The Ascender's Legacy [A CHAOTIC STORM LITRPG]

Congratulations! You've been instrumental in the creation of an Epic+ weapon.

Amateur Runesmith >>> Novice Runesmith.

The text crawled across Aodhán's vision the moment he saw the masterpiece they had forged. His breath caught, and his eyes widened in quiet admiration. The fusion of metal and bone was so seamless that it was unnatural—in the best way. It was a double-edged, serrated blade, its form so precise that it was impossible to tell where the forged steel ended and the carved bone hilt began.

The blade itself had compressed further, the meld of bone and steel fused so tightly that it had thinned to something barely thicker than parchment. A silver sheen traced the edges, glinting with a light so cold and sharp that it seemed to slice through the very air around it. Then, with a faint hum, the blade rose into the air, gleaming with a soft crimson glow. Runes flared along its surface in brilliant gold; their fiery luster was made even more vivid against the blood-red aura surrounding them.

Professor Caldwell smiled and gestured towards the floating weapon. "Zaxus. Go on."

Zaxus didn't wait to be told twice. He stepped forward carefully and grabbed the blade by its hilt. The moment his fingers closed around it, the blade flared with light and vibrated, humming as energy and willpower were drawn into it. A drop of blood welled at his palm—drawn not by force, but by invitation—as the blade bonded to him.

"By the Ascendants…" Zaxus breathed, eyes wide and unfocused as he stared into the middle distance, no doubt reading the weapon's specs as they unfurled before him.

Unable to control his curiosity, Aodhán stepped closer to Zaxus and inquired. "How does it feel?"

Zaxus exhaled, the breath almost a laugh. "Absolutely amazing," Slowly, he turned the blade from side to side to familiarize himself with the balance and then glanced at Aodhán teasingly. "Do you want to touch it?"

When Aodhán didn't respond, Zaxus grinned wider and suddenly pointed the blade at him, swinging it in a deliberate, vicious arc. Aodhán stumbled back, eyes wide as the blade practically cut through the space in an instant. So fast. So smooth. So dangerous.

Professor Caldwell chuckled. "Don't be scared, Aodhán. You can touch it. It won't bite."

Aodhán shook his head. "I'm fine just where I am, Professor. Thank you—but I'd rather keep my hand."

Zaxus laughed, pulling the blade back and running a thumb along its edge with a fondness that bordered on reverence. Aodhán watched him get acquainted with his new weapon from a distance, his eyes narrowing each time the blade flashed, unleashing a ripple of something feral and predatory as if the scavenger still lurked within it.

Professor Caldwell came to stand beside him, a satisfied smile resting on her face. "So, what do you think?"

Aodhán shook his head, still watching the weapon. "I think that that blade is just as beautiful as it is dangerous. Do you see how it is warping the space around it?"

"Even more than you do." Professor Caldwell replied with a knowing smile. Then, as if to add to his trepidation, she added. "I believe it could cut through you as easily as paper."

"It most definitely could," Zaxus chimed in with a grin. "The specs are insane."

Swallowing nervously, Aodhán took another step backward, his fingers twitching in preparation just in case an evil spirit suddenly possessed Zaxus.

Zaxus laughed at his reaction and gently set the blade down, raising both hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I'm not going to swing it around again."

Aodhán exhaled, letting the tension bleed out of his shoulders. Still a little cautious, he stepped closer, eyes flicking back to the blade. "So… how crazy are we talking?"

Zaxus gave a breathless laugh and shook his head in disbelief. "They're crazy. I can't show you the real juicy stuff, but—here, look at this."

He swiped the air, and a crimson interface blinked into view before Aodhán.

Item Name: Unnamed
Type: Serrated Dueling Blade (Rapier-class, chaos-forged)
Rank: Epic+
Status: Bound
Length: ~105 cm
Weight: 1.3 kg (Responsive—feels lighter in motion due to material resonance)
Edge: Micro-serrated, rune-infused
Base Stat: [Hidden]
Information: Crafted from the femur of a tier-75 Scavenger and blood-infused Ragnar steel, this weapon is an amalgamation only suitable to those with a blood, bone, or hunger affinity.
[Abilities]: [Hidden]

Aodhán read it twice, frowning at the [Hidden] entries. The real meat of the specs was locked away, but even this surface-level information was enough to make his heart beat faster.

He looked up, a spark of unease flickering in his voice. "Could it… actually cut a tier-75 advanced class Awakened in two?"

Zaxus thought for a moment and then glanced at the blade before giving a tentative nod. "If aimed right, I think so."

