TurtleMe
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Chapter 344: Eyes Locked
🕑 Added 2021-07-30 16:07:46 +0000 UTCNote: A bit more worldbuilding and fleshing a few things out in preparation for the rest of the school arc that I promise I'm not adding in just for the hell of it. In exchange, I did make this chapter a bit longer, sitting at almost 4k words, so enjoy this week's chapter and don't forget to tune in to Tapas for the new episode of the comic!
The afternoon sun warmed my back, its bright rays reflecting off the yellowed pages of the book I was reading. From my secluded corner of the campus cafe, which was located near the administration building, the din of students and faculty conversing over drinks and dessert made for a pleasant change of pace from my room.
And while this was a bit more socially active than I would have preferred, it still beat having to listen to Regis complain about being bored.
“Here you go, Professor.” A young waitress in her mid-teens slid a small plate of food and a mug of tea onto my table.
“I didn’t order the food,” I said as I picked up the mug and blew steam across the surface of the hot tea.
“On the house,” she said, bouncing on her toes as she vanished back into the kitchen.
From my head, Regis let out a groan. ‘Your looks are wasted on you. If I were you, I’d—’
I thought we agreed you wouldn’t bother me if I came here, I replied as my gaze swept through the cafe.
The academy was already much busier than it had been only two days ago. Students were arriving regularly, some with their family and attendants, while more of the faculty began appearing throughout the halls.
Sipping the fermented nettle tea, I continued to flip through the pages of my book, passing over several sections until I found the one I was looking for, then began to scan through the information. I had already glanced through the law book and the treatise on relic powers, but neither contained what I was looking for.
Fortunately, the third book I’d borrowed from the library was a bit more interesting: a catalogue of relics brought back from the relictombs. I’d already known that Agrona himself kept any relics that were functional, but I was surprised by how much the Alacryans knew about the dead relics they recovered.
Through a combination of interviews with the discovering ascenders and the work of dedicated Instillers who specialized in relics—all of whom operated out of Taegrin Caelum, Agrona’s fortress—most dead relics were identified, including the powers they once contained. Not all dead relics were thoroughly understood, but with the Relictombs at their disposal, the Alacryans had made much more progress in their study of the ancient magical technology than the Dicathians or even the asuras of Epheotus.
Although the book contained details regarding well over a hundred dead relics, I was most concerned with a specific group: those housed within the Reliquary at Central Academy. Throughout the centuries, they had managed to procure eleven, and I read each one’s description carefully.
Safe to say, however, I was mildly disappointed. It was my own fault. The knowledge that I—and only I, as far as I knew—could revive and use any djinn relic had encouraged all kinds of fantasies. Reading through the descriptions, though, I was reminded that the djinn were peaceful people.
Not that the relics were useless, necessarily, but I wasn’t looking for tools and trinkets. I wanted a weapon.
‘Thank you for acknowledging that I am neither a weapon nor your possession,’ Regis commented with a snort. ‘But this stuff isn’t all bad, you know. What about these Binding Chains? Just think about someone, activate them, and wham! The chains wrap your target up and then follow you around? I can think of several uses for those.’
According to the author, the relic labeled the Binding Chains had other functions as well, including mana and aether suppressing abilities, preventing speech, and even putting the affected person or creature into a paralyzed stupor if necessary.
While the idea of dragging Agrona across Alacrya—bound, gagged, and powerless—so his people could witness his end held a dark appeal, I had my doubts about how powerful any single dead relic might be.
I don’t know how much I trust the author’s deductions here, I pointed out. Like right here. It says, ‘While the Imbuers weren’t able to confirm this theory, it is possible that the Binding Chains can search out a target anywhere on the continent.’ It’s just fluff.
‘What about this one then?’ Regis sent, focusing on a drawing of a gladiator-style net.
Labeled the Mana Net, the relic could “catch” mana out of the air like a fishing net caught fish. The author theorized that it was a defensive device meant to absorb incoming spells.
It certainly seemed useful, especially since I could no longer use the spell cancellation ability I had developed utilizing Realmheart and my quadra-elemental abilities. But how effective would it be against Scythes or even asuras? If not, would it help me find the remaining ruins within the Relictombs?
