The Next Morning
At 9 AM, the alarm blared beside Amber. She jolted awake and looked at the clock.
"Damn! It's 9! 9!" she exclaimed in panic.
She rushed to the bathroom, grabbed her toothbrush, and started brushing in a hurry. As she glanced at the bed, she noticed John was missing. Confused, she ran downstairs—only to find Xander, Sam, and John sleeping together on the couch.
Frustrated, she shouted, "Get up, fools! We're late!"
John groaned awake, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. He lazily checked the time, and when he saw the clock, his drowsiness vanished.
"Shit," he muttered before shoving Xander and Sam awake.
The two blinked at him with irritated expressions until John pointed at the time. The moment they realized it was actually 9 AM, both of them bolted upright and sprinted toward their rooms.
John turned back to Amber, quickly pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"Morning, Amb! Sorry! Love you!" he said with a grin before dashing away.
Amber felt warmth rush to her face, a smile unconsciously forming on her lips.
"Idiot," she muttered, shaking her head. "Why is he always late?"
Still, she had no time to dwell on it. She hurried upstairs and flung open another bedroom door, finding Alex, Ben, Athena, and Gwen still fast asleep. Gwen, even in her sleep, clung tightly to Alex's hand.
Amber marched over and tried waking them up, but Alex and Ben groaned in protest, refusing to move.
She smirked and crossed her arms. "Alex! If you wake up in the next second, I'll cook roasted chicken. If not... you're getting vegetable salad!"
At those words, Alex and Ben instantly sat up in bed, glaring at Amber.
She only laughed and walked out, while Athena and Gwen followed her, preparing for the long day ahead.
At the White Palace
The grand hall of the White Palace was filled with murmurs as people gathered, waiting impatiently. Officials arrived one by one, their presence stirring whispers among the crowd.
Tension thickened. The appointed time had passed, yet nothing had begun. The restless audience shifted in their seats, their patience wearing thin.
Then—
BANG!
The doors burst open with a thunderous sound.
John and Ethan strode inside, flanked by their families and children. Silence washed over the hall as all eyes fixated on them. Glares of suspicion and resentment burned in their direction, but Amber stood tall, exuding unwavering confidence.
A smirk curled on her lips as she straightened her back, her mere presence commanding dominance over the grand hall.
Alex, Ben, Gwen, and Athena walked at her side, each step echoing against the polished marble floors. But as they moved forward, Amber noticed something—certain men in the crowd were eyeing Gwen with ill intent.
Before they could act, Alex's fierce glare sliced through them like a blade. Instantly, they shrank back, looking away.
At the front of the hall, massive white marble thrones rose from the ground, awaiting the honored guests.
Then—
BANG!
The doors slammed open again.
A man entered, wielding a katana. The air grew heavy, his very presence striking fear into the hearts of those present. His gaze swept across the hall, but when he spotted the children, his expression softened.
He winked at them.
Alex and Ben grinned and winked back at Sam.
Then, with a single movement, the man slammed his sheathed sword onto the floor.
The ground trembled.
A massive white crown erupted from the earth, glowing with ancient runes and golden sword engravings.
The crowd erupted into hushed whispers:
"The Lightning Flash of Trinity… The Slayer of Armies… The White Swordsman!"
Before the whispers could settle—
BOOM!
The doors exploded open once again.
This time, a man in pristine white pants and a matching coat strode inside. A long sword gleamed at his waist, its radiant glow nearly blinding. His eyes—burning with pride and overwhelming power—scanned the room like a predator surveying his territory.
He appeared to be in his mid-thirties, his face clean-shaven, his aura suffocating.
With each step he took, the pressure in the hall intensified.
Then—behind Sam—a massive throne began to rise from the ground, bathed in a golden, ethereal light.
No one could move. No one could even meet his gaze.
Even the bravest families in the hall lowered their heads, their bodies refusing to defy his presence.
The man ascended the throne and finally sat down.
The moment he did, the suffocating aura vanished.
Then he spoke. His voice was calm—but held absolute authority.
Xander's voice rang out, cold and resolute.
"Members of the Brave Family… you have crossed the line. I already gave you my warning. You stopped just in time—good. But make no mistake… I do not regret what I had to do."
A tense silence followed.
Then, his voice thundered once more.
"We are gathered here today to select the next heir of Trinity!"
He let the words sink in before continuing.
"The chosen heirs will one day take our place. They will face monsters unlike any seen before—creatures beyond even SS-rank warriors!"
His gaze swept over the room.
"They will fight to the death.
"They will stand on battlefields where survival is nearly impossible.
"Remember this!
I can assure you—they will one day beg for death.
Can you send your children to save the universe, knowing they may not survive even the training?"
A wave of fear rippled through the hall.
Mothers instinctively clutched their children. Whispered prayers and quiet sobs filled the air.
Xander ran a hand through his hair and declared,
"I name my son as my heir—Captain of Trinity for the next generation. He carries my bloodline!"
Sam stepped forward and added,
"I choose Benjamin Wheeler, son of Eathen Wheeler! He is fearless and stubborn in his determination. Please, stand up."
Alex and Ben rose to their feet.
Xander regarded them carefully before announcing,
"We have chosen our heirs. Now, we choose the Guardian Knight—Rachel Brave Clover. She has already chosen her heir!"
The tension in the White Palace grew unbearable.
Xander descended from his throne.
"I request all children to stand before me. Only one child will be selected to join the Brave Family."
One by one, the children stepped forward, forming a line before him.
Athena stood at the very end. The moment she took her place, murmurs of mocking laughter spread through the hall.
Xander ignored them. He nodded, then began his process.
He grasped each child's hand, attempting to awaken their stigma. Some trembled with excitement, while others looked on in dread.
As he moved down the line, some children showed no response. Those who failed to awaken the stigma left in tears.
Then—he reached Athena.
The moment he touched her hand, a radiant white light erupted from her body.
Gasps filled the hall as golden runes formed on her back, their glow blinding.
Athena screamed in agony as a golden sword materialized from the glowing white runes.
The process was brutal.
Then—suddenly—it was over.
She collapsed.
Xander caught her before she could hit the ground and turned to the stunned crowd.
"She has been chosen by Rachel Brave Light—the last Trinity's Guardian Knight!"
Shock. Disbelief. Irritation.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
Ignoring them, Xander continued.
"Now, I personally select the Maze's heir—Gwen Gordon Smith! If she possesses the talent and capability, she will be accepted. If not, she will be rejected."
Gwen hesitated as she stepped forward.
Her heart pounded. "Why...? Why is Uncle Xander choosing me… out of all of them?"
She stood before him, slowly raising her hands toward him.
Xander knelt, his voice calm and steady.
"Gwen… you possess incredible talent. Just believe in yourself."
She swallowed hard and nodded.
The moment she closed her eyes, her body began to glow.
A white circular rune formed on her back—its edges lined with golden symbols of a sword and wand.
Then—the pain struck.
Gwen let out a piercing scream. Tears streamed down her face as her body shook violently.
Xander gripped her hands firmly.
"Gwen, hold on! Please… bear with it! This will hurt more than anyone else!"
Her cries of pain echoed through the hall.
The light slowly faded from her body.
She began to collapse—
And in an instant—
John and Amber appeared in front of Xander.
Without hesitation, they caught their daughter before she could hit the ground.
John pulled Gwen into his arms, holding her tightly. His voice was soft, but full of pride.
"You did well, champ. It's okay now."
He carried her to a chair, brushing her damp hair gently.
Amber knelt beside them, her eyes filled with tears—a mix of worry and overwhelming pride.