2026-02-16 19:14:57
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
CHAPTER 78
The Gathering StormThe wind tore across the cliffs, whipping Lian’s cloak around him as he stared down at the kingdom below. Fires flickered in the villages like warning lights, and the river churned unnaturally, as if the land itself sensed the approaching storm. He could feel it deep in his bones—the Seven Gods were stirring, and their awakening was not gentle.Mira’s hand found his, trembling slightly. “Do you feel it too?” she asked, her voice barely above the howl of the wind. “It’s… wrong.”“Yes,” Lian admitted, eyes narrowing. The Blood Key burned beneath his skin, pulsing in tune with the strange phenomena rippling across the land. Trees bent without wind, shadows moved where no light fell, and animals fled in silent panic. Something ancient and dangerous was waking, and it was choosing its moment.Across the kingdom, Kairo prepared in silence. The ritual he had long plotted had begun, drawing divine energy into the palace walls, twisting the air until it trembled with po
CHAPTER 77
The Palace BetrayalThe palace no longer felt like home.Cold marble walls. Silent corridors. Watchful eyes.Serah walked through the eastern wing with measured steps, her cloak pulled low, hiding her face from passing guards. Every movement had to be perfect. One mistake now would not mean imprisonment—it would mean death.The message from the previous night still burned in her mind.The ritual has begun.And worse—Someone inside the palace knew everything.She reached the narrow archway near the old council offices and paused, listening. No footsteps. No whispers. Only silence. Too clean. Too controlled.Dangerous.Serah slipped inside.The chamber was dimly lit by a single lantern. Papers lay scattered across the table—maps, coded notes, troop movements, ritual symbols. Evidence of corruption. Evidence of treason.Evidence she had been secretly gathering for months.And standing beside the table—Lord Varex.Royal advisor.Trusted voice of the council.And traitor.Serah’s breath still
CHAPTER 76
Secrets RevealedThe palace had never felt so suffocating.Serah moved through its silent corridors like a ghost, her cloak drawn tightly around her shoulders. The torches along the walls flickered weakly, casting trembling shadows that seemed to whisper accusations with every step she took.Traitor.Liar.Coward.She clenched her fists.Those voices were not real—but the guilt was.Every decision she had made, every secret she had kept, every lie she had spoken in the name of loyalty to the crown now pressed heavily against her chest. People had died. Innocents. Rebels. Guards. And still, the truth remained buried beneath layers of deception and fear.But tonight, that would change.Serah reached the sealed archive chamber beneath the palace—an ancient place few were permitted to enter. The iron doors groaned as she pushed them open, revealing rows of forgotten scrolls, relics, and forbidden records covered in dust and silence.The truth about the Blood Key was here.It had to be.She l
CHAPTER 75
Aftermath of FireThe morning air hung heavy with smoke. Charred wood and scorched earth smoldered where the rebels had made their stand the night before. Lian stood at the edge of the ruined palace outpost, hands on his knees, breathing in the acrid smell of battle. Around him, his people counted losses, patched wounds, and tended to the terrified villagers caught in the crossfire.His chest ached—not just from the bruises and burns—but from the faces of those who had fallen. Some he knew well. Others had been strangers, joining the Shadows of Dawn for the first time, believing in his cause. Now they were gone, swallowed by Kairo’s wrath.“Sir…” Kade approached, face pale. “We lost twenty-three tonight… not counting those who disappeared in the smoke.”Lian nodded without speaking. Every number, every life taken, weighed on him like stones tied to his chest. Yet, there was no time to grieve. Every hour spent mourning was an hour Kairo gained to tighten his grip.Serah moved beside h
CHAPTER 74
Nightfall ReckoningNight fell heavy over the capital, thick with smoke and unspoken fear.From the broken rooftops beyond the outer district, Lian watched the palace outpost rise like a dark tooth against the horizon. Torches burned along its walls, their flames trembling in the cold wind. Guards paced with restless energy, unaware that tonight would not pass quietly. Behind Lian, the rebels waited in silence.Not an army.Not yet.But something stronger than numbers — belief.Tonight was not about victory.It was about proof.Proof that the crown could bleed.Proof that fear could change sides.Lian lowered his hood and turned to them. Moonlight caught the faint shadow marks along his arm, now calmer — controlled — but never fully silent.“This is not war,” he said quietly. “This is a message.”A murmur passed through the rebels.Serah stepped forward, eyes sharp. “We strike fast. No drawn battle. No unnecessary deaths.” Kade checked his blades. “Disable their signal tower first. If
CHAPTER 73
The Blood PriceMira’s breathing was wrong.Too shallow. Too uneven. Like every breath scraped against something sharp inside her chest. Lian sat beside her on the narrow cot, his hands clenched so tightly his knuckles had gone white. The safehouse was silent except for the faint drip of water from the cracked ceiling and the sound of her struggling breaths. Shadows pressed close to the walls, restless, agitated—responding to him.Responding to her.“Mira,” he whispered. “Stay with me.”Her lashes fluttered. Her skin, once warm, felt cold beneath his fingers. A faint glow pulsed beneath her collarbone, just over her heart—thin lines of light branching outward like veins made of silver and ash.The Blood Key’s mark.But it wasn’t on him.It was burning into her.Lian’s stomach twisted. “This is my fault.” Mira tried to smile. It barely formed. “You always say that,” she murmured weakly. “You don’t get to own every tragedy.”Her words ended in a cough. Dark flecks stained her lips. Pan
You may also like
WHIT
VKBoy20.7K viewsSkeletal Dragon Avatar
zad133313.9K viewsThe Billionaire's Revenge
Unique13.7K viewsThe Master of Fate
Young Master Jay23.3K viewsCelestial power: the war of realms
Rx1.0K viewsFaul: The Reincarnation
Norren2.6K viewsLegacy System: Rise Of The Richest Man
Dark Crafter4.9K viewsEclipse Veins
Daisy Freeborn 314 views