Journey to Become the Zenith

The Sleeping Monster

A day and a night passed since the battle when the army of the undead was defeated, but Fantom City was far from being happy.

The smoke from the battle had dispersed, but the smell of sadness lingered in the air, as families mourned their lost ones, and the city’s funeral bells tolled their melancholy songs. Although Victor’s actions saved the city, its people couldn’t rejoice at another victory for a long time.

Meanwhile, in the Redcliffe’s manor...

Unlike the sad atmosphere of the city, the large bedroom of the manor was filled with worrying sounds. Victor laid on the bed, seemingly sound asleep, his beautiful face relaxed, and a calm smile on his lips, as if he had finished a difficult race and took a short break to catch his breath. But his appearance was the only thing that was similar to someone who fell asleep after a hard day’s work.

Lane, as she sat next to his bed, was as emotionless as always, but her eyes never left Victor’s face.

She hasn’t left his side since the moment she brought him back from the battlefield

Every few seconds, her gaze shifted from his face down to his chest, making sure he was still breathing.

The room was silent for a moment, until the moment Victor’s eyes fluttered open.

Then— Whoom...

An invisible pressure spread from Victor’s body.

The curtains fluttered without wind.

The furniture creaked softly.

The air itself seemed to become heavier.

Lane’s black hair swayed slightly as another wave rolled across the room.

She simply tightened her grip on her sword.

”...Still getting stronger.”

Although she couldn’t identify what this strange power was, she knew one thing.

It wasn’t ordinary.

Every pulse felt deeper than mana.

Older.

Heavier.

As if something ancient was quietly breathing beneath Victor’s skin.

Yet she asked no questions.

Whatever this mysterious power was...

It belonged to Victor.

That alone was enough for her.

...

Outside the bedroom, the hallway had become unusually crowded.

More than twenty academy instructors and veteran court mages stood around the entrance, their expressions filled with tension.

Several enormous magic circles had already been drawn across the floor.

Layers upon layers of barrier spells overlapped each other, surrounding the entire room.

Standing at the center of everyone was Max.

The experienced commander looked far more exhausted than he had during the battle itself.

”Everyone ready?” Max asked.

A gray-haired academy instructor nodded.

”The containment formation is complete.”

”But...”

He hesitated.

”I’m not confident it’ll hold.”

Max frowned.

”Why?”

The instructor wiped the sweat from his forehead.

”This pressure isn’t behaving like normal mana.”

”It spreads in strange waves.”

”Every time we think we’ve stabilized it...”

”...it changes again.”

Another instructor added,

”It’s almost as though it’s alive.”

Several mages silently nodded.

One younger mage swallowed nervously.

”I’ve studied mana for over twenty years...”

”I’ve never felt anything like this.”

”It doesn’t feel hostile...”

”But my instincts keep telling me to stay away.”

Max and More than twenty academy instructors and veteran court mages stood around the entrance, their expressions filled with tension. Stared toward Victor’s closed bedroom door.

”So even while unconscious...”

”...he’s releasing this much pressure.”

Nobody answered.

Because they had all felt it.

The pressure wasn’t attacking them.

It simply existed.

Yet its existence alone made their breathing heavier.

Max took a deep breath.

”Begin.”

At his command, dozens of mages simultaneously raised their staffs.

”Barrier Formation!”

”Mana Suppression Formation!”

”Arcane Lock!”

”Spirit Seal!”

Brilliant circles of blue, silver, and gold illuminated the corridor.

Streams of mana intertwined into an enormous containment barrier surrounding Victor’s room.

For several seconds...

Everything remained stable.

Then—

BOOOOM!

A powerful pulse erupted from inside the bedroom.

The entire barrier shook violently.

Crack!

One of the outer formations shattered instantly.

Several younger mages staggered backward.

One nearly collapsed to his knees.

”What incredible pressure!”

”It broke the first layer!”

”Reinforce it!”

The instructors immediately poured more mana into the formation.

Fresh runes appeared beneath their feet.

The broken barrier slowly repaired itself.

Max watched everything carefully.

”Status?”

The oldest instructor exhaled slowly.

”We’re holding...”

”...barely.”

Another wave burst from the room.

Whooom...

This one wasn’t explosive.

Instead, it rolled outward like an endless tide.

Everyone felt their robes flutter.

Even their hearts seemed to skip a beat.

A young mage unconsciously stepped backward.

”What exactly is sleeping inside that room...?”

An older instructor immediately corrected him.

”Watch your words.”

”That young man saved this city.”

The younger mage quickly lowered his head.

”My apologies.”

”I meant no disrespect.”

”I’ve simply never witnessed power like this.”

Another instructor spoke while maintaining the barrier.

”If he were awake, perhaps he could suppress it himself.”

”But now...”

”...his body seems to be releasing it naturally.”

Max folded his arms.

”Can all of you determine what kind of power this is?”

Silence.

The instructors exchanged uncertain glances.

Finally, one elderly professor slowly shook his head.

”I cannot.”

”I’ve spent decades researching mana.”

”I’ve studied elemental affinity, divine blessings, cursed energy, dragon mana, and even ancient relics.”

”But this...”

He looked toward the bedroom again.

”...this doesn’t resemble anything I’ve encountered before.”

”It feels familiar enough to resemble mana...”

”...yet completely different.”

Another instructor nodded.

”It carries tremendous density.”

”And unbelievable purity.”

”But its nature...”

”...remains impossible to identify.”

Max narrowed his eyes.

”So none of you know.”

”No.”

”We only know one thing.”

The elderly instructor smiled bitterly.

”If Lord Victor hadn’t been our ally...”

”We wouldn’t even be standing here.”

Everyone silently agreed.

Another pulse escaped the room.

The barrier trembled once more.

This time it held.

The instructors collectively sighed in relief.

Max looked toward the closed bedroom door and muttered quietly,

”Just what kind of person are you, Victor...?”

No one answered him.

Beyond the door...

Victor continued sleeping peacefully.

Completely unaware that an entire team of elite mages was struggling with every ounce of their strength just to contain the mysterious power quietly leaking from his unconscious body.