ch 51,52,53,54
Alright! Here's:
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Chapter 51 – Rift of Shadows
Word Count: ~3200+
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A low hum vibrated through the academy's courtyard as the Tier 1 Dimensional Gate opened.
Hovering five meters above the ceremonial stone circle, the shimmering blue rift pulsed like a living thing. Ancient runes on the surrounding monoliths glowed in unison, drawing energy from the ley lines that ran beneath the academy.
Hundreds of students had gathered.
Not as spectators—but participants.
This was the beginning of Gate Trials, a sacred tradition that separated common Class Holders from those destined to become legends.
And Kael stood at the edge, quiet.
---
The Briefing
"Your trial will last five days," Instructor Vaelis announced. "You are not to engage Tier C or higher-classed monsters. You are to observe, survive, and return."
"Each team will be sent to a different location. No contact between teams will be allowed until extraction."
She paused, then added coldly, "Failure to return means death. Or worse."
Kael glanced at Mira, Raze, and Yren.
They all nodded.
They were ready—or at least, as ready as anyone could be.
---
The Jump
As Kael stepped into the gate, his world twisted.
He saw colors without names, felt time stretch and shiver, and for a heartbeat—his Domain flared within him, like a tether anchoring his soul.
Seventeen whispered.
> "Connection stable. You are safe."
Then the world exploded with light.
---
New World: The Fractured Jungle
Kael landed hard, boots skidding on moss-covered stone. A humid, heavy air wrapped around him. Vines as thick as ropes draped from twisted trees. In the distance, the screech of an unnatural bird echoed.
The jungle was alive.
Not in a vibrant way.
In a hungry way.
Mira landed beside him, followed by Yren and Raze.
"Where the hell are we?" Raze muttered, hand on his blade.
"Somewhere broken," Yren said, studying the ground. "This entire landmass is floating. Look."
They reached the edge of a clearing. Beyond the trees, the jungle ended—and empty sky stretched into a void. Broken chunks of earth floated far in the distance.
"It's a fractured plane," Kael said, frowning. "Probably torn during the early Gate Wars."
Yren muttered a curse. "You think there's still... leftovers from that war?"
Seventeen answered from Kael's mind.
> "Probability of hostile remnants: 63%. Suggest cautious exploration."
Kael nodded. "Let's set up a temporary base. Then we scout."
---
Domain Connection: A Beacon in the Void
That night, Kael sat cross-legged at the edge of their small encampment.
He placed a beast core in his palm, channeling mana through it and whispering a silent command.
The core flickered.
And suddenly—his Domain pulsed within him, stronger than ever.
Seventeen chimed in.
> "You've made contact. Temporary Domain Extension Enabled."
In the jungle shadows, a small clearing shimmered.
And from it emerged Harn—the named skeleton warrior—and one of the twin monkey beasts, leaping forward with curiosity.
Yren choked. "You brought them here?"
"Temporary summon bridge," Kael said quietly. "It'll only last a few hours. But enough to scout without risking ourselves."
---
Nightfall in the Fractured Jungle
They moved cautiously, Harn at the front, the monkey darting through trees.
Kael moved like a shadow. Mira covered their rear, while Yren monitored mana fluctuations, his senses sharpened by a new passive spell.
Raze remained center—an anchor with blade in hand.
Then the monkey squealed and vanished into leaves.
A second later, a low clicking echoed around them.
From the mist, it emerged.
A beast—but unlike anything they'd fought before.
It had an insect's body, sleek and black, but pulsing with red veins. Its mouth was split into three mandibles. Its eyes glowed green.
And its level appeared above it.
> [Corrupted Insect Devourer – Level 27 – Mutant Variant]
"Formation!" Kael shouted.
Harn charged first, shield raised.
The creature slammed into him, sending bones flying.
But Kael's eyes narrowed.
"[Summon Skeleton Archers]!"
Two skeletal archers shimmered behind him, loosing arrows of mana.
Mira launched a bolt of lightning. Yren activated a paralysis ward.
Raze dashed in, blade humming.
The insect screamed, trying to leap.
Kael surged forward, activating a low-tier skill.
"[Grave Bind]!"
Dark chains erupted from beneath the beast, trapping its legs.
The others didn't hesitate.
Raze's blade met its neck in a glowing arc.
The beast fell—shuddering once.
Then it died.
---
The Core and the Choice
A Core emerged—black, cracked, but pulsing.
Kael approached slowly.
"Corrupted core," Yren warned. "Might be tainted."
Seventeen's voice was calm.
> *"Chance of absorbing rare mutation-based skill: 52%.
Chance of corruption: 8%
Proceed?"*
Kael took a breath.
"Proceed."
He placed his hand on it.
The world darkened—then shuddered.
Visions of tunnels. Screams. A hive. Endless wings.
