Chapter 14: The Foundations of a New Era

The underground vault was still humming with the aftershocks of ancient energy. The knowledge Valerius had just absorbed burned in his mind—techniques, rituals, and lost wisdom that had not seen the light of day for centuries.

The Magus-Knight Path had existed once before, but its downfall had been inevitable due to instability and unsustainable techniques. If Valerius wanted his clan to rise, he had to correct the mistakes of the past and build a perfected version of this fusion.

Leonidas, his eyes glowing with residual power, was the first to break the silence.

"What now?"

Valerius did not answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and summoned a series of floating runes, their golden glow casting eerie shadows on the chamber walls.

— Analyzing newly acquired knowledge…— Integrating Magus-Knight Path with modern methodologies…— Estimating success rate of stable transformations… 53.7%

Valerius frowned. Not good enough.

"Now," he said finally, "we refine the process."

Stabilization of the Magus-Knight Path

Creating warriors who could seamlessly integrate both magic and physical power was not as simple as forcing the two together. The body and spirit needed a bridge, something that could allow both energies to coexist without collapsing into madness or instability.

Valerius turned to his brothers, his voice cold and commanding.

"We need three things."

"First," he continued, "we need a way to harmonize magic and life force without the chaotic backlash. The reason past attempts failed is because most initiates simply couldn't contain the opposing energies in their cores."

Leonidas clenched his fists. "I nearly lost myself in the transition."

"Exactly." Valerius nodded. "But I've found an answer. The technique is called The Binding Seal of Equilibrium—a ritual that forces both energies into alignment."

Tiberius, ever the tactician, narrowed his eyes. "And where do we get the materials for this?"

Valerius smirked. "That brings me to the second thing we need—Blood Cores."

A silence settled over the room.

Cyrus, the youngest of his brothers, shifted uneasily. "You mean…"

"Yes." Valerius' voice remained indifferent. "Magical creatures, knights, and even certain Magi—any being with an affinity for either path has a core within their essence. By extracting and refining them, we can create a stabilizing reagent for the transformation process."

Leonidas nodded. "So, we hunt."

"Not just yet," Valerius corrected. "That brings me to the third necessity—testing."

A smirk formed on his lips. "And I know exactly who our first test subjects will be."

A New Order Rises

Deep within the Darius territory, there existed a faction of disloyal vassals—lesser nobles and warriors who had, over time, begun to challenge the authority of the main family. They had long whispered of rebellion, their greed making them blind to the reality of their situation.

It was time to correct that mistake.

Valerius turned to his brothers.

"We begin the purge at dawn."

Leonidas' grin widened, his battle instincts awakening. "A culling, then?"

"A test." Valerius corrected. "Those who survive the purification process will be absorbed into our new army. Those who fail…"

He let the silence speak for itself.

The Magus-Knight Path would not be a privilege freely given.

It would be a trial by fire.

A new order was rising—one built on blood, steel, and absolute power.

And when the world finally realized what was happening…

It would already be too late to stop it.