Chapter 94
Ezma
The Betrayal
Blood. So much blood, and flames.
For a moment Ezma couldn’t believe her eyes. She had seen so much happen, most of it on instinct. She was covered in blood, or brain matter to be more accurate. Her hands trembled as she slowly dropped the no longer glowing rifle from her hands.
In an instant she tried to look around, to see what happ...
2022-06-03 08:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 93
Lykan
Learning to Fly, Again
Finally given a chance to rest Lykan did just that. He ate, meditated, and tried to internalize what Qi was. As far as he could tell it was something that seemed to be anathema to the planet. Yet, Qi was clearly here on the planet for some reason.
There was also obvious power in Qi, far too much power.
Still, he pondered thes...
2022-06-02 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostEveryone,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for continuing to help continue this journey into June 2022.
2022-06-01 15:34:17 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 92
Lykan
Hunting the Hunters
A thrill ran down Lykan’s spine as he as sneaking up to invisible predators who seemed to have no clue about his position. The predators in this case were little more than condensed Qi particles that somehow managed to float around the room in intricate patterns that represented a novice of invisibility movement.
Fortunately for Lyk...
2022-06-01 08:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 91
Lykan
True Invisibility
As it turns out oscillating the core was both easier and tougher than Lykan originally expected. It was easier in that once he got the little sphere moving it pretty much moved on its own. The hard part came with trying to keep the core balanced at his center. Apparently, this was a process he bypassed through his cheat method of using psychi...
2022-05-31 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 90
Aren
Integration
Aren was so close. No weapons, near exhaustion, but she had trained for just such an event. She had a chance, albeit a small one to end this war with one stroke. A burning fire built within her as she tried to talk herself into striking. Her mind flashed through a myriad of options.
Grab the dagger stuck to his hip, pull out jab. No, it’...
2022-05-30 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 89
Ajimal the Great
Catacomb Mysteries
Ajimal looked on at his resplendent throne made of ivory, gold, and jade, the three rare materials that any magi needs to show their superiority above others. Ivory to be the initial grounding rod for all mana. Through ivory all mana can flow one direction, a perfect insulator for beginners and experts alike. Gold, used to let man...
2022-05-27 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 88
Lykan
Legacies
The world came to life with a stark reality. The first thing he noticed was that his senses were somehow clearer. His understanding of the different particles of energy in the room were heightened to a point that almost caused him to wince out. It was the same wince one might have when they walk out into a full noon day sun after being caught in a dar...
2022-05-26 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 87
Ezma
Free Yourself
Sometimes once you hear something you can’t take it back. This was one of those times. Ezma stood bewildered looking at Mr. Vita with confusion in her mind, after hearing what he claimed to be his true name. The only problem was, there was no mistaking it. The moment the word was uttered the world shook for a moment; nearby animals called out in...
2022-05-25 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 86
Nayali
Path of a Priestess
Ash. Ash and pine, those were the smells that would forever remind Nayali of the moment she achieved true freedom. At this moment she was free. Her next set of actions were unbound by blood, bond, or oath to another. At this moment she was free. Charred bodies of fleeing villagers filled her eyesight. The dismembered corpses of the soldier...
2022-05-24 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 85
Ajimal the Great
Divine Providence
The storms of fate had begun to die. The power that Ajimal’s one true god had provided as a test to others was now gone. Ajimal stood, eyes glowing brightly as the last vestiges of energy from the last dark pillar slowly filled his body with its power. As the power began to pull into his body, he felt the call and command of his ...
2022-05-23 08:00:04 +0000 UTC View Post<<<< Authors Note: Another week and six stories published. Again, I wanted to say thank you all for being here with me throughout this journey. >>>>
Chapter 84
Lykan
The Third Echelon
Focus, determination, tenacity; these were the three words that defined Lykan. From his want to constantly improve, to his relentle...
2022-05-20 08:00:13 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 83
Ezma
The Father
“Hello.” The word as open and welcoming as it was unnerving to hear. Most notably the word was unnerving as it came from right behind Ezma. Should the wielder of the voice have so chosen they could have easily struck, as they could have used the moment to introduce themselves. Fortunately for both Ezma and Jhamet the wielder of the voice chose to...
2022-05-19 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 82
Aren
A Legacy of War
Aren approached the compound, her small bundle clinging tightly to her chest. Occasionally, Aren had to stop, to check if the child was still alive. Fortunately, despite the constant speed, and everything that had happened the child was alive. Better still the child was asleep.
Aren looked down at the small bundle within her arms and almos...
2022-05-18 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostInterlude XI
Octavia
Contemplations
Seclusion. Silent meditations. Call it what you will, it was a punishment and Octavia was the one suffering from the implementations. It didn’t help that she was also the one who felt the need to administer the punishments in the first place. Nor did it help that other high wood elves couldn’t understand her somber mood since she was cal...
2022-05-17 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post<<<<
Author's Note: Two chapters will drop on Royal Road today, as such you also get two chapters as well.
