---
Chapter 46: The Awakening of Blood, The Echo of Power
---
The sky was bleeding colors as the sun set behind the towering cliffs.
Lucian stood silently in front of his growing army inside his Domain —
Beastlings, Bone Beasts, and the newly sprouted Beast Trees lined up like loyal soldiers.
The air inside the Domain was heavy with energy —
the very land itself pulsing, whispering promises of strength to those who dared to seize it.
Lucian closed his eyes and felt it.
Power.
Real, raw power.
Growing under his feet.
Singing in his blood.
---
Training Session:
Seventeen's voice echoed in his mind:
> [System 17]:
"Host, it's time to begin the Advanced Summoner Trial.
Condition: Maintain 100 summons active for 30 minutes against wave attacks."
Lucian grinned.
"Bring it on!"
With a snap of his fingers, bone wolves, armored crows, shadow serpents, and blade rabbits materialized.
His domain darkened — the trees releasing spores, calling even more lesser beasts.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
The first wave hit —
spiked trolls made of thorn and mud, crashing against his army like a living tsunami!
---
Battle Scene:
Lucian roared,
"Formations! Crush them!"
The wolves darted forward, biting and dragging down the front line.
The bone beasts smashed into the trolls like battering rams.
Lucian himself stood at the back,
slinging black chains of necrotic energy,
pulling enemies into ambushes.
It was chaos.
Beast against beast.
Flesh against bone.
Snarls, roars, the clash of claws on armor.
He felt himself losing focus halfway through.
Sweat poured down his face.
His legs trembled from maintaining so many summons.
But he gritted his teeth.
Not yet!
This was more than just a trial.
This was his promise —
to become strong enough to protect his family, his friends, his home.
He wouldn't fail!
---
New System Feature Unlock!
After thirty minutes of pure hell—
DING!
> [System 17]:
"Congratulations!
— Summoner Title Unlocked: 'Lord of Small Armies.'
— Passive Buff: Summoned units' attack +5%, defense +5%.
— Beast Tree Upgrade Unlocked: 'Greater Beast Trees' can now be planted!"
Lucian nearly collapsed from relief.
---
Comedy Break - Exhaustion Party:
Later, lying flat on the ground, Lucian groaned.
"My bones... my soul... even my eyebrows hurt..."
Finn chuckled while poking him with a stick.
"Is he dead? Should we loot his pockets?"
Mira slapped Finn on the back of his head.
"Idiot. If he dies, who'll summon dinner for us?"
Dorian came over carrying... a huge cooked lizard leg.
"Food?"
He offered it like a caveman.
Lucian, too tired to move, just opened his mouth.
Mira shook her head in disbelief.
"We're a team of geniuses and idiots."
---
Adventure — New Mission Arrives:
As they laughed, a soft chime echoed across the Domain.
A portal shimmered into existence, swirling with mist and purple energy.
Lucian sat up, alert.
[System 17]:
> "Special Quest Unlocked:
— 'Hidden Dungeon of Forgotten Beasts.'
— Difficulty: B+ Rank
— Rewards: Unknown Artifact, Unique Skill Shard, 3 Random Beast Cores."
Lucian's eyes blazed with excitement.
"A dungeon... finally!"
This was their chance —
to find treasures, artifacts, maybe even a hidden beast companion.
He turned to his friends, who immediately picked up on his excitement.
Mira smiled, knives already spinning between her fingers.
Dorian cracked his knuckles.
Finn was bouncing on his toes like an excited kid.
Lucian stood, summoning a spear made of shadows into his hand.
"Let's go," he said, his voice low and hungry.
"Tonight, we hunt legends."
---
End of Chapter 46
------
Chapter 47: Into the Forgotten Dungeon
---
The misty portal buzzed with a soft hum.
Lucian, Finn, Mira, and Dorian stood before it, weapons ready, armor tight.
A single step through that portal —
and they would leave the safety of Lucian's Domain,
diving into the belly of an ancient forgotten ruin.
Lucian tightened his grip on his shadow-spear.
"Everyone ready?"
Finn grinned wide.
"Bro, if we die, I blame you!"
