---
The sun barely broke through the early morning mist that cloaked Velaria Academy in a soft, ghostly veil. The towering spires, normally glistening with morning dew, seemed muted—subdued by an unshakable heaviness that clung to the air like a warning unspoken.
Rael Verenth stood alone on the northern training cliff, his shirt drenched in sweat, the metallic scent of blood faint on the breeze. His rusty blade—cracked and dulled—hung limply in his hand. All around him were shattered logs, dented training dummies, and scorch marks that smoldered faintly on the stone floor.
> "Howl Slash!"
He leapt forward, integrating with the Fang Ghosthound he'd summoned. Blue light wrapped around his limbs as the ghostly wolf fused partially with his body, sharpening his senses and enhancing his agility.
> [Howl Slash] activated — ★☆☆☆☆
+3 AGI temporarily granted
Target Dummies Destroyed: 6
EXP Gained: 40
Rael exhaled slowly, the system interface fading from his vision.
> "Still not fast enough."
He sheathed the broken blade and sat at the edge of the training cliff, overlooking the city of Velaria. The academy bell tower tolled far in the distance. Classes would begin soon. And with it, the first dungeon trial of the year.
"Dungeons…" Rael muttered.
He hadn't forgotten the whispers. Word of the shattered Soul Cradle had spread—slowly, cautiously, as if spoken too loudly might draw lightning from the heavens. Rumors said a dark entity had emerged. Others claimed it was an omen of a returning god. A few whispered about a boy. A peasant.
> "They don't know it was me," Rael murmured. "Not yet."
But someone was getting close.
---
Earlier That Morning – Head Instructor's Chamber
Instructor Delvar slammed a hand on the crystalline communication orb embedded into his oak desk. The runes flickered.
> "Still no trace of the anomaly?" came the voice on the other end—cold, smooth, imperial.
Delvar gritted his teeth. "Nothing definitive. But we've isolated a mana spike from Dorm E4—the non-combatant wing. One of the boys returned from Wildwood after curfew, injured… but stronger."
"Name?"
"…Rael Verenth."
Silence. Then the voice returned—harsher now.
> "Track him. Quietly. If he's what we suspect, the Sovereign Directive must be initiated before the Empire catches wind."
Delvar nodded grimly. "As you command."
---
Academy Grand Hall – Hours Later
A great number of students—first years mostly—gathered beneath the vaulted stone ceiling of the Grand Hall, where banners representing guilds, nations, and bloodlines hung like silent judges overhead.
A middle-aged woman in silver armor and a violet cape stepped up to the marble podium.
> "I am Instructor Valeera. Welcome to the annual Trial of Initiation."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even Rael stiffened. Valeera? The Sword Saint of Kal Ridan? An A-Rank Grandmaster?
She continued. "Today, you will enter your first dungeon. In teams of four, you will descend into a simulated F-Rank beast cavern beneath Velaria. You may use any weapon, skill, or summon at your disposal. The goal is simple—survive and collect one Dungeon Core Fragment per person."
Whispers filled the room.
> "Dungeon cores?" "This isn't training—it's live combat." "But we've only just awakened!"
Valeera's voice silenced them like a blade.
"You are not children anymore. This is a Ranker's world. You fight, or you die. Teams are assigned. No swaps."
One by one, names were called. Most formed into nervous huddles. Then:
> "Team 17: Rael Verenth, Mira Caelwyn, Draven Thorne, and Alyndra Vael."
Rael blinked. He recognized none of them.
Then she stepped forward.
Mira Caelwyn.
Golden hair bound in braids. Robes of sea-blue silk embroidered with starlight runes. Her eyes—a piercing emerald—met Rael's with the cool indifference of someone who had seen his soul and found it lacking.
> "You're the farmer's son," she said quietly. "I heard you broke curfew."
Rael shrugged. "You going to report me?"
Mira turned away. "I don't waste time on shadows. Just don't drag us down."
Charming.
The next was a hulking figure nearly seven feet tall—Draven Thorne, all muscles and jagged scars. A Berserker, no doubt.
"Hope you can fight, runt," Draven growled. "I don't babysit."
The last girl arrived silently. A willowy elf with silver hair and moonlight eyes. She wore no emblem, no guild badge—nothing but a choker with a broken crest.
"Alyndra," she said softly.
Rael gave her a nod. "Rael."
Instructor Valeera approached.
"Team 17. Your gate opens in five minutes. Prepare yourselves."
