"Master!"
Fiona's voice pierced through my mind as I knelt over the chaos egg, channeling disruptive energy in the dragon infusion ritual. The power was intense, raw, and demanding everything I had to keep it stable within the protective barrier.
"Master," Fiona's voice echoed again, more urgent this time. "The Mistress… she's heading to your room. I can't stall her much longer."
I gritted my teeth, a low growl escaping as I tried to maintain focus. "Why now of all times?" I muttered, my gaze fixed on the pulsing egg in front of me. It seemed to feed off my energy, drawing every ounce of focus and control I could muster. There was no stopping the ritual midway; the energy would erupt into something uncontrollable if I did. I could already feel the barrier flicker as my concentration slipped.
Then, like a whisper that turned into a roar, I heard Jacqueline's heels echoing down the hallway, closing in. The energy surged, slipping out of my control. "Damn it," I hissed, feeling the chaotic power slipping through my grasp.
In a last-ditch attempt to stabilize it, I let my dragon form partially emerge, scales creeping up my arms, claws extending as I tried to channel the energy more directly. But it wasn't enough. The barrier shimmered, on the edge of collapse.
Suddenly, the door swung open, and Jacqueline strode in, her expression a mixture of anger and smug satisfaction.
There I was, laid down on the floor, drenched in sweat, blood smeared at the corner of my mouth where I had coughed up the residue of chaotic energy.
Jacqueline looked down at me, a mix of anger and satisfaction in her eyes, a smirk twisting her lips. She must think the poison she slipped me is finally taking effect, as if she's won some twisted prize. She doesn't realize that, if not for me, she and everyone in this cursed castle would've ceased to exist by now.
As I struggled to keep steady, Fiona and a couple of maids rushed in, their hands reaching to steady me. But Jacqueline held up a hand, stopping them, as if savoring every second of my suffering before finally speaking.
"Your father wanted me to pass this message to you," she said, drawing out each word, letting her amusement linger in the air. "Since you're wasting away here in this miserable little room, he expects you to stop rotting and actually show up. You're to join Harvey and the other heroes for their training today," she said, her voice laced with disdain as her eyes scanned me from head to toe.
"At least make an appearance," she continued, her tone dripping with mockery. "It's the least you can do to bring him some measure of pride—though I doubt even that's possible." With a final sneer, she turned and left, taking the maids with her.
Fiona remained behind, her concerned eyes on me as I steadied my breath. I gripped the edge of the table to pull myself up, fighting through the pain Jacqueline's "gift" had left behind.
"Master…" Fiona whispered, hesitant yet determined.
"It's fine, Fiona," I said, as I made my way over to the bed, sinking into the mattress to regain some energy. I opened my palm, summoning a small vial of recovery potion, which materialized with a soft shimmer. Uncorking it, I took a deep drink, letting the healing warmth spread through my body, easing the ache Jacqueline's meddling had left behind.
As I exhaled in relief, my gaze drifted back to the chaos egg. "These eggs… they take more and more out of me as they grow. I expected this, though," I murmured, almost to myself. "They're getting stronger; I can feel it. And that means I'll need to be stronger too."
I fell silent for a moment, letting the potion's effects settle in as I gathered my strength. Finally, I looked up, a sarcastic edge creeping into my voice. "At least I get to see the 'heroes' today. That's… great," I said, the word dripping with mockery.
Still, a smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth as my thoughts drifted to Harvey. The smug champion always eager to prove himself, always looking down on anyone he deemed unworthy. Perhaps today, I'd give him a little reminder of what he's truly up against. "An eye for an eye," I murmured, my smirk widening.
Fiona tilted her head, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Shall I prepare you for the training ground, then?"
I nodded, already savoring the thought. "Yes"
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
I made my way to the training ground, my footsteps crunching softly on the gravel as I drew closer. There, in the clearing, I could see the heroes from above, their figures outlined against the morning light.
"Mmm," I hummed softly, a bit surprised. Something about them seemed… different. Their movements were sharper, more focused, and I could sense a new energy radiating from each of them. It was as if they'd undergone a transformation, each one stronger and more resolute than before.
