Ascension of the Forsaken Genius

The Decennial Trial was more than a competition—it was a stage where the future elites of the kingdom were revealed. Those who stood out would be recruited into the Royal Academy, elite warrior sects, military divisions, noble houses, or even the hidden organizations that shaped the kingdom’s future from the shadows.

For Sylas Aldreth, this event was more than a spectacle. It was an opportunity to learn—to understand the forces at play beyond House Aldreth.

---

The capital city of Veydrion was alive with anticipation. Near the Coliseum of Kings, thousands had gathered—merchants, nobles, warriors, and hopeful young cultivators from all corners of the kingdom. Some came to prove themselves, others to watch history unfold.

Massive banners of noble houses, military orders, and powerful sects adorned the coliseum’s outer walls, each symbolizing an influential faction. At the highest point, the royal crest shimmered—a golden dragon entwined with a sword—an unspoken reminder that the king himself would be watching.

Sylas stood amidst the crowd, cloaked in simple black robes to avoid unnecessary attention. His father had arranged for his automatic entry into the competition, but he had declined.

This trial wasn’t about proving himself.

It was about studying the kingdom’s future powerhouses.

Arrival of the Kingdom’s Greatest Forces

As Sylas observed, the strongest factions began making their entrances, their presence commanding attention.

The Royal Academy

The foremost institution of knowledge and cultivation in the kingdom. Only the most talented were accepted.

Their representatives arrived in regal blue-and-gold robes, their leader a silver-haired woman with piercing golden eyes.

Lady Alison Valenhart.

A name that carried immense weight. A scholar-warrior whose mastery over energy theory and combat strategy made her one of the kingdom’s most respected figures.

Her gaze swept across the gathered competitors, sharp and calculating.

"She’s already assessing potential recruits."

Sylas noted how young elites straightened their posture under her watchful eyes, each hoping to gain her favor.

The Royal Military Order

Clad in crimson uniforms, these were the commanders of the kingdom’s strongest warriors.

At their head stood General Bastian Falkenrath—a towering man with an aura of raw battle energy so intense that even seasoned warriors felt uneasy in his presence.

Unlike the academy, the military sought discipline and strength. They would recruit only those with the potential to become future war generals.

The Iron Fang Guild

A mercenary organization that thrived in the shadows. Assassins, hunters, and rogue cultivators—this guild shaped warriors without allegiance to the kingdom or its nobility.

Their members moved with unnatural silence, clad in dark, form-fitting attire.

At their center stood Phantom Shade, their infamous leader—his presence masked by an aura of deceptive calm. His half-concealed face revealed nothing.

"They don’t play by the rules. Strength and skill are all that matter to them."

The Emberlane Energon Association

A faction devoted to the arcane arts, seeking those with unparalleled control over mystical forces.

At their helm was Grand Energist Voren, a withered old man whose pure energy distorted the air around him. Even standing still, his very existence seemed to bend reality.

Sylas narrowed his eyes.

"Pure energy manipulation at such a level… He’s beyond the standard cultivation realms."

---

Numerous high-ranking noble houses had also arrived. Some were rivals, others were allies, but all had the same goal—securing young talents to bolster their legacies.

House Aldreth was no exception.

Among the competitors stood Rael Aldreth, Sylas’s half-brother. Dressed in elegant crimson and silver robes, he exuded confidence. His dark hair and piercing amber eyes made him stand out—a noble prodigy eager to claim his place.

Rael was not the only noteworthy participant.

Across the coliseum grounds, several powerful young cultivators had begun taking their places:

A masked competitor cloaked in lightning energy, their aura crackling with suppressed power.

A girl with frost-blue eyes, her very presence lowering the temperature around her.

A warrior clad in black armor, his massive spear resting on his shoulder like an extension of himself.

The best of the best had gathered, each ready to prove themselves.

But Sylas Aldreth simply watched.

He had no interest in impressing the academy, the guilds, or the noble houses.

"Strength isn’t about titles. It isn’t about status."

What truly mattered was understanding the nature of power itself.

The Royal Academy sought intellect.

The Military sought loyalty.

The Guilds sought efficiency.

The Noble Houses sought prestige.

Each faction pursued power in different ways. But which method was the most effective?

Sylas intended to find out.

The Trial Begins Tomorrow

The preliminary rounds would begin at dawn.

As the coliseum’s bells tolled, marking the end of the day’s arrivals, Sylas turned away from the spectacle.

Tomorrow, the battles would begin.

And he would be watching.