‘Maybe the real question is: why aren’t we just going to take everything?’
I knew Regis was only asking because that was still a question in my mind as well. Since I could use Aroa’s Requiem to reactivate all of the academy’s dead relics, I could just take them and worry about how helpful they would be later. But I couldn’t imagine a scenario that would allow me to steal the priceless collection and maintain my cover at the academy, or even stay in Alacrya.
Then of course, there was the other question that constantly nagged at me.
How long am I going to keep this up?
Closing the book, I absentmindedly popped a bright red berry into my mouth. The rich sweetness of it was a pleasant surprise. I’d gotten out of the habit of eating regular meals, since aether kept my body alive without it, but I realized that I missed the tastes and textures of food.
I ate a couple more berries, chewing slowly to relish the flavor.
There was something so…normal about sitting at the small cafe enjoying a meal in the fresh air. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d taken a moment for myself like this.
Leaning back in my chair, I took a deep breath of the bittersweet herbal aroma from my tea and forced away my thoughts.
‘Getting pretty comfortable, aren’t we?’ Regis asked teasingly. ‘Hopefully, you don’t get too used to this lifestyle.’
You don’t need to remind me why we’re here or what’s at stake, I pointed out, setting my cup down.
With the books under one arm, I stood and left the cafe patio. Reading about the dead relics was one thing, but it seemed like a good time to see them for myself.
The campus was bustling with activity, but the atmosphere had changed from when I first arrived. Instead of milling around and chatting, the students I saw were all focused on preparing for classes. Most were either sparring or exercising, but there were also quite a few students reading quietly in the fresh air.
Quick footsteps from behind made me spin around. The look on my face must have been hard, because the approaching young man stopped short, his jaw working silently as he struggled for something to say.
Forcing my expression into something more placid, I nodded to the young man. It was the clerk who had originally given me the tour of campus and showed me my rooms. I realized I’d never gotten his name.
“Professor Grey,” he mumbled finally. “Sorry if I interrupted, I was just—”
“It’s fine,” I said, waving his apology away. “Resting professor face. What did you need?”
The small joke got a chuckle out of the clerk, and he settled in beside me as we began walking again. “Oh, nothing really! I’m off duty this morning, but I saw you wandering and thought I’d check in and see if you needed anything. I know the academy can be a little hard to navigate when you first get here.”
“No thank you, I was just going to visit the Reliquary after I dropped these books off at the library,” I answered, dismissing the young man.
“The Chapel is such a fascinating building! And those dead relics…Did you know that Central Academy officially has the largest collection of any school in Alacrya? Director Ramseyer himself has overseen many of the acquisitions.” His eyes wandered enthusiastically until he caught sight of another professor being followed by a group of students.
“Oh, and that over there is Professor Graeme. He’s one of the academy’s top researchers,” he said in a nervous whisper.
My guide went silent as his face turned down into a thoughtful frown. Speaking quietly, he added, “He’s also a bit, well…harsh.”
My gaze followed the student’s to a man in silky black dress robes. Azure lines ran down the sleeves to the cuffs and from his neckline to trace the opening along his spine. He had six runic tattoos on his exposed back.
A group of students trailed along behind him, listening intently as he talked. A familiar head of orange hair that faded to yellow near the tips stood out among the others. The professor said something I couldn’t hear, causing Briar to laugh and toss her hair.
‘I didn’t think Briar was physically capable of laughing,’ Regis deadpanned. ‘Maybe she’s been possessed.’
As if he sensed our attention, the professor stopped and turned. He had burnished brown hair that hung in loose curls down to his shoulders and a youthful, cleanly shaved face. Bright, intelligent jade eyes took me in at a glance and his lips quirked up into a half-smile.
“Students!” he announced, lifting both arms to gesture toward me. “It seems we have the good luck to be introduced to Central Academy’s newest faculty member. Will any of you be taking Melee Enhancement Tactics this season?”
