ch 24,25,26,27
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Chapter 24 – Bone Wings in the Night
The skies turned silver before morning.
Mist clung to the road like an old memory, and the forest whispered like it had something to say.
Ray sat at the edge of the makeshift camp, cloak wrapped around his shoulders, eyes half-lidded. He hadn't slept. Not really.
Too many thoughts.
Too many undead.
---
Inside the domain, things had shifted.
Warcha now patrolled the outer rim, his presence radiating calm authority. The bird tree had spawned another F-rank scout, its feathers now sharper, tinted with steel-blue edges.
The two battlefield undead—Ves and Lorn—remained still, their eyes sometimes flickering with emotion. Not obedience. Something else.
> "Are they stable?" Ray asked silently.
> Seventeen replied: "Stable. But not docile. They act loyal because of your class… not your command."
Ray nodded.
> "Let them watch, then. If they act out… bury them again."
> "Understood."
He left the domain and stood.
---
By midmorning, the caravan passed through the Ashen Thickets, a region known for its hollow trees and smoky underbrush. The instructor warned them to stay close.
Ray rode beside the carriage this time, eyes scanning the terrain.
The mist thickened.
That's when he saw it—movement. Something flapping—slow, too slow to be a bird.
Gray growled in his shadow.
Then the scream came. A sharp cry from the third cart.
A winged shadow crashed into the side of the carriage, talons made of exposed bone and sinew. Its eyes glowed blue. Undead.
> "What—!?"
> "Get back!"
The instructor reacted instantly, summoning a chain of vines and binding the creature midair.
But more came.
Two. Then four. Then eight.
---
Ray's mind focused.
> "Seventeen. Domain."
The air shimmered. A portal of black threads opened beside him.
From within, Warcha stepped out with calm rage, dragging a jagged bone blade. Behind him, the battlefield undead Ves and Lorn emerged silently.
The bird scouts flitted above, circling, marking the enemies.
> "Intercept. Do not kill unless ordered," Ray whispered.
> "As you command."
The first bone-winged creature dove toward Ray.
He raised his hand. "Rise."
From beneath the cracked road, the bones of some long-forgotten beast twisted and emerged, forming a half-skeletal, half-soil golem that caught the creature midair and slammed it to the ground.
The instructor turned her gaze sharply toward him. Not hostile—but wary.
> "A necromancer… with a pocket army?"
> "Just some friends," Ray replied.
---
The skirmish ended fast.
The undead creatures weren't intelligent—fragments from some failed summoner's past. They had drifted, half-starved, into the mortal realm.
After the battle, Ray stood over their remains, quietly drawing power into his palm.
> "Can we absorb?"
> "Low chance," Seventeen said. "But worth a try."
One faint spark entered his core.
> [Minor Skill Acquired: Bone Flap]
Allows limited gliding with skeletal wings for short distances. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Ray blinked. That… was unexpected.
> "Keep it," he whispered. "Might save me one day."
---
The caravan resumed travel in silence.
The children looked at him differently now. Not with fear—but distance. A kind of respect that didn't bring warmth.
He didn't mind.
The instructor called to him that evening. Her tent smelled of herbs and something ancient.
> "You command undead unlike any student I've seen. Most can barely raise a hand. You have a domain, don't you?"
Ray hesitated. "…Yes."
> "I'll report it. Not as a threat—but the academy needs to know what you are."
> "I understand."
She studied him for a moment. "You're dangerous, boy. Not because of your power—but because you're calm about it."
Ray didn't answer.
> "Make sure that calm doesn't turn to cruelty. The line is thin."
He left without speaking.
---
That night, inside the domain, Ray looked at the new sapling growing from the side. It glowed faintly—a mist tree, born from the creatures' dust.
> "Another F-rank," Seventeen confirmed. "Produces mist-born scouts once every three days. Weak, but good for ambush."
Ray sat beside it, silent.
> "Was today the first real taste of what's to come?"
> "No," Seventeen replied gently. "Today was only a breath of wind. The storm comes when the
---
Chapter 25 – The City Beneath the Gates
The first thing Ray saw was the wall.
Not a simple city barrier, but a towering fortress of white stone and glowing blue runes. The Academy of Divine Arcs wasn't just a place for training—it was a city in itself, wrapped in layers of protection, prestige, and silent pressure.
Even from a distance, he could feel it.
The weight of thousands of talents, secrets, and systems.
