On the other side.
Guided by Felix Hoffman, Aster Grant arrived at a meticulously decorated meeting room.
After signaling Lazuli to wait outside, Aster pushed the door open and entered.
As soon as he entered, his gaze was immediately drawn to the navy figure seated at the head of the table.
City Lord Sean Sherman stood respectfully to the side.
This detail instantly made Aster realize that the distinguished-looking middle-aged man before him held a status far above the City Lord.
Seeing Aster enter the room, Sean immediately rose to introduce:
"Student Aster Grant, this is Chief Abel Vance of the Southern Military Region!"
Abel Vance?!
Aster's pupils contracted slightly.
This name resounded across Draconia like thunder—
A Monarch Level Beast Tamer, a cornerstone of the Southern War Zone, truly a figure capable of turning the tides in times of national crisis.
"Greetings, City Lord. Greetings, Chief."
Gathering his thoughts, Aster respectfully saluted one by one.
Abel Vance nodded slightly, his deep eyes appraising Aster gently as he said:
"Student Aster Grant, congratulations on receiving an SSS-Level potential rating in the newbie trial."
"Thank you, Chief, but I reckon there's another reason you summoned me here."
Seeing Sean standing to the side like an invisible man, Aster understood that the one who truly wanted to see him...
Was indeed this chief of the Southern Military Region, Abel Vance!
However, he didn't understand why a military chief would take the initiative to meet him.
Even though his performance in the newbie trial was impressive.
But a genius who hasn't yet matured isn't considered a genius.
Seeing Aster's demeanor, a glint of appreciation flashed in Abel Vance's eyes.
Upon receiving the news of Aster's SSS-Level rating on his way here, his first reaction was disbelief.
After all, in Draconia, geniuses reaching this level were few and far between.
In a frontier town like Lythos, it was virtually impossible for an SSS-Level talent to appear.
He initially thought this genius had reached the SSS-Level rating through some "tricks".
But after personally witnessing Aster's Beastbond, that notion immediately dissipated.
The aura emanating from that beast had already surpassed the Epic Level realm!
Possessing a Legendary Level beast making it possible to obtain an SSS-Level rating was only to be expected.
"Student Aster Grant, indeed, I have something to ask of you."
Abel spoke, his gaze subtly shifting to Sean.
The City Lord instantly understood, respectfully withdrew from the room, his heart surging with intense waves...
What kind of secret could be so confidential that even he, the lord of a city, had no right to know?
Once the door closed, Abel waved his hand gently, and a pale blue light curtain rippled like a water wave, enveloping the two of them.
"This is..." Aster's pupils contracted slightly.
"The foundational application of Domain Power, which you will master once you advance to Commander Level."
"This device primarily ensures our conversation remains hidden from outside surveillance."
Aster watched the pulsating energy barrier before him, his expression growing increasingly serious.
To see a Monarch Level Beast Tamer treat something so cautiously, even isolating it from the outside world using Domain Power...
Was anything but ordinary!
It could very well concern the fate of Draconia!
"Student Aster Grant, you should know, the Alternate Space is another world currently merging with Azurea."
"Every nation has established defense lines in the Alternate Space to provide a safe training ground for Low-level Beastmasters."
Aster nodded, having read about this history in textbooks long ago.
"Yet the construction of Draconia's defense lines lags behind other nations," Abel suddenly shifted the topic, "Do you know why?"
Aster frowned in thought. "Is it because... the defense line construction isn't going smoothly?"
"That's correct!!!"
Abel sketched a light screen map in the void, "Three years ago, we discovered a massive Trial Ground at a critical location."
On the light screen, a scarlet light spot was strategically positioned at the defense line's hub.
"Under normal circumstances, discovering a Trial Ground is a good thing."
"But this Trial Ground happens to be situated at the most critical node of the defense line."
"Without clearing this Trial Ground, the defense line will always have a gap, allowing creatures from the Demon Clan to invade through it at any time."
Hearing this, Aster couldn't help but look up at Abel.
"But it seems like I can't be of much help!"
Abel raised his hand to interrupt, tapping lightly in the void, causing a three-dimensional projection to unfold.
The projection clearly marked the various zones of the Trial Grounds, most of which displayed green to represent "cleared", except for the core zone, which still flickered with glaring red light.
"All other levels of Trial Zones have been conquered by our army."
"Except for this last area—"
He pointed to the red zone, "It requires a challenge from a team of three at Awakening Tier Five and below."
The projection magnified, revealing detailed data of the area:
[Difficulty Rating: Abyssal Level]
The Trial Ground is a special Sanctum in the Alternate Space where those who clear it can earn rich rewards.
According to its difficulty, Draconia officially ranks it into five levels.
Normal, Hard, Nightmare, Hell, and at the top—Abyssal!
"I need you," Abel looked directly into Aster's eyes, "to team up with two other SSS-Level geniuses to complete this ultimate challenge and help Draconia complete the construction of the defense line!"
Upon hearing this, Aster finally understood.
Why a chief of the military region would personally seek an Awakening Stage newbie Beastmaster.
While he was absorbing this information, Abel mistakenly thought he hesitated.
"This trial indeed carries great risk. So long as you participate, you'll qualify to select an item from the Southern Military Region's treasury."
Abel spoke, raising his hand to unfold a light screen,
where the phantom images of countless rare materials cycled through.
Aster glanced up inadvertently, his gaze immediately captured by one of the materials.
Light Crystal?!
A whole piece of Light Crystal?!
"Chief Vance!" Aster's voice trembled slightly, "Does the military treasury truly have a whole piece of Light Crystal?"
He hadn't expected to learn about the first material required to cultivate Lazuli here.
A trace of surprise flashed in Abel's eyes, as he lightly tapped to enlarge the crystal's phantom:
"It seems this item is very important to you?"
Aster nodded.
"Fine, as long as you agree to participate in the trial, whether you succeed or fail, it's yours."
"Deal!"
Aster agreed without hesitation.
Such a matter of serving the country was something he had already planned to accept, and the "Light Crystal" was purely an unexpected bonus.
Seeing Aster agree, Abel also let out a sigh of relief.
He had pledged to "build the entire defense line this year."
If it weren't for encountering Aster, he already thought it would be impossible to complete the task this year.
Before, they had sent geniuses to participate in the trial, but even those with SS potential failed to make it halfway through.
Thus, he had been frantically searching across Draconia for SSS-Level potential geniuses.
Now, he had finally found one!!
"Time is of the essence; we should set off now. Every day's delay will cost more lives of Draconia's Beastmasters at the defense line gap."
...
...