ch 48 ,49,50
Chapter 48 – Eyes That Watch
Word Count:
---
The swirling rift spat them out onto warm stone—back in the Academy plaza, just before dawn.
Kael staggered slightly as his boots hit the ground. Mira caught his arm to steady him. Behind them, the rest of the group emerged from the crimson portal, breathless but victorious.
The Trial Tower had taken its toll—but it had also given something invaluable.
"Look," Yren said softly, pointing upward.
The rift above the tower shimmered and sealed itself, vanishing like a closing eye.
A bell tolled in the distance. First light touched the Academy spires. Quiet surrounded them, but not for long.
The platform filled with light. Instructors, observers, and other academy students were already gathering around the plaza, having tracked their progress through magical arrays.
Kael glanced toward the gate they had exited.
A single orb floated above it—recording, watching.
"Too many eyes," Mira muttered beside him.
Kael didn't reply. His Domain pulsed gently in the back of his mind—quiet but stronger than before. The newly absorbed core had become part of his foundation.
"Reminder," Seventeen whispered in his mind, "you are being observed by seven scrying arrays and three high-tier spiritual sense users. Your actions are being monitored for anomalies."
Kael gave a slow nod.
"Don't reveal anything," he murmured inwardly.
"Understood," Seventeen replied. "Your current aura output has been regulated to seem like a Tier 1 Awakener. Hidden features are sealed."
"Good."
He couldn't afford to stand out too much… not yet.
---
The Return
"Kael Embergrave," an instructor called out as they stepped from the stone platform. "Mira Thorne. Raze, Yren… you've cleared the Crimson Trial Tower. Few survive past the second floor."
The man was tall, wearing a robe with golden trim that marked him as a senior instructor.
Beside him stood a woman in steel-gray armor—eyes like daggers, arms crossed.
"And not only did you survive…" the instructor continued. "You brought back a Domain Core. Who absorbed it?"
Kael hesitated, then lifted his hand slowly. "I did, sir."
Murmurs rippled through the gathering crowd.
"A Domain Core absorption at twelve?" someone whispered.
"Who is this kid?"
The woman stepped forward. "Kael Embergrave. You were tested during the Tier 1 trials as a non-elemental type. Yet you've returned with undead warriors and a bound beast familiar. How do you explain this?"
Kael stood straighter, keeping his voice calm. "Necromancer class. It was hidden during my initial awakening. It manifested fully during the tower trial."
The woman narrowed her eyes. "Convenient."
Kael met her gaze but didn't flinch.
Raze stepped up beside him. "You want to scan him? Do it. But if you try anything shady, you'll find out just how much power this team really has."
Yren muttered, "Subtle as always…"
The woman snorted but gestured toward a small magical orb.
"Place your hand here, Kael."
He did.
Light flared—soft blue at first, then deep violet.
Necromancer.
"Confirmation received," the instructor said smoothly. "Rare, but not impossible. Records will be updated."
The woman didn't look satisfied, but she nodded once. "Fine. But he's on my radar now."
---
Back in the Dorms
Later that night, Kael sat on his bed in silence, Snap curled at his feet like a dog-shaped skeleton.
Mira was asleep in the next room.
Yren had passed out face-first into a book.
And Raze… well, Raze had gone to "train," which probably meant trying to punch a wall until it apologized.
Kael stared at his hand.
His fingers curled slowly—then glowed with faint necrotic mana.
"Seventeen," he whispered.
"Here."
"Report."
"Core successfully integrated into Domain. Beast Grave structure unlocked. You may now passively accumulate low-tier undead beast corpses, up to ten F-rank per week."
"Summon efficiency increased by 5%. Shop updated. Access to Tier 1 skill nodes enabled."
Kael's eyes flicked to the corner of his vision where the God Shop flickered to life.
[God Shop – Tier 1 Access]
Skeleton Warrior Enhancement Scroll – 20 points
Corpse Storage Expansion (Tier 1) – 30 points
Beast Egg (F-Rank, Random) – 50 points
Basic Weapon Blueprint Pack – 15 points
Skill Scroll: Bone Spear – 60 points
Skill Scroll: Grave Recall – 90 points
He only had 110 points left after purchasing Snap's weapon in the tower.
But Grave Recall caught his eye.
"Description?"
"Allows you to instantly recall all summoned undead to your location, even across dimensions. 5-minute cooldown."
"That's… big."
"Recommended purchase."
Kael nodded slowly.
"Buy it."