But then again, that's just regular for a hero, nothing new. They were always striving to push their limits, always reaching for that next level. It was impressive, sure, but for them, it was simply routine. And yet, I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration, and maybe even a hint of pride.
"Alistair," someone calls out from their pack, a familiar voice cutting through the air. Kyoto. She was the first to welcome me when I joined, her smile always bright and welcoming. She waves as I approach them, her energy instantly lifting the mood.
"It's been a long time, Alistair," she says, her voice warm with genuine affection. "How have you been?"
She beams another smile, the kind that could light up a whole room, as she steps closer to me. I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort, how irritating.
I summoned the system in my thoughts, and her stats appeared before me. Kyoto's abilities had clearly grown—her strength and skills were sharper,
[Name: Kyoto Takagumi Level:289
Race: Blessed human
Class: Hero[Versatile Mage],Hunter,Savior..
Stats:
Speed: B+, Durability: B, Magic: A+, Agility: A+, Strength: B+, Intelligence: A, Mana Capacity: S, Mana Affinity: S.
Skills:
Elemental magic: A+, Elemental summoning: A+, Blessing of the gods: S+ , Healing: A, Arcane Protection: B+, Alchemy: B+, Elemental Affinity: S]
"Impressive," I thought to myself.
"Yes, it has been a while," I said, playing the role of an NPC, giving them a casual compliment. "It seems you're looking a bit different."
"Welcome, Alistair. It's been a long time," Rylan said, extending his hand. He paused, then put on a curious expression, as if searching for something. "My stats?"
Funny... it was like he couldn't read them. None of them could?
Or maybe it was something else entirely.
I forced out a weary smile and replied, "Yes, it has been. You all have truly changed, with the usual compliments, of course."
Rylan stepped forward, his sword held firmly in hand, almost as if to welcome me with his presence. His expression was readable, but the gesture was clear.
[Name: Rylan Gunnar level:315
Race: Blessed Human
Class: Hero[Mage Swordsman],Hunter
Stats:
Speed: A+, Strength: A+, Durability: A+, Intelligence: S, Agility: A, Magic: A+, Swordsmanship: A+, Mana Affinity: A
Skills:
Blessing of the gods: S+, Arcane weaponry: A, Elemental Affinity: A+, Strategy: A]
Rylan's level made it clear—he was the leader, the strongest of them all. I didn't pay much attention to his extended handshake. We were both locked in, sizing each other up, as if we were trying to scout one another.
Rylan eventually withdrew his hand, not bothered by the slight disrespect. I glanced around, catching Viktor sharpening his weapon with focused precision. Up above, Susan sat on a tree branch, her eyes locked on me—more of a glare than a look. A bloodshot, unsettling glare.
Name: Vicktor Brandt Level:280
Race: Blessed human
Class: Hero(Defender swordsman),Hunter,Savior
Stats:
Speed: B, Agility: B+, Mana Capacity:S, Swordsmanship: A+, Strength: A+, Magic: B, Intelligence: A+, Durability: S, Mana Affinity: B, , Mana Capacity: B+
Skills:
Blessing of the gods: S, Guardian Aura: B+, Presence: A+, Disarm: A+, Awe: A+, Resilience: B+]
[Name:Susan Farrah level:275
Race:Blessed Human
Class:Hero(twilight hunter),Hunter
Stats:
Spd:A+ Strength:B+, Durability:C+,Combat power:B+,ManaCapacity:A+,Blessing of the gods:S+,Agility:A+,Intelligence:A+
Twilight touch: A,Duskblade:A,Weaponry:A+
ShadowStep:B+,ManaCloak:A+,Hunt:A,Bloodlust:A+,Dusk's eye:A,Phantasm:B]
"Alright," a voice from behind says. A guard trainee walks in, holding a paper, ready to take down today's progress.
"Sir Alistair, you are welcome," he says, and I nod slightly in response.
He looks around, taking note of the heroes, but then pauses. "Where is Harvey?" he asks, glancing around as if expecting him to appear.
Kyoto steps forward to answer, "He said he would take the day—" but before she can finish, a groaned, raspy voice interrupts.
