Warrior Training System

Whoever came up with the idea that having too many choices confuses people and makes them buy more than they need was a genius. Cassian had thought his war armor and that red sword were more than enough to keep him well-equipped. But now, looking at all the new items, he realized just how wrong he'd been. There were mana devices designed to project protective shields around the user—small enough to wear several without drawing attention. Each one could block a few attacks from a mid-level Circle Warrior, and maybe even one or two from a top-tier warrior. Even though the number of attacks they could block was limited to single digits, it was still far more than his domain could handle right now. There were also items designed to boost a person's speed, like blessed rings and other trinkets. Cassian didn't particularly desire them, but he still felt he should probably pick one up. The problem was, he could only choose one or two items from the collection the department had seized from the Vatlross Academy. Sher led him to the stash after handing him a simple-looking pouch, which turned out to be a mana device called a Dimensional Pouch. As the name suggested, it contained a piece of artificially created space, large enough to hold the equivalent of 40,000 gold coins and plenty of other items. Even after that, there was still room left—enough to store double that amount, though Cassian doubted he'd ever need that much space anytime soon. He still liked the pouch, though. As Sher had mentioned, the Dimensional Pouch's storage capacity was almost equal to everything she had stored in hers, which was impressive on its own. "There were quite a few interesting things in that Academy's vault," Sher said as they walked. "Most of them are really strange and borderline taboo. The nerds over at the Tower have been busy with them for days. And those clones you encountered? They've caused quite a stir in the magical world." Cassian hadn't realized the clones had made such an impact, but it made sense. Creating artificial life was one thing, but making beings that could grow stronger and were almost perfect copies of the original was close to a miracle. No wonder it had shaken the world. After all, this meant there was no longer a need to invest years training people from a young age, hoping they'd eventually repay the effort. Instead, you could create fully grown individuals with basic knowledge, ready to learn new skills and upgrade their abilities with magic. Well, it wasn't like any of that was going to happen soon, and Cassian really didn't want to bother worrying about it. He preferred things simple—just tell him where to go, who to kill, and that was enough. All the extra thinking only filled his mind with unnecessary tension. Trying to shake it off, he asked, "Well, where are they?" "Just here," Sher replied, stopping in front of another door. This one opened effortlessly with just a push of her hand. Inside, it was nothing like the other vaults. Unlike the simple glass displays protected by invisible spells outside, everything here was secured with visible layers of enchantments, thick barriers, and reinforced bars. Cassian could feel the oppressive aura almost immediately—some of the items radiated such intense bloodlust that his Killing Domain flared open on instinct. The surge of energy didn't go unnoticed; the items responded in kind, their malicious presence pulsing like a heartbeat, feeding off his own killing intent. Sher glanced at him with a surprised smile and said, "Well, well, I thought you'd have to make these things beg to be used by you, but it looks like you're quite the charmer—they're already begging for you to pick them." She casually walked past several glowing items, some of which seemed almost ready to burst out of their enclosures. They slammed against the reinforced bars like living creatures, filling the room with a cacophony of metallic clangs and eerie hums. Without missing a beat, Sher added, "But keep in mind, you can only choose one. Judging by how these things are reacting, I doubt you could handle more than that." Cassian gave a brief nod, his focus already drifting away from Sher's words as he let his Killing Domain stretch out, feeling the pulse of the items around him. Most of them responded aggressively—swords, spears, and daggers rattling against their cages, their bloodlust flaring like wildfires drawn to his own. The clangs of metal against reinforced bars echoed through the vault, each strike a desperate plea to be chosen. But amidst the chaos, two items stood out—not for their noise, but for their silence. The first was a silver crown adorned with three blue gems set at the front. It was clearly crafted for a man, its sleek, regal design radiating a quiet authority. Unlike the weapons, it didn't thrash against its enclosure. It simply shimmered under the dim light, its glow subtle yet compelling, as if silently calling to him—not with desperation, but with certainty, like it already knew it belonged to him. The second was a thin bracelet, simple in design, with nine colorless gems embedded into its dull, unremarkable metal. It lacked the intricate details or gleaming finish of the other artifacts, almost unimpressive at first glance. But its stillness spoke volumes. It didn't flare with bloodlust or try to grab his attention. Instead, it felt like it was already part of him, as if his Killing Domain had found a perfect match, quietly syncing with it without the need for theatrics. And then there was one more item—a small urn, covered in intricate markings, strange symbols, and bound tightly with threads that looked more like seals than simple decorations. Unlike the other artifacts, it didn't just sit there quietly or rattle against its confinement. It was shaking violently, as if something inside was desperate to break free. As Cassian's Killing Domain brushed against it, the reaction grew even more intense. The shaking became erratic, the seals pulsing with faint, crimson light, and then—something whispered. "Help… help…" Cassian froze. The voice wasn't loud, but it echoed in his mind like a distant cry from the bottom of a deep well. His brows furrowed as he glanced toward Sher, his voice low with surprise. "Did you hear that too, Commandant?" Sher gave him a puzzled look, clearly unaffected. "Hear what?" Without waiting for her to say more, Cassian stepped closer to the urn, his curiosity overpowering his sense of caution. The closer he got, the louder the whisper grew—not in volume, but in presence, like it was clawing at the edges of his mind. He stopped right in front of it, staring at the shaking vessel, and muttered, "Someone's inside this urn…"