Chapter 125: The Day Before War
For the next four days, the Shadowgrove Forest became a relentless battlefield. With Seraphina by his side, Adrian's growth was nothing short of meteoric.
During the day, they fought side by side, cutting through monsters, conquering obstacles, and pushing each other to their limits.
Seraphina’s presence wasn’t merely a safety net; it was an assurance that Adrian could face challenges far above his current abilities.
The synergy between them was evident in every strike and counter. Seraphina’s spells created openings, and Adrian capitalized on them with ruthless efficiency.
His Draconic Cloak allowed him to blend into the environment, and Shadow Vein Step enabled him to move with blinding speed, always one step ahead of the creatures they faced.
Adrian fought against beasts that would have been nightmares for any ordinary adventurer—Twisted Treants, Dire Wargs—but none stood a chance against the combined might of Adrian and Seraphina.
As the sun dipped below the horizon each day, their intense training didn’t end. Instead, it shifted to something more intimate, more primal.
At night, Adrian would return to his chambers, where his women eagerly awaited him. The bedroom became a different kind of battlefield—a place where pleasure and desire reigned supreme.
His nights were spent indulging in the carnal delights that only those deeply connected to him could provide.
Each woman, whether it was Isabella, Chris, Eve, Seraphina, or Sophia, received his undivided attention, and their moans filled the manor as he pushed them to new heights of ecstasy.
To enhance these sessions, Adrian had purchased various devices and instructional manuals that provided insights into advanced techniques and positions designed to maximize pleasure.
He shared these with his women, showing them new ways to satisfy not just him, but themselves as well.
The videos detailed techniques to expand their boundaries, and the women eagerly absorbed the knowledge, experimenting with Adrian and even among themselves.
He could feel the effects of the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique amplifying his strength, agility, and even his mana reserves.
Each encounter left him invigorated, stronger, and more connected to those who shared his bed. The symbiotic nature of the technique meant that his women also reaped the benefits of his growing power, their own stats increasing as they became more synchronized with him.
But there was one woman who remained elusive—the one he wanted most to experience the Yin-Yang Harmony Technique with—Seraphina.
No matter how much they pushed each other during the day or how intimately they connected at night, Adrian couldn’t activate the technique on her.
According to Seraphina, her being a Third-Class Awakener meant a wall of mana and spiritual energy prevented the technique from taking root.
Unless Adrian himself could possess spiritual energy along with his mana, he wouldn’t be able to break the barrier and use his technique on her as it would be blocked otherwise.
Adrian frowned at the situation. He glanced over at Seraphina, who was resting beside him, her fiery red hair spread across the pillow like a halo.
She was so close, yet still out of his reach in that regard. He had managed to push his own limits, leveling up and gaining stats at a breakneck pace, but it wasn’t enough.
“Just wait, Aunt,” he murmured softly, his gaze hardening with resolve. “I’ll catch up to you. I’ll break through that barrier one way or another and let you experience even more bliss."
Despite the challenges, Adrian’s progress was nothing short of astonishing. By the end of the fourth day, he had gained eleven levels, his stats increasing significantly.
Each level-up brought him closer to his goals, and the fruits of his labor were evident not just in himself but in his women as well.
Their stats, too, had grown in tandem with his, making them stronger, faster, and more resilient.
But it wasn’t just about raw power. He could feel the bond between them deepening, strengthening with each shared experience. He was building a foundation of loyalty and trust that would be unshakeable.
On the morning before their planned day of attacking Mortimer, Adrian decided it was time to take the next step. He gathered everyone from the Everhart territory—the soldiers, the maids, the staff. No one was exempt.
They assembled in the training ground of the Everhart Manor, a sea of faces filled with curiosity, uncertainty, and, in some cases, unease. Adrian stood before them, his presence commanding as he prepared to address the crowd.
“My family, my people,” Adrian began, his voice firm and resonant.
“Today marks a turning point for the Everhart territory. We’ve fought hard, we’ve trained hard, and now it’s time to push ourselves even further. We will be embarking on a journey, one that will take us to the next level of power and strength.”
Murmurs of confusion rippled through the crowd. Adrian raised his hand, silencing them.
“This journey will take place in a virtual training chamber, created by my Aunt, the former Royal Mage, Seraphina Everhart. It is a place where time flows differently, where a year’s worth of training can be condensed into mere weeks. But before we embark, there is a contract that must be signed—a binding agreement that will ensure your loyalty to the Everhart family.”
Adrian held up the contract, a scroll inscribed with runes and symbols that pulsed with a faint, ominous light.
“This contract is for your protection and ours. It will ensure that the strength you gain will always serve the Everhart family, and it will guarantee that no outside force can tamper with our bonds.”
The Everharts had always been a fair and just family. They trusted Adrian, even if they didn’t fully understand the gravity of what he was asking.
One by one, they stepped forward, signing their names on the scroll. Each signature sent a ripple of power through the hall, the contract binding itself to their very souls, but no one realized this situation as they were not strong enough.
Unbeknownst to them, Adrian had purchased these contracts, soul contracts, in bulk from the system, and their tier, while effective, was low enough that it hadn’t cost him much SP.
Still, the effect was absolute. Those who signed were now irrevocably tied to the Everhart family.
Once the last person signed, Adrian’s smile turned sharp, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
“This isn’t just any contract,” he announced, his voice soft but carrying a weight that made everyone freeze. “It is a soul-binding contract. Those who signed it will find themselves unable to betray the Everhart family without severe consequences.”
Gasps of shock and fear rippled through the crowd. Adrian stood firm, his expression unyielding.
“But for those who remain loyal,” he continued, “it will grant unprecedented opportunities for growth and advancement. So, choose wisely. Loyalty will be rewarded. Treachery will be punished.”
The silence was deafening as Adrian’s eyes swept over the assembled crowd. A few faces blanched with fear—the spies, the ones planted by neighboring powers.
“Anyone having second thoughts?” he asked, his voice almost gentle.
No one dared to move.
Before any of them could react further, a few individuals crumpled to the ground, their bodies lifeless, their souls shattered by the contract’s power.
The crowd recoiled, horrified gasps filling the air. But those who were still standing felt something shift within them—a strengthening of the bond, a deeper connection to the Everhart family.
“Let this be a lesson,” Adrian said coldly. “The Everhart family will not tolerate disloyalty. We stand strong together, or we fall divided.”
With that, he turned away, the crowd still reeling from the revelation. Loyalty or death. That was the creed of the Everharts, and now it was burned into their very souls.