The air in the subterranean passage was stifling, thick with the metallic tang of dried blood and the lingering spiritual residue of the Gloom.

The four friends stood in a vast, ruined chamber, utterly exhausted but triumphant.

They had been fighting for hours, a concerted, draining effort to clear the biggest dungeon near Veridian City they had yet attempted.

Blaze was leaning heavily on his sword, Zenon was meticulously cleaning his twin handguns, and Lenore was cleaning the blood from her schyth blade.

They were all relaxed now since the final eclipse beast in the dungeon hallway now stood in front of Grey.

His aura clad fist struck right at the head of the beast, breaking the skull and blasting it's head into smithereens as fell on the ground with a thump.

As the creature dispersed into nothing more than dark, fine dust, two distinct Dings echoed loudly in Grey's mind.

DING!

[Level up!]

Grey walked over the remaining dark ash and picked up the largest, still-pulsing Beast Core left behind.

It was a clear, perfect sphere of condensed aura. Holding the core, he took a deep breath, able to clear the final wave before the boss room washing away the exhaustion.

He immediately commanded his internal system to display his status.

[ Grey Silverthorne ]

[RACE: Demonic Sunforged

BLOODLINE: Dark Demonic Solarian (Godly)

LEVEL: 34 (EXP: 1190/ 146000)

CULTIVATION REALM: Astral Current (Aura), Marrow cleansing (Body)

STAMINA: 68

STRENGTH: 74

INTELLIGENCE: 60

AGILITY: 66

ORIGIN SKILLS: Skill evolution (SSS+), Lord of martial arts (SSS+), Eyes of omniscience (SS+), Cosmic aura (SSS), Blood burn (SSS)

GENERAL SKILLS: Gattling destruction (SS) (Active), One punch kill (SSS) (Active), Spinning madness (SS) (Active), Demolition axe (SSS) (Active), Partial Gigantification (A+) (Active) Blacksmithing: LVL 4 (C+)(Active)]

Movement skill: Dash (C) (Active), Leap (C+) (active)]

[Inventory: 54/100]

"I guess only the boss room left now," Aeron said, gasping for breath as he dramatically slumped down onto the floor, savoring the momentary peace.

"Take some rest," Grey said plainly, taking a recovery potion of his own. "We'll deal with it later."

All of them settled down, taking potions and meditating, allowing their aura and stamina to recover.

Grey, however, was lost in thought, primarily about the Grimhold sigil and the looming deadline of his next journey.

Just then, Lenore's voice brought him back. "When are you going back to your estate, Zenon?" she asked.

"After a week," Zenon replied simply.

"Where are you going?" Grey asked, confused, realizing he was out of the loop on Zenon's plans.

Before Lenore could answer, Aeron jumped in, eager to be the explainer. He launched into a detailed explanation:

"He's going home because Zenon's family is about to hold their major tournament—the competition for the highly coveted Bloodline Awakening Slots. All the young, eligible Ashborn children are called upon to participate."

Aeron finished his spiel, swelling with pride, only to immediately feel a chill run down his spine.

Lenore was giving him an intense look of pure, murderous intent for having stolen her chance to explain everything to Grey.

Grey nodded, taking it all in. He was in quite the dilemma now. He desperately wanted to go to Grimhold City, and he wanted to take everyone with him.

But since Zenon was about to participate in his family tournament, there was no chance of taking him right away, and leaving him behind would make Grey feel sad.

"Where did you say your family estate was, Zenon?" Grey asked, a new idea forming.

"South East," Zenon said with his usual stoic face. "My family is the overseer of Dunwich City."

"Dunwich City?" Grey repeated. "Then it might be possible." His eyes shone with strategic excitement.

"Let me tell you all something," Grey spoke up, commanding their attention.

He then told them about the sigil he had received from Grand Elder Ignis and how he wanted to go to Grimhold to learn true metallurgy. And, most importantly, he explained that he wanted to take everyone with him.

"Grimhold is deep in the South East, and since Dunwich City is in the same direction, I propose this: We all go to Zenon's family estate first for his tournament, and from there, we continue our journey to Grimhold," Grey proposed, watching their faces.

The response was immediate. All three of their lips parted into wide, delighted smiles; even Zenon couldn't entirely control his emotional reflexes.

"Great plan! I'm in!" Blaze screamed in excitement.

"Me too!" Aeron joined in.

"Me too!" Lenore added, momentarily forgetting her homicidal rage toward Aeron.

Grey looked at Zenon for final confirmation. "Will we be allowed in your family estate during such a sensitive tournament?"

"No problem there," Zenon confirmed. "Our family tradition allows guests from outside during the tournament to watch, specifically so that no one can cheat or play dirty. You'll be welcomed."

