Abarith

Chapter 57: First Steps in Varnis

The air was wrong. Jeremy took a slow breath, but it didn’t help. The dome around them made everything feel stale, like the world itself had stopped breathing. The faint tang of oil and metal clung to the back of his throat, and the dim, bluish light from the sun overhead made the city around them look even colder.

Above, the dome’s lattice structure stretched high, glinting faintly as it filtered the harsh sunlight. The massive metal-and-glass ceiling trapped everything inside—ai...

Chapters 55 + 56

Chapter 55: A Week to War

Jeremy’s spear shifted on his back as he walked to the classroom. His friends matched his pace, the silence between them heavier than words. Today wasn’t just a lesson—it was a test, the kind that separated soldiers from survivors.

The classroom hummed with machinery, its walls lined with maps crisscrossed by faded ink. Holograms flickered with troop formations. A central table overflowed with blueprints and miniature cityscapes. 2024-12-10 02:42:24 +0000 UTC View Post

Schedule Update

Hi everyone, as the writathon has come to an end, I will be updating my posting schedule. Rather than post chapters daily, I will now only be posting on weekdays.

You will all still have 7 chapters ahead of Royal Road, this won't change.

Thank you for your understanding.

Chapter 54: The Last Stand

The narrow streets of the city echoed with the pounding of boots. Jeremy led the way, his heart thudding. Behind them, the relentless drones and Xelarian warriors grew closer. The group pushed forward, frantic, dodging between crumbling buildings. Everything was a blur of desperation.

"We need to go underground!" Mia called out, her eyes darting to the ventilation panels lining the street.

"There are no tunnels!" Perci shouted back, frustration clear. "It's not part of the simulat...

Chapter 53: Hunted by Conscience

He continued to navigate the maze of narrow streets and darkened alleys. Each corner he turned, each shadow he passed, seemed to carry with it a new weight. He heard the distant sounds—footsteps echoing through the empty streets, the clank of machinery somewhere out of sight, and the constant hum of an unseen power source. The atmosphere made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, making him feel as if something might jump out at him at any second.

As he moved deeper into the...

Chapter 52: A Test of Humanity

Hendrikson gestured for them to follow, leading each group to their own separate part of the training grounds—each area transformed to look like a different city. It had narrow streets, open plazas, and places to hide or take cover. Jeremy felt his heart rate pick up as he stepped into their assigned city. It was like walking into another world—one with tall buildings, darkened windows, and too many places for enemies to hide.

“This is your battlefield,” Hendrikson said, looking...

Chapter 51: Under Pressure

Jeremy sat on the floor of his suite, his back pressed against the edge of the couch. Silence hung in the air, broken only by the dull thud of Andrew's fist as it met the wall again and again. Each strike echoed louder, reverberating off the walls. Jeremy swallowed hard, trying to push down the wave of nausea tightening his stomach.

Across the room, Andrew's hands trembled, his knuckles bruised and red. His face was flushed, jaw clenched, eyes blazing with anger—anger at their mother,...

Chapter 50: Unwanted Power

Jeremy and Andrew walked into Jeremy's suite after returning from the dungeon. Jeremy sank into the couch, staring blankly at his hands, his mind racing but strangely empty at the same time.

"What's going on? You’re acting weird," Andrew said, a mix of worry and frustration evident in his voice. "Just tell me already."

Jeremy turned away, hesitating. A whirlwind of emotions—fear, guilt, desperation—gnawed at him. Finally, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "There's someth...

Chapter 49: No One Left Behind

The creature's muscular form loomed over them, each clawed hand bigger than Jeremy himself. The silence that followed the roar was broken only by the faint drip of water echoing somewhere in the darkness.

Marcus stepped forward, rallying the group. “We’ve got this, guys. Jeremy and Andrew, the two of you deal with that. The rest of us will handle the shadows.” he said, his voice firm.

Jeremy and Andrew took a deep breath as they moved into position, flanking the creature. Be...

Chapter 48: Essence of Guilt

Jeremy could feel something different within himself. Deciding to give away the Essence had changed the way he looked at these fights. The guilt weighed heavily on him—guilt for the Essence that came from his mother killing those other students, and for knowing there was even more to come. Once she was done destroying Luminaris, Marcus's family would be gone, and all of that Essence would be his to bear. Every swing of his spear, every dodge, every hit, was a way to atone, a way to help his...

