Free Web NovelChapter 103: Chapter 103: The Titan’s Marrow
Chapter 103: The Titan’s Marrow
Bram dangled by his bleeding fingertips. The abyss yawned hundreds of feet below him.
Above him, the massive gargoyle shrieked. It raised its jagged stone claw and thrust it downward for the killing blow.
Bram did not close his eyes. He let go of the cliff with his right hand.
He swung his arm up and caught the descending stone claw with his bare hand. The raw kinetic impact threatened to rip his shoulder from its socket. Blood splattered across his face. But Bram held on. His grip was like a steel vice.
The monster shrieked in confusion. It tried to pull its arm back.
"My turn," Bram growled.
Using the gargoyle’s own arm as leverage, Bram pulled his massive frame upward. He planted his boots firmly onto the edge of the summit. He unhooked the heavy iron bag from his back. He gripped the thick rusted chains with both hands.
With a terrifying roar, Bram swung the bag of iron ores like a giant flail.
The heavy sack smashed directly into the side of the gargoyle’s head. The sound of shattering stone echoed like a cannon blast. The monster’s skull caved in completely. Its lifeless body plummeted backward into the dark void.
Bram collapsed onto the flat stone of the summit. He gasped for air. Every muscle in his body twitched with absolute exhaustion. He had conquered the Iron Peak.
The golden sphere of light reappeared before him. The spirit of Warlord Kaelor materialized. The giant ghost looked down at the battered boy with profound pride.
"You carry the weight perfectly," Kaelor rumbled gently. "You did not yield to the dark. You did not yield to the pain."
The ancient spirit raised his hand. The final verse echoed through the massive arena, locking itself into Bram’s soul.
"Until our flesh turns to stone, we shall not be moved."
Bram knelt on the ground. He bowed his head respectfully to the fallen Warlord.
"Before I fade, heed my warning," Kaelor said. The golden light began to flicker and dim.
"The **#%**# in the sky are not mere observers. They are ancient parasites. They are waiting for humanity to fatten itself on mana so they can descend and harvest you all. You must build your walls high, young shield. The true war is coming."
Kaelor dissolved into a shower of golden sparks. The arena fell dead silent.
Bram stood up and walked toward the glowing pedestal. Resting on the stone was not a magical chalice. It was a sleek metallic cylinder.
It looked exactly like a high-tech sci-fi syringe. Inside the reinforced glass tube, a thick golden liquid pulsed with terrifying heavy energy.
The Titan’s Marrow.
Bram picked up the heavy syringe. He did not hesitate. He pressed the thick needle directly against his chest and pushed the plunger down. frёewebnoѵēl.com
The golden blood flooded his veins.
Bram dropped the empty syringe. His eyes went wide.
The pain hit him like a runaway Vanguard rover. It was infinitely worse than the Cultist illusion. That was a trick of the mind. This was a brutal physical restructuring.
"ARRRGHHH!" Bram screamed in pure agony.
His muscles tore themselves apart completely. They rapidly stitched back together with impossible density. His ligaments snapped and reformed like braided steel cables.
His bones shattered from the inside out. They restructured into a skeleton capable of holding up the sky. His entire body became a furnace of excruciating evolution. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
---
Outside the massive steel doors of the tomb, the red fog was quiet.
The squad sat comfortably on top of a literal mountain of dead mutated bears. They were bruised and covered in soot, but they were in high spirits.
Aegon wiped a streak of black blood off his cheek.
"Estella, you really need to aim your star blasts better. You almost singed my hair off on that last wave."
Estella sat cross-legged on a bear carcass. She smirked and polished her nails.
"Just move faster, Red Lion. The stars do not wait for anyone."
"I am just saying," Lucien chimed in. He cleaned his silver rapier with a cloth.
"Puncturing their hearts is much more elegant than blowing them to pieces."
Draven sat near the front. He gently fed Astraxion a piece of dried fruit. He listened to their banter with a quiet smile.
Natalie sat beside him. She kept glancing anxiously at the heavy steel doors.
"It has been hours. Do you think Bram is okay?"
"He is fine," Draven assured her. He knew exactly what was happening inside.
"He is just getting a little bigger."
---
Suddenly, the ground began to tremble violently.
The massive fifty-foot steel doors groaned. The ancient locks shattered. The doors slowly pushed outward.
A heavy footstep echoed from the dark tomb. It sounded like a meteorite striking the earth.
Aegon, Lucien, and Estella immediately jumped to their feet. They drew their weapons. Natalie knocked an arrow to her bow. They stared into the dark entrance with wide eyes.
A colossal figure stepped out of the shadows.
It was a twenty-meter-tall giant. His skin possessed a faint golden hue. Muscles as dense as titanium shifted beneath his skin. He radiated a terrifying aura of absolute, unmovable power.
Natalie gasped in sheer horror. Aegon prepared to ignite his Blood Fire.
Draven remained seated. He did not even flinch.
"Relax," Draven commanded casually. He pointed at the towering giant.
"It is Bram."
The massive giant looked down at them. A warm, incredibly familiar smile broke across the colossal face. Suddenly, the giant’s body glowed brightly. The massive form rapidly shrank down.
Within seconds, Bram stood before them in his normal human size. He looked exhausted, but his posture had completely changed.
His inferiority complex was gone. He stood perfectly straight. His physical density was terrifying to behold.
Natalie dropped her bow. She ran forward and tackled Bram in a massive hug.
Bram blushed deeply. He gently patted her back. He was careful not to crush her with his newly acquired strength.
Aegon walked up and punched Bram lightly on the arm.
"Look at you! You survived!"
"I did," Bram smiled. He looked at Draven and nodded with absolute loyalty.
"I am ready for the war."
Draven stood up and dusted off his coat. He looked at his newly evolved Vanguard tank.
"Good," Draven smirked. "Because we have a lot of work to do."
