Eclipse

All the children of the Flower family became knights when they reached a certain level, with a few exceptions, such as descendants who are considered incompetent.

Raimon had heard from the knights countless stories about this subway room.

Raimon could only imagine the wonders hidden within and could finally see them with his own eyes.

Raimon choked a little as if something deep in his heart had surfaced.

"I didn't think it would affect me so much, but seeing it for myself, my emotions reacted unconsciously."

"Phew..."

After exhaling and calming down, Raimon stepped into the hole.

In the pit the twins had dug, he could hear the steady downpour of rain falling on the ground, but as soon as he entered the subway passageway, the noise disappeared completely. With a solemn heart, Raimon took off his shoes and put on dry clothes.

He could not leave any traces of mud in the corridor.

The path was dimly lit by a few luminous pearls on the walls, through which light spilled.

Raimon was about to create a solar flame to illuminate the place but decided to take one of the pearls instead. Walking barefoot down a worn hallway with a pearl in his hand, he felt as if he had become a beggar.

My nana used to tell me that, before reaching that door, the children of the family have to prove that they are part of the bloodline.

Raimon remembered hearing that when he was about three years old.

Back then, Reineza believed that his young master would become a respectable member of the family.

He could not accept the fact that his young master had no talent.

Reineza had secretly broken family rules to give Raimon confidential information.

I wanted to believe that Raimon would one day become a holy knight and that the next head of the family receive the qualifications that every firstborn should have.

Reineza was one of the strongest people in the family and the world. However, the reason she could not have an objective view and judgment toward Raimon was simply that she was a nanny.

Her nanny.

"Even so, I promise I will live up to your expectations later."

Raimon stopped thinking about the past and stopped his march towards the metal door.

He stood in the center of the hallway. There were still about fifty steps to go until he reached the door.

Sword and natural power...?

Pfft.

Raimon couldn't help but let out a chuckle when he noticed the spirit circle on the floor.

It was a large spirit circle, but even apprentice spiritualists could easily analyze it.

The Blood and Barrier spirit circle.

It was a popular circle that could often be found at the entrances of Empires and Kingdoms, inside the warehouse of a wealthy businessman, or at the headquarters of a famous mercenary group.

Despite its impressive and grandiose name, it was a basic circle.

It was no different from a simple security device. All it could do was determine if someone posed a threat through one's blood.

Did those family members who did not practice spiritual power place a circle in front of the family's secret chamber?

Raimon bit the inside of his cheek. A trail of blood came out of his mouth and ran down his chin.

Before it fell to the ground Raimon caught the blood with his hand.

Drip, drip...

He only needed a few drops to activate the Circle of Blood and Barrier. As he shook the blood from his hands onto the circle, a red aura began to fill the air from all four directions.

"Proof that we are part of the bloodline?".

Raimon was curious as to which of his ancestors had been stupid enough to place this magic circle here.

This magic circle was not elaborate enough to be able to verify someone's bloodline and lineage. Raimon wasn't even sure that such a power existed in the first place.

There were only three things that this magic circle could determine.

It could detect whether the blood was from a monster, a human, or a human affected by a plague or any disease.

In other words, as long as they can reach this subway corridor, any healthy human can activate this circle safely.

The circle was completely useless, except that it added an air of mystery to this ancient hidden chamber.

They believe in that strange superstition called ritual selection. They also believe that this magic circle is capable of recognizing a pure-blooded Flower.

"This family is quite... peculiar. Very peculiar."

Clang! Clang!

With the activation of the circle, Raimon could hear gears and metal parts grinding and moving under the floor.

The circle was stopping the operation of the traps, which would have attacked Raimon had he not activated the circle. He stood still in silence and waited for the noise to subside.

"There are quite a few traps. I don't know the details, but the traps here are more elaborate than those in a royal palace or vault."

The circle soon began to dim and lost its glow. All the traps had been deactivated. Raimon resumed his march and headed for the door.

He had smoothly dealt with one of the security systems in the secret chamber of the Castle of Blood. What remained was to open the door safely.

But that was even easier to do than activating the circle.

"Flower's descendant has come to comfort Belanus."

Clang! Clang!

The door began to open as soon as Raimon uttered the password.

It was another type of "barrier" similar to the circle just now, but it was on a completely different level. It was a spell cast by a large dragon, which has since fallen into a deep sleep.

The password disables the spell, but without the right words, the door will never open. That was the power of this magical barrier.

One would have to be at least a 9-star knight or fighter to be able to break the door.

I heard Belanus' password during the last test, although he was being sarcastic, saying that there was nothing of value really inside.

The location of the Castle of Blood: The summit of Mount Eclipse.

The name 'Eclipse' didn't mean the mountain in the first place. It was the name of the Red Dragon that once ruled over this region.

Eclipse was defeated 1000 years ago by the first Duke, and went into a deep slumber after surrendering the Castle of Blood.

This story was the family's most popular legend, known throughout the world.

The first thing Raimon saw when he opened the door was not a bookshelf with countless books, but a huge cave with a glass wall.

Inside the glass wall was a huge dragon body. It was Eclipse, who had transformed in size before going into a deep sleep.

"No one told me about this..."

Ba-dump, Ba-dump.

Encountering an unexpected sight, Raimon's body froze in surprise and unease.

Then he began to slowly approach the glass wall.