nemorosus

Chapter 597: Three Year Coma, Everyone Died

The very second that Argrave blinked open his eyes, he tried to sit up quickly. That proved to be a resounding mistake as pain assailed him from within, and he felt hot liquid rise up his throat—from the taste of it, blood. He coughed ungracefully, and felt that unpleasantness spill out over his face.

“Oh, what in the… just my luck,” He faintly heard a voice, and then saw someone he recognized well—Titus. The former southern tribal took a nearby wet cloth and wiped Argrave’s...

Chapter 596: Chaos is a Big Cannon

Pain was a frightful thing. It was meant to be frightful by instinct, meant to ward the experiencer away from something that was doing them harm. Argrave had developed much of his strategy around the avoidance of pain. He was well-accustomed to experiencing it when he had time to prepare, whether becoming black blooded, or ascending to A-rank. But getting hit? It simply wasn’t part of his strategy.

As the fight with Sataistador dragged on, Argrave realized that he was fighting the sam...

Chapter 595: Good Men, None or All

Zen was quite certain that Argrave had lost his mind.

First, it started with the name mix-up. He thought that Argrave was calling him Ji Meng as some sort of joke or pointed barb, but as time carried on, it became painfully obvious that Argrave genuinely thought his name was Ji Meng. Argrave carried himself with such force and confidence that it was difficult to even consider correcting him.

Second, as they explored this strange realm—the Stormfield, as he called it, and as Zen ...

Chapter 594: Storming the Fields

Argrave was the only one who could stop Sataistador.

That wasn’t a grandiosity complex, merely the facts of the situation. Argrave should’ve put some of the pieces together when he saw Governor Ji Meng tear his own rib out to make the array that warded away divinity. The governor was dead now, unfortunately, but at least he got to see his granddaughter’s wedding.

Regardless, the Stormfield was shamanic magic, true enough. But it was more than that. It was blood magic.

...

Chapter 593: Full of Himself

Zen clenched the red blade that Sataistador had gifted him tightly, then wiped some sweat off his brow. He kneeled in a place he had been only a few times before, despite his efforts to come as often as he could. He stood atop a glass cover, peering down at something that could be considered both a work of art and a feat of unimaginable intelligence: the Stormfield. This array, contained within glass, was the heart of the Palace of Heaven. It was the true last bastion for the rulers of the Gr...

Chapter 592: Got Yourself a Gun

“How many bits do we have to attach to movement?” Argrave complained, looking over Raven’s metaphorical shoulder as he worked. “I don’t want to literally ‘jog my memory.’ Could you imagine the looks I get if I wave my arms about every time someone asks me a question I need to think about?”

Argrave sat in his unusual chair, spinning around it while Raven worked hard.

“Focus on your own construction,” Raven criticized.

“I’ve been ready.” Argrave looke...

Chapter 591: Elaborative Encoding Experiment

“You’re talking about losing limbs?” Argrave stared at Raven, stepping back cautiously within this mental landscape. “Why do I need to sacrifice anything? What’s going on?” Argrave braced himself.

Did Argrave even have limbs to lose? He wasn’t entirely sure. And if he did, was this man truly speaking in his best interests? He tried to think of Raven, and while there was a tidbit of him saying that he was a friend… there was another whispering that this man had committed ...

Chapter 590: Two Bros, Exploring Each Other

The Alchemist sprawled out on the cold stone plateau. All around, voices spoke.

“Law, instead of casting judgment on Raccomen and myself, could you judge what in the blazes is wrong with the kingling?”

The Alchemist turned his head, drawn from his stupor. There, Rook, with markedly bolstered confidence, stared upward at Law as the golden figure knelt down. An army of Justiciars approached. The Stormfield was dying, so they had no need to protect the army any longer.

“I...

Chapter 589: Knowledge's Quagmire

Erlebnis had a long while to think about how to kill Argrave in this fight. The man had come to specialize in avoidance after learning how to use [Echo Step] in conjunction with his A-rank ascension. Now, with the god of space standing by his side like a bodyguard, that talent would have another layer of protection. All of this excluded the titanic Law manifesting on the battlefield. Law had been an easy equal for Erlebnis even before this fight began. Now, though, with more allies… with an...

Chapter 588: No Distractions

“...and that's all I can say about Fellhorn,” Argrave told Elenore, giving advice to Melanie through Elenore as he and Raccomen made to confront Erlebnis. They intended to fight him outside the Palace of Heaven, as it kept him from interfering with the operations within and, if all went well, they might turn the Stormfield against him.

