Jinn BLADE
Chapter 90 | The Hunt Begins

Chapter 90: Chapter 90 | The Hunt Begins

*Crack!

The ground cracked as the final beast fell, its massive body collapsing with a thunderous impact that sent debris flying into the air and dust surging in all directions.

The battlefield fell into a stunned silence for a moment, broken only by the heavy groan of the creature’s death rattle.

Atop the motionless carcass, a lone figure stood tall—Biyo, axe in hand, his chest rising and falling with each breath he took.

He raised his weapon high, his voice roaring out across the field in triumph.

"RAAAH!"

Cheers erupted from his side of the camp, soldiers raising their weapons in exhilaration. Shouts of victory echoed as they pointed toward the figure of Biyo, standing tall and unshaken atop the slain giant.

A wave of relief swept through them.

The worst seemed to be over.

Hope surged in their blood.

But not all shared in that relief.

On the other side of the camp, the scene was grim and quiet.

Bodies were scattered across the dirt, some twitching faintly, most already still.

The ground was stained red, and heads were missing from more than a few bodies, their blood pooling into the soil like ink spreading across parchment.

The cheers didn’t reach this side.

Only silence and dread remained.

Ophelia stood at the center of it, trembling, tears streaking down her dirt-smeared face. Her hands clenched as others surrounded her, trying to calm her panic.

"W-We have to save him! We have to go after him!" she cried, her voice cracking with desperation.

Nearby, Verhedyn looked up toward the sky, his brows furrowed in concentration.

"Shit..." he muttered.

His voice was quiet, but heavy with realization.

The sky above had changed again.

The swirling darkness that had spread earlier—covering out the sun and warping the air was gone.

In its place, the clear blue sky returned—sunlight piercing through the canopy and warming the bloodied earth.

*zzzz... *BANG!

Then a sharp noise rang through the air.

A loud bang cracked like a thunderclap, and a tear split across the air.

It hung there for a moment before stretching wide, pulling itself apart and forming a glowing rift in space.

A portal.

And from it, armored soldiers stepped through—Zerafhon troops, disciplined and armed.

Among them, a trio of figures stood out.

Venedix led the way, her presence unmistakable.

Beside her walked Zendrell, relaxed and casual, and another man cloaked in loose-fitting robes, his hair black as coal and a long staff gripped in one hand.

The gathered survivors took a step back, some pointing in fear, others whispering under their breath.

"Look... it’s her..."

"It’s that monster from the empire..."

"Why is she here?"

Fear and confusion spread like wildfire, but Venedix didn’t spare them a glance.

Her eyes searched the area until they landed on Jinn’s companions, clustered together in silence and grief.

She approached with steady steps, her arms crossed, expression unreadable.

The dark-haired man turned toward her as they stopped at the edge of the encampment.

"Is it true...? The boy has Muradryn within him?"

Venedix gave a slow nod. "Mhm. Malgareth spoke of it himself."

Zendrell clenched his fists.

The name alone sent a flash of anger through him.

"So that’s why you dragged me out here. That bastard finally came out of hiding..."

His voice cracked with fury.

He turned to the horizon, where the broken mountain stood like a scar across the land. The same place where Jinn had vanished.

"That Jinn lad better not die," he growled through gritted teeth.

Venedix scoffed lightly, folding her arms.

"We’re retrieving him. That much is certain."

She turned to the robed man. "I trust House Nythrael will lend its strength in this matter?"

The man grinned beneath his hood.

"But of course. My family has studied Muradryn for thousands of years. To pass on this opportunity—seeing it firsthand within a Sorellian apprentice—would be beyond foolish."

He leaned in, lowering his voice so only Venedix could hear.

"Does the Emperor know yet?"

"No, not yet," Venedix replied without hesitation.

"And we’re going to keep it that way. Jinn is too young. If word reaches the imperial court, they’ll turn him into a pawn—best to be cautious"

With a flick of her wrist, she activated the device attached to her arm.

*whir...

A small hum filled the air as the mechanism whirred to life.

She tapped a sequence of buttons, each click precise—and then the air shimmered above it.

A blue holographic map burst into view, hanging between them like a floating sheet of glass.

Zendrell’s eyes widened.

"That’s... no way... That’s Viranhell."

The map displayed a system of planets before focusing on a planet where it showcased a jagged mountain range cloaked in darkness. At its heart, a vast chasm pulsed with faint red light—Malgareth’s domain.

The heart of the void.

A place few dared to even speak of.

Venedix didn’t hesitate.

She pressed another button on the device, opening a line of communication.

A signal crackled to life.

"Battlemaster, we await your order," came a voice on the other end, distorted but clear enough to understand.

Venedix spoke with resolve.

"Prepare Ziren. I have a place to go to."

"Alright! Preparing ship for travel!" the voice replied without delay.

She turned off the transmission and looked back at the others.

Zendrell exhaled slowly.

"We’re finally heading back to that motherfucker’s domain?"

"We are," she said. "Jinn has the Muradryn—that is reason enough to grasp him within our reach."

The dark-haired man smirked.

"If the boy holds Muradryn, then he’s more than important. He’s pivotal."

Venedix glanced back at the ruined battlefield, at the fallen soldiers, the blood-soaked earth, the haunted eyes of those who’d seen too much in too little time.

"We move before the Emperor finds out," she said.

"Once we enter Viranhell, there’s no turning back. Be prepared."

Zendrell nodded, his expression hard. The man from House Nythrael chuckled darkly, clearly enjoying the weight of the moment, the chance of finally witnessing the eidra of legends.

Muradryn, the eidra of the heroes.

The hunt for Jinn had just begun. And now more eyes than ever were watching.