THE GENERAL'S DISGRACED HEIR

The room was suffocatingly dark, with barely any light seeping through the stone walls. It felt like a void, where even shadows dared not tread. In the heart of the room sat a crystal ball, resting on a jagged pedestal, emitting only the faintest glimmer of light. It shone so dimly, it was barely visible—until a figure cloaked in the surrounding darkness approached.

As the figure moved closer, his presence caused the air to shift unnaturally. His hand, cloaked in shadow, reached out to the crystal. When his fingers brushed its surface, the dull light within the orb flared ever so slightly, as if recognizing the touch. A sinister glow ignited on the back of his hand, revealing a symbol etched deep into his skin: an ominous eye encircled by flickering flames, pulsing like a heartbeat.

At that moment, the crystal orb came alive. Inside, swirling shadows and ancient darkness spiraled together, twisting and turning as if alive. The dark magic radiated an eerie energy. From within the depths of the orb, a voice, low and filled with malevolent intent, hissed through the silence.

"Report," it commanded, its tone sharp, cruel.

The man standing before the crystal bowed his head slightly, his voice steady but laced with deference. "Everything has been laid out according to your instructions, Master."

The darkness inside the orb swirled faster, agitated. "You know the price of failure. There will be no tolerance for mistakes."

A cold smile curled on the man's lips as he lifted his head to face the swirling shadows within the crystal. "This time will be different, my lord," he assured, his words dripping with confidence. "The plan is perfect. He will not escape fate—not this time."

The shadows within the orb pulsed, and the voice from within sharpened with venom. "David must die. Nothing will stop me—not even his father."

The man bowed lower, the glow of the sinister mark on his hand dimming slightly as he acknowledged the words of his master. "A new era is upon us," he whispered reverently, his voice carrying the weight of promised destruction.

The swirling darkness in the orb seemed to calm for a moment, before it spoke again, its tone final and commanding. "Keep watch over the ceremony. Inform me the moment the deed is done."

With those last words, the shadows within the crystal began to dissipate, the light inside slowly fading until the orb returned to its dormant, dim state. The figure remained silent for a moment, standing still in the now quiet and darkened room. His fingers traced the symbol on his hand, and a dark smile spread across his face.

"Soon," he murmured to himself, his voice low and filled with twisted ambition. "Soon, I shall hold the secrets of the universe in my grasp."

****

As the sky above the forest began to shift, the towering trees seemed to stretch even higher, their tops lost in a thick, ethereal mist. The atmosphere was heavy, and the forest floor was drenched in a silence so profound it felt as if the entire world was holding its breath. The trunks of the ancient trees stood like pillars, rising to unimaginable heights, their bark dark and gnarled with age. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and moss, the forest bathed in an eerie twilight despite the time of day.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered. Without warning, the thick clouds overhead parted with a crackle of energy. A brilliant beam of rainbow-colored light pierced through the opening in the sky, hitting the ground with such intensity it seemed to vibrate the very air. As the beam touched down, the forest exploded in a kaleidoscope of shifting colors, the light refracting off the mist. For a brief moment, the entire area was illuminated with blinding radiance.

When the light dimmed, standing in the heart of the forest, were the De Gor candidates. They materialized in the clearing as if dropped from the heavens themselves, their arrival accompanied by a strange hum of residual energy from the beam. Some of the commoners and lesser nobles immediately clutched their stomachs, their faces turning green as motion sickness overcame them. A few stumbled forward, retching into the bushes. The sight was almost pitiful, but expected for those who had never experienced the violent shift of instant teleportation.

Ray, however, seemed completely unaffected. He quickly made his way out of the group, his sharp eyes surveying the scene as if he had anticipated such a reaction. Meanwhile, the main noble branches, though maintaining their stoic expressions, couldn't hide the discomfort in their eyes. Inside, they felt just as dizzy and unsettled, but their pride forced them to remain composed.

David, standing with his hands casually on his waist, was unphased by the scene of others vomiting around him. Back on Earth, he had witnessed far worse in the chaos of combat and survival. This—mere teleportation sickness—was nothing to him. His gaze remained fixed, his mind focused.

Ray clapped his hands, the sharp sound slicing through the air and drawing everyone's attention. "Alright! Listen up!" His voice carried authority as the group quieted, groaning nobles and commoners alike turning to face him. "For those of you who've never experienced teleportation before, this is what happens," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact. His finger shot out as he gestured behind them. "But never mind that. Turn around."

