Navigating the sun-scorched desert without a drop of water turned each step into a battle against the relentless rays. Zeke and his group found themselves engulfed in an unforgiving heat that seemed to challenge their very existence.
The mirages on the horizon taunted him with false promises of relief, making the vast expanse feel like an endless, arid canvas. With every footfall, the dry earth beneath seemed to greedily absorb any lingering moisture, leaving his worn-out soles to grapp...
2023-12-27 15:31:09 +0000 UTC
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It was already noon when Zeke finally opened his eyes. He couldn’t tell what had led to this outcome. Maybe it was due to his exhaustion or the fact that he finally had confirmation that everyone was safe. He couldn’t be sure, but it was the first time in ages he had slept so soundly.
However, even after waking up, he remained prone on the ground. His eyes were glued to the ceiling of his tent as he carefully tested his condition.
Wiggling his toes? Check.
Circling his a...
2023-12-25 16:19:34 +0000 UTC
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Jaihar and the Water Mage looked at Zeke with a strange mix of bewilderment and horror. They quietly stood there and watched him take another bite. There was an unnatural silence in the air, only broken by the sound of quiet chewing. Nobody moved, as their minds had difficulty comprehending what they saw.
This strange equilibrium might have lasted even longer if not for a muffled cry in the distance. Suddenly, Jaihar snapped back to his senses.
“Kill him!” He began casting bef...
2023-12-22 14:15:00 +0000 UTC
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Zeke shot forward like an arrow. He could not afford to let go of the slightest advantage if he wanted to last even a moment longer. Therefore, he tried to catch his opponents off guard with his sudden attack.
It worked — somewhat.
The three mages were surprised, but that could only take him so far. As veterans of the Rings, they were used to fighting opponents physically superior to them. After their initial shock wore off, they immediately snapped into action, and he could alr...
2023-12-20 14:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke let himself fall down, uncaring of the rough stone floor scraping his back. He just lay there and stared at the sky through the opening in the ceiling.
His breath was rough, and his body ached all over. From the stinging of his lungs to the open wounds across his back, not a single speck of skin was uninjured. Nevertheless, he was smiling broader than he had in a long time.
On top of his physical ailments, his Core was wholly depleted, and fine cracks had formed across its su...
2023-12-18 14:15:01 +0000 UTC
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The very moment Zeke tossed the bottles, the Elementals sprung into action. However, their target wasn’t the bottles but the boy who had thrown them. It seemed retrieval was a lower priority than threat removal.
“Quite sensible,” Zeke thought as he disappeared from his spot when the first Elemental was about to reach him. His [Short Range Teleportation] could take him anywhere inside his sphere of awareness, and Zeke had tasked Akasha with picking out the best location.
He k...
2023-12-15 14:46:00 +0000 UTC
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After Zeke explained his plan, the trio left the mine to get some rest. This would be their last chance to relax before leaving the Danger Zone for good. It was also the first time he got to rest since coming here. He had spent the entirety of the last three days immersed in research. Therefore, the moment his head touched the pillow, he was out.
Akasha’s voice woke him from his peaceful rest a mere moment later. However, despite his certainty that no time had passed, the first rays o...
2023-12-13 16:56:55 +0000 UTC
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The pale glow of the light ball hovering atop his palm was the only source of light in the endless corridors as they made haste so as not to lose their silent guide. The Dragon perched on his shoulder observed their surroundings with a focused gaze, its eyes reflecting the many corridors.
The path meandered through winding passages, with the downward slope as its only constant. His orb cast long shadows on the walls, making the journey both mesmerizing and eerie. The occasional gusts of...
2023-12-11 14:15:01 +0000 UTC
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This is a rough Map of 'the Continent'. For now, I am going to leave this as a Patreon exclusive. I might add smaller maps at a later point, displaying the various regions in more detail.
However, for now, you can trace Zeke's journey over the past books. Right now, he is in the northeast of Korrovan.
2023-12-10 16:08:51 +0000 UTC
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Zeke’s eyes widened. “What are they?”
The Dragon glanced at him through the corners of its eyes. “Do you know how essence crystals are formed?”
Zeke nodded hesitantly. After the earlier revelation, he wasn’t as confident in his fundamental knowledge anymore. “They form when the concentration of Mana exceeds a certain level, right?”
The Dragon bobbed its head. “Correct. But you probably don’t know that this is only one of the possible thresholds in Mana de...
