CHAPTER 56: RITE OF THE DRAGON VEIN MISSIONS

The five missions of the Rite of the Dragon Vein had always remained the same, unchanged for countless generations:

1. Reach Level 40.

2. Become a 3-star Beast Tamer.

3. Evolve at least one magical beast twice, raising it to 3 stars.

4. Solo-clear a 3-star dungeon.

5. Complete a 3-star quest issued by the Adventurer’s Guild.

The participants were free to tackle them in any order, but to succeed in the Rite, all five had to be completed within a strict time limit of two years.

As for where these missions would take place... the candidates could choose. There were six starting locations available for the Rite of the Dragon Vein challenge.

"First is Martonia," Alexander began. "This is a small city about three hundred kilometers from Dravalis, the capital of our kingdom, Dravalon. It’s a beautiful place—right in the heart of several trade routes, with lush green forests and tall mountains surrounding it. There’s even a massive lake, the Lake of Martonia, its waters so clear they shine like crystal under the sun...

"The weather’s pleasant year-round," he continued. "The people are warm and welcoming, and the dungeons there... well, they’re on the easier side. Safe, straightforward, nothing too overwhelming. To put it simply, Martonia is the easiest and safest place to complete the Rite. Honestly, if you’re looking for comfort and security, there’s no better choice."

"Wait—if it’s that good, then wouldn’t everyone pick Martonia?" Emilia tilted her head, curiosity in her voice.

"Haha, exactly," Alexander chuckled, shaking his head.

"So... what’s the catch?"

"Well," he admitted with a sigh, "because it’s too safe and too easy, it’s not really impressive. Sure, you’ll survive and probably complete the Rite without much trouble, but if you’re aiming to stand out—especially to the people who matter—Martonia isn’t the best choice."

"Oh, I see..." Emilia murmured softly, her brows furrowing.

After all, the Rite of the Dragon Vein wasn’t just a coming-of-age trial to prove one’s worth as a Silvervein. It was also the one and only chance for young candidates to prove themselves worthy of a recommendation to Luminaris Academy, the most prestigious academy in the entire kingdom.

Every mission was judged and scored, with special weight placed on the fourth and fifth challenges: solo-clearing a 3-star dungeon and completing a 3-star quest. The harder the location, the more impressive the results.

And that was the catch—passing those missions in Martonia, where the dungeons and quests were easier and safer, might be enough to scrape by... but it wouldn’t leave a mark.

Even so—

"Emilia, go with Martonia!" Alexander urged firmly. "You don’t need to push yourself too much. Please... just take the safest option. Don’t risk more than you have to."

But Emilia only tilted her head

"Hmmm... what about the other five cities?" she asked, unwilling to let the matter drop.

Alexander groaned under his breath, rubbing the back of his neck. His shoulders slumped as if weighed down by the very thought.

"Emilia..." he muttered, half in exasperation, half in worry. For a moment, he looked as though he might refuse to answer.

But in the end, with a long, reluctant sigh, he gave in.

"Alright... If you really want to know, then listen carefully."

And so, Alexander began to explain the next options.

Besides Martonia, there were:

Verdelun – A city much like Martonia, thriving on fertile lands and agriculture. Peaceful, well-regulated, and quiet, it was a comfortable place for any adventurer to start. Its dungeons were safe and easy to clear, though limited in variety. Many considered it... well, boring. Nothing stood out, except the food. Verdelun’s cuisine was said to be the best in the world, drawing travelers from every corner of the kingdom just to dine there. But... we were talking about the Rite of Dragon Vein here, not food tourism!

Port Azure – A bustling harbor city that traded with nations across the sea. It was beautiful, vibrant, and always alive with noise and activity. The dungeons here weren’t much harder than Martonia’s, but the real problem lay within the city itself. With ships coming in daily from distant lands, Port Azure had become a hotspot for crime. Smuggling, drug trafficking, illegal monster trades, forbidden artifacts—there was always something shady happening. Slavery and black-market dealings thrived in the shadows. For anyone seeking adventure, the city promised excitement, but also danger... and not just from monsters.

Silvanya – A border city near the Elven Kingdom. Several elven tribes often visited to trade, making Silvanya a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and magic. But this richness came with complications. Outsiders were always under watchful eyes. The dungeons here were notoriously brutal too with strong monsters and difficult terrains. On top of that, navigating the city’s delicate politics required extreme care. One careless word to the wrong elf could spark lasting grudges.

Aquilonia – A settlement buried deep in a frozen northern valley, where snow never melted and icy winds howled through the mountains. The cold was merciless, draining stamina, freezing equipment, and sapping mana reserves. Surviving here was a trial in itself. Yet the rewards were unmatched. Aquilonia’s dungeons produced more materials and rarer drops than anywhere else, often 20% richer than other regions. Adventurers who braved its deadly blizzards and frost-touched monsters earned not only treasure but also higher scores in the Rite as well. It was grueling, but glorious.

And finally, Duskwald

– It was a shadowed city built on the edge of the Black Mire, a vast swamp choked by thick fog and prowled by dangerous monsters. Even outside the dungeons, just walking through the wilderness was a risk. The dungeons themselves were infamous for being mazes of darkness, filled with horrors that could even corrupt the mind. Many adventurers never returned. For those with courage, or madness, Duskwald offered a chance to prove themselves against horrors few dared to face. But it was, without doubt, the most dangerous choice for the Rite.

***

Thus, from least to most dangerous, the cities ranked as follows: Martonia, Verdelun, Port Azure, Silvanya, Aquilonia, and Duskwald.

"Please, Emilia, only choose Martonia, Verdelun, or Silvanya if you really want to push yourself," Alexander urged. "Stay away from Port Azure and Duskwald at all costs! Those places are far too dangerous for you!"

"Hmmm... then which one did you choose for your Rite, Brother?" Emilia asked.

"Well... I chose Port Azure," Alexander admitted with a grimace. "Ugh... what a nightmare. It wasn’t too dangerous for me, but... disturbing. That city has its own kind of darkness."

"Ah... I see..." Emilia murmured softly.

"Then promise me, Emilia," Alexander pressed, his crimson eyes full of worry. "Only choose one of the three I mentioned!"

"...Hihi, thanks, but I’ll need to think it over more carefully!" Emilia replied with a mischievous smile.

"Argh! Come on, Emiliaaaa!" Alexander groaned, running a hand through his crimson hair. "If you had summoned something stronger, I wouldn’t be this worried! But with just a Noctifelis, you have to think about this! Think about Mimi’s safety too!"

"Blerghhh!" Emilia stuck out her tongue playfully.

Still, she knew Alexander’s warnings made sense. After hearing all that, his recommendation was reasonable. And even though she had an adventurous heart, and wanted to challenge herself with hard missions, she wasn’t someone who would be reckless enough to put Mimi in needless danger.

"So then, what’s your choice now?" Alexander pressed again.

"Hey! I can’t tell you! That’s literally against the rules!" Emilia pouted.

"Arrgh! Fine! Then just promise me this—don’t go to dangerous places, and don’t do anything reckless!"

"Yup, I’ll be careful, Brother," she said with a small smile.

"...Sigh..." Alexander finally exhaled, shoulders dropping in resignation. "Well, I suppose I’ll have to trust that you know what’s best for yourself."

"Yes," Emilia nodded, her face turning a little bit serious.