Mira rolled her eyes and flicked his forehead.
"Focus, dumbass."
Dorian just nodded, calm as ever, a mountain of silent strength behind them.
Without waiting further, Lucian stepped in.
---
Scene Shift: Dungeon Entrance
The world twisted.
Colors bled together.
When Lucian opened his eyes, they were standing in a massive cavern lit by eerie blue crystals.
The ground was cracked and uneven, covered with ancient vines.
Strange murals were carved into the walls —
depicting beasts locked in eternal war.
The air was thick.
Sticky.
Almost alive.
[System 17]:
> "Warning: Dungeon environment actively hostile. Traps detected. Predators detected.
Map: Unknown. Proceed with extreme caution."
Lucian whispered, "Perfect."
---
First Encounter: Beast Traps
As they cautiously moved forward, Finn suddenly screamed—
"AAAHHHH!"
He was yanked upward by a rope snare, dangling from the ceiling like a helpless fish.
Mira doubled over laughing, tears in her eyes.
"Finn... you're bait now!"
Lucian quickly slashed the rope with his spear, dropping Finn on his butt.
Finn groaned, rubbing his head.
"I feel violated."
Lucian chuckled but stayed alert.
"If one trap is here, others will be too."
BOOM!
Right as he said that, spikes exploded from the ground where Dorian was standing —
but Dorian just lazily side-stepped them, barely blinking.
Mira whistled.
"Skill issue."
Dorian shrugged.
"Big feet, fast reflexes."
---
Second Encounter: Beast Battle - Crystal Lurkers
Suddenly—
HISSING.
From the shadows, Crystal Lurkers appeared —
lizard-like beasts with crystal spines glittering across their backs.
[System 17]:
> "[Crystal Lurker] —
Rank: Mid D
Ability: Crystal Shot, Camouflage."
There were dozens of them!
Lucian's heart raced.
"Form up!"
Mira dashed forward, knives gleaming.
Dorian lifted a giant boulder and threw it like a missile, crushing two lurkers.
Finn pulled out a bow, arrows whistling through the air.
Lucian summoned shadow beasts —
dozens of bone wolves leaping to meet the swarm.
Battle erupted.
Crystal shards rained from above like a deadly storm.
Lucian used shadow shields to cover Mira as she closed the distance, knives slashing in elegant, deadly arcs.
Dorian bulldozed through enemies like a moving wall.
Finn covered them from behind, his arrows nailing lurkers trying to flank.
Lucian's spear whirled, tearing through spines and scales.
Blood splashed across the dungeon floor.
For the first time in a long while, Lucian felt it again —
the thrill.
The fear.
The raw, exhilarating dance of death.
He loved it.
---
After the Battle: Loot Drop
Panting, bruised, but victorious, they stood among the bodies.
[System 17]:
> "Loot Available:
— Beast Cores (D Rank) × 9
— Cracked Crystal Armor Piece × 1
— Crystal Bow (D Rank) × 1
— Crystal Infusion Stone × 1 (Rare)"
Lucian's eyes lit up.
"Jackpot!"
Finn picked up the bow and whistled.
"This is sexy. Can I keep it?"
Lucian nodded.
"Take it. We'll divvy up the rest after."
Mira was already pocketing cores with a greedy glint.
Dorian... was dragging all the corpses into one pile.
Probably for Lucian to reanimate later.
Lucian smiled at the sight.
This was good.
This was fun.
But he knew...
Deeper inside, the real danger was still waiting.
---
System Warning:
As they finished looting—
[System 17]:
> "Warning: Dungeon Guardian detected.
Estimated Rank: High C to Low B."
Lucian froze.
A Guardian...
That meant an intelligent beast.
A real fight.
He turned to his team.
"Rest up. Heal.
Because what's coming next... will be a real battle."
Finn grinned wide.
"Dude, I live for this shit."
Mira twirled her knives.
Dorian cracked his knuckles.
Lucian's blood boiled with excitement.
He smiled grimly.
"Let's go make history."
---
End of Chapter 47
------
Chapter 48: Guardian of the Fallen Temple
---
The air grew heavier with every step they took.
