Rise of The Abandoned Husband

The Guild headquarters should have been bustling with activity. Instead, an eerie silence hung over the entire compound as Emerson led us through winding corridors and empty halls.

"Where is everyone?" I whispered, my senses on high alert.

Emerson's eyes darted nervously. "I don't know. There should be at least thirty disciples on night duty." He wiped sweat from his brow. "This isn't normal."

Kenneth Minnx seemed equally unsettled. "The Covenant's intelligence indicated regular patrols, even at this hour."

We reached the main hall—a massive chamber with towering pillars and ancient runes etched into the marble floor. Still empty.

"Something's wrong," I muttered. "This feels like a trap."

Emerson shook his head frantically. "If it were a trap, security formations would have activated the moment you entered. No, this is... something else."

"Perhaps the Guild is occupied elsewhere," Kenneth suggested. "A crisis that required immediate attention."

Or they knew we were coming. I kept that thought to myself.

Emerson led us deeper into the compound, past training areas and meditation chambers. My eyes constantly scanned for any sign of movement, but the silence remained unbroken.

"Here," Emerson finally announced, stopping before an ornate door. "This is the chamber that houses the portal."

The door was adorned with intricate carvings—dragons and phoenixes intertwined around a central medallion. Ancient characters I couldn't read spiraled outward from the center.

"This shouldn't be unguarded," Emerson whispered. "Never in my fifteen years with the Guild has this chamber been left alone."

Kenneth stepped forward, examining the door with keen interest. "These formations... remarkable. They predate the current era by several centuries."

I had no time for academic observations. "Can you open it or not?"

Kenneth nodded, reaching into his satchel to withdraw a peculiar object—a flat disc made of dark metal, covered in symbols similar to those on the door.

"What is that?" Emerson asked, eyes widening.

"A key the Covenant has spent generations recreating," Kenneth answered, positioning the disc against the central medallion.

The effect was immediate. The carvings began to glow with soft blue light, pulsing outward from where the disc made contact. A low hum filled the air.

Emerson backed away, panic crossing his features. "I can't be here when that opens. If anyone discovers my involvement—"

"Go," I said. "You've fulfilled your part."

"But what about—"

"We never met," I interrupted firmly. "You know nothing about this."

Indecision warred on his face for a moment before self-preservation won out. "There's a service exit three corridors down. I'll use that."

As Emerson turned to leave, he hesitated. "Knight... be careful in there. The Mystic Realm isn't just another dimension. It's alive in ways we don't fully understand."

With those cryptic words, he hurried away, footsteps echoing in the empty hall.

Kenneth continued his work, muttering incantations as he rotated the disc in precise movements. The humming grew louder, the blue glow intensifying.

"How much longer?" I asked impatiently.

"Almost there," Kenneth replied, not looking up. "These formations are complex—designed to prevent exactly what we're attempting."

I paced restlessly, my thoughts fixed on Isabelle. Was she suffering right now? Did she know I was coming for her? The thought of her bound in chains made my blood boil.

"Interesting," Kenneth suddenly remarked.

"What?"

"This portal hasn't been sealed from our side." His eyes met mine, suspicion evident. "Someone's used it recently—within the past few hours."

That explained the empty compound. "The Guild members are already inside."

"Most likely." Kenneth made a final adjustment to the disc. "There. It's ready."

The door shimmered and faded, revealing a swirling vortex of light. Colors I couldn't name twisted and pulsed, creating a tunnel that seemed to stretch into infinity.

Kenneth stepped back, genuine awe on his face. "The Mystic Realm portal... after all these years."

A crash from somewhere behind us shattered the moment.

"Someone's coming," I hissed.

Emerson stumbled back into view, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead. "Guards... returning..." he gasped, collapsing to his knees. "You need to... go now..."

Kenneth moved toward the portal, but I grabbed Emerson's arm. "What happened?"

"I saw them... coming back... dozens of them..." He looked up, fear naked in his eyes. "I can't be caught here with you."

Before I could respond, Emerson slammed his head against the nearest pillar, knocking himself unconscious.

"Smart man," Kenneth observed coldly. "Can't implicate him if he was already unconscious when the breach was discovered."

The sound of running footsteps grew louder.

"Time to go," Kenneth said, stepping toward the portal. He paused, turning to me. "Remember our agreement, Knight. The Covenant gains access to the knowledge within."

"Just open the damn thing," I snapped.

Kenneth placed his palm against the swirling vortex. The colors shifted, solidifying into a shimmering doorway.

"This will lead you directly into the Mystic Realm," he explained quickly. "I've adjusted the coordinates to place you near the central region—that's where they would most likely take a valuable prisoner like Isabelle Ashworth."

"You're not coming?"

Kenneth shook his head. "My mission was to secure access for the Covenant. I'll hold the portal from this side, ensure it remains stable for your return."

