2025-01-15 03:36:02
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The Successor System Royal Ball
When the light faded, Art found himself standing in a massive hall that seemed to radiate both majesty and intimidation. The ceilings soared high above, adorned with intricate carvings and chandeliers made from crystal that shimmered in soft, golden hues. The walls were lined with polished marble and tapestries depicting historical battles, legendary figures, and mythical beasts.The faint hum of magic lingered in the air, evidence of the enchantments that likely protected the room. Or something else.Art barely had time to take in his surroundings when the man stepped forward, his tone sharp and no-nonsense. “Follow me. Do not wander off, and do not stare too much.”The group moved in silence, their footsteps echoing through the hall. Guards clad in ornate armor stood at attention along the walls, their expressions unreadable. They gave Art a passing glance, but their presence alone was enough to remind him of the weight of where he was.They approached a towering set of double doors
The Successor System Crowned Prince Confrontation
Art inclined his head respectfully, choosing his words carefully. “It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”Eron’s gaze lingered on him, sharp and assessing like a predator sizing up its prey. There was no warmth in those eyes, only an unsettling mixture of authority and scrutiny.He was definitely strong, the pressure around him said it all. But Art had been with stronger people so he wasn't intimidated.Elora stepped in with a calm smile, her voice smooth and practiced. “This is Eron, my elder brother, and the Crown Prince.”Art’s thoughts screeched to a halt. The Crown Prince?‘Great, just great,’ he thought bitterly. ‘How could I not recognize someone this important? Calling him “sir” wasn’t just disrespectful—it was outright dangerous.’He immediately adjusted his stance, lowering into a proper bow. “Apologies, Your Highness. Please forgive my lapse in etiquette.”Eron’s lips curled into a thin smile, though it lacked any genuine warmth. “It’s fine,” he said, though his tone was anything
The Successor System Royal Siblings
Princess Celestia descended the grand staircase with an elegance that demanded silence. Her gown, a cascade of shimmering white adorned with golden embroidery, seemed to capture the glow of every chandelier in the hall. Her golden hair, styled into intricate waves, framed her sharp yet radiant features, and the delicate crown atop her head glinted like a star.As she reached the base of the stairs, her father, the King, stepped forward and extended a hand. She took it gracefully, and together, they stood before the gathered crowd. The room fell utterly silent, save for the rustling of fabric and the faint clinking of glasses.The King’s voice, deep and commanding, filled the hall once more. “My beloved daughter, Princess Celestia, wishes to share a few words with all of you.” He turned to her with a proud smile and stepped aside.Celestia’s gaze swept across the crowd, her poise unwavering. When she spoke, her voice was steady, refined, and filled with warmth that carried to every cor
The Successor System Uninvited Encounter
A servant approached the duo, bowing deeply. “Princess Elora, your presence is requested by Her Majesty the Queen.”Elora straightened, her expression shifting to one of polite composure. “Of course.” She turned to Art. “Stay out of trouble while I’m gone, alright?”Art nodded. That was his plan from the beginning.She gave him a pointed look before walking off, her elegant gown trailing behind her.Now left alone, Art scanned the room. He couldn’t sense any particularly strong auras, but he doubted there were none present. It was more likely that they were concealing their presence to avoid making others uncomfortable. This was a celebration, after all. A servant approached him with a tray of wine, offering a glass. Art accepted it with a polite nod but set it down on a nearby table moments later. The last thing he needed was a slip-up. He had learned from past experiences.The music shifted to a slower, more intimate tune. Couples began pairing off, and the center of the room trans
The Successor System The Glowing Garden
Having walked for several minutes, Art had covered a good part of the Royal Palace. He even escorted Elora to the sector where her room was located since she wanted to change her clothes. He had to wait outside, though. He hadn’t expected to be dragged around the palace, but he couldn’t complain. This could prove useful later in the future. He briefly considered setting up a teleportation circle somewhere discreet, but it seemed far too risky. The palace had ten times the security of the already heavily guarded Royal Academy. With his current skill level, the likelihood of getting caught was extremely high. Elora emerged in a simpler blue-and-white, knee-length gown that fit her so well it seemed as though it had been made specifically for this occasion. It further accentuated her already abundant beauty. Having spent some time with her, Art realized that she had a playful side that contrasted starkly with the strict demeanor she exhibited at school. That strictness, he assumed, was
The Successor System Under Attack
The ballroom hummed with the elegance of the evening. Laughter, music, and the soft clinking of glasses filled the air as nobles danced beneath the glittering chandeliers. It was a night meant for celebration, where whispers of politics and alliances were drowned by the orchestra’s melody.Then, without warning, the grand doors burst open, crashing against the walls. A violent gust of wind surged into the room, extinguishing the chandeliers in a single breath and plunging the space into a dim, eerie glow. Gasps and startled cries filled the silence that followed, the orchestra’s music silenced mid-note.The intruder stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. He was clad in a ragged black cloak, his face hidden beneath the shadow of his hood. The only sign of life came from the faint glimmer of emerald eyes, flickering like cold fire.A sudden wave of wind erupted from his body, sending tables and chairs tumbling. Nobles stumbled and screamed, some shielding themselves as glas
