Chapter 60
last update2025-03-15 00:41:11

Miko sprinted through the evacuated streets, his lungs burning with each breath. The air tasted wrong—metallic and sharp with that unmistakable hint of Ash. He rounded the corner and froze.

Three figures stood against impossible odds, holding back what should have been an overwhelming incursion. Liam's wind cut precise paths through the air, each gust a deadly blade. Akiya's flames painted complex barriers of fire, forcing back entities that shouldn't exist in this world. And at the center, Anna's light pulsed in intricate patterns, somehow maintaining order in the midst of chaos.

An AAU tactical unit had finally arrived, officers deploying containment protocols with practiced efficiency. But their expressions betrayed their shock. This wasn't supposed to be possible—three students holding an incursion at bay.

"Miko?" Liam called out when he spotted Miko, somehow maintaining that insufferable grin despite everything.

"What happened?" Miko demanded, rushing to join their formation.

"Ro
Continue to read this book for free
Scan the code to download the app

Related Chapters

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 61

    Morning arrived with the antiseptic smell of the medical ward and the soft beeping of monitoring equipment. Miko woke with a jolt, momentarily disoriented before remembering where he was. Across the room, Liam snored softly, one arm flung dramatically across his face. Akiya sat cross-legged on her bed, already awake and flipping through a data tablet. Anna was nowhere to be seen."Morning, sunshine," Akiya said without looking up. "Anna's already been cleared. She's getting us breakfast."Miko stretched, wincing at the stiffness in his muscles. "Any updates on the incident?""Nothing official. But the ward's been buzzing with rumors." She finally looked up, her expression serious. "Apparently, what we faced wasn't an isolated incident. There were two other breaches reported last night—different sectors, same pattern.""Searching," Miko murmured."That's what they're saying."The door slid open, and Anna entered carrying a tray of food. Her usual quiet demeanor seemed intensified, like

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 62

    Miko stood at attention alongside his teammates, all of them freshly released from medical observation."Your readings have been cleared," Hayes said without preamble, scanning the medical report on his tablet. "Though I'm told there were some... anomalies." His gaze lingered on Miko for a moment before moving on. "Fortunately for you, we don't have the luxury of extended recovery periods."He activated the display on the wall. A three-dimensional map of an Abyssal region materialized, rotating slowly to reveal unusual topography."Three days ago, our deep scanners detected anomalous energy readings from a previously unmapped section of the Abyss. Sector 17-B." He expanded a portion of the map. "The energy signature doesn't match any documented Abyssal entity or phenomenon.""Why tell us?" Akiya asked, arms crossed. "This sounds like a job for the research division.""Because, Cadet Ren, the research team we sent hasn't reported back." Hayes's expression remained neutral, but the impl

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 63

    The AAU portal chamber hummed with energy, technicians making final adjustments to the coordinates for Sector 17-B. Miko checked his equipment one last time—standard-issue combat gear, emergency supplies, and communication devices designed to function in the distorted reality of the Abyss."Final checks complete," the portal operator announced. "Establishing connection now."The massive arch before them shimmered, air rippling as reality itself was folded and punctured. Unlike the chaotic tears that occurred during incursions, this was a controlled opening—a calculated risk that allowed AAU teams to venture into the Abyss on their terms.Or so they hoped."Readings stable," the operator continued. "Portal integrity at 98%. You're cleared for transit."Coordinator Hayes approached, his expression grim. "Standard protocol: maintain hourly check-ins. If we don't hear from you for three consecutive hours, we'll assume compromise and seal the entry point.""Understood," Miko acknowledged.

