The Hidden Monster of House Vale

Delian, Lucien, Hellyn, and their subordinates crossed the threshold of the Ancient Breach.

The world shifted.

One moment they stood on solid ground beneath a familiar sky. The next, they were elsewhere—a dark forest where the trees grew twisted and ancient, their branches clawing at a sunless sky. Giant shapes moved in the distance: monstrous beings, too large to be animals, too slow to be a threat at this range. The air smelled of damp earth, old blood, and something sweetly rotten.

"Look," Hellyn said, pointing. "There's a cave. It might be safe."

Delian studied the darkness between the trees, then nodded. "We will use it as our base. Everyone—move separately for the next few hours. Familiarize yourselves with the environment. Learn the terrain, note any dangers, mark anything valuable. We meet here again in the evening."

No one questioned her.

The retainers dispersed like shadows fleeing dawn—some melting into the undergrowth, others vanishing with soft pops of displaced air, a few simply walking away until the forest swallowed them.

Within moments, only Delian and Lucien remained.

She stepped closer, close enough that her scent—something floral, something dangerous—wrapped around him. She grabbed his shoulders, her fingers pressing just firmly enough to claim attention.

"So," she said, her voice low, "what are your plans?"

Lucien did not step back. "Not much yet. First, I need to see what opportunities exist here. Then I will make my plan." He tilted his head. "What about you, Lady Delian?"

"There is an ancient city beneath the sea. I found it last time, but it was too late—the month was almost over." Her fingers traced his collarbone through his coat. "I may ask you to accompany me there. But for now, we should look for opportunities here."

She leaned in, her lips brushing his ear.

"And if we have time… we might spend some of it together."

Lucien smiled—neither accepting nor refusing. "I'll keep that in mind."

Then he was gone, dissolving into the shadow of a nearby tree, teleporting through darkness as easily as another man might walk through a door.

Delian watched the space where he had been, her smile sharp and satisfied.

Lucien moved through the forest like a ghost.

The Lost Atlas pulsed against his chest, warm and insistent. It had been guiding him for the past hour, pulling him toward something hidden, something old. The trees grew thicker here, their roots twisting across the earth like grasping fingers. The light—what little there was—came from glowing fungi that sprouted from bark and stone, casting everything in an eerie blue-green glow.

[System Notification]

[Mission Triggered: Veins of the World]

Lucien stopped.

Veins of the World. An inheritance, then.

He felt the weight of it—the promise of power, of treasure, of soul points. But he also felt something else. Caution.

I need to get stronger first. I have soul points, but not enough. If I enter blind, I may not come out.

He resumed walking, but more slowly now, his senses stretched to their limit.

Ahead, a massive cave mouth yawned in the side of a hill. The Lost Atlas pulsed harder.

And outside the cave, gathered in a loose semicircle, stood eight people.

Lucien melted into the shadow of a fallen tree and watched.

“Hey, Natey,” Mora said, elbowing the dark-haired girl beside her. “Did Osmon buy you that necklace? The one with the sapphires?”

Natey smiled—small, private, satisfied. "He did."

"Aww, come on, tell us everything!" Araine, Ashwin's sister, leaned in eagerly. "How did he give it to you? Was it romantic? Was he on one knee?"

Mora sighed dramatically, her hand pressing to her chest. "Osmon is so hot. And so rich. His family will become viscounts in a few months. And he's in the Mid-Vein Opening Realm." She glanced at Natey with poorly concealed envy. "You're so lucky."

Ashwin stood at the edge of the group, his arms crossed, his jaw tight.

Every time, he thought. Osmon, Osmon, Osmon. These girls never get tired of him.

He forced a smile. "Ladies, perhaps we should focus on the cave. There could be monsters inside. Relics, too. Let's concentrate on the mission."

Araine rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Ashwin. It's not like you're going to fight. Osmon does all the real fighting. You just kill the small fry he wounds."