The professor glanced around his group. A round of snickers went through the young men and women, most of whom were shaking their heads in denial. Briar was looking at her feet instead of me, and winced as another girl elbowed her and whispered something in her ear.
“No, I suppose you wouldn’t be, would you?” He flashed the group a knowing smile. “There are of course more important topics of study for such accomplished students than learning to punch each other like drunken unads.”
My guide fidgeted nervously beside me. “When I said harsh…”
‘What you meant was sandpaper asswipe harsh,’ Regis finished for the young clerk.
“I do hope that you’re a better fit for the duty of teaching than the last professor who taught that class.” He gave me a simpering smile. “It’s such an embarrassment to the academy when we employ such useless mages.”
Keeping my face blank, I said, “Pleasure to meet you,” and began to walk away, but the man moved swiftly to cut me off. I paused and met his eyes expectantly.
“There is a certain hierarchy among both faculty and students here,” he informed me. “It is best to figure it out quickly, or you’ll fare no better than your predecessor.”
“I’ll pretend to keep that in mind,” I said politely, eliciting a few bug-eyed looks from the students.
With a nod, I stepped around the stunned professor and walked away, ignoring his near-tangible gaze on my back.
‘At least you can’t be racist about his behavior,’ Regis thought.
I held back a smirk thinking back to the professor I beat on my first day of school in Xyrus. Whether it’s here or Dicathen, or even Earth, there are always going to be those sorts of people.
“Sorry about him, sir,” the clerk said, reminding me that he was still there.
“Did you personally transform him from a normal person into a mule’s ass?” I asked, not looking at the young man.
“Um…No?”
“Then why be sorry,” I said firmly. Stopping, I took another look at him. He was tall with dirty blonde hair and an easy smile. His uniform was a little wrinkled, and he had messy hair sticking out at odd angles from his head. “What was your name?”
“Oh, jeez, so rude of me…Tristan, sir. Of Blood Severin. We’re from Sehz-Clar, small blood, I’m only here because I got lucky enough to—”
“Tristan,” I interrupted before he could get lost in a self-deprecating spiel. The boy’s mouth snapped shut. “I appreciate your company but I can find the library on my own.”
Dipping into a bow, he flashed me a wide grin but said nothing else as he spun on his heel and walked quickly away.
‘A bit of a teacher’s pet, but he seems like a useful one to keep around,’ Regis commented as Tristan left.
Technically, you’d be the teacher’s pet, I replied with just a flicker of a smile.
‘If you’re still thinking of a way to get all of those girls off of you, just keep telling jokes like that,’ Regis retorted.
***
Dehlia, the old librarian, wasn’t on duty when we arrived in the library, so I dropped the books unceremoniously at the front desk with one of her many assistants.
Before leaving for the Reliquary, there was one more topic of research I knew I couldn’t keep running away from. Since I couldn’t activate the catalog system, I began to wander the library at random in search of the right section.
‘Why do you need to read books when you have me?’ Regis asked, understanding my intent.
No offense, but you haven’t been particularly timely or reliable with your cultural knowledge, I thought as we walked through the “Epic Poetry” section.
‘Offense taken,’ Regis huffed.
I’d been lucky to find people eager to be helpful, like Mayla and Loreni in Maerin Town, and later Alaric and Darrin. At the academy, though, I was surrounded by Alacryans who would be paying closer attention to me, and it was suddenly much more important to have some basic knowledge of Alacryan terms and customs. To that end, I was searching for a book or two that might help give me context to the simple daily normalities of Alacryan life that I wasn’t familiar with.
As I passed the “Folktales” section, I heard the heavy thump of a fist impacting flesh and a gasp of pain.
‘Hey, that sounded pretty interesting,’ Regis perked.
It also sounded like it wasn’t our business, I countered indifferently.
Beyond the rows of Alacryan folktales, I found a section labeled “Customs and Traditions.” The shelves were full of bound books detailing the differing customs of Alacrya’s five dominions. Some looked at the topic from a more historical view, exploring how these traditions came to be, while others functioned more like guides for travelers or the nobility.
A low, threatening voice reverberated through the shelves from a nearby section, distracting me from my search.