>>>>>
Chapter 81
Ezma
The Woods
The Jungle Basin changed in the time she last remembered it. The whole area began to glow with a sheen that had never been seen before. Due to that sheen and the...
2022-05-16 08:59:00 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 80
Lykan
Qi Saturated
There had to be more Qi in the training room. There was a euphoric feel to the almost alien power source. The more Lykan took in the foreign power, this strange Qi. The more he felt it strengthening his body. Focusing first on his muscles, allowing the different fibers of his being to absorb part of the energy residing in each mote of energy. The ...
2022-05-16 08:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 79
Nayali
Burning Sheep.
Burning sheep. That was the first thing that caught Nayali’s attention. That helped direct Nayali towards the real attack. Flames erupted up and around children. Two larger human frames were falling to the ground, their bodies little more than charred meat on old bones. It was gruesome. Wore the soldiers were smiling and jeering at the fleein...
2022-05-13 08:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 78
Lykan
Core Training
Breath after breath came in and filled Lykan. No longer did he feel pangs of hunger, or thirst. Instead with each breath he felt a little more satiated, a little more quenched until he exhaled. Once he exhaled, he felt the pangs of hunger and thirst almost immediately, but any attempts to pull out food or drink were met with the glowing red eyes ...
2022-05-12 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 77
Nayali
Search and Rescue
The trio made their way forward searching for signs of Lykan. What they found instead were increasing signs of annihilation. Fields were burnt to cinder; salt was left to destroy the fields. Every structure of any decent size was burnt to the ground.
These weren’t just isolated events either. These were the results seen at all places...
2022-05-11 08:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostInterlude X
Ghane Everheart
Northern Belkin Plains
Ghane’s hands began to tremble slightly, they got this way when he didn’t hold his mithril spear in his hands. But now the episodes were getting worse, especially the more he used the power from the first pillar. The power from the pillars was like a drug. He had heard tales of how some of his soldiers would often use the ...
2022-05-10 08:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 76
Lykan
Differences
From the different tasks and challenges that Lykan was set to perform, Lykan realized a few things. The first was that the act of Qi was almost the exact opposite of Mana. Mana began from inside the body and flowed out. Qi on the other hand was all around him and had to be pulled into the body. Then once Qi entered the body it could do hundreds of ...
2022-05-09 08:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 75
Lykan
Training Chambers
The first thing that Lykan realized about the training chamber he was in was that it was oddly familiar. It took a moment for his mind to process what he was seeing, a why it all seemed so familiar. First, he was in a dome of some sort, the spherical nature of the projection he was in seemed to be important. Also, as the scenario first began ...
2022-05-06 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostInterlude IX
The Homestead Seven Reunion
Not all members of the Homestead Seven managed to keep in touch, especially after each chose their intended career path. This was why it was odd that Dathney of all people chose to host a graduation ceremony of all things. A few of the members were already on assignment and were unable to attend. Chief among those unable to attend were Liana ...
2022-05-05 09:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 74
Lykan
Differences
At first Lykan had wanted to go after old Man Roberts and the others, to ask if they had heard from his father. But he already knew the truth, that his father had left here a long time ago. First, he had heard from Aren. Then when he made his way through the remains of the library his initial search proved his father had left. The secret stash wher...
2022-05-05 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 73
Lykan
Catacomb of the Ancients
The first thing that Lykan noticed upon entering the cellars was the smell. It was clear that human and animals had been living here for quite some time. Not only had creatures lived here, but most had lived here in fear. There is a certain musk that is easy to detect that all predators develop a sense for.
Lykan wasn’t certain...
2022-05-04 09:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 72
Nayali
Betrayal
Fury, rage, and betrayal. Those were the three emotions that Nayali felt the most when she awoke from purging the seventh and final pillar before awaking to find Lykan missing.
She had been left alone, defenseless where any number of monsters could have attacked her. Never mind the fact that those same attacking monsters were going through the ...
2022-05-04 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 71
Lykan
The Cellars of Abberty
There are places and locations that by their very location require additional protections. Abberty village, being at the end of the kingdom of Tython was one such place. Its position, being at the edge of the wilderness, surrounded by countless monsters made it a less than advantageous location to settle.
Most villages would have b...
2022-05-03 09:00:00 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 70
Lykan
Home-Coming
Dust, ash, and sulfur those were the smells that filled Lykan’s nose as he made his way forward through the burnt forests. Patches of ash and salt could be seen in the fields that surrounded his once home of Abberty.
Before he even realized what he was doing, he was running. Ash and sulfur filled his lungs as he charged forward. With so muc...
2022-05-03 08:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostPrelude
Aren Avensa Outskirts of Tython
“I managed to contact the subject, but only just before he had cleared the seventh and final pillar of the great jungle basin. That caused a myriad of problems.” Aren Avensa stopped feeding energy into her recording crystal as she shuddered, recalling the events that happened after Lykan and Nayali managed to convert the seventh pillar to ...
2022-05-02 09:00:00 +0000 UTC View Post