Chapter 255: Back To Training

Adrian adjusted his clothes, a satisfied but composed look settling on his face. He turned to Seraphina, who stood by the doorway, her fiery red hair cascading down her back and her piercing blue eyes watching him with an amused glint.

"Aunt Seraphina," he began, his tone calm and authoritative, "gather everyone tonight at the meeting hall. We'll be using the Virtual Training Chamber to enhance our skills and strength further."

Seraphina gave him a slight nod, her expression quickly shifting from amusement to seriousness. "What about the security of the manor while we're inside the chamber? Someone has to ensure it's protected."

Adrian was already one step ahead. "I'll have the Draconian Army halt their training temporarily and guard the manor until we return. That should be enough to secure the estate."

Satisfied with his plan, Seraphina offered him a small smile. "Very well. I'll see to it that everyone is ready. I'll leave you to rest for now."

The two exchanged a brief but respectful nod before parting ways. Adrian made his way back to his room, eager to wash off the day's exhaustion. He stepped into the bathroom, the sound of water filling the tub calming him as he stripped down. The warm bath soothed his muscles, and he leaned back, his thoughts briefly wandering to everything he had accomplished recently.

After drying off, Adrian collapsed onto his bed, intending to take a short nap. However, his exhaustion got the better of him, and he sank into a deep sleep.

A knock at the door pulled Adrian out of his slumber. Blinking groggily, he propped himself up on one elbow. "Come in," he called, his voice heavy with sleep.

Christine entered, her cheerful demeanor instantly brightening the room. "Big brother, dinner's ready, and everyone's waiting for you."

Adrian rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of his nap. "What time is it?" he asked, glancing at the window and noting the golden hues of the evening sky.

"It's already evening!" Christine giggled. "You've been sleeping since midday!"

Adrian groaned softly, running a hand through his hair as he sat up. "I didn't mean to sleep that long…"

Christine shrugged. "You looked so peaceful that I didn't want to wake you. Aunt Seraphina asked me to wake you earlier, but…" She trailed off, her mischievous grin giving her away.

Adrian raised an eyebrow but decided not to press the matter. He quickly got dressed and followed Christine to the dining hall.

When Adrian entered the dining hall, he was greeted by the sight of his women chatting and laughing with one another. Isabella, Catherine, and Seraphina were seated near one end of the table, while Christine joined him as he approached.

"Sorry for keeping you all waiting," Adrian said as he took his seat. "I only meant to take a short nap, but I overslept."

Seraphina smirked, leaning back in her chair. "I did try to wake you," she teased. "But Christine said you were sleeping so soundly, she couldn't bear to disturb you."

Adrian gave Christine a pointed look. "Really?"

Before Christine could respond, Seraphina pulled out her phone and showed him a photo of him sprawled out on his bed, completely at ease. "Catherine even took a picture," she added with a smug grin.

Adrian sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation crossing his face. "Why am I not surprised?"

Isabella chuckled softly, chiming in, "Don't blame your aunt. I told Christine that if you were in a deep sleep, it was better to let you rest."

Lighthearted laughter rippled through the group as they enjoyed their meal. The conversation flowed naturally, touching on everything from their training progress to small, humorous moments from the day.

As the plates were cleared and everyone began to settle, Adrian sat up straighter, his expression growing more serious. "Everyone, are you ready? We'll be using the Virtual Training Chamber tonight."

The room fell silent for a moment as everyone nodded in agreement, their faces determined.

Adrian retrieved the Virtual Training Chamber Voucher from his inventory and held it up. With a slight flick of his wrist, he activated it. A shimmering portal, swirling with blue and gold energy, materialized in the center of the room.

"Let's go," Adrian said, standing and leading the way.

One by one, they entered the portal, their figures disappearing into the swirling energy as they prepared for the intense training and challenges ahead.

As Adrian stepped through the portal, the familiar pull of its magic enveloped him, and a moment later, he emerged into the vast expanse of the Virtual Training Chamber.

The landscape was a breathtaking amalgamation of terrains—a dense forest stretched out to the west, a barren desert to the east, snow-capped mountains to the north, and a volcanic region spewing molten lava to the south.

The air buzzed with energy, and the ground beneath their feet seemed to pulse faintly with power.

Seraphina was the next to step through, her presence commanding as always. Behind her, the rest of the women filed in, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and determination.

The chamber's magical voice echoed around them.

"Welcome, challengers. Time here flows at one year to one day in your world. Tailored challenges await you based on your strengths and weaknesses. Prepare yourselves."

The chamber’s magical voice faded, leaving the group standing in stunned silence. The revelation hung heavily in the air.

Adrian took a moment to process the chamber’s announcement, then raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “When did the training chamber get an intro voice?” he murmured to himself, glancing around at his companions, who were equally perplexed.

The system’s voice sounded inside his mind as monotone as usual.

"Host, didn’t humans get tired of monotony too easily? I added this feature to keep things interesting! How is it? Impressive, right?”

Adrian facepalmed, shaking his head in a mixture of disbelief and exasperation. “Seriously? You’re adding bells and whistles to an ancient artifact without consulting me first?”

The system, clearly unfazed by Adrian’s irritation, responded in a monotone voice, “Of course! You’ve been working hard, so I thought a little flair might spice things up. Aren’t I thoughtful? Having a stupid host like you, this great system has to do a lot, be thankful.”

Adrian groaned, rubbing his temples. “Thoughtful? You’re absurd. You’re out here doing whatever you like with no regard for me.”