Chapter 32 – The Celestial Academy
The Vault of Legacies had finally fallen silent.
The crimson rift sealing itself marked the end of the invasion.
Broken pillars littered the battlefield.
Ancient weapons slowly returned to their pedestals.
The awakened echoes stood in solemn silence before gradually dissolving into countless motes of light.
One after another, they bowed toward the surviving expedition.
It was not a farewell.
It was recognition.
The younger generation had proven themselves worthy of protecting the legacies of the past.
Astaroth stood in the center of the Vault.
His six radiant wings folded neatly behind him.
His once-corrupted armor had regained its brilliant silver sheen.
He looked around the battlefield before smiling.
"You’ve all done well."
Marcus laughed as he collapsed onto a broken pillar.
"I don’t think I’ve ever been beaten this badly."
Ryan lay on the ground, breathing heavily.
"I’ve decided..."
"...Legendary Dungeons are officially terrifying."
Sophia sheathed her daggers.
"And yet..."
"...we survived."
Elena looked toward Azrael and Seraphina.
"No."
"We won."
Everyone nodded.
They had entered the Ruins of Eden as inexperienced Awakeners.
They were leaving with strength that many veterans could only dream of.
The Celestial Evolution System appeared before every member.
Dungeon Cleared
Hidden Dungeon
Ruins of Eden
Difficulty:
SSS
Completion Rate:
98%
Hidden Objectives:
✔ Defeat the Fallen Seraph
✔ Purify Astaroth
✔ Protect the Vault of Legacies
✔ Unlock the Origin Legacy
✔ Survive the Abyss Breach
Rewards
Level Increased
Guild Contribution Increased
Legacy Coins Obtained
Reputation Increased
Title Earned:
Guardians of the First Vault
Golden light descended upon every guild member.
Marcus jumped to his feet.
"I’m Level 21!"
Ryan nearly shouted.
"I skipped two levels!"
Sophia’s eyes widened.
"My agility increased by almost forty percent."
Even Elena couldn’t hide her excitement.
"The Moonblade Legacy evolved."
A faint silver mark appeared on the back of her hand.
Lyra smiled.
"The Legacy has accepted you."
Azrael checked his own status.
Name
Azrael Ashbourne
Race:
Aetherion
Level:
20
Evolution Stage:
First Evolution
Halo:
Eclipse Halo
Wings:
2 Eclipse Wings
Legacy Synchronization:
Astraeus - 10%
Passive Skills:
Origin Physique
Origin Flight
Origin Perception
Light Affinity
Dark Affinity
Eclipse Aura
Dual Evolution Compatibility
Active Skills:
Oblivion Judgment
Origin Step
He smiled.
There was still a long way to go.
But for the first time...
He felt like he had truly begun walking his own path.
Nearby, Seraphina also checked her status.
Name
Seraphina Ashbourne
Race:
Genesis Bloom
Level:
20
Evolution Stage:
First Evolution
Halo:
Bloom Halo
Wings:
2 Genesis Wings
Legacy Synchronization:
Elysia - 10%
Passive Skills:
Genesis Aura
Nature Authority
Life Resonance
Evolution Blessing
Purification
World Seed
Active Skills:
Genesis Domain
Bloom Burst
She looked toward her brother and smiled.
"We’re getting stronger together."
Azrael nodded.
"Like we promised."
Before anyone could celebrate further...
Astaroth raised one hand.
"There is one more reward."
The air shimmered.
Six golden crystals appeared before the expedition.
Each crystal floated toward a different member.
Marcus received a crimson crystal.
Ryan’s glowed emerald.
Sophia’s was violet.
Elena’s radiated silver-blue.
Azrael’s crystal shone with silver and black.
Seraphina’s resembled liquid gold.
The System identified them immediately.
Heavenly Trial Crystal
Purpose:
Stores one future Evolution Trial.
Usage:
Single Use.
Lyra looked surprised.
"...He gave us Heavenly Trial Crystals."
Marcus blinked.
"Are they valuable?"
Lyra stared at him.
"They’re priceless."
"They cannot be created."
"They can only be granted by beings recognized by Heaven."
Marcus immediately hugged his crystal.
"I’m never selling this."
Everyone laughed.
Astaroth turned toward Azrael.
"There is something else."
He extended his hand.
A feather drifted down from one of his six wings.
Unlike ordinary feathers...
It shimmered with pure divine light.
Azrael carefully accepted it.
Item Obtained
Seraph Feather
Rank:
Legendary
Description:
A feather carrying the blessing of General Astaroth.
Can be used once to summon the Seraph’s projection.
"I hope..."
"You never need to use it."
Azrael bowed respectfully.
"Thank you."
The group prepared to leave the Vault.
As they approached the enormous entrance...
The dungeon itself began dissolving.
The ancient marble walls transformed into particles of light.
The trees planted by Seraphina slowly faded.
The relics disappeared into another dimension.
The Vault was returning to its eternal slumber.
Astaroth looked toward the fading sanctuary.
"It will sleep again..."
"...until another worthy generation arrives."
With that...
His body also began dissolving.
Seraphina looked surprised.
"You’re leaving?"
He smiled warmly.
"My duty is complete."
"My soul no longer belongs to this world."
He looked at the twins.
"When your wings become six..."
"...come find me."
Azrael frowned.
"But where?"
Astaroth only smiled.
"You’ll know."
His body dissolved into countless feathers.
The feathers drifted into the sky.
Then vanished.
Moments later...
The expedition returned to the surface.
Bright sunlight greeted them.
Fresh air replaced the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon.
Outside...
Thousands of people waited.
Hunters.
Guild representatives.
Government officials.
Reporters.
The moment the expedition emerged...
The crowd erupted.
"They’re alive!"
"They actually cleared the dungeon!"
"Look!"
"They have wings!"
Countless cameras turned toward the twins.
Flashes filled the air.
Marcus leaned closer to Ryan.
"I don’t like this."
Ryan nodded.
"I preferred the monsters."
A luxury black vehicle slowly drove through the crowd.
Its doors opened.
An elderly man stepped out.
He wore a long white coat embroidered with twelve golden stars.
Behind him stood dozens of powerful Awakeners.
The old man walked calmly toward the twins.
Every official instinctively stepped aside.
Lyra immediately bowed.
"Headmaster."
Marcus whispered.
"...Headmaster?"
The old man smiled kindly.
"So..."
"You are the children who awakened two impossible evolutions."
His gaze lingered on Azrael and Seraphina.
Then he laughed softly.
"I’ve been waiting for students like you for a very long time."
The System chimed.
New Main Quest
Enter the Celestial Academy
Objective:
Enroll in the greatest academy of the First Heaven.
Rewards:
Access to advanced cultivation.
Higher Evolution Trials.
Inter-Realm Tournaments.
Ancient Libraries.
Unknown.
Azrael exchanged a glance with Seraphina.
Both of them smiled.
The Ruins of Eden had been only the beginning.
Beyond the academy awaited rival geniuses from countless kingdoms, noble families, legendary bloodlines, and races from worlds they had never imagined.
Their next battlefield would no longer be a dungeon.
It would be the place where the future rulers of Heaven, the Abyss, and countless worlds forged their legends.