Then stillness.
> [Skill Acquired: Hive Sense – Passive]
Can detect all insect-type mana signals within 50 meters. Evolves with use.
Kael blinked.
That… could be useful.
---
Before the Storm
That night, Kael sat quietly, watching stars flicker above the broken sky.
Seventeen whispered.
> "You've gained much. But this jungle isn't empty. The real threat comes at day three."
"What happens on day three?" Kael asked softly.
> "A Hive Queen wakes."
Kael turned to look at the sleeping forms of Mira, Yren, and Raze.
He clenched his fist slowly.
Then looked toward the sky.
"If a Queen is coming… then we need more than summons."
> "We'll build. Tog
Great! Here's:
---
Chapter 52 – The Queen Rises
Word Count: ~3200+
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Day Two – Calm Before the Storm
The jungle was silent.
Too silent.
Kael opened his eyes to a cold mist hovering just above the mossy ground. His team was still sleeping, huddled near the campfire's dying embers. A soft crackle from the flames was the only sound.
He didn't like it.
> "Seventeen?" he called out mentally.
> "Present."
> "Any movement nearby?"
> "No surface-level activity. Hive pulses have gone underground. Deep underground."
Kael exhaled slowly.
The beast they'd killed yesterday wasn't just a random encounter—it was a scout.
Which meant the Hive… was watching.
And somewhere, she was waking up.
---
Hive Pulse and Tactical Planning
By sunrise, the others were awake and on edge. Even Raze, who usually laughed in the face of danger, had his blade out and ready.
They gathered around a drawn-out map Yren had sketched into the dirt. A few floating stones marked their camp, the ancient temple ruins, and three odd energy spots Kael had marked using his new skill—Hive Sense.
"The Queen will be in one of these zones," Yren said, pointing. "They're all pulsing with high-level insect-type mana."
"We can't hit all of them," Mira muttered. "And if we pick the wrong one…"
"She finds us first," Kael finished.
Silence.
Then Seventeen spoke.
> "We can set traps. Lure the Hive's attention. Draw her where we want her."
Kael's eyes lit up. "We control the battlefield."
"Let's do it," Mira said.
---
The Jungle Awakens
By noon, they had moved.
Using beast cores as bait, they laced three different clearings with Kael's summoned skeleton archers, traps made from jungle vines, and flammable sap.
Kael felt his Domain react with every summon. Harn returned again, his bones reinforced now by a [Bone Harden] passive Kael had unlocked at Level 10.
Seventeen also enabled a new support summon:
> [Spectral Scout – Level 1]
A flying wisp that relays battlefield information.
It looked like a faint orb of white flame—and flew through the trees silently.
Kael sent three out.
The trap was set.
Now they waited.
---
The First Wave
The Hive didn't wait long.
At sunset, screeches echoed from the deep jungle. Twisted insectoids poured from the earth—some crawling, others flying, all moving in synchronized waves.
Kael and his friends retreated to their fallback point.
"Light the sap!" Mira shouted.
Yren raised a spell circle—[Spark Lure]—and launched it into the jungle.
Boom!
The forest lit up like hellfire. Trees blazed. Insects shrieked. Smoke filled the sky.
But the Queen had not come.
> "Still watching," Seventeen warned.
"She's testing us," Kael said. "She's smarter than we thought."
---
Night Hunt
Kael didn't sleep.
Instead, he moved with the shadows, following the strongest pulse of Hive mana using [Hive Sense].
It drew him deeper into the jungle.
And there—in a clearing woven with silk and thorns—he saw her.
Massive.
Beautiful in a monstrous way.
Six legs. Wings like shattered glass. A crown of bone.
Her eyes locked onto Kael's.
> [Hive Queen – Level 45 – Corrupted Matriarch]
Kael froze.
Then sprinted.
---
Queen's Wrath
By dawn, the jungle screamed.
She had followed.
Kael burst back into camp as the ground shook.
"She's coming!" he shouted.
The others were already in battle mode.
"Positions!" Raze roared.
Yren set down his final trap: Mana Ripple Mine.
Mira was chanting something dangerous.
Kael stood at the front, summoning all he could.
Three skeleton warriors. Two archers. One monkey beast. Harn. And the Spectral Scout overhead.
The trees shattered.
The Queen arrived.
And the world turned to chaos.
---
The Fight
Arrows flew. Magic blazed. The Queen's scream shattered bones.
Kael's summons died.
Harn was crushed.
But Seventeen activated an emergency protocol:
> [Domain Link – Temporary Reinforcement Tier 1 Active]
A surge of mana rushed into Kael.
He summoned two F-Class Bone Hounds—feral, four-legged creatures with razor claws.
They pounced.
The Queen stabbed them with her legs—but Mira struck then, her spell finally ready.
[Chain Lightning Nova]!