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 64

    The ancient codex slammed shut with a thunderous boom, nearly taking Miko's fingers with it."Well, that was dramatic," Liam observed, eyebrow raised. "Did it just reject you, or is this some weird Sovereign courtship ritual?"Miko stepped back, shaking his stinging hand. "I don't think it wants to be read just yet.""A book with attitude," Akiya muttered. "That's a new one."The Keeper's featureless face somehow managed to convey disappointment. "The Codex requires proper preparation. The battery must be awakened fully before its secrets can be revealed.""Could've mentioned that before I nearly lost my fingertips," Miko grumbled.“And why does he keep calling you a battery?” Liam asked quietly.Anna was already scanning the chamber with her instruments. "This entire structure is saturated with unusual energy patterns. Nothing like standard Abyssal corruption." She looked up, excitement breaking through her usual reserve. "This could completely rewrite our understanding of the Abyss.

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 65

    "Let me get this straight," Liam said, pacing the chamber as the Prime Guardian's projection showed a civilization far more advanced than anything they'd been taught existed in pre-Academy times. "The Abyss wasn't always a hellscape of corruption and murder-monsters?""Your terminology is crude but essentially correct," the guardian replied. "What you call 'the Abyss' was once the Void Realm—a necessary counterbalance to your world of physical matter.""And Ash users—sorry, Void Sovereigns—were basically cosmic border patrol?" Akiya asked, fascination overriding her usual skepticism."Mediators and guardians," the construct corrected. "They alone could exist in both realms without corruption, maintaining the boundaries that kept both worlds in harmony."Anna was furiously taking notes on her datapad. "This contradicts every established theory about the Abyss. The Academy teaches that it's a malevolent dimension that emerged years ago.""Such Academies," the guardian rumbled, "Were fou

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 66

    “The church later realized that the more. Sovereigns they killed, the more destruction came about in the abyss,” the guardian said."So that’s what you mean by the sovereign were batteries," Miko whispered, recalling Elena's words about her father's research. "The abyss itself is alive because it uses Ash element sources to power its self or to power the corruption of the abyss. And the only source of Ash, is an Ash mage."“The barriers that they priests set up to supposedly protect your world from Abyssal incursions are powered by the extracted energy of Sovereign.""That's monstrous," Anna said softly."It's also unsustainable," the Keeper added. "Forced extraction corrupts the energy, requiring more and more Sovereigns to maintain the same protection. As their numbers dwindled, the Church became increasingly desperate."“Because the sovereigns were batteries, I think they are not able to defend themselves and keep the abyss powered up at the same, it’s making more sense now.”Miko

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 67

    Liam had fallen silent, watching the Keeper with narrowed eyes as it drifted at the edge of the chamber. He nudged Akiya."Is it just me," he whispered, "or has our faceless tour guide been talking non-stop about how humans ruined everything?"Akiya frowned slightly. "I noticed that too.""I mean, I'm all for acknowledging historical screw-ups, but this feels a bit heavy on the 'humans bad, void good' propaganda."The Keeper, who had been silent during the guardian's explanation, now drifted forward. "The chamber of murals will show what words cannot fully convey. Follow."As they moved through another series of corridors, Liam sidled up to Miko, keeping his voice low. "Hey, something's not adding up here."The distraction brought Miko back from the surge of thoughts flowing into his head."What do you mean?" Miko asked, equally quiet."All through Academy training, they drilled into us that the Abyss initiated

  • Sovereign of The Abyss   Chapter 68

    "Split up!" Miko shouted as Sylas launched toward them, his elongated limbs cutting through the air like whips.The team scattered in four directions just as the wraith's magic shattered the stone where they'd been standing. Chunks of rock exploded outward, forcing Liam to throw up a hasty wind barrier.“What’s that magic it’s shooting out?”“It looks like Miko’s Ash,” Liam said.“It’s not. It’s corruption from the Ab—“ Akiya said.“Corrupt mana,” Anna interrupted.“Yup! Corrupt mana!” Miko echoed."Anyone got a plan for fighting stretchy nightmare-fuel?" Liam called, sending a concentrated blast of wind that Sylas batted away like an annoying insect.Miko rolled to his feet, Ash element swirling darker around his hands. This wasn't like fighting standard Abyssal entities. Every instinct honed through years of AAU training screamed that they were outmatched."Anna, support!" he ordered, ducking under a corrupt fast blast from Sylas.“His energy signature is unlike anything! It's like

