Chapter 29 : New Beginning
The room they entered was old and wooden, its rustic charm shadowed by the eerie silence that enveloped it.
The walls were lined with rough-hewn planks, their darkened grains speaking of age and neglect.
Five small beds were arranged neatly along the walls, the creaky wooden frames appearing fragile against the harshness of their surroundings.
Grim's tall, broad frame moved first, his white hair and black eyes standing out against the dimness of the room. He picked a bed and sat down, his intimidating presence filling the confined space.
Lyra, her white hair framing her delicate face, followed, her steps unsteady with exhaustion as she chose a bed and lay down, her eyes already drooping shut.
"What should we do now?" Lyra asked, her voice soft and weary.
"There's nothing we can do now," Raven replied, his white hair falling messily over his black eyes. "We have to participate in tomorrow's training."
Seraphine glanced at Raven, her golden eyes shimmering as she activated her ability to see his stats.
STATS
RAVEN CROSS
LEVEL: 6
STRENGTH: 91
SPEED: 92
ENDURANCE: 90
IQ: 89
ABILITY: ??
He was stronger than before, Seraphine noticed. Her curiosity mingled with a hint of admiration. She hesitated for a moment before gently holding his hand, her touch light and uncertain.
Raven glanced at her, his gaze softening slightly. "I'm going to go outside and gather some more information. I'll be back." Without waiting for a response, he turned and left the room.
Grim's dark eyes observed Raven's departure with disinterest. His attention then returned to his own bed, where he leaned back, his muscular form nearly dwarfing the small bed beneath him.
Meanwhile, Aurelia approached Seraphine. Gently, she cupped Seraphine's face with her slender fingers, her golden eyes warm and reassuring despite the tension in the room. "Don't worry. Nothing is going to happen. You should sleep. We'll manage."
Seraphine offered a faint smile and nodded before activating her ability to see Aurelia's stats.
STATS
AURELIA ASHFALL
LEVEL: 2
STRENGTH: 70
SPEED: 55
ENDURANCE: 100
IQ: 100
ABILITY: None
Satisfied, she let out a quiet sigh. However, curiosity gnawed at her, drawing her gaze toward Grim. She activated her ability once more, her golden eyes glinting with curiosity.
But instead of information, all she could see was:
STATS
?
?
?
?
?
?
LEVEL TOO HIGH
LEVEL UP FIRST TO SEE STATS.
Her eyes widened in disbelief. This was the second time her ability had failed her. The first time was with Kade, Grim's ruthless right-hand man. But she hadn't expected Grim's level to be beyond her ability's reach. Her mistake dawned on her just as Grim's cold, black eyes shifted towards her, sending a chill down her spine.
Grim rose from his bed, his steps heavy and deliberate as he approached her. His eyes were colder than ice, his presence suffocating.
Seraphine's knees trembled as she bowed her head and stammered, "I—I am sorry, I didn't mean to do that."
"Didn't I tell you not to look at me like that again?" Grim's voice was dangerously low, his words laced with venom. His hand shot out, grabbing her jaw with enough force to make her wince.
Aurelia, who had been standing nearby, instantly stepped forward. She grabbed Grim's hand, her golden eyes pleading as she spoke, "Let her go, please."
His eyes shifted to her, the icy chill in them cutting straight through her courage. "So, are you going to accept her punishment?"
"Yes," Aurelia replied without hesitation, her trembling voice betraying her fear. Yet her gaze remained steady, her expression resolute.
Grim studied her for a moment before releasing Seraphine's jaw. Without another word, he turned away and returned to his bed, the harshness of his demeanor unchanged.
Lyra, who had awakened from her light sleep during the tense exchange, quickly crossed the room. She took Seraphine's hand and guided her to her bed, far away from Grim's. As they lay down together, Lyra whispered softly, "You shouldn't do that again. Grim's word is absolute. We shouldn't make him mad."
Seraphine nodded, her golden eyes glistening with unshed tears. Lyra wrapped her arms around her comfortingly and continued, "Don't think about it. Just sleep."
Meanwhile, Aurelia remained where she stood, her concern for Seraphine overshadowed by the coldness Grim had shown. She moved toward his bed, her golden eyes fixed on his broad, muscular form.
But instead of lying beside him, she hesitated, realizing how small the bed was for someone like him. Grim glanced at her, his black eyes unreadable. Then, with a surprising gentleness, he reached out, grabbing her waist and lifting her effortlessly onto him.