"I'm here."
It came from the entrance, weak and strained. I grinned with a hint of delight. There was Harvey. He looked different—not powerful, but horrible. Truly horrible, as if he'd witnessed something he wasn't meant to see.
"I'm here," he repeated, walking slowly. His movements were unsteady, uneven, as if he couldn't quite keep his balance.
He moved past me, his eyes dimmed, almost cold. He wasn't making direct eye contact, but I could feel his gaze on me, as if he was seeing right through me. The tension in the air lingered as he passed, a faint chill following in his wake.
Harvey moved toward the heroes and took a seat on the wooden-planked bench. He barely sat, as if the act itself drained him. He shrugged, the movement casual but distant, and there was a hint of pity in his eyes—pity that wasn't meant for anyone else, but for himself.
The guard trainee spoke up in concern as Harvey took his seat. "Sir Harvey, if you don't feel well, you can—"
"I can train today," Harvey muttered, his voice flat, as if he didn't want a single ounce of sympathy. "I'm fine."
He turned to Kyoto. "Can you give it to me?"
Kyoto looked concerned, a little too much, but she didn't argue. She reached out, and with a subtle flick, a potion appeared in her hand, like the usual pocket dimension trick.
Without a word, she handed it over to Harvey, who snatched it without hesitation. He uncorked the bottle and gulped it down. I could hear the swallows from where I was standing—it was disgusting.
Curiosity piqued, I summoned the system to check Harvey's stats. I snickered to myself—he was worse off than I expected, as if he hadn't gone anywhere.
[Name:Harvey Gray
Level:150 Status:Weak
Race: human
Class: Noble
Stats:
Speed: C, Durability: C, Magic: C, Agility: D, Strength: D, Intelligence: A
Swordsmanship:D]
Even a horned rabbit could one-shot this guy, I thought, as I looked into his stats. It was amusing how they all knew, yet kept quiet about it. Why keep him in the team?
I guess human nature is just the same—just evil, I mused nonchalantly.
Harvey had just finished the fifth bottle. He moved a bit, as if warming up. His energy seemed to return, and he looked more lively now. Kyoto's medic potion was indeed intriguing.
He stood up, swinging his arm with ease. "The arm isn't sore anymore," he said, sounding relieved.
"Thanks, Kyoto," he added, blushing like a moose, his gaze lingering on her the same way it had since day one.
The guard trainee noticed this as a signal and called to the heroes to ready up for training.
I walked over, leaning against the tree, watching quietly as he began his speech, knowing the training was about to start.
I stood, arms crossed, watching the heroes. They were good. Their fighting was composed, smooth, and precise as they sparred with each other, each move calculated and fluid. It was clear , working in sync without hesitation.
Rylan and Susan's sparring was tactical, each move deliberate and calculated. Susan lunged toward him, throwing kunai with deadly precision. Rylan parried each one while maintaining his steady retreat.
Suddenly, he closed the distance, his sword swinging with intent. The blade clashed with Susan's daggers, the impact sending sparks flying as they both quickly disengaged, stepping back to reassess.
Susan made the same move again, her presence blending with the shadows below as they slowly wove around her. She disappeared, and I followed her movementsâ€"she reappeared right in front of Rylan, but he was already anticipating her attack, his blocks on point.
Without hesitation, Rylan hurled a fireball toward her. Susan tried to block it, but Rylan was quicker. He swiftly kneeled and struck her at the groin, causing her to twitch in pain. The fireball exploded upon impact, sending her flying back.
She landed in a defensive backflip, breathing heavily, clearly gathering herself as she thought of her next move.
As they continued, I glanced over to the far end. There was Viktor and Kyoto. Viktor, a tank, swung a heavy attack swiftly at Kyoto, who kept defending with precision.
She created distance, and the wind coiled around her, forming into a bow. She drew back and shot three wind arrows at him. Viktor braced for impact as faint energy formed into armor around him. He blocked the first arrow, slashing through the others, then charged in, closing the distance.
Kyoto, still on the offensive, shot more arrows. Viktor, catching one, used it to fuel his movement, executing an inverted upward slash in retaliation.
