Book 6: Chapter 59: The Calm

Book 6: Chapter 59: The Calm

It turned out that Glimmer of Night could not teach them how to do it. It wasnt for a lack of trying, either. The spider had very patiently described his exact process for doing whatever it was he had done to the cores. It just hadnt taken Sen very long to figure out that Glimmer of Night was operating from an entirely different understanding of qi that used webs and various kinds of interconnection as the baseline. Given enough time and context, it was probably a decipherable method. They just didnt have that kind of time. So, Sen had turned to experimentation to see if they could still make use of the spiders ability. While the modified cores were unstable, they werent irreparably unstable. He had Glimmer of Night do his thing to a core and just set it on the ground. Then, the cultivator, the spider, and the fox had watched the core from a distance. When nothing happened, they traded glances.

Alright, said Sen. I guess its my turn.

He walked over to the core and gingerly picked it up. He held his breath for a moment as he waited for it to engulf him in some kind of qi explosion. Sen glanced at the others. Misty Peak tried to give him an encouraging look that mostly failed. Glimmer of Night was staring at the core like he was almost disappointed that it hadnt done something terrible to Sen. Shaking his head, Sen moved on to his second experiment. He tried to put the core into a storage ring. As soon as the ring started to act on the core, he felt it. Sen threw the core up in the air and covered himself in a dome of hardened air. A massive torrent of water crashed down on him and flooded the nearby streets. When the water finally cleared away, he walked back over to Glimmer of Night and Misty Peak as they exited the building they had been hiding in. Sen just handed the spider another core.

Maybe try doing what you do a little less this time, said Sen.

As much as Sen wanted to get out of the ruins, he couldnt view the hours they spent experimenting on those cores as a wasted time. It took a lot of trial and error, but Glimmer of Night eventually figured out how much he could, for lack of Sen coming up with a better word, crack the core and still let them go into a storage ring. A casual toss wouldnt set them off anymore, but a throw from cultivation-enhanced arms was still good enough. Sen didnt imagine that they would be enough to turn the horde back, but they should make a very effective distraction. Particularly if the horde was still behaving like a disorganized horde.

It was something that Sen had to keep reminding himself about. He didnt need to beat the horde, just elude them. Given how little attention the devilish beasts and spirits had paid to anything happening in the nearby forest, he figured it was a safe assumption that most of the horde wouldnt chase them into the woods. As for the ones that did chase them, Sen felt a lot more confident about handling one or two dozen out in the trees. It was an environment that would likely favor him more than it favored them. He just needed to get them all there alive. First, though, everyone needed a rest.

Sen wasnt sure how much it cost the spider to modify the cores, but it certainly didnt look easy. Plus, Glimmer of Night had been at it for hours during the testing and prepping cores for their initial exit. Sen was probably fine to go, but an hour or two of sleep should serve them all well. If nothing else, it would give their minds a break. Sen didnt even get the token resistance hed expected from Misty Peak. Not that he thought she was in a hurry to leave but simply because she seemed to enjoy being contrary. She must have read the thought on his face because she rolled her eyes at him.

I dont disagree with everything, she said.

When the others woke up, they found Sen standing in the doorway to the outside. The spider cocked his head to one side like he was trying to figure something out. It was Misty Peak who looked at Sen with alarm written on her face after she got a look at his expression.

What happened?

Sen lifted a shoulder in response. Pack up. Its time to leave this place.

There was a total lack of talking as Sen led them to the barrier. He frowned out at the blurry mess, wishing he had a better idea of what was waiting for them. He supposed it didnt matter. They were going out there one way or the other. He drew his jian and prepared Heavens Shadow like he had the last time with one minor alteration. He hadnt gone far enough last time. Hed infused the technique with fear. This time, he infused it with unadulterated terror. The cold terror of being without shelter before the storm. The hot terror of facing down things you know can kill you. The existential terror that comes with the certainty that a predator has come and is hunting you. Sen didnt want those things afraid. He didnt want them panicky. He wanted them to feel like they needed to flee before the arrival of certain death. In his other hand, he summoned one of the unstable cores. He looked at Misty Peak and Glimmer of Night.

Whatever you do, stay behind me. If it looks like we wont be able to carve a path, Im going to do something that you do not want to get caught in, said Sen before he focused on the fox woman. Do you have a way to contact your grandfather? A way to send him a message?

Misty Peaks brow furrowed as she thought it over. I think so. What message should I send?

Sen turned back to the barrier, drawing his focus ever tighter. Tell him to take cover.

Then, Sen stepped through the barrier.New novel chapters are published at novelhall.com