NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 25: Dead Zones
Kael dreamed again.
This time, the world was ash.
He stood at the center of a scorched battlefield. The air stank of blood and smoke. Stone ruins smoldered. Flames crawled along shattered walls like dying insects.
He knew this place.
Once, he'd killed the dead robber leader here. A man who laughed as others starved. Kael had driven steel into his neck and left him in the dust.
Now the ground shook beneath his feet again.
Something was coming.
His eyes were already forward—locked on the red horizon.
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> [Routine Surge: Active]
[ Bonus Task:unseen observer reward has been delivered ]
Item Acquired: Obsidian Dagger (C-Rank)
Forged from corestone. Can pierce reinforced hide. Effective against Steel-tier defenses.
Kael reached down, pulling the new weapon from its shimmering interface.
In his left hand: Dagger of Humility—worn, reliable, its edge glowing with faint embers.
In his right: Obsidian Dagger—black, heavy, humming like pressure before a storm.
---
The Crimson-Horn Stalker barreled out of the smoke, molten horns gleaming like twin suns. The earth cracked beneath its weight.
Kael sprinted forward.
The first clash rattled his bones.
He ducked a horn, but the second came sweeping—cracking across his shoulder. He flew sideways, crashed through scorched debris, ribs flaring with pain.
He spat blood. Grinned.
The stalker came again.
Kael dodged low, Humility slicing through a tendon—the blade hissed as it scorched flesh.
The stalker roared.
Kael rolled under a stomp and slashed upward—Obsidian sank deep into its gut, cutting through armored hide.
The beast shrieked and slammed its bulk down.
Kael jumped—barely clearing the impact—but flames licked his legs. He landed hard, staggered, sweat stinging open cuts.
Then—he charged.
Climbed the beast's back, blades flashing—
One to the spine. One to the throat. Twist.
The molten blood sprayed, burning his arm.
The stalker collapsed, twitching.
Dead.
Kael stumbled backward, arm blistered, panting.
No time.
---
The mutated centipede exploded from beneath the ash—glowing green, taller than a man, its mandibles dripping acid.
Kael flinched as acid hissed across his leg, melting through fabric, burning skin.
He screamed. Bit down. Moved anyway.
It lunged.
Kael dodged between its legs, slicing wildly—Obsidian dagger opened its side, green fluid hissing on stone.
The centipede whipped its body, slamming Kael into rubble. Wind rushed from his lungs. Bones cracked.
He gasped, rolled aside, barely avoiding a follow-up strike.
The air burned. His vision swam.
Still—he rose.
With a grunt, he vaulted up broken rebar, then leapt as it followed. Mid-air, he drove both daggers into the soft underbelly—
Obsidian pierced deep. Humility set flesh alight.
The centipede shrieked, spasmed—then crashed into the stone.
Dead.
Kael's leg was a mess. His ribs ached. Vision blurred.
But it wasn't over.
---
From the smoke came a roar of rage.
The mutated ape.
Its face burned, arms scarred, hatred burning in its single eye.
Kael limped forward, blood trailing from his mouth.
The beast charged.
Kael blocked the first punch with crossed blades—the impact sent him flying, slamming into a cracked wall. Dust rained down.
He could barely move.
"Get up," he muttered.
He stood. Slowly.
The ape came again.
Kael sidestepped at the last second, slicing its arm with Humility, then plunging Obsidian into its side. The blade stuck—Kael tore it free just in time.
A massive fist came down.
He blocked with both blades crossed—barely holding. His knees buckled. The stone beneath him shattered.
The ape lifted him and slammed him down once—twice.
Everything turned red.
And still—Kael stabbed upward, both daggers to the beast's chest.
It howled.
He screamed back—driving the weapons deeper, one in the ribs, one in the heart.
Finally… the beast toppled.
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> [Soul Fragments: 4/4 Acquired]
Kael dropped to one knee, blood running down his face.
---
> [New Ability Acquired – C-Rank: Minor Heal]
Heal minor injuries of user. Restore energy.
Original Limitation: 5 uses per day.
Divine Echo Effect Applied – Limitless Use (self).
Golden light spread across his body.
His ribs knit together. Flesh sealed. His burned leg cooled, skin stitching itself back. Breath returned.
Pain faded.
He opened his eyes.
Alive.
And then—
He woke.
---
Kael bolted upright, drenched in sweat. His body was bandaged, but healing was already done.
Elle sat nearby, sharpening her spear.
"You're awake," she said, not looking up. "You were thrashing like you were being torn apart."
Kael said nothing.
She glanced over. "Bad dream?"
He didn't respond and found the obsidian dagger in his hand. He looked determined.
She looked at him for a long moment. "You're changing."
Kael looked out the cracked window.
"I have to."
Because whatever came next I want to be prepared.
Author's Note:
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Let me know if you want Kael to start losing control in future dreams—or if his wounds in the dream should start appearing in the real world too.