Home / Fantasy / The forsaken Code. / Chapter Four: The invitation
Chapter Four: The invitation
last update2025-03-12 03:38:09

Noah walked through the dimly lit streets after his fight, his mind racing. The Forsaken Code was proving to be more powerful than he had imagined. He had just taken down a third-year student without even breaking a sweat, and the best part? No one had a clue how he did it.

Still, something gnawed at him.

The way Marcus collapsed, the whispers in the crowd—people were already starting to suspect something. If he wasn’t careful, he’d draw the wrong kind of attention.

He needed to lay low.

At least, that was the plan.

But fate had other ideas.

The next morning, Noah found a letter slipped under his dorm room door.

The envelope was plain, with no name or insignia. Only one sentence was written on the front:

"Power thrives in the shadows."

Noah frowned. He tore the envelope open and pulled out a folded piece of parchment.

Meet me at the Blackwood Tower at midnight. Come alone.

No signature. No explanation.

Noah felt a chill run down his spine.

Whoever sent this knew about him.

He considered ignoring it—but deep down, he knew this was something he had to face.

If someone had figured out his secret, he needed to know who.

Midnight arrived faster than expected. Noah stood outside Blackwood Tower, an abandoned clock tower on the far side of the academy. The place was supposed to be off-limits, but that never stopped anyone determined enough.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The air was thick with dust, the wooden stairs creaking beneath his weight. As he reached the top, a single lantern flickered in the center of the room.

A man stood beside it.

Tall, lean, and with piercing golden eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness.

“You came.” The man’s voice was smooth, almost amused.

Noah kept his stance relaxed but ready. “Who are you?”

The man smirked. “Names are unimportant. What matters is what you are.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly do you think I am?”

The man stepped closer. “Someone who shouldn’t exist.”

A sharp silence followed.

Noah’s muscles tensed. “Care to explain?”

The man chuckled. “I saw your fight in the underground arena. Your movements… they weren’t natural. You didn’t just predict Marcus’s attacks—you changed how reality responded to them.”

Noah forced himself to stay calm. “That’s a bold assumption.”

The man’s smirk widened. “Noah Carter, you are something this world was never meant to have.”

Noah’s pulse quickened.

“Relax,” the man said, raising a hand. “I’m not your enemy.”

“For now,” Noah muttered.

The man laughed. “Smart. But listen carefully—there are others who will come for you. The academy doesn’t take kindly to anomalies.”

Noah crossed his arms. “So what? You’re here to warn me?”

“No,” the man said. “I’m here to offer you a choice.”

He pulled out a black emblem and tossed it to Noah.

Noah caught it. The emblem was carved with strange symbols—ones that looked eerily similar to the runes of the Forsaken Code.

“What is this?” Noah asked.

“A key,” the man said. “To an organization that operates outside the academy’s rules. A group that understands that power should not be restricted by the weak.”

Noah studied the emblem. “And if I refuse?”

The man’s golden eyes gleamed. “Then you stay here, pretending to be normal, waiting for the day the academy realizes what you are.”

His voice lowered. “And trust me… they will realize it.”

Noah clenched his jaw.

The man turned to leave. “Think it over, Carter. But don’t take too long.”

With that, he vanished into the night, leaving Noah alone with more questions than answers.

Noah sat on his dorm bed, staring at the black emblem in his hand.

An underground organization? A group that knew about people like him?

It was tempting.

For the first time since his awakening, he had confirmation—he wasn’t alone.

But was this group truly offering him freedom? Or was it just another cage?

Noah sighed, gripping the emblem tighter.

Whatever happened next…

He had to be ready.

Noah barely slept that night. The black emblem rested on his desk, its strange symbols reflecting the moonlight filtering through his window.

A secret organization… One that operated outside the academy’s rules. One that understood power.

Noah wanted answers, but something felt off.

The man at Blackwood Tower had spoken as if he knew what Noah was. But how? How much did this group really know?

And more importantly—what did they want from him?

The next day, the academy buzzed with energy. It was the morning of the combat rankings—a day when students displayed their abilities in official duels to climb the academy’s hierarchy.

Noah walked into the dining hall, eyes following him as whispers spread.

“That’s him.”

“The one who destroyed Marcus?”

“No way. He doesn’t even have an ability.”

Noah ignored them and grabbed a tray of food, heading toward a quiet table—until a voice stopped him.

“Noah Carter.”

He turned.

Sophia.

