The awakening ceremony continued in the grand hall, but most of the nobles had already departed either because their business was concluded or because the spectacle had long lost its charm. Whispers faded into silence, and the radiant glow of the altar dimmed.
Walter Chul stepped forward from the shadows, his gaze fixed firmly on Derek.
"Follow me, Derek," he said calmly, "and bring the child along."
Derek gave a subtle nod and took Kaelen's hand. Together, they followed Walter through the ceremonial corridor, which led them to the inner estate. Their path eventually opened into a massive courtyard adorned with banners of golden thread and polished stone carvings, a testament to the Chul tribe's ancient power and wealth.
They stopped before a towering mansion, opulent beyond imagination. The golden crest of the Chul tribe shimmered above the archway. Servants moved about like shadows through silk, each radiating a faint yellow aura a clear sign of Golden-tier cultivation. Power pulsed from them, quiet yet undeniable.
Walter led them down a side hall and paused before a modest-looking door. It was too small to be a guest room, and notably, there were no guards stationed outside.
"I prefer quality over quantity," Walter said, gesturing to the door. "The mansion is protected well enough. Extra guards are just a waste of experience points and time."
This year has marked the 1120th year since the first awakening or to be more precise the time when the system first appeared and the people of Eldraus had long since adapted to this change.
Gold and silver had long since lost their value other than decorative purposes, and experience points are now the primary currency . Experience points come in two forms, one that is personal and the second that can be traded.
Inside, the room was elegant but understated. A warm light glowed from a crystal chandelier above, casting golden hues across the soft carpet and minimalist decor.
Walter smiled as he knelt beside Kaelen. "Kaelen, I have a gift for you. Do you like toys?"
Kaelen's eyes widened with curiosity. "Toys? Really?"
From within his robe, Walter produced a beautifully crafted puppet its eyes glinted with magic, and intricate runes ran down its limbs. The puppet moved subtly, almost as if it were alive.
"This one can understand human commands," Walter explained gently, handing it over. "It'll be your friend from now on."
Kaelen's face lit up. "Whoa! This is so awesome! Can I really have it?"
Walter chuckled, his eyes warm. "Yes, my child. It's all yours."
As Kaelen played joyfully with his new companion, Walter subtly cast a Silent Sphere, a skill designed to block all sounds from entering or exiting the sphere.
"Today's awakening ceremony..." Walter began, his tone shifting to something graver, "was nothing short of extraordinary. The sixth and seventh Black Systems have awakened in the same generation."
Derek tensed. "Two in one era... that's unheard of."
"It's both a blessing and an omen," Walter said solemnly. "Especially with Kaelen's class, ' Divine Cleric' . The implications are massive."
Derek's eyes narrowed. "Is Kaelen in danger?"
Walter's expression turned grim. "Not yet. But it's not the boy who is in danger... it's humanity itself."
The words hit Derek like a thunderclap.
"What do you mean?" he asked. "The monster races have never produced a legendary-tier emperor."
"Correct. Not yet," Walter replied. "So there's no immediate crisis, but it's coming."
He hesitated, as if weighing the weight of what he was about to say.
"Ednar Yernils and a detachment of his elite soldiers accidentally uncovered a hidden dungeon far in the northern reaches. At first it appeared ordinary , monsters, traps, ancient architecture. But when they reached the final chamber... they encountered something unnatural."
Walter's voice dropped lower.
"The boss of the dungeon appeared human or rather, a monster cloaked in human flesh. One of Ednar's Golden-rank guards launched a surprise attack... but it was as if the creature had been expecting it. With a twisted smirk, it tore the soldier apart in a single breathless move. Ednar fought valiantly toe to toe with the monster, but during the battle, a second one appeared, another of the same kind. Together, they overwhelmed him."
Derek's face paled. "You mean... Ednar Yernils? The Grand Duke of Hather? He's an Epic-tier powerhouse, one of the highest ranked humans alive. Are you saying... he didn't survive?"
Walter nodded grimly. "He didn't. With his final breath, he used a message scroll to warn us. No one else made it out alive."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
"Five other Epic-rank warriors were mobilized shortly after. The dungeon was eventually conquered... but the final report estimated the dungeon had existed for only ten years."
Walter looked directly into Derek's eyes.
"I shudder to imagine what would have happened had it matured for twenty... or even a hundred years."
Derek clenched his fists. "Why are you telling me all this?"
Walter leaned back in his chair, folding his hands. "Because Kaelen is a child tied to a Black System. You are his guardian. You have a right to know the truth and prepare for it. The future of the continent may rest on the shoulders of these children."
Derek was silent, lost in thought.
Walter continued, "The kingdoms and empires convened after the incident. A unified decision has been made to establish a Special Academy, one where the most promising talents will be trained and protected. Resources from across the continent will be poured into it."
He looked at Derek sincerely. "I suggest you don't refuse when the time comes. Kaelen must enroll. He must be nurtured properly."
Derek stood slowly. "I'll consider your offer. But if that's all... we'll be taking our leave."
Walter gave a slow nod. "Very well."
Kaelen, still fully absorbed in his puppet's antics, barely noticed the adults' exchange.
"Kaelen, it's time," Derek said gently.
Kaelen looked up. "Oh... okay!"
As they stepped out into the corridor, Kaelen turned back and waved.
"Goodbye, Grandpa! And thank you so much for the gift!"
Walter smiled, though the weight behind his eyes remained. "Take care, little one. The world needs you more than it knows."