Chapter 47: Silent Struggles

The group stepped cautiously into the huge, dark chamber. Each of their footsteps echoed off the smooth stone walls. Flickering magical lights along the edges of the room gave glimpses of what was inside—a massive, shadowy figure, the Shadow Guardian, lying still in the middle. It looked like a statue covered in swirling shadows. Jeremy thought it could wake up any second, like they were poking a sleeping giant.

He glanced at Andrew, who was right beside him. Andrew looked back at him...

Chapter 46: A Growing Divide

The dungeon stretched out wide before them. The air felt thick, like they were breathing underwater. No one spoke. Every small shuffle or scrape echoed around them, making the silence almost worse than the danger they knew was waiting somewhere up ahead.

“Alright, first wave,” Marcus whispered. He raised his sword, his voice steady even though Jeremy could see his knuckles were tight around the hilt. “Stay together, just like we practiced.”

They moved ahead slowly, the sha...

Chapter 45: Into the Depths

Jeremy flopped down on his bed in his suite, the doctor’s warnings about resting and taking it easy ringing in his ears. The world was changing—war wasn’t some far-off idea anymore. It was getting closer, and they could all feel it. The doctors had let him go for this very reason; they knew there was no time left for proper recovery. Unfortunately they were still adamant about him not using magic, something about his soul still needing to recover. But for the time being he could focus o...

Chapter 44: The Coming Storm

Jeremy stepped out of his room, still feeling the weight of his mom's visit. Everything she said sounded like a warning about what was coming, and it made Jeremy feel scared and confused.

As he got to the end of the hallway, his communicator buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and read the message: all morning classes were canceled for an important speech, and all students had to go to the academy's main hall. Jeremy frowned. It was unusual for the academy to make such a sudden annou...

Chapter 43: A Mother's Love

Back at the academy, Jeremy paced his suite, feeling the suffocating weight of what had happened back at the Valens. His communicator sat on the desk, the screen dark after his failed attempts to call either of his parents. He had sent a message anyway—a brief summary of the bizarre dinner and the conversation with Marcus’s parents—but he wasn't sure if he had done the right thing.

The questions buzzed in his mind like a swarm, and every answer seemed worse than the last. He rubbe...

Chapter 42: May Humanity Prosper (Helena PoV)

Helena floated silently among the most powerful individuals of humanity, each suspended in the cold, dark void at the edge of known space. Here, beyond the realm of solar systems and cosmic radiation, the universe seemed to breathe in its stillness. Deep space was a void, as empty as the yawning uncertainty they all felt but refused to acknowledge. Helena focused on the distortion ahead, the place where logic fractured.

It wasn’t visible, not to their eyes. It wasn’t something they ...

Extra Chapters!

Hello everyone and thank you for supporting me :) As a show of my appreciation to you all, I will be posting an extra chapter for every 2 paid members we have. So with our 6 members, that'll be extra chapters today and over the weekend.

Again, I really cannot thank you all enough. I never would have thought that I'd earn money by doing what I love, yet here you all are supporting me. Thank you.

Chapter 41: Dinner at the Valens

The dining room at the Valen estate was immaculate, like the rest of the house. A long table gleamed under a massive chandelier, casting soft, golden light. The air smelled of herbs and roasted meat, but there was a heaviness that seemed out of place.

Jeremy shifted in his seat, his hands stiff in his lap as he eyed the perfect place settings. Across from him, Andrew sat just as tense, staring at his plate like it held the secret to getting through the night.

To Jeremy’s right, ...

Chapter 40: A Step Towards Trust

As they left the stall, the vendor’s intense words lingered in Jeremy’s mind, and the quiet between him and Perci grew heavier. The bustling noise softened as they turned into a quieter street .

“Hey,” she said, nudging his arm. “Let’s go this way. I need to talk to you about something.”

He blinked, caught off guard. “Uh... okay,” he mumbled, his stomach twisting. Memories of Mia and Timothy’s confession flared up again, stirring the same uncomfortable mix of d...

Chapter 39: Exploring the Unfamiliar

The group spilled out of the Valen estate and back onto the bustling streets of Luminaris. Jeremy felt like he’d stepped into another world—again. The city pulsed with energy, and the glowing lights bouncing off the glassy buildings made it feel alive. He stuck close to Andrew, still not entirely sure how to take it all in.

“Alright!” Marcus spun around, grinning like he’d been waiting for this moment all day. “You’ve seen the house. Now it’s time for the real deal. Welc...