---
Dungeon Simulation Gate – Sublevel 3
The simulation gate shimmered like liquid glass. Arcane glyphs pulsed with mana drawn from deep within the Academy's ley network.
Rael tightened the leather wraps around his hands. He checked his system panel:
---
> [Status Panel – Rael Verenth]
Class: Spirit Contractor (Legendary)
Talent: Devour (Rare)
Level: 3 | F-Rank | Novice
HP: 150
MP: 240
STR: 13
AGI: 16
INT: 24
TM: 402
Skills:
• Spirit Bind (★★★☆☆)
• Devour Essence (Passive)
• Howl Slash (★☆☆☆☆)
Spirit Slots: 1/1
Bound Spirit: Fang Ghosthound – F-Rank
EXP to Next Level: 220/300
---
He was ready.
> [Gate Opening – Team 17 Initiating Dungeon Dive…]
Dungeon Rank: F
Type: Beast Cavern
Estimated Hostiles: 12-20
Boss Class: Timber Warg [LV 7 – F-Rank]
> [Begin.]
---
Dungeon Interior – "Hollow Maw"
The world turned dark, then solid.
They stood in a cave illuminated by glowing fungi, the air thick with moisture and decay. Far ahead, the growling and snapping of bone and fang echoed.
"Formation," Mira said. "Draven forward. I take rear spells. Alyndra—scout flanks. Rael…"
He raised an eyebrow. "Bait?"
"Try not to die."
Draven snorted. "I like her."
Rael didn't respond. He simply summoned the Fang Ghosthound, its spectral form flickering into existence beside him. Mira flinched.
"A Spirit Contractor?"
Rael's eyes narrowed. "Problem?"
"…No. Just unexpected."
The team moved deeper into the cavern, silence falling around them like a veil.
---
Fifteen Minutes Later
> [Beast Encountered: Cave Feral – Level 4 | HP: 110]
[Combat Initiated!]
Three beasts lunged from the shadows—fangs glinting, claws like knives.
Draven roared and slammed his axe down, splitting the first in half. Mira conjured a shield rune, blocking a leaping strike. Alyndra danced between the monsters, daggers flashing like falling stars.
Rael and the Ghosthound fought in tandem, flanking and harrying.
> [You have slain Cave Feral.]
+80 EXP
Devour Essence Activated
Bind Option: Unavailable – Spirit Slot Full
The fight ended in under a minute. They pressed on.
---
Boss Chamber – Thirty Minutes Later
They emerged into a cavern with a massive stone altar at its heart. Upon it rested a glowing fragment.
And beside it—a Timber Warg.
> [Boss Encounter Initiated: Timber Warg – LV 7 | HP: 310 | Element: Wood]
It snarled, baring fangs the length of daggers.
Then it charged.
Rael was faster.
> "Ghosthound—flank and confuse!"
The spirit obeyed instantly, vanishing into mist and reappearing at the beast's side. The Warg turned—leaving an opening.
Draven struck first, slamming his axe into the creature's flank. It howled.
Mira unleashed a barrage of light bolts. Alyndra struck low with daggers coated in mana venom.
> HP Reduced: 310 → 172
The Warg roared, releasing a sonic pulse that knocked Mira down and slashed Draven with vines.
Rael's eyes narrowed.
> "Time to try it…"
He extended his hand and activated Partial Integration.
> [Spirit Integration: Fang Ghosthound – Active]
AGI Boosted
New Skill Unlocked – Ghost Pounce (★★☆☆☆)
He vanished—reappearing mid-air above the Warg—and slammed both feet into its back.
> Ghost Pounce – Successful
Critical Hit – 67 Damage
HP: 105
The beast was cornered. One final barrage from the team brought it down in a scream of earth and blood.
> [Boss Slain: Timber Warg]
+200 EXP
Dungeon Core Fragment Acquired
Level Up!
Rael Verenth – Level 4 → 5
---
Moments Later
As the team celebrated, Rael felt something strange stir inside him. A cold wind. A voice—not heard with ears—but with his very soul.
> "Child… of no name… do you still remember the fire?"
Rael froze.
> "What…?"
A vision flashed behind his eyes.
A battlefield.
Flames consuming a house.
A woman screaming.
A blade stained with blood.
Then silence.
> "Your path… is not of the living alone… Sovereign of Spirit… soon, they will come for you."
Rael fell to his knees, gasping.
> "What was that?"
> [System Notification: Spirit Memory Fragment Unlocked – 1% Recovered]
New Passive Ability Detected: Soul Echo (Locked – Requires Progression)
---