Joroboros

Chapter 183: Śuri

Yalun’s chambers are heating again.

With the morning sun quickly rising in the eastern sky, light reflects off the glass pillars of the Agglomerate and directs it toward the centre. The intense concentration of heat boils the air until it would be cooler to sit in magma within the Agni mountains.

I rise from the rug that has held me for the night hours. Grímr will head off soon, and I’m not sure whether Leal will join him today. While my lessons with Elder Yalun are long and ...

Chapter 182: Discovered... Immediately

I rush after my elders before I lose track of them. With everything made of glass, it’s not really something that will happen, but I don’t want to take any chances.

Never would I have ever hoped that any from my tribe actually survived. Now that I know two of my elders have, I’m not about to take my eyes off them again. I feel a little bad for leaving Yalun like I did. Though, how she acts going forward will tell me just how much I can trust her. Even if my elders were unharmed by...

Chapter 181: Vatra Reunion

My welcome to the Agglomerate has been better than anything I could hope for. The doubts of the past few days on how my taboo might have morphed the other áed’s perspective of me seems to have been unfounded, if Yalun’s attitude is anything to go by.

I know that not all would likely react the same way, but two elders for two are pretty good initial conditions. Plus, Yalun says she’ll protect me from the other grand elders should the details of my taboo slip out. Hopefully, they�...

Chapter 180: Gathering

Leal hardly expected much from what was essentially the capital of the áed, but she was very glad to have been proven wrong.

No wonder a culture that revolved around a nomadic lifestyle chose to settle. Who wouldn’t with such an incredible place available? Each massive pillar of glass rose from the clear ground and towered far above. The paths between each spire are narrow, but still leave enough space for Grímr to spread his wings.

“How was this place made?” Leal can’t ...

Chapter 179: Yalun

“What? How do you know?” The whole reason I stopped her from Kindling was to stop her finding out about my energy. I wouldn’t have bothered if I hadn’t found out having such a high capacity was considered taboo amongst my elders.

“You just told me.”

I can only stare at her.

“Okay, fine. It’s your presence. You aren’t suppressing it as well as you might think. For a presence as strong as yours, you’d either have incredibly hot flames or a great capacity. A...

Chapter 178: The Agglomerate

“Guests?” The orange-fire bird that left immediately after spotting us has returned. Their question is simple and stiff, but she flies by our side until Elder Yalun answers her.

“Yep,” the grand elder by my side says, only for the new áed to nod and fly ahead again. She’s likely a messenger bird. It isn’t surprising that there are those on guard around the Agglomerate, considering how close we are to the Titan Alps.

“Do you get guests often? Non-áed, I mean?”

Chapter 177: Arrival

The sandstorm had veered far enough west by morning that we can continue onward without deviating from our line. It might sound strange that we’d miss a city by making a slight detour, but when dealing with such immense distances as is apparent in the wasteland, even a degree off target could be enough to miss a landmark, regardless of how fast we move.

Every hour in flight brings us ever closer to the Agglomerate. I’m glad I have Grímr to fly for me. If I was the one flying, I’d...

Chapter 176: Before the Goal

The next few days I spent telling Leal — and Grímr, for the parts he didn’t already know — everything I’ve done, this time not avoiding the details of hardship that I’d originally not wanted her to know. From being used to power Henosis’ weapon, to the struggles I faced after being dragged beneath the Titan Alps, I left nothing out.

I have moved past much of what has happened, so telling her is no issue. In fact, it feels slightly relieving to get it off my chest.

Lea...

Chapter 175: Logi Tribe

“You have met Teine?” Elder Tanwyn spins on his feet at the mention of his lost tribesman.

I would love to bring good news, but what happened to her and those with her was anything but great. I nod, but my solemn expression makes clear I have no words to look forward to.

“I see. Let us get seated first, then you can tell what you know,” he says before continuing to lead us toward several black stone blocks.

The blocks are simple, likely used as workbenches to process...

Chapter 174: Agni Mountains

With my companions’ ever-present thirst sated, we fly toward the moon. Should we follow long enough, it will supposedly lead us to the Agglomerate. Well, that or the Titan Alps to the north, but I expect to find a tribe to guide us once we’re that close.

If not for how infrequent meetings between tribes were out in the vast expanse of the wasteland, I might have found it strange that we found no áed tribes despite our great speed and incredible vantage sight. As high as we fly, far...

