A Will Sovereign Chapter 35: Chapter 35— The sixth descent.

Read chapter 35 of A Will Sovereign by Sloche on NovelPedia.

--- For the first time since arriving at Martial Peak, Soldret overslept. When his eyes opened, sunlight was already filtering through the leaves outside the cave. He stared upward blankly for several moments, taking in the gentle rustling of leaves, the distant cries of birds, and the warmth of the morning sun. Everything felt strangely comfortable. Then realization struck. Soldret sat upright and quickly made his way outside. "The sun is already up?" Sure enough, morning had long since arrived. A slight grin appeared on his face. Yesterday's run had exhausted him more thoroughly than any of Radahn's beatings. Apparently, his body had decided it needed the extra rest. After quickly washing his face and finishing the last of the roasted Long-Eared Beast meat, he resumed his journey — downward, toward the foot of Martial Peak. --- Far above, Radahn quietly watched from a cliff overlooking several mountain paths. His gaze followed the distant figure running through the forests below. Soldret's pace was noticeably different today — steadier breathing, more efficient steps, and movements that wasted less energy. Even on uneven terrain, his body naturally adjusted. The old man's eyes narrowed slightly. "Not bad." Then he disappeared. ----- Meanwhile, Soldret continued running. The scenery gradually changed. The towering forests became less dense. The mountain roads widened. Signs of civilization slowly appeared. Occasionally, he spotted disciples from other peaks traveling through the lower regions — some riding strange primal beasts, others on foot. Several glanced curiously at him but none approached. Soldret preferred it that way. Hours passed. The sun crossed the sky. By the time the horizon began turning orange, Soldret could finally see it — the foot of Martial Peak, far below. Closer than ever before. A sense of accomplishment rose within him. After three days of travel, he had almost made it. Almost. Unfortunately, his legs disagreed. Every muscle ached. His feet felt heavy. His stamina was nearly exhausted. Soldret looked toward the distant lights appearing below, then at his empty pockets. A long silence. Finally, he sighed. "I'll rest here tonight." A few moments later, he glanced at his pockets again. "…Not that I can afford an inn anyway." The truth was cruel. Soldret Del Ray — young master of one of the wealthiest houses in the Western Continent, second disciple of the Peak Master of Martial Peak — currently owned exactly zero shards. That night, he slept beneath another tree. --- The next morning, Soldret resumed running. The final stretch wasn't long, yet somehow it felt longer than everything that came before. Perhaps because the destination was finally visible. Perhaps because anticipation had begun building within him. The moment eventually arrived. Soldret stepped onto the final path and stopped. The foot of Martial Peak lay before him. And beyond it — the Eight Peaks Academy. Soldret's eyes widened slightly. The academy was enormous, far larger than when he had first arrived. Countless buildings stretched across the landscape — training grounds, markets, residential districts, pavilions, libraries, and roads filled with disciples. The entire area felt alive. Voices echoed everywhere. Merchants shouted. Students argued. Groups exchanged techniques. Primal beasts moved through the streets. Cultivators of all strengths walked about — some so powerful that merely glancing at them made Soldret instinctively tense. The atmosphere was completely different from Martial Peak. There, everything felt isolated, ancient, and silent. Here, everything was bustling. Vibrant. Alive. For a moment, Soldret simply stood there, watching, observing, experiencing. The academy truly felt like a world of its own. --- Yet despite that, he didn't move forward. His gaze drifted toward the invisible boundary separating Martial Peak from the outside world. His expression became thoughtful. The moment he completely left Martial Peak, his Uni