Chapter 10 Chapter 10: The Vessel Awakens
The Vessel Awakens
The terrified scream through the academy, for one terrible second, nobody moved and breathed my eyes remained locked on the system notification floating before me.
[Candidate Identified.] [Lyra Valeheart.]
The words felt unreal. Lyra? The Crimson Monarch had chosen Lyra?
"No..." The whisper escaped my lips before I could stop it.
Another scream sounded across the campus. This time I recognized the voice.
It belonged to a female student. Panic immediately spread through the academy.
Students rushed out of dormitories. Professors appeared from every direction, the once peaceful night shattered into chaos.
Meanwhile, dark clouds continued gathering above the academy.
The moon completely disappeared and the entire campus became unnaturally dark.
Even the magical lamps flickered, then the system flashed again.
[Crimson Monarch Influence Increasing.] [Warning.[Warning.]
[Warning.] I immediately activated Cheetah Speed.
BOOM! My body shot forward.
The ground cracked under my feet while wind exploded around me as I raced across the academy.
Students barely saw me pass. I moved faster than ever before, my destination was simple.
Find Lyra, before something happened and before it was too late, I crossed the academy courtyard, Phoenix Eyes activated automatically.
Golden flames filled my vision, while mana flowed everywhere.
The entire academy was drowning in it, then I saw something else, dark mana, lots of it.
Hidden presence moved across rooftops, instantly I spotted the assassins.
All twelve of them, they were finally making their move.
The system immediately responded.
[Hostile Targets Confirmed.]B[Dark Mage Operatives Engaged.]
I gritted my teeth, bad timing. Extremely bad timing. The academy was already in chaos.
Now the assassins were attacking too. Then a shadow suddenly dropped from above, a blade flashed toward my throat.
CLANG! I barely dodged. The assassin landed silently.
With Black robes, silver mask and murderous intent, without hesitation he attacked again.
A second assassin appeared behind me, then a third.
They weren't hiding anymore, they wanted me dead.
Phoenix Eyes tracked every movement, i twisted sideways.
The first blade missed, while my fist slammed into the attacker's chest.
BOOM! The assassin crashed through a stone wall. The other two attacked immediately.
I activated Shadow Step. WHOOSH! My body vanished.
The assassins struck empty air. I appeared behind them.
Arcane Devour activated with my blue energy erupted. Instantly. One assassin screamed, mana poured from his body.
The second turned pale, fear appeared in his eyes.
It was too my fist connected. CRACK! He collapsed instantly.
The system exploded with notifications. [Target Defeated.]
[Target Defeated.] [Experience Gained.]
[System Points Awarded.] I didn't stop moving.
More dark mages appeared, four at first, then six, and again ten motr appeared.
The academy courtyard transformed into a battlefield, students screamed suddenly in fear and in shock.
Professors rushed toward the fighting, while explosions shook nearby buildings.
Magic filled the air, and through it all, I kept fighting, every enemy wanted my head.
Every enemy wanted the Arcane Heir System, the realization only strengthened my resolve.
I refused to die, never again, the battle intensified the more while dark spells filled the sky.
The assassins attacked relentlessly, yet something had changed.
I wasn't the weak Rowan anymore, and I wasn't the cripple they remembered.
Every near-death experience they planned had made me stronger.
Much stronger. BOOM! Another assassin fell. Then another.
The system flashed repeatedly. [Target Defeated.]
[Target Defeated.] [Target Defeated.]
The numbers kept increasing, students watched from a distance.
Shock covered their faces, many of them had never witnessed a real battle before.
Now they were watching dark mages fight inside the academy itself.
Then suddenly—A powerful wave of silver mana erupted across the academy.
The entire battlefield froze, everyone looked toward the source.
Including me, my eyes widened In shock, but it was Lyra.
She stood atop one of the academy towers, with silver light surrounded her body.
Her dark blue hair danced wildly in the wind, and around her the dark mages were falling.
One after another, the assassins attacking her never stood a chance, Ice spears filled the sky.
Silver magic circles rotated around her, and every spell she cast looked flawless.
One if the dark mage suddenly charged at her, but instead Lyra pointed one finger, instantlubA silver beam erupted.
BOOM! The attacker disappeared completely.
