Ascension of the Forsaken Genius

The Decennial Trial was more than a competition. It was a stage where the future elites of the kingdom were revealed. Those who stood out would be recruited into the Royal Academy, elite guilds, military divisions, noble houses, or even secretive organizations that sought to groom the next generation of powerhouses.

For Sylas Aldreth, it was a glimpse into the world beyond House Aldreth.

The capital city of Veydrion was alive with excitement. The streets near the Coliseum of Kings were packed with merchants, spectators, and hopeful young cultivators who had traveled from all corners of the kingdom to witness or participate in the event.

Massive banners of various noble houses, military units, and powerful factions decorated the arena’s outer walls, each marking the presence of an influential group. The royal crest was displayed at the highest point, a reminder that the king himself was watching.

Sylas stood among the crowd, unnoticed, wearing a simple black cloak to avoid drawing attention. His father had arranged for his automatic entry into the competition, but he had declined it.

This trial wasn’t about proving himself. It was about learning. Understanding.

As he observed, the most powerful factions began arriving, each commanding a distinct presence.

The Royal Academy

The most prestigious institution in the kingdom. Only the best of the best were granted entry. Their representatives arrived in regal blue-and-gold robes, their leader a silver-haired woman with piercing golden eyes.

Lady Alison Valenhart, the Head Instructor.

Her reputation was legendary—one of the strongest scholarly warriors, a cultivator whose expertise in energy theory and battle tactics was unmatched. Many young elites dreamed of securing a place under her tutelage.

Her gaze swept over the gathered participants, sharp and calculating.

"She’s already assessing potential recruits."

The Royal Military

Clad in crimson uniforms, these were commanders and captains of the kingdom’s most elite forces. Among them stood General Bastian Falkenrath, a mountain of a man whose battle aura made even seasoned warriors uneasy.

The military sought warriors with discipline and raw power, those who could be molded into the kingdom’s future protectors.

The Azure Fang Guild

A renowned mercenary guild known for producing assassins, hunters, and rogue cultivators. Their representatives were clad in dark attire, their leader—a masked man known as "Phantom Shade"—silent and unreadable.

Unlike the academy or the military, the guilds had no rules. Strength and skill were all that mattered.

The Emberlane Magus Association

This faction sought arcane prodigies, those with exceptional control over mystical energies. Their leader, Grand Magister Voren, was a withered old man whose mana alone warped the air around him.

Noble Houses

Many high-ranking noble houses had sent their own scouts. Some were rivals, others were allies, but all had the same goal—to find young talents that could be brought under their influence.

Even within House Aldreth, eyes were on this trial. Sylas knew that his half-brother, Rael, was determined to seize this opportunity.@@novelbin@@

Sylas wasn’t the only one observing.

Across the coliseum grounds, other notable participants had begun taking their places.

Rael Aldreth, his half-brother, stood at the forefront, exuding confidence.

A masked competitor cloaked in lightning energy, their aura crackling with suppressed power.

A girl with frost-blue eyes, her very presence lowering the temperature around her.

A warrior clad in black armor, his massive spear resting on his shoulder.

The best of the best had gathered. All of them were eager to prove themselves.

Sylas, however, simply watched.

He had no interest in impressing the academy, the guilds, or the noble houses.

He wanted one thing only—strength.

And to achieve that, he needed to understand the true nature of power.

Tomorrow, the preliminary round would begin.

And he would be watching.