Chapter 173: Abandoned Mystery

The inscription at the end of the hall glows with enough heat to surpass even invisible flames. Only the distance, and my own flames hold off the heat from reaching my friends. A sheen of condensation forms across each of the metallic walls, which slide down and adds to the stream that bubbles and vaporises the closer it flows to the mass of energy. 

The hollow whistle cuts out, only to be replaced by a heavy buzz, the sound unnatural. 

I throw out as much flames as I ca...

Untitled Story: Chapter 2 (First Draft)

!!! THIS IS THE OUTDATED FIRST VERSION OF THIS CHAPTER !!!

This is the second chap of my WIP. Both this and the first chapter are the first drafts, and I intend to go back to rewrite and edit sections after a while. Right now, I'm not overly certain about the snake's voice, but I'll leave it as is for now.

As I mentioned in the first chap, this is the same world as YF, but seperate (mostly) from Solvei's story.

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A pai...

Chapter 172: The Cube

Four geysers blast water from the equal distances on the slanted square top of the cubic structure. A mist carries off from the watery pillars, but most of the liquid crashes back into the hard surface and gushing along until it flows over the side in a massive waterfall that falls within an obscuring fog.

It is difficult to see exactly what the massive structure is through the immense flow of water, but the smooth metallic sheen is visible even through the obfuscation. More geysers alo...

Chapter 171: Drain

Leal benefit a great deal from the enhancement provided by the chthonics. While not comparable to many other creatures I’ve consumed or given to my team, the trio of major chthonics and their numerous smaller counterparts apply an immense improvement to someone that has relied mostly on natural growth and skill.

A mage will never have the true control over an element that only those with high binding can achieve. I learnt that when I met that fire mage. He might have reached temperatu...

Chapter 170: Major Chthonics

The looming figures of the chthonic giants are daunting. Three growling monsters hold themselves upright with the claws of their hands, their legs dangling limp on the earth as they stare me down. Their proportions are like the other chthonics, yet enhanced. Shoulders and arms are larger, stronger. Their waist and legs thinner, almost unnecessary. 

I was prepared to face one with nothing but a thin coating of flame over my spear, as was the way my elders fought, but there’s no ch...

Untitled Story: Chapter 1 (First Draft)

!!! THIS IS THE FIRST VERSION OF KoJ. A LOT HAS BEEN CHANGED. PLEASE REFER TO THE NEW VERSION OF CHAPTER 1 HERE !!!

This is a seperate story that occurs within the same world as Young Flame, but has its own plot. I'd originally intended to begin writing this back in ...

Chapter 169: What Can You Find in a Metal Mine?

“So, can you smell any?” I ask as we fly low over the desert.

“No,” Grímr says. “There’s nothing in the sand.”

As much as I’d hoped to treat him to a buffet of metal, I had to rely entirely on his nose to find a deposit. Without my elder’s knowledge, we are left searching the wasteland blind. I know Grímr is good at finding metals hiding within the earth; his body might as well be designed for the purpose. Even with that invaluable talent, he hasn’t been ab...

Chapter 168: Worm-Meat

Usually, if a tribesman felled a colossal-worm, the tribe would throw a feast with the flesh of the beast. The largest portions going to the strongest members of the tribe, the biggest of those going to the one who killed the beast. The skin of the worm would be repurposed into leather for either armour or our gers. 

Right now, none of these options seem appropriate. I can definitely burn through the flesh myself and maybe bring some back for Leal and Grímr, but the amount I can c...

Chapter 167: Colossal-Worm

I’ve been at this for hours now and I think it’s about time I give up. Elder Angarika’s halberd wasn’t hard to find, and has a pretty similar function to the relic spear. It’s Elder Cyrus’ scimitar that is nowhere to be found. I don’t know if it fell further into the earth than the rest of my tribe’s belongings or something else has come along and taken it, but it isn’t here any longer.

The wagon with my elder’s maps and documents is unsalvageable. They are treated t...

Chapter 166: Relic

Flying is so convenient. 

I’ve had this thought many times since I first formed my own wings. Without flight, it would be almost impossible to travel anywhere within a reasonable length of time. 

Well, unless your name is Tore and can jump kilometres in the blink of an eye. 

