CHAPTER 17: The Edge of the Void
**ARC 2: COLLEGE DUNGEON TRIAL & ANCIENT CLAN AWAKENING**
The morning air outside the southern gates of the Inner City was cold and damp. Fog rolled off the jagged cliffs surrounding the Forbidden Shadow Dungeon, a cavernous rift in the earth where purple-tinted spatial energy rippled like liquid glass.
Three hundred first-year scholars lined up in disciplined rows across the stone staging area. At the front stood Vice-Principal Oberon alongside a dozen faculty supervisors, their eyes scanning the nervous crowd.
Ethan and Elena stood side by side in their sleek navy-and-silver House Sterling coats, their hands resting comfortably on their wrapped weapons. Beneath their tunics, the obsidian Sovereign Teleportation & Protection Amulets rested silently against their chests, radiating a subtle, reassuring warmth.
"Look at the commoner rats," a muffled voice sneered from the ranks of House Valerius.
Garron Valerius, his jaw still bandaged and his face pale with lingering hatred, stood near the front of his squad. Beside him was an elder student wearing official senior proctor robes—a third-year student named Kaelen Valerius, a peak Martial Scholar whose eyes were cold and reptilian.
"Keep your mouth shut, Garron," Kaelen muttered under his breath, his gaze fixing onto Ethan and Elena. "Let them enjoy the fresh air while they can. Once the spatial seal closes behind them, Elder Vane’s array will activate. They won't leave that rift alive."
High on the spectator platform overlooking the canyon, several representatives from the Inner City factions had gathered to watch the live projection feed.
Among them sat Elder Vane of House Valerius, casually sipping spirit tea with a smirk on his face. Not far from him sat Guildmaster Raymond of the Global Adventurer Guild, his brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at the shifting, unstable purple light radiating from the dungeon entrance.
Something feels off about the spatial pressure coming from that rift, Raymond thought, his eyes narrowing. It’s too dense for a simple Grade-2 trial grounds...
Down on the field, Vice-Principal Oberon raised his hand, his thunderous voice echoing across the canyon.
"Students of the Imperial College!" Oberon announced. "Inside the Forbidden Shadow Dungeon, your objective is simple: slay Grade-2 shadow beasts, harvest their core stones, and return to the main portal within forty-eight hours! Survival, strategy, and teamwork will determine your final score!"
Oberon swept his arm toward the glowing purple rift.
"Enter the portal!"
With loud shouts, squad after squad of noble heirs and commoner scholars began charging through the shimmering spatial barrier, vanishing into the dim void beyond.
Ethan and Elena looked at each other, exchanging a quick, confident nod.
"Let's show them what House Sterling can do," Ethan said softly.
They stepped forward together, plunging straight into the purple vortex.
Meanwhile, far above the clouds...
Sitting inside the grand, floating pavilion of the Floating Cloud Island, Gabriel leaned back in his carved jade armchair. Before him floated a vast, crystal-clear projection created by the Spatial Realm Mirror.
Every single student, every shadowed tunnel, and every beast inside the Forbidden Shadow Dungeon was clearly displayed before Gabriel’s eyes.
Standing beside him, Malakor pointed a slender finger toward a dark cavern nestled deep within the lower levels of the dungeon.
"Clan Master," Malakor reported coldly. "Three rogue array masters hired by Elder Vane have already slipped into the core cavern. They have planted six blood-sacrificial runes around the dungeon's spatial anchor."
Gabriel took a slow, quiet sip of his spirit wine, watching the three array masters work in the mirror projection.
"They're going to overload the core in ten minutes," Gabriel remarked smoothly, his voice devoid of any panic. "They think forcing a Grade-4 mutation will bury my children under a tide of beasts."
Gabriel reached into his inner coat, withdrawing a shimmering golden card—the Martial Grandmaster System Summoning Card.
A sharp, terrifying smile touched Gabriel's lips as he held the golden card between his fingers.
"Malakor," Gabriel commanded softly.
"I am here, Clan Master."
"Let the array masters finish their ritual. Let the mutation trigger. Let House Valerius celebrate their little victory for a few brief seconds..."
Gabriel flicked his wrist, driving his Qi straight into the golden card.
BZ—ZZZ-T!
A blinding, majestic golden pillar of divine light erupted inside the floating pavilion, illuminating the entire sky above the clouds!
[Ding! Activating Martial Grandmaster Summoning Card!]The divine golden light receded, revealing a colossal, seven-foot-tall warrior clad in terrifying, crimson-and-gold dragon armor. His presence was like a dormant volcano, radiating a suffocating, ancient Martial Grandmaster Domain that caused the surrounding air to tremble![Selecting Loyal Subordinate Profile...]
[Summon Successful!]
[Character Name:] General Ignatius
[Power Level:]Early-Stage Martial Grandmaster
[Background & Loyalty:] Ancient Sovereign War General clad in Crimson Dragon Armor. 100% absolute loyalty to Host. Specialized in absolute domain pressure, heavy battle-axe mastery, and army annihilation.
Ignatius dropped to both knees, slamming his armored fist against his chest, his deep voice sounding like thunder:
"Subordinate Ignatius greets the Sovereign Clan Master! My blade, my domain, and my life belong to House Sterling!"
Gabriel looked down at his new Grandmaster subordinate, his dark eyes glowing with a cold, terrifying light.
"Rise, Ignatius," Gabriel commanded, looking back at the spatial mirror where the dungeon core was beginning to turn a violent, bloody red. "Stand ready. In ten minutes... you step into the void and shatter their world."