Aodhán didn't need to hear anything else. An Epic weapon was great, sure—but it was only truly effective against lower-tier advanced-class Awakeneds. And even then, it was just a menace, nothing more. An Epic+ weapon, however, was a whole different story. Not only did it offer the option of bonding, but it also came with abilities—something normal Epic weapons simply didn't have.

Aodhán dismissed the crimson interface and shook his head in amazement, his mind swirling with possibilities he hadn't even considered before. He'd been thinking in terms of epic-ranked weapons, but after this? He couldn't imagine settling for something that would become obsolete in just a few years.

If he was going to create a weapon for himself, it had to be something that would last—a long-term investment. Besides, why settle for an Epic-ranked item when he could get an Epic+ one for the same price: free.

As he mulled over the thought, his attention shifted back to the title upgrade he'd received from the system a while ago. Despite the little work he had put into the blade, the title felt well-earned. His knowledge of runes and inscriptions was far too advanced to be labeled simply as amateur.

Most of all, though, Aodhán was grateful for the experience. Runesmithing topped his career list, alongside plant gathering and the illegal sale of miracle water. The latter was definitely a last-resort option, but after a particularly intriguing conversation with Geneva one evening, he'd decided not to completely write it off.

"Well, I'm glad that's over," Professor Caldwell groaned, her voice easily cutting through his thoughts. "I need a break from all this crafting madness." She shot Aodhán a playful scowl. "If you weren't such a great student, I'd seriously be regretting that favor I promised you. In fact, I already am. I shudder to think what kind of monstrosity your mind might cook up with all this time to come up with something."

Aodhán chuckled and shook his head, not quite refuting her words. Glancing at Zaxus's sword, he replied, "I'm sure whatever I decide on won't be any worse than what we've just created in here."

They all laughed, and with Professor Caldwell's help, they began clearing up the workshop, discussing some possible items Aodhán could create to give himself an edge in the tournament.

Zaxus was particularly informative in that area, his mind churning out idea after idea, some of which actually resonated with Aodhán. Still, Aodhán wasn't quite satisfied.

After nearly an hour of discussions, though, his mind was buzzing with brand-new ideas. He needed to prepare an item for himself ahead of the tournament, and the matter consumed him for the rest of the evening. Even after leaving the laboratory and joining his friends in the cafeteria, it never left his thoughts.

What item could he create to gain an edge in the tournament? Better yet, what Epic+ ranked item could he make, and what materials would he need to do so?

The tournament was only a few weeks away. Whatever he decided to create, he needed to act quickly.

The night passed, and the next morning, Aodhán rolled out of bed, his eyes bright despite a restless sleep. He still hadn't landed on an idea, but he was sure one would come. And when it did, he intended to go big.

Creating an Epic+ ranked item was bound to be expensive—perhaps more than he could currently afford, considering the council's fine still hanging over him. This could be his one chance to get a free Epic+ weapon, and Aodhán planned to make the most of it.

Glancing at the clock beside his bed, Aodhán smiled and made his way to the bathroom for a shower. His schedule was packed for the day. First, he had to attend the general assembly, which would start in a little over an hour. After that, he needed to meet with Principal Zatya, attend UEA-102, and finally challenge the tower.

Also, their results were due to be released today after all the delays, and Aodhán couldn't help but look forward to them. His worries about the whole thing had faded over the break, and while he wasn't expecting to be at the top of the list, he knew he couldn't be at the bottom either. Of that he was certain.

While he showered, Aodhán sent messages to Unrid and Yue—checking in with Unrid about the seal chamber situation and asking Yue how she was managing the training schedule he had left her. He then sent a quick message to Aldric, asking how he was doing.

Surprisingly, Aldric replied almost immediately. "I'm dealing with a potential disaster and still stuck in sector 5. I'll tell you everything I can as soon as I leave the sector."

Aodhán frowned, not liking the ominous tone of the message at all. Aldric's choice of profession wasn't something that sat well with him, but what more could he do than advise his older brother? Sighing, he replied. "Hey, stay safe, okay?"

"Yes, Mom."

Aodhán began to roll his eyes, but he stopped halfway when Yue's reply came in. "Hi, Aodhán. My training has been going smoothly save for one tiny issue…"

Aodhán ended up spending far more time in the bathroom than he'd intended. Yue was doing well, though she was still struggling with visualizing an image perfectly in her mind. The visualization technique helped a lot, but she still needed plenty of practice.