The students gasped, while all the professors stared in disbelief, Lyra looked like a goddess of battle.
Then another familiar presence appeared.
Scorpion, my eyes narrowed instantly, He stood opposite Lyra.
With his Yellow eyes glowing, and dark mana swirling around him.
Hatred pouring from every movement, the academy fell silent, everyone sensed the danger.
Even from a distance, Scorpion smiled, but Lyra didn't.The Ice Queen simply stared at him.
Then they attacked, the collision shook the academy.
BOOM! Dark mana and silver mana exploded together. The shockwave shattered nearby windows.
Students stumbled backward, while professors immediately erected barriers.
Scorpion laughed wildly.Lyra remained silent.
Every attack he launched was met by silver magic, and his curse was frozen, every dark spell was destroyed.
The battle became impossible to follow, even with Phoenix Eyes, I struggled to track them, they moved too fast.
Suddenly—CRACK! A silver spear pierced Scorpion's shoulder, the dark mage screamed.
The academy erupted, nobody could believe it.
Scorpion staggered backward, while Lyra advanced, fear suddenly appeared in his eyes.
Then another spear struck. BOOM! Scorpion crashed through part of the tower.
Blood covered his robes, his expression twisted with fury.
"No!" Silver light intensified around Lyra. The darkness surrounding Scorpion weakened.
Then Lyra spoke. Her voice carried across the battlefield.
"Leave." One word, nothing more. Scorpion's face twisted, with hatred and complete humiliation.
Because he knew, he couldn't win, not tonight.The dark mage glared at her.
Then glared at me, that look promised revenge, future revenge, the dangerous kind.
Then darkness swallowed him, and scorpion disappeared. The remaining dark mages immediately retreated.
One after another, they ran away, the academy erupted into cheers, many students celebrated.
Professors sighed in relief, the nightmare had ended.
At least temporarily. Then the system appeared again.
[Ding.] [Emergency Event Completed.]
[Dark Mage Operatives Defeated: 10.] [Bonus Rewards Granted.]
Blue light surged through my body and power exploded inside my mana veins.
The familiar sensation returned. Growth, evolution and strength.
The system continued. [Level Increased.]
[Tier Advancement Progress Increased.] [New Skill Fragment Acquired.]
[Phoenix Eyes Enhanced.] [Reward: Arcane Aura Unlocked.]
I clenched my fists, the power felt incredible.
Much stronger than before. But before I could examine it further— A new notification appeared.
[Warning.] [Crimson Monarch Influence Remains Active.]
My heartbeat slowed. So it wasn't over.
Across the academy, Lyra slowly descended from the tower.
Students stared at her with admiration, but some with fear, and others with awe.
But as she landed... I noticed something strange, very strange.
For a brief moment...A crimson light flickered deep inside her silver eyes.
Then vanished, so quickly that nobody else noticed.
Nobody except me, the system immediately flashed.
[Observation Confirmed.] [Crimson Monarch Connection Strengthening.]
My blood ran cold. Meanwhile, far away inside the Ashford Estate...
Lucas Ashford smashed a glass against the wall.
CRASH! The servants flinched.
His face was twisted with rage. "They failed?" Nobody answered.
"They all failed?" His breathing became heavier, Scorpion failed, The assassins failed. Everything failed.
And Rowan survived again. Lucas clenched his fists.
Fear slowly mixed with his hatred. Because for the first time...He began wondering if Rowan could ever be stopped.
Then the office door opened. Cedric Ashford entered.
His expression was darker than usual. Lucas immediately turned.
"Dad." Cedric remained silent. His eyes looked dangerous.
Very dangerous.Because he had just received a report.
Not only had Rowan survived. He had become stronger.
Cedric slowly sat down, then spoke.
One sentence, and cold enough to freeze the room. "If ordinary dark mages can't kill him..."
His eyes narrowed. "Then we'll use something much worse."
Lucas froze. A chill crawled down his spine. Because he knew that tone.
And whenever Cedric spoke like that...Someone always died.
Far away, inside the academy... The system flashed one final notification before disappearing.
[Hidden Disaster Approaching.][Countdown Initiated.]
[72 Hours Remaining.] My heart immediately sank.
I knew the countdown was connected to Lyra. The Crimson Monarch, and the terrifying future waiting for all of us.
