Bloodblade hurried them out of the inn and into the bustling streets. He moved swiftly, expertly weaving through alleys, taking shortcuts, and avoiding as many mages as he could. In three hours, they were beyond the city walls.“How long can you keep running?” Bloodblade asked suddenly.“As long as I need to,” Bjorn replied confidently.“Good. Follow me.” Bloodblade took off running, pushing Bjorn to his limits, or at least as much as Bjorn allowed him to see, as they left the city far behind.“Why are we in such a rush?” Bjorn asked.It was obvious something had scared Bloodblade, and whatever it was, it posed a danger to Bjorn too.“I’ll tell you when—” Bloodblade started.“No!” Bjorn interrupted. “I’m tired of running headfirst into danger without knowing why,” he said, struggling to keep his anger in check. “Tell me now, or I’m going back to the city to find another novice.” He meant every word.Seeing the determination in Bjorn's eyes, Bloodblade decided to reveal the truth. His
Bjorn woke up early, feeling the cool morning air in the cave. The sun hadn’t risen yet, and the sky outside was a soft gray. He stretched quietly, careful not to wake Bloodblade, who was still fast asleep nearby.Bjorn decided to make breakfast. He gathered some dry wood and started a small fire just outside the cave. The flames crackled softly, casting a warm light. He pulled out some beast meat from his spatial ring and sliced it into pieces. The rich, savory smell of cooking meat soon filled the air.As the sun began to rise, it cast a golden glow over the landscape. The jagged rocks and tall trees looked almost beautiful in the morning light. Bjorn took a deep breath, enjoying the quiet moment.The meat was ready. Bjorn walked over to Bloodblade and gently shook his shoulder. “Wake up. Breakfast is ready.”Bloodblade stirred, opening his eyes slowly. He looked exhausted but managed a small smile at the smell of the food. “Thanks, Wildheart,” he said, sitting up.They ate together
Bjorn and Bloodblade trained in a vast, open meadow, unaware that their journey had just become much more dangerous. Now, three factions of the Order, along with assassins and mercenaries, were hunting them.It had been a month since they fled the valley. Bloodblade kept them moving steadily southwest, avoiding any towns or cities. They seized every chance to train, just as they were doing now.In a large clearing, hundreds of meters wide, they sparred intensely. Bjorn realized why Bloodblade had earned his fearsome title. Bloodblade had a rare power called the blood source. He was born for the battlefield, where bloodshed was constant.Bloodblade could control blood. He could manipulate his opponent’s blood flow, immobilizing them or controlling weaker enemies. He could sense the life force of any living being nearby and track someone thousands of miles away with just a drop of blood, making him a perfect tracker and assassin.His blood-sensing abilities also gave him an edge in comb
Bjorn and Bloodblade trudged along a dusty road, unaware of the increasing danger they faced. It had been three days since Bloodblade's breakthrough, and after much deliberation, they decided it was time to interact with civilization again.Bloodblade needed seven rare herbs to create an antidote for the poison used on the patriarch. He already had two of the seven herbs and needed help finding the rest."One more time, I need to hear their names," Bloodblade requested."Moonshade leaf, Starfall sage, Elderbark roots…" Bjorn listed the herbs, describing their appearance and function.Bjorn paid close attention, determined to succeed in their mission despite the tedious task of learning about herbs."Good, good. One of the herbs grows in this region. I hope we can find it in the town ahead or at least get a lead on where to find it," Bloodblade mused aloud.They trekked for three long hours before spotting a town in the distance. With hurried steps, they arrived at the small town, whic
As Bjorn and Bloodblade stepped outside, his shadow stealthily attached itself back to him, while the other shadow followed their stalkers, keeping an eye on the people following them. Bjorn and Bloodblade left the town with determined steps. Immediately after they passed the gates, they set off on a run. They ran at a fast pace, making sure that whoever was tracking them could follow them but not make it too easy since they didn’t bother covering their tracks for them.They ran for hours before heading into the wilderness. Immediately after they got into the forest, Bjorn released his first shadow to scout ahead and provide the location of adept-level beasts.Bjorn was taking no chances since they didn’t know the cultivation base of their pursuers. To make sure they survived, he was going to devour the life force of the beasts his shadow would find.“Do you think you can find adept-level beasts with your blood sensory skill?” Bjorn asked out of the blue.“Why are you after beasts w
Bjorn and Bloodblade turned to face the masked individuals that stepped into the clearing. They were wearing black robes that covered every inch of their bodies, and their figures seemed hazy, making it hard to study anything about them.“Assassins!” Bjorn and Bloodblade thought at the same time, their eyes narrowing.The assassins were relaxed as they took in the state of the clearing with dead beasts littering the ground. “Impressive,” one of the assassins commented.“Why are you after us?” Bjorn asked in a frosty tone.The assassins seemed confident. Assassins are known to always strike from the shadows, but these ones were bold enough to face them head-on. “Either they are way stronger than us, or they are underestimating us,” Bjorn thought to himself.“If they underestimate us, I will make them pay dearly,” Bjorn vowed.“You knew we were coming after you?” the masked man standing in the middle asked in a bewildered tone.Neither Bjorn nor Bloodblade deigned to reply to them, just
While Bjorn fought the leader of the masked assassins, Bloodblade faced a fight on two fronts. He battled the assassin in front of him and struggled against the dark monkey's will inside him.Bloodblade rarely used this power because it put a huge strain on his body, leaving him extremely weak afterward. He also had to resist the will of the beast whose bloodline he was taking on. The ability to use any bloodline for a short time was extremely rare for a blood mage. But, like all power, it came at a great cost. Bloodblade had to fight to stay conscious and remember who he was, struggling against the bloodline's influence. If he lost, he risked turning into a mindless beast.Seeing Bjorn’s determination to hunt and devour beast lifeforce, just to be ready for anything, sparked something inside Bloodblade. He now understood why his father never spoiled him with resources, even though he could easily have done so. His father always pushed him to attain anything he wanted through hard w
Bjorn stood in the middle of the clearing, His heart was pounding as he narrowly dodged a short sword that was coming straight at his chest. Every part of him was focused on surviving. Then, he heard a loud victory roar from his friend, Bloodblade, and allowed himself a quick smile."That's what I'm talking about," Bjorn said, his voice full of relief and excitement. Blood dripped from a cut on his lip, but he smiled confidently, showing the blood in his teeth to his enemy.The assassin froze, taking a few steps back. His eyes widened with shock and disbelief. This wasn’t supposed to happen. They were told their targets were just beginner mages—not too weak, but certainly not strong enough to put up this kind of fight. Taking down adepts was supposed to be hard, almost impossible, but definitely not like this. And now, two of the assassins were already dead. The assassin kept a calm face, but inside, fear crept in. Failure was not an option, and he knew he would be punished."You’re m