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There were times he had come so close to death, only to survive by sheer luck.

The creatures he had faced then were Goblin Swamp Frogs, not Goblin Shrews.

Yet, the danger had been just as real.

The ease of his current victories could be attributed to his elevated rank.

Unlike the last time when he remained a rank five apprentice Mana user, now he is a peak apprentice Mana user. If it weren't for the constraints of the Devil Horned Tribe, he would have already ascended to a full-fledged Mana user or even higher.

Despite this progress, Lyerin knew better than to underestimate what he knew was coming. He decided to rest for a while, letting the strange substance carry him wherever it was taking him. He needed to be ready for whatever came next, and though he was stronger, he was not yet confident enough to take on the unpredictable Borgias family unprepared.

As he lay there, he focused on the sounds around him.

The grumbling beast receded into the distance, replaced by the rhythmic rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures.

The journey was long, and Lyerin could hear the bubbling of streams, the crackling of twigs underfoot, and the whisper of the wind through the trees.

He thought back to the harrowing experiences of his previous life.

Back then, every step had been fraught with peril. He remembered the swampy marshes where Goblin Swamp Frogs lurked, their toxic skin and powerful leaps posing a constant threat.

He was forced to stay awake for a while, his senses on high alert, just to survive not knowing how this ends.

Yet now, things were different.

After what felt like an eternity, Lyerin began to hear new sounds.

The distant murmur of water grew louder, interspersed with gurgling noises. He opened his eyes, squinting in the dim light.

"Will I be accepted in the family this time?" he wondered aloud, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Or will I still be an outcast because, just like in the past, I still don't have a shadow core?"

Soon, Lyerin felt his body and vision roll over and lay on his back.

In front of his view, the dark ceiling stretched far above him, punctuated by dim lights that twinkled faintly.

Standing up, he took in his surroundings.

The space resembled the grand, sprawling interiors of ancient castles with high vaulted ceilings, stone archways, and flickering torches casting long shadows on the walls. Hundreds of people milled about, looking just as confused as he had been moments before.

Unlike the others, however, Lyerin was familiar with this place.

He heard snippets of frantic conversations around him.

"Am I gonna die? What's happening?" one man exclaimed.

Another woman, her voice trembling, said, "Where are we? What is this place?"

"I thought I was gonna go home like yesterday… and now… now I'm here?" a younger boy muttered, looking around in bewilderment.

"It's like a dream… or a nightmare…" an older woman whispered, clutching her shawl tighter.

More voices joined the cacophony, their panic rising. "What do they want with us?"

"Is this some sort of test?"

"Are we safe here?"

"What's going to happen to us now?"

Lyerin nodded to himself, taking it all in. He couldn't help but comment quietly, "Brings back memories…" He remembered his first time here, the same confusion, fear, and uncertainty.

Suddenly, a loud trumpet blast echoed through the hall, silencing the crowd.

Tottororot!!

The lights above them began to brighten, one by one, illuminating the vast ceiling. From this vantage point, it seemed as though they were looking up from a deep well, the ceiling far above decorated with balconies.

Soon, Balconies appeared one by one on their veiw.

Each balcony held figures clad in dark clothes, their numbers varying from two to six.

Soo, a deep, and old resonant voice like a shockwave descended upon them, demanding their attention.

"Welcome to the Borgias Family," the voice boomed. "We are pleased to see so many of you have survived. We are the Borgias, your distant ancestors, and we have brought you here to save you from the dangers of the real world."

The voice paused, allowing the murmurs to subside before continuing. "As you may have noticed, the Earth has been thrust into the Eldritch universe, where our planet, Earth, is beginning to evolve. The environment is becoming increasingly hostile, and humanity's survival hangs in the balance.

The only way for humans to stand a chance is to learn to manipulate Mana, or what we call Eldren Mana in Earth world."

Lyerin listened intently, recognizing the speech from his previous experience.

The voice continued, "Unfortunately, our resources here are limited, and we cannot afford to train everyone. Thus, we have brought you to this place teeming with Goblins to test your resilience and capability. Those who survive, like you, will be given resources and training. Those who do not survive will wake up in the real world, unaware of these events, unharmed, and none the wiser."