“—stop pretending you’re one of us. Just ‘cause your family all got wiped out in the war doesn’t make you a real highblood.”
“I never said I—oof!”
I paused after hearing the familiar voice before he was cut off by another blow.
“Don’t speak without permission in the presence of your betters.”
Letting out a sigh, I moved slowly and rounded the corner.
Regis let out a snicker. ‘What happened to minding our own business?’
Shut up.
Moving along the lengthy bookshelf, I found a gap that opened into a secluded corner.
Four boys had crammed into the shrouded nook. They all wore the black and azure uniforms of Central Academy, but the disparity between them was clear.
Two of them had Seth, the scrawny kid who had helped me pick out my books, pinned up against the wall. One was very tall and on the thinner side, giving him a stretched appearance. Braided locks of red, black, and blonde hair hung from his head. The other was shorter, but with broad, bearish shoulders and a mop of wild red hair.
The last young man, whose skin was dark ebony and his hair a darker black, stood back a few feet, his arms crossed. He was more classically highborn in appearance than the others, and he wore his nobility openly, in the set of his shoulders, his stance, and the careful passivity of his face, his nose upturned slightly, lips parted in a practiced smile.
“A homeless orphan like you has no place here,” grunted the heavy-set boy.
“Go home,” wheezed the other, wrapping his hand around the back of Seth’s neck.
“Oh wait.” The broad boy twisted Seth’s arm, causing him to let out a pitiful moan.
“You don’t have a home, do you?” asked the thin student as he shoved Seth’s head back into the wall.
Stepping into the aisle, I wordlessly passed the dark-haired student and approached the other three.
“Excuse me?” he asked incredulously as I stepped between him and his friends.
The thinner student looked me up and down, his hand still pinning Seth’s head to the wall. “Need something?”
Stepping up next to him, I raised a hand. He flinched back, then scowled as I reached past him to pluck a book off the nearest shelf. As I flipped it open to read the title, I made sure my spiraling ring was plainly visible.
Letting go of Seth’s arm, the large boy stuck out his chest and took a step toward me.
I looked up from the book. And waited.
His attempt at a threatening glower twitched. His friend glanced past me to the third boy, grimacing. I let my brows crease into the smallest frown.
The large boy deflated, stepping back again.
“You must be the new combat professor,” the black-haired boy said from behind me. “For the no-magic class.” When I glanced at him over my shoulder, he nodded slightly in a bow that would have been considered disrespectful in any formal setting. “Professor Grey?” His thin lips turned up in an amused smile. “Show the professor some respect, gentlemen. We’ll be seeing him often, after all.”
“My bad,” the large student grunted.
His companion flashed me a jovial smile as he straightened Seth’s uniform for him, causing Seth to flinch back. “Sorry, professor.”
Both boys skirted around me as best they could as they followed their ringleader out of the alcove.
“Thanks,” Seth said as he unfolded out of his defensive posture.
I scanned the bookshelf absentmindedly, not actually taking notice of any of the book titles. “Liking to read is fine, but you should probably learn how to defend yourself if you plan on staying at this academy.”
He was silent as I walked away, letting my words hang in the air.
With a couple new books in hand, I left the library several minutes later and headed for the Reliquary.
I was surprised to find a couple dozen students gathered around the Chapel—the building Tristan had gloated about earlier—watching a procession of mages march out of the portal. Two by two, the armed and armored mages formed a barrier leading from the portal arch to the dark stone steps of the Chapel.
When an unfamiliar horned figure stepped out of the portal, my blood turned to ice in my veins.
The Vritra-blooded man was colossal. He stood well over seven feet tall and had the physique of a titan. His horns jutted from the sides of his shaved head and curved to point forward like a bull’s.
‘Dragoth,’ Regis whispered in my mind. ‘A Scythe.’
Throughout the entire war, I had thought that word with fear and anticipation. The entire Dicathian army trembled at the mention of the title, terrified of the day one would appear on the battlefield and show us what they could really do as elite Alacryan generals .
