Reborn as the Last van Ambrose

Grim moved without thinking, his body slamming into Lin’s and driving them both to the floor of the bubble just as the magma projectile struck where her head had been moments before. The molten rock splashed against the bubble’s outer surface, and for a terrifying moment, the ice bubble began to flicker.

"Focus!" Grim shouted, grabbing Lin’s shoulders and forcing her to meet his eyes. "I need you here, now! Not lost in whatever you’re thinking about!"

Lin blinked, returning to her normal self as she saw how close they had come to disaster. Ice surged from her hands, reinforcing the bubble’s walls and restoring their protection just as another wave of volcanic debris rained down around them.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the roar of the lava flow. "I can’t stop thinking about... about everything."

"Think about it later," Grim replied firmly but gently.

Lin nodded, drawing in a deep breath as she centered herself. The bubble stabilized completely, once again becoming the perfect protection they needed to complete their journey.

"Almost there," Captain Zhen announced, pointing toward the edge of the river.

They completed the crossing without further incident, the bubble dissolving once they reached stable ground. Lin sagged with exhaustion, the strain of maintaining her magic in such high temperatures.

"Well done," Captain Zhen said with genuine admiration. "I’ve never seen anyone maintain an ice barrier in these conditions for so long."

"It was close," Lin admitted, glancing at Grim with an expression that mixed gratitude with something deeper. "If you hadn’t..."

"You would have done the same for me," Grim replied simply.

They rested for a few minutes, allowing Lin to recover while Captain Zhen scouted their next route. The crossing had brought them deeper into rebel territory, and the signs of organized military presence were becoming more apparent. Crude watchtowers had been carved into rocks, and the paths showed signs of foot traffic. novelbuddy.cσ๓

Lin had recovered enough to stand, though Grim could see that the emotional strain of the day was still weighing on her. The revelation about her parentage wasn’t something that could be processed quickly or easily, especially while navigating life-threatening situations.

"There’s something I need to tell you," she said quietly as they prepared to continue their journey. "About what Shen Lao said, about my real father..."

"Later," Grim interrupted gently. "When we’re somewhere safe and have time to really talk about it. Right now, let’s focus on staying alive and stopping Jiaolong."

Lin nodded, but he could see the gratitude in her eyes for his understanding. The questions about her identity and heritage would have to wait until they weren’t in immediate danger of being killed by rebels, lava, or worse.

Ahead of them, the volcanic landscape stretched into the distance, a maze of fire and stone. They successfully crossed the first major obstacle, and with Captain Zhen’s guidance, they had a real chance of reaching the Gate.

The path beyond the Ember Crossing wound through increasingly treacherous terrain, leading them deeper into the volcanic highlands that the rebels had claimed as their stronghold.

"From this point forward, we move only during thermal peak hours," Captain Zhen explained in a whisper, crouching behind a formation of volcanic glass that provided both cover and concealment. "When the ambient heat is highest, our body signatures become harder to distinguish from intense heat."

Grim wiped sweat from his brow, the heat-resistant armor doing little to provide comfort in the oppressive environment. "How much hotter can it get?"

"You don’t want to know," Captain Zhen replied grimly. "But the alternative is being spotted by rebel patrols, and I can guarantee that would be far more unpleasant than a little extra heat."

Lin remained quiet, though Grim noticed that her ice magic had stabilized since their conversation at the lava crossing. She was still processing the revelation about her parentage, but the immediate crisis had forced her to compartmentalize her emotions.

They moved in single file through a canyon carved by lava. The walls rising high enough on either side to provide cover. The rock formations here were beautiful—twisted spires and arches created by the interaction of molten stone and superheated gas, forming a natural volcanic garden that would have been beautiful under different circumstances.

"Patrol coming," Captain Zhen hissed suddenly, pressing himself against the canyon wall.

Three dragons flew overhead. These were South Sea dragons like Captain Zhen, but were wearing a dark reddish armour. This was different from Ao Qin’s normal troops who wore a turquoise blue armour.

"They’re flying lower than usual," Captain Zhen observed once the patrol had passed. "Either they’ve detected something, or they’re being more thorough than normal."

"Could Jiaolong have warned them we were coming?" Lin asked.

"Possible," Captain Zhen admitted. "Or they could be responding to increased activity from the loyalists. Lord Ao Qin did say he was attempting to coordinate with other realms."

They continued through the canyon system, following paths that Captain Zhen seemed to know intimately. The signs of rebel presence became more apparent as they progressed—carved markers indicating territorial boundaries, crude but effective defensive towers, and the occasional glimpse of dragons flying between strongholds.

"There," Captain Zhen pointed to a wide opening in the canyon wall that glowed bright orange. "That used to be the Amber Halls, a place where young dragons came to meditate and study. The rebels have turned it into a operating base."

Through the opening, they could see dragons moving, carrying supplies and weapons between different levels. The sight was both impressive and troubling—these weren’t disorganized dissidents, but a well-structured military force.

"They’re better organized than Lord Ao Qin suggested," Grim observed.

"Or they’ve had time to improve since the initial uprising," Captain Zhen replied. "Rebellion can be a powerful teacher when youbeliev in the cause."

They skirted the edge of the rebel base, staying well within the canyon’s shadows. But as they moved past the complex, voices drifted down from above them—conversations that revealed more about the rebels’ motivations than any intelligence report could have provided.

"...told us there would be support from the other realms," one voice was saying, the tone carrying frustration and growing doubt. "Where are the reinforcements he promised?"

"Be patient, Karim," another voice replied, this one older and carrying the authority of command. "Great changes take time. The corruption of the traditional system didn’t happen overnight, and neither will its replacement."

"But at what cost?" Karim continued. "Half our forces were lost in the attack on the Inner Sanctum. The remaining civilians see us as traitors rather than liberators. And now we hear reports of similar chaos in the North Sea. This isn’t the revolution we were promised."

"Revolution is never clean," the commander replied. "But consider the alternative—continued stagnation under leaders who prioritize diplomacy over strength, who allow our realm to be weakened."