The room was silent as the weight of the words settled on the shoulders of each crowd.

Lyerin could see the mixture of relief and lingering fear in their eyes. But he knew better. The Borgias Family's intentions were far from altruistic.

They were cunning and ruthless, using these trials to weed out the weak and unworthy.

The voice concluded, "You can now become part of something greater. As long as you prove yourselves over time, you will earn your place among us."

Lyerin smirked to himself, his internal thoughts sharp and unyielding that he pick them up already. "Liars," he mumbled under his breath, ensuring only he could hear. "All those that passed are now flesh-watching zombies outside you damn liars." He remembered the fate of those who failed to impress the Borgias.

They weren't simply returned to their previous lives; they were probably transformed into meat-eating mindless husks.

Yet, Lyerin let it be, it doesn't concern him that much.

Soon, the old voice would finally address the concept of the shadow core. "Now, let us discuss the shadow cores," the voice resonated through the hall. "Those of you who possess shadow cores have proven yourselves during the survival trial in this Kingdom of Rose. There are different types of cores: those who possess one or two cores, three or four, and five or six.

You will be sent to different classes, but rest assured, all classes receive the same training. Those who have achieved greater feats in the trial will receive additional resources and better treatment."

Lyerin grumbled internally, his thoughts a torrent of disdain and disbelief. "Lies. The shadow cores and achievements they talk about are all fabricated. The Borgias Family is biased. They pick and choose who to favor based on their whims, not on merit. This entire system is rigged."

The voice continued, now announcing the names of those who had merely survived by luck, but possessed shadow cores. "First, we will recognize those at the bottom," the voice said.

One by one, names were called, and each individual stepped forward, their achievements often minimal, their possession of one or two shadow cores their only saving grace.

"James Hawkins, no significant achievement, but possesses two shadow cores," the voice called. A nervous young man stepped forward, his relief palpable.

"Elena Martin, no significant achievement, but possesses three shadow cores," was next. A young woman followed, looking equally relieved.

Lyerin's internal monologue continued, "Look at them. They barely survived, and yet they're given a pass because of those shadow cores. It's a little infuriating considering I was like them in the past."

As the names continued to be called, Lyerin's bulging veins grew. When the list reached sixty-seven, the tone changed. The voice began announcing those who had accomplished more during the trial.

"Robert Jenkins, accidentally killed a Goblin Shrew, but possesses no shadow core," the voice intoned. Robert was escorted away immediately.

Lyerin knew what awaited him—a life of servitude, considered unworthy without a shadow core. He kept his silence, knowing there was nothing to be gained by speaking out now.

Name after name was called, each with varying levels of achievement and shadow cores.

The disparity was glaring.

Those without shadow cores were inevitably escorted away, regardless of their accomplishments.

Finally, the voice reached the last name on the list. "Now, for the final candidate," it began, a note of reverence creeping into its tone. "This individual has demonstrated exceptional prowess and determination. His achievements in the survival trial are unmatched."

Lyerin's name hung in the air, unspoken for a moment as the voice built the suspense. "He single-handedly killed over six hundred Goblin Shrews," the voice continued, "a feat that surpasses all others in this trial by an incredibly large margin."

Murmurs spread through the crowd. Lyerin stood still, his expression stoic, his mind already anticipating the reaction.

"But," the voice paused, "he possesses no shadow core."

The room fell silent.

The weight of those words seemed to hang in the air, a stark contrast to the praise that had preceded them.

The shock was palpable, disbelief etched on every face.

"Lyerin Borgias," the voice finally announced, "Achievement: killed six hundred plus Goblin Shrews, but without shadow core."

As the old voice said that, the silence deepened.

Lyerin's full name echoed through the hall, like a dragon that emerged from its slumber.

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

"How can someone achieve so much?"

"This can't be right. What does it mean for the rest of us?"

"Among us has a monster?"

Lyerin felt the weight of their gazes, their mixed emotions of awe, confusion, a touch of envy but most of all were fear. He stood tall, his internal thoughts never changing. "Let them think about what they want. I know the truth. This family's system is flawed."

As the last name called, Lyerin's presence commanded attention. The old voice continued, now directed at him. "Your achievements cannot be ignored. You will be given special consideration."