This fear had only been amplified when the Scythes had finally made an appearance. I had watched Seris Vritra tear the mana-infused horn from Uto’s head as effortlessly as a child pulling the wings off a butterfly. I had witnessed the aftermath of Cadell’s destruction at the castle, where he overpowered a Lance and the commander of Dicathen’s armies without breaking a sweat.
Even at the peak of my strength, I had nearly killed myself to fight to a stalemate against Nico and Cadell—and I would have, had it not been for Sylvie.
These thoughts passed through my mind between one heartbeat and the next, and I realized something.
It wasn’t fear that I was feeling.
It was anger.
As one, the body of students took a knee, and suddenly I was exposed to the Scythe.
Dragoth’s wide head swiveled around until his blood-red eyes locked on mine. He frowned, halting for a moment, and I felt as if he was looking through my eyes and into my mind, seeing my hostility as plainly as if I’d pointed a sword at his heart.
‘Art! Your intent, he can feel it!’ Regis sounded panicked but distant, and I realized with a start that I had inadvertently suffused my entire body with aether.
Blinking, I withdrew my intent—which had only just leaked out and was still shrouded under the Scythe’s own oppressive aura—and the crowd of students stood, once again obscuring me in the throng.
“Scythe Dragoth Vritra!” a deep voice announced from the doors of the gloomy Chapel. “It is with great honor that we receive you!”
The speaker looked just like his portrait: short grey hair that contrasted sharply against his ebony skin, and a permanently stern expression on his face that didn’t break apart even in the face of a Scythe.
Relief mingled with regret as Dragoth turned away from me to face the director. “Augustine,” he answered in a warm baritone. He ran a hand through his thick beard. “I’ve brought the relic as agreed. In person, as Cadell required.”
Clenching my fists, I forced the anger down and took an iron grip on my intent. As I looked at the Scythe’s black horns, though, the image of Cadell’s demonic form standing over the dying Sylvia flashed in my mind. Then Alea, her eyes gone, her limbs nothing but blood stumps. Then Buhnd, on his back in the rubble, burning from the inside out.
Dragoth had said something to the crowd, but I missed it. The Scythe and the director were walking toward the entrance to the Chapel as his guards formed a line across the base of the stairs.
Chatter broke out amongst the crowd all around me, but I could only stare at the Scythe. He was right there. I could kill him now. I could deprive Agrona of one of his most powerful soldiers. I could—
‘—listening to me?’ Regis’s voice was suddenly shouting in my head. ‘We can’t just—’
I know, I thought, pushing back my emotions and turning away. Now isn’t the time.
A/N: FOR DISCORD USERS, PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS THIS IN CHANNEL #NOVEL-TALK AND KEEP TO PATREON-ONLY CHANNELS UNTIL THE CHAPTER IS RELEASED ON TAPAS TO PREVENT SPOILERS. THANK YOU. <3
Comments
Yassine Elotmani
He will probably make his own weapon with aether manipulation
Breamson 𒉭
5
im not sure about mana but all i know is that Arthur will refine his power and probubly be able to stop asuras
I guess after following the story up until now, it's really a wishful thinking. Like just because he lost his mana core, does not necessarily mean that he won't be able to get it back. Being able to wield aether somehow allows him to bend the fabric of reality, the physical world, teleport, time reversal. None has been able to repair mana core before this because none able to wield/understand aether as much as he does. Them Asuras included. Remember when Lady Myre (or what she's called) said if mana is like water, then aether is like the cup that's holding it. He only needs to create the cup again. Like why stop at having an aether core if he can have two different cores?
How is he going to repair his mana core? His core is flipped into an aether core, it doesn't exist anymore as a mana core to repair it
I get a feeling that Arthur might be able to repair his mana core using his mastery of aether later on. Seems like aether allows him to bend the fabric of reality, teleport, time reversal. I think the end game would be that using his mastery on aether and mana (previously), he would be able to tap into Cecelia enormous mana pool to do something.