Light pulsed in his mind as the knowledge flooded into his soul. His necrotic core pulsed, adjusting.
[Skill Learned: Grave Recall (Lv.1)]
Snap stirred slightly, reacting to the skill link.
Kael exhaled slowly and looked toward the window.
The stars were bright tonight.
---
Elsewhere… in the Capital
In a golden tower far from the Academy, a man in dark robes leaned back in his chair.
"Interesting," he said, watching the recording of Kael's trial play across a mirror-like screen. "A boy with a Necromancer class… and a Domain Core at twelve. That's dangerous."
Another figure stepped into the room. This one wore priestly robes with sun emblems.
"We have enough on our plate without worrying about a child."
"You didn't see his eyes," the man said. "He has something else. Something hidden."
The priest frowned. "A divine blessing?"
"Or a curse," the other murmured.
"Should we move?"
"Not yet. Let him grow. Let him show his cards. If he's just lucky, fate will correct him. If not…" The man's eyes glinted.
"…we'll be ready."
---
Back in the Domain
That night, Kael stepped into his personal Domain.
The Beast Tree stood tall, now sprouting small monkey-like F-rank beastlings. The Bone Garden had expanded. The Beast Grave shimmered softly with light.
This place… it was his sanctuary.
His safe place.
Seventeen stood beside him, shaped like a glowing wisp of blue light now.
"Seventeen," Kael said, walking to the edge of the grassy hill. "I want to grow stronger."
"I will help."
"But not too fast."
"Understood."
Kael smiled slightly. "Good."
He knelt beside one of the small beastlings and patted its bony head. It chirped happily.
A child with a dead army, a glowing system, and a shop that sold wonders.
But still… just a child.
Kael looked up.
"Let's take it slow."
---
Chapter 49 – Trials of the Academy
Word Count: ~3300+
---
The Academy's golden sunstone towers glinted as morning bathed the city in amber hues. Students bustled through the cobblestone paths, excitement tinged with tension—today marked the first official Academy-wide combat evaluation.
Kael stood in the courtyard with his team, the air thick with the buzz of conversation and energy.
Mira adjusted her gloves, cracking her knuckles.
Yren adjusted his sleeves, already flipping through the pages of his worn spellbook.
Raze sat on the edge of a fountain, chewing on something—probably one of the protein stones he insisted gave him "rage strength."
Kael, standing quietly, held Snap's leash—a thin silver chain enchanted by the God Shop to hide the beast's skeletal nature. To others, Snap looked like a black hound with glowing silver eyes.
He could feel it in the wind—change.
---
The Announcement
Dean Eldrin stood on the elevated marble stage of the central training arena, his voice carried by magic.
"Today marks the beginning of your ranked combat evaluations. These will determine your placement, advancement, and team eligibility for interdimensional expeditions."
A hush fell.
"Each group will enter a simulated Rift environment. You'll be graded on survival, strategy, and power synergy. Points will be awarded for kills, core extractions, and skill effectiveness."
The crowd shifted uneasily at the word "Rift."
"Rifts simulate what you may face beyond this continent—when the higher-tier dimensional gates open."
Kael tensed slightly. That… wasn't part of the usual trials.
Mira whispered beside him, "Did they always use Rifts for year one?"
Yren shook his head. "No. This is new. Really new."
Kael's fingers brushed the edge of his glove, checking the hidden soul rune Seventeen had helped him carve.
Just in case.
---
Before the Rift
Each team was ushered to a separate chamber deep beneath the Academy. The stone halls were lined with glowing glyphs. Anxious murmurs filled the air.
A woman in azure robes stepped into their corridor.
"Team 47. Embergrave, Thorne, Raze, Yren. You're up."
They followed her to a circular platform where an orb floated at the center. It shimmered, showing glimpses of a crimson forest teeming with shadow beasts.
"This simulation is a Rank 2 Rift," the guide said. "You will survive for fifteen minutes and collect at least five beast cores to pass. Failure to comply will result in demotion or reassignment."
Raze snorted. "We'll be fine."
Yren muttered, "Remind me why we brought the walking headache?"
Kael smirked faintly.
The orb pulsed once.
"Enter," the woman said.
---
Rift: Crimson Hollow
The transition was instant.
One blink, and Kael stood beneath a red canopy of twisted trees and dense vines. The air was humid, thick with the scent of blood and wet leaves.
A beast howled in the distance.
"Formation," Kael ordered softly.
The team shifted into position.