Aurelia's cheeks flushed as she found herself resting against his chest, her slender frame fitting perfectly over his powerful body. Her head rested on his chest, and she hugged him tightly, her arms clinging to him as if he were the only stable thing in her world.
"Please," she whispered, her voice trembling with genuine worry. "Don't hurt Seraphine or Lyra or Raven again. You can hurt me instead."
Grim looked down at her, his gaze unreadable. His hand gently cupped her face, his rough fingers tracing her soft skin. To her surprise, he hugged her back, pulling her tightly against him.
"Don't worry," he whispered, his voice holding a hint of a smirk. "I'll make you pay. Just let us get home."
They barely fit on the small bed, Grim's broad shoulders nearly spilling over the edges. But neither of them seemed to care.
It was already past midday, and gradually, exhaustion claimed them all. As sleep pulled them into its depths, the room fell silent, its quietness broken only by the soft rhythm of their breathing.
---
It was already evening when they all began to wake up.
The dim glow of the room's worn-out lanterns cast shadows over the old wooden walls.
Grim stirred first, his dark, cold eyes opening to the dimness of the room. He glanced down to find Aurelia still clinging tightly to him, her golden eyes now closed in peaceful slumber, her crimson hair splayed over his chest.
With a quiet sigh, Grim lifted Aurelia off his chest, his strong arms effortlessly moving her back to his bed. She mumbled something softly in her sleep but didn't wake up.
Standing up, Grim left the room with his usual imposing stride, his white hair and black eyes glinting in the low light.
The corridor outside was cold and desolate, with creaking floorboards and the smell of aged wood. Grim made sure to hide his aura and suppress his overwhelming presence. He didn't want any unnecessary conflicts yet. His expression remained harsh, but his movements were calculated, precise. He wasn't the type to back down from a challenge, but he was smart enough to avoid pointless ones.
Grim wandered through the bleak corridors until he sensed a familiar presence. Without hesitation, he opened the door to another room.
Inside, Kade and his group were also resting. Kade's tan skin, blonde hair, and sharp blue eyes made him stand out among his subordinates. His girlfriend 'Rhea', a muscular and strong-looking girl with black hair and green eyes, stood up and greeted Grim, her voice calm but respectful.
"Oh, boss, you're already here."
Kade got up and nodded. "Good evening, boss."
Grim's gaze was stern and cold. "Do you have any idea what's happening or why we're here?"
Kade nodded, his expression turning serious. "I've managed to gather some information. This place is wild and dangerous. Once every five years, people from different worlds are summoned here. Most of them die here, but some manage to climb the floors. Apparently, there were many kings and queens from various worlds who united together and used their powers to create this... system."
"System?" Grim's interest was piqued, his wicked smile hinting at his amusement.
"Yeah. We have to level up and challenge higher floors. Everything here — the floors, the training grounds, the guilds — was made by those kings and queens. They're immortal beings who enjoy watching the killing and suffering of others. They even bestow their power to those they fancy. And... they are always watching."
Kade's expression grew darker. "This place is a mess. There's constant bullying in the training ground and outside. People here are dangerous. Killing, raping, torturing, theft... it's all common. If we're not strong, we'll be eaten alive. We have to become stronger."
Grim's eyes gleamed with a dark amusement. "Oh? Then there are strong people here. The six warriors we saw today... Are they strong?"
"Yes," Kade replied, his voice steady. "They're incredibly strong. They've cleared floors up to the 50th, and they're just the guild leaders until the 20th floor. After that, even stronger leaders take over. The ones beyond the 20th floor are even more terrifying. The five we saw are likely the strongest we'll encounter for now. And even if you fought them, I don't think you could win."
A low chuckle escaped Grim's lips, his smile wicked. "We'll have to see about that."
Kade continued, "Tomorrow, we have to choose from the six guilds for training. Each guild's training is different, and we need to choose the one that suits us best."
"Good." Grim's voice was commanding. "Have you contacted all of our members?"
"Yes, almost everyone."
"Tell the Ironclad members to spread out and stay in touch with each other. Lay low for now. This is not our time to act up. We need to get stronger first. Make sure they report everything to you about everything, and you report back to me."
Kade nodded. "Got it, boss. Take care."
Grim left the room without another word and returned to where his family was resting.
As he stepped inside, Aurelia's golden eyes immediately caught him. Her expression was warm and relieved. "You should hear what Raven found. He brought a lot of information."
