All Chapters of Ascend or Be Consumed: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

I swallowed hard, feeling the pull of its power tug at the edges of my will. My hands shook, but I gritted my teeth. “No. I don’t want that kind of strength. That’s not living, that’s not power. That’s… that’s tyranny.”The miasma paused, almost contemplative, before hissing one final taunt. You will see. One day, you will wish you had taken our offer. Until then, wander in weakness, broken as you are.I drew a shuddering breath and let the anger settle in my chest, fueling my chaotic energy. If the Void wanted to test me, I would not break. I would survive. And when I returned, I would demand the answers I deserved.The air around me shifted, the thick fog pulling back as though it feared the conviction in my will. I could still feel its presence lingering, watching, waiting but for the first time, it didn’t dare speak in my head anymore.I felt like a holy lady shortly after convincing myself of my growth and I am grateful for how far I have come.I lifted my chin, staring into th

He was sitting beside my cot. His sleeves rolled up, showing his huge, tempting biceps, and there was a bloodstained cloth in one hand. His dark eyes caught the lamplight, sharp but weary like someone who hadn’t slept in days. “Why are you always close to death, and I have to save you every time?” His voice carried that familiar edge of irritation, but beneath it was fear and respect. I frowned slightly. I cleared my throat before speaking but it still came out broken and ragged. Evidence of how much I had exerted myself these past months. “How else will you put your unparalleled medical brilliance to use?” Lucan’s brow arched, his jaw clenching hard. “Don’t joke. You almost didn’t make it this time.” “I’ve had worse,” I grunted, trying to sit up, but pain tore through my side, and I almost let out a cry. He gently but firmly pressed me back. “Stop moving; you tore the bandage again.” His tone softened as he looked at me, showing concern. I tried a ‘worry less grin,’ but sadl

The world trembled. The tent, the smell of smoke, the lighter noise of the soldiers' voices, all of it unraveled like dust in the wind. A violent pull seized my chest, dragging me backward through a torrent of light.I gasped. My eyes flew open.I was standing once more in the Void.The island stretched around me, cold and gray beneath the fractured moon.The Blade of Tenebris still lay in my hand, its hum deep and steady, like a heartbeat inside the metal. Only now did it not feel foreign. It felt alive. Familiar. Like it had been waiting for me.Maureen had been here. I could feel her memories still clinging to the blade like dust on old pages. Everything I had seen, everything I had felt in that fragment of her soul still crashed through me like waves.Lucan’s confession…Veylor’s warnings…The weight of command…The truth of Blackcroft…The price she had paid for all of them.It all crashed into my skull at once, sharp and dizzying.I lifted the sword. Its dark edge glinted faintl

“Are you Juno?” “If not, am I your sister?” “My sister is not as beautiful as you.”My cheeks flushed red as I recalled our first interaction again. I could remember how odd the safety I felt in his terrifying presence that evening. I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to steady. “You… you knew it was me from the moment we met?”Maxon nodded once. “Of course.”The answer hit harder than I expected. “How? I didn’t look anything like—”“You look exactly like your mother,” he said quietly. “Only braver.”His voice wasn’t condemning her, more like remembering. Softly. Carefully. As if he shared the same ache I carried for years. My breath caught. “But… how did you recognize me? It’s been years. I was only eight.” I hadn't even recognized Willow at first. Maxon’s shoulders lifted with a slow inhale as he met my eyes. “You don’t forget someone who grew up at your side. Not when she va

I let myself lean into him for a single breath, just one before guilt clawed its way to my ribs. Lucan’s desperate confession echoed in my mind. The Circle’s bond weighed on me like iron. Veylor’s name was a brand on my destiny. I shifted away. Maxon felt it instantly. His hand hesitated in the air and the closeness between us suddenly thinned. His voice dropped. “You’re pulling back.” “I have to,” I said quietly. His eyes narrowed, not in anger, but in understanding that hurt more than fury ever could. He exhaled slowly, studying my face with a seriousness that made the air feel heavier. “Are you…” he paused, his jaw tightening, “truly mated to Lucan Talon?” The question hung heavy between us. I met his sharp gaze and was ready to admit that we were truly mated, but before I could answer, footsteps crunched across the brittle grass. Maxon’s eyes snapped toward the sound. In a single swift motion, he pulled his mask up and sealed it back into place. A heartbeat later