After two hundred nineteen deaths, Amon stood over the Hollow Spine Serpent's collapsed body, panting, soaked in blood that wasn't even his anymore.
He had shouted each time he died—out of frustration, pain, and anger—but this time he said nothing.
He had watched Kana die in the serpent's grip. He had failed to save Zai Ren from being skewered by venomous bone fangs. Airi had once died defending him with her sword arm ripped clean off.
But in this attempt, they all lived.
He knelt beside the corpse and reached into the serpent's open throat.
Deep inside its hollowed spine, nestled behind its mutated bone marrow, pulsed a Spirit Core Bloom—a flower-shaped mineral formed from the condensed will and essence of high-level spiritual beasts that had consumed Bound Meridian Realm cultivators.
"This... is why it was mutating," Amon muttered. "It was cultivating."
Spirit Core Blooms didn't appear naturally. They formed only inside beasts that refined the spiritual mana of multiple high-level humans.
That meant the Hollow Spine Serpent hadn't just survived—it had digested and processed multiple Bound Realm souls.
And now, this core contained everything the beast had stolen.
He stored the Bloom and turned to the others. "We should go back."
---
Three days later, they returned to the Sect. Kana and Airi were still healing. Zai Ren hadn't said much, though his gaze toward Amon had shifted—from playful annoyance to quiet respect.
In the briefing hall, Karou nodded when Amon handed over the Bloom.
"You understand what you're holding?" the old cultivator asked.
Amon nodded. "It's a natural breakthrough catalyst. Spiritual beasts refine it, and if we take it in with proper meditation and suppressive pills, it can help a human cultivator break the ceiling of their current realm."
"Correct," Karou said. "Spirit Core Blooms like this are rare because beasts strong enough to make them usually hide in deep wilderness or under the command of sects stronger than ours. Bound Realm cultivators use them to ascend into the Core of Threads Realm. Even Soul Vessel Rebirth cultivators would fight over this."
"So that's why you sent us," Zai Ren said.
Karou nodded. "Exactly. In higher cultivation, your realm isn't just about spiritual mana anymore. It's about materials, timing, and risk. From now on, every realm you attempt to ascend will need something like this—or worse."
Amon closed his eyes. Then I'll need to die fewer times each step. And save them every time.
"You've done well. From now on, you're promoted to Outer Disciples. It means more training, more responsibility, but also more respect."
Kana smirked, crossing her arms. "Finally. Took you long enough to notice."
Zai Ren laughed. "Yeah, and it's about time we got some perks. Maybe better food or a real weapon allowance."
Airi smiled softly, glancing at Amon. "What do you think, Amon? Feels different, right?"
He nodded. "It does. There will be more pressure too, but we earned it. We can't afford to slack now."
Karou chuckled. "Good. Keep that mindset. This is only the beginning."
---
Later that evening, the four went to a nearby restaurant. The wooden tables creaked under their elbows as they shared bowls and laughter.
Kana leaned in. "So, Amon, how did you even survive that serpent? It felt impossible."
Amon shrugged. "I don't know exactly, but I guess it was about adapting and keeping calm. And honestly, I kept thinking about how I couldn't lose you three."
Zai Ren smirked. "See? A soft heart saves the day, or maybe it's just luck."
Airi laughed, then asked, "What about you, Kana? You looked like you wanted to rip that thing apart with your bare hands."
Kana's eyes sparkled. "Maybe I did. But it was also knowing that if I didn't control my anger, I'd be the one dead first."
---
By night, Amon and Airi lay together in their shared room. The warmth between them was a quiet comfort.
Airi looked at him and smiled. "You've changed, you know. What's going through your mind?"
Amon let out a breath. "I'm not sure. I just feel like... I need to achieve more now. Not just for me, but for all of us. If I don't, then all this fighting means nothing."
She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "You don't have to do it alone, Amon. We're with you, every step."
He smiled faintly, but his thoughts stayed sharp. They don't know about the lives I've lost, or the time I've spent failing.
