Chapter 16: Embers Before the Storm
Ash stood at the edge of the ruined bell tower with Marla beside him, the broken city sprawling below. Smoke from a distant forge curled lazily into the twilight sky, and beneath it, power shifted—silent but steady. They had returned to the outskirts after defeating Marius Yin, avoiding notice for now.
Marla handed him a worn parchment with charcoal sketches and coded glyphs. "This is Nathan's circle," she said quietly. "I spent the last three days confirming it through my old contacts."
Ash studied it. The core mansion, guard positions, rotating patrols. Nothing surprising.
Then Marla tapped the edge of the map. "This is what matters. Nathan Yin himself is at the Soul Vein Peak—and he's not alone. One lieutenant at mid-stage, three at early Soul Vein. Plus dozens of trained guards, likely around the Core Vein stage."
Ash exhaled slowly.
"I haven't even broken through to Core Vein yet."
"A fact which, strangely, hasn't stopped you from killing your betters," the serpent whispered dryly. "But yes, do carry on pretending you're cautious now."
Marla ignored the sudden tension in Ash's shoulders. "You're strong, Ash. Stronger than most even at Vein Initiate. But charging into this now is suicide. You need time. You need resources. Let them think you're licking wounds or plotting. Meanwhile—we build."
Ash's eyes flicked to the camp below. Twelve people now. His Crimson Fang unit.
Five were his core:
Mira, shieldmaiden with a time-related Soul Mark.
Talin, the silent scout who listened to the echos with sound related soul mark.
Rook and Veyra, twins with strange synergy in attacks and arcane gear with twin soul mark.
Arlen, their doctor, whose Soul Mark let him read the bodies like books.
The rest? Ex-slaves, exiles, mercenaries. Not elites. But loyal.
"I'll take missions," Ash said. "Scavenge resources, hunt bounties, raid the Yin treasury. Together with what we got after selling herbs we raided from yin Caravan We'll use what we get to help the others reach Core Vein. Especially Mira, Talin, and Arlen. Then… we go for Nathan."
Marla nodded. "Good. I'll continue scouting his mansion. Find the weaknesses."
The Hidden Treasury
The first target was another caravan en route to a hidden treasury—one the Yins thought erased from record. It moved under heavy guard, through ash-choked woods, far from the city's eyes.
Ash led the ambush himself.
The twins laid traps along the ridge. Mira blocked the vanguard's essence pulses. Talin knocked out scouts before they made a sound. Arlen stayed behind to treat wounds and suppress a guard's memories after.
By the time the caravan burned, they'd secured essence stones, forged tokens, and rare herbs.
Breakthrough
Ash sat alone that night, legs folded, the Soul Flame pulsing like a drumbeat in his chest. He felt the forge-fire he had absorbed at Scorchwind twist and weave with the hunger of his inner flame. It wasn't fighting anymore.
It was merging.
"Ah… now you begin to understand," the serpent murmured, more reverent than mocking. "The Soul Flame devours. The Heartfire refines. The phoenix does not reject—it remembers."
A spark flared in his chest. Light shot through his veins. His breath caught—and then steadied, deeper, clearer.
He opened his eyes.
He was no longer Vein Initiate.
He was Core Vein.
And he could feel the difference. Every movement more fluid. Every heartbeat sharper. Essence obeyed faster.
"You're no closer to winning, boy," the serpent added, smug again. "But at least now you're not embarrassing to watch."
Ash smirked.
"Then maybe it's time I gave them something to fear."
Crimson Fang Rising
Over the next two weeks, the Crimson Fangs ran mission after mission—quick strikes, sabotage, bounty captures. Each earned them essence stones, cultivation herbs, and equipment. Ash distributed everything with military discipline.
Mira reached Core Vein first—her time-field rippled tighter and sharper.
Talin followed—his sense range expanding to track even through essence-disruption.
Arlen held back, studying their growth carefully. "No rush," he said. "I'll stabilize the others first."
Ash didn't argue. Arlen's presence was worth more than raw power.
Others in the groups also made steady progress everyone reaching peak stage of vein initiate some about to break into the core vein. Those who hit the wall worked on their synergy as they were a team not individuals, soldiers not mercenaries.
"You're shaping them into something dangerous," the serpent said, tone unreadable. "A small flame in dry grass. Let's see how far it spreads."
Ash watched the city's skyline.
Nathan was still out of reach.
But not for long.
...
End of chapter 16