Fresh Blood, New World

The settlement of Vel'ren Gate stood like a fortress carved into the wild.

Rising from the jungle's edge, its walls weren't built with stone or steel—but with coiled crystal-growths and thick, living wood veins, shaped and hardened by ancient techniques. It pulsed faintly with energy even under the dawn sky.

To Jace, it felt… wrong. Like a mix of nature and technology that shouldn't exist.

But it was also the first step to survival.

And maybe the only way to start over.

---

The trio—Jace, Violet, and the boy they rescued, who had finally introduced himself as Tarn—waited in line outside a curved gate surrounded by biometric pillars.

Hundreds of students stood with them.

Some wore training gear. Others wielded low-tier weapons. All of them were applicants for Nevrin College's Military Path.

It wasn't a normal college.

It was where the strong thrived.

And the weak… disappeared.

---

Jace stared up at the announcement board glowing above the gate:

> WELCOME, ENTRANTS!

The Gate Trials will begin in 48 hours.

Entry into the Combat Division, Beast Tamer Division, or Research Track will be determined by your performance inside the trial world.

Top scorers will receive cultivation boosters, exclusive gear, and early housing priority.

WARNING: Death is possible.

Proceed only if prepared.

Tarn swallowed hard. "We could still walk away."

Jace tilted his head. "And go where?"

"…Fair point."

---

Violet leaned in, her voice soft.

"This is good," she whispered. "It gives us time. Cover. A reason to be here."

Jace nodded. "And a way to grow."

Because every kill meant crystals.

Every crystal meant stat points.

And every point brought him closer to unlocking the full power of the Codex again.

---

They approached the registration hub.

A flat stone desk monitored by two Drakarin officials—tall humanoids with scaled skin, slit eyes, and small ridges where horns might've once grown.

One of them looked up lazily. "Names."

"Tarn Milar," the boy stammered.

The second Drakarin scanned him, then nodded. "Accepted. No known affiliations. Clean."

"Violet Shale."

"Accepted."

Then came Jace.

The scanner flickered when he stepped forward.

Paused.

And then blinked green.

The official frowned. "Name?"

"…Jace Vey."

"Race?"

"Human," he said carefully.

The official glanced at his colleague, then shrugged. "Accepted. No lineage detected. No ability registered. You'll be placed under Rank Zero for now."

No ability detected.

Exactly what he wanted.

---

> Codex Passive – Shadow Entry Active

– Effect: Your system remains invisible to external scans unless otherwise specified.

– Rank Registration: Suppressed (0)

Reminder: You must collect Beast Crystals to unlock Store Access and System Shop.

Jace walked away with his trial badge in hand.

Violet followed, smirking. "You're officially nobody now."

He grinned back. "The perfect disguise."

---

As night fell and the three settled into a crowded outer dormitory for new arrivals, Jace finally had a moment to himself.

He pulled up the Codex again.

> Codex Status – Version Eclipse 1.0

– Level: 1

– Sync Rate: 63%

– Stat Points: 0

– Current Skills: [Bond Sync], [Crystal Absorption], [Stat Sharing]

– Store: Locked

– Soul Weapon: Locked

– Beast Tracking: Offline

Next Unlock at Sync 70%: Vampire Skill Branch Access

He sighed.

Still a long way to go.

But this time, he wouldn't rush.

He would build slowly. Earn trust. Make friends. Grow his strength behind the scenes.

No one needed to know the truth.

No one except Violet.

And the Codex.

---

Outside the dorm window, a distant roar echoed—some beast being tested in preparation for the trials.

Jace closed his eyes.

When he opened them next…

He would begin again.

By sunrise, the outer dorms were alive with motion.

Students sparred in open fields, honed weapon skills, or tested their beast summoning abilities under the watchful eye of crystal drones. Most were grouped into small teams, already forming alliances ahead of the upcoming trial.

But Jace and Violet?

They trained alone.

Not out of pride.

But caution.

---

Violet ran drills with her dual daggers, moving in tight, fluid arcs across the worn grass. Her footwork was precise. Her breathing even.

Jace watched her as he ran weighted laps around the perimeter.

No Codex tricks.

No cheats.

Just grit.

That's how he wanted to start— Build strength the old way before unlocking what came next.

> Codex Sync: 63% → 64%

– Passive Bonus: Stamina regeneration increased 3%

He smiled faintly.

Even effort without combat still had rewards now.

---

"Look what we have here…"

The voice broke his focus.

A group of five students approached, led by a tall teen with silver-blond hair and the unmistakable emblem of Rank 2 stitched onto his sleeve.

"Didn't think they let scavengers into the entrance trials," he said, eyes scanning Jace and Violet like they were garbage.

Jace wiped sweat from his brow. "We didn't come to beg."

"Of course not," the elite sneered. "Begging's what you do after you fail. You're Rank 0, right? No ability?"

Jace gave a tight smile. "That's right."

"Then let's hope you die quick in the trial. Saves the system from wasting resources on trash."

The others chuckled.

But Violet stepped forward.

Just one step.

And the air around her changed.

Predatory.

The silver-haired elite paused. "Tch. Don't get cute."

"You said what you wanted," she said. "Now walk away before someone gets hurt."

He tilted his head. "Is that a threat?"

"No," Jace said. "It's a warning."

---

The tension hung heavy until a nearby instructor barked an order.

"Enough of that! No combat outside sanctioned zones!"

The elite clicked his tongue, turned, and walked off—his gaze lingering on Jace.

"I'll be seeing you in the Gate," he said. "And when I do, Rank 0…"

He grinned.