She stood there, arms crossed, her sharp eyes studying him. She looked different—colder than before, like all the warmth they once shared had been erased.

“We need to talk,” she said.

Noah sighed. “And here I thought I’d get a peaceful breakfast.”

“Outside. Now.”

He hesitated, then followed her out to the academy gardens.

The moment they were alone, she got straight to the point.

“What did you do to Marcus?”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “I beat him in a fight. Isn’t that how the rankings work?”

Sophia’s gaze hardened. “Don’t play dumb. The way he lost—it wasn’t normal. I felt it, Noah. Something happened. Something unnatural.”

Noah kept his expression neutral. “Maybe he just wasn’t as strong as everyone thought.”

Sophia narrowed her eyes. “You never could lie to me.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Look… I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’m warning you—if you’re hiding something, the academy will find out. And when they do, you won’t just be expelled. You’ll be hunted.”

A chill ran through Noah’s spine.

Sophia turned to leave but hesitated. “Stay out of trouble, Noah.”

Then she was gone.

Noah exhaled slowly.

Sophia was sharp. If even she suspected something, then he needed to be very careful.

That night, Noah locked his door, preparing to go through the Forsaken Code again—until he sensed something.

A presence.

Someone was outside his window.

Moving in a flash, Noah yanked the window open—only to come face-to-face with a familiar smirk.

Kyle Hastings.

The last person Noah wanted to see.

“Not bad, Carter. You actually noticed me,” Kyle said, sitting casually on the windowsill like he belonged there.

Noah crossed his arms. “What do you want?”

Kyle chuckled. “Relax. I’m not here to fight. I just have a question.”

Noah stayed silent.

Kyle’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Who really trained you?”

Noah frowned. “What?”

“Don’t play dumb,” Kyle said. “I’ve been watching you. A week ago, you were nothing. Now, you fight like someone who’s been trained for years. So tell me—who’s teaching you?”

Noah kept his expression unreadable. “No one.”

Kyle tilted his head. “Liar.”

Noah’s patience thinned. “If you came here just to make accusations, you can leave.”

Kyle smirked. “Fine. Keep your little secret. But I’ll figure it out soon enough.”

He turned to go, then paused. “Oh, and one last thing—be careful who you trust.”

Then, just as suddenly as he arrived, Kyle disappeared into the night.

Noah closed his window, his thoughts racing.

Kyle knew something was off. Sophia suspected him. And the man from Blackwood Tower was watching him.

Noah wasn’t just walking into danger.

He was already in it.

And there was no turning back now.

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

Related Chapters

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Five: The first step into the Unknown.

    Noah sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the black emblem on his desk. The invitation to Blackwood Tower was more than just a meeting—it was a door into a world that operated outside the academy’s control. A world that could either give him answers… or put him in even greater danger. He exhaled sharply. He had made his decision. Tonight, he would go. Slipping out of the academy unnoticed wasn’t easy, but the Forsaken Code made it possible. He rewrote the reality around himself—bending shadows, making footsteps silent, shifting attention away when necessary. It felt… natural. Like his power was always meant to exist outside the rules. He reached the city unnoticed and moved through the dimly lit streets until he stood before Blackwood Tower. It loomed above him, dark and unmarked. No guards. No signs of life. Just an empty lobby and an elevator waiting with its doors open. Noah hesitated for a split second before stepping inside. The moment he did, the doors slid shut. T

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Six: Secrets Beneath the surface

    Noah stood in the dimly lit hall of Blackwood Tower, his heart still steadying from the fight with Killian. The whispers around him had died down, replaced with watchful stares. He had proven himself—at least enough to be acknowledged. But the true test was yet to come. Vance’s hand remained firm on Noah’s shoulder. “You see now, don’t you?” His voice was calm, yet his eyes carried something deeper—something unreadable. “You are not bound by the limitations of this world. And that is why the academy will never accept you.” Noah exhaled, his gaze flickering to the glowing symbols on the walls. “Then what exactly do you want from me?” Vance’s smile didn’t waver. “We want you to understand what you truly are.” Noah narrowed his eyes. “And if I refuse?” Killian scoffed from the side. “You won’t.” Vance chuckled. “There’s nothing to refuse, Noah. You came here seeking answers. We are offering them. What you do with them… is entirely up to you.” Noah didn’t respond. He wasn’t fooli

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Seven: The Intrusion.