Snap prowled ahead, ears perked. Mira took the flank, daggers drawn. Raze formed the vanguard, knuckles wrapped in reinforced boneweave. Yren moved behind Kael, already channeling a detection spell.
"Three hostiles, east," Yren said. "Low Tier 1s."
Kael raised his hand.
"Snap."
The hound launched forward with a ghostly snarl.
From the underbrush, three reptilian beasts burst forth—scaled, hunched things with fangs longer than Kael's forearm.
But Snap was faster.
The first was torn down instantly, his jaw crushing its spine. Kael focused, raising his hand.
[Command: Bind Soul Core]
A faint wisp drifted from the beast to Kael's hand. A blue glow pulsed.
[Beast Core Acquired: Tier F+]
Mira danced between the second and third beasts, blades slicing through scales. Raze leapt with a roar, smashing one into a tree so hard the bark cracked open.
Kael caught his breath.
"That's three."
---
Ten Minutes Later
They had five cores.
They had also killed nine beasts.
Kael stood by the edge of a stream, watching Snap lap at the water. The simulated Rift felt real. Too real.
Even Seventeen's voice was quieter here.
"This Rift is artificial but connected to a fractured plane," the system finally said. "The magic here is partly real. The cores are viable."
"So the Academy is harvesting cores through the trials," Kael whispered.
"Correct. Efficient, if somewhat cruel."
He frowned.
"Movement," Mira called. "Big one. Alpha?"
The ground shook. Trees snapped.
A shadow emerged.
It was a boar—but massive, with eyes like coals and tusks like obsidian. Its hide was armored with scales.
Kael's breath caught.
"Tier 2."
Raze grinned. "About time."
"Hold," Kael ordered. "This thing's mana is different. Yren?"
"It's guarding something. I sense a faint artifact buried nearby."
Kael's thoughts spun quickly. "If we take it down, we get the bonus objective."
"But at what cost?" Mira murmured.
He looked at his hands. He was still young. Still learning.
But he had Snap. He had Seventeen. He had his team.
And he had one more trick.
---
The Fight
The boar charged.
Raze met it halfway, slamming his fists into its snout, but was flung back into a tree.
Yren cast [Icebind], freezing the beast's legs momentarily.
Kael raised both hands.
"[Summon: Boneguard]."
From the ground, two skeletal warriors erupted. Faint blue fire burned in their sockets.
The boar roared and crushed one instantly—but the second leapt atop its back, slashing.
Kael moved in, dodging behind the beast's blind spot. He formed a spear of necrotic mana.
"[Bone Spear]!"
The weapon flew—piercing the beast's eye.
It screamed and thrashed—but Mira was already beneath it, driving her blades into its underbelly.
With a final lurch, the boar fell.
Silence followed.
Yren panted. "Everyone alive?"
"I think I broke something," Raze muttered.
Mira wiped blood from her cheek. "That was close."
Kael looked at the ground—at the glimmering artifact buried beneath the boar's corpse.
It was a shard of a dimensional key.
---
Trial End
They returned to the Academy to stunned silence.
Not only had they passed—their simulation had been upgraded mid-trial by the system, marking them for higher evaluation.
Few noticed Kael's faint smirk as he held the boar's core in his hand.
Seventeen's voice returned.
"Skill absorption possible. 50% chance. Proceed?"
"Yes."
Light surged. The boar's spirit dissolved.
[Skill Absorbed: Charge (Lv.1)]
"Good," Kael whispered.
"Slow and
Chapter 50 – Of Shadows and Summons
Word Count: ~3100+
---
The Academy had changed.
Since the Rift trial, students now looked at Kael and his team differently. Some in awe, others with narrowed eyes. Not many teams had cleared an Alpha-tier monster in a Tier-2 simulation, let alone discovered a dimensional artifact.
Kael walked through the central atrium, his team beside him.
Snap padded close, his disguise still active—a black hound to others, but the skeletal beast beneath remained ever ready.
Mira nudged Kael with her elbow. "You hear about the announcement?"
"No."
"They're opening the Tier 1 Gate for actual field trials. Outside the continent."
Kael's brow furrowed. "Already?"
Yren, flipping through his spellbook, nodded. "They said it's to 'prepare us for what's to come.' But it's too soon. Something's off."
Kael glanced at the tall glass windows. Clouds gathered on the horizon.
Something was definitely off.
---
A Visit from the Instructors
That evening, an instructor summoned Kael to the private wing reserved for elite students.
Instructor Vaelis was a stern elf, with platinum hair and eyes like cold steel. She watched Kael silently for a moment before speaking.
