Table of Contents
Summary
Shadow Alley Press Mailing List
The Return
The Headmaster
The Rooms
The Cottage
The Elders
The Arts
The Offer
The Disciple
The Path
The Spy
The Clash
The Raid
The Brother
The Fight
The Hit
The Kiss
The Blur
The Lure
The Garbage
The Slip
The Hit
The Prisoner
The Revelation
The Arrival
The Assault
The Lost
The Host
The Truth
The Plan
The Farewell
The News
The Mentor
The Revival
Books, Mailing List, and Reviews
Books by Shadow Alley Press
Books by Black Forge
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GameLit and Wuxia on Facebook
Even more Cultivation on Facebook
Copyright
About the Author
About the Publisher
Summary
It's back to school time for the world's only Eclipse Core, and the School of Swords and Serpents has never been deadlier.
FRESH OFF HIS UNDEFEATED tour as the School Champion in the Five Dragons Challenge, Jace Warin is headed back to class as the most popular student on campus. No longer an outcast, Jace struggles to master the amazing abilities at his disposal as he is drawn deeper and deeper into the conspiracies that threaten to tear Empyreal society to shreds.
As unknown enemies close in from every side, Jace must conquer what may be the darkest force of all—the deadly power in his own core.
Eclipse Core is the second book in the bestselling School of Swords and Serpents series, a thrilling tale of conspiracies, cultivation mastery, and inner strength.
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The Return
THE SCHOOL OF SWORDS and Serpents seemed smaller when I returned for my second year.
Three months of traveling around the world as the School’s champion had shown me towering skyscrapers and sprawling neon-lit cities. The Five Dragons Challenge had taken me to the overcities of Kyoto, Ulaanbaatar, Moscow, Dallas, London, and more in all their lavish glory. I’d also visited the undercities of New York, Cairo, and Paris. The world that had seemed so large when I was trapped in my work camp had become a tiny place, its far-flung cities connected by portal networks that let me cross continents with a single step.
It wasn’t just the School that had shrunk in my eyes.
Everything seemed smaller now.
“Thank you for your assistance, honored Officer Fezal.” I bowed low to the Portal Defense Force escort who’d overseen my speedy jaunt from the Atlantis overcity back to the School. “I am in your debt.”
“It was my pleasure, honored champion,” Fezal responded, with a low bow of his own. “It is not every day I provide transport to the undefeated warrior of the Five Dragons Challenge. Twenty-five cities and not a single loss. Most impressive.”
My bow went a little lower to hide the flush that rose in my cheeks at Fezal’s praise. I still hadn’t gotten used to all the changes that had come with my rise to champion. I wasn’t sure I’d ever adjust to being treated not as an outcast, but as a treasured member of Empyreal society.
“Be well, Officer Fezal,” I said. “And thank you again.”
“Be well, Champion Warin.” Fezal stepped back through the dark gateway, and his portal vanished.
Relieved to be alone, even if only for a moment, I took a deep breath and cycled sea air through my recently advanced core. I’d gone from a child’s foundation-level core to the more advanced initiate-level core during my time on the tour. That had increased my core’s ability to store jinsei for later use and further refined my already advanced skills at purifying the sacred energy. I split the salt and water aspects from the sea jinsei, and the purified sacred energy settled easily into my Eclipse core, as secure as water in a bottle.
My eyes burned with unshed tears at this simple miracle. I’d spent my whole life with a hollow core, unable to hold on to even the smallest wisps of sacred energy for longer than a handful of seconds. Then I’d gained an Eclipse core, and everything changed. I’d become stronger than I’d ever imagined, more powerful than most of those who’d ridiculed me when I was weak.
Those memories stirred the coals of old anger, and my fists clenched into white-knuckled knots. I’d already beaten one of my tormentors, Hank Eli, during my first fight as champion. The duel had been a lopsided mess; the old champion had never had a chance against me. Neither would the others who’d stood against me.
Hagar.
Rafael.
Deacon.
Professor Ishigara.
Thoughts of revenge swirled out of my core and filled my head with dark images. This is what The Manual of the New Moon had called “the Eclipse nature” and what I hoped to master during my second year at the School of Swords and Serpents. Because if I couldn’t control the dark urges that had haunted me throughout the Five Dragons Challenge, I was a terrifying danger to myself and everyone around me.
Serpents of light burst from my core and plunged into the sand at my feet. A patch of scrubby grass at the beach’s edge blackened and crumbled to ash. The sea breeze blew the dark remains away, leaving no trace there’d ever been anything there at all.
“Welcome back!” Niddhogg called from beneath the torii that framed the path up to the school. His stubby wings flapped excitedly and lifted him a few feet off the ground. He waved both his front claws at me, and I couldn’t help but grin.
I banished my hungry serpents and let the sea breeze wash through my core a final time. When I exhaled, I let go of the bad old memories and the rage they’d ignited. Experience during the tour had taught me the fires of that black rage would only burn me if left unchecked. Better to focus on the future and leave the past behind me.
Because the Eclipse core had already claimed a high price for the power it had granted me. I didn’t ever want anyone to pay it again.
“Coming,” I called out to Niddhogg, and raced the first rays of dawn’s light up the path to meet him.
“How’s my favorite dragon doing?” I scratched the ruff of bristly scales between the dragon’s nubs of horns.
“Not