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter 121

    “You can call me Veros. My brother Sylas speaks highly of you," Veros continued, taking a step forward for each one Miko took back. "Says you taste of the abyss and something else. Something... ancient.""I'm not food," Miko snarled, his hands clenching into fists as he tried again to summon his element.Veros laughed, the sound like shattering bones. "Everything is food to those who know how to feed. Your ash element is particularly... nutritious."Without warning, the wraith lunged, moving with impossible speed. Miko barely had time to dodge, the creature's clawed hand grazing his shoulder and tearing through his uniform.Pain flared, hot and immediate. Miko rolled, coming up in a defensive stance as blood soaked the torn fabric."Fast for a human," Veros observed, licking Miko's blood from his fingertips. "But not fast enough.""I don't need speed," Miko said, focusing on the pendant's heat spreading through his chest. "I just need to hit you once."The wraith tilted his head, curi

  • Chapter 120

    "Miko," Akiya murmured, her fingers brushing the warm black dust where he had stood moments before. "Where did you go?"A shout broke the tense silence, making everyone turn. One of the junior cadets was running toward them from the treeline, panic etched across his face."Something's coming!" he yelled, stumbling as he reached the group. "Something big!"Gregor grabbed the cadet's shoulders, steadying him. "Catch your breath. What did you see?""A wraith," the cadet gasped, pointing back the way he'd come. "I was setting up perimeter markers and I saw it. Just standing there, watching me.""A wraith?" Gregor's expression hardened. "You're sure?""Positive," the cadet nodded frantically. "It... it smiled at me."Liam and Anna exchanged alarmed looks."Come to think of it," Liam said slowly, "we haven't seen any wraiths since we entered the Abyss. Not a single one.""How many?" Gregor demanded, turning back to the cadet. "How many did you see?""Just one," the cadet replied. "But it wa

  • Chapter 119

    The silence after the ash shockwave was absolute. Trees that had groaned under the weight of mist now stood eerily still, leaves unmoving, the air cold with a kind of supernatural stillness.Akiya was the first to move."That light—" she began, already pushing through the trees. "That was Miko. I know it.""How do you know?" Liam asked, falling in beside her."Because I felt it," she said, eyes locked forward. "That pulse. It was him. I don’t know how, but it was him."The others hesitated only a second before following.Branches snapped beneath their boots. The forest was slowly returning to normal, but the air still held a heaviness—as if mourning something invisible that had passed. The path twisted, trees now parted in ways they hadn’t been before, and the ground showed signs of disruption: scorched patches, cracked stone, and a strange black residue that clung to roots and bark like soot.Then they saw him.Miko stood at the edge of a collapsed ridge, where the forest met a steep

  • Chapter 118

    As he prepared to find a way back to the surface, Miko couldn't help wondering about the facility's original purpose. Who had built it? Why create weapons of such destructive potential? And most puzzling of all, why design them specifically for users with his exact elemental affinity—a combination so rare it had apparently vanished from the world until his own emergence?The questions would have to wait. His priority now was finding a way out of this underground vault and reuniting with his team. With the fog entity still active above, they were likely facing their own challenges, possibly in danger.Miko located what appeared to be a maintenance shaft in one corner of the facility, its ladder leading upward toward the surface. Before climbing, he took one last look at the activated lantern, its potential both fascinating and terrifying."I'll be back for you," he promised the device. "Once this mission is over."**While Miko explored the ancient facility below, the other groups cont