The footsteps were much closer now. Guards shouting commands echoed down the corridor.

"Go now," Kenneth urged. "Find your woman. I'll maintain the connection for forty-eight hours—after that, you're on your own."

I took a deep breath and stepped through the portal.

---

The transition felt like being torn apart and reassembled in an instant. One moment I was in the Guild's chamber, the next I stood in an entirely different world.

The Mystic Realm stretched before me in breathtaking grandeur. A vast plain of emerald grass swayed in a gentle breeze beneath a sky painted in impossible shades of blue and violet. In the distance, floating mountains drifted among clouds, defying all natural laws. Waterfalls cascaded from these floating islands, their water dissolving into mist before reaching the ground.

The air itself felt different—heavier, richer, saturated with energy that made my skin tingle. Even breathing felt like drawing in power with each breath.

"Focus," I reminded myself. The beauty of this realm was a distraction I couldn't afford.

I scanned the horizon, searching for any sign of human presence. In the distance, I spotted what appeared to be structures—buildings of some kind, glimmering like crystal in the strange light.

That had to be where they were keeping Isabelle. I set off at a brisk pace, my determination growing with each step.

The terrain changed as I traveled, the plain giving way to a forest of trees with translucent trunks. Inside each tree, energy pulsed like flowing blood, casting dancing shadows across the ground.

"Resources," I murmured, understanding immediately why the Guild valued this realm. Every plant, every rock seemed infused with cultivation energy far more concentrated than anything in our world. An hour here might equal months of meditation outside.

As I moved deeper into the forest, a prickling sensation at the back of my neck warned me I was being watched. I slowed my pace, senses straining.

There—a flicker of movement to my right. I changed direction subtly, circling around to approach from behind.

My stalker was surprisingly small. A young girl, perhaps fifteen or sixteen, moved cautiously through the trees. Her robes marked her as a Guild disciple, but what shocked me was the energy radiating from her—the aura of a Military Marquis, at least.

How could someone so young achieve such a high cultivation level?

I crept closer, using the trees as cover. The girl paused, sensing something amiss, but I was faster. In one swift movement, I lunged forward, grabbing her arm and pinning her against a tree trunk.

"Don't scream," I warned, keeping my voice low and threatening.

The girl's eyes widened with fear—unexpected from someone of her cultivation level. She should have fought back immediately, yet she trembled like a cornered rabbit.

"P-please," she whimpered, "don't hurt me."

I studied her more closely. She wore the robes of a high-ranking disciple, yet her behavior contradicted her apparent status.

"Where is Isabelle Ashworth?" I demanded.

Confusion flashed across her face. "Who?"

I tightened my grip. "The woman the Guild brought here. Beautiful, long dark hair, unique bloodline. Where are they keeping her?"

Recognition dawned in her eyes, quickly followed by fear. "You mean the captive they brought from outside? The one they're using for blood extraction?"

Rage surged through me. "Where. Is. She."

"Heavenly Mystery Cliff," the girl gasped, tears forming in her eyes. "They've got her bound with chains in the extraction chamber."

"Take me there."

She shook her head frantically. "I can't! It's heavily guarded—dozens of Military Marquises and at least three Military Lords. They'll kill me for helping an outsider!"

I leaned closer, letting her feel the full intensity of my killing intent. "And I'll kill you right now if you don't help me."

Her face paled. "You don't understand. The Guild Masters are all there, performing some kind of ceremony with her blood. No one is allowed near without authorization."

"I don't care if the Heavenly Emperor himself is guarding her," I snarled. "You will take me to Isabelle, or I promise your death will be slow and painful."

The girl stared at me, terror evident in her eyes. Something in my expression must have convinced her I meant every word.

"How did you even get here?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper. "The portal is supposed to be sealed to outsiders."

"I have my ways. Now move."

She hesitated, weighing her options. "The Cliff is half a day's journey from here. We'll need to pass through Guild territory—there will be patrols."

"Then we'll deal with them as they come." I released her arm but stayed close enough to grab her if she tried to run. "What's your name?"

"Min-Li," she answered reluctantly.

"Well, Min-Li, your life depends on getting me to Isabelle Ashworth as quickly as possible. Understand?"

She nodded, resignation replacing fear. "We should head east. There's a less traveled path through the Whispering Forest."

As Min-Li started walking, I kept pace beside her, my hand ready to draw my weapon at the slightest sign of treachery.

"The woman," Min-Li said after several minutes of tense silence, "she's important to you?"

"More than my own life," I answered honestly.

"Then you're walking into certain death." She glanced at me sideways. "No one challenges the Guild in their own realm and survives."

"I've made a habit of doing the impossible."

Min-Li fell silent again, leading me deeper into the strange forest. The trees grew denser, their translucent trunks pulsing more rapidly, as if sensing our passage.

