The ceremony might have ended but not the celebration. The Gray family were party animals.

Even when most of the guests had left. The branch family stayed behind, after all, this was their home too.

The laughter, stories, drinking and eating continued under the cherry blossoms in the compound.

With the whole family immersed in the fun time, Dean slipped away into his room. He hoped no one noticed but that would be an impossible ask, after all, this was his day.

All the bowing, handshakes and hugs had taken their toll on him but that wasn’t the reason he sneaked away.

The system had been pinging him like crazy since before the ceremony ended. The notifications had stacked up and Dean wanted to sort that out.

He sat on the bed and read through with Ash still on his shoulder glaring at him weirdly like he was crazy.

’Let’s do this,’ he thought. As he pulled up the orange screens.

[You have completed several self-imposed objectives]

[You have completed your coming of age ceremony]

[Rewards: 3000EXP]

[You have become the Named Heir of the House of the Sage]

[Rewards: 5000EXP]

"House of the sage?" Dean was taken aback. What was the system talking about?

Ying didn’t tell him about some house of Sage. This was the Gray family.

"System. Who is the house of the Sage?"

Dean felt it was a futile attempt to ask the system but he thought. ’why not...’

[The house of the Sage is the light, when the night....]

Suddenly the interface glitched and became blank. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"What the fuck," Dean muttered. "What’s going on?"

After about a minute. An orange spinning gear appeared on the screen and a new notification appeared.

[You have forged an Artifact: Rend]

[Rewards: 10,000EXP]

Dean’s eyes widened like they were about to pop out.

"Christ..." he closed his mouth quickly. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Immediately he looked at the blade that was sitting alongside the other gifts from the family.

There was more to the sword than what he imagined and if he recalled right. The system said it was Ascended.

But Dean didn’t get it. It was a weapon not a summon. How does it have a class?

He has become the family heir and learnt a lot about the family from Ying but his answers came with even more questions.

And the system had to reboot because of a question just now. So he wasn’t probing any further. At least for now.

What he wanted to do now is improve his rank.

"There is no need to hold back now," he muttered as he looked at his total experience points.

[Total EXP: 42800]

He looked around to see if there was anyone close by.

With no one in sight. He muttered. "Rank up."

The system screen blinked once then the notifications came up.

[You have ranked up from Elite Tier 2 → Elite Tier 3]

Dean’s body surged with energy as everything felt brighter, sharper with a clarity that felt like second nature.

With experience points still left. Dean didn’t waste any time.

"Rank up."

The system notifications appeared after another rank up after the previous one.

[You have ranked up from Elite Tier 4→ Elite Tier 5]

This time, the change was instant. It was nothing like the previous ones that felt like doors opening somewhere in his psyche.

This one felt like a qualitative change. His body tensed. Muscles curled as he felt heat racing all through his body.

His bones felt fuller and harder as the heat swept through all his appendages.

And for the first time since he had been ranking up, he felt stronger. Physically stronger.

His body had actually changed this time and not just his mind.

Flexing his fingers, he clenched them into fists and every motion felt smoother and faster.

This change was more than strength and Dean could feel it.

He punched the air once, causing the wind to rattle softly. "Tak!"

Dean smiled.. This was actually good. Really good.

After testing the upgrade. Dean’s eyes moved to the system as he looked at the remaining experience points.

[EXP Left:3800]

The change was actually qualitative this time so he couldn’t really complain too much about the cost.

His attention moved to his gifts first and Rend was at the top of the line.

Pulling at the hilt, the minimalistic guard made it feel incredibly light as it whistled even as it left the scabbard.

The blade was as beautiful as ever but he wasn’t just admiring the blade right now. He had other ideas. A crazy one at that.

A devious smile arched on his lips as he looked at Ash who blinked too many times to count.

"Come on buddy," Dean sheathed Rend and held it out to Ash.

The slime glowed blue as it bounced and looked at the blade and then at Dean.

"Can you Ab–?"

Dean didn’t finish speaking when Ash expanded as its body touched and immediately Rend sunk into it completely.

"Fuck," Dean blurted. He remembered when he was still just testing what Ash was capable of and the slime had turned a knife into something else.

Always the curious one. Dean wanted to see what this slime could do with a blade that the system said was "Ascended."

"C’mon," Dean said nervously, still staring at Ash who had begun pulsing between blue and red.

Ding!

[Unknown Evolution Detected]

[The Artifact: Rend is going through an unrecognized upgrade]

[Estimated time: 36 hours]

Dean’s eyes narrowed. Thirty six hours was an absurdly long time.

Even as the sword completely dissolved into it. Ash had become still. Not moving another inch since then.

And even from where he sat. His resonance with the Slime let him understand, it was doing something underneath the surface.