So close to 4k and then the month changes, lol
Ilya Trianggela
Again, it took 90 minutes for me to read(I'm bad at English), but I love it. No matter what people say, I like how you wrote this amazing story. The world-building, characters building, how all of these things are detailed, it's a masterpiece. *insert meme: u dropped this king
Hydra6807
Thx for the chapter! ♥️♥️
He needs a lot more strength to try to fight the asures.
I don't think that would be the case, instead I think arthur will be able to use aether arts to mimic certain aspects of elements, like how destruction was interpreted as an all consuming flame by arthur and god step crackles with lightning similar to thundercrash impulse. I feel as he acquires more arts, he will be able to understand those arts as an element of sorts, like using the force interprets the art as wind or creating a pressurized blast of aether will be interpreted as a jet stream of water, however, I feel that either the aether will not retain the elemental properties of mana or it will be much more exaggerated like the black holes from gravity interpretation, storms from water interpretation, cutting winds from wind interpretation. I don't think arthur should have access to anything like elemental magics anymore because it was way too versatile and will make him too op, having branches like stated would be best and allow arthur room to grow while limiting the overall potential sufficiently
hsa bocaj
It would be awesome if author learned to control manna through aether. Using the aether to shape the manna into certain spells or forms.
Is the relic brought by Dragoth Arthur's next weapon ?
Nico didn’t need 4 elements neither did Uto. Metal is all they needed to beat Arthur.
At least it’s in Arthur’s pov
So did Arthur just confirm that he could take out a Scythe now? Does that mean we can place current Art stronger than his third Stage form?
Yassine Elotmani
Wait how many scythe are there?
Wamblez Burr
This guy walked up to a group beating Seth up, didn't say a single word, and made them back down. What a chad. Also loved the world-building in this and the introduction of the fifth Scythe. I was waiting for that one.
I really appreciate the effort behind every chapter you are creating, I really don't know if you read the comments but I have to say, job well done
these kinds of long chapters >>>>>
Jennie (Eirine)
Action is great, but I really enjoy this world-building! So many vivid images in so few words! <3
Well, we can press F for him then
ahaha dude I think your blood lust is leaking a little XD
I agree!! It's quality is really of a high standard and I feel like i'm reading a really good, long book series.
carson
I am curious just how he stacks up against a scythe at this point. I'd say overall he's stronger than before (not including stage 3), between regeneration, aether strength, and burst step he's a dominant physical force, but he lacks versatility and high-level techniques. Also, loved the chapter never feel bad about world-building, it's great!
Ali
Interesting to see art refer to his form with mana as his peak strength, i am hoping we see him use aether to fix his mana void at some point, aethers okay but a quadra elemental was way cooler.
TheAsianspice
Ahhhh all caught up. The sadness is happening
It can also be a bait from argona
Jason
I do like the world building but I would also like to see some progress soon... plot, character, and ability. I feel like we’ve stagnated for a while now and Art needs to make some headway.
I am loving all of the world building we are getting. I find all of the different ways Alacrya basically works so interesting!!
Not Cadell, not Nico, it looks like Dragoth was introduced with the purpose of being the first Scythe to go
It's not an unpopular opinion, but more like it's gonna be taxing for Turtleme to write longer everytime.
I personally love the world building. My only gripe is the lack of content per chapter.. unpopular opinion, but I think you should extend the chapter more often if it’s world building.
Mandalomaster
The timing is too perfect for the new relics, can we assume someone is helping or controling Arthur in the shadow ? Or is it just plot armor ?
I agree! I'm curious if those two Storm Cove Academy students from book 8 who dueled Grey/Arthur after he left the relictombs will be in the class as well! The mentioned wanting to transfer to a central academy. Because, he beat them effectively purely through close combat skills with them using their spells, and they know that... It would be pretty funny to watch their horror if they show up and watch those students who bullied Seth be rude to Grey/Arthur before he destroys them...
Jacob S
I’m inclined to think this new Relic will prove to be more useful than the others to Arthur. He’ll need to take. The timing of its arrival is just too telling. I’m also excited to see Arthur get back at that professor, and those students who bullied Seth. They could use a lesson in humility.
