Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 427: Let’s begin

When Lucas returned to the camp, the night had grown deeper and colder.

Most of the soldiers had already withdrawn into their tents, though sleep had clearly not found many of them. Small fires burned across the encampment, their faint orange glow flickering against weary faces.

Commander Alexander stopped walking once they reached the center of the camp.

"I will inform Captain Varran and prepare the officers," he said quietly.

Lucas nodded.

"We will speak again before dawn."

Alexander studied him for a moment longer, then turned and disappeared into the dim light between the tents.

Lucas headed straight for his own.

The moment he stepped inside, he called for Tom.

"Bring everyone," he said. "All of them."

Tom nodded immediately and rushed off.

Lucas remained standing inside the tent, the lantern on the table casting soft light across the maps and scattered documents. He did not sit. His mind was still turning through everything that had just happened in the valley.

Within a short while, the tent flap opened again.

Henrietta entered first, followed closely by Nyx, Selene, and Lira. The ice belle came in behind them, still carrying the casual air she always seemed to possess, and Tom slipped inside last before tying the entrance shut.

Everyone could tell something serious had happened.

Nyx spoke first.

"You went to see Ken again."

Lucas nodded.

"Yes."

Henrietta crossed her arms.

"That was dangerous."

Lucas gave a faint shrug.

"Everything about tomorrow is dangerous."

The group gathered around the table as Lucas began explaining what had happened.

He spoke calmly, recounting the entire conversation from the moment he and Alexander had called Ken out into the valley.

The girls listened in complete silence as he described renegotiating the terms of the duel.

When he explained the new conditions, Selene’s eyes widened slightly.

"If Valerion wins, the Emperor of Rus will be released?"

Lucas nodded.

"Yes."

Lira glanced at him.

"And the army will be allowed to retreat safely."

"Yes."

Henrietta frowned.

"And if we lose?"

Lucas answered without hesitation.

"I become Ken’s prisoner."

The tent fell silent instantly.

Nyx’s face paled.

"You... what?"

Tom looked like someone had punched him in the chest.

"You agreed to that?"

Lucas remained calm.

"It was necessary."

Nyx stepped forward immediately.

"No, it wasn’t!"

Her voice trembled slightly.

"You can’t just hand yourself over to him like that!"

Lucas met her eyes.

"You asked me to keep fighting even if there was only one percent chance."

Nyx froze.

Lucas continued quietly.

"This is part of that fight."

The words left her unable to respond for several seconds.

Then she slowly lowered her gaze, clearly struggling with the reality of it.

Selene finally broke the silence.

"So who is fighting tomorrow?"

Lucas looked around the group.

"I already decided."

Everyone watched him.

Lucas spoke plainly.

"The two champions will be me..."

He paused briefly.

"...and her."

He gestured toward the ice belle.

Every pair of eyes in the tent turned toward her.

For a second there was complete silence.

Then the ice belle’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"Finally."

She leaned back slightly with a wide grin.

"I was starting to think you would never ask."

Tom groaned quietly.

"Of course she’s excited."

The ice belle ignored him.

"So we are fighting Ken tomorrow?" she asked eagerly.

Lucas shook his head.

"No."

Her grin froze slightly.

Lucas continued.

"Ken will not be the one fighting."

The ice belle blinked.

"What?"

Lucas explained calmly.

"He said fighting us personally would be beneath him."

Tom snorted under his breath.

"That arrogant bastard."

Lucas continued.

"He will appoint another Celestial to fight in his place."

The excitement on the ice belle’s face faded almost immediately.

"Oh."

She leaned back in her chair again, her expression noticeably less thrilled now.

"So not Ken."

Lucas nodded.

"Not Ken."

She scratched her cheek thoughtfully.

"That is disappointing."

Tom stared at her.

"You are disappointed?"

She shrugged casually.

"I was curious about how strong he actually was."

Tom threw his hands up.

"You are insane."

Nyx looked between them anxiously.

"Another Celestial..."

Her voice was quiet now.

"That is still terrifying."

Lucas nodded.

"Yes."

Henrietta spoke next, her voice serious.

"Do we know which Celestial it will be?"

Lucas shook his head.

"No."

He looked toward the entrance of the tent as if staring through it into the dark valley beyond.