The Successor System Under Attack 2
The courtyard was vast, its cobblestone floor glistening under the pale moonlight. A dozen guards stood in a loose formation, their weapons glowing faintly with elemental magic. In the center stood a lone cloaked figure, shrouded in black, his head slightly lowered. The air around him was heavy with tension, the faint sound of running water echoing unnaturally in the otherwise silent courtyard. “Surround him!” barked the captain of the guard, his tone sharp. His gauntlet burned with fire magic as he gestured toward the figure. “He’s not leaving here alive.” The guards spread out, their footsteps careful but firm. Fire crackled, earth rumbled, and the soft hum of wind magic buzzed through the air. Yet, the cloaked figure did not move. A gloved hand slowly rose, and the air shifted as tiny droplets began to form around him, glimmering faintly in the moonlight. “Attack!” the captain roared. Two guards launched the first strike, one sending a stream of flames hurtling toward the
The Successor System Under Attack 3
The battle raged on around the palace, yet those in the ballroom remained in grave danger. Most of the guests had already fled. The intruder seemed unbothered by their retreat. His focus remained fixed on the Crown Prince and his guards.The room had fallen into complete silence; no one was making the first move. "Just who is this? Why do they have to come now of all times?" Eron gritted his teeth in frustration. This was one of the rare occasions when the palace’s defenses were comparatively weak.A series of unforeseen crises across the kingdom had drawn the Swords—those who acted as the Royal Family's pillars and handled threats of this level—far away. The nearest Sword would still need several minutes to arrive.Even beyond the Swords, many of the palace’s finest fighters were absent, spread thin by the kingdom’s growing issues.‘If only those great families would step in, we wouldn’t have to dispatch so many of our own forces. But this seems too deliberate. The timing is too per
Latest Chapter
Mind Fortitude Test
"You just need to pass through and walk to the end of the passage. Feel free to go through at your own pace," the man gestured smoothly with his final statement.For the first few seconds, nobody moved. They all simply kept staring at the doorway. All with similar thoughts. Everyone was cautious and wary*Step**Step**Step*Breaking the silence, the young man with long sky-blue hair began walking forward. His calm, dignified air was almost tangible, a quiet confidence clinging to him as he advanced toward the doorway.Whether it was due to superiority in age, experience, or sheer faith in his abilities, no one could quite tell what gave him such poise."Bunch of cowards," came a scoffing voice as another contestant, a girl with short, straight red hair from the Vampir family, strode out as well, her sharp eyes sweeping across the frozen crowd.The blue-haired young man was the first to pass through. All eyes sharpened, watching to notice the slightest hint or change.As he passed, it
Strang Masked Figure
Everyone’s attention was fixed on the person who had just entered.A black and silver mask covered his face, revealing only his bright yellow eyes. The figure walked forward slowly, his presence impossible to ignore.Not only his face but most of his body was concealed beneath a thick, flowing cloak.Most people had already assumed he was male—and they were right.A strange and mysterious aura radiated from him.It wasn’t the most formidable presence so far, but it was certainly one of the most notable.The light-blue-haired guy, along with other prominent individuals, glanced at him briefly before returning to what they were doing.He could feel the weight of the stares on him, which meant his plan to make a strong first impression had succeeded.Art smiled inwardly as his gaze swept across the room, eventually finding a suitable spot. He made his way there and sat down.He was buzzing with excitement, like a twelve-year-old about to open birthday presents.He hadn’t had any chance t
The Grand Magus Test
Hurried footsteps echoed through a corridor, each one a sharp reminder of how much still needed to be done.The footsteps belonged to a man who barely registered the sound. His mind was far too preoccupied, and his body showed clear signs of exhaustion. As he moved, clipboards levitated around him. With a pen in hand, he scribbled quickly on the one before him, handing it to the assistant trailing behind—who was already weighed down with stacks of papers and documents—before grabbing another. Over and over, he repeated the process.One clipboard reported incomplete formations. Another flagged a lack of security in the northwest. This man was the event overseer of the Grand Magus Test. Today was shaping up to be one of the busiest days of his life.The Grand Magus Test was held every two years, and he had already made the usual preparations.But yesterday, everything changed.Word arrived that, instead of sending representatives, the leaders of the top three guilds were attending in
S-rank Artifact