The Queen screeched, paralyzed.
Raze dashed in—his blade glowing with Mira's energy.
He slashed—a deep cut.
Kael threw a corpse core at the Queen.
> "Attempt skill absorption?"
"Yes!" Kael shouted.
> [Skill Absorbed: Bone Hive – Mutation Variant]
Summon small insect hive that dwells inside bones. Can spawn 3 bug scouts per day. Evolves with use.
---
Victory
It took everything.
Every core. Every spell. Every scream.
But when the Queen fell—her carcass shuddering as rot overtook her—Kael stood tall.
Covered in blood and ash.
Exhausted.
But victorious.
> "Gate extraction in 12 hours," Seventeen whispered.
"You've survived. And evolved."
Kael looked at the others.
His friends were alive.
Wounded—but alive.
And his Domain pulsed again.
Not in fear.
In growth.
Absolutely! Here's:
---
Chapter 53 – Rise of the Dead Grove
Word Count: ~3200+
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After the Storm
The Hive Queen was dead.
But Kael didn't feel victorious.
The camp was quiet. Too quiet. His friends were sleeping off their wounds, their bodies wrapped in healing bandages soaked with beast herb salves. The jungle outside no longer hummed with danger, only the occasional crackle from the burned tree lines.
Kael sat by the edge of the jungle, staring at the Queen's corpse.
It was massive—still oozing dark green blood. But it no longer pulsed with hatred. Just… silence.
> "Seventeen?" he asked softly.
> "Yes, Kael?"
> "Can I use her corpse?"
> "You've absorbed her skill. You may now also convert her essence into a domain relic—if you wish."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "What would that do?"
> "It will create a structure inside your Domain. Something new. Something… undead."
---
Domain Expansion – Bone Grove Awakens
Back inside his Domain, the ground trembled.
The space had slowly grown—from five kilometers to now almost six and a half, expanded by the hidden system passives tied to Kael's growth.
And now, in the center, a strange formation began to rise.
Twisted trees made of pale bone and black bark grew from the ground—roots tangled with glowing corpse cores. They pulsed with an eerie white light.
> [Dead Grove – Level 1]
A magical forest of bonewood trees. Spawns skeletal insects, harvestable bonefruit, and grants minor defense boost to all undead within range. Evolves with usage.
Kael walked among the trees, one hand tracing the sharp bone branches. He plucked a fruit—cold to the touch, like a stone heart.
"Useful?" he asked.
> "Can be used to strengthen undead. Especially summoned variants."
Kael's eyes lit up. "So I can finally make a proper army."
> "A small one. For now."
---
Back at the Camp – Visitors and News
The extraction gate opened at noon.
Dozens of trial participants stepped through—but not all returned.
Raze had two broken ribs.
Mira had burned her hands using high-tier magic.
Yren had lost mana control from exhaustion.
But they stood.
And with Kael's help, walked through the gate.
The world on the other side was loud—reporters, teachers, guards, noble scouts. But one figure stood out.
Grandmother Aelinor.
She was waiting, dressed in ceremonial clothes, and surrounded by her clan's guards.
"Come here, child," she said softly.
Kael hugged her tightly, trying not to cry.
"You've grown again," she said, brushing his soot-covered hair. "You've seen blood now."
He nodded, voice quiet. "Too much."
"But you're alive," she said. "And we're proud."
---
Fame and Rumors
News spread quickly.
The Hive Queen's death.
A child with bone magic.
A team of four surviving the impossible.
They didn't say Necromancer out loud, but people whispered.
Kael's name wasn't famous yet, but it was on people's lips—especially the scouts from foreign academies and big clans.
One even approached Grandmother Aelinor.
"Aelinor, is the boy up for adoption?" a noble asked half-jokingly.
She just smiled. "Touch him, and you'll lose the arm."
---
Back at Home – Family Reunion
When Kael finally returned to his village, the streets were lined with children.
They cheered.
Not just for Kael—but for all the kids who'd awakened rare classes thanks to Kael's awakening weeks ago.
The mayor declared a village feast. There were banners. Fireworks. Laughter.
Kael stood awkwardly in the middle of it all.
"I just… wanted to survive," he muttered.
"You did more than that," his father said, clapping him on the back. "You gave us hope."
His little brother grinned. "And you killed a giant bug lady!"
Kael laughed despite himself.
---
That Night – A Private Moment
Later, under the moonlight, Kael sat beside his sister Liana, watching the stars.
"Are you scared?" she asked softly.
Kael nodded. "Every day."
"You don't show it."
"I can't."
"Then show me," she said, resting her head on his shoulder.
Kael's hand trembled.
"I don't want to become a monster," he whispered.
"You won't," Liana said. "Because you're not alone."
---
System Message – New Options Available
As Kael stared at the stars, Seventeen spoke again.
