The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

Chapter 98 - 98

After breakfast, the trainees gathered in the courtyard, their usual morning chatter replaced by a tense silence. The air buzzed with anticipation, as everyone knew that today was no ordinary day. Rick stood before them, his expression as stern as ever, yet his eyes gleamed with a hint of something more—pride, perhaps, or expectation. He began to speak, his voice echoing in the still morning air.

"Today, you will enter the crypt beneath this training ground. This is no simple test. Within its depths lie the eggs of the griffons, creatures of immense power and loyalty. You will each have the chance to choose one, but know this: the egg you select will determine your future. Choose wisely, for the bond you form will last a lifetime."

The trainees exchanged glances, excitement and apprehension mingling in their expressions. Rick wasted no time and gestured for them to follow. With a nod of understanding, they fell in line, moving through the corridors of the training center until they reached a large, iron door. The door was carved with intricate runes and symbols, pulsating faintly with a light that seemed to come from another realm.

As they descended further, the atmosphere grew colder, and the walls of the crypt began to close in, their oppressive presence felt by all. The ominous aura became more intense with every step, a dark energy seeping through the stones, making the air thick and heavy. The silence was palpable, broken only by the echoing footsteps of the trainees and the occasional drip of water from the ceiling.

At last, they arrived at a massive stone gate, sealed tight and adorned with ancient carvings that depicted scenes of battle and bloodshed, of griffons soaring through stormy skies with their riders locked in combat. Rick stepped forward, pulling a small, intricately carved token from his dimensional ring. The token glimmered in the dim light, its surface etched with the same runes that adorned the door. With a deliberate movement, Rick placed the token against the stone gate. Read new chapters at empire

The moment the token made contact, the gate rumbled to life. The runes on its surface began to glow, emitting a deep, resonant hum that vibrated through the air. Slowly, the stone gate began to shift, grinding open to reveal the darkened entrance to the crypt. The trainees watched in awe as the gate fully opened, revealing the pitch-black interior beyond.

Rick turned to them, his expression grave. "Enter according to your rank. Remember, this is a sacred place. Respect it, and it will reward you. Klaus, you go first."

Klaus nodded, stepping forward with measured confidence. As the first to enter, the eyes of all the trainees were on him, but he felt no fear, only a calm determination. He stepped through the gate, and as soon as he did, the massive stone gate began to close behind him, sealing him in the crypt’s depths.

The darkness of the crypt was almost suffocating. For a moment, Klaus was enveloped in pitch blackness, his senses heightened as he waited for his eyes to adjust. Then, with a sudden burst of light, blue flames flickered to life along the walls, illuminating the vast chamber. The flames cast eerie, dancing shadows, and the temperature in the room dropped further, causing Klaus to involuntarily shiver.

Before him lay a vast array of eggs, each one nestled in its own small alcove within the stone walls. The eggs varied in size, color, and markings, each one unique in its own right. Some were a deep, rich crimson with swirling gold patterns, others were a soft, shimmering silver with faint blue veins running across their surfaces. Each egg seemed to pulse with its own energy, as if the life within was waiting eagerly to be born.

Klaus began to walk through the chamber, his steps slow and deliberate. His gaze drifted over the eggs, analyzing each one with the keen eye of someone who had learned to trust his instincts. The Ten Eyes Mantra allowed him to perceive things that others might miss, subtle differences in the energy emanating from each egg, hints of the power that lay dormant within.

For nearly half an hour, Klaus wandered through the crypt, his attention drawn to various eggs but never fully captivated by any. He could sense the potential in each one, the raw, untapped power that could be harnessed, yet something within him held back, waiting for the right moment, the right connection.

As he reached the far end of the chamber, Klaus’s eyes were drawn to an egg that stood apart from the rest, tucked away in a shadowy corner. The egg was different from the others—not just in appearance but in the aura it projected. It was a deep, obsidian black, its surface smooth and flawless, save for faint, swirling patterns that seemed to shift and change under the flickering blue light.

The moment Klaus laid eyes on the egg, he felt a strange pull, an almost magnetic attraction. He approached it cautiously, the sense of darkness around the egg growing stronger with each step. The aura it emitted was unlike anything he had encountered before—ominous, foreboding, yet strangely compelling.

As Klaus stood before the egg, he felt a sudden jolt of fear, not his own, but something foreign, yet intimately familiar. It was Greed, the eccentric and powerful sword bound to him through their contract. Klaus had never sensed such an emotion from Greed before; the sword had always been a source of power and arrogance, never showing vulnerability. But now, that arrogance was gone, replaced by a raw, visceral fear.

"Stay away from that egg," Greed’s voice echoed in Klaus’s mind, the usual tone of superiority replaced by one of pleading desperation. "Please, just this once, listen to me without asking questions. I’ll give you anything—stat points, power, whatever you want—just don’t touch that egg."

Klaus paused, his hand hovering over the egg as he considered Greed’s words. The fear in Greed’s voice was real, unlike anything Klaus had ever felt from the sword. It was enough to give him pause, to make him question whether this egg, this dark and ominous object, was something beyond his understanding, something that even Greed feared.

But Klaus’s curiosity was piqued. Why would Greed, a sword that thrived on power and darkness, fear this egg? What was it about this egg that was so different, so dangerous? The questions swirled in his mind, tempting him to reach out, to grasp the egg and discover its secrets.

Klaus stood there, torn between his instincts and the warning from Greed. He could feel the darkness emanating from the egg, a cold, almost malevolent energy that seemed to seep into the very air around it. Yet, there was also a strange allure to it, a promise of power that was difficult to resist.

For a long moment, Klaus remained still, his hand inches away from the egg. The crypt was silent, save for the faint crackling of the blue flames, but in Klaus’s mind, a storm of thoughts raged. What could this egg be? What kind of creature lay within it? And why was Greed, a being of such immense power, so terrified of it?