The next day was a weekend so there were no classes, Damien spent most of his day on training and getting familiar with his strength. He tested his Force strength too, achieving 90 in Force Strength, this was not bad since he had only broken through the Rank 1 barrier a short while ago.
After training for half a day, he left for the Weaponry.
He had to choose a weapon since his sword was destroyed during the expedition, earlier he had used Scott's sword in his duel against Carl, however, he had to pick a new weapon, and thanks to the Demon Hunting Expedition, he had a good amount of Contribution Points.
In the Academy, Contribution Points were like the currency, all the precious resources needed to be bought using Contribution Points. He held an insignia that had the school mark upfront and his name at the back.
Immediately he held it a string of numbers appeared in his mind, the insignia was like the badge that had been used to record a person's kills during the expedition. From the insignia, he learned he had about 1600 Contribution Points...it was so high because he had killed a lot of Slave level beasts using Blood Surge but the other reason was because he had killed a Soldier level Beast, the Soldier level Beast was almost half of the total points he had earned.
Looking at the points in his insignia, Damien could not help but feel very rich.
The weaponry had several levels. The last time he had been here he could only come to the first floor which was filled with only Tier 1 magic weapons, as for Tier O magic weapons, those were weapons used by mundane people.
What use would a Tier 0 weapon have on Otherworld beasts, that is why there were no such weapons in the Academy.
He looked at the second level of the Weaponry and decided to enter, anyway, he was quite rich now...he could afford a Tier 2 magic weapon.
With money came joy, so he happily swaggered into the second level of the Weaponry.
"OMG....What the...? " After entering the second level, even Damien with his proper upbringing felt like cussing.
The second level was quite huge, with all kinds of weapons stacked, with their prices beneath. Looking at the price list, Damien's hands on the insignia tightened, he suddenly did not feel rich again.
The price of those Tier 2 weapons was almost close to the current number of contribution points he had. As for the few number of Tier 3 weapons on this level, he did not dare to look anymore.
He went to the sword section, looking at the rows of neatly arranged swords. After looking around for a while, a sword finally caught his eye.
Standing in the middle of the Tier 2 sword rack, was a doubled-edged Jian. He walked up to it and looked closer, the price was slightly higher than most of the swords here.
A whooping 1200 Contribution Points, however, it was worth it since it was made from the spine of a rank 1 magic beast, the Alloyed Back Boar.
There was a difference between magic beasts and Otherworld beasts though.
Magic Beasts were the native beasts of this world, while Otherworld beasts came from, you know where...the other world. Some magic beasts even lived in harmony with humans, but between humans and the invaders from the otherworld..there was no co-existence.
There could never be.
He picked up the Jian, it was a one-handed jian with a length of about 32 inches. It also weighed about 4.7 pounds, however in Damien's hands it felt like 1.5 pounds.
After choosing the sword, he picked it up and went to pay up.
The Instructor took his insignia and deducted the cost of the sword from his Contribution Points, looking at the remaining points, Damien felt bitter he had become rich in a day but before he could become used to his riches, he was struck down.
He planned on getting used to his new sword.
Just as Damien left the Weaponry, he noticed a familiar presence waiting near the entrance—a woman with striking pink hair tied into a high ponytail.
Selina Vorn.
She wasn't alone. Lars, the white-haired representative from the Shadowspire Alliance, leaned casually against a wall, his jade talisman spinning between his fingers. Torin, the scarred representative from the Iron Shield Alliance, stood nearby, his arms crossed.
"Damien," Selina called out, her voice firm and commanding.
Damien sighed. "Again?"
Lars chuckled playfully. "We told you not to take too long, kid. We've got better things to do than chase after you all day."
Torin stepped forward. "It's time to choose."
The guild representatives didn't waste time reintroducing their offers. They laid out their terms once more, emphasizing their unique strengths:
Selina offered resources and elite training programs through the Silver Vanguards.
Lars highlighted the freedom, flexibility, and challenging missions of the Shadowspire Alliance. Torin emphasized the stability and team-oriented environment of the Iron Shield Alliance.
Damien listened quietly, weighing his options. Each guild had its appeal, but Lars's words about freedom resonated the most.
"Shadowspire values your freedom when you join…"
Freedom was something Damien couldn't ignore. He wasn't the type to be shackled by rigid rules or constrained by unnecessary bureaucracy. Also he had secrets that he did not want people to find out about
After a moment of silence, Damien made his decision.
"I'll join the Shadowspire Alliance," he said, his tone calm but resolute.
Selina frowned slightly, while Torin gave a subtle nod of respect. Lars grinned triumphantly, tossing the jade talisman to Damien.
"Good choice, kid. Welcome to the family," Lars said.
Selina and Torin exchanged glances before turning to leave.
"We'll be watching your progress," Selina said over her shoulder. "Don't disappoint us."
Torin simply nodded and walked away, his presence as steady as his words.
Lars clapped Damien on the shoulder. "Now that you're with us, it's time to get you properly equipped. The Shadowspire Alliance doesn't just welcome you—we prepare you. I'll contact you soon with your first mission."
Damien nodded, gripping the talisman tightly.
As Lars disappeared into the crowd, Damien glanced at the jade talisman in his hand. His journey with the Shadowspire Alliance had officially begun.
He changed his mind and decided to head to the dormitory instead of the Training Hall. A few moments later, a blonde-haired figure appeared in his sight.