He closed his eyes and whispered, "Then I'll make sure I'm ready for whatever comes next."
---
Months passed in relative peace. Amon sat cross-legged, flipping through the old manual he'd borrowed from the Sect library—"Foundations of the Eight-Step Storm Stance."
It wasn't flashy, but it taught how to anchor your footing even in midair, how to shift momentum across uneven ground, and how to blend spiritual mana with legwork.
That afternoon, the four of them rested beneath the terrace near the waterfall.
"So, Kana," Zai Ren started, "you disappeared for three nights. You've got a lover now?"
Kana sighed. "It's not what you think."
Zai pointed a chopstick at her. "Then what is it? You ditched us."
"I didn't ditch anyone," Kana said. "It's not even serious. We just trained together a lot. That's all."
Airi raised a brow. "But you're blushing."
"I'm not," Kana muttered.
Zai scoffed. "Unbelievable. We nearly died together and now you're off doing secret night cultivation with your mystery guy?"
Before Kana could reply, thunder cracked above them, sharp and sudden.
The clouds were black—too fast, too low.
Then the tremors came.
This feels familiar...
Fire rained from the peak of the mountain, and within seconds, the Twin Headed Flame Sect was burning.
Amon stood instantly. "Let's go now!"
They ran through the forest trails, spiritual mana surging in their legs. When they reached the gates, smoke already covered the sky. The grand hall was gone. The outer barracks were ash. Screams echoed from deeper inside.
And then Amon saw him.
A man in a long black robe, standing above the crater where the Sect's statue had once been. His robe bore a stitched insignia—Black Dragon Spine.
Karou, the Head Elder, and three others flew into battle, surrounding him with blazing techniques.
The fight shook the mountains. Spiritual mana clashed, cracked stone, and burned everything it touched.
But after hours, the elders fell. Karou's robes were torn. Then the Sect's main spire collapsed.
Kana didn't make it either.
Airi and Zai Ren dragged Amon back behind the shattered wall, but it was too late to stop anything.
The man hovered above them. His voice was calm.
"Farewell… Mr. Craftsman. That's what they call you, don't they?" he said, staring directly at Amon.
"Developing four original techniques in one year—impressive. Dangerous for others, perhaps. But not for me."
Amon didn't move.
"I've no interest in killing you," the man added.
And just like that, he turned and vanished into the clouds.
The fire didn't vanish with him.
"I have to kill myself! I have to!" Amon shouted, gripping the blade of Kusanagi in both hands.
"Amon, stop!" Zai Ren lunged forward. "What are you saying?! What the hell are you doing?!"
"You're not thinking straight!" Airi cried, grabbing his shoulder, trying to hold him back. "We can't lose you! Not like this!"
But he pulled away as he dashed into the night. The wind howled past his ears as he leapt over shattered stones and broken trees.
He didn't stop until he reached the giant ridge beyond the Sect grounds, nearly a kilometer away. The mountains stood like jagged teeth, and in front of him, the cliff dropped into an endless dark depth.
I can't let them see me do it... I can't...
He stepped closer to the edge.
Then, a voice behind him.
"Stop, Amon!" Airi's voice cracked. "Don't do it! Please—don't!"
He didn't turn. Tears blurred his vision. He gripped the blade tighter.
"Farewell," he whispered.
And then, he jumped.
—
His eyes opened.
He was back in the Sect bedchambers, lying on his side. Everything was quiet.
He sat up slowly. His breath was steady, and his hands no longer trembled.
Next to him, Airi was sleeping, her arm draped lazily across his chest.
This must be after the serpent... the one where I finally got the side quest rewards...
He looked around, confirming the familiar wooden walls and the single paper scroll on the table. He remembered what he did next—he picked over 3,000 gold coins.
He stood up and rubbed his temples. How long do I have until the Black Dragon Spine guy comes?
Then it clicked. This was two months before the attack, and four months after they became Outer Disciples.
There was time.