Talent Awakening: Draconic Overlord Of The Apocalypse

“Said the rank gap’s too wide—battle’s ill-advised. And without a House name, I can’t hurt it. Celestial law, whatever that means. No strength, no Whisper, just death if we step through.”

Gina’s brow furrowed, her damaged speaker cannon humming faintly as she adjusted its cracked crystal.

“A General? That’s a step up from the trash we’ve been cutting through. And what’s this about a House name? You’ve never mentioned that before.”

“Because I didn’t know it mattered,” Arden said, his voice edged with frustration. “It’s been buzzing in my head since we got close to this place—warnings, rules, cryptic nonsense. I thought it was just noise, but now…”

He trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor.

“It’s specific. Too specific.”

Jarek cracked his knuckles, a dry laugh escaping him. “So you’re saying you’re useless in there? Great. Guess I’ll have to punch twice as hard to make up for it.”

“Not just me,” Arden said quietly, lifting his eyes to meet theirs. “It didn’t say it outright, but I’ve got a bad feeling it applies to all of us. No House name, no chance. We might all be walking in blind.”

Logan’s grin faltered, his mace dipping slightly. “Wait, hold up. You’re saying none of us can touch this thing? That’s bullshit. We’ve smashed everything else in here.”

“Everything else wasn’t a boss monster that is apparently a General,” Rainer cut in, his voice calm but firm as he adjusted the straps on his water canisters.

“If this system’s real, and Arden’s true guildmaster is not just losing it, we’re talking about something that outclasses us by leagues. House name or not, we might not have the juice for this… we are already on our last legs.”

Marcus shifted his weight, wincing as his cracked ribs protested.

“Then what the hell’s a House name? Some fantasy noble crap? None of us are fancy enough for that, guildmaster included.”

Arden shook his head. “I don’t know. It’s tied to this place—Celestial law, domains, Whispers.

Maybe it’s a title, a bloodline, something we’re missing. But if it’s right, we’re not equipped for this fight.”

The group fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in. The glyphs on the doors pulsed faintly, as if taunting them, while the distant sound of wet, dragging footsteps echoed from somewhere beyond—faint, but growing closer.

Gina exhaled through her nose, her silver hair catching the torchlight. “So what’s the play? We’ve come too far to just turn tail. If we don’t kill the boss, we will die in here. But if you’re right, and we can’t even scratch this thing…”

“We could try,” Warner said. “Test it. See if this voice is bluffing. But if it’s not, we’re screwed.”

“Or dead,” Rainer added, his blue eyes narrowing. “I’d rather not test that part.”

His jaw tightened, and he closed his eyes for a moment, focusing inward.

That buzz—he’d heard it before, and it had spoken to him. Maybe it could answer now.

‘Hey,’

He thought, pushing the words into the static hum still faintly echoing in his skull.

‘Strange voice… Can any of us hurt this General Aberrant behind these doors?’

For a moment, there was nothing—just the distant drip of water and the shuffle of his team’s boots.

Then the buzz flared again, sharp and intense, drilling into his senses.

The world blurred at the edges as the voice returned, ancient and layered with countless echoes:

[Aspirant… Negative. None among you bear a House name. Celestial law binds this domain. Without such a sanction, your strikes will falter, your strength will wane, and the General will remain unscathed by your hands.]

Arden’s grip on the door tightened, his knuckles whitening.

‘So we’re all useless in there? Is there a way around it?’

The voice responded:

[To proceed and prevail, you must accept a Contract. Bind yourself to a House, and the law will recognize your claim. Only then may you challenge the General and claim its Whisper.]

‘A Contract again?’ Arden’s mind raced. What’s the catch? What are the stakes—

“Guildmaster,” Marcus said, his voice low and serious, cutting through Arden’s thoughts.

“You’ve got that look. What’s the call?”

Arden clenched his fists, the green flames flaring briefly before settling.

“I don’t know if we can win,” he admitted. “But we can’t walk away unless we defeat the boss monster. If we go in, we go smart. Test its defenses, see if there’s a loophole. If it’s hopeless, we pull back. No one dies for nothing. Agreed?”

Logan shrugged, his grin returning. “Fine by me. I’ll bash it ’til it proves me wrong.”

Jarek nodded, flexing his raw hands. “Same. Let’s see what it’s got.”

Gina smirked faintly. “I’ll scream what I can. Might not kill it, but I’ll make its ears bleed.”

Marcus hefted his blade with a grunt. “Ribs or no ribs, I’m in.”

Warner and Rainer exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison.

“On you,” Warner said.

Arden took a deep breath, turning back to the doors.

The buzz hadn’t returned, but its warning lingered like a shadow. He pressed both hands against the metal, green flames surging as he pushed. The doors groaned louder this time, hinges screeching as they parted, revealing a cavernous darkness beyond.

Far behind the group, Draven trudged alone. His heavy boots crunched against the cracked earth. He paused, resting a hand on the hilt of his blade strapped to his hip.

Before he could take another step, a sharp BZZZZZZZZZT erupted in his skull—the same intrusive static Arden had described.

Draven flinched, his free hand snapping to his temple as the buzz clawed into his senses. His vision wavered, the red mist twisting into distorted shapes, and then the voice spoke—ancient, layered, and cold:

[Member of House Hazenworth… You have intruded upon the domain of an opposing House. Celestial law has interpreted your actions as waging a House war.]

He exhaled slowly, a plume of breath visible in the red mist. “This brings back unpleasant memories.”

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