The dungeon's deep halls pulsed like a living heart, walls lined with dead vines and ancient weapons.
Lucian gripped his spear tightly.
Even Seventeen, usually playful, was deadly serious now.
[System 17]:
> "Guardian ahead.
Scanning...
Warning: This beast is far stronger than predicted."
Lucian's heartbeat quickened.
Yet his lips curled into a grin.
"This is it, guys."
---
Scene: Guardian's Chamber
They entered a massive hall —
hundreds of meters wide, the ceiling lost in darkness.
In the center stood a colossal creature —
half tiger, half serpent, with shimmering golden fur and obsidian black scales twisting down its spine.
Its eyes — molten gold — locked onto Lucian immediately.
A deep rumble filled the hall.
The beast roared.
The ground trembled.
[System 17]:
> "[Temple Guardian: Ouroboran Sabertooth]
Rank: Peak C (Almost B)
Special Abilities: Regeneration, Gravity Domain, Mana Roar]"
---
Battle Start
Lucian didn't waste time.
"Formation!"
Finn leapt to the side, taking sniper position behind a fallen pillar.
Mira melted into the shadows.
Dorian moved forward, shield raised.
Lucian summoned—
[Army Summon: Bone Wolves × 30]
[Army Summon: Iron Thorn Bears × 10]
The wolves raced out first, howling.
The beast moved.
Faster than anything its size should.
WHAM!
It smashed into the wolves, sending bones and blood flying.
Lucian growled and pointed his spear—
"Bind it!"
From the ground, black roots burst up — grabbing at the beast's legs.
The Ouroboran Sabertooth snarled and twisted, tearing through them like paper.
Gravity Pulse!
A shockwave of crushing force slammed outward.
Lucian felt like an invisible hand pushed on his chest, almost flattening him.
Finn shouted from behind, "Holy shit, this guy's cheating!"
Mira darted forward, knives flashing, targeting the beast's eyes.
SFX: SLASH!
One of her knives grazed the beast's cheek —
a thin line of blood.
It roared — the sound a blast of raw mana.
Lucian's wolves regenerated from shadows, leaping back in.
Dorian charged too, shield bashing the beast with a thunderous boom that cracked the floor.
Lucian saw his opening.
Skill Activate: Shadow Lance!
He hurled his spear, a black bolt of death—
BOOM!
It smashed into the beast's shoulder, making it stumble.
---
Second Phase: Domain Awakening
The beast bellowed again —
its body shimmering.
The entire hall shifted.
Gravity doubled.
The floor cracked.
The ceiling started pressing downward.
Lucian gritted his teeth.
"Shit! It's using its Domain!"
Seventeen's voice echoed sharply:
[System 17]:
> "Enemy Domain Activation Detected:
All enemy abilities boosted.
Host options:
— Use 'Minor Domain: Shadow Grove'
— Retreat (Low Chance of Success)."
Lucian smirked.
"Like hell we're running."
He slammed his palm onto the cracked stone floor.
[Skill Activate: Minor Domain — Shadow Grove!]
Suddenly —
Black trees sprouted around him.
Thick vines, bone flowers, dark mist.
Lucian's army doubled.
More Bone Wolves, Skeleton Knights, Shadow Raptors.
A battlefield of dark beauty was born.
Finn, from his sniper post, shouted in awe, "Bro, you're turning into a freaking final boss yourself!"
Mira laughed even as she dodged another swipe.
Lucian's domain weakened the enemy's gravity domain.
Now they were even.
---
Final Clash
"ALL IN!" Lucian roared.
Dorian smashed into the beast's ribs, cracking bones.
Mira slashed the back legs, crippling movement.
Finn shot explosive arrows into the open wounds.
Lucian summoned Shadow Chains to trap it.
The beast fought wildly, blood spraying the floor.
It crushed three skeleton knights, roared, and lashed its serpent tail —
catching Lucian across the chest and slamming him into a wall.
Pain exploded in his ribs.
Vision blurred.
But he grinned through bloodied teeth.
"Seventeen... boost me."
[System 17]:
> "Temporary Boost: +50% Strength, +50% Speed — 5 Seconds!"