"Great, then," Grey concluded, a profound sense of satisfaction settling over him. Their next grand adventure was set.

Just as their spirits soared, a massive, guttural roar erupted from behind the heavy doors of the boss room.

The large, rune-inscribed doors shuddered violently and then blasted open on their hinges, splintering wood and stone.

A colossal, enraged Shadowheart Class Beast—the dungeon boss—appeared, glaring directly at the four friends. It seemed the dungeon had decided their break time was over.

"This bastard doesn't have much patience," Grey clicked his tongue, instantly rising to his feet, the fatigue forgotten.

"Let's end it fast." Red smoky aura immediately covered his fists as he rushed at the beast, followed instantly by Blaze and the others.

*******

The Royal Decree and the Offer

The Chieftain's office was a simple, fortified room attached to his main dwelling—part map room, part armory.

Valrek sat behind a heavy, scarred table, flanked by Ekara and three grim-faced council elders.

The mood was heavy, weighed down by the recent Shadowheart attack and the unsettling implications of the King's message, which lay open on the table.

The flap to the office was quietly raised, and Austin was ushered in by Balvan. The young man hesitated, instantly sensing the solemnity in the room.

"Come in, Austin. Close the flap behind you," Valrek instructed, his voice serious but warm.

Austin did as he was told, standing awkwardly before the council table.

Ekara offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "Are you settling in, dear? The mat is soft, I hope, and the stew was palatable?"

"Yes, Lady Ekara. Thank you. I'm fine," Austin mumbled, feeling intensely self-conscious under the gaze of the tribe's leaders.

Valrek leaned forward, resting his powerful forearms on the table. "Good. We did not call you here for trivial reasons, Austin. We called you here because of that message." He gestured to the scroll.

"The world you knew, the peace of the valley, is changing fast. The great political powers are shifting, and the frontlines against the Eclipse Beasts are calling for a heavy tribute."

Valrek's gaze became intense. "The King of Godoka has commanded us, the Ironwood Clan, to provide five warriors immediately, to be sent to the frontlines of the growing war. Five of our own, to leave at once."

Austin's eyes widened slightly. Five warriors, plucked from this small, struggling tribe—a devastating loss.

"However," Varek continued, a flicker of cunning entering his expression, "the King has presented a curious condition, one that offers us an unprecedented opportunity, provided we can meet it."

He then explained the King's gambit: the demand for young, aura-wielding soldiers who would first be trained at the prestigious Veridian Academy, the training ground of the unified races.

"This is a life-changing moment, Austin," Varek stressed. "To step through those gates means a future, means power, means the chance to survive the coming darkness. It is the greatest gift Godoka has ever offered a tribal child."

Varek tapped the table, counting off the five demanded slots. "One slot is already taken. My daughter, Shina, must go. She is the only one in our entire clan who has already Awakened her Aura."

He looked directly at Austin, who was listening intently.

"We have three other slots to fill, candidates to find. But we made a decision about the fifth slot. A unanimous decision." Varek paused, letting the weight of the offer hang in the air. "That slot is for you, Austin."

Austin was utterly perplexed. He looked down at his hands, still stained faintly with the beast's blood. He had no skills, no power, and certainly no aura.

"I… Chieftain, I don't understand. I am no warrior. I cannot wield aura. I just… I got lucky with a dagger and a plan."

"Lucky?" Valrek scoffed, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"You showed the battlefield awareness of a veteran, Austin. You are quick-minded, and you showed boundless courage when you faced certain death. That is worth more than a slow sword arm. And as for the aura…"

Valrek paused and looked to Ekara, who took over.

"Our condition states the youth must be able to wield an aura," Ekara said softly.

"The King's message means the Academy will be waiting for those twenty slots to be filled by the Council. But the Council is slow. We are not. Our own daughter will be training the four other recruits before they leave. She is the only Awakened One we have, and she will teach them the exercises, the breathing, the mental focus needed to try and Awaken their aura."

Ekara leaned forward, her expression firm. "You will be trained with them, Austin. You will be taught everything we know. The goal is simple: to give you the chance to Awaken your own aura, to earn that slot, and to gain the strength you need to protect yourself and avenge your family."

The proposition was impossible, overwhelming, yet undeniably tempting.

The lure of power, the chance to understand the evil that destroyed his life, and the promise of a future beyond ash.

Austin stood in silence for a long moment, the chaos of his inner thoughts visible in his tight expression. He had nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

Finally, he looked up, his eyes meeting Varek's.

"I… I will do it," Austin said, the words coming out low but firm. "I will try."

A collective wave of relief and satisfaction washed over the grim faces of the council members. Valrek and Ekara both broke into wide, genuine smiles.

"Excellent," Valrek said, thumping the table. "Then it is settled. You begin training at dawn, Austin. The road to the frontlines begins here."

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