NOVEL WEB Chapter 31: Chapter ³¹ Beneath the Ashes
Chapter 31: Beneath the Ashes
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Narration Mode Activated
"Fun fact: fighting a shadow dragon might make you feel like a hero, but it also makes you feel like every muscle in your body has declared mutiny. And the existential crisis afterward? Top-tier bonus feature."
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The sun breaks through the darkened skies as the remnants of the Shadow Dragon's form fade away. The town is eerily quiet, as if the entire world is holding its breath.
I collapse to my knees, my body shaking from the aftermath of the battle. My arms feel like lead, my chest is heaving, and there's a distinct buzzing in my ears.
Kira stands a few feet away, her blade resting against the ground, her expression unreadable.
"Akira," she says softly, "are you still…you?"
I glance at her, confused, before realizing what she means. The dragon's power—it's still surging through me, flickering around my hands like ghostly flames.
"Yeah," I manage to say, though my voice wavers. "I think so."
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Blobby bounces out of my bag, looking unusually subdued.
"You're alive," it says, almost in disbelief.
"Was there ever any doubt?" I reply, forcing a weak grin.
"Uh, yeah. About a thousand doubts," Blobby mutters. "You just fought a literal manifestation of nightmare fuel."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I say dryly, dragging myself to my feet.
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Kira steps closer, her gaze hard and analytical.
"You tapped into your power," she says.
"Yep," I reply.
"And you didn't lose control?"
"Not yet," I admit.
She exhales sharply, clearly grappling with her emotions. "That's…unexpected."
"Thanks?"
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Narration Mode Activated
"There's nothing quite like getting a backhanded compliment from your stalker-turned-sort-of-ally. Really warms the heart."
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The sound of approaching footsteps pulls us from our awkward silence. A small group of townsfolk cautiously emerges from their homes, their eyes wide with fear and curiosity.
"What happened?" one of them asks, staring at the massive crater in the ground.
"There was an attack," Kira says quickly, stepping in front of me. "It's been dealt with."
"And the boy?" another villager asks, pointing at me.
Kira hesitates, glancing at me briefly before answering. "He's…an ally. He helped."
I raise an eyebrow. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"Don't get used to it," she mutters.
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The townsfolk seem satisfied with Kira's explanation, though their wary glances linger on me longer than I'd like.
As they begin to disperse, Reina suddenly appears, her face pale and her eyes frantic.
"Akira!" she shouts, running toward me.
"Oh no," I mutter under my breath.
She skids to a halt, taking in the scene—the crater, the scorch marks, the faint traces of shadow lingering in the air.
"What happened here?" she demands.
"Uh…science experiment?" I try.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" she snaps.
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Narration Mode Activated
"Pro tip: when your best friend is also the queen of lectures, lying is not a viable strategy. You'd think I'd have learned this by now."
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Kira steps in, her voice calm but firm. "There was an attack. Akira helped neutralize it."
Reina looks between the two of us, her eyes narrowing. "And how exactly did he do that?"
"Trade secret," I say with a weak grin.
Reina's glare intensifies, but before she can press further, a sharp pain shoots through my head, and I stagger backward.
"Akira!" Reina shouts, rushing to my side.
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The world tilts and blurs, and for a moment, I'm back in the void. The dragon's voice echoes in my mind.
"You are not ready," it says.
"For what?" I ask, but the void fades before I can get an answer.
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I blink back to reality to find Reina and Kira both staring at me with concern.
"I'm fine," I lie, though my head feels like it's been split in two.
"You're not fine," Reina says firmly. "You need rest."
"Agreed," Kira says, surprising both of us. "But we need to talk first."
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Back at my house, Kira and I sit in the living room while Reina hovers nearby, clearly unwilling to leave me alone with her.
"You've awakened your power," Kira begins. "But it's unstable. You need to learn control, and fast."
"Gee, thanks for the heads-up," I say, rubbing my temples.
"I'm serious, Akira," she says, her tone sharper. "If you don't master it, you'll hurt yourself—or worse, everyone around you."
"Cool, no pressure," I mutter.
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Reina crosses her arms. "Why does he have this power in the first place? What aren't you telling us, Kira?"
Kira hesitates, her eyes flicking to me. "It's…complicated."
Reina doesn't look satisfied with that answer, but before she can push further, Blobby hops onto the table.
"Hey, Boss," it says, "maybe we should listen to her. She's got a point."
I groan. "Great. Even my blob is ganging up on me."
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Narration Mode Activated
"Let's recap: I'm a ticking time bomb, my best friend is demanding answers I don't have, and my sentient blob is now the voice of reason. Just another day in the life of Akira."
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The conversation is interrupted by a knock at the door.
Kira and I exchange a glance before I cautiously open it to find a stranger standing there—a tall, imposing figure dressed in dark armor.
"Akira Takahashi?" the stranger asks, their voice cold and formal.
"That's me," I say warily.
The stranger extends a sealed letter. "You've been summoned by the Order of the Veil."
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Narration Mode Activated
"Because obviously, my life wasn't complicated enough already. Who are these people, and why do they sound like they're about to ruin my week?"
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As I take the letter, the stranger turns and disappears into the night without another word.
"What's the Order of the Veil?" Reina asks, her voice tinged with worry.
"They're…not friendly," Kira says, her expression grim.
I open the letter and quickly scan its contents.
"They want to meet me," I say, my stomach sinking.
"When?"
"Tomorrow," I reply.
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Narration Mode Activated
"And just like that, my 'normal' life takes another nosedive into the abyss. Can't wait to see what fresh hell awaits me next."
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End of Chapter 31