Gray walked beside him, tail flicking restlessly. A few bird scouts circled overhead, but Ray kept them high—he didn't want to draw more attention than necessary.
---
The caravan arrived at the Outer Plaza, a bustling checkpoint where families, merchants, and students gathered.
Most of the children gawked in awe. Even the nobles in velvet cloaks looked small here.
Massive statues of gods and warriors stood near the entrance, eyes glowing faintly. One statue held a chain. Another, a sword made of vines. Another, a floating crystal sphere.
> "Those are the original Guardians," the instructor said quietly. "They were the first to resist the Tier Gates. Now they watch over all entrants."
Ray stared up at them. Their faces were calm. Stoic.
He tightened his cloak.
---
The process was long.
Names were taken. Classes recorded. Scrolls handed out with colored stamps showing eligibility for different entrance trials—combat, magic, support, summoning, crafting.
Ray's scroll glowed faint purple.
> [Class: Necromancer – Rare Type]
Trial Track: Summoner/Combat Hybrid
Observation Required: Yes
Personal Interview: Scheduled – 2 Days
> "Observation?" he muttered.
> "They want to see your domain," Seventeen said. "They probably think you're hiding something."
Ray didn't reply, but a small smile crept into his thoughts.
---
That night, he stayed in the outer student quarter—free housing for trial applicants. The building was old but clean, filled with beds, young voices, and thick tension.
He sat by the window, watching the lights of the inner city glow beyond the barrier wall.
> "We're almost inside."
> "Almost," Seventeen agreed.
> "I need more strength before the trials."
> "Then open the shop. It just refreshed."
Ray did.
A soft shimmer surrounded him, hidden from the physical world. In his vision, the God Shop unfurled like a scroll. Dozens of glowing items floated across his thoughts.
[New Items Available – Limited to Domain Holders]
F-Rank – Boneguard Helm (Passive Aura: Defense +2) – 12 GP
F-Rank – Silent Root Tree (Spawns vinelings that silence enemy spells) – 15 GP
F-Rank – Ember Beetle Nest (Spawns 1 per day. Explodes on death.) – 14 GP
F-Rank – Hollow Lantern (Lights up undead in darkness, reveals hidden ghosts) – 9 GP
F-Rank – Grave Spider Web Tree – (Spawns silk-producing spiders; silk can bind or blind targets) – 13 GP
Ray scrolled slowly, eyes lingering.
> "The Grave Spider Tree," he whispered.
> "Useful for control," Seventeen said. "And silk fetches high coin."
> "Buy it."
A faint pulse passed through his domain.
---
Ray entered his domain that night, walking barefoot through the dark grass. His summoned undead stood silent, like statues under moonlight.
The Grave Spider Tree had already taken root.
Tiny white threads danced in the air as fist-sized spiders skittered around the trunk. They stopped the moment Ray approached.
Warcha stood beside them, watching, unmoving.
> "This place… it's mine," Ray whispered.
> "It will grow," Seventeen said.
Ray nodded. "We'll build something stronger than any noble house. A kingdom. One corpse at a time."
He turned, eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.
> "Let's prepare for the tri
---
Chapter 26 – The Summoning Grounds
The first trial was held in the Stone Bloom Arena, a vast circular platform carved into the side of the academy's outer wall. Cracks in the ground pulsed with energy, and floating crystals shimmered overhead, recording everything for instructors and hidden judges.
Thousands of trial participants stood in the wide field beyond the entrance.
Ray was one of the quietest among them.
He kept his hood low, his scroll gripped in his sleeve. Beside him, Gray let out a soft huff and stretched its limbs, now twice the size it had been during their journey.
The system had leveled it up twice last night—quietly, without fanfare.
---
"Trial One: Beast Bond."
An instructor's voice boomed across the grounds. He wore half-armor, his eyes scanning the crowd with a sharp, experienced gaze.
> "This test will evaluate your ability to summon, bond, and control a creature. You may use class abilities, skill scrolls, or natural talent. Survive five minutes against a wild summon. Those who can subdue or command the beast will receive bonus merit."
Ray's scroll vibrated faintly.
> [Summoning Trial – Grade: Advanced]
He stepped into the arena when his number was called. A group of five was brought in each time.
Ray's group included:
A tall boy with a golden spear and a lightning elemental.
A girl with vine-wrapped arms and glowing green eyes.
A beast-tamer twin with a massive boar beast.
