All Chapters of Ascend or Be Consumed: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

“Juno, release the journal to me,” Veylor requested, his voice hard yet tinged with regret. “If you do, I’ll forgive you for taking it, for the seal you broke, and for the lives that were lost because of that selfish choice.” Why was he still calling me selfish, even after acknowledging that the book belonged with me? A harsh, bitter laugh escaped my dry throat. “You speak of forgiveness as if it’s a gift you’re offering,” I whispered, my voice trembling. His golden eyes narrowed. “You think giving it back will undo what happened?” I asked, scoffing. “Will it bring them back? Will it erase the truths I discovered in the Void from my bones?” “You don’t get to decide that,” he snarled. “You don't get to choose the consequences of your actions.” “No,” I said, shaking my head. “But neither do you.” The air between us crackled—tight with tension and a deep, unending yearning I refused to give in to. It was time to sever any connection I had with the Apex Circle. If not, I would

‘Did you know,’ Maureen continued, her voice stern now, ‘that the longer the distance, the harder it becomes to bridge? Bonds don’t fade quietly, Juno. They strain. They ache. And sometimes… they snap.’ She hesitated, and the pause hurt more than the warning. ‘I don’t want you to become someone you will hate because of this. Anger is loud, and it might feel powerful, but it leaves scars you don’t see until it’s too late.’ I closed my eyes, pressing my palm over my chest as if I could physically hold my heart together. The never-ending guilt and the ache beneath it were so deep, so relentless, they felt carved into me. They filled my blood with wrath and pain. I was furious with myself and everyone. I feel too guilty about Elara’s, and it's killing me. I didn’t know how I had become this person—this guilt-stricken woman. All my life, it had been others who felt guilty. Even if they didn't, they knew in their heart how they treated me like I was disposable. A curse they say. They

When my strength returned, I turned back to my books. I read every codex in my room, devouring mind theory, shadow combat forms, ancient spells for vanishing, and forbidden arrays. The only codex I avoided was the volume on rare plants that existed only in the Void. I didn’t open it because I had no intention of ever returning there. By the time I finished, dawn was brushing faintly against the windows, and something inside me felt… full. Not whole. But honed. Humming. I smiled to myself, surprised by the feeling. I had crossed into another stage of cultivation. I ate a piece of fruit with shaking hands, exhaustion finally catching up to the adrenaline, then I climbed onto the bed to lie back and let sleep pull me under. But when my dreams came, it wasn’t Eryx who found me. It was Lucan. He stood waist-deep in a clear, shining stream, golden stones glimmering at the bottom. I knew that place—the spiritual stream behind his villa. The water was pure, filled with magic and the c

I held the tiny mediator carefully in my palm, letting it hover slightly as I presented it to Instructor Feline. I was still pretending to be blind. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on the pieces of silk covering my eyes. “Why are you wearing a veil?” My heart stuttered. Instantly, I wondered if he could see through me. If he had already that the see-through fabric was just a lie. But I reminded myself to breathe, to keep my posture loose, my expression unguarded. “It is safer this way,” I replied calmly. “My eyes are… sensitive. Dust, light. I do not want to risk further damage.” Feline studied me for a moment longer, as if weighing the truth of my words, then his attention shifted. His gaze dropped to my hand, where the tiny construct hovered obediently above my palm. “You still haven’t told me what this is,” he said slowly. I lifted my hand a fraction higher: “It is an intermediary,” I began. “A reader. You attach it to any book, codex, or artifact that contains record

Standing before them now, I understood something with painful clarity. I was no longer the little girl they remembered. Silverclaw, and Blackcroft had carved that innocence out of me and imprinted a dangerous instinct I couldn't get rid of no matter what. Still, I hoped they believed in me the way they always had. I expected their loyalty had survived what I had become.Rage and loneliness clawed through me, tangled together, and impossible to ignore.Maxon kept apologizing to me and Willow, his voice sounding broken and fragile. I could see now that it was not weakness. It was love, sharpened by helplessness. He hated that he wasn't able to stop it.Willow’s soft sobs wrapped around my heart and squeezed until I could barely breathe.I could not let them suffer for my lie any longer.“It worked,” I said.Both of them froze.Maxon’s head snapped up. “What?”“The fragrant broth,” I said, forcing my low voice to stay calm. “It worked. You did everything right.” I angled my face toward