One month later,
In front of the Ashborn Isolation Chamber, many warriors had gathered. At the front stood the Left Guardian with his hands behind his back.
According to the Patriarch, Gray's isolation training ends today, so the Left Guardian and his subordinates had gathered to greet Gray.
"Open it."
At the Left Guardian's signal, the guards removed the talisman and locks placed on the entrance.
"I hope he lives up to the Patriarch's expectations," the Left Guardian murmured.
The Ashborn Isolation Chamber was discovered by the founding Patriarch of the Ashborn family. According to him, this isolation chamber had many secrets that even he couldn't unfold.
Before dying on his deathbed, he instructed his sons to attempt to enter the chamber once they reached the Unrestrained Realm. If they couldn't find the things that he himself had not found, then they were to send their descendants until someone obtained what was inside.
Even his last words were, "Someone will take it all."
According to the family eldes who decoded it, the founding Patriarch had left some relics, and only the chosen one would obtain them.
Though, in reality, there is also the thought that it wasn't something he left behind, but rather something even he himself had not discovered.
As it happened many centuries ago, the exact meaning is unclear. But one thing certain is that someone will take it.
'Does the Patriarch think Gray is the chosen one the founding Patriarch spoke of?'
Gray was the weakest among his children, so for him to send his weakest son to the chamber, where only one who had reached the Unrestrained Realm had entered previously, was confusing.
So, in conclusion, the Patriarch believed Gray would be able to find the hidden power.
As he was lost in thoughts, the Isolation Chamber's entrance door slowly opened by the guards.
Groooon....
Everyone present looked on with anticipation. They had heard it was a punishment, but it was also an opportunity for Gray.
Just then, they saw someone coming out.
It was Gray von Ashborn.
He came out with a bright look on his face, as if he had gained freedom.
The warriors looked at him with curiosity, as his body had many bruises. His clothes and hair were a wreck.
However, Unexpectedly, his body was bursting with vitality. His muscles and six-pack were enviable to look at. And with his handsome face, he looked like a model.
Meanwhile, the Left Guardian didn't pay any attention to his appearance and looked at his mana.
"Hmm..." As he looked at his mana, he was surprised.
He had expected Gray to at least improve a bit, but Gray was the same as when he entered. He was still at the Sword Expert mid-stage. Moreover, his mana hadn't increased at all.
Seeing him unprogressed, the Left Guardian frowned. 'So he just lazed around.'
The Left Guardian had expected him to find something that the founding Patriarch left behind, as the current Patriarch himself had shown confidence. But now, looking at his mana, all he felt was disappointment.
The Left Guardian then searched for any weapons or secret manuals on him, but his hands were empty, and no weapon could be found.
The only thing that changed about Gray was his body.
It was previously skinny and weak, but now it had a well-defined look and felt strong.
'Did he focus on strengthening his body?' the Left Guardian thought. Well, at least he did something over the last month.
"Haa..." After sighing, the Left Guardian walked toward Gray and bowed his head.
"I greet the youngest Young Master."
In response, Gray also bowed and spoke, "I greet the Left Guardian of the great Ashborn family."
"...The Patriarch is absent, so he instructed you to rest today, and tomorrow you'll be heading to the Academy."
"Oho... Is that so?" Gray's face turned even brighter with joy. He was eager to attend the Academy.
The one month he spent inside the chamber felt like a long time, but now that he was out, there was no wall between him and his harem-building adventure.
Seeing his satisfied smile, the Left Guardian pointed to a luxurious carriage and said, "You must be tired from isolation training. Please head to the estate and rest."
"You're not coming?"
"I have something important."
"Is that so..." Gray then slightly nodded his head and walked to the carriage.
Step... step...
After he entered the carriage, the carriage left for the estate.
Clop-clop-clop... creak…
As the Left Guardian saw the carriage leave the area, he turned toward the Ashborn Isolation Chamber.
The Patriarch had instructed him to investigate the chamber after Gray came out.
Thus, he entered the Isolation Chamber. He walked through a narrow path and reached the base. But as soon as he saw the space, his eyes went wide.
"This..."
The training ground was filled with sword marks.
There was not a single place that hadn't been marked by sword strike. And the marks were exuding an eerie energy. It was the same dark energy that had been seeping out of the hidden door.
Perplexed, he turned toward the hidden door. As soon as he did, his eyes went even wider.
The door was gone, and its remains were scattered on the ground as debris.
"Unbelievable!!" the Left Guardian exclaimed. The door had the same material as the border between Ashborn and the Chasm. As the world's strongest warriors and the Demon Kings of the Chasm couldn't leave a scratch on the boarder. So breaking the door was unimaginable.
Confused, The left Guardian quickly used a movement technique and rushed toward it.
"....." As he entered the hidden room, he became speechless at the sight. The room was smoky with overwhelming dark energy.
Step, step.
He stepped inside the room. Beneath him was a floor of dark crystals, and above his head were spiky dark crystals. They seemed so sharp that they could cut him in half.
But there was nothing else. Just dark crystals, that's all.
And, After seeing the sword marks and the destroyed door, it was clear that Gray had obtained the power that even the founding Patriarch didn't get. But what made the Left Guardian confused was, "How did he deceive my senses?"
The Left Guardian was at the Unrestrained Realm, so deceiving his senses was unexpected, but all he could do was sigh.
"It seems a Dragon has been born."