The citadel's inner training grounds lay shrouded in pre-dawn mist, the air thick with residual storm qi from Elaric's recent breakthroughs. Stone pillars etched with ancient wind runes stood in a perfect circle around a central platform of polished thunderstone. Here, away from prying eyes, the heir of Sylvaine prepared for what the System flagged as a critical milestone.
In his palm rested the Legendary Companion Egg—jet-black shell veined with pulsing crimson, warm as fresh-spilled blood. Forty-seven hours had passed since the feast; incubation was complete. Zephyr circled overhead in slow, protective loops, silver feathers crackling whenever the egg's veins flared brighter.
Elaric knelt. He pricked his thumb with a fingernail edged in condensed lightning, letting a single drop of heart-blood fall onto the shell.
The egg shuddered.
DING!
Blood Contract Initiated – Legendary Variant Detected
Hatching Sequence: Bloodshadow Kirin (Mythic-grade potential)
Synchronization with Host Bloodline: 100% (Sylvaine True Eagle resonance detected)
Projected Traits: Shadow-flame manipulation, spatial-step evasion, judgment flame (punishes the wicked), rapid growth linked to host realm
Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface—black spreading into crimson, crimson bleeding into void-like darkness. A low, resonant growl echoed from within, not animal but primordial, like thunder trapped in a mountain.
The shell shattered outward in a burst of shadow-flame that scorched nothing living—only the training dummies twenty meters away ignited briefly before the flames self-extinguished in obedience to the newborn's will.
A foal—no larger than a wolfhound—emerged.
Its body combined equine grace with chimeric terror: sleek black hide scaled in iridescent crimson along the flanks and spine, a single spiraled horn of translucent obsidian rising from its forehead, mane and tail flowing like living shadow-smoke. Golden eyes burned with ancient intelligence. Tiny cloven hooves left faint scorch marks that healed instantly. Around its form hovered faint, transparent flames—neither hot nor cold, but carrying an aura of absolute judgment.
The kirin lifted its head. Met Elaric's gaze.
Instant bond.
Companion Contract Sealed – Bloodshadow Kirin
Name: Assigned by Host – Nyxara (suggested; accepts)
Current Realm: Newborn (growth accelerated ×5 due to mythic bloodline + host divine traits)
Innate Abilities Unlocked:
• Shadowflame Breath: Purifying black flames that burn sin/corruption first, physical body second
• Phantom Step: Short-range spatial flicker through shadows (up to 50 meters at current level)
• Judgment Aura: Passive debuff on hostile entities with impure/killing intent toward host
• Symbiotic Growth: Absorbs ambient shadow/qi from host breakthroughs; shares senses & minor power boosts
Nyxara stepped forward. Nuzzled Elaric's chest once—gentle despite the power radiating from her—then lowered her head in clear submission and affection.
Zephyr landed beside her, trilling a greeting. The eagle-kin and kirin regarded each other for a heartbeat; then Zephyr offered a wing, which Nyxara touched with her horn. A spark of storm and shadow merged briefly—perfect harmony.
Elaric exhaled. Power thrummed through the new bond.
"Welcome, Nyxara. We'll train together from this moment."
He rose. Gestured to the circle of pillars.
"First joint session. Zephyr – aerial dominance drills. Nyxara – ground pursuit & judgment flame control. I'll weave multi-system fusion techniques between you."
The training began.
Elaric activated Cultivation Simulator – Companion Link Mode (new sub-function unlocked post-hatching). Golden threads connected all three: man, eagle, kirin. Optimal paths lit up—storm mana for Zephyr, shadow-qi for Nyxara, balanced fusion for himself.
He started with basic synergy.
Technique Demonstrated: Storm-Shadow Blade
He circulated qi through dantian, mana through core, aura through meridians, ki through sea. Wind gathered → lightning arced → shadows condensed from Nyxara's mane → storm-flame wrapped the construct.
A blade thirty meters long materialized—half crackling plasma, half devouring void-fire.
He slashed.
A training pillar split cleanly; the cut surfaces showed frost-burn from storm and char from shadowflame.
Nyxara growled approval. Zephyr screeched and dove, adding wind pressure that made the residual energy whip into a miniature tornado.
Next: evasion drill.
Elaric summoned illusory shadow-clones via Ninefold Shadow Steps + bloodline wind illusions. Ten versions of himself scattered across the grounds.
Nyxara activated Phantom Step—body blurring into smoke, reappearing behind one clone, horn piercing through. The clone dissolved in black flames that left no ash.
Zephyr countered with Storm Cry—sonic thunder that stunned three clones simultaneously, feathers launching lightning darts that pinned two more.
Elaric laughed—genuine, exhilarated.