Curiosity and unease rippled through the group as they slowly turned to face what Ray had indicated. Gasps and muttered exclamations followed. Their eyes widened, and jaws dropped as they beheld the impossible sight before them.

Looming in the distance, framed by the misty forest, stood a massive, otherworldly structure. It was an immense tree, but unlike any they had ever seen. The trunk was twisted and ancient, its bark glowing faintly with ethereal blue light. The tree's branches wound upward, spiraling toward the sky, where they seemed to merge with the mist. Strange, luminous veins of energy pulsed through the bark, casting a soft glow that flickered like the embers of a distant star.

At the base of the tree, nestled between its colossal roots, was a dark, gaping archway that glowed faintly. A shimmering portal of deep azure light hummed softly within, swirling with mysterious energy. The portal felt alive, as if it were beckoning them, whispering promises of both great fortune and untold dangers.

Some of the nobles recognized it immediately. Their eyes filled with both awe and trepidation. "A dungeon gate," someone whispered, barely able to contain their shock.

Ray motioned for the group to follow him, his strides confident as he led them toward the massive, glowing dungeon gate. The closer they got, the more imposing the structure became, its swirling azure light casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The candidates, both noble and commoner alike, shuffled forward, their previous nausea forgotten as their eyes were drawn to the daunting portal. Excitement, fear, and anticipation clung to the air like a thick fog.

Stopping just in front of the archway, Ray turned to face them, his expression stern but with a flicker of something else—anticipation, perhaps? He raised his hands to get their attention. "Welcome," he began, his voice firm and commanding, "to the De Gor family's coming-of-age ceremony."

He paused for a moment, letting the weight of his words settle over them. "This dungeon gate you see before you," he gestured toward the massive tree with its glowing portal, "is under the De Gor family's territory. It has been used for centuries to test candidates like yourselves from time to time. What you are about to face inside is more than a mere test of skill—it is a test of valor, of character, and of will."

The participants remained silent, hanging on his every word.

"There will be three trials," Ray continued, pacing slowly before the crowd. "Three chances to prove your worth. Each trial is designed to test a different aspect of what it means to earn your role in this world. Fail, and you will either lose your chance… or lose far more."

A murmur rippled through the group at the veiled warning, but Ray pressed on. "Your first trial, the one I will oversee personally, has two primary objectives. The first is simple: you must kill as many monsters as you can within the dungeon. Your performance will be monitored, and your score will be recorded based on the number of kills and the manner in which you eliminate them."

Several of the nobles smirked, confident in their abilities. Meanwhile, the commoners exchanged uneasy glances, fully aware of the looming challenges.

Ray's eyes narrowed as he delivered the next part. "The second objective, however, is far more critical: you must find and defeat the boss of this dungeon. I don't care how you accomplish this, whether through strategy, brute force, or sheer luck—just know that any means necessary will be permitted. But be warned: the boss will not fall easily, and many have been humbled by it."

David's focus sharpened, his instincts already calculating possibilities. His breath was steady, his heart a relentless drum in his chest.

"If any of you cannot continue the trial for whatever reason," Ray added, "find the nearest exit portal and return immediately. There is no shame in knowing your limits, but those who retreat… will not advance further in this ceremony."

Ray's gaze swept across the participants, his voice lowering to a more ominous tone. "Survival is not guaranteed. But for those who endure, glory and recognition await." He nodded, concluding his speech with a final, resonant statement: "Good luck."

One by one, the participants began stepping forward, their expressions a mixture of determination and fear. As each candidate entered the gate, their figures were swallowed by the swirling blue light, vanishing into the unknown.

David remained rooted at the entrance, the world around him seemingly fading as a translucent system window popped up before him.

---

[Quest: Change the fate of the coming-of-age ceremony.]

[Chapter One, Finale: Heroes' Demise.]

[Rewards: Level up & 550,000,000 DC.]

[Failure: DEATH!]

---

David stared at the window for a long moment, the implications crashing down on him like a weight he had long carried. His fate, as always, was entwined with death. He had seen it before, faced it head-on, and overcome it more times than he cared to count. But this time... something felt different.

Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists, steeling himself. Whatever awaited him inside the dungeon—monsters, nobles, or his own destiny—he would face it head-on, as he always had. Without another thought, he stepped forward into the gate, the swirling void swallowing him whole.