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Forbidden Sphere Chapter 135
"Let's go," Snowcloud said. "The others have set up a new camp, about an hour from here. While we walk, you can finally tell me what happened." She gave him a calm glance, then added, "It certainly took you long enough.""You knew?" Arran asked, startled.Snowcloud let out a weak laugh. "We've been training together for weeks. You think I failed to notice how your injuries healed in hours?" She shook her head. "Of course I knew something happened. I just didn't know what.""Why didn't you say something before?""I trusted that you would tell me if it became necessary," Snowcloud replied flatly. "And it seems I was right."It was not an answer Arran expected, and briefly, he found himself at a loss for words.For years, he had anxiously guarded his secrets from all those he met, learning to always have lies at the ready for those questions he could not answer. But now, Snowcloud had simply said that she trusted him enough not to pry into his affairs.He did not completely understand wh
Forbidden Sphere Chapter 136
"So what's the plan?" Stoneheart asked.They were sitting at the edge of the camp, far enough from the others that they could talk in private. Even so, Arran could see the recruits and villagers occasionally shooting nervous looks at him, and he understood that they had seen the aftermath of the massacre."We can't fight them," Snowcloud said. "The main force will receive word of what happened soon enough, and when that happens, it won't just be a single raiding party that comes after us." Brow furrowed, she shook her head. "The only way for us to find safety is with your uncle."Stoneheart's face fell, and he sighed deeply, whatever hopes he had for Snowcloud's plan clearly gone. "He's over a hundred miles north of here, with thousands of enemies in between. There's no way for a group this large to pass unnoticed.""That's why I'm going alone," Snowcloud said. "By myself, I have a good chance of slipping past them, and I should be able to get there in a day or two.""You're leaving u
Forbidden Sphere Chapter 137
"Can't sleep either?"Stoneheart's voice was weary as he sat down next to Arran, and from the way he moved, it was obvious that his injuries were hindering him.Arran shrugged. "We'll be departing soon enough, anyway," he said. "How are your injuries?""Not too bad," Stoneheart replied, picking at one of his bandages. "That food of yours helped, too. How did you get so much food with Natural Essence, anyway?""Just a bit of luck," Arran said, unwilling to elaborate."You seem to have a lot of that." As Stoneheart spoke, Arran thought he could hear some bitterness in the tall novice's voice."I've had my share of luck," Arran agreed, "both good and bad.""I could do with some of the former," Stoneheart said dejectedly. "Ever since I crossed the border, it's been one disaster after another. I never thought it would be like this."Finally, Arran couldn't take it anymore. When he first met Stoneheart, the novice had been annoyingly confident and boastful, speaking in grand terms about the
Forbidden Sphere Chapter 138
Arran ran until his lungs felt like they would explode, sprinting with all the speed he had in him. There would only be a single chance to get this right, and he would not let it go to waste.Along the way, he encountered a lone raider scout. The man died as soon Arran caught sight of him, body bisected by a Windblade.He briefly felt another stir of bloodlust as the scout fell, but with a ranged attack, the effect seemed weaker. Either way, he could not give into it — not now, with a far more devastating attack at the tips of his fingers.When he finally thought he had gone far enough, he paused for some moments to catch his breath. The wind was still strong — that was good. It would play an important role in the battle to come.If it worked, it would be a massacre that no sword could match. And if they were particularly lucky, it wouldn't just be the closest raiding parties that died. But either way, the attack would buy them days, not hours.Arran took a look around and soon found
Forbidden Sphere Chapter 139
Arran's hand immediately shot to his sword when he saw the giant woman at the center of the makeshift camp. Although it didn't look like there was trouble, appearances could be deceiving, and a stranger showing up so suddenly was cause for concern.Yet as Arran moved to draw his blade, Stoneheart stopped him."No need," the novice said, voice at ease. "That's my cousin. If she's here, it means my uncle must have sent her."At once, Arran relaxed. Not just because the woman wasn't an enemy, but also because if Stoneheart's uncle had sent her, then Snowcloud would have made it to the castle.As they approached, Arran got a better look at the woman, and only found himself growing more startled at her appearance.She looked to be in her late twenties, and although she was thickly muscled, other than her size she was well-proportioned, with long black hair that flowed down her shoulders like a waterfall and a face that was quite beautiful.Yet her size… that was enough to make his eyes go
Forbidden Sphere Chapter 140
"Just how many people are here?" Arran asked, his eyes wandering around the camp while Tuya guided him to the castle.As they passed through the camp, it seemed even larger than it had from a distance, spreading out in all directions like a city built out of tents. There were recruits everywhere, many of them wearing swords and carrying spears, and once more Arran thought it looked more like an army than anything else.Tuya's giant figure drew many looks from the recruits they passed, yet Arran saw reverence rather than surprise in their eyes — they were clearly already familiar with her, which meant the camp wasn't a new one."There are several hundreds of novices," Tuya said. "Each with a few hundred recruits.""But why are they here?" Arran asked. "And why so many?""The conflict between the factions has made the borderlands too dangerous for lone novices," Tuya said. "The Waning Moon faction has already attacked dozens of novices, killing many of them. Here, our novices are under
Forbidden Sphere Chapter 141
"Have you gone mad?" The anger in Snowcloud's tone was matched by her expression. "He's a recruit, and you want him to go through the Tempering?""Lady Snowcloud, novices aren't supposed to know about the Tempering," Elder Naran said, frowning at her."Recruits aren't supposed to undergo it," Snowcloud retorted sharply."He's hardly a usual recruit," Elder Naran said. "Even without the Blood magic, his raw strength is enough to match a powerful novice.""But the Tempering kills even adepts," Snowcloud said."Some die," Elder Naran agreed. "But most survive, and grow stronger.""What are the two of you talking about?" Arran cut in. He had absolutely no idea what the Tempering was, but from Snowcloud's reaction, it was clear it was dangerous. "What is this 'Tempering'?""The Tempering is one of the steps of the True Path," Elder Naran replied. "It purifies the body and mind, reforging you into something stronger. And right now, it is the only thing that might solve your predicament.""H
Forbidden Sphere Chapter 142
"I have a what?"Arran knew Elder Naran must be talking about his forbidden Realm, but he was startled to finally hear it identified. For years, he had wondered what kind of Realm it was, and now that he had an answer, he found himself dumbstruck.Moreover, he had no idea how Elder Naran had discovered it — despite Arran's efforts, Master Zhao's seal was still firmly in place. Yet in just a few moments, the giant Elder had not only seen that he had a hidden Realm, but also what type of Realm it was."A Destruction Realm!" Elder Naran repeated, the excitement in his eyes undiminished. "Don't tell me you don't know about it — I am not a fool.""I have a forbidden Realm," Arran said hesitantly, understanding that there was no way it hide it now. "But it's sealed off.""Someone sealed it?" A frown appeared on Elder Naran's face. "What kind of Essence was used for the seal?""Shadow," Arran said, wondering just what the man was getting at."I suppose that could work…" Elder Naran said, alt