Kyoto quickly raised a wind barrier to block Viktor's attack, her hand lifting as wind spears began to form and rain down upon him. Viktor steadied himself, faint energy gathering around him to help deflect the brunt of the damage.
Seeing an opening, Kyoto moved swiftly, forming wind gauntlets around her fists as she charged forward. She closed the gap in an instant, delivering a powerful side hook aimed at his torso. Viktor blocked, but the impact was strong enough to send him sliding backward, skidding a few paces across the ground.
Kyoto raises her hand directly at vicktor as the ground beneath him breakes trapping him. Vicktor groans as he tries to adjust. But he looks up as Kyoto is before him, hurling fireball on her hand .
U give up she said.smily victorious.
Viktor sighed in defeat, lowering his head slightly. Nearby, Susan, worn out and breathing heavily, had also lost her match to Rylan. Both fighters stood in silence, acknowledging the end of their battles with quiet respect.
My gaze drifted over to Harvey, who was training alone with some magic dummies, no sparring partner in sight. It was obvious why—sparring was beyond him now. The challenge just wasn't on his level anymore.
Kyoto moved toward me, eyes bright with excitement. "Did you see what I did? How was I?" she asked, her smile wide as she waited for my response.
She had been good, no doubt. Probably the best after Rylan.
"You did great," I said, putting effort into my words. It had truly been a good fight.
Kyoto's smile grew even brighter, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you," she said softly. "I want to be strong enough... to protect the kingdom," she continued passionately.
But my attention drifted—I felt a sudden, chilling bloodlust, an intense gaze fixed on me as if someone wanted to tear me apart. Rylan sensed it too, his eyes shifting slightly in Harvey's direction without any noticeable movement.
I glanced over and saw him—Harvey. His eyes were locked on me, cold and furious. The bloodlust was unmistakable, though I knew it posed no real threat to me.
The guard trainee, sensing the tension but unsure of its source, tried to cut through the strange atmosphere.
"Great job, everyone. I see improvement—keep it up," he said, his tone slightly sluggish and unsure.
He was about to continue when Harvey abruptly interrupted, his voice sharp.
"When do I spar?"
The guard trainee looked uncertain, as if he hadn't quite caught what he'd heard. "Hmm? What did you say?"
"When do I spar?" Harvey repeated, his tone laced with growing anger.
A tense silence settled over the group. The guard trainee hesitated, searching for a response, clearly perplexed by Harvey's unexpected demand.
"I… I'm not sure," the guard trainee stammered, tensing as he struggled to find an answer. "Sir Harvey, maybe—"
"I want to spar now," Harvey interrupted, his tone rising, almost petulant.
"Harv—" Kyoto started, but Rylan gently placed a hand on her shoulder, silently urging her to stop.
"But... who do you want to spar, Sir?" the guard trainee asked, his voice shaky with a hint of panic.
Harvey lifted his hand and pointed directly at me. A heavy silence fell over the group as all eyes turned in my direction.
Well, it was obvious, I thought, but I raised an eyebrow, playing along.
"Me?" I asked, putting on a look of confusion.
"Yes," Harvey groaned, his voice filled with every ounce of hatred he could muster.
He picked up a sword from the rack and tossed it toward me, urging me to raise it. Taking his stance, he pointed his own sword directly at me, his glare unwavering.
"Battle me," he demanded, his eyes fixed with a fierce intensity.
I glanced over at the heroes and the guard trainee. The guard trainee seemed unbothered, likely thinking I posed no threat, while the heroes watched with keen interest, eager to see the outcome—a Round 2, so to speak.
As I walked past them, I caught Kyoto's worried expression, her face softened with pity. She leaned in and whispered, "Be careful," her voice filled with genuine concern.
I picked up the sword, feeling the cold metal press against my palm. I wondered how this would go. A showoff wasn't necessary, but I didn't like the idea of defeat—especially not to this fool.
I'd just have to match his movements, measure his attacks, and align with his weaknesses.
Harvey charged at me, sending a flurry of sword strikes my way. They were decent, but ultimately useless. I blocked each one, keeping up with the act, stepping back as if waiting for him to attack with more purpose.