Lucian launched himself forward — faster than a bullet.
He drove his spear straight into the beast's golden eye.
CRACK!!!
The beast screamed — a sound that shook the dungeon.
Dorian, Mira, Finn, and the army piled on.
Blades, claws, magic —
until finally—
With a final earth-shattering roar, the Guardian fell.
The ground quaked one last time.
Then silence.
Breathing hard, bleeding, but alive —
Lucian stood victorious.
---
Loot Explosion
[System 17]:
> "Dungeon Guardian Defeated!
Loot Acquired:
— Core of Ouroboran Sabertooth (Rare!)
— Guardian's Fang (Artifact Weapon)
— Gravity Seed (Domain Upgrade Material)
— Golden Blood Crystal × 3 (Enhance Beast Tree!)
— Dungeon Key Fragment × 1 (Special Quest Item!)"
Lucian stared at the loot blinking before him.
Finn staggered over, grinning like a maniac.
"Bro... we RICH!"
Mira flopped down on a corpse, laughing.
Dorian just sat down, nodding once in satisfaction.
Lucian chuckled weakly, feeling the adrenaline drain away.
He had made it.
They had made it.
And this... was just the beginning.
He looked at the Guardian's broken body.
"Thanks for the meal, big guy."
---
End ofChapter 49: Return of the Dungeon Conquerors
---
[Outside the Dungeon — Sunset]
The dungeon entrance finally crumbled behind them, locking away whatever horrors remained.
Lucian wiped the blood from his face, a tired but victorious grin on his lips.
Finn flopped backward onto the grass. "Sweet merciful gods... remind me never to fight a giant snake-tiger-thing again."
Mira giggled, sitting cross-legged beside him.
"Until next time, you mean."
Dorian didn't say much — just gave a heavy grunt of agreement.
Lucian checked the loot displayed by Seventeen.
[System 17]:
> "Loot Summary:
— Core of Ouroboran Sabertooth (Rare)
— Guardian's Fang (Artifact Weapon)
— Gravity Seed (Domain Upgrade)
— Golden Blood Crystals ×3
— Dungeon Key Fragment (1/5 collected)"
Seventeen's cheerful voice popped up:
> "Host, suggestion:
— Sell rare materials for domain points and money.
— Visit local Auction House for maximum profits."
Lucian's eyes lit up.
"Did someone say auction?"
Finn groaned. "You're already thinking about money? We just survived death!"
Lucian shrugged. "Surviving makes me hungry for two things — food and cash."
---
[Scene Shift: Town of Stoneleaf]
By nightfall, they returned to Stoneleaf, the border town built around hunters, traders, and adventurers.
The moment they entered the gates —
the difference was obvious.
Everyone stared.
Adventurers in bloodied, broken armor.
Young kids carrying high-tier loot?
Who wouldn't notice?
One burly merchant elbowed his companion.
"Hey, look! Bet those kids cleared the Fallen Temple!"
Lucian, ever shameless, flashed a peace sign.
Finn muttered, "We're gonna get mugged, aren't we?"
Mira laughed, twirling her dagger casually.
"They can try."
---
[Auction House: Golden Hammer Exchange]
Stoneleaf's auction house wasn't grand like a capital's —
but it was packed.
Beast cores.
Spell scrolls.
Rare herbs.
Even enchanted lingerie (which Finn almost bid on by mistake.)
Lucian strutted to the counter like a king.
A sharp-looking woman in glasses — her chest almost bursting out of her tight uniform — smiled politely.
"Welcome, esteemed adventurers. Looking to buy or sell?"
Lucian dumped the golden blood crystals, Guardian's Fang, and extra beast cores on the counter.
The woman's eyes widened.
People behind Lucian gasped audibly.
Even a few minor nobles' jaws dropped.
"This... this is high-tier loot!" the woman stammered.
"Sir, we can host a private auction immediately if you prefer."
Lucian grinned. "Private room, fancy snacks, and free tea?"
The lady blinked.
"Of course?"
Finn whispered, "Bro. We just became VIPs."
---
[Private Auction Room]
While waiting, Lucian browsed the catalogue.
