Chapter 109: Dinner Before Disaster

PRESENT DAY

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Frey had always believed that a good dinner required three things: excellent food, pleasant company, and at least one opportunity to annoy his father.

Fortunately, all three were available tonight.

The dining room of the D’Aubigné estate was spacious enough to accommodate several dozen guests, although only five people occupied the long dining table this evening.

An enormous chandelier illuminated the polished marble floor, while tall windows overlooked the beautifully maintained gardens surrounding the mansion.

Several dishes had been arranged across the table, including roasted meat, vegetables, freshly baked bread, and enough desserts to satisfy even Frey’s considerable appetite.

"So there I was, standing in front of this enormous monster," Frey declared, spreading his arms to demonstrate its supposed size. "Three meters tall, claws longer than my forearm, and teeth that could probably bite through a truck. Naturally, everyone else was terrified."

His younger brother, Lucien, leaned forward with undisguised excitement. "And what did you do? Did you kill it?"

Frey grinned as he reached for another piece of meat. "Obviously. What else was I supposed to do? Ask the damn thing whether it wanted to discuss our differences over dinner?"

Amélie burst into laughter, nearly spilling her drink. At fifteen, she shared her brother’s mischievous personality, although she possessed considerably more talent for pretending to be innocent whenever their parents were watching.

"You’re lying again," Amélie accused, pointing her fork at him. "Last time, you said you fought a monster the size of this house, but Jet told me it was barely bigger than a horse."

Frey pressed a hand against his chest, looking deeply offended. "First of all, your beloved Jet is a terrible friend who clearly doesn’t understand the importance of dramatic storytelling. Secondly, that monster was absolutely enormous. Horses come in different sizes, you know."

Laurent lowered his glass and regarded his eldest son with an expression of practiced disappointment.

A distinguished man in his late forties, Laurent had built much of the family’s considerable fortune through business rather than Awakener activities.

His neatly trimmed beard and immaculate clothing gave him an imposing appearance, although years of raising Frey had undoubtedly tested his patience.

"Perhaps you could explain why you were fighting such a dangerous monster in the first place," Laurent remarked, setting his glass beside his plate. "I distinctly remember you promising your mother that today’s Dungeon Raid would be relatively safe."

Frey paused with his fork halfway to his mouth.

"Well, technically, it was safe," he answered, offering his father an innocent smile. "Nobody died, nobody lost any limbs, and I came home looking just as handsome as when I left. I’d call that a successful outing."

"That isn’t what your father asked, darling," Celeste interjected, giving her son a concerned look. "You told me you were going into a White Dungeon. How did you end up fighting something so dangerous?"

Frey glanced toward his mother, whose elegant appearance and gentle manner concealed an impressive ability to make him feel guilty without ever raising her voice.

"It was a White Dungeon, Mom," he assured her. "The monster was just a little more troublesome than expected. Besides, Jet was with me. You know how ridiculously strong that bastard is."

"Language, Frey," Celeste reminded him, although a faint smile appeared on her face.

"Sorry, Mom," Frey replied immediately, before turning toward his siblings with a conspiratorial grin. "Anyway, where was I? Right. The monster charged straight at us, roaring like some ancient demon, and Jet decided the best solution was to hit it with that ridiculous axe of his."

Lucien’s eyes brightened. "Did Jet use those extra arms again?"

"Of course he did," Frey answered, lifting his shoulders dramatically. "The guy grows two additional arms whenever he wants. Honestly, it’s unfair. Imagine how much easier life would be if I had four hands. I could eat, play games, and annoy Father simultaneously."

Laurent gave him a flat look. "You already manage the last one without any assistance."

Amélie laughed so hard that she nearly dropped her fork, while Celeste shook her head in amusement. Even Laurent couldn’t completely suppress the smile threatening to appear beneath his stern expression.

For several minutes, the conversation continued in that comfortable manner, with Frey recounting increasingly exaggerated details from the day’s adventure while his siblings interrupted him with questions.

He conveniently omitted the more dangerous moments, particularly those involving injuries and situations where the outcome had been uncertain.

There was no reason to make his mother worry unnecessarily.

Unfortunately, Laurent knew his son too well.

"Frey, I received another report about your recent activities," his father eventually said, waiting until the laughter subsided. "Apparently, you’ve been spending an unreasonable amount of time inside fighting lately. You’ve also been taking risks that experienced Raiders would hesitate to attempt."

Frey swallowed his food before answering. "Dad, I’m an Awakener. Taking risks is practically part of the job description. Besides, how am I supposed to become stronger if I spend every day sitting around doing nothing?"

"There’s a difference between becoming stronger and being reckless," Laurent replied, his expression growing serious. "You have opportunities that most people your age could only dream of. Money, education, connections. You don’t need to gamble your life against monsters to prove anything."

Frey’s smile softened slightly. He understood his father’s concerns, even if they had disagreed about the subject countless times before.