    The academy was in chaos.Noah, Killian, and Vance stepped out of the training chamber into a dimly lit hallway. The red emergency lights pulsed in rhythm with the blaring sirens, casting eerie shadows against the metallic walls.Students and instructors rushed past them, their expressions a mix of fear and urgency. Some students were still in their uniforms, while others were in training gear—unprepared for whatever had breached the academy.Noah turned to Vance. “Who could possibly break into a place like this?”Vance’s expression was unreadable. “Few would dare. Fewer would succeed.”Killian cracked his knuckles. “Whoever it is, they’re either insane or powerful. Either way, this could be interesting.”Vance shot him a sharp look. “This isn’t a game, Killian.”A sudden explosion rocked the building. The ground trembled beneath them, and the walls groaned under the force of the blast. Dust and debris rained from the ceiling.Noah coughed, waving the dust away. “That sounded close

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Eight: The Trial Begins

    The ground beneath them crumbled.Noah barely had time to react before he was falling. Darkness swallowed him whole as he plunged into the unknown.The air rushed past his ears. His heart pounded. He braced himself for impact—Then—Thud!He hit something solid, but not as hard as expected. A strange energy cushioned his fall, slowing him down before he landed. Dust filled the air as he rolled to his feet, coughing.A groan came from nearby.Killian.Noah turned, spotting him sprawled on the ground, rubbing his head. “That was fun,” Killian muttered.Vance landed next, as graceful as ever. His eyes swept the dimly lit chamber they had fallen into. Massive stone walls surrounded them, covered in glowing symbols. The air was thick with an eerie presence.Noah shivered. “Where… are we?”Vance took a slow step forward, studying the markings. “The heart of the ruins.”Killian stood up, dusting himself off. “Great. Now how do we get out?”Before anyone could answer, the symbols on the walls

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Nine:. Shadows of the past

    The moment they stepped through the portal, the world around them shifted.Noah barely had time to process what had happened in the ruins before he found himself standing in an entirely different place.The air was thick. Heavy. Charged with something unseen.**Unlike the ruins, which had felt ancient and lifeless, this place… breathed.Killian groaned. “Okay, seriously. Can we go somewhere normal for once?”No one answered.Vance scanned their surroundings with narrowed eyes. His usual calm expression had hardened into something else—concern.Noah swallowed hard. “Where are we?”Vance’s gaze darkened. “The in-between.”Killian frowned. “In-between what?”“The past and the present.”Noah felt a chill crawl up his spine. “That doesn’t make sense.”Vance turned to him. “None of this does.”The sky above them was not a sky.It was moving. Shifting between darkness and light, between shapes that made no sense. Buildings rose and fell as if the world couldn’t decide whether they should exi

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Ten: The Weight of Truth

    The ruins were silent. Not the kind of silence that came with emptiness, but the kind that listened. Noah felt it pressing against his skin, wrapping around him like unseen hands, waiting—expecting. Vance stood a few steps ahead, staring at the remnants of the ancient city. His jaw was tight, his hands clenched at his sides. Killian, usually the first to crack a joke, was uncharacteristically quiet. Noah exhaled. His mind was still reeling from what he had seen—the fire, the destruction, the way the flames had moved like they were part of him. Like he had commanded them. He forced himself to speak. “What now?” Vance turned to him. “Now, we figure out who you really are.” The words sent a shiver down Noah’s spine. Killian huffed. “Sounds great, but how exactly do we do that? Do we just—what? Hope another vision smacks him in the head?” Vance ignored him. “This place was hidden for a reason. If we dig deep enough, we’ll find the truth.” Noah’s stomach twisted. He wa

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Eleven:. Whispers in the Dark

    The ruins stretched before them like the bones of a forgotten civilization, jagged and broken. Time had eroded the once-magnificent structures, leaving behind only remnants of what had been. A chilling wind howled through the crumbling arches, carrying the echoes of voices long gone. Noah’s heart pounded as he followed Vance and Killian through the ruins. The words of the shadowy figures lingered in his mind. Find the Veil. Uncover what was lost. “What do you think they meant by ‘the Veil’?” Killian asked, his voice low. Vance adjusted his gloves. “If I had to guess, I’d say it’s a place—or a barrier—between what we know and what was hidden.” Noah exhaled. “Then it’s where we need to go.” They pressed on, their footsteps echoing against stone. The deeper they went, the more unnatural the air became. A weight settled over Noah’s shoulders, a pressure that felt… aware. Then he heard it. A whisper. Faint, like a breath against his ear. “Turn back.” Noah’s body went rig