"Faster. Coordinate."
They flowed.
Man directing, companions executing. Storm and shadow intertwined like lovers—destructive yet perfectly balanced.
Two hours passed in a blur. Sweat beaded on Elaric's brow despite regeneration; companions panted lightly, but their eyes shone brighter.
Progress Notifications (Shared):
• Elaric: Mana Core → Mid Master Mage | Aura → Mid Palace Knight | Qi Core condensation 82% | Domain Seed 18% → 29%
• Zephyr: Early Juvenile → Mid Juvenile | New Skill: Lightning Feather Barrage
• Nyxara: Newborn → Early Growth Phase | Judgment Aura range extended 20 m
DING! Achievement Unlocked: "First Symphony of Beasts"
Permanent Buff: Companion synergy +15% when fighting together
Companion Loyalty +30% (already maxed → evolves to Devotion)
They rested briefly. Elaric fed both high-grade spirit fruits from inventory; Nyxara devoured hers in elegant bites, shadows curling around the core like protective tendrils.
Then—alarm.
The citadel's outer arrays flared red.
System Alert: Hostile Incursion Detected
Intruders: 7 – Peak Ki Condensation / Early Foundation Establishment
Signature: Vesper Shadow-Knights (concealment arrays active)
Target: Heir's Chambers (current location – training grounds misdirection failed)
Intent: Assassination / Capture alive preferred
Elaric's eyes narrowed. Golden flecks in his irises ignited.
"They move fast. The feast humiliation demanded blood."
He stood.
"Zephyr – high altitude overwatch. Nyxara – shadow perimeter. We end this quickly and quietly."
The companions vanished into their roles: eagle soaring silently into clouds, kirin melting into ground-shadows.
Elaric activated Shadow Veil Technique (Flawless) + Ninefold Shadow Steps. His form blurred into nine afterimages, each flickering with storm intent.
The assassins struck from seven directions—black-clad figures wielding poisoned daggers coated in shadow-qi, silent as death.
They converged on the central platform—only to find empty air.
Elaric reappeared behind the leader.
Palm strike—same as on Lira, but empowered.
Aura-coated fingers pierced heart-guard armor. Lightning surged inward, frying meridians. Shadowflame from Nyxara (linked through bond) followed—burning the man's killing intent from the inside.
The assassin dropped without a sound.
First Blood – Vesper Retaliation Wave 1/7
The others spun.
Too late.
Zephyr dove—Storm Cry stunning four at once. Lightning feathers rained, pinning limbs to ground.
Nyxara emerged from shadow beneath another—horn goring through abdomen, judgment flame erupting. The man screamed once before flames consumed his corruption; body collapsed into ash that scattered on wind.
Elaric moved like a storm god.
Eagle's Descent from the Ninth Heaven (partial – ancestral memory fragment)
He leaped skyward—wind wings unfurling—then plummeted. Fist wrapped in multi-system energy: mana storm + aura impact + qi explosive force + ki intent blade.
Impact.
Ground cratered. Two assassins pulped instantly.
Last two attempted escape—Phantom Step knockoffs.
Nyxara flickered ahead—blocking with body of shadowflame. Horn slashed; one bisected.
Elaric caught the final one mid-leap—hand around throat.
Memory Scan & Edit (permanent upgrade active)
Images flooded: Vesper Patriarch's direct order ("Bring the boy alive or his head. No survivors to trace."). Poison reserves. Escape tunnel coordinates beneath western wall.
Elaric crushed windpipe—mercifully quick—then edited residual soul imprint: false memory of successful abduction, leading pursuers into trap later.
Bodies vanished into Inventory (clean-up function).
DING!
Side Quest "Shadows Strike Back – First Wave" Completed
Rewards:
• Vesper Shadow-Knight Technique Compendium (stolen via scan – Rare)
• System Points +1,500
• Assassination Intent Crystal ×3 (fuse into weapons or Nyxara's horn)
• Hidden Achievement Progress: Silent Sovereign +20%
Elaric landed lightly. Companions returned—Zephyr preening, Nyxara licking a paw-like forelimb.
He looked toward the western wall.
"They'll send more. Stronger. Perhaps Foundation peak next time."
A cold smile.
"Good. Let them come."
He opened Faction Management Interface.
House Vesper: Betrayal Risk 81% → 94% (assassination attempt confirmed)
Recommended Action: Retaliatory strike / diplomatic severance / full war preparation
Elaric closed the window.
"First, report to Father. Then—we plan the counterstrike."
As dawn broke, painting the citadel gold and crimson, three figures—one man, one eagle, one kirin—walked back toward the main keep.
The storm had only begun.
End of Chapter 5.