After finalizing the exchange and securing the Mask of Nocturnis, Kaito quietly reflected on his decision. Trading away the Dark Blade might have seemed reckless to an outsider, but in his eyes, the choice was sound. The Dark Blade, while a solid piece of gear at this stage of the game, was ultimately replaceable.
For his teammates, and even for his cousins, there would always be opportunities to acquire weapons of equal or greater value—though it might take some time and effort. Once the upcoming Level 15 dungeon was cleared, equipment of this caliber would become far more common, and blades similar to the Dark Blade would be available in abundance.
That didn't mean the Dark Blade was trivial. If he didn't already wield the Dragon Fang Sword, he would've seriously considered keeping it as a secondary weapon. Its balance and stat line made it a dependable choice for burst windows and quick swaps—exactly the kind of reliability that carried players through awkward power gaps.
But the mask changed the math. With Devour, the Mask of Nocturnis could be fed a steady diet of same-grade pieces—something his high forging success rate made uniquely feasible. It wasn't just a disguise; it was a long-term investment that could scale with him, offering anonymity now and stronger stats later. Trading a single Mysterious-Iron sword for a growth slot that might one day rival Gold or beyond? That was value. Kaito nodded to himself. For his team's future—and his own—he'd made the right call.
Stowing the Mask of Nocturnis in his inventory, Kaito glanced at the paling sky—dawn was breaking in Glory, and in reality as well. It was the right time to log out. He still had morning martial practice to complete, and he needed to brief his grandfathers and cousins from the ancestral estate who were about to join the game. He'd already laid out a plan for them—how they'd start, what roles to take, and the first steps to level efficiently—and he wanted everyone clear on it before they logged in. With that, he closed the interface and prepared to return to the real world.
[LOG OUT}
….
After logging out of Glory, Kaito stepped out of his RV cabin and stretched, only to notice that the villa was unusually quiet. His heart skipped a beat—everyone had already left for morning practice. He was late. Without wasting a moment, he hurried to his room, freshened up quickly, and then made his way toward the indoor training gym of the ancestral estate.
He already knew where to find them. The previous night, it had been decided that everyone would gather there at dawn to begin their first official practice of the Celestial Ascension Codex, the martial technique that his grandfather had brought out.
The plan was clear—his grandfather, alongside the eldest and second grandfather, would personally guide everyone through the basics each morning until they had memorized and internalized the fundamental stances. Once the family had a proper grasp of it, they would be able to train independently and advance on their own.
When Kaito entered the hall, he was greeted by a lively scene. His cousins were lined up in formation, their faces flushed with effort as they repeated the opening sequences of the codex. His uncles and even his father were mixed in with them, correcting their postures or adjusting their breathing rhythm under his grandfather's instructions.
To one side, his mother and the other aunts had gathered as well, though they were not practicing the Celestial Ascension Codex. Instead, they were immersed in the graceful movements of the Moonflow Petal Art, a martial technique excavated from the ruins that was particularly suited to women. The fluidity of their movements contrasted with the solid, vigorous motions of the Celestial Ascension Codex. His fourth aunt was personally guiding the newcomers from the ancestral branch of the family, carefully breaking down each step so they could follow along, while his grandmother occasionally stepped in to correct their form.
Kaito couldn't help but smile as he watched them. The arrangement had been his suggestion—if the family was to distribute techniques, then they should give out arts that truly matched each person's strengths. The male members would cultivate the Celestial Ascension Codex, while the women would practice the Moonflow Petal Art, ensuring that no one was left behind and everyone gained something suited to them.
What brought him even greater relief, however, was seeing his three grandfathers sitting together off to the side, engaged in quiet conversation. Once divided by past differences, they now appeared to have let go of their disputes, united by the future of the family. Kaito had already discussed with them an important matter: once the younger generation had learned the basics, the eldest and second grandfather would go into seclusion to retrain themselves with the Celestial Ascension Codex.
The decision had been difficult. Both had reached Rank 4 in their previous cultivation technique, but switching techniques beyond that stage was almost impossible without restarting from scratch. Yet Kaito was confident. With the help of the Mythic-grade Potions he had brought back, their transition would not only be possible but smoother than expected.
Restarting from Rank 0 meant their pools of spiritual energy would need to be built up again, but because their bodies were already tempered to a Rank 4 level, their foundations were stronger than ever. Combined with the restorative and empowering effects of the potions, Kaito estimated it would take them no more than one to two weeks to return to Rank 4. Beyond that, the potential of the Celestial Ascension Codex meant they would likely advance even further.
As Kaito watched his cousins continue their practice, he noticed most of them were still too young to begin proper cultivation. For now, they were diligently repeating the four basic martial arts stances, while his uncles had already begun training in the Celestial Ascension Codex under the elders' guidance. Wanting to avoid disturbing their rhythm, Kaito quietly moved to a corner and joined his cousins in performing the foundational stances.
However, unlike them, he coupled his movements with the breathing technique of the Sky Shatter Eternity Manual. This subtle difference in rhythm and flow made his practice appear distinct, sharper and more refined compared to the simple stances his cousins were still struggling with.
After finishing his set, the Mythic Potion that his pod had already administered earlier took effect. A surge of vitality coursed through him, leaving him refreshed and full of energy. As he came out of his stance, he realized his cousins had gathered around him. They too had completed their practice and were waiting, just as Kaito had instructed them before. He had told them to hold off on logging into Glory after training, as he had something important to explain.
Looking around, Kaito saw that not only his cousins, but even his uncles and grandfathers were present. They had all decided to enter the game as well, curious to see what was so extraordinary about it. The matter of whether the family would end their seclusion and step into the open world again would be voted on later that evening, during the family meeting after dinner.