"Let’s see what you can do with a flux forged blade buddy." Dean relaxed.

***

With Ash doing its thing on the side, Dean decided to go through the other gifts.

They were scattered around the room, some on the bed, some on the desk and others on the floor.

Every one of these gifts were a promise, a form of connection. Proof that they believed in him.

As scary as that may be. It felt incredibly good as well.

He was going through them. When he recalled something.

Dipping his hand into his pockets, he pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it.

It read.

Underground Fight - Sector 7 - Next Saturday

Bet: 100 quids minimum

Odds: 30:1

And at the margin of the paper, someone wrote. "Rigged. Trust me."

"Ohh you crazy bastard." Dean was psyched.

He had some quids. If he bet 100 and won... that’s 3000 quids worth of winnings

That solved a lot of problems for him. Liam just went up the list of favorite cousins after Yin.

Dean folded the slip. And kept it in his bag. He wouldn’t want to misplace his go big or go home card.

<><><>

Far from the Gray compound. Deep in Argent territory.

Inside a large room with stone walls and runic carvings etched everywhere.

A throne sat at the far end of the lowly lit room. Facing two older men who were on their knees.

Their faces grizzled and scarred.

A figure sat in the shadows with only their hands visible on the stone and metal throne.

The hands were tanned with black painted nails—fading at the edges.

"Is that all?" The voice was calm and commanding.

"Yes, Alpha," one of the men replied.

The figure leaned forward slightly. She looked no older than her mid-thirties despite being old enough to command generations.

Her eyes were pale white and pupilless. Completely blind.

She placed her foot flat against the stone floor.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then her expression shifted. Like she was reading something invisible.

"You may leave," she said.

The men stood and bowed.

A growl rumbled from behind the men. It was deep and oddly terrifying.

A werewolf stepped into view. It was tall as a grown man. Ginger fur. Blue eyes like the ocean.

The men bowed low to the wolf as well. Then they left.

The wolf glowed and suddenly shifted.

Ymir stood there, stark naked with her plump figure and tan skin catching the dim torchlight.

She didn’t hesitate or even cover herself. She just ran like a child.

Straight into her grandmother’s arms.

The Alpha caught her. Pulled her onto her lap effortlessly.

"Oh, you’ve gained some weight, darling," the Alpha said teasingly. "Your ass is looking bigger. I guess you have a man now."

Ymir’s face flushed. "It’s nothing like that, Grandmother."

"I might need to touch to be sure."

Ymir swatted her hand away. "I know you’re not blind. Stop pretending."

"Hush, darling." The Alpha smiled. "Don’t tell a grandlady’s tales."

"So I heard about a powerful Year 3 Lupin in your school. Is he the one?"

Ymir almost leaped up from her grandmother’s lap. "Hell... no.. not that prick."

Ymir relaxed and leaned against her grandmother again.

"How do you even know of the Lupin pack Heir?"

"I might be blind, darling, but my ears work just fine."

"You are not blind," Ymir muttered.

The Alpha laughed softly. Stroked Ymir’s hair. "So. If you’re not thinking about the boy from the Lupin pack, then who?"

Ymir went quiet.

"There’s nobody," she said finally.

"Liar." The Alpha’s tone stayed light. But sharper now. "There is somebody. And you’re bothered about this somebody."

Ymir sighed. "Because he’s having Hel’Khar soon."

The Alpha’s expression shifted. "Hel’Khar? Interesting." The silence swelled for a moment before she spoke again. "To the death?"

Ymir rolled her eyes. "No."

"I could see that," the Alpha said.

"Of course you can."

The Alpha grinned. "If you tell me his name, I’ll buy you a car."

"I’m a werewolf," Ymir said flatly. "I don’t need a car. I can run."

"Just admit it. Tell me a name,"

Ymir pouted but finally spoke. "Gray."

"A Gray?" The Alpha repeated.

Ymir hesitated and looked away blushing. "It’s... he’s a... he’s different."

The Alpha’s smile faded. "Different how?"

"He beat Galan’s second son."

The Alpha went completely still.

Marcus. Galan’s second son. One of the pack’s strongest young prospects.

"He beat Marcus?" the Alpha repeated slowly.

"Yes."

"Are you sure he’s not adopted?" The Alpha’s tone turned dry. "Couldn’t be a Gray. They’re not what they used to be."

"He’s not adopted," Ymir said firmly.

The Alpha studied her. Even with her not so blind eyes, her gaze felt sharp.

"So," she said quietly. "You like this one."

Ymir didn’t answer right away.

Then—quietly—she nodded.

"Yes, Grandma. I like this one."

The Alpha smiled. For the first time in years, it wasn’t playful. It was proud.

"Good."