Train networks spread through the nations cut what would be month long journeys to only a few days, but the wasteland my kind calls home doesn’t have the benefit of such technology. Th...

Chapter 165: Reluctant Partner

Are you surprised? I'm trying to pick up my writing pace at the moment so that I can start posting a side story while keeping the same schedule for Solvei's story. I'll try to get another two chapters up this week so I can finally push patreon to 15 chaps ahead of RR.

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It was no challenge to find the port city Brua. Many ships, not entirely dissimilar to Henosis’, sit docked along the coast. It is one of the fundamental differences I�...

Chapter 164: New Goal

How much of the world do I truly know?

It seems that the longer I live, the more there is I don’t understand. What did Kalma mean when she claimed the world will end? What is the barrier that holds it back? And exactly what are the Anatla? 

These aren’t the only questions I find myself asking. Not even close. After that battle Tore and I fought, so many unknowns remained that I now feel the same curiosity I once felt so long ago amongst my tribe. Back when the only thing ...

Chapter 132: PoV - Leal | Revision

This is the redone Leal pov chapter. It's about triple the length but the middle section is roughly the same as the first version. I'm hoping this fixes the issue of chap 133 feeling sudden by giving more of Leal's perspective. 

Nothing plotwise has changed, so you won't have missed anything if you decide not to read.

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Two Years Earlier: Morne.

Leal ran through th...

Progress of the War

Just wanted to do a similar thing as what i did for the Henosis invasion.

Light blue is Joiak. Pink is Zadok. Dark blue is New Vetus. Purple is Vanguard. Red is Henosis. Orange is Theocracy. Green is Pact Nations.

While Vanguard is a part of the pact nations, i kept them seperate.

Chapter 163: Book 3 Epilogue

The east of the pact nations cannot support the influx of population in the long term. If not for particular clauses in the pact between nations, many people would have starved or gone without shelter. Well, more than what already has. Each city east of the Mercenary Order Headquarters now supports up to twice their original populous, and are eager to send them packing now that the war is over. 

Unfortunately for the cities facing intense overpopulation, the first refugees they may...

Chapter 162: Drinks

Remus and Grímr try to turn me down, saying I should have Kalma’s energy for myself, but I won’t have it. Bunny and Jav agree readily, but these two remain resistant, so I grab them with hands formed by physical flame and hold them to the ground while I begin the ritual. Of course, they could break out any time they want, but they admit defeat and allow me to share.

The group of albanics try to join in, but I hold them off with the threat of fire hot enough to melt skin should they...

Chapter 161: Deep

Kalma is dead.

There’s no denying it. Her body lays headless and limp on the sloped amber ground. My flames crawl over her, and I don’t feel any response. The natural heat of her body slowly leaves her. 

I try to eat her, but even dead, my hottest flames cannot burn her flesh. Instead, I cast the inheritance ritual inscription above myself and Tore. I can’t ignore my tribe’s teachings. Especially when a body so nutrition rich like Kalma’s is in question. Leaving her...

Chapter 160: Epoch

Without a second delay, Tore leaps into the air. The pressure slams through me at his sudden movement, and it’s only due to the ethereal flame latching onto the hide of his upper shoulders that I stay with him. 

Allowing my body to become this intangible has some strange effects. My fingers seem to phase through his fur, binding me in place as my inner flame could when burning inside those Viisin bodies. Unlike those Viisin, I’m unable to penetrate his skin. Only hairs allow me...

Chapter 159: Molten Earth

I’d love to say I’ve thought this through, but the truth is my plan isn’t so much a plan as it is an idea. An idea that might be impossible to attempt while Kalma and Tore knock each other across the land.

There’s no point in chasing them; I’ll never keep up. So I settle with putting distance between myself and my team and hope for an opportunity to present itself. 

The battlefield hardly looked like anything but a muddy wasteland even before the duo began ...

Chapter 158: Culmination

The wave of decaying air slams into Tore. His raised arms take the brunt of the blow, but his body is still encompassed by Kalma’s all consuming power.

Even as the blast continues on to destroy much of the land behind him, Tore stands tall, hardly affected by the decay effect which ended Ankor’s life in an instant. A thin powdered dust wafts off his heavy arms, but he remains whole.

Kalma stands with wide eyes. Her grin stripped clean off her face. She bares her teeth and take...