Chapter 121


    After the announcement of the participants for The sh of Eight Orders, the whole of Cobalt Strike


    was abuzz with excitement.


    The time for The sh of Eight Orders hade around once again.


    Cobalt Strike had not achieved a notable ranking in thest three tournaments, and not only did the


    Elders feel the pressure, but the younger generation of Protégés also felt dishonored. However, this


    time seemed different. Their lineup was unprecedented; even without Celesse in the fray, the four


    Golden Protégés and the likes of Cedrick were a formidable force, their collective strength far


    surpassing that of past tournaments.


    Within the organization, the Elders were confident, and the Protégés were fervently discussing the


    uing contest.


    "Can Roald secure a top-five spot?"


    "Will Cedrick and Mari outshine the other three Golden Protégés?"


    "Who will be the dark horse of this edition of The sh of Eight Orders?"


    "Why isn''t Celessepeting? She would have easily secured a top-three position!"


    "What kind of lineups will the other seven organizations field?"


    "Oh, how I wish I could participate in The sh of Eight Orders, or at least witness it!"


    The Elders allowed the Protégés to specte, hoping that the organization''s lively spirit would


    inspire Roald and the others who were about topete.


    The Commander personally met with Roald, Mari, and the otherpeting Protégés, distributing


    ample quantities of Elixir Herbs and Magical Remedies to ensure that they could perform at their


    peak during the tournament and showcase the might of Cobalt Strike.


    The entire organization was in high spirits, rallying behind Roald and hispanions, all except for


    vin, who was forgotten.


    vin didn''t give up; he ignored the fervor above and, in the pitch-ck, damp dungeons below,


    tirelessly practiced his Shadowbringer, enduring the most brutal transformation of his life.


    The Chained Spirit repeatedly stirred the Shadowbringer within him, and time after time, vin felt


    the murderous aura of the Shadowlord. His tormented wails and pained moans echoed long in the


    dungeon, regardless of day or night. Even the Protégé guards felt uneasy, wondering what was


    happening below, yet they dared not descend, fearing the young man might lose his sanity.


    Each session brought vin intense pain—the dark aura of the Shadowbringer seemed to tear his


    body apart, and the murderous intent of the Shadowlord realm threatened to devour his soul.


    He endured agonies worse than death, screaming in heart-wrenching pain.


    Despairing and asionally fainting in agony, vin’s voice grew hoarse.


    vin was on the verge of copse, but each time he fell, he was reminded of his family—their


    faces, theirughter, the sweetness and warmth of the past years. Each time he copsed, he


    heard his father''s admonition. “The weak perish, and the strong suffer. You must be the strong one,


    forever!”


    vin had the Restoration Mantra, his greatest reliance, which allowed him to recover swiftly after


    each fall.


    The Chained Spirit suggested enduring the ordeal ten times a day, allowing for gradual assimtion,


    but vin pushed himself to fifty times, a nearly mad pursuit of day and night trials.


    Gradually, vin began to endure, to guide, and to control. The Shadowbringer''s aura refined


    vin through its relentless onught.


    Five dayster, vin ascended to Stage VIII through his purgatorial trials.


    While the ordeal was excruciating, the transformation it wrought in vin was akin to a rebirth.


    Previously, his strength was merely physical, but now he radiated power from within. And this was


    just the extra ''gift'' resulting from the Shadowbringer''s aura and the Restoration Mantra''s cycle of


    destruction and repair.


    Five more days passed, and it was time for Roald and the others to depart for The sh of Eight


    Orders.


    Atst, Balder came to the dungeon, forthright in his approach. He simply asked, "Your stage!"


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Stage VIII! Stable!" vin stood with his back to the storeroom. His body was shrouded in a dark


    aura, and his voice was hoarse. In his palm, he held a small ck dagger—a ''shadow'' formed from


    the Energy Core''s essence, an external manifestation of the Shadowbringer. It was chilling and


    exuded a deadly aura. vin felt the piercing intent of death, as though he was holding a tiny


    reaper.


    "My father is already at Cobalt Strike," Balder said, jangling the keys in his hand with a simple smile.


    "I wish you fame across the Eight Orders in advance."


    "Balder," vin slowly rose to his feet.


    "Any other requests?" Balder was determined to support vin wholeheartedly; that was his nature.


    "You won''t regret your decision today," vin said, clenching his right hand as the aura of the


    Shadowbringer quietly dissipated.


    In the Energy Core, eyes slowly closed, and a deep voice resonated. "Go forth, to your first battle of


    renown. Unleash your full power. A single Shadowbringer is enough to sweep through the Eight


    Orders of the Nortnds."


    ...


    The Arena, the grandest and most magnificent in Cobalt Strike, was rarely opened to outsiders. It


    was reserved for the Golden Protégés and a select few mid-aged Protégés for their training.