him, eyes scanning the darkness outside. Their watch shift had another hour before Liam and Blaze took over. Then the whispers started. Not the normal Abyss whispers. These were different. Closer. More focused. Garcia tensed. "Something's coming." Miko stood slowly. The ash around his hands began to swirl without him calling it. His body recognized danger before his mind did. Three shapes emerged from the darkness. The Trinide. They walked with that same confident stride. That same mocking smile. But something was different tonight. More purposeful. Less patient. "Wake the others," Miko said quietly. Garcia moved fast. Within seconds, everyone was up. Weapons ready. Larok came to stand at the cave entrance, axe-hammer in hand. The woman stopped about twenty feet from the cave. Her companions flanked her. All three staring with those bl
Chapter 294
Dawn came cold and gray.They gathered in the courtyard. Packs on their backs. Weapons ready. The monastery felt different now. Not home anymore. Just a place they'd been.Larok checked everyone's gear one last time. Efficient. Thorough."Food for three days. Water for two. We'll refill when we can but don't count on it." He looked at Anna. "Healing supplies?""Packed.""Good. Everyone understand the plan?"They nodded. They'd gone over it last night. Reach the tear. Enter the twilight zone. Navigate to the first gate. Get through it. Repeat until they reached the deep Abyss.Simple. On paper."Then let's move." Larok headed for the gates. "Stay close. The Trinide will try something. Be ready."They followed him out of the monastery. Through the gates that had protected them for three weeks.The moment they crossed the threshold, Miko felt it. The wards releasing them. The protection falling away.The Trinide felt it too."Leaving so soon?" The woman's voice. She stood with the two ma
Chapter 293
Day twenty-eight.Larok woke them earlier than usual. Still dark outside. No stars visible."Final test today," he announced. "Pass, and we descend tomorrow. Fail, and we train another week."Nobody wanted another week.They gathered in the training grounds. Cold. Tired. But ready."Here's how this works," Larok said. "You fight me. All of you. Together. No holding back. Use everything I've taught you. Magic, weapons, tactics. Everything.""Just fight you?" Liam asked. "That's the test?""That's the test. You land three solid hits on me, you pass. Simple." Larok rolled his shoulders. "But I'm not holding back either. So don't expect easy."He took his stance. Axe-hammer in hand. Lightning already crackling around him."Begin."They moved as one.Three weeks of training together showed. Garcia called the strategy. Miko and Liam flanked left and right. Blaze straight down the middle. Akiya from behind. Anna stayed back, ready to heal.Larok met them head-on.His axe-hammer swept in a wi
Chapter 292
Three weeks.That's how long Larok made them fight without magic.On day twenty-two, everything changed.Miko woke to the usual cold water. Got dressed. Made it to the training grounds expecting the usual drills.But Larok was standing there with a different expression. Something almost like approval."No weapons today," he announced. "No blindfolds. No complications.""What then?" Blaze asked warily."Today you remember what you are." Larok gestured to the training ground. "Mages. Elementalists. People with power in their blood. Today, we bring that back."Relief washed over the group. They'd been aching to use their magic again. Three weeks of pure physical combat had been torture."But," Larok continued, "we do it my way. Not the way you learned at the Academy. Not the way you've always done it. My way."He pointed at Miko. "You. Show me your fire."Miko raised his hand. Fire burst to life in his palm. Hot. Bright. Strong."Good. Now make it subtle.""What?""Subtle. Quiet. A flame
Chapter 291
“Good," Larok said. He wasn't even winded. Never was. "You're all improving. Garcia, your footwork is solid now. Liam, those twin blades are finally working together. Blaze, nice job not telegraphing that last strike."He looked at Miko. "And you. You're starting to fight like someone who knows what they're doing.""High praise," Miko said dryly."From me? Yes." Larok grinned. "Water break. Then we work on something new."They gathered around the well in the courtyard. Drinking. Cooling down. The morning sun was warm but not hot. Perfect weather for torture, as Blaze liked to say."What's the new thing?" Akiya asked. Her voice was almost normal now. The throat damage had healed."You'll see." Larok disappeared into one of the buildings. Came back carrying a wooden box. Set it down and opened it.Inside were stones. Smooth. Black. They seemed to drink the light."What are those?" Garcia asked."Abyssal fragments. Small pieces of corruption given physical form." Larok picked one up. "Ha
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