The grand plaza of the Vincent estate buzzed with excitement. Young heirs and relatives gathered before the towering Awakening Altar, its ancient runes glowing faintly beneath the midday sun.Today was the Beast-Taming Awakening Ceremony.For the Vincent family, it was a sacred tradition. Every descendant would step onto the altar and attempt to awaken their contracted beast.At the front stood a tall instructor in ceremonial robes. Beside him were the elders of the Vincent family, including the silver-haired grandmother whose eyes carried a sharp, calculating gleam.The instructor raised his voice.“Today, the descendants of the Vincent family will attempt to awaken their beast companions. Remember—your talent and bloodline determine what kind of creature answers your call.”Before the ceremony could begin, the grandmother suddenly lifted her cane and struck the marble floor.“Before we start,” she said coldly, “there is something that must be announced.”The crowd quieted instantly.

The moment the contract between Alaric and the small girl completed, the glowing circle Beneath their feet faded slowly into the marble floor of the plaza.At the same time, the strange voice inside Alaric’s mind continued.[System Interface Activated.]A translucent panel suddenly appeared in front of his vision.Alaric’s pupils shrank in shock.No one else seemed to notice it.Lines of information slowly formed on the panel.Name: Iris Rank: Immortal Grade Status: Severely Suppressed Bloodline: Lord of Light / God of Night (Forbidden Hybrid) Potential: Beyond Immortal Current Power: Sealed due to conflicting forces Restoration Method: Balance Light and DarknessAlaric nearly stopped breathing.Immortal grade.In the entire history of beast taming, such a level had never been recorded.Legendary beasts were already considered divine miracles.But Immortal?That was something beyond the known hierarchy.Alaric glanced down at the timid girl standing beside him.Her small hands

Deep inside the Secret Realm, the forest echoed with the sounds of battle.Explosions, roars, and the crashing of trees filled the air.At the center of one clearing, a massive magical beast collapsed with a heavy thud.Elena stood calmly in front of its body, the enormous Upper Realm Warhammer resting on her shoulder.The creature had been a Level 5 Stone Boar, a monster that normally required an entire team to defeat.But now it lay motionless, its skull crushed into the ground.Alaric glanced at the system panel floating before his eyes.Target Defeated. Points Earned: 500Another line followed.Elena – Level Up. Current Level: 6Alaric exhaled slowly.“Level six already.”Elena looked down at the monster without emotion.“Do you want me to destroy the body, Master?”Alaric shook his head.“No need. Let’s move.”They had been inside the Secret Realm for less than an hour, yet their progress was already unbelievable.Every monster they encountered was eliminated within seconds.Mo

The forest grew darker as time passed.The faint light filtering through the trees had turned dim and gray, as if the entire Secret Realm itself was slowly suffocating under an unseen force.Kira’s group moved cautiously through the undergrowth.Every sound made them tense.Every shadow looked like an enemy.Behind them, the memory of the fog creature still lingered like a nightmare.One of the boys in Kira’s team—tall, sharp-faced, with a constant scowl—glanced at Alaric with obvious dissatisfaction.His name was Marcus.And his eyes were filled with something more than fear.Jealousy.He watched the way Kira occasionally looked toward Alaric.That small shift in her attitude…It irritated him.Finally, Marcus scoffed.“So let me get this straight,” he said mockingly. “We’re supposed to trust this guy now?”His gaze swept over Alaric with open disdain.“The same loser who got kicked out of his own family?”One of the girls hesitated.“Well… he did save us…”Marcus snapped back immedi

Deep within the Forbidden Zone, the forest had long since lost its original form.The ground was cracked and blackened.The trees were twisted into grotesque shapes.And the fog—It was everywhere.Thick. Endless. Suffocating.By now, the concept of points had become meaningless.Alaric glanced briefly at the system panel.The number continued rising at an absurd rate.But he closed it immediately.It didn’t matter anymore.If they couldn’t leave this place alive…Even first place meant nothing.“The scoring system might already be corrupted,” Tristan muttered, breathing heavily. “What’s the point anymore…?”Kira didn’t respond.Her focus remained ahead.“Elena,” Alaric said quietly.She stood at the front, her warhammer dragging slightly against the ground.“I can feel it clearly now,” she said.Her cold eyes fixed on the distance.“The source is just ahead.”The air suddenly grew heavier.Then—The fog surged.From all directions, countless fog creatures emerged.Dozens.Hundreds.T