ShadowBound: The Need For Power-Chapter 575: Moving As A Group

The instant Kaelen finished those last words, the clearing exploded into motion. Students burst forward almost all at once, boots pounding against the earth as they charged into the forest with reckless enthusiasm, each of them driven by the same singular goal—to reach the mountain and finish the trial as quickly as possible.

Liam and his group moved as well, though their approach was noticeably different. Instead of sprinting headlong like many of the others, they settled into a controlled run, their pace measured and deliberate. It wasn’t slow by any means, but it was clearly chosen with intent, designed to conserve stamina rather than burn it all within the first stretch.

The moment they left the clearing behind and the trees closed in around them, Sheila had suggested they remain together as a unit. Staying grouped, she reasoned, would drastically increase their chances of completing the trial safely and efficiently. The others had agreed without much resistance—everyone except Asher, who had visibly hesitated before finally giving in with an annoyed click of his tongue.

Their agreed plan was simple: run at the speed of the slowest person among them. That person, by all prior expectations, should have been Ariana. Yet as they continued deeper into the forest, it became clear that the pace they were maintaining wasn’t what any of them had anticipated.

’It seems like she’s made real physical progress over the last six months,’ Liam thought as his eyes followed Ariana’s movements. She was running at a speed that would have been unthinkable for her half a year ago, her breathing steady, her steps consistent and controlled.

He took in her form with a practiced eye, noticing how grounded she looked, how well-balanced her movements were. There was no wasted motion, no awkward strain—only a smooth, reliable rhythm. And it wasn’t just him who noticed the change. The entire group did.

"Damn, Ari," Dylan said between breaths, glancing sideways at her as they ran. "No offense or anything, but I really didn’t expect you to be setting this kind of pace for us. Looks like you’ve been doing more than just magic training these past months, huh?"

"Yeah," Max added, nodding in agreement. "It’s honestly impressive."

"Th-thank you, guys," Ariana replied, her voice slightly rough but steady as she kept moving forward without breaking stride.

"These boys aren’t lying, sweet Ari," Charlotte purred as she ran beside her, eyes flicking over Ariana with open interest. "You’re really catching my eye right now." Her gaze lingered shamelessly, as though she were already imagining the improved physique hidden beneath Ariana’s training attire.

"It’s nice that we’re all appreciating Ariana’s growth," Sheila said calmly, maintaining a position slightly ahead of the group, "but it would be wiser to save your breath. This is only the beginning."

"You heard the princess," Dylan chimed in instantly, straightening his posture with mock seriousness. "Mouths shut, eyes forward, people."

A few of them chuckled softly, some rolling their eyes, but they complied nonetheless as the group continued on.

Running slightly behind the others, Liam allowed his gaze to move from one teammate to the next, quietly studying them as they advanced through the forest.

And the more he observed, the clearer it became—it wasn’t only Ariana who had improved.

Sheila’s endurance was evident in her effortless lead, her posture unwavering. Dylan’s movements were lighter, more efficient than before. Max carried himself with a sturdier frame, his strides powerful and consistent. Charlotte moved with predatory ease, her stamina deceptively high, while Asher ran with a sharp, controlled intensity that spoke of disciplined physical training.

They had all grown stronger.

Not enough to make the trial easy, no—but enough to make it more manageable than it would have been before.

’Even though we’re matching Ariana’s pace,’ Liam thought, ’it’s obvious they can all go faster if they need to.’

His attention lingered especially on Asher, Charlotte, and Max. Among the group, those three had improved the most—and by a noticeable margin.

Asher’s build had filled out since the last time Liam had seen him closely, muscle definition more pronounced, his movements sharper and more explosive. Max, too, had gained strength, his body clearly shaped by consistent physical conditioning. Liam didn’t need to ask to know they had spent much of the lockdown pushing themselves relentlessly. After all, aside from him, those two had always been the type to chase strength in every possible way.

’Physically speaking,’ Liam admitted inwardly, ’they’re stronger than me right now. No doubt about it.’ The gap wasn’t massive, but it was there all the same.

He accepted that truth without bitterness. After all, they’d had a full half-year to train uninterrupted, while he had spent most of that time trapped in a prolonged slumber after the war, only regaining his lost mass and conditioning within the last two months.

Still, he refused to use that as an excuse.

He knew better than anyone that his slumber had granted him its own benefits—ones that didn’t show so plainly on the surface.

They ran for nearly twenty minutes straight, during which they passed several students who had started off at full sprint and were now reduced to walking, hands on knees, chests heaving. Others moved in smaller groups like theirs, though none matched their exact rhythm or consistency.

