Rise of the Warden

Chapter 32: Rise of the Warden

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Aftermath of the Beast Tide

The battlefield was littered with the remains of the fallen. The twisted bodies of beasts lay scattered like broken dolls, their corpses tangled in Selene's venomous threads. Soldiers panted, leaning on their weapons for support, their eyes hollow from exhaustion.

Victory had been claimed, but at a cost.

Kai stood at the center of it all, his presence an unshakable pillar amid the ruin. Yami's colossal form slowly shrank, her eight heads merging into one before her body returned to its sleek, snake-like form. Her eyes glowed softly with satisfaction as she slithered to Kai's side.

"Too easy," Yami hissed, her grin wide.

"Don't get cocky," Kai replied, his eyes still scanning the treeline. "The tide may have broken, but that doesn't mean it's over."

Nearby, Selene descended gracefully from the canopy of webs she had woven. Her eight eyes regarded Kai with cool detachment.

"Master, the threat has been neutralized for now," Selene said, her voice eerily calm. "Shall I continue surveillance?"

"No. Regroup with me," Kai ordered, his gaze shifting to Nyx.

Nyx approached, her human form as regal as ever. Her silver hair shimmered in the fading glow of the eclipse she had summoned. She eyed the fallen Alpha Beast with mild disdain.

"Pathetic," she muttered. "That beast dared to call itself an Alpha?"

"Even weak kings can lead armies," Kai replied, his gaze distant as he watched soldiers and tamers regroup. He could hear the whispers all around him.

"That was him, right?"

"The Warden of Shadows… he's even more terrifying than they said."

"Three EX-rank beasts… is he even human?"

Kai ignored them, but his mind noted every word. The more they see, the more the council will tighten its grip.

"Master," Yami said, her tone more serious now. "We should prepare. They're watching."

Kai glanced at her. Her golden eyes met his, filled with knowing.

"They always are," he muttered.

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Council of High Authority — Tensions Rise

Far from the battlefield, the Council of High Authority reconvened in their grand obsidian chamber. The room was dimly lit, the glow of the sconces flickering like dying flames. Overseer Vareon Dreykar sat at the head of the table, his eyes colder than the northern frost.

The first to speak was Lord Rael of House Voss, his voice filled with contempt. "Reports say that the boy, Kai, single-handedly turned the tide with his beasts. He grows bolder by the day."

"Not bold," Lady Mirena of Crescent Tower corrected, her eyes sharp as daggers. "Efficient. Every move he made was calculated, every command precise. He didn't waste a single breath. That's not boldness, Rael — that's control."

"Control we should be wary of," Rael spat, his hand slamming on the table. "This Warden of Shadows is a boy with too much power and no leash. We should remind him who holds the reins."

Silence followed his words.

The Martial Saint, Eldrin Greyvein, leaned forward, his eyes locked on Rael. A weight filled the room as his aura seeped into the air like a rising tide.

"Leash him?" Eldrin said, his voice low but dangerous. "The last time someone tried to leash an apex predator, they were eaten whole." He leaned back, arms crossed. "If you wish to 'remind him,' Rael, I won't stop you. But when you fail, I will not save you."

Rael stiffened, his face pale with suppressed fury.

"Enough," Overseer Vareon said, his voice cutting through the tension. "The Warden of Shadows has proven his worth. The Beast Tide was halted with minimal losses, all thanks to him. Instead of wasting breath on fear, we should be thinking about how to utilize him."

"Utilize him?" Mirena raised a brow. "You mean control him."

Vareon didn't deny it. "Control is not always chains and shackles, Mirena. Sometimes, all it takes is a well-placed offer."

His eyes glowed faintly, his gaze distant as if plotting something far beyond the council's grasp.

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Unexpected Encounter

Back on the battlefield, Kai sat on a stone, his eyes closed as he felt his beasts' energy slowly returning. His mind, however, focused on something else.

"System, open Battle Analysis."

[ Opening Battle Analysis… ]

Analysis Complete.

Enemy Rank: Alpha-Class Obsidian Devourer.

Weak Point: Sub-cranial plate at the base of the skull.

Optimal Strategy: Crippling constriction, headshot with piercing attack.

Performance: S-Rank. Efficiency: 96%.

Kai raised an eyebrow. Not bad, but I could've done better.

A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. "Strategizing even after victory?"

Kai opened his eyes and glanced to the side. Elara of the Bloodmoon Clan approached, her steps light and deliberate. Her silver hair, wild yet elegant, framed her sharp amber eyes. Her Moonshadow Panther walked at her side, its sleek black fur shimmering with an ethereal glow.

"Shouldn't you be resting, Elara?" Kai asked, his eyes watching her closely.

"Rest is for those who have no ambition," she replied, her gaze fixed on him. "You've shown me something today, Warden. Power. Precision. Leadership." She tilted her head, eyes narrowing with interest. "I didn't think you'd be so capable."

Kai didn't rise from his seat. "Is that admiration I hear?"

"Curiosity," she replied, her voice smooth as silk. She crouched in front of him, close enough that her eyes bore into his. "You're hiding something, Kai. I can see it. And one day, I'll uncover it."

Kai's lips curled into a smirk. "You're welcome to try."

Her eyes narrowed, but she smiled back.

"Another predator watching me," Kai thought. "Good. Let them watch."

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The System's Whisper

Later that night, as the battlefield quieted, Kai sat alone on the edge of camp. The glow of dying campfires flickered in the distance, their warmth barely touching him.

The system's familiar hum echoed in his mind.

[ New Feature Available: Path of Mastery ]

Kai's eyes widened. Another one?

[ The Path of Mastery allows you to train your beasts beyond their natural limits, unlocking hidden bloodline potential and granting exclusive abilities. ]

[ Beast Eligible: Selene ]

Kai's heart skipped. He had been focused on Yami and Nyx for so long that he'd nearly overlooked his first and most loyal beast.

"Selene," he called softly.

She descended from the trees, her body graceful as ever. Her eight eyes gazed at him, calm but attentive.

"You called, Master?" she asked, tilting her head.

"You've done more than I've given you credit for," Kai admitted, his voice low but sincere. "It's time I corrected that."

He opened the system menu and activated Path of Mastery for Selene.

[ Unlocking Hidden Bloodline Potential… ]

A flash of light surrounded Selene's body. Her form twisted, her legs elongating, her carapace glowing with a faint silver hue. Her threads shimmered brighter, no longer simple strands of silk but threads laced with an unearthly glow.

[ Bloodline Awakened: Arachne, Weaver of Fate ]

New Abilities Unlocked:

Fatebound Threads: Weave threads that alter fate, entangling enemies in threads that influence luck and probability.

Voidstep: Selene can step between shadows, appearing wherever her threads are placed.

Kai's breath hitched. Fatebound Threads? Voidstep?

Selene's form settled, her gaze sharper, more aware. Her new abilities pulsed with latent power.

"Master," she said, her voice filled with new depth. "Shall I test my threads on your enemies?"

Kai's grin was wolfish. "Not yet, Selene. But soon."

He glanced at the distant glow of the capital. The council was surely watching him now.

"Let them watch," he muttered, his eyes cold as steel. "The Warden of Shadows doesn't kneel."

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End of Chapter 32