Lucien woke up and went to the Veiled Iron Courtyard, where he usually trained. Seeing his father waiting for him, he asked:
Lucien: Father, what will I be doing today? Today is my last day of training.
Alaric: You won't be training in the courtyard today, Lucien.
Lucien's mind raced. If I'm not training here, then where? Is there a secret underground passage or some mysterious room?
Alaric: Today's training will be dangerous. You'll be risking your life.
Lucien shivered at the thought. Risking my life? What does he mean by that?
Lucien: Father, is it really that dangerous? Where will I be training today?
Alaric: You'll be training in the forest. I'll give you three days to return. The forest will give you real experience.
Lucien's eyes lit up.
Lucien: Really? I'll be fighting real monsters?
Alaric: Yes. It might sound exciting, but they are truly dangerous. Your task is to defeat five different monsters in three days.
Lucien: Okay, Father! I can't wait to hunt them.
Alaric smiled, thinking: He isn't panicking at all. I thought he would be scared, but I guess I'll just tell him to be careful.
Lucien: Father, when do we start
Alaric: You're confident. Let's go now.
Lucien was overjoyed. It was the first time he would leave the mansion to hunt with his father. They rode together on horseback as Alaric explained their destination: the Vault of Shadows.
Vault of Shadows – Description
Location & Surroundings:
Hidden deep in a twisted mountain range, the Vault of Shadows is bathed in perpetual gloom. The surrounding forest is dead and silent—trees blackened, no animals dare enter. Fog clings to the ground like a living thing. Travelers often get lost, as the forest seems to shift and rearrange itself.
Entrance:
A yawning fissure in the mountain, like a gaping maw. Darkness pours from it, swallowing all light. Jagged black crystals line the walls, absorbing magic and light, leaving a sense of oppressive dread.
Interior:
Lighting: Near total darkness, faint glimmers from black crystals or glowing runes pulse like a heartbeat.
Terrain: Twisted tunnels, jagged rocks, bottomless pits, shifting shadows that create dead ends or traps.
Atmosphere: Thick, heavy air with a metallic scent. Whispers echo, projecting fears and regrets.
Special Features:
Shadow Pools: Can drag a person into a shadow dimension.
Mirror Corridors: Shadows act independently, misleading intruders.
The Heart Chamber: Lair of the Void Reaper, darkness alive and shifting.
Legendary Aspect:
The Vault of Shadows is said to be alive. Anyone trying to leave without proving themselves may be trapped forever.
Monster List – Selected Examples:
E-Class: Shadowling, Gloom Crawler, Wraith Rat
D-Class: Umbra Serpent, Night Bat, Shade Wolf
C-Class: Phantom Hound, Specter Knight, Shade Stalker
B-Class: Obsidian Golem, Void Wraith, Umbral Serpent
A-Class: Nightmare Lurker, Shadow Drake, Phantom Gladiator
S-Class: Eclipse Fiend, Dark Leviathan, Soul Eater Shade
SSS-Class: Void Reaper
Alaric: Among these monsters, I need you to bring back four heads to prove you defeated them all.
Lucien: Father, I'll do as you say.
Alaric: You must defeat the Shade Wolf, Shade Stalker, and Umbra Serpent. Return after three days. If you fail, come back immediately.
Lucien: Understood, Father. I'll do my best.
Alaric handed Lucien a healing potion.
Alaric: This is for emergencies. Use it if you get hurt or exhausted.
Lucien: Okay, Father.
Alaric: I'll be back in three days. Be careful.
Lucien entered the Vault of Shadows alone, excitement bubbling in his chest. This is like a reward for me, he thought. My own adventure.
On the first floor, small shadow creatures attacked immediately. He defeated Shadow Prowlers with ease. Are all monsters this weak? he wondered.
Next, Specter Vines tried to entangle him, but he cut through their glowing black tendrils effortlessly. The Obsidian Scarabs proved tougher, their hard black shells resisting attacks. Lucien grabbed stones from the ground, throwing them with incredible force, shattering their armor. I'll call this my Gun Technique, he thought, smiling. This is fun—being strong is fun.
He moved on to Gloom Rats (E-Class), Cinder Bats (C-Class), and finally the Umbral Serpent (C-Class).
At first, I thought this serpent would be strong, he thought. But I've already detected it. I didn't even need to go all out. Perfect.
He defeated it swiftly. Now I can store it in Mom's magic bag, he said, reaching for the Spatial Pouch. I wasn't expecting to use it this early, but it will help a lot.
Flashback – Elara and the Bag
Elara: Are you going to meet your father in the Veiled Iron Courtyard?
Lucien: Yes, Mother. Today is my final training day. I'm so happy.
Elara: Take this with you. It will be useful.
Lucien: A bag?
Elara: Not just a bag. This is a Spatial Pouch. You can put anything big enough inside, and it will fit perfectly.
Lucien: Thank you, Mom. This will make things much easier.
Lucien found a quiet alcove to rest, catching his breath before continuing. Suddenly, monsters began stirring on the second floor, testing his resolve.
The second floor will be more challenging, but I'm ready, he thought, tightening his grip and preparing for the battles ahead.