He continued advising, “And the lich, his phylactery... it's hidden within a stuffed animal: a black bear, with big floppy ears. That's all I have,...

Chapter 587: Terrible Martyrs

Argrave stood at the edge of the central courtyard of the Palace of Heaven. Whether from above or below, the tales said that this place had never been breached. Its walls could withstand the fury of gods, and apparently there were measures to prevent any entry from above. But here they stood, the first of history. Beyond was a verdant garden far removed from the stony plateau they’d come from. Considering the Stormfield still worked, there would be other enemies in here. Their silence, howe...

Chapter 586: Reach to the Bone

The moments after Erlebnis took the form of a lone man were very chaotic.

“We need to flee, now! Fall back!” Anneliese pulled on Argrave's arm, shouting, after the strange and tangible outpouring of power from the Palace of Heaven. The Stormfield had stalled, somewhat.

Argrave turned his head away from the gray-haired old man who'd newly arrived. “Why?” He asked quickly.

“Because he's after you,” she continued urgently. “You, and only you. We fall back, cut him...

Chapter 585: Experience

Argrave. Bastard of King Felipe III, King of Vasquer, de facto leader of the Blackgard Union, and now Grand Commandant of the Great Chu, come seeking the head of two ancient gods. Over two years ago, he had come before Erlebnis seeking a blessing.

If Erlebnis had known what that young man could become, all of this could have been avoided.

Argrave had been a mere blip in an eventful day—a curious deal, giving Erlebnis vengeance in return for power. The death of a vampire lord, th...

Chapter 584: Long March to Heaven

The people of the Great Chu had come here today, spurred by the son of heaven, to once again beat back the gods—to once again prevent their nation from crumbling. Yet the battle before them proceeded like nothing else.

The endless fire of the sky tower began to rain down upon Grand Commandant Sun’s forces as they marched ever closer to heaven. The application of magic and the aid of divinity made them fire retardant, but the whole of the area was scorched. It was a deep, unending he...

Chapter 583: Death Makes an Ugly Bedmate

Dario had stared down death before. She had a much uglier visage than anticipated—too much to bear without flinching from it, and so he strayed from her kiss. Now he was mentally prepared for that homely face, and if it should come time to stare her down again, he was certain he wouldn’t flinch away this time. If he did, death might grow offended and decide to claim him regardless. She was clingy, and didn’t like being refused.

Traugott. The Heralds, as they were apparently called...

Chapter 582: Tuning Instruments

Argrave stood before a door, taking a deep breath to prepare himself. Then, he swung it wide quickly. In the room, a tall, blonde-haired woman stood at attention while a young girl with black hair, dressed in green, waited… a young girl by the name of Sophia.

She turned her head at the sudden noise, then jumped off her chair. “Argrave!”

His heart was warmed beyond compare as the young girl ran across the room, and he kneeled down to catch her in his arms. He picked her up, b...

Chapter 581: Broken Body, Priceless Mind

Elenore spoke in Argrave’s mind, yet Galamon spoke aloud at the same time.

Elenore conveyed, “Anneliese suggests you tell him. Then, you can trap Traugott when he comes for the Undying Soul in question.”

Galamon said to Traugott, “We have no need for your tricks. The Veidimen are more than a match for this Palace of Heaven. We have no fear of death.”

Argrave reeled from the two voices with opposite suggestions, but stared at the shell of Norman bound by druidic mag...

Chapter 580: Slurry of Ash and Blood

“It’s safe,” the Alchemist declared. A bird landed on his huge finger. His druidic bond had scouted the whole of the crematorium. “Nevertheless, watch the shadows.”

Argrave descended down into the crematorium, shadowed by Anneliese and Galamon. The Alchemist was the last to follow, ducking low and compressing his body to avoid the low-lying roof. They weren’t the only ones present, however; nearly all of Argrave’s most potent forces had been brought to bear, but remained o...

Chapter 579: Fleshy Bait On a Hook of Words

Two days had passed since Orion’s wedding. These days were moments of respite, even amidst the bombardment from the Sky Tower above. Elenore had taken further measures behind the scenes to ensure the governor would be punished if he stepped out of line, but for now, they had contented him. The emperor was again drinking Ebonice tea, and Zen took this as a sign that they had neutered him. It was enough to earn his cooperation. But he wouldn’t be content to keep Ji Meng alive forever, and t...

Chapter 578: Union of Sun and Moon

Volume 4's out on Amazon. Most major edit I can think of is the conversation between Argrave and the margrave. That entire debacle with Durran stealing the wyvern was rewritten, and Argrave's aware of the intentions of House Parbon throughout the book.
Audiobook narration is also out an Audible. Luke Daniels continues the narration.
#...

