Chapter 11: Foundations of Power

The first light of dawn stretched across the Darius Estate, gilding the stone walls with gold. The aftermath of the ambush left a tangible shift in the air—one of dominance. The Blackthorn Cabal had struck, only to be annihilated in return.

Yet, Valerius was not satisfied.

A single battle meant nothing in the grand scheme of power. Wars were not won with mere victories but with foundations that could not be shaken.

And so, he turned his gaze inward—toward his family.

A Clan Without Strength is Prey

Seated within the grand study, Valerius overlooked the estate grounds from the towering windows. His five brothers stood before him, their expressions determined yet restless.

Leonidas, always the first to speak, leaned forward. "We proved our strength last night, but we all know this was just the beginning."

Tiberius, the most thoughtful of them, added, "The Blackthorn Cabal will either escalate or retreat into the shadows. Either way, we must prepare."

Valerius nodded, his fingers tapping against the armrest of his chair. "Our path forward is clear. Strength alone will not sustain us—we need structure. Our clan must become a force beyond simple survival."

His brothers exchanged looks. It was true—the Darius bloodline had stagnated for too long. Once a noble family of power, they had been reduced to a shadow of their former selves. Their numbers were high, but talent was scarce.

They had relied on secrecy and old prestige for far too long.

It was time to change that.

A Magus Among Knights

Valerius rose to his feet, his golden eyes shining with purpose. "The Magus path is dominant, but not absolute. Knights have always been the backbone of battle. Alone, they are limited. But…"

He stepped forward, his presence suffocating. "What if they could stand beside Magi—true equals?"

The room fell into silence.

A ridiculous idea. No Knight had ever matched a Magus in pure might. The physical strength of Knights was impressive, but fleeting—limited by their lifespans, unable to wield the mysteries of magic.

Yet Valerius had spent years researching ancient texts, analyzing the flaws in both systems. His AI Chip-like assistant had simulated possibilities, running calculations that most Magi would never even consider.

And now, he had a vision.

One that could change everything.

A New Path—The Fusion of Magus and Knight

Valerius turned to his brothers.

"All five of you have the potential to surpass the limits of traditional Knights." His voice was calm but absolute. "With my research, we will elevate the Knight Path to stand alongside the Magus Path."

Cyrus frowned. "You mean—turn Knights into Magi?"

"No," Valerius corrected. "I mean giving Knights their own version of mystical progression. A separate yet equal system. One that does not depend on the ability to sense magic particles but still achieves extraordinary results."

He let the weight of his words settle.

His Memory Vault burned with recalled knowledge—ancient experiments, forbidden texts, genetic mutations, and alternative sources of power. Most Magi dismissed them, focusing only on their own evolution.

But Valerius was not like other Magi.

His goal was not personal ascension alone.

It was the rise of the Darius Clan.

Forging the Path

Tiberius exhaled slowly. "If what you're saying is possible… then it changes everything."

Valerius smirked. "And that is exactly why we must be cautious. We will develop this new system in secret. No one outside this room must know—until we are ready."

His five brothers shared a look before nodding in unison.

They understood.

Power was not seized with recklessness, but calculated control.

And so, it began.

Experimentation Begins

Over the next several weeks, Valerius buried himself in research.

The Disorganized Library of Knowledge became both his greatest asset and greatest challenge. The fragmented records contained countless theories on human enhancement, mana circulation, bloodline modifications, and body refinement techniques.

With the AI Chip-like assistant, he began sorting, refining, and testing.

His first breakthrough came from an ancient war scroll, detailing a technique used by a forgotten warrior clan:

The Symbiotic Core Method.

Unlike the Magus Path, which relied on external absorption of magic particles, this method created an internal core within the Knight's body—a biological energy center capable of storing and releasing power like a Magus's magic core.

It was flawed, unstable.

But fixable.

The First Trial

Leonidas stood in the underground chamber, shirtless, his body tense. Valerius circled him like a predator, his fingers glowing with mystical runes.

"This will hurt."

Leonidas smirked. "Good."

Valerius pressed his palm against his brother's chest. The ritual circle flared to life—the first attempt at merging the Magus and Knight paths.

Pain tore through Leonidas's body as his muscles spasmed violently. His veins darkened, shifting unnaturally beneath his skin. Mana and life force collided inside him—two forces never meant to mix.

He gritted his teeth, refusing to scream.

Valerius observed carefully, his AI Chip calculating fluctuations in real-time. The process was unstable—his theories incomplete. Yet—progress was undeniable.

Leonidas's breathing slowed. His aura shifted—no longer purely Knight, yet not Magus either. Something new had taken root within him.

Valerius pulled back, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

This was only the beginning.

The Awakening of a Clan

As dawn broke, Valerius stood at the highest tower of the estate, gazing upon the land below.

His Hidden Fates Protection ensured that no outside forces could detect the changes occurring within his clan.

His Temporal Manipulation Artifact allowed him to accelerate experiments without drawing suspicion.

His Memory Vault ensured that no knowledge was wasted.

And his brothers—his five pillars—stood ready to walk the path with him.

The world did not yet know.

But House Darius was awakening.

And soon—all would kneel before them.