  • The forsaken Code.   Chapter Twelve:. The eyes that watch

    The ruins felt heavier, like an invisible weight pressing against Noah’s chest. Every step forward sent a ripple through the air, as if the world itself was resisting their presence.Killian exhaled sharply. “Okay, so let me get this straight. The Veil isn’t a place, it’s a barrier? A wall between us and whatever’s on the other side?”Noah nodded. “Yeah. And I think… I think I can feel it.”Vance glanced at him. “Describe it.”Noah hesitated, searching for the right words. “It’s like standing in a dream you don’t belong to. The closer I get, the more I feel like… I’m being watched.”Killian scoffed. “Watched by what?”Before Noah could answer, the wind shifted.And the shadows moved.Killian froze mid-step. “Tell me that was just my imagination.”It wasn’t.Shapes slithered between the ruins, figures barely visible against the dim light. Their eyes gleamed—hundreds of them. Not human. Not alive.Vance’s voice was calm, but firm. “We’re not alone.”The ground beneath them trembled. The

Latest Chapter

  • Chapter Thirty- nine: Noah's past Reflection (3)

    Killian didn’t press further, and for that, Noah was grateful. He wasn’t sure he had the strength to put everything into words just yet.The fire had long since burned out, leaving only glowing embers between them, and for a moment, the world felt still. But Noah knew better than to trust stillness. The Darklands had a way of lulling travelers into a false sense of security before striking when they least expected it.“I don’t sleep much either,” Killian admitted after a moment, breaking the silence. His voice was quieter than usual, almost contemplative. “Too many things in my head. Too many things I’ve done that won’t let me rest.”Noah glanced at him, surprised. Killian wasn’t the type to talk about himself. He had always been the steady one, the fighter who never seemed to flinch, the man who never hesitated. But now, sitting in the dim light, he seemed… human. Tired.Noah hesitated before speaking. “What did you do?”Killian sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “You ever make a

  • Chapter Thirty-Eight: Noah's past Reflection (2)

    Noah sat by the dying embers of the campfire, his mind drifting to a time before the Darklands, before the Abyss had marked him. The others had settled in for the night, their breathing slow and steady, but sleep eluded him.His father’s voice echoed in his mind, sharp and unforgiving. "You were never meant to lead, Noah. You hesitate. You doubt. That’s what makes you weak."Noah had always struggled under the weight of his father’s expectations. The man had been a force of nature—unyielding, disciplined, and entirely without mercy. He had trained Noah from the time he could walk, pushing him beyond his limits, testing his resolve at every turn. But no matter how hard he tried, it had never been enough."A leader doesn’t second-guess himself," his father had said, after watching Noah hesitate before striking an opponent in one of their countless sparring matches. "A leader commands."Noah had never wanted to command. He had wanted freedom, choices that were his own. But fate had other

  • Chapter Thirty-seven: Noah's past Reflection

    The fire crackled softly, its warmth a stark contrast to the cold weight settling in Noah’s chest. The others had drifted into restless sleep, exhaustion finally catching up to them after the ordeal in the Darklands. But Noah couldn’t close his eyes. Not yet.He stared into the embers, lost in thought. The hooded woman’s words echoed in his mind: You didn’t just restrain it. You claimed dominion over it.A bitter chuckle escaped him. He hadn’t sought power. He never had. But power had a way of finding him, twisting itself into his life whether he wanted it or not.The memory came unbidden—his father’s voice, sharp and full of disappointment.“You hesitate, Noah. You always hesitate. And that is why you will never be strong enough.”He had been a child then, no older than ten, standing in the courtyard of their old estate. His hands trembled around the hilt of the wooden practice sword, his opponent a boy two years older, taller, stronger. The clash of training blades echoed around the

  • Chapter Thirty-six: Finally

    The air grew heavier, thick with a presence unseen but deeply felt. Each step forward sent a ripple through the Darklands, as though Noah’s very existence unsettled the slumbering force beneath them. The terrain twisted, shifting like a living thing reacting to their intrusion.Vance walked beside him, his daggers drawn but loose in his grip, his gaze darting to the shifting landscape. "You feel that, don’t you? It’s like the ground’s... breathing."Killian exhaled sharply. "More like watching. I don’t like it."The hooded woman kept her eyes forward, her posture rigid. "It knows you now, Noah. And it’s testing you."Noah tightened his fists, the mark on his wrist pulsing in time with his heartbeat. He could feel the connection deepening, the abyssal power within him stirring in response to the land’s awakening. The knowledge unsettled him—but fear would do him no good. He had already chosen this path.Then, without warning, the ground ahead of them cracked open.A deep, guttural soun