Domain Enhancer Seeds
Skill Crystals
Beast Egg Incubators
Mini Spirit Trees (for domain)
Mystery Summon Scrolls
Lucian's eyes glowed.
He pointed at almost everything.
Finn tugged at his sleeve. "We need to sell first, idiot."
Lucian smirked. "Investment, brother. Investment."
---
[Auction Result]
Guardian's Fang Artifact → Sold for 1,500 gold!
Golden Blood Crystals → Sold for 900 gold!
Beast Cores → Sold for 600 gold!
Total: 3,000 gold!
Lucian practically cried tears of joy.
Mira whistled. "That's enough to buy a small mansion."
Dorian actually cracked a rare smile.
Seventeen chimed cheerfully:
> "3,000 gold converted to 30,000 Domain Points if you wish, Host!"
Lucian almost collapsed.
30,000 Domain Points?!
He could upgrade his domain to the next stage easily!
---
[Purchases]
Beast Tree: Ironhide Elk (Defender Type) → 5,000 points
Beast Tree: Blazing Crows (Flying Support) → 4,000 points
Beast Tree: Doomfang Hounds (Stealth Attack) → 6,000 points
Upgrade Material: Gravity Seed Merge Pack → 10,000 points
Balance left: 5,000 Points
Lucian was practically shaking with excitement.
Finn stared at the receipt. "Bro... you just bought an army."
Lucian nodded seriously. "I need minions. Lots of minions."
---
[Scene Shift: Back to Domain]
That night, under the silver light of the twin moons, Lucian entered his hidden domain.
It had changed already.
The black trees swayed gently in misty winds.
[System 17]:
> "Deploying new Beast Trees..."
Before Lucian, three massive saplings burst from the ground:
Ironhide Elk Grove: Tall, silver-barked trees with heavy hoofed beasts resting under them.
Blazing Crow Nest: A twisted red tree glowing with fiery embers — black crows circled above.
Doomfang Grove: Black thorns and twisted trees, shadows crawling within.
Lucian whistled low.
"My army just got an upgrade."
[System 17]:
> "Warning: With growth, enemy forces may also sense Domain Expansion.
Recommend strengthening defenses soon."
Lucian nodded.
"Bring it on."
He stood at the center of his dark grove, a king of shadows and beasts —
ready for whatever came next.
But first...
"I need a bath... and food. Maybe some roasted Doomfang steak?"
---
End of Chapter 49
------
Chapter 50: A New Beginning – Academy of Valor
---
[Morning – Stoneleaf Academy Campus]
The morning sun bathed the freshly built stone towers and training fields of the Academy of Valor in golden light.
Lucian adjusted his new academy uniform —
a deep blue tunic with silver trims, stitched with his family insignia: a wolf's fang biting into a crown.
Beside him, Finn was still struggling with his cloak, accidentally tying it like a noose around his own neck.
"Gurk— Help!"
Lucian snorted, casually fixing Finn's uniform while Mira laughed and Dorian simply shook his head.
Today was the first real day of classes.
Not just sword-swinging, spell-casting, or beating monsters into paste —
Today was History and Theory.
Lucian stretched.
"Time to finally learn about the messed-up world we live in."
---
[Classroom: Theory Hall – 2nd Floor]
Rows of young adventurers filled the large stone lecture hall.
Boys and girls, ranging from age 12 to 16, sat on long benches, notebooks ready.
At the front stood an intimidating figure —
Professor Hargold — a giant of a man, gray-bearded, dressed in a crimson robe.
His presence alone silenced the class.
He banged his staff once.
BOOM.
"Silence, brats! Today, you learn the truth of our worlds!
The reality beyond your pathetic little villages."
He pointed at the giant map behind him.
---
[The Great History of the Two Worlds]
Professor Hargold's booming voice echoed:
> "Long ago, there were two worlds —
One, the Human Realm: our original land, lush with life, spirit, and the blessings of gods.
Second, the Beast Realm: a chaotic land filled with powerful creatures, ancient races, and primeval magic."
> "For eons, both worlds existed separately.
Until — the Dimensional Gates opened."
Students gasped.
