Chapter 165: Leaving The Mortimer Castle

As the last of his men and all of his women stepped through the shimmering portal, leaving Mortimer's castle behind, Adrian stood momentarily alone at the entrance.

His gaze swept across the castle one final time before he turned toward Asmodeus.

"Gather a competent team to escort me to Everhart Manor tomorrow, discreetly. Mercenaries—nothing that ties us to this place. Understood?"

Asmodeus, who was now thoroughly enslaved , bowed deeply. "As you command, Master Adrian. I'll handpick them myself. We'll move unnoticed."

Satisfied, Adrian gave a final nod and said," Assemble near the inn before sunrise and wait for me. We will depart immediately so prepare all the necessary items today."

Adrian then, stepped through the glowing portal, feeling the familiar tingle of magic ripple across his skin as he was whisked away into the Virtual Training Chamber once more.

The moment Adrian emerged from the other side, he was met with the sight of his assembled forces.

Rows upon rows of his soldiers stood at attention, their faces reflecting the anticipation of what was to come.

At the head of each section stood his draconian awakenerd—powerful beings whose might and mastery of combat would serve to elevate the soldiers under their command.

Adrian's eyes swept over the crowd, and a swell of pride surged within him. These men and women had fought for him, trusted him, and now it was his turn to ensure they were more than just survivors. They would be conquerors.

He stepped forward, raising a hand to silence the murmurs and whispers that filled the air. The silence was immediate, and all eyes turned to him, waiting.

"You've done well," Adrian began, his voice strong and clear. "You've all fought hard, bled, and sacrificed to get to where we stand today. But make no mistake—our victory over Baron Mortimer was only a small step in our grand journey."

His words carried through the chamber, reverberating against the high walls. He saw the pride in their eyes, the sense of accomplishment, but he knew they could not afford to grow complacent.

"Mortimer was weak," Adrian continued, his voice rising in intensity. "A mere baron. His forces were scattered, we had the element of surprise with it. What we face next will not be so easy. The enemies that lie ahead are more powerful, more cunning. We will face counts, dukes, perhaps even the king. Their armies will be vast, their troops skilled.

But we—" He pointed to the soldiers, his gaze fierce. "We will be stronger. We will crush anyone that comes in our way."

The soldiers roared in unison, their battle cries filling the air, vibrating with a sense of power and determination.

Adrian let the noise wash over him before raising his hand once again to bring silence.

"That is why we are here. This chamber is not for training your skills like last time. It's for leveling up. Gaining the power necessary to crush any who stand in our way. Once again, you will be divided into groups, each led by one of my draconian awakened. You will fight. You will endure. You will grow stronger."

The roar that followed was even louder, a surge of energy rippling through the crowd as the soldiers fed off each other's enthusiasm.

But amid the ranks, there was one who remained silent—Celes, the newest addition to Adrian's forces.

She had been a part of the mercenary group that escorted him to Mortimer's castle, and though her skills had been impressive, she was clearly still out of her depth.

As the soldiers around her cheered and roared, she stood in a daze, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. This world—this power—was unlike anything she had ever known.

Adrian noticed her from the corner of his eye and, after concluding his speech, he made his way toward her.

As he approached, Celes snapped to attention, clearly trying to mask her bewilderment with a sense of professionalism.

"Celes," Adrian greeted her with a small smile, his tone far gentler than it had been moments before.

"Master Adrian," she replied, bowing her head slightly, though her voice betrayed her awe.

"I imagine all of this seems a bit overwhelming," he said, gesturing to the expansive training chamber and the magical portal they had just passed through.

She let out a shaky breath, unable to hold back her thoughts. "Overwhelming doesn't even begin to describe it. This... this place, that portal... everything you said. It's like something out of a legend."

Adrian chuckled softly. "I suppose it would seem that way to someone who hasn't seen magic of this caliber before."

He paused, allowing her to take in the magnitude of the situation. "This chamber is a place where time flows differently. One day in the outside world is equal to a year in here."

Her eyes widened even further, her mouth opening slightly in disbelief. "A... year? In one day?"

Adrian nodded. "Yes. That's how we've been able to grow so much in such a short amount of time. Here, you can train, fight, and level up at an accelerated pace. And when you leave, you'll be stronger than you ever imagined."

Celes struggled to process the information, her mind reeling at the idea of manipulating time in such a way. It was beyond anything she had ever thought possible.

"This... this is incredible," she whispered. "I had no idea..."

Adrian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You've earned the right to be here, Celes. You fought well, and you've proven your worth. And as a part of my forces now, you'll benefit from everything this chamber has to offer. Too bad you weren't with us a little earlier. My training chamber last time had the ability to boost the skills unlike this one. "

Celes swallowed hard, her gaze still distant as she tried to comprehend the enormity of what she was being told. "I don't even know what to say. This... it's beyond anything I ever imagined."

Adrian's smile widened. "You'll understand soon enough. Trust me. Just follow the training, and you'll grow stronger. Strong enough to stand alongside the rest of us."

He then nodded toward Stormstride, his majestic mount, who stood nearby, pawing the ground restlessly. "And thank you for looking after Stormstride. He seems to have taken a liking to you."

Celes blinked, momentarily distracted by the mention of the massive creature. "It was an honor," she said softly. "He's... a magnificent beast."

"He is," Adrian agreed. "You've made the right choice by joining us. All you need to do now is grow you abilities."

Celes finally looked up at him, her expression a mix of awe and determination. “I’ll do my best, Master Adrian. I won’t let you down.”