Garron walked into a smaller door within the room.Art assumed it must be where he kept his most valuable items, as strong waves of mana surged out the moment the door opened—only to weaken once Garron stepped inside. Some kind of safety mechanism, most likely.Garron returned about a minute later, a box in hand.Art's gaze locked onto it.This time, the box was pitch black. Strangely, he couldn’t sense anything from it—but he waited patiently.Garron placed it on a smaller table near the edge of the room."Here. Open it."This was his first high-end project since the death of Rena, the former Third Sword.During its creation, he’d realized just how rusty he’d become over the five years without practice.He’d needed to pause at a crucial point in the crafting process and hone his skills on lesser works before returning to the mask. The knowledge he’d begun to grasp from the book Art had given him made a noticeable difference.Much of the ancient information on craftsmanship and alchem
Formed Pact
"How did he find out?" Art mumbled while chewing on a fruit. Garron had seen right through him before leaving—clearly, a man who'd dealt with plenty of children and teenagers in his life.Night had fallen, and the synchronized chorus of insects performed a gentle orchestral hum across the forest.Art was currently lying on the thick branch of a large tree, his gaze fixed on the dark sky overhead.This tree would serve as his home for the night, as he had decided not to return to Yuh’s family house. At this point, there wasn’t much reason to go back.Maybe they were expecting him tonight, which, disappointing them on his part, wasn’t great—but sometimes, plans got ruined by circumstance.After everything he had learned, wandering around—especially at night—wouldn’t be the safest move for him anymore.He stared down at the fruit in his hand, his expression shifting into a frown. Not long ago, he was indulging in mouth-watering meals and warm beds. Now, he was stuck with fruit.Sure, he
A ticket to revenge
"I'm sorry for your loss. But I think you're making a mistake," Art said firmly. "You decided to throw your talent away because she was killed? Isn't that the same as letting her killer go free?"Garron's face dropped. "You never justified her death. Her killer must be out there, living quite the life.""You think I'm okay with that? There’s nothing I can do!" Garron burst out in a mix of sadness and frustration. "Trying to get revenge would only lead to more death.""And why is that?" Art pressed.Garron let out a sigh. "That armor I made for her, along with the artifacts, were the best I could produce. If her opponent destroyed even those... then anything else I make would be useless.""So, let me get this straight. You stopped crafting because you feel guilty for causing Jira's mother’s death, and you think your skills aren’t good enough to help bring her killer to justice?"Seeing no response, Art shook his head in disappointment. "So if there was a chance to help get rid of the
Wasting potential
Art navigated more carefully as he searched for the blacksmith.He couldn’t afford to reveal his identity. He paid close attention to his surroundings, making sure he wasn’t being followed.So far, nothing seemed out of place.But he knew his abilities in the outside world still weren’t sharp enough to trust completely.It took longer than if he had just asked openly, but he finally found the building the boy described. A massive, bleached dragon skull hung above the door, suspended by chains that glowed faintly with runic symbols. Its eye sockets flickered with soft blue light, as if watching everyone nearby.He glanced around cautiously."That must be it," he muttered, eyeing another building nearby before walking over.Art stopped in front of the building, now confident he’d found the right place.The building was tucked between two larger structures, yet it had a more special presence.Made from polished blackstone and silverwood, the shop had faintly glowing etchings across its s
Mistaken Identity
Art walked back to where he’d left Kira.She immediately ran toward him the moment he came into view.Art could tell that staying alone was still very uncomfortable triggering for her after everything she’d gone through. "Are you alright?" he asked.She simply nodded, and they both left the area together.Art's next destination was to find an artifact blacksmith.Unlike weapon blacksmiths, who worked on creating or recreating weapons and armor, artifact blacksmiths handled other magical items—like the masks he had. Some blacksmiths were skilled enough to excel in both areas.But there was no way he’d find a good blacksmith in this place. He needed to go deeper into the city, to the mage districts—and taking Kira with him wouldn’t be ideal."Umm... Kira. I have to go to the main city. Do you know which teleportation station leads there?"She described the directions for him. "I'm guessing I can't go with you?""Yeah. It won't be very safe for you," he replied. "Would you be okay going
Beneficial Exchange
Under Art's watch, the shop owner loosened the fabric covering the box, exposing its design. The moment it was revealed, an ominous wave of mana surged outward."You might need to protect yourself with mana. It's dangerous," the man warned, raising his gaze to Art.Art wasn’t a newbie in dealings like this. In his former life, he had been exposed to similar situations since childhood. He had learned how to read people—their intentions, their unspoken words.The shop owner was conducting one final test to see if Art was truly worthy of the mask.If Art followed his advice and shielded himself with mana, it would signal that he wasn’t strong enough to naturally endure its aura. That would shatter the illusion of overwhelming strength he had carefully crafted. Someone at A or S-rank wouldn’t even flinch at something of this level, no matter how impressive it was.That said, Art could tell the mask's aura was genuinely dangerous. But he wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip away."Yo