He kept swinging, his strikes wild and aimless, and I continued moving back, making sure none of his attacks even came close.
Harvey kept swinging wildly, each punch and swipe lacking precision as I moved backward, smoothly sidestepping his clumsy attacks. Then, he slipped"leaving himself open. A smirk crept onto my face as I took the opportunity, driving a stomp kick into his midsection. Harvey staggered back, groaning in pain, rolling slightly from the force.
I watched, barely holding back a laugh as he writhed on the ground. His glare was filled with rage as he looked up, and I could tell he wasn't done yet. Gripping his sword, he charged at me, swinging even faster, fury fueling his strikes. I dodged each attempt, and when the timing was right, I sent another well-placed kick his way, this time with just a bit more force.
He stumbled back again, huffing in pain, one hand clutching his stomach. I could see it now"he was paralyzed by the pain, frozen in place. I took a few steps back, watching him struggle to steady himself
I was just about to leave when I suddenly heard Harvey's yell, a raw, angry sound, as he charged at me, sword aimed right at my chest, eyes burning with fury. I looked at him, surprised. The force didn't drop him enough? I thought, already preparing to make my move.
But before I could even react, a swift shadow moved in front of me. Rylan was there, faster than I'd realized, blocking Harvey's path. And just like that, Harvey was down"unconscious on the ground, knocked out cold by Rylan's strike.
"It's alright, we've got him," Rylan said, steadying Harvey by the shoulder. "I'll take him to the clinic."
As he looked over, Kyoto nodded and came over to lend a hand. Together, they carefully supported Harvey, helping him out of the area and toward the exit. Their steps were steady, each one deliberate, as they moved to get him the care he needed.
Seeing I had nothing left to do here, I slowly made my way out. The guard had already made his exit when a voice halted me.
"Hey."
I stopped, remaining still as Susan stepped in front of me, her eyes sharp and focused as she examined me closely.
"Tell me something… what are you?" she asked.
"Mmm?" I looked back at her, unfazed by the question. "What do you mean?" I replied, playing it off like I didn't know what she was getting at.
Her gaze didn't waver. "I don't know if you realize it, but you're far too strong for a noble," she said, her tone laced with suspicion.
What does she mean by that? I thought, growing wary. Is she somehow seeing my level? I thought they couldn't see it…
"I do train once in a while," I said, keeping my tone casual. "You don't expect me to lose to my lousy brother, do you?"
Susan's expression grew even more suspicious. "Mmm, you must have trained really hard to reach such a level," she said.
To keep up the act, I raised an eyebrow in mock confusion. "Level?" I repeated. "What do you mean by level?"
She gave a small, almost boastful smirk. "I can see your level—how strong you are. It's one of the perks of being a hero," she said. "Your level is at 200."
"Me?" I asked, feigning surprise as my system popped up, displaying my real level: [420]. So that's why Rylan was giving me those looks earlier, I thought. They're seeing a false level overlaying the original. Even if my fake level was high, it was still much lower than the truth. I dismissed the system, keeping my expression neutral.
"That's good, at least," I said, nodding as if satisfied. "A level 200… not bad. Is it higher than my brother's?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"Yes… your brother, despite his efforts, doesn't come close to your level," Susan replied, a hint of admiration mixed with suspicion in her tone. "It's impressive. So, what exactly do you do?" she pressed, her eyes narrowing.
Caught off guard by the question, I quickly turned it back on her. "What do you think I do?" I asked, shrugging. "I train, like everyone else. I'm not even allowed to leave my room most of the time, so I just… train."
I watched her expression carefully, hoping the answer would satisfy her, or at least buy me some time to keep my real abilities under wraps.
"I should say the same," she replied, her suspicion deepening as she eyed me carefully.
I tossed the kunai at her feet, just as my system flashed a warning:
[Poison detected… nullifying… nullifying… nullified]
The alert disappeared as quickly as it had come. Suppressing a reaction, I bit down on my tongue, drawing a thin line of blood to keep up the act. A drop trickled down to my lip, and I wiped it away with my thumb, making sure to look just shocked enough.