Unrid didn't respond, likely asleep or too busy, but after a quick lesson on the best way to use the visualization technique, Yue promised to pass along his message to him as soon as he exited his cultivation room. She also confirmed that the containment chamber had been constructed and they were now waiting for the runic engineer to inscribe it with elder runes before it could be used

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

A full half-hour passed before Aodhán finally stepped out of the bathroom, water still dripping from his chiseled frame as he hurried to get dressed for the assembly. As he pulled on his clothes, he chatted mentally with Varéc, who was—unsurprisingly—eager to stretch his wings and fly. Aodhán didn't mind the idea at all

During the break, he had given Varéc more freedom and hadn't regretted it. He was prepared to do the same within the academy but wasn't quite ready to negotiate the deal yet. It would be better handled in the evening, once the day's excitement had settled

After nearly ten minutes, he finally managed to convince Varéc to see reason, and with a sigh, he laced his boots, donned his storm scarf, and shoved a pile of books into his spatial necklace. The book vanished with a burst of chaotic essence, and Aodhán took a moment to admire the necklaces hanging from his neck.

Two lightning pendants rested there, both gleaming under the light of his lamp. Placed side by side, the difference between the two was unmistakable, with the fake shimmering a little brighter than the original.

Aodhán had dug out the original from where he had hidden it after their first altercation with the cultists in sector 11, where he had encountered a tier-15 telepath and had to protect his mind from mental invasions. The necklace had worked beautifully, and although it wasn't foolproof, it was better than nothing.

Fingering both pendants, Aodhán wondered what effect the original would have on the twisted effect. He didn't expect it to protect his mind from it, but he suspected it might have some interesting results.

Turning away from the mirror, Aodhán tucked the necklaces beneath his uniform and opened his door, smiling when he saw Meredith poised to knock.

Startled, she dropped her hands and scowled. "Can anyone ever catch you unaware?"

Aodhán chuckled. "In specific circumstances, yes. But it's hard."

Meredith tsked in mock annoyance, and Aodhán pulled her into a hug. "How are you? How was Ocean's Tide?"

"Dreadful." Meredith groaned, pulling back from the hug. "I wanted to tell you about it yesterday, but you were too busy partying with your friends. How was your break?"

Aodhán grinned. "Well, you know…"

"Of course I do." She rolled her eyes. "It was all my parents could talk about. At every party or noble event, all anyone could talk about was you or Andrew. It was so annoying, and if I weren't already, you know, sleeping with you, I would've marched up to Grendar and signed up for the 'Everyone Hates Aodhán' club."

Aodhán raised an eyebrow. "There's a club?"

Meredith scoffed. "Of course, there's a club. And can you blame them? Being a noble offspring is tough enough without the added pressure of gaining strength and prestige," she shook her head and continued. "I'm so glad my parents aren't pushing me to aim for the rank of a champion because that shit is hard. Not everyone is so lucky."

"So, it's the parent's fault that their children hate me?" Aodhán scoffed. "Poor Cyrus, being a legitimate son and heir must be soo hard."

Meredith chuckled. "You're so mean. I like it."

Before Aodhán could respond with something flirtatious, Eren stepped out of his room and waved. "Hey, guys, are you ready to leave yet?"

"Absolutely. I was just about to head out before Meredith accosted me." Aodhán nodded and raised his hand to give Eren a high-five. Eren had joined them in the cafeteria last night, along with Ankaz Urdania, Ursaz Urdania, and Cameron Lorde. They'd talked for hours, and after yesterday, Aodhán could say their relationship had moved past the acquaintance stage.

Meredith slapped his arm. "I didn't accost you, you buffoon."

They laughed and made their way to the living room, where they found Imani and Marcellus seated on one of the couches, doing stuff best left for private spaces.

"Ugh." Meredith wrinkled her nose. "I'd tell you two to get a room, but then how would I get the pleasure of gagging at your life choices if you actually took my advice?"

"Fuck you, Meredith," Marcellus called out with a sly grin, and Imani giggled. "Now, Meredith, don't be a prude. Surely, you've seen two people making out before."

"Not this lewdly," Meredith replied, but Aodhán wasn't really listening. While the others were focused on Marcellus and Imani's indecent behavior, Aodhán's focus was on Imani's core—her blazing, burning core of barely contained power.