Jacob S
Art can take him 🥊 One less Sycthe to deal with later…
Personally, I think Arthur not having mana is a nice progression as we see him explore the capabilities of Aether. We have seen his mana skills being cultivated since chapter 1 I think this new direction adds to the story
Ebube Bakosi
Based on this new focus on dead relics, I suspect that it is through a relic that Arthur gets his control of mana back. He has no mana core but he may find a relic that mimics one. This will result possibly in the return of our favorite Quadra elementalist
Wait is that what he said? At 4k we get 2 chapters a week?
They think he is dead. And if they would know that he is alive and in Central Academy why not just sent scythes to kill him?
Varday Jacobs
I think the relic is a trap for Arthur/grey. What if it’s a relic that can travel long distances but has to be pre-programmed(which they don’t say) then when Arthur tries to use it takes him right to Agarona
Absolutely agreed
Kendryll Suarez
We need to hurry up and hit 4000 patreon members so we can get those 2 chapters a week
Kendryll Suarez
I’m so hyped for next weeks chapters
Kendryll Suarez
Just read chapter 114 of the manwha and I’m excited chapter 115
Josh
Take your time TurtleMe! Write what you want and don't get overly worried. Anyone whose made it to this point loves your writing and world and would never balk at the chance to know it better 😁
Can't wait for when art puts those lads in their place.
I just hope once this novel ends (I wish it never did) TurtleMe keeps writing because this has to be the most invested i've ever been into reading.
Chris Chelette
I'mma say this before I even read this weeks chapter your awesome man your a complete genius and I get lost in every chapter forget anyone that can't seen the genius in u at work it's Bs don't rush do exactly what u always have done bro you have all these loyal fans for good reason don't change anything the longer chapter is much appreciated but don't rush anything I love the world building it means u really want us to see the world through your eyes and more authors need to do that
Poltak
Curious about how that awkward moment between Grey and Dragoth will end up. Also as to how Grey's new acquaintances in Alacrya will treat him after they find out he's from Dicathen!
Please kill him, I’m dying for action
David Rafael Tamir
I know TBATE is a webnovel and is treated as a webnovel... But I believe it gives more of a "book series" vibe, as someone who read plenty of webnovels (and very few books in comparison) I believe this is fine, in the mainstream webnovels ive read the storyline is much faster than here, but that doesnt mean its better, its just different. This series reminds me of the pacing of a good fantasy book series, thats not a bad thing at all, its just a different genre and thats absolutely fine. Having a dozen chapter or so of an ark in a school at a different continent should be fine IMO (When we consider the volume as a whole and the progress we excpect to get from the volume).
Polyester Bandit
LOVED THE CHAPTER TURLE!!!!!
Thank you for the chapter
Love the story so far, just mad I can't binge read it all yet. Keep up the amazing work :D
I really agree with this. The more rushed a story is, the less original and exciting it is. Look at One Piece. Damn thing has been going on for ages but has kept its top tier story telling and One Punch Man takes a while to update between each chapter, but each chapter is a frikin master piece that makes it worth the wait
Remember that Arthur is in enemy territory, so he has to try his best to blend in first, otherwise he might face a lot of enemy trouble before he even gets a chance to improve himself. Plus, chapters like this make the story more realistic I think, because, Arthur has been going full speed essentially since the war between Dicathelon and Alacrya started, so there will be times when he will slow down to at least "catch his breath".
One thing I always appreciate about TBATE is the level of detail that it has. The chapters have some much detail that, I have a really solid picture of how a person, their environment or even a scenario, looks. A definite top tier novel IMO.
Ezra
I bet he eventually steals the new dead relic that Sycthe Drogath just arrived with, and it puts him into the sythce’s crosshairs.
jon
people like you dont deserve this.
Artem Karmanov
4 + Nico. I believe we still haven’t met 1, but I can be mistaken
AntiMatterDynamite
kill him art! you can do it!
Really curious to what relic was the scythe asking for, hope Arthur pick a good relic to learn from. Oh btw how many scythes are there? Do we know yet?
