Blackridge's Mark

Chapter 104 — The Blackridge Mark

Aether stared at the young man.

The black mark beneath his collar was faint.

Most cultivators would never have noticed it.

But Origin Sense wasn't ordinary perception.

Aether could feel the strange energy circulating through the mark.

“Blackridge.”

The young man's expression changed.

“You know?”

Aether didn't answer.

Blackfang emerged silently behind the man.

The young man immediately froze.

“I wasn't sent to attack you.”

“Then explain the mark.”

The man hesitated.

Aether's gaze became colder.

“I don't like repeating myself.”

The young man slowly lowered his head.

“My name is Kael.”

Aether's eyes narrowed.

“Kael?”

The name was familiar.

Not because of the man standing before him.

Because he remembered another young survivor from the Northern Region who had carried a black crystal.

Aether studied him carefully.

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“This mark is different from the old Blackridge crystal.”

Kael nodded.

“They changed their methods.”

“Why are you carrying it?”

Kael clenched his fists.

“I was forced.”

Aether remained silent.

Kael continued.

“Blackridge captured my village months ago. They marked everyone who survived.”

“Why?”

“To track us.”

Aether looked at the mark again.

“And you came here?”

“I escaped.”

Aether's expression didn't change.

“Why follow me?”

“I heard rumors about you.”

Kael glanced toward the two shadows.

“Someone said you killed Blackridge commanders.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

Kael took a breath.

“I wanted to find someone strong enough to remove the mark.”

Aether considered him.

Then he extended his hand.

“Let me see it.”

Kael hesitated.

Finally, he pulled down his collar.

The black symbol covered part of his chest.

Aether placed two fingers near it.

Origin Energy entered the mark.

The black energy immediately reacted.

Aether's expression sharpened.

“It isn't simply tracking you.”

Kael looked worried.

“What is it?”

“It's storing Origin Energy.”

Kael's face paled.

“What happens when it's full?”

Aether looked at the mark.

“It sends the stored energy somewhere.”

“Where?”

Aether's eyes became cold.

“Blackridge.”

Kael clenched his fists.

“So they're using us as containers.”

“Possibly.”

Aether didn't speculate beyond what he could detect.

But one thing was certain.

Blackridge had developed another method of manipulating Origin Energy.

Aether began dismantling the mark.

Kael suddenly cried out.

The black energy resisted.

Aether increased the pressure.

The mark cracked.

A burst of darkness exploded outward.

Blackfang immediately moved between them.

Aether absorbed the released energy.

The mark slowly disappeared.

Kael fell to one knee.

“It… it's gone?”

Aether nodded.

“You're free.”

Kael looked at him in disbelief.

“Why?”

Aether turned away.

“Because you weren't my enemy.”

Kael stared at him.

Aether didn't look back.

“Don't mistake that for kindness.”

Kael gave a small smile.

“I won't.”

Aether suddenly sensed movement.

Several presences were approaching.

He closed his eyes.

Five.

No.

Seven.

All hostile.

Blackridge.

Aether sighed.

“So they tracked the mark here.”

Kael's face became pale.

“They found me.”

Aether's eyes opened.

“They found us.”

The trees around them exploded.

Blackridge warriors appeared from every direction.

The strongest was Stage 7.

Two Stage 6.

Four Stage 5.

The Stage 7 warrior stepped forward.

“Hand over the marked survivor.”

Aether looked at him.

“No.”

The warrior's expression darkened.

“Then die with him.”

Aether smiled faintly.

“Blackfang.”

The shadow wolf emerged.

“Ironhide.”

The shadow bear appeared.

The Blackridge warriors stared at the two creatures.

The Stage 7 leader tightened his grip.

“Kill them.”

Aether's eyes became cold.

“That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say.”

The battlefield erupted.