Free Web NovelChapter 10: And So, Training Begins
SWOOSH!
All Lucien felt was something tearing through the air in the darkness.
He didn’t know what was coming, but the danger emanating from it was palpable, a cold, sharp intent that made his instincts scream.
With his improved stats, the Scholar’s Insight trait immediately activated. His body moved before his mind could catch up, dodging whatever was coming. He summersaulted away from where he had been standing, landing in a low crouch.
It was instinctual. Pure survival.
The glow of the weapon shone faintly in the darkness, a sliver of pale light cutting through the void. Lucien realized it was a blade, long and curved, aimed precisely where his chest had been moments ago.
With no further thought, Lucien immediately summoned the Abyss Carver.
The blade materialized in his hand, a weapon forged from frozen darkness and broken void. In the pitch-black room, its edge drank the surrounding light, devouring what little illumination remained. It didn’t reflect; it consumed. The hilt was wrapped in shadow-touched leather, cool to the touch. Faint crimson veins pulsed along the flat of the blade, like a heartbeat caught in steel, the only source of color in the void.
It felt alive. And in this darkness, it was home.
Ding!
[Physical damage increased by 250%. Damage reduced by 40%.]
The system’s words resounded in his mind, but he paid them no heed. Even the appearance of the Abyss Carver, he didn’t bother to look at it.
But surprisingly, as Lucien’s gaze focused on the darkness before him, he realized he could see within it.
He was surprised by this and looked at the Abyss Carver. He knew this might be one of its attributes.
He finally saw the person who had attacked him, but all he could see was a shadow. A silhouette with no distinct features, as if the darkness itself had taken form.
"Who are you? And why are you attacking me?" Lucien questioned, his voice steady despite the situation.
He could feel that even though the blade posed danger, it held no ill intent against him, nothing that would take his life.
This left him confused, but he remained vigilant.
The shadow seemed surprised. "You can see me."
A pause. Then a laugh, low and amused.
"That’s intriguing."
Before Lucien could comprehend what was happening, darkness was swallowed by light, and everything was restored.
---
As the darkness receded, Lucien’s surroundings slowly came into focus. He stood in the center of a vast, circular chamber, a place that hummed with ancient purpose. The ceiling arched high above, supported by stone pillars carved with coiling dragons and soaring phoenixes. Faint torchlight flickered along the walls, casting dancing shadows across the polished stone floor.
The ground beneath his feet was etched with intricate battle circles, arrays so old they felt like scars on the earth. They pulsed faintly, as if they remembered every battle fought upon them.
Weapon racks lined the far walls, holding blades, spears, and staves of every size. Some were worn from use. Others gleamed as if freshly forged. Training dummies stood in neat rows near the edges, reinforced steel and enchanted wood, their surfaces scarred from countless strikes.
At the center of the room, a raised platform rose like a stage, a dueling ring where warriors tested their limits. Faint traces of Originat still lingered in the air, residual energy from battles long past.
Lucien was surprised. This was a training ground, but his attention was focused on someone else.
A burly middle-aged man stood before him, with red hair and sharp red eyes, dressed in noble clothes that did little to hide the coiled strength beneath.
"Who are you?" Lucien questioned. The moment he set his sights on the man, he had scanned him with the Eye of Obsession, but what filled his vision was nothing but question marks.
He could feel the slumbering power in this person’s body, and it made his gaze turn serious. Such a being couldn’t be comprehended by the current him.
"His name is Ignis, one of your trainers." Seraphina’s familiar voice answered his question.
Lucien froze and turned to his back to see Seraphina’s figure, followed by two people.
A white-haired, white-eyed old man walked beside her, his presence calm and ancient like still water. On her other side stood a brown-haired, brown-eyed young man, his posture sharp and watchful.
"Greetings, Young Miss." Ignis knelt and greeted, his voice carrying the weight of absolute devotion.
This made Lucien’s gaze squint. In that single action, he could feel the unwavering loyalty and respect embedded in every movement.
"You may rise," Seraphina commanded, her tone soft yet absolute.
Ignis rose and walked behind her like a servant.
Lucien began to try to deduce Seraphina’s identity.
But after much thought, he frowned. He hadn’t heard of any clan bearing the name Drax, and the system couldn’t lie.
After a while, he gave up and focused on her instead.
"What do you mean? What’s all this rubbish? Coming here and getting attacked." Lucien frowned, his gaze filled with simmering anger.
The gazes of the men that followed Seraphina turned chilly. What absolute disrespect!
Seraphina chuckled, her smile dazzling. "Are you angry? If you see the surprise, maybe you will no longer be angry."
"And if you are still angry, we can settle it in bed." Her seductive voice resounded in his mind.
Lucien’s face flushed instantly. His composure cracked for just a moment, his ears burning red.
He didn’t bother replying, composing himself back.
"So, what’s the surprise?" Lucien questioned.
His gaze wandered around where he was and the three men that stood behind her.
"First, the Aethelgard Academy is opening in one month." Seraphina dropped the first bomb.
Lucien raised an eyebrow in surprise. Aethel Academy, the number one academy in Aethelgard.
Their fame stretched from ancient times, renowned for their prowess, their gathering of geniuses, their strongest experts, their cultivation grounds.
It was a haven for the talented.
The academy opened its doors once a year for geniuses under the age of twenty from all races.
But the competition and requirements were so high that only one out of millions could be accepted.
"From what I heard, it seems your elder brother is also in the academy." Seraphina smiled.
Lucien snorted.
"I guess you wouldn’t want to miss it, so I have taken care of it all."
"And for the second one, the three men are going to be your trainers for the next one month."
She turned to the first man. "Ignis Drax, he will be your trainer in weapons."
Lucien studied him. Ignis was a burly, red-haired man with a weathered face and arms thick as tree trunks. His eyes held the calm of a seasoned warrior, and his hands bore calluses that spoke of decades spent gripping blades.
He met Lucien’s gaze without flinching.
"Kelvin Drax, he will be your trainer in physique and body conditioning."
Kelvin was younger, his brown hair cropped short, his lean frame coiled with quiet strength. His eyes were sharp, the kind that missed nothing. He nodded once at Lucien, a silent acknowledgment.
"And Darwin Drax, he will be your trainer in skills and Originat control."
The white-haired old man stepped forward slightly, his gaze gentle but piercing. Despite his age, his posture was straight, and his fingers moved with the precision of someone who had spent a lifetime refining his craft.
Lucien looked at all three men. He could feel the unfathomable depth of their power; it pressed against his senses like a mountain lurking beneath still waters.
"Oh also, you don’t need to worry. They are powerful Originators. As for their cultivations... you don’t need to know." Seraphina said mischievously, a playful glint dancing in her eyes.
Lucien was surprised, turning to look at Seraphina. He had thought she would lock him away for years, just like in their past life.
"My husband can’t be weak. And also... I want to be protected by my husband." Her giggles resounded in his mind, light and teasing, yet carrying an undeniable weight of sincerity beneath the playfulness.
"Let the training begin. But first..."