"I don't need it," Grim replied coldly, his black eyes glinting with a harsh edge. "You all can manage on your own. Leave me alone." He already knew everything that was needed.
Raven, standing nearby, gave him a sharp look. His white hair fell slightly over his eyes as he spoke with a casual arrogance. "Oi, you. It would be helpful if you actually listened. You should know—"
Grim's gaze pierced Raven, his voice like ice. "Don't act up in this place. This is my advice to you." He walked over and sat on his bed, his posture relaxed yet dangerous.
Raven gritted his teeth but let out a sigh. "Leave him be," he said to the others. "We should discuss which guild's training we'll take part in."
Everyone nodded, their expressions tense.
---
As they discussed the information and in the wooden room, the five of them sat on their small beds, faces filled with determination and uncertainty. Raven, his white hair tousled and black eyes focused, looked at the others.
"So," he started, his gaze sweeping over the group. "What guilds are you all planning to join?"
Lyra, her white hair cascading over her shoulders and her black eyes filled with curiosity, looked around nervously. "I… I'm not sure. What do you think would be good for me?"
Seraphine, her crimson hair and golden eyes glowing softly, activated her ability to see Lyra's stats. After a moment of observation, she said, "You should join Blood Blades. They focus on aggressive combat and swordsmanship. From what I can see, your agility and reflexes would suit their training style best."
Lyra blinked in surprise, her expression turning thoughtful. "Blood Blades, huh… Alright. If you think that's best."
Seraphine smiled gently. "I'll join with you. I need to get better at fighting and the Blood Blades sound like a good choice for me too."
Raven's lips curved into a smirk. "I've already made up my mind. I'm joining the Shadow Clan. Stealth, assassination, reconnaissance… That's where I'll get stronger. Moving unseen and striking from the shadows is what I do best."
Seraphine and Lyra nodded in agreement, though Seraphine seemed a little hesitant. "Just… be careful, Raven. The Shadow Clan sounds like a dangerous place."
"I know," Raven replied, his voice calm and confident. "But if I want to become stronger, that's the only place for me."
Aurelia, sitting beside Seraphine, her crimson hair shining softly in the dim light, spoke up. "I'm more into theory and magic. So, I'll join Frostguard. They specialize in magical combat and elemental control. I'll start with ice and defensive spells, but I'll eventually shift to fire magic too."
The others nodded, understanding her decision. Aurelia's talents lay in magic, and the Frostguard sounded like the perfect fit.
"Well, looks like everyone's decided," Raven said, his tone satisfied. "But you all should rest. Tomorrow's going to be rough. We don't know what might happen."
"Yeah…" Lyra murmured, her exhaustion evident as she curled up on her bed.
The others soon followed, climbing onto their beds and trying to get whatever rest they could.
Aurelia, however, made her way to Grim's bed and lay above him, resting her head against his broad chest, her golden eyes looking up at his dark, cold gaze. "So… we've all made our decisions. What about you?"
Grim's strong arms wrapped around her, his hand gently pressing against her back. "I'll see that tomorrow. Maybe I'll just challenge the tutorial room straight away. But.... if I do that, it'll draw attention, and that's not something I want right now. So I'll join any random guild and lay low."
He paused, his gaze sharp. "You should do the same. Always watch your surroundings before acting. Don't reveal your talent to anyone. And tell the others to do the same."
Aurelia nodded, hugging him tightly as she nuzzled her face against his chest. "I will. And Grim…" She hesitated before whispering, "I'm horny, do something."
Grim's eyes narrowed with a teasing smirk, his hands moving down to grip her hips tightly. "You'll have to hold back for a month, dear." His voice was low and taunting.
Aurelia flushed and buried her face against his chest, hiding her embarrassment. His grip loosened as he chuckled softly, letting her relax against him.
They eventually fell asleep in each other's arms, Aurelia comfortably lying on top of him.
Morning arrived quickly. Grim was already awake, his eyes cold and focused. One by one, the others stirred from their sleep, stretching and preparing themselves for the day ahead.
They all changed into the provided outfits — a plain white full T-shirt, black pants, and shoes that fit perfectly. The clothing felt strangely comfortable and durable.
Once ready, the five of them stepped out of their room, determination gleaming in their eyes.
Raven's expression was calm yet filled with a fierce resolve. He was already forming plans in his mind, thinking of how he could exploit his newly discovered healing ability and make himself stronger. Far stronger.
And he would start by clearing the tutorial room with ease.