Standing in front of the Eighth Order Barracks, Arin Solara let out a lazy yawn.
Though the day was still young, he had already begun contemplating where to begin his evening entertainment.
Before he could decide, a familiar sight caught his eye — a young Warden from the Eighth Order hurriedly reporting to a female Warden he knew well.
She was Ise Narael, the Tenth Star of the Eighth Order.
Slender, glasses perched on her nose, a tome tucked under her arm, she exuded calm professionalism.
Over time, Arin had come to regard her as a trusted friend.
Like Selene Yadomaru, their bond had been forged through shared interest in literature and quiet afternoons spent in the libraries of the Citadel.
The soldier finished his report and quickly departed, leaving Narael alone.
Curious about her serious expression, Arin stepped forward.
"Yo, Narael-chan. What's with that look? Something happened?"
Narael turned, her brows knitting.
"Arin Solara… something unusual is happening in the Outer Rings."
Her voice was calm, but carried the weight of concern.
"The Twelfth Order has detected a series of disappearances — dozens of civilians have gone missing over the past month."
"The Twelfth Order has already reported this to the Commander-General. An advance investigation squad of ten Wardens has been dispatched immediately. Now all Orders have been notified."
Her tone was professional, but the implications were far from ordinary.
Even though the civilians of the Outer Rings were often regarded as expendable by the Dominion's elite, mass disappearances were a serious disturbance.
The balance of the spiritual world — the Astral Dominion, the Mortal Coil, the Nether Abyss, and the Shadow Veil — had to remain stable.
If one realm became overpopulated or depleted, the spiritual cycle could collapse catastrophically.
This was the principle behind the Dominion's long-observed equilibrium: life, death, and energy flows in constant balance.
Upon hearing Narael's report, Arin's mind noted the patterns —, because records of past disturbances and arcane experiments hinted at similar occurrences.
His instinct told him that the situation was significant.
At that moment, his system issued a new prompt:
[System Notification]
[Special Mission 7: Witness the Birth of the Masked Army]
[Description: On the night of the full moon, a hidden ritual unfolds deep within the Outer Rings. Investigate and witness the creation of the Masked Army firsthand.]
[Reward: Random Ability or Artifact]
Special missions were the real accelerators of growth.
Daily tasks offered steady, incremental progress.
Special missions could give absurdly powerful rewards — EX-rank abilities, legendary artifacts, or techniques that altered the course of events.
However, they were rare and situational.
From Arin's experience, the highest probability of triggering a special mission occurred during events that influenced the Dominion's ongoing balance.
For now, he had no intention of interfering prematurely — the system required him to observe, adapt, and grow before acting recklessly.
He gave Narael's shoulder a light pat, a reassuring smile on his lips.
"Don't worry, Narael-chan. With the Commander-General and Council's guidance, the Orders will handle the situation."
Narael's gaze narrowed.
There was something off about the way he said that.
The words themselves were proper — almost ceremonious — but coming from Arin, they carried a subtle undertone of amusement.
She couldn't put her finger on why.
Before she could question him further, Arin simply waved and strolled away, humming lazily.
Returning to his residence, his thoughts drifted to his living arrangements.
As a seated officer of the First Astral Order, Arin enjoyed privileged quarters.
His home included a private courtyard — not as extravagant as the Commander's estate, but more than sufficient for his needs.
Not that he trained outside.
No.
All of his training occurred indoors, for a very good reason.
Layers upon layers of resonance barriers protected his home — not as sophisticated as the legendary Soul Core Membrane, but more than enough to block all forms of observation.
Even though the Dominion's Technological Advancement Bureau was still in its infancy, Arin preferred to be cautious.
He wasn't just protecting himself from rogue experiments or ambitious Commanders.
He was also wary of hidden organizations manipulating the flow of energy.
History had shown that powerful individuals could unexpectedly lose everything in a single moment if unprepared.
Arin intended to ensure that nothing like that could ever happen to him.
Once in his bedroom, he channeled his Astral Resonance.
Immediately, Shunkyō — Eclipsed Rift glowed faintly white.
In an instant, his entire room was sealed by an invisible force — no intrusion, no surveillance, no surprises.
Cross-legged, he laid the blade across his lap and began daily Blade Meditation.
In the Astral Dominion, a Spirit Arm was more than a weapon — it was an extension of the soul.
A powerful Spirit Arm could define the style, philosophy, and capacity of a Warden.
Mastering Blade Meditation allowed the Warden to synchronize fully with their Spirit Arm, enhancing control over advanced techniques.
Thanks to his Shadow Doppels, Arin's progress was absurdly fast.
As his eyes closed, Shunkyō's glow intensified.
The connection between blade and soul deepened.
Shunkyō's form was deceptively simple — an ancient longsword, regal and restrained.
Compared to other Arms with flashy transformations, it exuded pure, raw power.
And its true ability…
Absolutely broken.