Flashy Adventurer System : Show Off to Get Stronger! - Chapter 966

Chapter 966: A Rather Unpleasant Day
The subtle silver light of two moons illuminated the land.

Usually, nights were dangerous for humans, but these days, even the distant howling of wolves in the forests sounded more calming than frightening.

The cicadas buzzed, and the wind felt somehow fresher.

It was as though something that was lost to the world eons ago had returned.

Well, it was mana.

The WAA conducted an extensive search operation at the Hawkin Group’s headquarters after the battle, marveling and shuddering at its sheer vastness and complexity, eventually discovering the five enormous mana storage crystals.

Following the advice of one of their arcanists, they carefully opened a small crack in each, allowing mana to leak out slowly.

Destroying the crystals would have caused an unnecessary mana fluctuation, potentially triggering a massive explosion that could wipe out Yon Augenn City.

A slow release was the safest approach—and so it was done

In any case, the world’s mana density was increasing, leading to significant advancements in the study of the arcane.

Mages suddenly experienced a tremendous surge in power.

They felt as if they were merely reclaiming what had once been theirs, yet, clearly, this was the first time they had ever felt so mighty.

It was a strange sensation.

Time inevitably passed, and the majestic sun reclaimed its heavenly rule, its warm golden glow illuminating the land—far more than the two moons combined could ever achieve.

A year had passed since the Black Dragon of Destruction was unsealed, and the day of the awards ceremony had arrived.

Despite ongoing construction, the city buzzed with life.

Establishments that had somehow survived the war were packed, and al fresco dining areas had been set up in certain streets—temporarily permitted by the WAA and Yon Augenn City Hall.

Why?

Simple—every WAA hero was required to attend the ceremony, and adventurers from all over the world—at least, those capable of reaching the city—flocked to Yon Augenn, even at great personal expense.

They longed to catch a glimpse of the world’s mightiest adventurers.

To stand in the presence of one was a blessing—let alone all of them.

What proper adventurer would let such a chance slip away?

Yon Augenn City’s finances were set to receive a substantial boost that day, with adventurers from all over the world eagerly contributing.

Not everyone was pleased, however.

The remnants of the Hawkin Group, for one, were in utter despair—especially Dweezel, who, surprisingly, had been easy to subdue.

A meticulous schemer, he had never faced situations that demanded true courage or resilience.

When the time came, the sinister snake crumbled almost instantly. He barely survived the first day of torture and spilled all his secrets by the second.

Naively, he had assumed the WAA would stop once he had confessed everything.

The sinister man was utterly broken, his mind shattered after enduring three hours of relentless torture each day.

Dweezel had developed an innate fear of torture priests.

Being healed repeatedly, only to suffer the same excruciating pain again and again, was a torment beyond imagination.

The once-proud and cunning leader of the Hawkin Clan—once revered as the greatest hero—had been reduced to a hollow-eyed, broken man.

Even his eldest son, Primo, had long since lost respect for the man he once called “Lord Father.”

Dweezel Hawkins had proven to be nothing more than a pathetic, spineless weasel, unable to maintain even a shred of dignity in defeat.

To be the bastard’s son was an embarrassment.

Primo could only wish for the execution to come sooner. At the very least, he wanted to die with his own dignity intact.

Among the unhappy ones were the unsealing cohort members.

Strangely, they could not accept that they were alive, set to reap rewards, while the one who had ensured their survival was now gone—reduced to a mere memory.

Accepting the rewards felt unbearable, tainted by a mix of shame and grief. The memories they had buried deep within their hearts surged back like an unrelenting tide, if only for this day.

The unsealing cohort members found themselves despising this day…

But unfortunately, they had to endure—if only to obtain even a good fraction of Shye’s combat prowess in his final moments and press forward, carrying his will and noble spirit.

After all, they needed power to keep protecting the world—the world their fallen friend had fought so hard to secure a future for.

After today, they would be known as the Divine Guardians, receiving divine runes from none other than the two deities.

While they were duty-bound to take turns guarding the abodes of the draconic deities—protecting them from conniving humans like Dweezel—they would gain tremendous power in return.

For the most part, they were free to live as they pleased and would only be summoned on special occasions—requests they could decline, as per their agreement with the council of directors.

Their only true obligation was to guard the divine deities and respond to world-threatening crises.

It aligned with their mission to preserve the world Shye had fought to protect, so they gladly accepted the runes and the title—even Shirley.

Still, they dreaded the ceremony, for it would force them to relive the painfully sweet memories of Shye.

They just wanted this day to be over quickly, that’s all…

After enduring a year of loss, Shirley finally reached a conclusion—one that mirrored the resolve of her fellow cohort members.

She, too, vowed to protect the world Shye had once safeguarded, but more than that, she would try to find joy in living within it.

It would be difficult. It would take time. But this was the path she chose.

Perhaps this was what Shye had wanted for her all along.

She would ensure that his sacrifices were not in vain, and she would watch over the Crowley family as well.

As for love? That was a question for the future.

For now, she would mend her broken heart, one day at a time, and learn to embrace a world without her beloved.

The ceremony had been underway for some time, and those who had contributed significantly to the WAA had already received their rewards.

Now, it was the Hadean Varsa elites, captains, and commanders’ turn—soon, it would be theirs.

They could hardly wait—not just for the power that awaited them, but also for this long ordeal to finally be over.

Shirley and the others simply wanted to move forward and continue mending their hearts.