And a silent noble in a silver robe whose class Ray couldn't read.
They looked at him with mild disinterest.
Just another quiet participant.
---
A swirl of energy burst in the center of the arena. From it emerged a Level 6 Ironhide Lizard, armored in obsidian-like scales, its eyes glowing with bloodthirst.
The trial had begun.
The boy with the spear moved first, barking orders.
The boar-tamer followed. The vine-girl tried to wrap the lizard's legs, but her vines snapped on contact.
Ray stood still.
> "Now?" he whispered.
> "Now," Seventeen confirmed.
Ray's hand lifted slightly. A ripple of pale energy shimmered at his feet.
> [Skill: Rise Undead]
[Undead Bond – Gray – Active]
[Summoning Bonus – Domain Integration: +1 Beast Slot]
Gray shot forward like a shadow, faster than the boar. Its body struck the lizard's jaw, forcing its head to turn. At the same time, Ray opened his domain—briefly, subtly—and pulled forth a second creature.
A pale bird—Ashfeather, from the F-rank tree.
It dived from the air, dropping bone needles on the lizard's unguarded back.
The judges took note.
---
The lizard roared. Its tail lashed outward—sending the vine-girl flying. The spear-boy cursed, calling on lightning to blind it.
Ray stepped back, calm.
His Ashfeather circled again. Gray attacked from below, targeting the joints.
The others began to notice. The boy in silver narrowed his eyes.
> "He's… commanding more than one beast?"
> "Impossible at Level 6. He's cheating."
> "No. That's… a summoner with a domain."
One of the instructors raised his head from the side bench, curious now.
Ray gave a slight nod to Gray.
It lunged again—and this time, the Ashfeather distracted the lizard long enough for Gray to clamp onto its neck and twist.
The beast fell, unconscious.
---
Silence.
The timer was still ticking, but Ray had ended the challenge in less than three minutes.
The vine-girl stared at him, blinking blood from her brow.
The noble boy scowled, then turned and walked away.
> "Participant 1682 – Pass."
"Evaluation: High Control. Excellent Bonding. Domain Signs – Confirmed."
"Merit: 5 Points."
Ray let out a quiet breath as his beasts faded.
His scroll vibrated again.
> [God Shop Bonus: Combat Performance Triggered]
[Special Item Unlocked – Tier 1 Summoner's Charm (Bound)]
---
That evening, Ray returned to the shared dorm, exhausted but calm.
He sat on his cot. Gray curled at his feet, and the Ashfeather perched above the window frame, already part of the room's shadows.
He looked at the charm.
A simple bone ring with silver threading.
> "You did well," Seventeen whispered. "But they'll be watching now."
> "Let them."
Ray didn't smile.
But in the dim light, his eyes glowed.
> "We're just getting started."
---
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Chapter 27 – Dungeon Trial: Shadows in Stone
The academy bell rang at dawn.
It wasn't a normal bell—its echo carried pressure. Summoning magic. Several students stirred from sleep in pain, clutching their heads or vomiting in the halls.
Ray blinked his eyes open as the voice of Seventeen whispered like a breeze through his mind.
> "Trial Two. Dungeon Simulation. Real death probability: Low. Mental injury probability: Medium."
He sat up without panic.
Gray uncurled from the foot of his bed, its eyes sharp. The Ashfeather on the windowsill flapped its wings once and then vanished into his domain, per his will.
---
By the time Ray arrived at the stone courtyard near the East Tower, students were already gathered. Many were whispering.
"He's the one who ended the Beast Trial in two minutes."
"That boy in black? He's a summoner or something—didn't even use a real weapon."
"I heard he's using a forbidden skill. One of the instructors is investigating."
Ray ignored it all.
This time, they were split into teams of five. Randomized, based on their performance score from the last trial.
Ray's scroll blinked.
> Team 7
Ray Nightshade
Kira Von Helm (Vine Sorcerer)
Delan Tross (Spear Fighter)
Ina (Healer-Class Supporter)
Morn Drael (Rogue-type Beast User)
He knew only Kira. She was the vine-user from the beast trial.
She approached him with a bruised cheek but an easy smile.
> "Looks like we're stuck together. Try not to get us killed."
> "I'll try," he replied.
She blinked—then chuckled. "You actually answered this time."
---
The dungeon was artificial—built under the academy by Earth-Shaper magicians, then infused with true magic through ancient runes and monster cores.