Mira leaned over to Lucian, whispering,
"Sounds like a bad idea."
Professor Hargold continued, ignoring her.
> "The Gates were created by Gods to test Humanity.
Twelve Gates — each representing a Tier of difficulty."
He smacked the blackboard with his cane.
[Tiers of Dimensional Gates:]
Tier 1: Child's Playground — harmless beasts
Tier 2–4: Normal Adventurers
Tier 5–8: Only trained Warriors
Tier 9–10: Death awaits 90%
Tier 11–12: Cataclysmic. Reserved for Heroes and Demi-Gods.
Lucian gulped.
"Tier 12… that's the one where worlds get destroyed," he muttered.
Seventeen whispered privately in his mind:
> "[Reminder: Host's future missions may include Tier 12. Prepare accordingly.]"
Lucian nearly choked.
---
[Power Ranking System]
Professor Hargold spun dramatically, drawing a pyramid chart on the board.
Power Ranks of Beasts and Humans:
F Rank: Newbie Trash
E Rank: Average adventurer
D Rank: Skilled fighter
C Rank: Town Guardian level
B Rank: Regional Heroes
A Rank: Legendary
S Rank: Mythical Champions
SS Rank: World Destroyers
SSS Rank: Demi-Gods
X, Y, Z Ranks: True Unknowns (Only 10 known beings)
Each rank had Levels 1–9 inside.
Example:
C5 = Middle of C Rank.
B9 = Peak B Rank, ready to break into A Rank.
Lucian scribbled it all down furiously.
---
[Classes and Evolutions]
Professor Hargold's next speech was even more exciting:
> "At age 12, all children Awaken their first Class.
Classes are divided into Paths: — Warrior Path
— Mage Path
— Summoner Path
— Support Path
— Special Paths (rare.)"
> "Classes can evolve after achieving milestones: — Basic → Advanced → Master → Legendary."
Lucian remembered how his Necromancer class wasn't even listed —
Hidden Classes were considered myths.
Mira poked Lucian with her quill.
"Think we'll get Legendary someday?"
Lucian smirked.
"I plan to rewrite the rankings."
---
[Life at Academy of Valor]
Professor Hargold finally sighed, placing down his staff.
> "For the next three years, your lives will be divided into four main pillars:
1. Combat Training: Dueling, group battles, raid practice.
2. Theory Classes: History, tactics, mana studies.
3. Dungeon Expeditions: Real field missions into nearby low-tier dungeons.
4. Domain Management: For those blessed with Domains."
Lucian sat up straight at the last point.
Finally — his Domain could be openly worked on!
Seventeen pinged happily in his mind:
> "[Reminder: Beast Trees need sunlight. Recommend outdoor domain testing soon.]"
---
[Break Time: Outdoor Cafeteria]
Later, under the academy's giant oaks, the team slumped at their cafeteria table.
Plates of roasted meat, bread, and berry juice cluttered their spot.
Lucian stretched out.
"So. In short:
We're in a world being constantly invaded.
We have to become strong or die.
We have to fight monsters bigger than houses.
And... we also have to pass school exams?"
Finn groaned dramatically.
"Gods above, why can't life just be about sleeping and eating?"
Mira rolled her eyes. "Maybe if you reincarnate as a pig."
Lucian grinned.
Dorian silently ate three plates of meat without blinking.
---
[Mini-Quest Triggered!]
Suddenly, a golden prompt flashed before Lucian's eyes.
> [Hidden Side Quest: Academic Monster!]
Objective: Score Top 5 in first semester exams.
Reward:
— Skill Upgrade Ticket ×1
— Bonus Domain Seeds ×2
— Title: "Scholar of Valor" (Grants bonus EXP from knowledge.)
Failure: Public embarrassment + demotion to 'Farmboy Class'.
Lucian stiffened.
"Public humiliation!?"
Seventeen innocently chimed:
> "[Host should start studying immediately.]"
Lucian's heart screamed.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO—"
His cry echoed through the campus.
Students turned.
One teacher, an elderly elf, frowned and muttered,
"Another fool who realized the horror of midterms."
---
End of Chapter 50
---