Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 352: I hate this place

Days later, the army finally reached the boundary of the Abyss, and the moment they did, the world itself seemed to recoil.

The ground beneath their feet was blackened as though scorched by an ancient fire that never truly went out, cracked and uneven. The air reeked of death and old resentment, thick enough that even breathing felt heavier, as if every breath carried echoes of screams that had long faded into the void. The sky above was completely black here, light itself seemed unwilling to linger over the Abyss.

The horses sensed it immediately.

They snorted, stomped, and tossed their heads in agitation, their eyes wide and rolling as they felt the oppressive pressure pressing against their instincts. A few tried to rear, others attempted to turn back the way they came, and the tension rippled through the ranks as riders struggled to keep them steady.

Lucas raised his hand calmly. "Mistress Jennifer," he said, his voice carrying just enough authority to cut through the unrest. "Ask the healers to assist."

Jennifer nodded without hesitation. "You heard him," she called out to the other groups. "Calming techniques only. Do not force them."

She slid down from her horse and approached the nearest cluster of mounts, her silver hair catching the dull light as she placed a hand against the neck of a trembling stallion.

"Easy," she murmured softly. "You are not alone. We are here."

Gentle waves of soothing Qi spread outward, subtle and controlled, mingling with similar energies released by healers from other squads. The restless snorts slowly quieted, hooves stopped striking the ground so violently, and one by one, the horses settled, though they remained tense, fully aware that they stood at the edge of something profoundly wrong.

Lucas watched the process closely before nodding in approval. "Well done," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.

As the army reorganized and held position, Lira’s gaze drifted away from the Abyss and toward the cultivators behind her. That was when she noticed Mirielle.

Mirielle sat stiffly on her horse, her hands clenched tightly around the reins, her shoulders trembling despite her obvious attempt to appear composed. Tears slipped silently down her cheeks, leaving faint tracks of moisture that glimmered briefly before disappearing into the dull air.

Lira’s breath caught.

She did not need to ask what was wrong.

Memories surged back unbidden, memories of months ago, of their return from Lechia, of the boundary they had crossed then, and of the encounter Mirielle had suffered on the far side of this cursed place. The image of her father’s soul, twisted by regret and bound to the Abyss, was not something anyone could forget, least of all Mirielle herself.

Without a word, Lira dismounted.

She handed her reins to a nearby soldier and walked toward Mirielle with steady steps, her heart heavy but her resolve firm. When she reached her, she placed a gentle hand on the side of Mirielle’s horse.

"Mirielle," Lira said softly.

Mirielle flinched at first, then turned her head, her eyes red and glistening. She tried to smile but failed, her lips trembling instead.

"I thought I was ready," Mirielle whispered. "I told myself I was. But standing here again, it feels like he is still watching me from the other side."

Lira rested her forehead briefly against Mirielle’s arm, grounding both of them. "You are stronger than you were then," she said gently. "And you are not facing this place alone anymore."

Mirielle swallowed hard. "I still hear his voice sometimes."

Lira reached up and squeezed her hand firmly. "Some wounds do not close simply because time passes. They close because we keep moving forward despite the pain."

Mirielle’s shoulders shook as she let out a quiet sob. "I hate this place," she admitted. "I hate that it still has power over me."

"That does not make you weak," Lira replied, her voice steady and sincere. "It means you loved deeply. And love always leaves marks."

Mirielle finally nodded, drawing a shaky breath as she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. "Thank you," she said quietly. "For not pretending you do not see it."

Lira offered her a small, warm smile. "We all carry something from this war," she said. "Some of us just carry it in our hearts."

She remained there beside Mirielle, one hand still resting on the horse, the other on Mirielle’s arm, offering silent strength as the army stood poised at the edge of the Abyss, waiting for the next step that would carry them through it.

Lucas approached the center of command with measured steps, his presence calm despite the oppressive atmosphere of the Abyss looming before them. The ice belle hovered quietly near his shoulder, her small form glowing faintly, while Tom remained a respectful distance behind.

The king turned first when he sensed Lucas approaching. "You have something in mind," he said, his voice steady, eyes sharp with expectation.

Henrietta shifted her horse closer, her expression serious. Commander Alexander and Captain Varran followed suit, forming a small circle around Lucas, shutting out the noise of the waiting army.

Lucas bowed briefly. "I do," he replied. "Crossing the Abyss in one mass would be reckless. Even with our numbers and cultivators, the instability of this place could scatter us or worse."

Commander Alexander nodded slowly. "Then speak. Time here is not our ally."

Lucas glanced toward the Abyss before meeting their gazes again. "We split the army into five groups. Enough to move quickly, to protect one another if something goes wrong."

Captain Varran frowned slightly. "Five groups means 1400 men per group and five to six crossings. The risk increases with repetition."

"That is true," Lucas acknowledged calmly. "Which is why I will go first."

The king’s brows furrowed instantly. "You intend to cross alone."

"Yes," Lucas said without hesitation. "I need to personally pass through the Abyss ahead of everyone else."

Henrietta leaned forward. "For what purpose."

"To mark spatial anchors," Lucas replied. "Stable points within and beyond the Abyss that I can lock onto with my spatial teleportation. Once those points are fixed, moving groups across becomes far safer and far faster."

Commander Alexander’s eyes widened slightly. "You can do that across this distance."

Lucas nodded. "I can, but only if I establish them myself. The Abyss distorts space. Blind teleportation would be gambling with lives."

The king’s gaze shifted briefly to the ice belle. "And her role."

Lucas looked down at the little spirit, then back to them. "Her pure ice essence will be used to protect the marked points. I will leave traces of her energy at each anchor so the Abyss does not erode them before the army crosses."

The ice belle puffed her chest slightly, clearly pleased to be mentioned, though she said nothing.

Captain Varran crossed his arms. "So once the anchors are in place, you will bring each group across."

"Yes," Lucas answered. "Controlled and precise. No chaos."