Chapter 577: Shadow Over Pleasantry

Good King Norman.

Last Argrave saw of him, Norman hadn’t face enough to be recognizable. He had made sure the man perished—crushed his skull with the most powerful spell he could muster as Traugott tried to spirit him away into the Shadowlands. Now Norman struck a rather eye-catching image, being the only one of the actors in the play largely unadorned with the makeup the other actors bore, perhaps to display that his ethnicity differed from the audience’s. He was also a fair bit ...

Chapter 576: Flooding the Opera House

Zen looked to his daughter, the empress, as they walked through the palace grounds. He wasn’t pleased to have Ji Meng again walk the palace halls, largely for his daughter’s sake. It reminded him of something. He had contracted cancer once before, in his sixties—as a tumor, it wasn’t something that simple healing spells could remove. Great Chu doctors had performed a complex surgery, sustaining his life with their vital force as they excised it. The first procedure, however, hadn’t ...

Chapter 575: The Zen Way

“Beneath the whole of this palace, there is an incredibly intricate enchantment. I daresay it’s the most intricate enchantment in the entire world,” Governor Zen explained as they walked through the imperial gardens. “As far as I’m aware, it’s the only enchantment in the world to employ shamanic magic. It’s a closely guarded secret of the Great Chu that’s allowed the imperial court to resist the machinations of deities for countless cycles of judgment.”

Argrave listene...

Chapter 574: A Guest Too Honored

During the musical performance, Argrave didn’t exchange further words with Governor Zen’s group or the emperor. Their sitting arrangement dictated they needed to speak loudly to be heard, and it would be rude to shout over the performance. They would have the chance to speak again once the next performer was setting up.

The first meal was served on raised trays placed in front of their sitting pillows, chopsticks as the utensil. Elenore had people watching the kitchens, ensuring no ...

Chapter 573: Beating Imperial Heart

Argrave was welcomed into the city of Ji in a much grander fashion than he’d ever expected. He was bid to enter on horseback with some guards and the entourage he intended to bring into the Palace of Heaven. He didn’t like riding on horses, but he obeyed, and was repaid for it in rather grand fashion. The citizens of the Great Chu lined the streets, flying hundreds of thousands of kites into the air as though in defiance of the ever-ongoing siege from the sky tower. That these people coul...

Chapter 572: And You May Find Yourself...

After Argrave and Elenore had come to a similar conclusion about their actions vis-à-vis Sataistador’s connection to the governor, they finally answered Stain, who’d been on hold for quite a long time.

“Argrave is willing to consider… further concessions regarding this alliance,” Elenore conceded on his behalf. “But you speak so much of how your family is at the heart of your influence, while you’ve introduced us only to a small few. I think a family gathering is in order...

Chapter 571: Coronation of Another Scale

From Elenore’s point of view, acquiescing to all of Governor Zen’s demands wouldn’t be the best way forward. It might seem like they were just saying what they needed to say to secure his alliance. It was a renegotiation from an ostensibly lesser point of power. She wanted this meeting to seem genuine, but at the same time, this conversation would be a delicate balancing act between seeming as though they needed Governor Zen while still rigidly advocating for their hidden interests.

Chapter 570: Tent Government

It was a new day for Emperor Ji Meng. Rest didn’t come easy for the victorious army as hellfire continued to rain down from the sky, but their armies took shelter in a formidable fortress. What little remained of the Blue Emperor’s support fell under their banner without any struggle whatsoever. Within this fortress, the emperor kneeled in the spot the lord of the castle generally occupied, while two people sat at a table they’d dragged into the room, enjoying a large breakfast. Ji Meng...

Chapter 569: Stripped Bare

It was monumentally challenging for Anneliese to keep her wits when the earth fell out beneath her feet, yet it proved infinitely more challenging when it rose up to swallow her just as things were calming. Dimocles’ great gash in the earth was not the end to the assault—it was merely a change of arena, one over which he had more mastery.

Dimocles’ flesh was his to control, and it felt as though that ability had extended throughout the whole of the earth. The walls of this vast cr...

Chapter 568: Hole Where the Heart Was

Everyone, including Argrave, had seen Anneliese descend down from the wyvern into the field of grass between the two armies. He had watched it with a heavier heart than anyone else, but he knew that she was the only one who could reliably pursue the most important goal—cutting off the head of the ugly beast that had wormed itself around the Great Chu.

Perhaps, however, it would be more accurate to say this Dimocles was a mere hand of the beast—the true beast was above, raining hellf...