Elsewhere, deep within the Graeogor family compound, all the clan elders stood outside, their eyes fixed on a hovering figure above them.
Their gazes brimd with reverence. Leading the lineup, Patriarch Artorias glanced dreamily at the being above, soone who had achieved a rank he had long since made peace with never attaining.
Before they could blink, the figure descended, striking the ground with enough force to send microfractures rippling outward, coupled with a shockwave that shook the courtyard.
When the dust settled, the figure was revealed: a woman with silky raven hair and a pair of erald eyes. Her lustrous skin glistened faintly under the golden light spilling across Maelstrom City.
But the elders had no ti to marvel at her beauty. Their waists bent sharply as they bowed to the woman, who looked no older than her late twenties.
"The elders of the Graeogor family welco you, O Seraphina of the Grand Ancestral Academy," they voiced in practiced unison.
"You did as instructed?" she asked, raising her arm to motion for them to rise.
Grasping her gesture, the elders straightened, stealing glances at her figure. Draped in a white robe that clung like a second skin, her curves were evident, though they dared not stare for long.
"Yes. All the awakened have been placed in the Goblin Demon Dungeon," Artorias replied, before cautiously adding, "Might I ask why?"
"A storm brews on the horizon. To quench it, we seek strength. You wouldn’t understand. Just know that if one of them pleases , they will have a good chance of joining our academy."
Gasps rippled through the elders. To join one of the four supre ancestral academies of the Dark Star Kingdom? That was a dream few dared to hope for. The chance for a breakthrough! But as excitent stirred, so too did unease as they caught the implications of her words.
"Wait... catch your eye? But they’re already inside the dungeon, it would be impossible to monitor them there!" an elder murmured from the back.
Erald eyes flashing with irritation, Seraphina scoffed. "Impossible is a word for the weak. The wristbands, you handed them over as well, yes?"
Catching her tone, Patriarch Artorias shot a fierce glare at the elder before offering a placating smile. As a C-rank powerhouse, he understood enough about beings above his level to know better than to provoke them.
"Yes, we handed them over as well," Artorias said quickly.
"Good. Follow . I’ll require your knowledge for the next part." Her voice echoed softly as she strode toward a lush patch of greenery in the distance.
With a wave of her hand, a magnificent chair materialized before her, accompanied by several lesser seats for the elders. They quickly followed and sat in silence, curiosity mounting.
They did not have to wait long. With a snap of Seraphina’s fingers, intricate runes tore into reality, glowing golden as they painted the air before them.
"With the dungeon as the link, and the wristbands as the anchor," she murmured, "this will display the events within the dungeon."
At her words, the runes flared brighter, rearranging themselves until multiple screen-like projections shimred into being, illuminating scenes from within the dungeon.
"Impossi..." An elder began, but quickly closed his mouth after a harsh glare from the patriarch.
As the screens unfolded, unease crept through the elders. Why would an elder of the Grand Ancestral Academy co personally to monitor re newly awakened youths? Sothing about this didn’t fit. But this was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity, one they couldn’t afford to squander.
They had to ensure Aurora caught Seraphina’s eye. With an S-rank talent, it was only a matter of ti.
Their gazes scanned the projections until one caught their attention: a young maiden slaying beasts, her aura frosted and cold.
Closing her eyes, Seraphina’s expression turned thoughtful. The results of this expedition were imperative, at least, that was what the Dean had said. And he was never one to lie.
Sothing lurked in the shadows of Maelstrom City, otherwise, the prophecy would never have directed them here.
Her concentration split as she monitored multiple screens at once. Disappointnt soon flickered across her face. Most of the youths reeked of diocrity. Was she missing sothing?
Shaking her head, she enlarged a particular screen displaying a white-robed maiden, then turned to the elders. "Who is she? Tell everything."
A mont passed before Elder Varn cracked a proud smile. This was what he had been waiting for. "That’s my niece, Aurora. She awakened the S-rank talent: Ice Frost. Very talented and beautiful."