"You absorbed a skill inside the Rift. And yet, no light of divine interference flared."
Kael remained silent.
"You didn't pray. You didn't chant. You didn't invoke a scroll."
Still, he said nothing.
Finally, she leaned closer, her voice quiet.
"There are powers watching now. Whatever boon you carry—keep it hidden. The gods are not unified. Especially not over humans wielding forbidden classes."
Kael's eyes flickered, but he gave a respectful nod. "Understood."
---
Whispers Among Allies
Later that night, in their shared dorm quarters, Yren paced anxiously.
"That instructor knows something," he said. "I could see it in her eyes."
"She's not the only one," Mira added. "There've been whispers of factional division. Half the Academy wants to align with the Church. The other half… seems more interested in war."
Raze looked up. "Then let's just get stronger. All of us."
Kael's voice was soft. "We will. But carefully. Quietly."
He stepped toward his bed, pulled out a simple soul scroll, and unrolled it.
Seventeen's voice echoed.
"Time to begin building."
---
The Domain – Growth Begins
Later that night, Kael entered his domain.
It stretched now over ten kilometers—lush grass, small hills, and a glimmering lake forming naturally after he planted a Tier D Water Seed from the God Shop.
But the true change lay in the grove.
The Monkey Tree had grown a second trunk. It now produced two F-rank monkey beasts a day—fast, agile, perfect for scouting.
Near it, Kael had planted the Serpent Vine, which grew long, ribbon-like snakes with mild paralytic venom—excellent for defense.
He had begun organizing the land.
North for beasts and summons.
East for herbs and alchemical trees.
South for storage of corpses, purified and sealed.
West for defense formations.
Seventeen hovered beside him in his mind.
"You have 2300 Domain Points. Recommend purchasing 'Skeleton Archer Tree' and 'Soul Forge Pillar'."
"Agreed."
The purchases shimmered into place.
The Skeleton Archer Tree bloomed bones instead of leaves—each one a potential ranged minion.
The Soul Forge Pillar allowed Kael to compress three beast cores into a single Skill Shard—useful for crafting custom undead or absorbing specific traits.
Kael stood in silence, wind brushing through his black hair.
This was no longer a dream.
It was real.
And growing.
---
A New Summon
Kael raised his hand, focusing mana through his soul sigil.
"[Summon: Skeleton Warrior – Enhanced]"
From the ground, a skeleton emerged—this one larger, with thicker bones, a chestplate of mana-formed armor, and a glowing rune between its ribs.
The bones crackled with necrotic energy.
Kael watched it for a long time.
"I'll name you... Harn."
Snap tilted his head beside Kael.
Seventeen chirped.
"Naming units increases loyalty and progression rate by 10%. Good instinct."
Kael smirked.
Harn stepped forward and knelt—its hand over its chest.
---
Message from the Grandmother
Just before dawn, a hawk arrived bearing a scroll from his grandmother's clan. Kael unrolled it and read quickly.
> "Child,
The skies over the Southern Gate have darkened. Insects are stirring. Their Queen has begun harvesting.
The Tier 5 portal may open early.
Return when you are ready.
Bring your allies.
Bring your will.
Grandmother Illara"
Kael folded the scroll slowly.
Yren, noticing his expression, asked, "Bad news?"
Kael looked up.
"No. Just a reminder. Our world isn't safe. Not yet."
---
Tension Rises in the Academy
By noon, banners flew across the courtyard.
An official notice:
> All first-year ranked teams who passed Tier 2 simulations are eligible for entry trials into the Tier 1 Interdimensional Gate Program.
Selected teams will travel to Rift Outposts outside the current protected continents. Objectives: Support, Survey, and Survive.
Kael stood still as the crowd broke into cheers, arguments, and hushed voices.
Mira sighed. "Looks like we're going early."
Yren groaned. "I haven't finished cataloguing our last cores yet!"
Raze just cracked his knuckles. "Time to crack some bugs."
Kael turned away, his mind spinning with preparation.
They had to get stronger—fast.
More skills.
More summons.
More strategy.
He opened the God Shop again, eyes scanning through a new section:
Limited-Time Offers: Rift Reinforcements
[Iron-Spine Beetle Egg – Tier E+]
[Wind-Walker Boots – Rare Artifact – 1200 Points]
[Soul Link Talisman – Bind a summon to absorb 10% of its XP – 1000 Points]
[Summon Spellbook: Undead Wolf – 1800 Points]
Seventeen spoke softly.
"Choose wisely. This is