Chapter 17: The Cost of Power

Aldric stood in the dimly lit chamber, his breathing heavy, his body trembling from the aftershocks of the transformation. His veins still pulsed with raw energy, his muscles twitching as if struggling to contain their newfound power.

The warriors and Magi waiting in line watched in stunned silence.

A mere knight had just stepped beyond the boundaries of mortal limitations. A fusion of Magus and Knight—something unheard of.

Leonidas grinned, stepping forward to inspect Aldric. He tapped his fingers against the knight's chest, feeling the barely contained energy vibrating beneath the skin. "How do you feel?"

Aldric clenched his fist. The air around him rippled. "Stronger… Faster… Like my body has been reforged in flame and steel."

Valerius observed him with sharp eyes. The experiment had worked. But—

"We are not done yet."

Aldric blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

Valerius didn't answer. Instead, he snapped his fingers.

A dagger, infused with his own magic, flew through the air—aimed directly at Aldric's heart.

A test.

The other warriors gasped in horror, but Aldric's body moved before his mind could even process it. His hand shot up, catching the blade with unnatural speed. The sheer force behind his grip crushed the dagger's hilt into dust.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then Valerius smirked. "Good. You survived the first phase."

Aldric swallowed hard, realizing that if he had failed to react, he would already be dead.

The others in line shifted uneasily. Some glanced toward the exit, doubt flickering in their eyes.

Valerius turned toward them, his expression calm yet absolute.

"Power is never freely given. It is taken, earned, and reforged through suffering." He gestured toward Aldric. "If you wish to transcend, then step forward. Otherwise…"

His eyes darkened. "Leave. But understand this—you will never be offered another chance."

The Weak Fall, The Strong Rise

For several moments, no one moved.

Then—

Three warriors stepped back.

They couldn't do it. The fear of the unknown, the risk of death—it was too much.

Valerius sighed. "Leonidas?"

Leonidas' smile widened. "With pleasure."

Before the deserters could even react, their heads left their shoulders.

Blood splattered across the stone floor.

The remaining warriors and Magi stiffened.

"This is the path you have chosen," Valerius said, voice devoid of emotion. "There is no turning back."

One by one, the rest stepped forward.

The ritual continued.

Some survived. Some did not.

By the end of the night, House Darius had gained thirty-six Magus-Knights.

And Valerius?

He had taken his first step in creating an army that would shake the foundations of the Magus World.