Chapter 82 – The Rising Rift

Classers Administrative Office)

Reyon stood in front of the wide, metallic desk at the center of the admin chamber, his arms crossed behind his back. The moonlight that filtered through the high glass windows painted silver streaks across the floor, giving the room a quiet solemnity.

"I was already suspicious of the Brook royal family…" Reyon muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. His gaze lingered on the golden crest of the Classers embedded in the wall. "The first dragon… it emerged from the royal palace itself. And then—"

He clenched his fist.

"Before the dragon attack, the entire royal family had already deserted the capital. How convenient."

He turned, walking slowly toward the large table where maps and reports were scattered.

"But I wasn't fully sure," he said, dragging his fingers across a detailed sketch of the Brook Palace grounds. "Alice died fighting those dragons… If even she didn't know what was happening in the royal family…"

He paused. His expression softened for just a moment.

"…then they must have hidden it even from her."

His voice dropped lower, just above a whisper. "Well. That only makes what I must do more important."

He stepped behind the desk and sat.

"The reason I'm establishing this empire... it isn't just to free ourselves from the Brook Kingdom's leash. It's because of that suspicion. Now, we'll be free from their oversight—and I can investigate them directly."

Without hesitating, he grabbed the enchanted crystal used to transmit Classer commands. He poured mana into it.

"Order all agents," he said, his voice clear and authoritative. "Use full force to investigate the Brook royal family. Dig through every inch of their capital. I want to know if anyone in the palace or the ministries has ties to monster activity or any signs of internal corruption. If there's a mole, find them."

The crystal glowed, confirming the message had been received and was now being relayed.

"Now… time to move."

(Horizon Forest – Center Clearing)

Beneath the forest canopy, the ground was stained with the residue of countless battles. Burnt tree trunks, cleaved boulders, and the broken bones of monsters littered the clearing. Ray, Alice, and Sylph lay beneath the shade of a broken tree, resting.

Sylph stretched her arms, letting out a yawn. "We've almost cleared this place... finally."

Alice sat beside her, brushing blood from her cheek. "It's only been a week," she said with a smirk. "Impressive for normal mages. For us? Expected."

Ray had just finished sharpening his blade. "Don't get too cocky. We're only halfway through Reyon's mission."

Suddenly, all three of them stiffened. A powerful surge of mana surged through the clearing.

"…What the hell is that?" Ray leapt to his feet, drawing his sword.

From the shadows ahead, a tall figure stepped out.

"I suppose I should work on my stealth," Reyon chuckled.

Ray let out a breath and sheathed his blade. "Damn it, you scared the crap out of us!"

Reyon smiled. "Looks like you three have done a good job. You subdued all the monsters in the Horizon Forest in just a week."

Alice wiped her blade, eyeing him. "Wasn't easy. The beasts were getting unusually aggressive."

Sylph stood, brushing dust from her skirt. "I'm glad we finished. I need a proper bath."

Reyon's tone turned serious. "Don't let your guard down now. Horizon was just the start."

The trio focused.

"We're heading into the Dark Nation next. Unlike here, the threats are organized. Monster camps, orc villages, troll clans… they're coordinated. Enough to challenge even a squad of 7th Circle Elites"

Ray whistled. "Sounds fun."

Reyon looked them each in the eyes. "We move cautiously. No more underestimating the enemy."

(Dark Nation – Monster Territory: Weeks Later)

The landscape of the Dark Nation was unforgiving. Jagged rocks jutted out of the scorched land like the bones of a long-dead titan. Black ash clung to every surface, and the sky never seemed to clear. Lightning occasionally cracked in the distance, but it wasn't the weather—it was magic.

For three months, the four of them moved camp by camp, village by village. Fighting monsters. Resting only when exhaustion made it physically impossible to continue. Trolls. Basilisks. Orc Warlords.

They took them all down.

During one such siege, when Alice and Sylph were surrounded by three ogres and two chimeras, Reyon stepped in. A flash of black light surged outward, space bending unnaturally.

"Gravity collapse."

The monsters disintegrated without even realizing they had died.

Sylph collapsed beside Alice, gasping. "Damn it…"

Alice pressed a hand to her bleeding arm. "We need to rest—"

"No," Sylph snapped, standing. "I won't lose to you again, not even here."

Alice smirked. "Always so competitive."

Rumors of their progress spread across the continent like wildfire. Even the common folk spoke of the four ghostly warriors clearing out the Dark Nation. Whispers that the Phoenix household was preparing for something massive reached even the ears of kings.

(Brook Royal Palace – Royal Council Chamber)

The palace interior was bustling with tension. Nobles stood, their voices loud and filled with worry.

"They've subjugated the entire Dark Nation!"

"And now even Horizon Forest!"

"They're not just cleaning up rogue monsters—they're building something!"

The king, aged and pale, sat on his throne, unmoved.

"What can we do?" he muttered, annoyed. "No force or organization can stand against the Phoenix household now."

The prime minister stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I suggest we begin gathering support from the smaller nations. And perhaps…"

He hesitated. "Negotiate with the Elise Kingdom."

The king frowned. "The Elise Kingdom?"

"They have Commander Phillip, an 8th circle elite… and now the Classers on their side. it's said that the new mysterious leader of classers is at peak 8th circle he even defeated cold sword If we unify, perhaps…"

The king waved his hand. "Do it."

Letters were sent. Emissaries dispatched. The kingdom of Brook extended olive branches, treaties, trade offers, anything.

But none of the small nations replied.

Days later, the Queen of Elise herself sent a reply:

"We reject any negotiations on this matter. We will not involve ourselves in what appears to be internal conflict within the Brook domain."

why? are they not afraid of pheonix household attacking them

Prime minister replied it seems the pheonix sent an envoy to elise kingdom declaring they won't attack anyone first but if initiated by others pheonix won't hesitate to obliterate the kingdom

The king's expression twisted in fury. He slammed his hand against the golden lion crest of his throne.

"THEY DARE? These Phoenix bastards… arrogant to the end."

He stood. "Summon the crown prince. Now."

Minutes later, a young man entered the chamber, kneeling.

It was Arthur brook crown prince elder brother of alice and the one who was defeated by reyon in graduation battle

"You summoned me, Father?"

The king's eyes were ablaze. "When is the product going to bear fruit?"

The prince's expression tightened. "It's… still a child. It's barely reached the power of a peak 8th-circle mage."

"You promised me power!" the king roared. "I made you crown prince because you swore you'd tame that monster. That it would make us the strongest household!"

The prince kept his head bowed. "We need three years, Your Majesty. Once it matures… even the Phoenix household will kneel."

The king stepped down from his throne and slapped him.

"Three years?! Do you think we'll live that long?! The moment the Phoenix declare their independence, they'll conquer us!"

The prince, unfazed, looked up.

"Do not worry, Father. Lord Leywin, when he was patriarch… he took an oath due to his close friendship with grandfather. The Phoenix household would never raise their blades against the Brook royal family."

He stood. "And to them, Lord Leywin is akin to a god. They will not violate that oath."

The king clenched his teeth, grinding his jaw in rage.

"…Complete the project. Accelerate the growth. I don't care how. I won't be remembered as the king who lost his kingdom."

The crown prince bowed. "As you command."

He turned and left the throne room.

Behind him, the king muttered under his breath.

"Even gods fall. Let's see how long the Phoenix clan clings to that old oath."