2025-02-24 11:47:58
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Chapter 263: The Battle
Silence filled the small house Joaquin had been staying in when he returned.He didn’t even bother turning on the lights; a sudden heaviness had settled over him. The only illumination came from the massive moon outside, its cold glow seeping through the window.For the first time in a long while, he felt truly lonely.He glanced down at his hand. The tattoo etched into his skin shimmered whenever the moonlight touched it. It was a quiet, bittersweet reminder of why he was alone now.It was the right choice to let his sister leave. He didn’t know what would happen to this world if he failed his mission, and he refused to let her be caught in that danger.The faces of the most important people in his life flashed through his mind—Jasmine, his sister. Manuel and Rick. His father. And most of all, Serena, the woman he loved.“I am right where I should be,” Joaquin whispered to himself.Yes. This was where he belonged. If he wanted the people he loved to live in safety and peace, he had t
Chapter 262: Going back
“We should go back to our bodies, Joaquin,” Jasmine said softly. “Dad might be worried by now.”Joaquin exhaled deeply. He sat at the small wooden table, sipping the herbal tea the villagers had prepared. Jasmine, meanwhile, stood by the window, quietly watching the strange realm outside.The villagers had given them a modest house to stay in while they remained in this dimension—a place both eerily tranquil and unnervingly unfamiliar.She was right. Joaquin didn’t even know how long they had been there. Time flowed differently in this world. They had no idea what was happening to their bodies back in the real world. Were they unconscious? In a coma? Were they even still alive?But more than anything, they needed to return—not just for their family’s sake, but for justice. Whoever had done this to them had to pay.“We can’t return just yet, Jasmine,” Joaquin said at last. “I still have something to finish here. I need to help them.”Jasmine turned from the window and walked toward him
Chapter 261: The Flame Returns
He felt different. Joaquin emerged from the Grove of Echoes a changed man.The sky above the Realm of the Ancients had shifted—no longer heavy with dread, but humming with anticipation. Every step he took left a faint glowing imprint on the earth, like the ground recognized him now and accepted his presence as something sacred.At his back, the ancient tree pulsed gently, its blessing still warm in his chest. He had faced his regrets. Confronted his failures. And now, he carried more than just fire—he carried resolve.He didn’t know how long he’d been inside the Grove. Time flowed differently here. But he felt Jasmine’s pain calling to him like a beacon. Whatever connected them—heart, soul, or something even deeper—was tugging at him again.He followed that pull.The villagers gasped when they saw him return. Lila was the first to run up to him, followed by Lilo and the elder, Apo.“You… you survived,” Apo said, eyes wide with awe.Joaquin offered a slight nod. “I need to see her. No
Chapter 260: The Tree of Echoes
Joaquin stood in silence, his gaze fixed on the sigils surrounding Jasmine. The steady rhythm of her breathing was the only proof that she was alive—if this state could even be called life. His soul, separated from his body. Jasmine, caught in the same fate. And a dark god named Neraxis was lurking somewhere in this forest realm.The mere thought made his jaw tighten."How long before we can return to our bodies?" he asked, not taking his eyes off Jasmine.Apo Damaso approached slowly, his long staff tapping softly against the earthy floor. "It depends on how quickly Jasmine recovers. Her soul is still fragile. Yours, though bruised, is stable."“I can’t just wait,” Joaquin muttered. “I have to do something.”“You will,” the elder replied. “But not as you are now.”Joaquin finally turned to face him. “What does that mean?”A faint smile ghosted over Apo Damaso’s lips, as though he had been expecting this. “There is a reason your soul was not destroyed, Joaquin. The Forest Realm acc
Chapter 259: Soulbound
Joaquin followed Apo Damaso into a narrow tunnel made of twisted roots and vines.Behind them, Lila and Lilo— the tiny sibling spirits—trailed in quiet chatter, their steps light as whispers on moss.Even now, Joaquin still couldn't believe he was back in the Forest Realm.He had thought his first visit—when he retrieved the healing elixir for Serena—would also be his last.And yet, here he was again.What amazed him most was how he still fit into the tunnel despite its size.The vines parted just enough to let him pass, almost like they knew who he was.He pressed on, bare feet sinking into the damp earth, the squish of mud grounding him.The air was thick with the scent of herbs, dew, and ancient wood. His nose wrinkled at the earthy tang.Floating around them were tiny golden orbs of light, twinkling like fireflies—but they moved with unsettling intent, weaving between the roots and circling their heads.“Don’t let them distract you,” Apo said without turning back. “Those are ilaw-
Chapter 258: A New World
Joaquin slowly opened his eyes.The first thing that greeted him was a blinding white light. A sharp pain immediately sliced through his head like a blade dragging against his skull.He groaned and shut his eyes tightly once more.“Is he awake?” a small voice asked curiously.“He is! He’s awake!” another voice chimed in, slightly higher-pitched, a girl’s voice—shrill and tinny in his ears.“Quiet down, both of you! You’ll wake the Queen’s wrath upon us!” came the scolding of an older male voice—also small, like the others, almost like whispers carried by the wind.Joaquin frowned. These voices… they weren’t familiar.‘What is going on?’ he asked himself.The last thing he could recall was the warehouse… the explosion…Jasmine!His heart jumped. His body jerked as he tried to sit up, and another groan escaped his lips from the sharp pain in his back and side.“He’s really awake now!” the same girl-like voice exclaimed.Forcing his eyes open despite the sting, Joaquin blinked until his v
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