Imani had grown stronger. Aodhán wasn't naive enough to believe his technique alone was responsible for her transformation. No, this kind of power came from pouring a vast amount of wealth into one's advancement. Imani had earned two seals in just three weeks and was now at the 24th tier of advancement. Judging by the feel of her core, she had likely fulfilled all her evolution requirements and now stood on the brink of the 25th tier

Aodhán sifted through her core, searching for any sign of instability or weakness, but found nothing. Her foundation was solid. The rapid rise in her power was completely legitimate. He tried to imagine the number of treasures, pills, and resources she'd consumed to propel herself from an average awakened to a powerhouse in three short weeks, but his mind couldn't even grasp the scale of it. Imani's rise wasn't just in her tier or class—it was in her spiritual cultivation too, and if Aodhán had to rate her current danger level, he'd place her above Yurin.

The drastic rise in power should have left some kind of crack in her foundation, but the lack of any instability only confirmed one thing: an astronomical number of resources had been poured into her to make this happen.

Imani noticed him staring and smiled coldly. "Well, if it isn't Ragnarok's hero. Are we to beg for your blessings or ask for an autograph every time we see you?"

Eren cleared his throat awkwardly and placed a hand on Aodhán's shoulder. "Don't mind her. She just came out of a containment chamber yesterday. She's still shaking off traces of the twisted effect."

Imani waved him off. "Don't make excuses for me, Eren. I'm perfectly fine."

"I can see that," Aodhán replied, his words purposeful. Marcellus frowned, and Imani grimaced, but Aodhán just smiled. "Congratulations on all your advancements, Imani. I'm glad you're doing well." Before anyone could respond, he added. "Now, if we don't want to be late for the assembly. I suggest we head out right now."

"We'll be right behind you," Imani replied, leaning toward Marcellus again.

Meredith scowled as they walked toward the exit. "When I told her to come out of her nerdy shell, this was definitely not what I had in mind. And certainly not with Marcellus of all people."

Eren raised an eyebrow, teasing, "Oh? Is it because he's your ex?"

Aodhán smirked. "Ooh, that's a good question."

Meredith turned her scowl on them. "Marcellus isn't my ex. We had a thing, but we never actually dated. Plus, he has these strange quirks when it comes to noble women. It's disgusting. One time—"

"Okayyy." Aodhán raised a hand to her lips, cutting her off before she could go any further. "Thank you, Meredith. But, Eren and I don't need all the gory details."

"We really don't," Eren agreed, shaking his head. "I mean, it's bad enough that he's had you and now Imani. If I were a girl, I'm sure I'd be next."

Meredith chuckled. "Don't rule it out yet. Like I said, Marcellus has some weird quirks."

"Ugh, don't tell me," Eren groaned, and Aodhán shook his head in amusement.

It was fun walking with his housemates like this. Three months ago, he couldn't have cared less if they died or lived. Now, they were his friends.

A notification ping echoed in his mind, and he smiled as he read Daruk's message. "We've saved you a seat in the seventh row, on the left. The hall's filling up quickly, though, so you've got about five minutes."

"We need to fly," Aodhán said to Eren and Meredith as he swiftly conjured a storm platform. "Daruk says the hall's filling up fast, and I'd rather not start out the semester by losing forge points."

Meredith and Eren climbed onto the platform without question. After they secured their balance, Aodhán zoomed off, channeling willpower into the platform to increase its speed.

They arrived at the assembly hall two minutes later and dispersed to join their respective friend groups. Meredith went off to join Scarlett and a few other nobles, while Eren joined Tobias Menzies and Derek. Aodhán, on the other hand, headed for the seventh row where Daruk, Andrew, and Yurin were already seated.

On the way, he waved and slowed down to chat with a few second and third-year students he'd gotten to know. The fourth-year students were absent today, and though that created more space for the others, it still wasn't enough.

When Aodhán finally reached the row Daruk had saved for him, Andrew groaned and handed a gold coin to Daruk. "Why'd you have to make it so close? I was so sure you were going to miss it by more than five minutes."

Aodhán scowled. "And I thought you guys had stopped betting on me."

Yurin chuckled. "Well, if it's any consolation, I didn't participate."

"That's because he had money on you not showing up at all," Daruk grinned, slipping the gold coin into his spatial ring.

"Why wouldn't I show up?" Aodhán asked, his brow furrowing in confusion as he took his seat. "The assembly's compulsory for everyone."

"But you're not just anyone," Yurin teased. "You are lieutenant, champion candidate Aodhán Brystion, hero of the Steppin' Plains, and harbinger of chaos."

"Eww." Aodhán cringed as his friends burst into laughter. "Please don't, that must not stick, Yurin."

