New Home

The low hum of the Gateway filled the air as Fenix stepped forward, feeling the familiar, unsettling pull as his body was dragged through the space between realms. It only lasted a few seconds, but the disorienting sensation always left a strange emptiness in his chest. When his vision cleared, he stood in Avalon, the Stronghold's towering walls stretching endlessly before him.

The scene before him was as bustling as ever. The streets were alive with Awakeneds of all ranks, moving through the city with purpose—some clad in armor, others in long scholar robes. Merchants called out to potential customers, selling everything from enchanted weapons to alchemical potions, while squads of hunters gathered in groups, preparing for their next journey beyond the walls. The air smelled of burning coals from blacksmiths' forges, mixed with the savory aroma of street food vendors cooking monster meat.

Despite all this activity, Fenix wasn't heading toward the dorms this time. His destination was different. This was his new home now.

Two armed guards in sleek combat gear flanked him, their presence a reminder that he was no ordinary student anymore. As they led him forward, his eyes lifted to the massive Great Tower, an imposing structure of stone and rune-inscribed steel, standing at the heart of Avalon. It was unlike anything else in the city—a fortress within a fortress, rising over 200 meters into the sky. The sheer scale of it made the academy back on Earth seem like a mere training ground.

His future was now inside those walls.

As Fenix approached the entrance of the tower, he noticed a familiar figure waiting for him.

Leaning lazily against the archway, arms crossed over his broad chest, stood Aldric Voss. His sharp, watchful eyes flicked up as Fenix arrived, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Didn't expect to see me again so soon, huh?" Aldric said, pushing off the wall.

Fenix blinked. His escort was Aldric? That was... unexpected.

"You're my guardian?" Fenix asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Aldric snorted. "Guardian? What am I, your babysitter?" He gestured for Fenix to follow. "Let's just say I'm your handler. The director figured that since I already know your... quirks, I might as well be the one to keep you in check."

Fenix sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. Just what I needed."

"Look at it this way—you could've ended up with some stiff noble knight breathing down your neck. At least I'm fun."

Fenix wasn't sure whether to be relieved or concerned. But out of everyone, Aldric was probably the best person for the job. He was strong, experienced, and most importantly—he wasn't the type to follow traditional rules too strictly.

Aldric patted his shoulder. "Come on, let's get you settled. Welcome to the Tower."

As they walked through the corridors of the Great Tower, Fenix noticed how different it was from the rest of Avalon. While the city resembled a medieval fortress, the Tower blended ancient architecture with advanced technology. The walls pulsed faintly with arcane inscriptions, the very structure humming with energy.

Eventually, they stopped in front of a reinforced steel door, and Aldric gestured for him to open it.

Fenix pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside.

The room was beyond anything he expected.

A massive window took up an entire wall, offering a panoramic view of Avalon. From here, he could see the sprawling city streets, the merchant districts, the training grounds, and even the towering outer walls. Beyond that, the endless wilderness of the SoulRealm stretched toward the horizon.

Inside, the furnishings were simple yet highly functional:

A solid wooden desk, already stacked with books on Soul Beasts, combat tactics, and Awakened history.

A weapons rack, mostly empty

A personal training area, including a sparring dummy and a reinforced floor for intense practice.

A bed, larger and far more comfortable than he was used to.

Fenix walked toward the desk, running a hand over one of the books. "Anatomy of Predatory Beasts." "Understanding Soul Beasts." "Tier Classification & Combat Strategies."

Aldric smirked from the doorway. "Like it?"

Fenix let out a slow breath. "Didn't expect something this nice."

"Consider it an investment," Aldric said. "You're gonna need it."

Fenix turned to him. "So… what's next?"

Aldric smirked. "Now? We train."

But the first lesson wasn't swordsmanship. It wasn't combat.

It was understanding his enemies.

Aldric led Fenix deeper into the Tower, past multiple corridors, before entering a dimly lit research hall. Inside, long metal tables stretched across the room, each one holding preserved remains of various monsters. Some had been dissected, their organs and muscle structures carefully labeled. Others were fully intact, frozen in place through some magical preservation method.

Fenix stopped beside the body of a Shadowfang Wolf. Its sleek black fur gleamed under the torchlight, fangs still bared in death.

"Recognize it?" Aldric asked.

Fenix nodded. "Yeah… fought something similar before."

Aldric tapped the wolf's ribcage. "Good. But tell me—what do you see?"

Fenix narrowed his eyes, studying it. "…Built for speed. Long limbs, lean muscle, probably relies on ambush tactics. The claws are sharp, but not long enough for deep wounds—more for quick, precise strikes."

Aldric nodded. "Not bad. But you missed something."

He pulled back the wolf's fur and revealed a layer of overlapping bones across its chest.

"These things have natural armor over their vital spots," Aldric explained. "Meaning if you aim for the chest, your blade won't do much. But here—" he pointed behind the shoulder, where a gap in the bone structure was visible. "Hit this, and you pierce the heart."

Fenix absorbed the information, his mind racing. If he knew where to strike, he could kill faster. More efficiently.

And that was just one monster.

They spent hours analyzing different creatures—learning their strengths, weaknesses, and behavioral patterns. It wasn't just about swinging a sword anymore. It was about strategy.

Only after theory did Aldric allow him to train physically.

And it was hell.

His drills were the same as before—repeating the fundamentals over and over. Footwork, defensive stances, controlled strikes.

Even with his new Soul Core, he was nowhere near Aldric's level.

Hours passed. Sweat dripped down his forehead. His muscles screamed in protest. But he kept going.

"Again," Aldric ordered.

Fenix gritted his teeth and obeyed.

By the time Fenix returned to his room, his body felt like it had been broken apart.

He dropped onto his bed, muscles aching, staring at the ceiling.

'This isn't school anymore. This is survival.'

His gaze drifted to Ashfang resting on its rack.

'If I want to live… I need to become much, much stronger.'

As exhaustion took over, his last thought before sleep claimed him was simple.

'This is just the beginning.'