On the screen, Aurora radiated cold power, freezing everything within ten ters.
"Hmmmm. The prophecy speaks of a boy, not a girl. But she is talented nonetheless," Seraphina muttered.
The elders’ faces soured, though they dared not voice their doubts. A prophecy? Bullshit. Still, they remained silent.
Another screen expanded at her snap, showing a youth wreathed in reddish energy, his steps leaving scorched marks as his eyes glowed with orange light.
"And him?" she asked.
Patriarch Artorias answered, "That would be Alaric. An A-rank talent, Hellfire Wraith."
"Could be him," she whispered, though sothing felt... off. The Dean had spoken of sothing else. Sothing this youth lacked.
Shaking her head, she delved deeper. A new screen revealed a group of twenty boys surrounding five girls.
"Lecherous bastards," Seraphina scoffed, her erald eyes flashing dangerously. "Who are they?"
Silence stretched until an elder spoke reluctantly. "That’s my grandson, Kraven. A C-rank..."
"Pathetic trash," she muttered, dismissing him. The weak would always remain at the rcy of the strong. Even if she saved them, they would simply fall again.
But just as the screen faded, another figure erged: a youth with midnight-black hair and obsidian eyes, standing defiantly before the twenty.
Intrigued, Seraphina recalled the fading screen. "Who is he?"
Artorias squinted, then sneered. "That is Aurelian. An F-rank trash."
"Interesting," Seraphina smiled. "Very interesting. For an F-rank to stand against so many... he must be either brave or foolish."
The elders snickered as the youths on-screen mocked him.
"What’s so funny?" Seraphina mumbled. A snap of her fingers conjured a colorful gem, which she tossed into the runes. It shimred, amplifying the sound until the voices grew clear.
As they listened, the elders sneered. "Empty threats," one grunted.
"Confident, isn’t he?" Seraphina murmured. But her eyes sharpened as, with a snap of Aurelian’s fingers, a blue ethereal blade materialized behind him.
"A skill? A blade skill?"
"But that’s not possible inside this dungeon!" the elders whispered in disbelief.
"That’s no skill," Seraphina said coldly. "That’s a talent."
More blades appeared, hovering nacingly behind Aurelian. Their doubts shattered as the spectral weapons tore through the twenty youths’ legs, crippling them in an instant.
"Impressive. It must be a high-rank talent..." Seraphina breathed, studying every detail.
The elders, however, were struck dumb.
"Impossible! He awakened only the trash F-rank passive, Regeneration!"
"It can’t be... unless..."
"He’s a dual awakened! Two talents at once!"
At those words, Seraphina’s eyes sharpened.
"It’s him. The one the prophecy spoke of. I must have him.Two forged into one."
Her thoughts were cut short by a grief-stricken elder’s cry.
"No! My grandson! He killed him! Courting death, are you? I’ll..."
His words ended abruptly as Seraphina’s eyes turned to him, cold and rciless. "You dare harbor evil intent against one the Grand Ancestral Academy claims interest in?"
"But he broke the Graeogor family law...."
Snap! His head burst like an overripe fruit.
"For bearing ill intent toward the chosen one, and for daring to compare your family to the Grand Ancestral Academy....I sentence you to death."
The others stared in horror, reminded once again of the sheer power of an A-rank powerhouse. A snap of her fingers, and an elder was gone. Obliterated.
Terrifying didn’t even begin to cover it. Rising, Seraphina tossed a token toward Artorias. "When the boy leaves the dungeon, use this to tell where he goes. Do not ntion this eting to him. Do you understand?"
The elders nodded hastily.
Her figure streaked into the skies, her final words chilling them to the bone. "If I discover you harbor ill intent toward him, I will return. You will not enjoy the consequences."
As silence settled, a single thought echoed among the elders.
Had they just thrown away their chance at forging an alliance with a future powerhouse?
Regardless of prophecy, the talent they had just witnessed spoke for itself. That boy’s future would be terrifying.
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