  • Chapter 117

    Miko returned to the central chamber of the underground facility, still puzzling over the crumbling lanterns. The place was vast, stretching further than he'd managed to explore so far, but one section had caught his attention—a room that appeared to be an office or study, its walls lined with what might generously be called books, though they were unlike any he'd seen before."If I'm going to figure this place out, might as well start with the records," he decided, entering the study.The "books" were actually thin metal plates bound together with some kind of flexible alloy, their surfaces covered with the same symbols he'd seen throughout the facility. Most were incomprehensible to him, but some contained diagrams he could interpret—schematics for equipment, illustrations of elemental energy flows, and most interestingly, drawings of the lanterns he'd found."So these were important," he murmured, carefully turning the delicate metal pages of one volume.The diagrams showed the lan

  • Chapter 116

    Miko didn't have time to scream as the ground collapsed beneath him. One moment he was standing in the fog-shrouded forest, the next he was plummeting through darkness, his stomach lurching from the sudden drop. His Ash element swirled around him instinctively, trying to slow his descent but finding nothing solid to grip.The fall lasted only seconds before he crashed through some kind of membrane—a sensation like breaking through thin ice—and then hit solid ground with bone-jarring force. He rolled automatically, distributing the impact as he'd been taught in Academy training."Ugh," he groaned, lying on his back and taking inventory of his body. Nothing seemed broken, though he'd definitely have bruises tomorrow. If there was a tomorrow.After a moment to catch his breath, Miko sat up and summoned his Ash element to provide illumination. The shadows gathered around his hand, creating a dim glow that pushed back the absolute darkness."What the hell...?" he muttered, looking around.

  • Chapter 115

    "There it is again," Akiya whispered, her flame briefly flaring brighter. "Did you see it?"Liam and Lyra followed her gaze into the swirling fog, where a faint ripple of movement had disturbed the otherwise uniform mist."Probably just air currents," Lyra replied, though her tone lacked conviction. She'd been saying similar things for the past hour as they wandered through the endless fog, but even her professional skepticism was wearing thin."No," Akiya insisted, taking a step closer to the disturbance. "It's reacting to us. Watch."She extended her free hand toward the fog, not quite touching it. The mist immediately withdrew from her approach, creating a small pocket of clear air around her fingers."See? It's avoiding direct contact. That's not how normal fog behaves."Liam moved beside her, cautiously extending his own hand. The fog retreated from him as well, though less dramatically."She's right," he said, looking back at Lyra. "This isn't just some corruption manifestation.

  • Chapter 114

    Shadows swirled around Miko's fingers as he navigated through the impenetrable fog. Without his Ash element, he would have been completely blind in the shifting mists that erased all sense of direction."Come on," he muttered to himself, extending his awareness through the shadows. "Give me something to work with."His Ash element responded, spreading outward like tendrils searching for solid references in the chaotic environment.Most of what the shadows found was just more fog, but occasionally they detected something solid—massive tree trunks, root structures, the occasional corrupted vegetation. Not enough to create a map, but sufficient to avoid walking into obstacles."Akiya!" he called out, more from habit than expectation. "Liam! Anna!"His voice seemed to travel only a few meters before the fog swallowed it completely. The neural link remained silent except for occasional bursts of static that made him wince.Miko closed his eyes, focusing on his connection to the void. If no

  • Chapter 113

    "What is that?" Liam asked, pointing at the strange haze that had appeared on the horizon as they continued their journey through the massive forest.The fog wasn't like anything they'd seen before in the Abyss. it shimmered with an oily iridescence, neither solid nor gas, spreading across their path like a living curtain.Elena stepped forward, her expression grave as she studied the phenomenon. "It's an illusion barrier," she said. "A defense mechanism that typically appears near the core. The Church has documented these, but few who enter ever return to report what they experienced.""What exactly does it do?" Anna asked, moving closer to examine the strange fog from a safer distance."It distorts reality," Elena explained. "Makes you see things that aren't there, hide things that are. Some say it can even separate groups by making each person experience a different version of reality."Gregor snorted dismissively. "Church superstition. It's just another corruption manifestation."

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on MegaNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
Scan code to read on App