The sun descended from the sky, casting its golden glow and warm rays upon the Rivelle territory below. Within one of the rooms, a young boy could be seen sleeping lazily, as though nothing in existence held any importance to him. After a few moments, he turned on the bed, shifting and curling in search of the perfect position to continue his slumber. Minutes passed before he finally stirred again, rising ever so slowly with a long yawn. His body moved into a seated position as his arms extended toward the ceiling, stretching languidly while savoring the brief pleasure that came with it.

The moment his stretch ended, his back dropped gently onto the bed once more, his eyelids fluttering open to reveal a pair of strikingly beautiful purple eyes, eyes that seemed to bless the morning light itself.

'Right… I'm in the Rivelle Barony for the Monster Tide mission,' Asher thought, his drowsiness fading as focus returned to his gaze, the languor in his eyes vanishing entirely.

"System, what's the time?" he asked his ever-loyal companion, his personal alarm.

[Host, it's 9:34 A.M.]

The system's mechanical voice responded, though its tone carried the faintest trace of exhaustion, as though it regretted ever being assigned to such a host despite having other, more obedient candidates available.

Asher swung his legs to the side of the bed, letting his feet touch the floor before standing up in one smooth motion. He walked into the adjoining bathroom, where the basic necessities had already been neatly arranged. The Baron had even gone as far as preparing a full set of clothes and undergarments for him, a gesture Asher didn't reject. Instead, he had tossed them all into his system inventory for convenience.

After a brief but refreshing bath, Asher dressed himself in a clean set of clothes. He then equipped his gleavea and vambraces, slipping on his black gloves before fastening his breastplate securely over his torso. Adjusting the sword belt around his waist, he checked the position of his rapier and the three daggers hanging beside it. With everything in place, he stepped out of the room with calm composure.

'Let's hope we get this over with today,' Asher muttered inwardly as he left. The moment he stepped outside, the Rivelle family's butler was already standing there, straight-backed and patient, as if anticipating Asher's emergence.

The instant the man spotted him, he bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Tenth Sun. I trust your night was as peaceful as the stars themselves?"

Asher's purple eyes flicked toward him, his expression neutral as he replied, "It was."

"Then allow me to lead you to the dining hall for breakfast," the butler offered, gesturing forward with polished courtesy.

Asher gave a small nod and began walking, though he hardly needed the guidance, he already knew the way. Within a minute, they arrived at the hall, where the pleasant murmur of voices met his ears. William and Finch were seated, engaged in conversation with Caldor and Annabelle, cheerful smiles lighting their faces. At the table's head sat Baron Rivelle and Lady Eleanor, already composed and silent, their posture refined yet commanding.

The moment everyone sensed Asher's presence, they rose to their feet with polite smiles. Asher suppressed an inward sigh, already tired of such constant formalities. He couldn't understand why even William and Finch felt the need to join in this ritualistic greeting. With another mental sigh, he acknowledged their salutations with an expressionless face, returning none of their enthusiasm.

His eyes soon drifted to the Rivelle family, the Baron, his wife, and their children, Caldor and Annabelle. They were all clad in armor, their polished plates gleaming faintly under the morning light, as though prepared to head into battle at any moment.

Asher had assumed that the two heirs wouldn't participate in the coming Monster Tide, but it appeared he had been mistaken. Baron Rivelle, noticing the faint flicker of surprise in Asher's eyes, spoke calmly, his tone carrying a hint of pride.

"As heirs to the Barony, they must learn to lead soldiers on the battlefield. Power cannot be cultivated by hiding behind castle walls," he said.

Asher gave a quiet nod, acknowledging the truth in the Baron's words before taking his seat. 'Blazestar Life Rank,' he thought inwardly, analyzing Lady Eleanor's presence. As always, however, he couldn't determine her sub-rank, her energy remained elegantly concealed.

Everyone present was already fully geared and ready for battle. Their assumption was that the Monster Tide would strike today or tomorrow, and thus they had to be prepared for either possibility. No one could afford to scramble for weapons and armor once the chaos began.

Breakfast commenced shortly after. Plates clattered softly as servants moved about, and the faint aroma of baked bread and seasoned meat filled the room. Asher ate mechanically, his mind drifting elsewhere, though he still offered short, polite responses whenever someone addressed him directly.

'Maybe I should set my third teleportation mark here,' he mused silently between bites. 'Teleport back to the estate, check on Lyra… then return here and erase the mark afterward.'

He shook his head almost immediately, dismissing the thought. 'No, not now. If the real battle begins today, I can't afford distractions.' His focus shifted once more to the Rivelle family. He found himself wondering if they possessed any special Bloodline Abilities and, if so, what kind. His curiosity also extended toward Caldor and Annabelle, how strong were they, truly?

As he pondered, both his and Baron Rivelle's heads turned suddenly toward the corridor. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed faintly from afar. The Baron raised an eyebrow, mildly impressed that Asher's perception had detected the sound at such a distance. He didn't comment, though, merely nodding to himself with a faint smile.

Moments later, a guard burst into the hall without knocking. No reprimand came from the Baron; his calm demeanor alone signaled that he already sensed the urgency. The guard's breathing was quick but steady as he bowed deeply and spoke with haste.

"My Lord, the Monster Tide is already upon us!"

At those words, the serene atmosphere that had filled the room shattered instantly. Tension surged, not the paralyzing kind born of fear, but the sharp, disciplined alertness of seasoned warriors preparing for battle.

Baron Rivelle's expression shifted immediately, his calm transforming into the sharp focus of a battlefield commander. He had faced numerous Monster Tides before, once every year or two, and each time, his territory had stood firm. To him, this was nothing more than another trial, a routine clash in an endless cycle.

"How far out are they?" he asked, his voice steady, his presence imposing.

"Half an hour to an hour, my Lord," the guard replied quickly, his tone respectful.

Baron Rivelle nodded once, his expression unreadable. "Relay my orders," he said. "Mobilize every knight, mercenary, and adventurer within our command. Activate every plan and formation discussed. I expect everything to be in position before I reach the outer wall in fifteen minutes."

The guard straightened immediately. "As my Lord commands."

He bowed deeply before exiting the dining hall with disciplined calm. The instant the door closed behind him, however, his demeanor changed, his composure replaced by speed. Without hesitation, he leapt through the open window, his figure vanishing into the morning air as he raced toward the barracks to deliver the Baron's command.

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