"What is this place?" I asked, curiosity momentarily overriding my urgency. "How does a realm like this exist?"

"The elders say it was created during the Ancient War," Min-Li replied, her voice taking on a lecturer's tone—perhaps her natural role in the Guild. "A pocket dimension formed from the clash of immortal energies, hidden from the outside world for millennia until the Guild discovered it."

"And the people here?"

"Some were born here—descendants of the original Guild explorers. Others, like me, were brought in as children to train in the enhanced energy environment."

That explained her high cultivation level at such a young age. Growing up surrounded by this concentrated energy would accelerate development exponentially.

We emerged from the forest onto a ridge overlooking a vast valley. In the distance, I could see the structures I'd noticed earlier—not buildings but an entire city, its architecture unlike anything in our world. Spires of crystal and living wood reached toward the strange sky, connected by bridges that seemed made of solid light.

"The Guild's main settlement," Min-Li explained. "We need to skirt around it to reach Heavenly Mystery Cliff."

Beyond the city, a massive cliff face rose impossibly high, disappearing into the clouds. Even from this distance, I could see hundreds of openings along its surface—caves or chambers carved into the rock.

"Is that where they're keeping her?" I asked, pointing to the cliff.

Min-Li nodded. "In the highest chambers. That's where the most important ceremonies are conducted."

I studied the cliff, mentally calculating routes and challenges. "How well is the perimeter guarded?"

"It's not just guards you need to worry about," Min-Li said grimly. "The entire cliff is wrapped in defensive formations. Anyone without the proper authorization is instantly identified and... disposed of."

"There's always a weakness," I insisted. "Every formation has a flaw."

Min-Li hesitated, then spoke quietly. "There is one path... a maintenance tunnel used by the lower-ranking disciples to bring supplies. The formations there are weaker, designed only to keep out beasts, not intruders."

Hope sparked within me. "Can you get us through there?"

"Maybe. But it will only get us into the lower levels. From there, we'd still need to climb dozens of floors, past countless guards, to reach the extraction chamber."

I nodded, determination hardening. "Then that's what we'll do."

Min-Li stared at me, a mixture of fear and something like respect in her eyes. "Who are you? No outsider has ever dared challenge the Guild like this."

"My name is Liam Knight. Remember it, because after today, everyone in this realm will know it."

We continued our journey, descending into a narrow valley that would keep us hidden from the city's sight. As we walked, Min-Li grew increasingly nervous, jumping at every sound.

"The patrols will be thicker as we get closer to the cliff," she warned. "We should wait for nightfall before approaching."

I shook my head. "Every moment we delay is another moment Isabelle suffers. We keep moving."

Min-Li's face crumpled in resignation. "You really are going to get me killed."

"Not if you do exactly as I say." I paused, fixing her with an intense stare. "Once we reach the maintenance tunnel, what authorization will we need?"

"A token," she replied. "Each disciple carries one that identifies their rank and permissions."

"Do you have one?"

She touched a small pendant hanging around her neck. "Mine only grants access to the lower levels. It won't get us anywhere near the extraction chamber."

"We'll worry about that when we get there," I said, already formulating a plan. "For now, focus on getting us to that tunnel without being seen."

As we neared the base of the cliff, the energy in the air grew even more concentrated. My body hummed with power simply from breathing it in. In this environment, my strength was already increasing—an advantage I would need.

Min-Li suddenly grabbed my arm, pulling me behind a large boulder. "Patrol," she hissed.

I peered cautiously around the edge. Three Guild disciples in formal robes walked a measured path along the cliff base. Even from this distance, I could sense their power—all Military Marquises, at least.

"They'll pass in a moment," Min-Li whispered. "The tunnel entrance is just beyond that outcropping."

I watched the patrol, studying their movement patterns. Regular, predictable—a weakness I could exploit.

Once they passed, we darted across the open ground to the outcropping Min-Li had indicated. A narrow fissure in the rock face revealed a rough-hewn tunnel extending into darkness.

"This is it," Min-Li confirmed. "The maintenance access."

I nodded toward the entrance. "Lead the way."

She hesitated. "Once I help you enter, my debt is paid. You said you wouldn't kill me."

"I need you to guide me all the way to Isabelle," I corrected her firmly. "Your debt isn't paid until then."

Fear flashed in her eyes again. "That's not what you said before!"

"I'm saying it now." My voice left no room for argument. "Take me to the extraction chamber, and you'll walk away alive. Try to run or betray me, and you won't live long enough to regret it."

Min-Li's shoulders slumped in defeat. "Alright... I'll take you there..." she whispered, her voice trembling with resignation as she stepped into the dark tunnel.

I followed close behind, my thoughts fixed on Isabelle. Whatever guards or formations awaited us, whatever power the Guild had assembled—none of it would stop me from reaching her.

Hold on, Isabelle. I'm coming.