2023-12-08 14:15:06 +0000 UTC
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Zeke cautiously entered the hall, its air thick with the weight of centuries. Dust particles danced in the soft beams of light that managed to penetrate the space through narrow openings in the ceiling. As he ventured further, the full magnificence of the sight revealed itself.
He had been skeptical when the Gemkar patriarch described how visitors had come from far away to witness the fountain. Subconsciously, he had dismissed those words as the braggings of an old man. However, he comp...
2023-12-06 19:19:28 +0000 UTC
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“This is as far as I go, sir.”
Zeke tore his gaze from the majestic mountain range and looked at the person who had come up beside him. Despite not even being ten years old, the guide looked like an old man with gray hair and fur.
“Is this already the spot?”
The boy nodded. “The Danger Zone is right ahead.”
Zeke studied their surroundings. During the last few hours, the desert had given way to a dry savannah bordering a mountain range. But no matter how har...
2023-12-04 19:46:37 +0000 UTC
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The room fell silent after the patriarch finished his story. Zeke also had a grim expression on his face. If those creatures were strong enough to cripple a prominent family in a single night, then what chances did he have?
His thoughts were disrupted when Mohan spoke again. “I can’t imagine the Raja family staying still after such an event.”
“And you would be right,” the patriarch replied with a sigh. “The Exarch descended personally to end this blight.”
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2023-12-01 18:29:17 +0000 UTC
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Zeke was lying in the shadow of a palm tree in the backyard of the Nair family. It had been several days since he received the clue about the plant he sought.
Even though he now had a way to get the information he wanted, it wasn’t foolproof. Zeke was well aware that anything could happen in an auction. Furthermore, he wasn’t keen on bringing out tens of thousands of gold so publicly.
Therefore, he had spent the last couple of days trying to find out more about the location th...
2023-11-29 17:44:21 +0000 UTC
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“Can you describe the plant you are looking for, young man?”
“It has a slender stem with a silver color, and its leaves are a vibrant emerald green. It grows in a cold climate,” Zeke explained for the third time today.
The keeper of the treasury fell into deep thought. After a while, he vanished into the warehouse to retrieve something. However, Zeke didn’t have high hopes. This wasn’t the first time he had described the plant he looked for.
Zeke, Aisha, and Priy...
2023-11-27 20:09:41 +0000 UTC
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Walking the streets with Aisha beside him was more problematic than Zeke had expected.
When they first met, he had described her as one of the most famous beauties of Korrovan. Back then, he had spoken those flattering words lightly to make a good impression. However, now it seemed he might not have been too far off from the truth. The amount of people blatantly staring at them was staggering.
Many people took notice of how they were walking arm in arm. The younger crowd, especial...
2023-11-24 17:35:48 +0000 UTC
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For hours now, the only sounds disturbing the room's quiet were the noises of scribbling and rustling.
Zeke carefully read through a pile of documents that only seemed to grow taller. The reason he felt this way was the fact that the mound was actually increasing in size. At any given time, three flying pens furiously worked on extending its height. It was as if they were determined not to let him ever catch up.
Three days had passed since the time of the Veergati, and a lot had c...
2023-11-22 17:32:43 +0000 UTC
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Zeke studied the group blocking their path.
He had previously noticed that the young man leading the trio was a Grand Mage with a Fire affinity. His two guards, in turn, were also at the Grand Mage level. However, he didn’t believe they could win against Vulcanos or Gravitas, not even by fighting together.
Zeke had noticed that the high-status individuals here in Korrovan preferred human guards over Chimeroi, even if they were weaker. He was sure there was some prejudice there, ...
2023-11-20 16:22:06 +0000 UTC
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After Mohan agreed to Zeke’s offer, they spent a long time discussing the details of their future cooperation. As a seasoned merchant and family head, Mohan Nair fought tooth and nail for as many benefits as he could get.
Ultimately, he substantially raised their shares in the venture and improved the agreed-upon conditions. He was so happy about the final agreement that he completely missed Zeke's indifference to those minor points.
In the end, a lengthy document took shape. Th...
2023-11-17 16:59:19 +0000 UTC
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“What is it, Akasha?” Zeke asked. “Did you find the Gemkar representatives?”
[Notice]
Negative. It is something else, but the host might still be interested. It involves a secondary objective.
“Ohh? Where is it?”
Akasha directed his attention toward the center of the hall. The inside of the circular hall was filled with tables. It was an area intended for the many representatives to chat and drink. At one...