  • Chapter Thirty- five: Darklands Awakening

    The silence was deafening. The darkness no longer writhed, no longer reached for him with insatiable hunger. Yet Noah could still feel its presence, distant but lingering, like an ember smoldering beneath the ash.He exhaled sharply, his muscles trembling from the effort of binding the creature. His mind swam with exhaustion, yet the weight of the moment kept him grounded.Killian staggered to his feet, dusting himself off. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by something almost wary. “So… does this mean it’s over?”Vance shot him a look, sheathing his daggers. “You really think something like that goes down without consequences?”Noah flexed his fingers, staring at the mark on his wrist. The pain had subsided, but an odd sensation remained—like a tether stretching into the void.The hooded woman stepped closer, her gaze sharp. “You’ve done what no one else could. But this is only the beginning.”Noah frowned, his heart still racing. “What do you mean?”She hesitated for the first ti

  • Chapter Thirty- four: Bound by shadows

    The path ahead was a winding, narrow trail, barely visible under the creeping darkness that seemed to grow thicker with each passing moment. The trees loomed over them like towering giants, their twisted limbs blocking out any semblance of light. The further they went, the more Noah felt as though the land itself was closing in on them, as though the very earth were conspiring to keep them in this oppressive shadow. Noah’s mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The mark on his wrist had not stopped pulsing, and the more he tried to ignore it, the more it seemed to demand his attention. It wasn’t just the mark, though—it was the whole of this place. The air felt heavy with something ancient, something old and powerful. It was the weight of forgotten things, of lost memories that no one wanted to remember. He glanced over at Killian, who was still tense and alert, his eyes darting to every shadow, every flicker of movement in the periphery. Even Vance, who usually carried himself with a s

  • Chapter Thirty-three: Into the Darklands

    The journey toward the Darklands was unlike anything Noah had ever experienced. The air grew colder with every step they took, a biting chill that gnawed at their bones. The landscape around them transformed slowly, as though the world itself was warping in response to their approach. The once lush forests gave way to barren, twisted trees, their gnarled branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The ground was cracked and dry, with jagged rocks jutting out of the earth at odd angles. As they ventured further, the silence of the land weighed heavily on them. The usual sounds of nature—the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds—were conspicuously absent. Only the occasional screech of a distant bird of prey broke the oppressive stillness, but it was always followed by an unsettling silence, as if the land itself were holding its breath. Noah’s thoughts drifted back to the conversation they had before they left. The hooded woman had been cryptic in her explanations, offeri

  • Chapter Thirty- two:. The final confrontation

    The Abyss was no longer a mere force to be reckoned with; it had become an entity in its own right, its tendrils frenzied, its eyes burning with hatred and fear. Noah could feel it gathering itself, preparing for one final strike, but something had shifted within him. The mark on his wrist pulsed with energy, its rhythm in sync with his heartbeat. He wasn't the man who had walked into this battle mere hours ago—he had grown. And now, the Abyss would face him, not as a victim, but as a force of nature itself. The hooded woman stepped back, her eyes narrowed as she observed the shifting shadows. "This is it. You’ve awakened the power within you, Noah. Now, you must wield it." Noah's eyes never left the swirling mass in front of him. The Abyss was taking form, its colossal figure now a twisted mirror of his own fears and weaknesses. The creature’s roar reverberated through the air, as though mocking him, daring him to challenge it one last time. “I don’t have a choice,” Noah muttere

  • Chapter Thirty-one: Defeated (2)

    The Abyss let out one final, ear-splitting shriek as its form twisted and unraveled. The darkness that had once loomed over them like an eternal nightmare shattered, dissipating into the void like smoke caught in the wind. The oppressive weight that had suffocated Noah and his companions lifted, leaving behind only silence. Noah staggered, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. The mark on his wrist no longer burned; instead, it pulsed with a steady, quiet glow. He had done it. They had done it. Killian wiped the sweat from his brow, his sword still clenched in his hand as if expecting the Abyss to reform. When it didn’t, he let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “It’s… it’s actually gone.” Vance, who had been bracing for another wave of darkness, slowly lowered his hands, his fire extinguishing. “I can’t believe it,” he muttered. “I thought for sure we’d be swallowed whole.” The hooded woman stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Noah. “You have severed the Abyss’s hold,”

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