Chapter 6 Chapter 6

The Eclipse Order

The moment I saw Lucian Veyl standing beyond the shattered gates, my entire body went cold.

The pressure surrounding him was unlike anything I had ever felt before.

It wasn't merely power, it felt like standing before a natural disaster.

A force so overwhelming that resistance seemed meaningless.The servants around the estate had already collapsed to their knees.

Some were crying, others couldn't even breathe.

Dozens of masked figures stood behind him with their black cloaks and silver masks.

The Eclipse Order, the most feared organization in the empire. The system flashed violently.

[Extreme Threat Detected.] [Survival Probability Recalculated.]

[Current Survival Probability: 7%.]. Seven percent?

My heart nearly stopped, even after everything I had accomplished, even after defeating Scorpion...

My chances against these people were only seven percent.

Cedric stared through the broken window.

For the first time since I arrived in this world, genuine fear appeared on his face.

Lucas noticed it immediately. "Dad..." Cedric didn't answer.

Lucian slowly stepped forward. His golden eyes moved across the estate before finally settling on me.

The moment his gaze landed on me, my instincts screamed.

Run, run now. Run before it's too late. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to run.

Lucian smiled. "Interesting." His voice wasn't loud.

Yet everyone heard it clearly. Almost as if the world itself carried his words.

"So that's the boy." The system flashed again. [Warning.]

[Target: Lucian Veyl.] [Danger Level: Catastrophic.]

[Current Victory Probability: 0.02%.] I almost laughed.

At least the system was honest.

Lucian's gaze never left me. Behind him, one of the masked presence stepped forward.

"The Eclipse Order has come for Rowan Ashford." The declaration sounded throughout the estate.

Several servants screamed, while lucas grinned.

Finally, this nightmare was ending. The masked man continued.

"The power within him is dangerous."B"He threatens the balance of the Arcane World."

"He cannot be allowed to grow." The words sounded noble. And almost righteous.

But something felt wrong, then Lucian spoke again. "The power he possesses belongs to us."

The Arcane Heir System. They wanted it. Cedric slowly walked forward. His expression became unreadable.

"What exactly do you want?" The masked members exchanged glances.

Lucian smiled. "Simple." His golden eyes landed on me again.

"Hand him over." Lucas immediately looked excited. But what happened next surprised me.

Cedric remained silent. For several seconds. Then several more. Part of me hoped he would refuse.

Not because he cared about me.

But because handing over a member of the Ashford Family would be humiliating.

Then Cedric spoke. "You promise not to involve the Ashford Family?"

Lucian smiled. My stomach dropped.

No, no way. Lucas' eyes widened. Then slowly filled with excitement.

Cedric had made his decision. Lucian nodded.

"The Ashford Family will remain untouched." Cedric looked at me.His gaze was cold. As if I were no longer family.

As if I were simply a problem, a burden and disposable piece, then he said the words.

"Take him." Even the servants looked shocked. Lucas couldn't stop smiling.

I wasn't surprised. This family had never cared about Rowan. Not the original Rowan. And certainly not me.

Cedric folded his arms. "If he possesses something dangerous, then remove it."

Lucas laughed. "Finally." My eyes narrowed.

So this was how it ended? After everything? After have won the tournament and defeated the wolf, and scorpion.

The system suddenly flashed. [Ding.] [Emergency Protocol Activated.]

[Host Survival Rate Below 10%.] [Special Response Available.]

A new option appeared. One I had never seen before.

[Temporary Transformation.]B[Species Selection Available.]

I blinked. What? The system continued.

[Transformation Duration: Limited.] [Recommended Form: Feline.]

My eye twitched. A cat? Seriously? Now? Lucian began walking toward me.

The Eclipse Order members surrounded the building. There was nowhere to escape. The system flashed urgently.

[Decision Required.] [3...] [2...] [1...]

I selected yes. Immediately. BOOM!

Blue light exploded around me. Everyone froze.

"What?" Lucas stumbled backward. Cedric's eyes widened.

Even Lucian stopped walking. The blue light intensified.

My body suddenly shrank, my clothes disappeared and my hands vanished, fur appeared everywhere.

Then—Meow. I stared downward. Tiny white paws with a fluffy tail. The system had actually transformed me into a cat.

Lucas looked horrified. Cedric looked confused.

Several Eclipse Order members simply stood there in disbelief.

Then one servant screamed. "The Young Master became a cat!"

Chaos exploded, Everyone started talking at once. "What happened?"

"Where did Rowan go?" "Was that transformation magic?"

"Impossible!" Even Lucian looked genuinely surprised.

The strongest man in the room didn't know what was happening. The system flashed again. [Transformation Successful.]

[Current Form: Arcane Cat.] [Additional Effects Granted.]

[Enhanced Agility.] [Enhanced Stealth.] [Reduced Detection.]

I wanted to complain. Instead another meow escaped.

Humiliating. Absolutely humiliating. Lucian narrowed his eyes. His gaze swept across the room.

Trying to find me. But his attention remained focused on the place where Rowan had disappeared. One of the Eclipse Order members spoke.

"Master Lucian..." Lucian raised a hand. His golden eyes slowly scanned the room again.

Then something strange happened. He smiled.

"He escaped." The masked presence looked shocked.

Escaped? How? Lucian chuckled softly. "The system is protecting him."

My heart skipped a beat. System?

He knew. He actually knew. He seemed to understand exactly what had happened.

That realization terrified me.BLucian turned toward Cedric.

His smile vanished. "You disappoint me."

Cedric immediately lowered his head.

A family head. One of the strongest mages in the empire.

Acting like a servant. The sight shocked everyone, Lucas included. Lucian's voice became cold.

"You had one job." Cedric swallowed. The pressure inside the room increased instantly.

Several servants fainted. Lucas nearly collapsed.

Even from beneath the table, I could feel the weight of Lucian's aura.

Monstrous. Absolutely monstrous. Then suddenly the pressure vanished.

Lucian turned away. "We leave." The Eclipse Order members looked confused.

"But Master—" "We leave." No one argued. Within seconds, the masked figures began retreating.

One by one. Like shadows disappearing into darkness.

Lucian was the last to leave.Before crossing the destroyed gate, he stopped.

Then slowly turned. His golden eyes looked directly under the table.

And directly at me. My fur stood up instantly. He saw me and he knew. A small smile appeared on his face. Then he spoke.

"Run while you can, Rowan Ashford." My blood turned cold.

Then he disappeared, just like that, the estate became silent once more, even Cedric looked shaken. The strongest man in the empire had just threatened someone. And nobody could stop him.

Several minutes passed. Then the system flashed again.

[Threat Temporarily Removed.] [Transformation Ending.]

Blue light covered me once more while making my body to expand, my bones shifted, instantly my fur vanished.

Seconds later, I stood there again, the system appeared once more.

[Ding.] [ New Main Quest.] [Survive The Eclipse Order.]

[Reward: Unknown.] [Failure Penalty: Death.]

I stared at the message. Then another appeared.

[Warning.] [The Crimson Monarch Has Taken Interest In The Host.]

My heart slowly stopped ............