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[MENOCHT] Chapter 371. Dueling Regret

Achemiss hadn’t expected any visitors today.

He’d known another confrontation would come eventually, but he’d put plans in motion to ensure it happened on his own terms, where he could use his perceived vulnerability to lure Dunai into a disadvantageous position. Perhaps even using the ancient’s family against him, though Achemiss knew such a venture might backfire. A Dunai with n...

[MENOCHT] Chapter 370. First Contact

[ took a red eye to europe on sunday, was in recovery ]

Euryphel propped his glosspad up on his legs as he reclined on the divan in the sun room. Nothing was on the display; just a blank background.

His mind was still fried hours after the marathon coordination session beneath the palace. It had been him, Urstes, Diana, and General Var’dun’a poring over the extensive maps...

[MENOCHT] Chapter 369. Overdue Calls

They were in an isolated area, one without protections set up, but Ian was fully confident in Maria’s ability to keep him safe. He pressed the button to activate Suncloud’s artifact, then fell backwards as his mind left his body.

Karanos was alone, sitting in his room in the white faction, apparently lost in thought, his dark brown eyes staring at the floor.

Ian cleared his thro...

[MENOCHT] Chapter 368. Moving Out

[ i'm entering menocht loop into the writeathon. please send good vibes so i can finish this damn book lol. i need them. ]

The twelve mannequins hovered over the workshop floor. Each was dressed in a plain, black uniform, complete with a dark mask that covered where their eyes would be, if they were human. Ian thought they looked rather intimidating.

“Can I have them?” Zi...

[Severed Divinity] 98. Ongoing Integration

Isen had been unable to see the destruction of the upper level until they’d climbed onto Emerai and flown above the city. Even then, his eyes had barely been able to make out details. It almost looked like someone had taken an enormous plow and carved it across the sect plateau.

What had really shaken Isen were the deaths of all the civilians when Sumana Laius surfaced, and both it and ...

[Severed Divinity] 97. Who I Hate Most

Welco jumped back as Yvonne’s aura licked his skin, but Isen was the main target of her ferocious, void-blade killing intent. He was bleeding all over, his one non-golden eye closed.

“Little mouse, where are the prototypes?” she purred, but the words were obviously addressed at Welco. She was staring at him, barely paying Isen a glance.

Isen was nothing to her. She still dismi...

[Severed Divinity] 96. Unraveling

Welco had two shadows on the upper level of Eldrassin city, where the sects resided on an idyllic grassy plane. Another two watched from the primary level, one near the base of the towering stairway, the other situated on the library roof, where the building’s lofty height provided an excellent vantage point.

In what almost felt like slow motion, six other shadows—which were all watch...

[Severed Divinity] 95. Questions of Allegiance

Isen’s body was stiff as he jumped from Sumana Laius’s body, his cloak crinkling as he attempted to smooth its jagged folds out. The sixth sense was practically assaulting him with undulations of danger and opportunity, like the aroma of fresh-cut flowers warring with the sharp scent of cold iron, each threatening to overwhelm the other.

Wherever Sumana Laius had brought them, it wasn...

[Severed Divinity] 94. Aran’s Arrival

Welco had lived much of his life in Eldrassin. Even though the sects were removed from the city proper, off on their own bluff, it was the only home he recognized. As a boy, the city had seemed ancient; he’d never imagined that he’d live to see its collapse. Perhaps that was why his peers were so... complacent. They just couldn’t fathom Eldrassin’s end, even when its near-immortal found...

[Severed Divinity] 93. Aura Training

“That sounds... incredible,” Isen said. His expression and tone didn’t match his words. It would be incredible, if it were possible. A few days ago, he would’ve taken the Femera patriarch’s words without question, but he could no longer see him in the same light after the night in the palace.

Welco was intelligent and cunning, and Isen respected his opinions and in...

[Severed Divinity] 92. Sumana Laius

Isen’s stomach dropped at the beast’s declaration. He desperately wished for a way to communicate with everyone privately, to plan and strategize. Sadly, such magic wasn’t available to him.

Once more, the sixth sense had brought him to an opportunity, but seemingly one that would only benefit himself, and where the benefits were... well, balanced by immense danger. It was laughable,...

[Severed Divinity] 91. Blood Song

Isen barely had time to blink before Stelia tugged his arm down as she knelt. Isen’s leg pressed uncomfortably against the ice, which was freezing even through the leather plates protecting the knees of his pants. It was an unnatural cold, bone-deep, resisting his tempered body’s defenses. Isen stole a glance at Stelia and noticed she seemed fine, probably courtesy of her fire affinity.

[Severed Divinity] 90. The Lowerdeep

Isen thought his feet would lead them up to the main lift, where they’d entered Eldrassin City. It was the only egress he knew of. He’d expected his ability to be most useful after they left the city’s vast, white walls.

They descended down a flight of stairs and entered the city’s lower level, where Isen had only been once before with Allezin when meeting Welco.

“Are you ...

[Severed Divinity] 89. The Divine Beast

[ My current outline has this book ending at chapter 104, so we're getting close! In my draft I'm on chapter 98. When I finish book 1 I intend to post the remaining chapters rapidly. For now, I'm keeping ahead of Patreon to give myself room to make changes and small retcons, and also so Sontag, my editor, can leave feedback. ]

Stelia was a mage, but her elven physique was sufficient to co...

[Severed Divinity] 88. Clan Head Corasin

The butterflies in Isen’s stomach refused to abate, even after he told the others about his sixth sense and walked over to the armory with Jorin. When they arrived, three clan members were ready, having been summoned by the patriarch’s shadow puppets.

“We’re making armor for the new B?” asked a woman with dark hair and fine lines around her eyes. “Respectfully, can this not wa...

[Severed Divinity] 87. Course of Action

Fourth clade practically dragged Isen to the scroll, pushing past the other cultivators swarming the official updates. They were roaring and screaming, which seemed a bit much given how little time Isen had actually been in the clade.

Their ardent enthusiasm made it impossible not to smile. His chest felt warm, and for a moment, he felt like he belonged. It was such an unexp...

[Severed Divinity] 86. Ranking Update

Welco woke with the chiming of tenth bell feeling worse than he had in a century.

For a few minutes, he floated in the waters of his medicinal bath, gaze fixed on the ceiling. Then, he sent his shadow puppets forth to take stock of the present situation.

The clan seemed fine. Rank day was in full swing, the clansfolk anticipating the updates that quantified their progress. Many clan...

[Severed Divinity] 85. Brittle Trust

For a solid minute, Isen stood blankly in his mostly-empty room, all thoughts evaporating. Then, he forced himself to put away his few possessions.

Everything aside from his bow, which was too awkward a shape, fit in a single box.

Despite his promise to Jorin, he was tempted to cultivate, but the pain in his shoulder meridians made him hesitate. It was probably best to hold off on c...

[Severed Divinity] 84. Perspective

Jorin was cycling by the lake outside Welco’s mansion, his short, salt-and-pepper hair glinting in the sunlight. By the height of the sun, Isen estimated it was around eighth bell.

Isen saw a pile of belongings next to the cultivator, probably his stuff. Not wanting to interrupt Jorin’s cycling, he crept in close—

“You’re up,” Jorin said, his eyes snapping open.

Is...

[Severed Divinity] 83. A Busy Day

When Isen came to, he was soaking in a warm, shallow pool that had a medicinal aroma. His eyes were covered by a heavy strip of cloth that blocked out all light. He didn’t perceive any danger from removing it, so he tore it off.

The room was windowless, with multiple individual basins all sunk into the dark stone floor, offset by walls made from a light wood. Racks of folded towels rest...