Chapter 33: Chapter 33: LUNA
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Vice-Captain Sendric\'s quarters.
A furrow creased Sendric\'s brow, etching a deep line across his weathered face. The man, a seasoned warrior with a mane of salt-and-pepper hair, sat at his desk, a prisoner to a storm of questions. His normally stoic expression had crumbled, replaced by a mask of bewilderment.
"Why?" he rasped, the word a sigh escaping his lips. "Why did the young master hide his true strength?"
Never, in all his years serving the De Gors, had Sendric ever imagined this scenario. David, the pampered son, the one ostracized and considered nothing more than a mundane mortal, had awakened. But not just awakened – he was strong. Stronger than Sendric, by a significant margin.
The world functioned on a hierarchy of strength. The coveted ranks – First Swordsman, Second, Third, and Fourth – were a testament to a warrior\'s prowess. Sendric, with years of dedicated training and countless battles under his belt, held the esteemed position of Fourth Ranked Swordsman. David, on the other hand… David had to be a master.
But how? Sendric had never seen David break a sweat, let alone train a single day. The De Gors, for all their pride in strength, had treated David like a stain, a useless appendage with no discernible talent for the martial arts. And then, suddenly, this. David, the supposed waste of space, was a master swordsman.
The disconnect was agonizing. Was he the only one blind? Was there some dark secret the De Gors were keeping? But that was impossible. The De Gors revelled in wielding displays of power; hiding David\'s talent would be a slap in the face to their very identity.
Sendric rubbed his temples, the frustration palpable. One thing was certain – David\'s emergence as a master swordsman was an enigma that wouldn\'t be easily solved. The implications were far-reaching, and the weight of this revelation sat heavy on Sendric\'s already troubled mind.
The sting of defeat lingered in Sendric\'s muscles, a stark reminder of the young lord\'s hidden prowess. He sat hunched in his chair, a tapestry of wrinkles etched deeper by his bewilderment. The once carefree arrogance of a seasoned warrior had been replaced by a steely glint in his eyes.
David, the ostracized son, had revealed a hidden arsenal, his movements a blur of lethal grace. The implications sent a shiver down Sendric\'s spine. Was David harbouring secret ambitions? Could this be the first rumble of a power struggle within the De Gor family?
Sendric scoffed at the notion. Lord Hilton, the current patriarch, was a force of nature himself. Stepping down anytime soon? Laughable. Succession was a distant prospect.
No, the answer lay with David himself. He had become a silent storm, a wildcard in the tightly controlled De Gor household. Keeping a watchful eye on the young lord, Sendric decided, was the best course of action for now.
With a heavy sigh, he leaned back further, the leather of the chair groaning under his weight. Despite the humiliation, a flicker of morbid curiosity sparked within him. David, the enigmatic son, had become a puzzle Sendric couldn\'t resist solving. But first, he needed to mend the bruises inflicted by the young lord\'s "minor injuries" – a bitter chuckle escaped his lips. The sting of defeat, it seemed, would take longer to heal than his battered body.
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David\'s bed champers.
David sprawled on his plush bed, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of the training grounds. In his lap, nestled comfortably like an oversized puppy, lay Blood Alpha. Gone was the ferocious beast, replaced by a creature radiating a strange mix of respect and apprehension. Her fur, once a canvas of pristine white, now shimmered with an otherworldly glow, a constant reminder of her transformation.
David\'s attention, however, was far from the docile beast on his lap. A shimmering screen hovered inches above his head, its brilliance casting an ethereal glow across the room. This was no ordinary display; it was the status window, a window into Blood Alpha\'s very being. His eyes scanned the lines of text, each word a revelation.
Blood Alpha [Name Aeternus?]
Race: Fenrir
Class: Apex Lord
Level: 60
Skills:
Wolf\'s Grace, Elemental Control, Fear Induction, Howl of Destruction, Size Manipulation, Enhanced Senses, Teleportation
Soul: Bounded
Stats:
HP: 100,000 / 100,000
MP: 500,000 / 500,000
Stamina: 50,000 / 500,000
Attributes:
Strength: 100,000
Agility: 700,000
Intelligence: 40,000
"Blood Alpha - Fenrir (Bound)" it declared, etching the terms of their new bond in stark white letters. A cascading of statistics unfolded, detailing her strength, speed, and ferocious abilities. Each number, each description, sent a thrill coursing through David. Here, laid bare, was the true potential of the creature he now commanded.
"Isn\'t this...just too overpowered," David gulped.
But the thrill was tinged with intrigue. Where were the details of her past, the remnants of the legendary being she once was? The screen revealed only the bare minimum, a tantalizing glimpse into a locked vault. A frown creased David\'s brow. He needed to delve deeper, to unlock the secrets that lay dormant within his new companion.
With a flick of his wrist, he navigated the screen, searching for avenues of growth, hidden abilities waiting to be unleashed. Blood Alpha, sensing his focus, lifted her head, her golden eyes meeting his. They held a flicker of vulnerability, a silent plea for understanding. David met her gaze, a single thought forming in his mind. This wasn\'t just about unlocking potential; it was about forging a partnership, a bond between master and servant, but perhaps, eventually, something more.
"Alright, alright," David conceded with a chuckle, "you win. Time for a name."
Blood Alpha\'s long, pointed ears twitched with anticipation. David couldn\'t deny a flicker of warmth at her eagerness. This powerful creature, once a fearsome legend, now seemed to crave his approval.
"From this day on," he declared, his voice firm yet gentle, "you shall be called Luna."
The name hung in the air for a moment. Then, to David\'s surprise, a faint blush seemed to rise beneath Luna\'s fur. She dipped her head, nuzzling her massive form further into his chest.
An unexpected warmth bloomed in David\'s own chest. This wasn\'t just about power and control anymore. A silent bond, a tentative trust, was starting to form between them. Perhaps, with time, this master-servant relationship could evolve into something more.