"Was that… poisoned?" I asked, glancing down at the kunai and then back to her, feigning a mixture of surprise and unease.
She smiled, a look of satisfaction on her face as she reached into a small leather pouch and tossed me a vial.
"I guess that was a bit much," she said, a trace of amusement in her tone. "But still, I'm impressed."
Fool, I thought, keeping my expression calm. She must think highly of herself if she thought that would work.
I gave her a polite nod and pocketed the antidote without comment, then turned and slowly took my leave, careful not to let my true thoughts show.
I reached my room and tossed the vial into the bin, stretching out on the bed with a sigh. To be honest, today was… fun, I thought, smirking to myself. I didn't get to test everything on Harvey, but it was still enough to keep things interesting.
Thinking of Susan and her prying questions, I made a mental note. Best to keep my distance from the heroes for a while, I muttered. Her suspicion was annoying, and I had no intention of letting them get too close to the truth.
Sitting up, I summoned the elemental egg, its familiar, faint glow filling the room. With a focused breath, I resumed the infusion, channeling energy into it as the process continued, the soft hum of magic settling my thoughts.
Later that evening, a loud voice echoed through the palace corridors—Jacqueline's angry bickering. She was on a rampage, and my name was her favorite insult, repeated over and over as she stormed down the hall. From her tone, it was obvious what she was worked up about.
I stepped out just in time to see her shadow stretching into the next hallway as she drew closer, with several maids trailing behind, trying desperately to calm her down before things escalated any further.
"That bastard!" she ranted. "That miserable brat! Trying to kill my son… I'll make him pay for it myself!" She spat more insults, her words dripping with venom.
Our eyes met, and her face twisted with rage, her glare filled with a barely contained fury. She picked up her pace, brushing past the maids attempting to restrain her.
"YOU!" she screamed. "How dare you!" Her voice echoed off the walls as she closed in. "HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO HARVEY?! HOW COULD YOU?!"
I stood there, calm, watching her approach, bracing myself for the confrontation.
Finally breaking free from the maids, Jacqueline stormed toward me, her fury radiating with each step. Her hand shot up, delivering a slap that echoed down the hallway, and then she grabbed my collar, yanking me closer to her before landing another harsh blow.
l send you to join your miserable mother,she spat, slapping me yet again. Through it all, I kept my expression cold, emotionless, staring into her eyes. Her rage was unmistakable, a twisted satisfaction for her that she could hurt me this way.
But as I looked at her, a grin slowly crept across my face, widening into something I couldn't fully control. Itwasn't intentional, just an instinct, but it was enough to halt her, her eyes flaring with even more rage.
What's? what's so funny?! she yelled, raising her hand to strike me again. But before she could, the maids finally managed to hold her back, pulling her away from me as she fought to break free.
Let me go! she screamed, thrashing against their grip. But then, suddenly, her voice faded as if a spell had taken over. Her eyelids drooped, and her entire body went limp, drifting into a deep sleep as the maids held her, confusion written on their faces.
I stood there, still, with that lingering smirk, watching her fall into silence.
I looked at her, slumped in the maids' arms, breathing softly in her sudden slumber.
"Are you alright, young master?" one of the maids spoke up, concern evident in her voice.
"I'm fine," I replied. "She didn't do any real harm."
"Should we… kill her?" another maid asked bluntly.
I glanced at them, unfazed. "Not necessary," I replied. "Just move her to her room." I paused, thinking. "And call Fiona."
Without another word, I turned and made my way back to my own room, leaving them to handle Jacqueline.
Not long after, Fiona entered the room. "Master?" she asked, her voice respectful but curious.
"I want you to heal Harvey," I said, watching her reaction.
She flinched slightly, surprised by the request, but quickly regained her composure. "Yes, Master," she replied. "Will that be all?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I'll be gone for a while. If anyone asks, tell them I'm under treatment—that my stepmother injured me severely, and I've been taken to the clinic."
As I finished speaking, I summoned my cloak. Fiona nodded, understanding, and then quietly made her exit. I pulled the cloak around me with a swift motion, I vanished into thin air, leaving the room empty and silent...