"Yeah," Mora agreed, not even looking at him. "Just shut up. Young Master Darson is trying to think."

Ashwin's smile faltered. He glanced at Natey, hoping for support, for acknowledgment—anything.

She did not look at him.

It was as if he did not exist.

Edgard, a lower-level retainer with gray in his beard, stepped forward. "Young Master Darson, it is difficult to assess the cave without entering. Perhaps we should proceed. We have numbers. We have strength. It should not be a problem."

Darson Mordric—younger brother of Sarric, still unable to open his Realm—frowned. He had gathered these seven Realm Masters to find an inheritance, to increase his value to the Mordric family.

"You're right, Edgard," Darson said. "We go in."

The group began to move.

Osmon and Natey walked together, their hands intertwined. Ashwin walked alone, Pergard beside him.

"Ashwin," Pergard said quietly, "accept it. She's not yours. She chose Osmon."

Ashwin's throat tightened. "I know. But it hurts. She accepted my love. She said she would marry me. And then Osmon asked… and she said yes without even looking back."

[Perhaps you should win her back.]

Ashwin stumbled. He looked around wildly. "Did you hear that, Pergard?"

"Hear what?" Pergard frowned. "Your broken heart is making you lose your mind. Focus on the mission."

[Only the chosen can hear me, Ashwin. I am the voice of this inheritance. And your blood—your ancestor's blood—flows through these stones. This place belongs to you.]

Ashwin's heart pounded. How? Who are you? How are you speaking inside my head?

[I am the spirit of this place. And I can see that you have been wronged. The woman you love has been stolen. The respect you deserve has been denied. How can you let some nobody take what is yours?]

Ashwin's hands clenched into fists.

[If you become stronger, you can take Natey back. You can make Mora kneel. Your sister will finally acknowledge you. All you have to do… is listen to me.]

And how do I do that? Ashwin thought. They are all stronger than me. I am the weakest here.

[That is a loser's mentality. This is the Ancient Breach. There is no law here. No rules. No witnesses. What if you became so strong that even the Mordric family could not touch you? What if even the Royal Family feared your name?]

Ashwin's breathing quickened.

[All you have to do… is listen.]

Four smaller passages branched off from the main tunnel, each one dark, each one promising.

"What should we do?" Darson asked, his uncertainty bleeding into his voice.

Edgard stroked his beard. "Young Master, perhaps we should send word to Master Sarric. Request reinforcements."

"Shut up!" Darson's face reddened. "Do you think I'm useless? Everyone wants to see me fail. If Sarric comes, he will take the inheritance for himself."

Edgard bowed his head. "I meant no offense, Young Master."

Osmon stepped forward, confident, handsome, his arm around Natey's waist. "Young Master is right. We should move forward. There is nothing here that we cannot defeat."

"Yeah!" Ashwin's voice rang out, startling everyone. "Osmon is right! We are in the Second Realm. We are more than enough."

The group stared at him. Ashwin was never confident. Ashwin was never happy.

But now he was smiling.

Darson nodded slowly. "Fine. We split into pairs." He looked at Edgard. "You stay with me."

"I'll go with Mora," Araine said quickly.

"I'll go with Ashwin," Pergard offered.

Osmon pulled Natey closer. "Natey and I will go together."

Mora leaned toward Natey as they prepared to separate, whispering with a sly grin: "Tell me all the details when we meet on the other side."

Natey blushed but said nothing.

The groups dispersed into the darkness.

[They will be alone now. Who knows how long. What if Osmon takes her purity?]

Natey is not like that, Ashwin thought, but the words felt hollow.

[What if he forces himself on her? What if she says no, and he does not stop? You should go back. Watch over her. Protect her if something happens.]

Ashwin's feet slowed.

I trust Natey. But I do not trust Osmon.

He turned to Pergard. "I forgot my healing sap. I left it with Araine. Go ahead—I'll catch up."