Chapter 38: The World Beyond Eldoria

The days leading up to the trip flew by. Between classes and scrambling to get everything ready, Jeremy barely had time to think. Andrew grumbled when their dad’s gear showed up, but, to Jeremy’s relief, he eventually caved and took it.

Jeremy had also started to feel better—not perfect, but good enough that walking no longer felt like his ribs were stabbing him with every step. The constant ache in his chest had dulled to a manageable throb, and he could finally breathe without w...

Chapter 37: Preparing for the Unknown

Jeremy slumped back into a chair, staring at his communicator vibrating on his desk. Taking a deep breath, he tapped it, and a moment later, his father’s familiar image flickered to life.

“Jeremy,” his father said warmly, though his eyes immediately looked at him with concern. “How are you feeling?”

Jeremy hesitated, the ache in his chest from the dungeon still a dull throb. “I’m okay. Still sore, but the healers said I’ll be fine in around a week.”

His fat...

Chapter 36: Just See

Jeremy woke up groggy, his whole body stiff like he’d slept on the floor. He rubbed his eyes and let out a loud groan. The lingering ache in his chest returned, making itself known once more.

Last night’s conversation with Mia and Timothy wouldn’t leave his head. Were they being real? Maybe. He wanted to believe it, to trust that he actually made friends here. But something in him just wouldn’t let go. What if they’d only said it to keep him happy? The thought made his stomach...

Chapter 35: Trust in Pieces

The next day started with Jeremy heading to the academy library early in the morning. He grabbed a bunch of books on unlocking Observation and spent the morning flipping through them. The exercises seemed interesting—learning to notice tiny details, figuring out patterns, and spotting things most people would miss. It felt like training to be a detective or something. But unlocking Observation wasn’t just about training—it was about staying alive n...

Chapter 34: Never Again

Jeremy sat on the edge of his hospital bed, swinging his legs. He hated being stuck, each ache in his chest a reminder of how much he’d pushed himself.

The door swung open, and the academy healer stepped inside, her clipboard in hand. She was tall and stern, with sharp eyes that made Jeremy sit up a little straighter. Her white coat swished dramatically, like she was the boss of the entire room.

“Well,” she said, flipping through her notes, “you’re alive. That’s a star...

Chapter 33: When Power Isn't Enough

A few minutes later, the door opened again. Jeremy blinked as familiar voices spilled into the room.

“Think he’s awake?” Marcus’s voice was loud and teasing. “Or should we come back later when he’s not drooling on himself?”

“I’m not drooling,” Jeremy muttered, his voice hoarse but clearer than before.

Perci appeared first, rolling her eyes. “Ignore Marcus. He’s an idiot.” She shoved a bag of chips onto the side table before plopping into the chair n...

Chapter 32: The Weight of Recklessness

Everything hurt.

Bright white light seeped through Jeremy’s eyelids, waking him. He felt heavy, but staying awake seemed harder than going back to sleep. His sluggish brain hadn’t caught up to the rest of him yet. The world around him was quiet except for the faint beeping somewhere nearby.

Where am I?

He tried to move his arms, his legs, but they both felt like dead weight. His muscles were stiff and unresponsive. Panic rushed through him, but his body didn’t...

Chapter 31: The Maze’s Runner

Pain. Indescribable pain. A scream, loud, shrill. Lizards could scream? No, it sounded familiar. Was that him? It couldn’t be. He tried breathing. His throat burned in agony.

The pain was everything—sharp, dull, loud, quiet—all at once. Cold. The hollowness carved through him, an ache that grew with every moment. Was it the ground biting into his fingers, or was he falling apart? Since when was he lying on the ground?

His vision swam, filled with blurr...

Chapter 30: Flight and Fight

Jeremy’s lungs burned, each breath tearing through his chest like fire. His legs felt foreign to him, shaking with each step. But he couldn’t stop. The sound of claws scraping against the stone behind him kept getting louder—closer. He couldn’t even look back; he didn’t need to. He knew they were there.

The shadows danced on the walls, and the dim light made everything blur together. Every corridor looked the same—suffocating, endless.

He ran blindly, his mind spiralin...

Chapter 29: Ties in the Web (Perci PoV)

The Tierless dungeon wasn’t nearly as terrifying as Perci thought it’d be. Creepy? Definitely. The glowing webs clinging to the walls were enough to make her shiver, and the damp air smelled weird—like old socks and moss. But scary? Not yet.

Perci twirled one of her daggers between her fingers, the cold steel comforting. She scanned the narrow stone hallway ahead, her sharp eyes darting to every flicker of light and shadow. Alright, time to see if all...