> "You will enter the Gate in ten teams," an instructor announced. "Dungeon Floor: F-Rank."
"Objective: Reach the center. Survive. Bonus merit for boss kill, cooperation, and map completion."
> "Timer: 30 minutes."
Ray adjusted his scroll. Gray followed at his side, already connected by spiritual thread. His second slot was empty—but the Ashfeather remained on standby.
He was saving it.
---
The Dungeon – First Layer: Cracked Ruins
Their team entered a crumbling temple.
Shadows stretched unnaturally. Screeches echoed faintly from somewhere deeper. Green fog hovered above the ground.
Delan gripped his spear. "Should we form a line?"
Morn, the rogue-type, snorted. "Line won't help if we're ambushed from above."
Kira glanced at Ray. "What do you think?"
> "Send my beast first," Ray said. "Scouting."
He sent Gray ahead silently. Through the system's connection, he could feel each vibration in the earth, every heartbeat through the fog.
> [Passive Skill: Shadow Step – Gray Active]
[Detection Resistance: Low]
Gray moved like smoke.
Soon, Ray spoke. "Two enemies. Bone Rats. One archer trap above."
Morn's eyes widened. "How did you—"
"Let's move."
---
The fight was quick.
Kira tangled one Bone Rat in vines while Delan skewered the second. Ray gave Gray no command—it simply leapt, snapped the trap's core, and returned before the others even noticed it had moved.
> [EXP Gained – Shared Party Bonus: +5%]
[Gray Level Up – Level 8]
Ina healed Delan's scraped arm. "That was… coordinated."
Delan glanced at Ray. "You've done this before?"
Ray didn't reply.
But behind his silence, Seventeen spoke with a soft pride.
> "You're adapting. Every dungeon brings clarity."
---
The second room was worse.
A mini-boss: a Stonejaw Lizard, Level 9. Covered in bone-plates, glowing with unstable magic from a failed fusion ritual.
It nearly crushed Delan's leg with a single tail swipe.
Kira screamed as vines shattered.
Ray moved.
> [Skill: Rise Undead]
[Ashfeather – Summoned]
[Shadow Spike – Gray Exclusive]
Ashfeather shrieked—blinding the lizard momentarily. Gray emerged from below, impaling a soft underbelly joint.
Kira recovered and lashed vines across its limbs, pinning it for just two seconds—long enough for Ray to speak:
> "Delan. Now."
The spear flashed with white light, and the lizard dropped.
They breathed in silence.
Even Morn looked shaken.
> "He… commands like a soldier."
> "No," Ina said softly. "Like a war general."
---
When they reached the dungeon's core chamber, other teams were already retreating.
They had all failed the boss.
It was a Shadow-Wrapped Behemoth, Level 12.
Wounded, but alive.
The instructors were watching silently through floating screens. One murmured:
> "If this team wins… I want the boy in black flagged."
Ray turned to his team.
> "I'll summon the distraction."
> "We flank?" Delan asked, still gripping his spear.
> "No. You run."
They all froze.
> "What?" Kira asked.
Ray stepped forward. Seventeen whispered:
> "Boss suppression possible. Temporary stun window: 4.2 seconds."
He activated both beasts.
Gray pounced into the shadows, drawing the Behemoth's attention.
Ray poured everything into his core.
> [Skill Activated: Bone Bind – Custom Variation]
[Cooldown: 1 hour]
From beneath the floor, jagged bone vines erupted—wrapping the Behemoth's right arm.
Ashfeather screamed and dove, needle-bursting the beast's eye.
Kira reacted instantly—binding the other arm. Delan took the hint, leaping onto its back and driving his spear into the exposed heart rune.
The creature roared—and fell.
---
A soft chime echoed through the room.
> Trial Clear – Bonus Objective Met
MVP: Ray Nightshade
God Shop Unlocked: Dungeon Rewards Tab
Merit: +10
---
As they returned to the surface, Ray's scroll flickered. A new tab had appeared.
> [God Shop – Dungeon Branch: Active]
Temporary Boosters
Dungeon Keys
Beast Eggs (F-Rank, E-Rank)
Skill Seeds
Shadow Beast Token (Locked)
Undead Mutation Essence (Rare – Locked)
Seventeen hummed.
> "Now we grow faster. But eyes are on you now, little summoner."
Ray glanced up.
At the top of the tower, an instructor stared down at him with cold interest.
---