"Eh... maybe we should forget about him and add him to those that failed? Although we have already recorded nine deaths, going into coma due to soul injury isn’t uncommon."
Duke Frexon’s voice rang in the hall as he watched Drenvar intently.
Drenvar was doing all his best not to grip the edge of his throne so tightly. His face had gone from the cold nonchalance to his eyes flashing with anger.
He stared at the ground where Vacuse was lying down after he suddenly collapsed. It had been half an hour already when his peers were already done, and yet he wasn’t back.
’...this boy, I thought I felt something from him since he was a kid. He’s like a wild dog that grows well when left alone. That’s why I left him alone all this while and built another heir for him to compete with. He’s a failure?...’
Drenvar turned to the Duke next. The bastard that was meddling with his internal affairs, and then to Amon, who was looking at him with a fierce expression.
He must have gotten something good.
Drenvar took one look at Vacuse. A pity. He wanted to watch the two of them struggle for the throne. The Dragon seat.
Drenvar gestured. "Let the second part begin. We will now know what type of Dragon beast you are Bound with and the rank!"
The hall was suddenly filled with the whispers of anticipation. Even Drenvar was keeping himself down by sheer discipline that he had built through the years.
At this point, he wasn’t even waiting for any of his bastards to have an S Dragon. He just needed some of them to have A ranks so that the Vorrakyn family could survive a little bit more.
He looked at Amon again, and he felt his blood shimmer slightly. ’...I will have to make Lyra compete in this heir competition... Amon would probably sell the family to the Duke... but what if he was the only powerful one?...’
Drenvar’s thoughts spun, but none of it showed on his face as he waved his hand lazily.
The noise was so unexpected, same as the cough that followed.
Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to the person. Vacuse was standing up while he massaged his head and blinked furiously.
Amon’s expression fell. "You are awake."
Lyra rushed forward to help him up.
Drenvar concealed a smile. Now, he was going to have the fight he desired.
Vacuse was feeling an intense headache. Plowing through that many realms isn’t easy. His mouth felt dry and his eyes itchy.
But he didn’t mind it that much.
Because his body had changed.
The biggest change was his lower abdomen, where it was said that the soul space was located. It was now filled with power. Dark, rolling energy churned within, waiting for him to call.
And inside, he could hear the faint whispers of the Dragonet Void Dragon, slowly calling to him.
The next change he felt was in his body. His skin was tougher and his bones harder. And from the sensation that was coming from his legs, he knew he was far faster than before.
He was now in the first stage of advancement as a Soulbearer—The Initiate Boundling rank!
He looked around him, at the others that were staring at him, and he grinned. "Thank you, Lyra."
She gave him a worried look. "I thought you wouldn’t make it."
Vacuse shrugged. "What can I say, it took far longer than I expected."
To the side, a cold snort was followed by Amon saying, "You are the last one to return. I’m sure you must be begging one of them to choose you!"
Vacuse blinked. He contemplated if he should tell him how every Dragon he met had wanted him. Then he sighed and looked away. He would rather spend his time locked up in his room.
His gaze searched the other bastards standing, and he found that his two subordinates were back. Good.
Amon didn’t like being ignored, and he took several steps forward, but the Dragon Lord clapped. "The second part shall begin!"
Everyone turned to the front of the hall where a bald old man stood. He wore a black robe, and his red eyes were still sharp. He stood inside a large circular formation and held a floating orb in his hand.
"The formation will force out the Beast you are Bound with, and the orb will tell us its rank! Because you are not yet at the rank, you can’t call your beast out by yourself. You can’t materialize them yet!" the bald man said.
"We start now! Lyra Vorrakyn!"
Lyra came forward, and immediately she entered the formation, the different shapes and angles in it lit up with glowing light that rose and shot into her body.
In the next instant, Vacuse wasn’t surprised to see what happened next.
A hot red glow appeared around her as if molten metal was taking shape. The shape was large, and its sudden appearance filled the room with high temperature.
Whispers began to spread.
"What is that? I’ve not seen this before."
"Impossible. This is... this is..."
Drenvar smiled. He couldn’t help it. At least his family would survive for a little while still.
"Time to check its rank!"
Even though everyone knew its rank already, she still had to place her hand on the orb.
"Lyra Vorrakyn. Fire Salamander, rank A!"
There was a short period where the Vorrakyn family and all the people in attendance raised their voices in praise. Even Duke Frexon clapped, even as his face turned solemn.
Rank A are considered elite. They are powerful and strong, and they would only get stronger and more powerful with each rank they climb.
Vacuse also clapped. It was great to see that his future warriors were elite.
The Salamander vanished, and Lyra returned, her usually expressionless face smiling with pride.
"You did good, Lyra," Vacuse praised.
She paused to look at him. "I’m sure you’re going to do better."
Vacuse frowned slightly. He felt as if her words had double meaning, but before he could say anything else, another name was getting called.