Megan Arias
Honestly it makes me angry that Arthur is drinking tea at a cafe while his family and Virion are fighting a war ugh, I really hope he can just go on an ascension already and meet a scythe and accidentally kill him hehehe🤭 But this is my favorite novel out their keep making this masterpiece TurtleMe😁
Vinicius Figueiredo Rodrigues
as always an amazing chapter, full of unexpected things. I thought art would have a little pacific time, but seems like it'll be even harder now.
Sanil Sharma
Mans is playing for the wrong Wizards
Can’t believe people are complaining about the world building. I love the way he’s constructing the story. Sure, the action and fighting is great but it’s these type of chapters that build up the upcoming action and make it all the more better. It’s really interesting to learn about Alacrya and gain information to put Grey’s situation into perspective.
Keaton
Keep up the good work turtle !
Dude just said hmm should i kill this scythe like he was a chump
ExtraSwivy
Dragoth is 7 foot tall? Put him in the NBA!
Don't let some comments bother you. We really appreciate your work. And personally, I really love some worldbuilding like that instead of just actions or fights everytime
john ross
I really enjoyed this chapter.
Ty mate for you writing
My least favorite chapters were the school early on and here we are again. Will re-purchase patroon lance level after some more progression beyond this arc.
Extra long chapter is an extra good day
Thank you
Soundd Wavess
There you have it folks! The prestigious phrase of the week award goes to Regis, for his clever usage of “sandpaper asswipe”
Good chapter. Don't be scared to slow it down sometimes (and I wouldn't even consider this slow). I know there's a lot of pressure in the weekly format to jump from high to high but chapters like this will always make it a better story in the ends. Keep it up.
Turtleme have you been on TBATE tiktok cuz you've been emphasizing art being a racist princess which is funny asf
Konomi
Loved this! Seeing Grey conflicted over returning the favor and helping the kid and then seeing his anger and all the thoughts—the trauma that resurface when he sees the new scythe. Rly enjoy this and can’t wait to see what the new fancy relic Cadell had sent over in person 👀👀👀
TLDR: Free cafe food, Pompous teacher, Seth gets bullied because he became a high blood, and Dragoth the scythe comes to the school
Awesome chapter. Every one was kinda hinting that he may steal the dead relics and reactivate them using Auro Requiem and this is almost saying he’s gonna do it. Also being he just casually said that he should just kill the scythe ( like he was just anybody) this is just further confirmation that yes Arthur is scythe level and is much stronger than when he fought before . Arthur wouldnt just say that unless he was extremely confident he would succeed.
BloodStorm
I appreciate the longer chapter
Jon Chefitz
I completely agree don't let the vastly small minority of people impact you, just keep doing you the majority of us support you!
Jon Chefitz
The chapter itself was so cool, being introduced to a new Sythe was awesome, I can't wait for Art to eventually fight one of the Sythes again, and I love how Art just knew he could kill that guy, which shows such a big change in Art, to where he was uncertain about dealing with Sythes and feared them to now, where he out right just wants to fight them, that fear is gone, and it is a sign he has become much stronger. Thanks so much Turtle, and see everyone again next week!
Pablo Barbatto
He has mentioned previously that now that we know how relictombs work and the difficulty of them we won't spend too much time other than for key moments. I assume he will use those times to switch pov's
Jon Chefitz
I loved this chapter, thank you so much Turtle. Also, I am perfectly fine with world-building I actually love to know more about the world, also by no means do I think you are just trying to extend the series, though I actually wouldn't mind that since I love this series.
Austin Miller
I appreciate this.
T_Don
So like is he just going to stay in the academy for a few more months or something? Shouldn’t he be trying to get into the relictombs asap learn what he needs to, then steal the artifacts and dip. Oh and also kill the sythes on the way out
James
I hope the comments of certain persons last time didn’t hurt you. Continue to do things your way, the pace is excellent. Your chapters are always a pleasure to read and a positive way to end the week. This one was no exception. Take care
Ezekiel2517
Please don't feel rushed! We love the world and people you've created! So bloody happy to get to enjoy this months before a book would've come out. Take care of yourself, friends and family. We'll be here!
I love this guy
Thank you 🙏
