A Man Like None Other (Jared Chance) novel Chapter 6572

Behind them, the ice-blue radiance of the Northern Abyss Frost Chasm turned slowly, like an ancient aurora that had never changed, silently watching the three companions' backs as they left.

Josephine walked last.

Her injuries still hadn't fully healed. The wound on her shoulder had already scabbed over, but every time she lifted her arm, it tugged just enough to send a faint stab of pain through her.

Ice chips and dust clung to her dark red dress, and her long hair whipped loose in the freezing wind.

But she never once said she was tired, and she never slowed down.

Jared led the way, the Dragonslayer Sword hanging at his waist.

His violet eyes swept the area while his spirit sense spread out for 50 miles in every direction.

The edge of the Northern Abyss Frost Chasm was far safer than its depths.

But there was no way to know whether the Hall of Radiance had already sent reinforcements.

Gwendolyn walked between them, her ice-white gown snapping sharply in the freezing wind pouring off the Northern Abyss Frost Chasm.

One hand rested on her sword hilt.

Ice-blue spiritual power flowed over her fingertips, ready for any sudden change.

The Heart of the Abyss was inside her now.

Even within her body, the ice-blue pearl gave off a faint chill, like a slab of frozen jade pressed against her heart.

They walked in silence for about 1 hour.

By then, the Northern Abyss Frost Chasm's ice-blue radiance had faded into a pale streak on the horizon behind them, and the Ashford Range had come back into view ahead.

Pine forest. Gravel flats. A dried-up riverbed.

Everything looked exactly the same as it had on the way in.

Only their state of mind had changed.

When Jared had come here, all he'd had was a vague suspicion that the Northern Abyss Frost Chasm might hold a relic of the Frost Deity Branch.

Now he was leaving after seeing the Heart of the Abyss with his own eyes, witnessing the beginning of Aldric's body being reforged, and learning that the Heart of the Abyss was the key to opening the Frost God Palace's high sanctuary in the Twentieth Firmament.

More important than any of that, Josephine was beside him.

She had lost her memory. She no longer remembered anything they had been to each other.

But she was alive. She was still standing in front of him.

That was enough.

Jared came to a stop and turned to look at Josephine.

She was moving slowly.

Her face was still pale, her dark-crimson eyes half-open and unfocused. She was obviously forcing herself to keep going.

"Let's rest for a bit," Jared said, pointing to a flat rock nearby.

Josephine glanced at him but said nothing.

She walked over and sat down on the rock.

She took out a healing elixir from her Storage Ring, swallowed it, then closed her eyes and began regulating her breathing.

The primal fire burned slowly over the surface of her body, driving away the surrounding frost energy.

Its glow made the planes of her face brighten and dim by turns.

Jared stood off to the side, watching her profile.

Something complicated flickered through his violet eyes.

Too many memories came back at once.

Memory after memory of everything that had happened between him and Josephine.

Their first meeting.

Josephine behind the wheel, nearly running him over.

The way she'd used her family's power to shield him, again and again.

Back then, he really hadn't been all that impressive...

Jared drew in a slow breath and forced the surging thoughts back down.

Then he walked over, crouched in front of Josephine, and lowered himself until they were eye level.

Jared looked at her and said, "I want to ask you something."

Josephine opened her eyes.

Those dark-crimson eyes settled on him. She didn't speak, only gave the slightest nod.

"Where's your junior disciple?" Jared asked.

"Skylar."

A faint crease touched Josephine's brow, like she was searching through memory.

"He's in seclusion."

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