Walking through the busy streets of Academy City, Lucian weaved through the crowds, his eyes scanning the storefronts. He was on a specific mission today: finding a proper weaponsmith shop to upgrade his gear before tomorrow. It didn’t take him long as he soon spotted it. Standing tall between two merchant stalls was a shop with a heavy iron sign hanging above the door that read Bjorn’s Forge. It was a sturdy structure built from grey stone and dark polished timber, dominated by a massive brick chimney that puffed thick grey smoke into the sky. CLANG… CLANG… CLANG… The rhythmic sound of a hammer striking metal echoes down the street. Above the thick oak door, the iron sign depicted a towering Viking figure wielding a hammer against an anvil. Lucian pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside. A wave of warm air hit him instantly, thick with the scents of burning coal, heated iron, and oil. The walls were lined with sturdy racks holding every type of weapon and armour imagi

After settling their belongings at the Base and registering their arrival, Team 15 stood just outside the safety of the shimmering blue energy barrier, looking out at the vast cavern network surrounding them. The large central chamber was well-lit by glowing blue and purple crystals embedded in the high walls, but it was also incredibly busy. Dozens of other student teams were moving everywhere, setting up temporary camps, or heading out on patrols. The sounds of voices, clanking armour, and magic blasts echoed loudly off the wet stone walls, bouncing endlessly around the massive space. Lucian looked around with a deep frown, his arms crossed over his chest. "This area is way too crowded. Every single group is hunting within a kilometre of the base. The monsters here are either scared off or already killed. At this rate, we could spend a whole week just walking around and barely get any cores or real combat experience." Harry nodded vigorously, sparks of blue light flickering be

The moment the Spider King landed, the cavern seemed to shrink. A heavy, oppressive aura rolled off its body like a dark fog pressing down on everyone’s chests. It was so strong that the glowing wall crystals dimmed, and the smaller spiders instantly scattered into cracks to hide. Eli’s legs shook as he held his shield high. “T-This… this is way different from the others. It feels like standing in front of a mountain.” “Don’t let the pressure get to you,” Lucian said, his voice steady. A golden aura flared around his body, pushing back against the oppressive weight. “It’s big, but it still has limits. Watch its moves first.” The Spider King raised its massive head, its hundreds of glowing orange eyes locking onto them all at once. With a terrifying, ear-piercing shriek, it reared up its abdomen and shot thick, glistening strands of webbing. But this was no ordinary silk. The webs were pale green as they flew through the air. “Look out!” Latisha shouted, her eyes flashing gold

In a lavish room befitting royalty, sitting in front of a huge mirror, was a silver-haired girl. The mirror reflected the face of a ten-year-old who had been dressed up with the help of servants. She was now adorned in royal attire, a silver tiara decorating her hair while a precious purple necklace sat on her neck. A tall, slender woman wearing a royal gown and a sun-blonde crown entered the room. Seeing her, the servants prostrated. "Your majesty," they murmured. She accepted with a nod. "Leave us." Once they were alone, the woman placed her hands on the girl's shoulders, smiling at her reflection. "Graece, my lovely daughter, you look so beautiful." "Thank you, mum." "Mum?" The queen gave a helpless smile. "You, this child, you never learn. We've practised this several… you're to call me 'your majesty'." "But mother, you said only when we're not in private," little Graece said with a cheeky smile. The queen gently pinched her cheeks. "I was just testing. Don't forget,

Meanwhile Lucian was locked in a fight with a student who wielded a saber. With his gauntlets coated with his aura he deflected his opponent's fast saber attacks. Both men were forced back instantly. Lucian's boots skidded across the gritty cavern floor, digging deep into the dirt to kill his momentum. Across from him, the saber wielder spun his weapon in a tight, defensive circle. The air around the blade hummed, distorted by a sharp, pale green saber aura. "You're pretty good for a guy who's been playing bait for monsters all afternoon," the student said, his chest heaving slightly as he adjusted his grip on the hilt. "Name's Keith. Don't forget it when you crawl out of here empty-handed." Lucian didn't answer. He simply dropped into a low, heavy stance, his knees bent and his weight centered. His yellow aura flared around his fists, shifting and bubbling like liquid fire over his iron gauntlets. He didn't look like a traditional martial artist. His guard was high, his chin tuc