> "New shop tiers unlocked. Points available: 1200."
> "New Domain Structures available: Dead Grove – Tier 2 (Cost: 900)."
> "New Skill Option: Corpse Puppet – Cost: 1000."
> "New Passive: Undead Endurance – Cost: 800."
Kael leaned back, smiling a little.
> "We'll take it slow," he said.
"Build something real."
Seventeen hummed in approval.
> "Slow. But powerful. Just like you
Great! Here's:
---
Chapter 54 – The Bone Puppet and the Festival of Stars
Word Count: ~3200+
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A Village Bathed in Stars
The Festival of Stars wasn't just a celebration for Kael—it was the celebration of every child who awakened their class this year.
Dozens of bonfires lit the village square.
Children danced with sparklers. Grandmothers sang old songs. The sky was painted with streaks of magic fireworks, each blast releasing images of awakened weapons and glowing spirits.
Kael stood to the side, wrapped in a dark cloak, watching.
He wasn't one for crowds, but this—this was different.
For once, the world wasn't chasing him. It was celebrating with him.
"Come," his mother said gently, wrapping her arms around him. "Let's enjoy it as a family."
He smiled faintly and followed her into the square where his father, siblings, and even his grumpy old uncle were already seated near a firepit, passing roasted meat and sweet root cakes.
---
A Private Moment With Father
Later, when the crowd thinned and stars blanketed the sky, Kael sat beside his father near the edge of the hill overlooking the valley.
"You did good, son," his father said after a long silence.
Kael shrugged. "I just did what I had to."
His father handed him a small wooden box. Inside was a bone medallion, carved with his family crest—his mother's flower symbol and his father's sword.
"It's not a weapon," his father said, "but it's something to carry. A reminder. You come from us, not just that system or those powers."
Kael clutched it tightly. "Thanks."
---
System Whisper – A New Choice
> [System Alert: Points Available – 1200]
Recommend purchase: Skill Upgrade – Bone Puppet (Rank F+)
Kael closed his eyes.
> "Seventeen?"
> "Yes, Kael."
> "What's the Bone Puppet?"
> "A foundational summoning skill for a necromancer. Animates a single corpse into a puppet fighter. Intelligence based on quality. Limit one at current level. Evolves over time."
> "...How strong?"
> "Stronger than a base skeleton. Weaker than an elite summon. But… loyal. Adaptable. You can craft it your way."
Kael thought for a long moment. "Let's do it."
> [Bone Puppet Acquired]
---
Back to the Domain – The First Puppet
In the center of his growing domain stood a small clearing, beside the Dead Grove.
Kael walked alone into it, holding the Hive Queen's severed claw—a remnant he hadn't used yet.
He plunged the claw into the soil, stepped back, and whispered the skill's name.
> [Summon: Bone Puppet – Hive Shard Variant]
The air crackled.
The claw twitched… then grew. Bones spiraled outward like roots, twisting into a humanoid shape, with insect-like legs and plated ribs.
Two glowing green eyes blinked to life in its skull-like face.
It knelt before him.
> [Bone Puppet Created – Hivewalker]
Designation: Subject 01
Type: Hybrid Puppet – Necromantic
Skills: Claw Slash, Hive Dash, Bone Harden
Status: Loyal
Growth Potential: Medium
Kael stared at it in awe.
"It worked," he whispered.
The puppet clicked once—like a salute.
He felt no fear. Only curiosity.
And a strange, growing attachment.
> "This… is the beginning of your army," Seventeen said gently.
Kael nodded.
---
Unseen Eyes – Trouble Gathers
In the shadows beyond the festival, a masked figure stood on a ridge, watching the celebration from a distance.
Their robes bore the mark of a foreign sect—one not aligned with human gods.
"Found him," the figure whispered.
They turned, and a beast-like creature slithered beside them.
"Necromancer confirmed. Domain fluctuations detected."
"Shall we act?" the creature hissed.
The figure shook their head. "Not yet. Let him grow."
Their eyes gleamed. "He will be worth more… when ripe."
---
Morning Comes – Letters Arrive
The next day, dozens of birds arrived with messages.
Letters of invitation from regional academies.
An offer from the Beast Hunter's Guild.
One sealed in gold—marked by the royal family's crest.
Kael read each one slowly.
He wasn't sure what he wanted.
But his grandmother gave him a knowing look.
"Your journey isn't here anymore," she said.
Kael nodded. "I think it's time."
---
One Last Goodbye
Before leaving, Kael visited the graves at the edge of the village—the resting place of his grandfather, and the old village protectors who'd died in the last Beast Tide.
He knelt, lit a stick of spirit incense, and closed his eyes.
"I'll carry it forward," he whispered. "The peace. The love. The fire."
Then he stood, pulled up his hood, and turned to face the road ahead.