Pergard frowned but nodded. "Don't take too long."

Ashwin waited until Pergard's footsteps faded. Then he turned and ran back the way they had come.

[Good. I will help you. Hide in the shadows. They will not see you.]

Darkness wrapped around Ashwin like a cloak. He moved silently, his presence erased, his footsteps soundless.

He found them at the end of the passage.

They had emerged into a larger cavern—a hidden world. A stream of crystal-clear water wound through the center of the space. Bioluminescent plants lined the banks, casting soft blue light across everything. A waterfall cascaded down the far wall, feeding the stream. The ceiling was lost in darkness, but the floor was lush, almost beautiful.

Osmon and Natey stood at the edge of the water.

"It's beautiful down here," Natey said.

Osmon turned to her. "Yeah. It makes me want to take you right here. Right now. To take your purity."

Ashwin's blood froze.

"Poor Ashwin," Osmon continued, his hand sliding up Natey's arm. "He really thought he had a chance with a beauty like you."

Natey laughed—a light, careless sound. "At the time, I was low on money. He was paying for my cultivation resources. It was convenient." She shrugged. "Then you noticed me. I discarded him immediately. He was never anything more than a wallet."

Osmon pulled her closer. "Forget him. We have time. Edgard and Young Master Darson will take hours to reach this depth."

He kissed her.

Ashwin watched from the shadows.

Tears streamed down his face. Rage burned in his chest. His hands trembled.

[Do you want revenge, son? Do you want to end Osmon's story right here? This cave is yours. You can do anything here.]

How? Ashwin thought, his mind screaming. He is so strong!

[Let your ancestor help you. Take this dagger. One stab—and his cultivation will be sealed for five minutes. He will become a mere mortal. And mortals…]

A dagger materialized in Ashwin's hand. Black blade. Red runes.

[…do not survive a fifty-meter fall.]

Ashwin's reason crumbled.

He stepped out of the shadows.

Osmon had Natey pressed against a rock, his hands on her clothes, her head tilted back. Neither saw him coming.

Ashwin drove the dagger into Osmon's back.

Once. Twice. Three times.

Osmon screamed—not in pain, but in shock. He spun, shoving Natey aside, his hand reaching for his sword.

"Ashwin? Are you insane? Do you want to die?"

Ashwin stabbed him again.

"Die! Die! Die, you bastard!"

Osmon tried to summon his astral energy—but nothing happened. His cultivation was gone. Sealed. He was mortal.

Ashwin punched him. Once. Twice. Three times. Osmon's nose shattered. His teeth cracked.

"Ashwin, please!" Natey screamed, clutching her torn dress. "Stop! I'm sorry! Forgive me!"

Ashwin threw Osmon toward the cliff.

Osmon's feet slipped on the wet stone. He fell—but his hands caught the edge. He hung there, fifty meters above the rocks below, his fingers scrabbling for purchase.

Ashwin turned away.

He walked toward Natey, the black dagger still in his hand.

She fell to her knees. "Ashwin, please. I'm sorry. I truly love you. Please forgive me."

He stopped.

His eyes were red. His cheeks were wet.

"Why did you do this?" he whispered. "You know I can never kill you. I have always loved you. Even now. Even after you betrayed me."

He raised the dagger.

"But I need to become stronger. To do that, I must crush my heart." His voice broke. "I'm sorry, Natey. I have to kill you."

She did not run. Did not fight. Her mind was shattered—Osmon's fall, the dagger, the madness of it all. She simply knelt there, waiting.

Ashwin raised the blade.

Then something pierced his chest from behind.

Not a blade. A hand.

A hand , thrusting through his ribcage, emerging from his heart. Blood poured from his mouth. His eyes went wide.

Behind him, a voice—cold, calm, amused—whispered in his ear.

"Soul Void."

Author Note:

If you'd like to support the novel and read ahead, my Patreon is linked below. Thank you for reading!

/cw/thenoctvale