"Oh, it most certainly will." Andrew chuckled. "There's no getting out of it. it's either this or General Carnage."

Aodhán cringed again, but his discomfort only seemed to fuel their amusement. Spinning a tendril of LiquidIce between his fingers, Daruk chuckled, "You can't escape the nicknames, Aodhán. You'll just have to pick one and accept it. cringe or not."

Yurin nodded in agreement. "A nice alternative is to pick one for yourself, but that's just pompous."

"Well, at least that checks out." Andrew laughed and Aodhán just shook his head.

Their banter continued as the hall quickly filled up. Like every other assembly, the professors were already seated on the podium, discussing amongst themselves, while Principal Zatya spoke quietly with Kaelith and Professor Aleran.

The minutes flew by, and soon it was time for the assembly to begin. Principal Zatya took to the stage and smiled, causing a wave of silence to descend upon the hall.

"Good morning, students, and welcome back to the academy," she began. "It's both a relief and an honor to stand before you again after what's been an incredibly difficult time for us all. Before anything else, I want to extend my deepest condolences to those who have lost friends, family, and loved ones during the attack. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and that those whom you have lost will be avenged. Very soon."

"A big thanks to those of you who came out to protect your communities. You're the real champions, and I cannot tell you how proud I am to know that we're forging heroes within these walls. Thank you all so much for being your marvelous selves, and I hope that as you grow stronger, you'll continue to stay true to yourselves."

A round of applause echoed throughout the hall. When it subsided, Principal Zatya continued. "Unfortunately for Sunstone, their attack isn't the end of the world, and we refuse to let it be. Now, moving on to other important matters—the first being last term's results." She glanced at Professor Aleran before continuing. "The results should've been sent to you weeks ago, but for reasons I can't disclose, they were delayed. However, they've now been finalized and will be sent to you as soon as the assembly is over."

"Once more, I'm proud to say that most of you did well. Some, however, are still struggling. To these individuals, I advise you to buckle up and do better. Your cumulative FPA will be a big determiner if you are to proceed to the next year or not. If I were you, I'd take that a lot more seriously."

"Now, moving on to matters concerning the upcoming tournament…"

A wave of cheers erupted from the students, and Aodhán laughed, unable to help his excitement. Even Daruk cracked a smile.

Principal Zatya grinned. "It fills my heart with joy to see such enthusiasm for the tournament because for the next six weeks, that'll be our focus. Yes, you heard right. The tournament begins in six weeks and will last for two weeks. The selection trials, however, start next week. The sooner we determine the participants from each year, the better we can prepare them. More details on the trials will be provided soon, so I encourage you all to prepare accordingly."

"Lastly," she continued, "I want to remind you all that the academy is a place of strength, perseverance, and excellence. Let us honor those we've lost by pushing forward and thriving. Welcome back once again, and may the rest of the year be one of growth and triumph for us all."

Another round of applause echoed from the students, and after a brief speech from Professor Aleran, the students were finally dismissed from the assembly.

As they stood to leave, Yurin asked, "Are you guys nervous?"

"I'm a little nervous," Aodhán admitted.

Andrew nodded in agreement. "I had to do most of my exams alone during the break, so, yeah, I'm feeling a little anxious. But I did beat Aodhán's record with the Nilhal exercise, so here's hoping I can keep up the streak."

Aodhán snorted. "I would've been surprised if you hadn't, but you still shouldn't have beaten me so thoroughly. Two rare plants? That's diabolical."

"Not to mention the insane number of other plants he gathered." Daruk chuckled. "That mycelium network skill of yours is worth a fortune."

They all laughed, and Aodhán turned to Daruk. "What about you? Any nerves?"

Daruk shrugged. "A little. Honestly, it's more anticipation than nerves."

"Of course it is." Yurin shook his head in mock sorrow. "Am I the only one wishing the results were delayed by another week? I mean, we just resumed. We don't need the bitter dose of reality just yet."

"I'd rather have it now than wait another week, actually," Aodhán replied. "Better to get it out of the way before the selection trials begin."

When they finally exited the assembly hall, they began making their way toward the cafeteria for breakfast, expecting the results to be released anytime soon. What they didn't expect, however, was that it would be released immediately.

The moment the ping echoed in Aodhán's mind, his stomach dropped. He swallowed nervously and clicked on the message, heart racing as a flurry of text crawled across his vision.

FIRST SEMESTER RESULTS.

AODHÁN ASHOKA-BRYSTION (1st YEAR)
[Open the message to view it].

Aodhán opened the message.