2023-11-15 16:05:48 +0000 UTC
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The first rays of the morning sun gently illuminated the verdant paradise that was the capital of Korrovan. A small group walked the streets in good cheer. Silk and jewels decorated the humans, while even the Chimeroi were wearing proper clothing for once.
Zeke and the others from the Lion’s Den were on their way to the Veergati. While they walked, Ravi explained what would be expected of them.
“The Veergati is undoubtedly an important event, but you don’t have to worry too ...
2023-11-13 16:59:40 +0000 UTC
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Two weeks.
That’s how much time he had left to raise his profile in the eyes of the public. As of right now, Zeke didn’t have much of a reputation. Even though his first fight had been spectacular, the subsequent surrenders had made it impossible for him to display his skill. However, that would all change now.
Having advanced to the second circle, called the Warrior's Crucible, Zeke didn’t think the contestants would be so cowardly as to avoid him anymore. After all, those ...
2023-11-10 14:15:01 +0000 UTC
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The following days passed in a blur. Zeke spent his mornings studying Mana Breathing with the others, and his afternoons tinkering on his own. One of the advantages of his contract was that he could skip training whenever he wanted. The agreement he had signed with the Lion’s Den only obligated him to compete and nothing more.
Of course, he didn’t forget to attend his daily matches in the Rings. However, he had vastly underestimated the impact his first fight had had on the contesta...
2023-11-08 14:15:00 +0000 UTC
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The Rings of Samsara operated on a repeating schedule. Each week, an elimination-style tournament would be held. On the final day, a new champion would be crowned. This person was then given the option to either advance or stay in their current circle.
Because Zeke won his fight, he automatically progressed to the second round and had another match today. However, not all of his companions had been that lucky. Compared to the day before, their number was halved. The beginner’s group h...
2023-11-06 14:15:01 +0000 UTC
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I have become very unhappy with my choice of names regarding the Colosseum culture in Korrovan. Therefore, I have decided to rename a couple of things. Those are the new names I will be using from now on:
Colosseum = Rings of Samsara.
Gladiator = Rana Samrat.
Lanista = Vakara.
Ludus = School.
The reason for this change is mainly that I didn't want to mix the cultures up. Korrovan is primarily based ...
2023-11-05 18:57:06 +0000 UTC
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“Five Lions have joined us today. Let us celebrate!”
The moment the hooded man uttered those words, the atmosphere immediately changed. A festive air replaced the previously somber mood of the ceremony. From all over, servants emerged, rolling kegs into the hall.
Out of the corner of his eye, Zeke saw somebody approach. A smile tugged at his lips as he turned to face the person. The young man was carrying two cups, offering one to Zeke.
“Congratulations on your victory...
2023-11-03 14:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke returned to the Lion’s Den in silence. Right now, he didn’t want to talk. Despite having put on a casual front earlier, he wasn’t feeling too good about what happened in the arena. The others seemed to sense his somber mood and stayed away on their own. Even Ripper and Rohan, who surely wanted to ask him many questions, restrained themselves. However, there was somebody who didn’t show as much restraint.
“Quit your moping, whelp. It is souring my mood,” the Dragon said....
2023-11-01 14:15:01 +0000 UTC
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The light was blinding as Zeke stepped into the open-air arena. He blinked a couple of times to adjust his eyes. Slowly, everything came into focus. From the other side, he could make out the silhouette of his opponent.
Ironclad was a mountain of a man. Also, Zeke could immediately tell how he had come up with his moniker. His entire body was fully encased in plate armor, without revealing even a speck of skin. Looking at him, one couldn’t even tell what species the man was. But there...
2023-10-30 14:15:00 +0000 UTC
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Shortly after sunrise, Zeke arrived in the open courtyard in front of the Ludus. After a quick glance, he noticed that the fighters were arranged according to their levels. He quickly joined the group bound for the beginner’s circle.
To his surprise, he didn’t see Leo among them. Looking around, he found his brother had already joined the competitors of the second circle. A wry smile spread across his face. He should have expected as much, but it still surprised him. After all, the ...
2023-10-27 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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Zeke’s gaze was so sharp that Ishaan took a step back before Zeke even moved. At this moment, there was a strange aura emanating from his body. It wasn’t something humans could perceive, but to the Chimeroi, it was like a bonfire.
The defeated gladiators, bloody and bruised as they were, crawled away. Even Kaaria, the petite slave girl, could feel that something about Zeke had changed. The small hairs on her neck and arms stood on end. To her senses, the amiable young man from earl...
2023-10-25 13:15:01 +0000 UTC
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