Jason approached, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced with curiosity. "So? Did you choose one?"
Damien nodded. "Shadowspire."
Jason grinned, clapping him on the back. "Good choice. They're known for their freedom and tough missions. Perfect for someone like you."
Before Damien could respond, a faint hum of energy made him turn. A guild emissary approached—a young woman clad in Shadowspire's signature black-and-silver attire, her expression poised but friendly.
"Damien," she greeted, bowing slightly. "Lars sent me to escort you to our base. If you're ready, we can leave immediately."
Damien glanced at Jason, who gave an encouraging nod. "Go on, bro. I'll hold the fort here."
" Alright "
The emissary smiled faintly and gestured for him to follow. They left the academy grounds, weaving through bustling streets before reaching a sleek black carriage adorned with Shadowspire's crest. The sigil—a spire wrapped in swirling shadows—seemed to pulse faintly with energy.
Despite the guilds being a part of the academy, they were located outside the academy
As they entered the carriage, Damien noticed how luxurious yet understated the interior was, with silver accents glinting against dark upholstery.
"Where exactly is the Shadowspire base?" he asked, curious.
"It's not far, but its exact location is kept confidential," the emissary replied.
"New recruits are only brought in by official guild members or emissaries. Once you're there, you'll be keyed into our teleportation network, so you won't have to rely on manual transport anymore."
Teleportation network? Damien hadn't expected such a sophisticated setup. Shadowspire seemed far more organized than Lars's casual demeanor suggested.
The ride was surprisingly short. The carriage halted in front of a towering structure shrouded in mist, hidden deep within a forest. The building itself was an imposing black fortress, its sharp spires reaching toward the sky. Around it, a faint, protective energy barrier shimmered.
"Welcome to the Shadowspire Alliance Branch base," the emissary said, stepping out and motioning for Damien to follow.
Damien noticed she used the word branch, he had already suspected that the guilds connected to the academy were only branches of the main guild in the academy.
Damien stepped through the barrier and felt an immediate pressure, like a subtle force scanning him. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was a stark reminder of the guild's vigilance.
The interior of the base was bustling with activity. Slayers of various ranks moved about, their distinctive black-and-silver uniforms gleaming under the soft glow of crystalline lights. Some sparred in open training areas, their weapons clashing with bursts of Force energy. Others gathered around tables, poring over maps and mission details.
"Follow me," the emissary said, leading Damien through winding hallways until they arrived at a spacious chamber.
Inside, Lars lounged in a high-backed chair, his jade talisman still spinning lazily between his fingers. Beside him stood a tall, raven-haired woman clad in sleek armor. Her piercing green eyes immediately locked onto Damien.
"Ah, you're here," Lars said, straightening. "Damien, meet Commander Seraphine, the leader of this branch of Shadowspire."
Commander Seraphine stepped forward, her presence commanding. She extended a gloved hand, and Damien shook it firmly.
"Welcome to Shadowspire, Damien. Lars speaks highly of you," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I hope you'll live up to his confidence—and to our expectations."
"I'll do my best," Damien replied, meeting her gaze steadily.
"Good." Seraphine gestured to a table behind her, where a sleek black uniform and a set of small, intricate devices were laid out.
"This is your official guild uniform," she explained. "It's reinforced with Tier 2 enchantments to provide additional protection and stealth capabilities. These devices," she pointed to the small gadgets, "are part of our communication network. They'll allow you to receive mission updates, report back, and access certain areas of the base."
Damien inspected the items, impressed by their quality. Shadowspire's resources were clearly leagues above anything he'd encountered before.
"Lars will guide you through the rest," Seraphine said before turning to leave. "Welcome aboard."
After Damien changed into his new uniform, Lars led him to a smaller room filled with holographic projections of various mission details.
"Alright, kid," Lars began, leaning against the table. "Your first mission is simple. We need to see how you handle yourself in a real-world scenario."
A projection of a forest appeared, marked with several red points.
"Recently, there's been a spike in activity from lower-tier Otherworld beasts in this area. Nothing too dangerous, but enough to disrupt nearby villages. Your job is to clear them out and secure the area. Think of it as pest control—but for people who want to keep living."
Damien nodded, studying the map. "Sounds straightforward."
" You sound pretty confident, do well, I look forward to seeing you join the main guild after you graduate "
" How powerful is the main guild? " Damien asked curiously.
" On the continent, the most powerful force is the Royal family, followed by the Academy, in certain issues the Academy has much more power than the royal family. There is also the Wizard Tower, in terms of influence and power it is on the same level as the academy. Ranked behind these three are us the Guilds, there are the top 7 Guilds" Lars explained seeing the curiosity growing in Damien's eye he smiled and continued.
" There are 3 Slayer guilds in the top 7, the Assasins guild, and the Mages guilds make up the other 4...do you know what the number one guild is? "he asked with a playful smile.
Seeing his smile, Damien already had the answer: " Shadowspire "
" You can use the teleportation port here to return to Light City...tomorrow your first mission will start, you will be handsomely rewarded if you complete the mission "
Damien nodded.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Later that day, Damien returned to the academy's sparring grounds, eager to test his new sword.
The Jian felt like an extension of his arm, moving fluidly as he performed intricate techniques. Its blade cut cleanly through the air, leaving faint trails of Force light in its wake.
"This will do nicely," he muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips. After training like a beast till late in the night he dragged his tired body to bed.