’For a place Sir Kaelen described as having unfriendly terrain,’ Liam mused, ’the path from the clearing up to this point is surprisingly smooth.’ Aside from a few fallen trees, exposed roots, and shallow pits, nothing about the forest truly justified that description.

’Or maybe that’s the point,’ he continued. ’No... he wouldn’t lie outright.’

A more unsettling thought followed.

’This is probably meant to lull us into a false sense of security,’ Liam realized. ’Dull our senses. Lower our guard.’

His eyes sharpened slightly as he kept pace with the group.

’Which means the real problem hasn’t shown itself yet.’

After running for another five minutes, the group found themselves funneled onto a noticeably narrower path, tall trees crowding in on both sides as though the forest itself were closing ranks around them. Their footsteps struck packed earth that looked solid enough, but something about it made Liam’s senses prickle.

Mid-stride, his nose caught a scent.

He kept running, but his breathing subtly changed as he began sniffing the air again and again, his eyes flicking sharply from side to side, scanning the ground, the trees, the space ahead of them.

’What is that?’ he wondered inwardly, a faint unease crawling up his spine.

"Any of you smell that?" Liam asked as they continued moving, his tone calm but alert.

The others turned their heads slightly toward him while keeping pace.

"Smell?" Dylan said, brow furrowing. "Nah, man, I don’t smell anything."

"Same here," Max added without hesitation.

"I don’t either," Asher said curtly.

Ariana shook her head as well, breath steady but confused.

"What are you smelling?" Dylan asked, glancing back at Liam.

"It smells like—" Liam started, only to be abruptly cut off.

"—mud," Charlotte said suddenly, her eyes widening in realization. "It’s mud." Her gaze snapped forward. "Princess, stop—!"

Charlotte lunged instinctively, reaching out toward Sheila just as the warning left her mouth.

Hearing Charlotte’s sharp tone, Sheila slowed slightly and turned her head to look back, confusion flickering across her face. In that exact instant, the ground beneath her feet gave way.

The earth and the entire stretch of path ahead of them sank as if collapsing inward, transforming into a slick, descending slope of wet mud. Sheila felt her footing vanish, her body jerking forward as gravity seized her, sending her sliding downward in a sudden, violent rush.

Before she could even cry out, Dylan reacted.

He dove forward without thinking, boots skidding as he launched himself toward her. His fingers closed tightly around Sheila’s wrist, and with a sharp pull, he yanked her back toward solid ground.

But the momentum had to go somewhere.

The instant Sheila was pulled free, Dylan took her place.

"Whoa—!"

He was dragged forward, losing his footing entirely as he plunged into the mudslide, his body twisting as he was carried down the slope at terrifying speed.

Mud coated his clothes instantly as he tumbled and slid, the incline steep enough that stopping himself was impossible. His heart hammered as he struggled to orient himself, arms flailing briefly before he forced himself to focus.

Still sliding, Dylan’s eyes snapped forward—and his stomach dropped.

The end of the slope was approaching fast.

A cliff.

"Shit—!"

His gaze darted wildly as he searched for anything—anything at all—that could save him. Then he saw it. A tree, improbably rooted near the cliff’s edge, its trunk thick and its branches swaying violently as mud rushed past it.

"This is gonna be risky," Dylan muttered through clenched teeth, forcing his body to steady even as he slid uncontrollably. His eyes locked onto a single low-hanging branch, his entire focus narrowing to that one chance.

As he drew closer, he braced himself, muscles coiling despite the chaos beneath him.

’Now.’

He launched himself forward, stretching out with everything he had, fingers reaching desperately for the branch.

But he missed.

The branch swayed backward at the last second, just enough to slip beyond his grasp.

"Shit!"

Panic surged—but only for a heartbeat.

Dylan forced himself to twist mid-slide, his body rotating awkwardly as he flung his other arm out. His fingers caught the branch this time, barely managing to hook around it.

The sudden stop was brutal.

His body slammed hard into the cliff face, the impact knocking the air from his lungs and sending a sharp, searing jolt of pain through his side.

"Gah—dammit, that hurt," he muttered through gritted teeth.

He dangled there, suspended over the drop, gripping the branch with both hands now as mud continued to rush past him. Clumps of wet earth cascaded over the edge beside him, pouring down like a thick, filthy waterfall.

Once the immediate danger passed, Dylan dared to look around.

Below him was nothing but more trees stretching downward into the forest, their tops barely visible through the falling mud. Around him, the cliff face was slick and unstable, streaked brown as the mudslide continued to spill over the edge.

He let out a breathy, incredulous laugh despite himself.

"Nah," he muttered weakly, adjusting his grip. "This ain’t a waterfall."

He glanced at the torrent beside him, lips twitching.

"This is a mudfall. Heh."