The vast hall inside the castle suddenly trembled as a deep rumble spread through the structure, as though an enormous earthquake had struck the entire domain. The vibration was not violent enough to shatter the ground beneath their feet, yet it carried a strange, suffocating weight that seemed to resonate through the air itself.
Pillars carved from pale crystalline stone hummed faintly, and the ceiling, which resembled a night sky sealed within glass, shimmered with subtle distortions. The disturbance did not feel natural. Instead, it felt deliberate, as if something ancient had stirred after a long slumber.
Confusion spread immediately among the gathered members. Many of them instinctively steadied themselves, while others looked around in alarm. Some believed that a hidden enemy might have launched an attack, while others feared that the castle itself was malfunctioning. However, none of them could truly understand what was happening.
There had never been earthquakes in Elysium.
The concept itself felt absurd. Elysium was not governed by ordinary physical laws, and this castle, in particular, was known to be a space treasure that existed beyond conventional spatial boundaries.
The structure was not anchored to any planet, nor was it connected to tectonic plates or geological forces. The very idea of an earthquake occurring within such a place contradicted everything they knew.
Yet the rumble continued, low and ominous.
While the younger members remained confused, the old man’s expression changed dramatically. The color drained from his face as realization struck him. His eyes widened, and his breathing grew shallow. He did not need to guess the cause. He knew it with certainty.
The elders who had surpassed level one hundred also reacted at the same moment. Their expressions shifted from confusion to shock, followed by a solemn seriousness that immediately distinguished them from the rest.
Without hesitation, the old man lowered himself to his knees.
The movement was sudden and absolute.
The elders followed instantly. Every one of them knelt down in perfect unison, their heads slightly lowered as if they were greeting a sovereign whose authority they could not question.
"Greetings, Founder," the old man said, his voice carrying a respectful gravity that silenced the hall.
The atmosphere froze.
The remaining members became stiff where they stood. Most of them were relatively new recruits, and although they had heard countless legends about the Founder, none of them had ever seen him. For many, the Founder existed only as a mythical figure who had created the clan before disappearing into seclusion. Some believed he was meditating in isolation, while others suspected he had already died long ago.
There were even rumors suggesting that the elders were hiding something on the eighth floor. According to those whispers, the story of the Founder’s continued existence had been fabricated to maintain authority and prevent internal conflict. No one had ever confirmed those suspicions, yet they lingered in the minds of the more skeptical members.
Then, without warning, a figure manifested in the air.
He appeared gradually, as though space itself had decided to reveal him. His form was slightly translucent at first, resembling a ghost emerging from another dimension, yet it solidified within moments. The man looked young, perhaps no older than Ethan, and his features were strikingly handsome. His appearance rivaled the newly recognized record breaker, though his expression remained calm and detached.
What shocked everyone the most was the absence of aura.
There was no pressure. There was no divine radiance. There was no suffocating presence that usually accompanied beings of overwhelming strength. He simply floated in the air as though gravity had no meaning to him. His robes moved gently, unaffected by any wind, and his eyes remained indifferent.
He did not look at the kneeling elders.
He did not acknowledge the hall.
He looked directly at Ethan.
The silence became suffocating.
"Come with me," he said calmly.
Ethan did not ask any questions. He sensed that refusing was impossible, and more importantly, he understood that this was not hostility. He nodded once in agreement.
The young man snapped his fingers.
Both of them vanished instantly, as though they had never existed in the first place.
The disappearance was absolute. No residual energy remained. No spatial distortion lingered. It was as if reality itself had erased them.
At the same time, something strange occurred.
The members in the hall suddenly felt disoriented. Their thoughts became unclear, and a subtle blankness spread through their memories. The image of the Founder faded from their minds, dissolving like mist. Even Ethan’s presence blurred, then disappeared entirely.
The elders experienced the same phenomenon.
For a brief moment, everyone stood in silence, unable to understand what they had just witnessed.
"Why are we here?" someone thought subconsciously.
The question surfaced in multiple minds simultaneously.
The old man frowned. He felt an unnatural gap in his memory. Although he could not recall what had been removed, he sensed that something important had been erased. His instincts warned him that this was not an ordinary phenomenon.
Then understanding dawned upon him.
"Do not ask any questions. Just leave," the old man said suddenly.
His voice carried unusual seriousness.
He might not have been as strong as the Founder, but he understood one thing clearly. Only one person in this castle possessed the ability to erase memories so completely. The elders immediately reached the same conclusion. Their expressions tightened, and they chose not to speak further.
They looked toward the remaining members.
"Nothing happened here. Leave," they instructed.
Without waiting for a response, the elders vanished one after another.
...
On the eighth floor, a quiet chamber floated within a separate spatial layer. The Founder stood facing Ethan, who had just regained full awareness after the teleportation.
"You were sent here by a being from Elysium, correct? Do you have a mission?" the Founder asked.
"That is correct. I need to become at least level one hundred thirty. Someone in my family is in danger," Ethan replied.
"I will not probe further," the Founder said calmly. "Do you want to join our clan?"
"If you can help me and protect me, I will join," Ethan answered.
"Very well. I have removed your existence from their memories. However, some supreme beings might have noticed anomalies. They may not interfere within this castle, but if you shine too brightly outside, they will eventually notice you."
"Thank you for the reminder. Do you have any advice for me?" Ethan asked.
"I will give you a treasure. It will hide your level, and nobody above level one hundred thirty will be able to detect it. You should also kill monsters at your own level. Doing so will grant you more points. Killing weaker ones will only waste your time. I will also provide a device that helps you locate specific monsters."
"Thank you. Can you tell me the shape of my personality sir?" Ethan asked.
The Founder nodded and took out a small disk. It resembled the larger one on the ground floor.
Ethan held the disk.
A sudden surge of energy erupted.
The disk began to transform. Both of them watched closely. The surface softened, reshaping gradually.
Then it formed a miniature figure.
It looked exactly like Ethan.
The Founder’s eyes widened.
"How is this possible? A True Treasure cannot gauge your personality?"
He immediately handed Ethan several items.
"You should leave and begin your journey. Take these treasures. This stone will teleport you directly to the eighth floor."
Ethan accepted them.
"Sir, may I ask one more question?"
"What is it?"
"Leveling up strengthens the body, but how do we use supernatural abilities?"
"Every ten levels, you will obtain a divine power as a talent. Once you reach level one hundred, you will also be able to comprehend and manipulate a portion of Elysium’s laws."
Ethan thanked him and left.
Moments later, he reappeared on the ground floor, where Dominic greeted him calmly.
"Congratulations, Ethan. Having gold level potential is impressive. It is unfortunate that you cannot access the first floor, but the ground floor is not a bad place either."