"…I'll make sure you stay there permanently."

---

Later that evening, Jace sat by the dormitory window, muscles sore but mind sharp.

The Codex had been quiet.

Too quiet.

So he opened the interface.

> Codex Update: Trial Combat Lock Engaged

– Power Restrictions Active until Gate Trial begins

– Passive functions only

Warning: Enemy Combatant Tag – Dalen Crest

– Rank: 2

– Level: 8

– Ability: Pressure Bind (Paralysis/Weight Manipulation)

– Kill Count: 3 (Gate Trial Incidents – Unpunished)

Jace's brow furrowed.

So that bastard had killed before.

And the system let him walk.

He closed the panel and leaned back against the wall.

He didn't want attention.

Didn't want a spotlight.

But people like Dalen would force it.

---

"Thinking too hard again?" Violet asked, appearing beside him with two cups of that weird pink root tea the dorm kitchen served.

"A little."

She handed him a cup. "You're not who you were back in the Vault."

"No," he admitted. "But I still don't want to be a target."

"Then don't be."

She smiled faintly.

"Just be better. Quietly."

He chuckled. "Is that what you're doing?"

"No," she said. "I'm just waiting for you to surprise me again."

---

That night, Jace checked the Codex one last time.

> System Shop: 12% Loaded

– Enhancement Crystal Slots: 3

– Beast Tracking: 5% Sync

– Soul Weapon Unlock Progress: 6%

– Next Unlock: 70% Sync – Vampire Skill Tree Access

Almost there.

He wasn't strong yet.

But soon…

He'd start earning power again.

And this time, no one would see it coming.

A thunderous gong echoed across Vel'ren Gate.

Then a second.

And a third.

From all corners of the settlement, hundreds of students emerged—each carrying a trial token embedded with a temporary ID crystal. The Gate Trials were no longer just a looming challenge.

They were here.

---

The trial portal stood at the center of the campus: a circular platform rimmed with glowing runes, pulsating with blue and violet energy. Instructors and Drakarin officials oversaw the activation. Crystal drones hovered overhead, recording every movement, every face.

Jace stood among the crowd.

His badge—Rank 0, Jace Vey—marked him like a target.

But to him?

It was a shield.

No one expected anything from the bottom.

And that gave him freedom.

---

Violet adjusted the strap of her dagger sheath and looked to Jace.

"Still sure about this?"

He nodded. "It's our best chance."

She smiled. "Then let's show them what a nobody can do."

---

> Codex Alert – Trial Sync Established

– Realm: Vasker Wilds

– Trial Objective: Eliminate beasts and collect at least 5 Enhancement Crystals

– Time Limit: 72 Hours

– Bonus Reward Tiers:

• Bronze – 5 Crystals

• Silver – 10 Crystals

• Gold – 15+ Crystals

– Danger Level: Tier 1 to Tier 3 Beasts Present

Warning: PvP Combat is Not Prohibited

Jace narrowed his eyes.

That last line was the real warning.

The beasts weren't the only threat.

---

Groups stepped onto the glowing platform in clusters of four or five. Some students went alone, confident in their strength or eager to prove something.

Jace and Violet waited.

Tarn—too nervous to go without them—joined them at the last moment.

"Don't let me die," he muttered.

"No promises," Violet said dryly.

The portal flared.

And then—

They stepped through.

---

Vasker Wilds – Trial Zone

The world twisted.

And then righted.

They stood in a jungle clearing, the air humid and sharp with pollen. Giant trees towered above them, roots thicker than buildings. In the distance, the cries of unfamiliar beasts echoed.

Jace opened his Codex.

> Trial Zone Map Loaded

– Initial Location: Zone 4B

– Crystal Signature Range: 200 meters

Nearby Beast Detected: Tier 1 – Ironhide Stalker (Level 5)

– Status: Isolated

– Crystal Yield: 1–2

He smiled.

"Let's hunt."

---

The Ironhide Stalker moved like a panther made of stone—sleek, deadly, its hide shimmered like iron under the sunlight that pierced through the canopy.

It prowled through the brush, nose twitching.

But it never saw the dagger coming.

Violet's blade struck first—straight between the eyes.

It staggered, and Tarn launched a barrage of minor fire bursts, distracting it just long enough.

Jace moved in from behind.

One stone jab to the rear flank.

Another to the ribs.

Then he struck with a hidden shard blade pulled from a broken bone nearby—improvised, precise.

The beast collapsed.

---

> Beast Defeated – Ironhide Stalker

– Enhancement Crystal Obtained: 1

– Crystal Absorption Available: Yes

– Absorbing…

– Stat Gained: +1 Agility

– Codex Sync: 64% → 65%

---

As the sun began to dip lower, their count rose.

Five kills.

Three crystals.

No injuries.

But Jace noticed something… strange.

---

> Codex Alert – Hidden System Triggered

??? Quest Unlocked: Blood Echo Awakening

– Objective: Slay a Tier 3 Beast without assistance

– Reward: Soul Weapon – Incomplete Form

Warning: Objective Location Marked – Proceed at Own Risk

He blinked.

A Soul Weapon?

Already?

He closed the window fast—before Violet or Tarn noticed.

This was his secret.

Just like the Codex was meant to be.

---

They set up camp beneath a tree whose roots formed a natural canopy.

As Tarn dozed off, Jace stared into the fire.

"Something's coming," he murmured.

Violet didn't ask how he knew.

She just nodded.

And placed her hand over his.

"Then we'll face it together."