"But I have a guess."

The memory of that day in Lechia returned to his mind again.

Ken had not been alone, there had been two others. A white haired woman and a man.

Lucas folded his arms slowly.

"It will likely be one of the two who were with Ken when they took Lechia."

Lira tilted her head slightly.

"A woman with white hair and another man?"

Lucas nodded.

"Yes."

She leaned back further in her chair and let out a quiet sigh.

"Well."

Her expression had clearly lost much of its earlier excitement.

"I suppose fighting a random Celestial will have to do."

Tom shook his head again in disbelief.

"Listen to yourself."

She simply waved him off.

Lucas looked around the group again.

"The duel is at dawn."

The lantern flame flickered softly inside the tent while the cold wind outside pressed against the canvas walls. For a few moments after Lucas finished speaking, nobody said anything. The reality of the coming duel hung over them like a heavy cloud.

Nyx was the first to break the silence.

"You’re still injured."

Her voice carried quiet worry.

Lucas looked at her calmly.

"The dragon’s inferno did more damage than I expected," he admitted. "The residue is still there. It weakens me if I let it."

Selene’s brows knitted together immediately.

"Then you shouldn’t be fighting a Celestial tomorrow."

Lucas gave a faint shake of his head.

"That choice disappeared the moment Ken brought out the crown."

Lira stepped closer to the table, her arms folded across her chest.

"You can’t go into that duel in this condition."

Henrietta nodded in agreement.

"Even if the ice belle is there with you, a Celestial is still a Celestial."

Lucas was already thinking ahead.

"That’s why I need your help tonight."

The girls looked at him.

Lucas continued calmly.

"You remember what you did for me after the battle with the Shadow Dragon."

For a moment none of them spoke, but the memory was still vivid in their minds.

The night when Lucas had nearly died from the dragon’s inferno. The way the corrupt fire had eaten through his body and meridians until his cultivation almost collapsed.

And the way they had saved him.

Selene’s eyes softened slightly as she understood what he meant.

"You want us to connect again."

Lucas nodded.

"Yes."

Nyx stepped closer immediately.

"The soul bond."

Lucas rested one hand on the edge of the table.

"If we connect the way we did that night, your Qi will strengthen my meridians and suppress the inferno residue."

Henrietta looked thoughtful.

"It worked once."

Lucas met her gaze.

"And I need it to work again."

Lira tilted her head slightly.

"You want to push your body back to its peak before the duel."

Lucas gave a small nod.

"I need every advantage I can get."

"That is... an unusual cultivation method."

Tom scratched the back of his head.

"I still don’t fully understand how it works."

Selene glanced toward him.

"It works because of the bond between us."

Her voice softened slightly as she said it.

Lucas looked around the group.

"I will guide the flow once we begin. All you need to do is let your Qi follow the connection."

Nyx stepped forward without hesitation.

"Then we should start immediately."

Lira nodded as well.

"The sooner we begin, the more time your body has to recover."

Henrietta gave Lucas a serious look.

"You will need to focus completely."

Lucas answered simply.

"I know."

Tom cleared his throat awkwardly.

"So... what exactly am I supposed to do while all this is happening?"

Lucas turned to him.

"I need you to deliver messages."

Tom straightened immediately.

"Alright."

Lucas spoke clearly.

"Go find Bartho and Volde."

Tom nodded.

"What should I tell them?"

Lucas looked down at the map on the table briefly before answering.

"Tell them to begin placing the Domain Expansion runes across the valley."

Tom blinked slightly.

"Tonight?"

Lucas nodded.

"Yes. They must finish before dawn."

Tom scratched his chin thoughtfully.

"You think Ken will notice?"

Lucas shook his head.

"They will place them quietly and far from the main battlefield."

The ice belle’s eyes narrowed slightly as she listened.

"You are still planning traps."

Lucas gave a faint smile beneath the lantern light.

"I always am."

Tom pushed himself away from the crate.

"Alright then."

He walked toward the tent entrance, tying his coat tighter as he prepared to step out into the cold night.

"I’ll find them."

Lucas gave a small nod.

"Be quick."

Tom lifted the tent flap and disappeared into the darkness of the camp.

Inside the tent, Lucas turned back toward the girls.

"Let’s begin."