At Kael's House — Sunrise
Kael sat at the edge of his bed, shirtless, dark circles carved under his red eyes. The sweat from the dream still clung to his skin like a second layer.
He hadn't slept. Not even for two hours.
The image of the massive celestial snake the tattoo-turned-creature that swallowed him whole looped through his mind like a haunting melody.
"What the hell does it want from me...?" he muttered, fingers brushing against the snake tattoo now wrapped around his arm like a brand.
He turned toward his status window.
"Alright. Let's try something..."
With the few points he had left from missions and system rewards, he began to upgrade his [Identification Skill], pushing it higher… and higher… until—
DING!
A new subsection appeared:
[Story Unlocked – Weapon: Vanta Edge]
Kael's eyes widened as the new info loaded into view:
---
Weapon: Vanta Edge
Rank: SSS+
Type: Bound — Growth-Type Weapon — Soul Linked
Ability: Evolves with its master. Reacts to emotion, battle intent, and shadows. May gain sentience.
Story:
A fragment of Hades' Death Scythe, shattered during the war of the Celestials. Bound to Kael in an incomplete state. Due to the host's weak control, it behaves as a mana-leech, feeding on Kael's life force during use. The weapon will continue to do so until Kael gains full synchronization and mastery over death-type energy.
---
"Wha… the… fuck…" Kael whispered, running a shaky hand through his silver-white hair.
He stood up slowly, limbs heavy from exhaustion.
"So Vanta's been feeding on me this whole time? No wonder I feel like shit after every major fight…"
He paced in his room.
"A piece of Hades' death scythe…? That explains the dream. But why did the damn thing swallow me?"
He looked down at his hand, where the tattoo subtly glowed in pale purple, almost pulsing like a heartbeat.
"Does it want to kill me? Or… claim me?"
"Is this how it tests its next wielder?"
Kael looked out the window. The sun was already rising.
"Guess I'm not sleeping tonight."
---
At the Eldraven Estate — Sword Training Hall
The air inside the training hall was sharp with the scent of steel and mana residue.
Jin Eldraven stood in the middle of the marble floor, shirtless, his sculpted torso gleaming with sweat. He danced between the blows of an automated combat dummy each slash countered, each thrust answered with lethal precision.
He wasn't just training.
He was perfecting.
A low chuckle echoed from behind.
"Already awake, boy?"
Eldraven 2nd Sword Instructor Vaen Solhart, an S-Ranked powerhouse, walked in shoulders broad, grey-streaked black hair tied back, and a long blade strapped to his back.
Jin didn't turn around.
"I never slept."
He parried the last slash and drove his blade straight through the dummy's core. The machine sparked, sputtered, and collapsed to the ground.
"Have you heard?" Vaen asked casually, crossing his arms.
"Your father. He's arriving today."
Jin finally turned to face him, chest rising and falling.
"Yeah. I heard."
Vaen smirked.
"Maybe this time he'll look you in the eye."
Jin didn't answer at first. Then:
"I don't need his approval."
Before Vaen could respond, a maid burst into the hall, panting.
"Master Jin! Master Solhart! The Head… the Head has arrived!"
A brief silence fell.
Vaen glanced at Jin and said with a grin,
"Time to suit up, Young Lord. Today's going to be a long one."
Jin turned without a word, walking toward the showers, his grip tightening on the hilt of his blade.