"I’m not trying to prove anything," Frey explained, placing his fork down. "I enjoy being an Awakener, Dad. Fighting monsters, exploring Dungeons, getting stronger. It’s what I want to do. And I’m not stupid enough to throw my life away for no reason."

Celeste reached across the table and gently touched his hand. "We know, sweetheart. But you’re still our son. Every time you leave for a Dungeon, I worry that something might happen and you won’t come home."

Frey looked at his mother for a moment before smiling reassuringly.

"Come on, Mom. You know I’m not going anywhere that easily," he said, squeezing her hand. "Besides, I still have to become one of the world’s strongest Awakeners. Can’t exactly accomplish that if I get myself killed by some oversized lizard."

Amélie rolled her eyes. "You? One of the world’s strongest? Maybe you should start by beating Jet in a fight."

Frey turned toward his sister with exaggerated disbelief. "Excuse me, young lady. Are you seriously questioning your incredibly talented older brother?"

"Yes," Amélie answered, smiling sweetly as she returned to her dessert. "And Lucien agrees with me."

Lucien immediately raised both hands. "Don’t drag me into this, Amélie. I still need Frey to buy me that gaming console he promised."

Frey pointed at his brother approvingly. "See? That’s loyalty. Finally, someone in this family understands the importance of respecting their elders."

Laurent chuckled quietly, and the conversation gradually returned to lighter subjects. Frey listened as Amélie complained about school, Lucien discussed his latest obsession with Awakener rankings, and his parents debated plans for an upcoming family gathering.

For a while, everything felt wonderfully ordinary.

Then Frey’s phone began ringing.

He glanced at the screen lying beside his plate and immediately recognized the caller.

Jet.

A mischievous grin spread across his face.

"Speaking of the devil," Frey announced, picking up the phone. "Looks like our resident four-armed lunatic can’t survive an evening without hearing my beautiful voice."

Celeste smiled. "Give Jet our regards, darling. And remind him that he’s welcome to visit whenever he likes."

"Will do, Mom," Frey replied, accepting the call and bringing the phone toward his ear. "Yo, Jet! What the hell, man? Missing me already? I know I’m irresistible, but..."

"FREY! RUN!"

Frey froze.

The voice coming through the phone was almost unrecognizable.

Jet was shouting.

There was genuine panic in his voice.

"Get your family out of there!" Jet shouted desperately. "You’re being targeted! Frey, listen to me! RUN!"

Frey’s smile vanished.

"Jet? What the fuck are you talking about?" he demanded, abruptly pushing his chair backward.

His family turned toward him, startled by the sudden change in his expression.

But Frey barely noticed.

Because something had just appeared beyond the dining room windows.

A brilliant crimson light. It was approaching the mansion at terrifying speed, growing larger with every passing instant.

Frey’s instincts screamed.

"EVERYONE, GET DOWN!" he roared, throwing his phone aside as Mana erupted from his body.

The enormous serpent tattooed across his body blazed to life.

"VRITRA’S COIL!"

Dark, serpentine coils of Mana erupted around the dining table, wrapping themselves around his family just as the crimson projectile struck the mansion.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!

The explosion tore through the western section of the estate, shattering windows and sending a tremendous shockwave through the dining room. The chandelier exploded overhead, furniture was hurled across the floor, and fragments of stone and glass slammed against the protective coils surrounding the family.

Frey gritted his teeth as the impact drove him backward.

The protective coils trembled violently, but they held. Screams echoed around him as the dining room disappeared beneath clouds of dust and falling debris. Somewhere beyond the ruined walls, another explosion shook the estate.

Frey forced himself upright, maintaining Vritra’s Coil around his terrified family.

"Nobody move!" he shouted, scanning the destruction. "Stay behind me!"

Through the drifting smoke, he caught sight of several figures approaching across the shattered gardens.

They wore dark clothing and masks that concealed their faces and they were carrying weapons. More figures appeared beyond the broken windows, while others moved along the estate’s outer walls.

Frey’s expression hardened.

These weren’t ordinary intruders.

They were Awakeners and they had surrounded the mansion.

"Frey!" Celeste cried, clutching Amélie against her chest. "What’s happening?"

"I don’t know, Mom," Frey answered, forcing himself to remain calm as he looked toward his father. "Dad, the training facility. We need to get everyone inside."

Laurent immediately understood. The fortified training facility he had constructed for Frey stood beyond the eastern gardens, approximately five minutes away on foot. Its reinforced structure and defensive installations had been designed to withstand powerful Awakener attacks.

Reaching it was their best chance.

Laurent pulled Lucien closer and nodded. "I’ll guide everyone through the eastern passage. Frey, stay with us."

"Nobody leaves my sight," Frey replied, tightening the protective coils around his family. "Whatever happens, keep moving."

He led them through the ruined dining room and toward the eastern gardens, his heart pounding as distant explosions continued shaking the estate.

They had barely emerged from the damaged corridor when Frey stopped.

Several masked Awakeners were standing directly ahead, blocking the pathway leading toward the training facility.

And every one of them had already drawn their weapons.