Chapter – 22 – A Message
Delian looked down at the ground, but the sight before her did not bring even a trace of satisfaction.
Marson Mordric’s severed head lay there, but her eyes were not focused on him. They were only focused on one person.
Lucien.
She watched him carefully, making sure he was truly unharmed. The fear that had been buried deep inside her finally disappeared when she confirmed that nothing had happened to him.
Marson’s death meant nothing to her.
If anything had happened to Lucien, she would have declared war against the entire Mordric family without hesitation.
A small smile appeared on her face as she stepped closer to him and gently held his cheeks.
“I’m glad nothing happened to you,” Delian whispered. Her voice carried a rare softness that almost no one had ever heard from her. “I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you.”
Lucien looked at her for a moment. The coldness in his eyes softened slightly.
Before he could say anything, Delian turned away.
Her expression changed instantly.
The warmth disappeared.
Only the cold authority of Delian Alde remained.
She looked toward Hellyn and Celia.
“Kill everyone.”
The order was simple.
The meaning behind it was terrifying.
Every retainer who had betrayed her had to die.
Every retainer from the Mordric family who stood against Lucien had to be eliminated.
Rendon and Heldon were present as well, but they were different. They only followed Celbeth, and Celbeth had already chosen Lucien’s side. Because of that, they would be spared.
Everyone else was considered an enemy.
Hellyn and Celia moved without hesitation.
Hellyn was one of the strongest retainers under Delian, while Celia had remained loyal throughout everything. They did not need much time.
The enemies standing before them were weak.
Most of them had barely reached the second realm, the Vein Opening Realm. Against people like Hellyn and Celia, they were nothing more than ants waiting to be crushed.
One by one, the traitors fell.
The battlefield became silent.
Only three people remained.
Torwin.
Sarric.
Keldan.
The three of them stood frozen, watching the fate of everyone around them.
They finally understood.
Their turn had arrived.
Delian slowly walked toward Keldan.
He immediately stepped backward.
The arrogance he once had was gone. The man who had tried to force himself upon her, believing his Mordric status gave him the right, was now trembling like a frightened animal.
Delian stopped in front of him.
“You wanted to spend a night with me,” she said coldly. “You wanted to force yourself on me.”
Her lips curved into a cruel smile.
“Seems like I really do need to steal your heart.”
Keldan’s face turned pale.
“Please… Lady Delian, please don’t kill me…”
He began begging.
The same man who once looked down on others was now desperately asking for mercy.
Delian did not care.
Her hand moved.
A sharp sound echoed.
Her fingers pierced through his chest.
Keldan’s eyes widened as Delian grabbed his heart and pulled it out.
His mouth opened, but before he could even scream, Delian pushed his own heart into his mouth.
His body collapsed.
Whether he died from choking or from losing his heart did not matter.
His fate was sealed.
Hellyn turned toward Torwin.
Unlike Delian, she was not someone who enjoyed cruelty.
But after seeing betrayal, greed, and the ugliness of this world, something inside her had changed.
She wanted to show them what happened to those who crossed Delian.
She wanted to become someone worthy of standing beside her.
An astral bow appeared in her hands.
The first arrow shot forward.
Torwin screamed.
The arrow landed between his legs.
His scream was so loud that even people far away could hear it.
But Hellyn did not stop.
Another arrow.
Then another.
His face.
His eyes.
His mouth.
His tongue.
Everywhere except his heart.
She made sure every wound brought pain but did not kill him.
Torwin’s body shook violently as he begged for death, but Hellyn refused to give him that mercy.
She watched him suffer.
Not because she enjoyed it.
Because she wanted everyone to understand.
Betrayal had consequences.
Lucien looked toward Sarric.
“Seems like all the trash has been cleared,” he said calmly.
His eyes narrowed.
“Except one.”
Sarric’s entire body trembled.
He wanted to escape.
But where could he go?
If he fought, Lucien would destroy him.
If he ran, Lucien would catch him.
There was nowhere to hide.
Far away from the battlefield, Seraphina Thornveil sat inside her camp.
Her expression was exhausted.
She had just finished explaining the plans regarding relics and their next dungeon exploration to her retainers. After everyone left, she remained alone.
Her maid placed a cup of tea beside her.
“Lady Seraphina,” Mirina asked softly, “is something bothering you?”
Mirina had grey hair and was around her twenties. She and Seraphina had grown up together, so she understood her better than anyone.
“Is it related to the Katon family?”
Seraphina remained silent for a moment.
“If it was only one problem, things would be easier.”
Her voice was filled with exhaustion.
“Stoneharbor is falling apart. The branch families are gaining more influence. Thornveil family is known for business, but our ships are constantly being destroyed by pirates.”
She clenched her fists.
“The Katon family keeps spreading rumors. There are spies among my own retainers.”
She lowered her head.
“I thought… maybe marriage would solve everything. If I married into a powerful family, maybe they could protect Thornveil.”
She laughed bitterly.
“But even that option is gone now.”
Mirina looked at her sadly.
“We are a merchant family, but our money is disappearing. Rebels are appearing in our city. When we ask the royal family for help, they demand compensation.”
Seraphina’s voice became quieter.
“I don’t know what to do anymore.”
Mirina hesitated.
“If only you had married Sarric Mordric. Things might have been easier.”
Seraphina’s expression changed.
“You know that isn’t simple.”
“After the Astral Academy battle, you never approached him.”
Seraphina looked away.
“Nobles value strength above everything. The person I rejected was supposed to become a rising star.”
She remembered that day.
The day she abandoned Lucien.
“The moment Sarric was humiliated, everything changed. Even if I married him, it would not have fixed anything.”
She paused.
“And now Lucien has killed their guardian as well.”
Mirina frowned.
“Do you think Master Lucien is doing this intentionally?”
“You still call him Master Lucien?”
Mirina smiled slightly.
“It became a habit.”
Seraphina sighed.
“I don’t think he is doing anything because of me. The way he moves now… he only sees the bigger picture.”
She looked at the distance.
“He created an alliance with Delian Alde. He attacked Sarric because they wanted revenge.”
Mirina hesitated.
“Lady Seraphina… is it possible to ask Master Lucien for help?”
Seraphina’s expression became complicated.
“I wish it was that easy.”
She touched her chest.
“I was the person who humiliated him in front of everyone. I abandoned him when he needed someone.”
Her voice became painful.
“Why would he listen to me now?”
Mirina immediately replied.
“But he loved you. If you just talk to him, I believe he will help.”
Seraphina smiled sadly.
“You never saw him after his seclusion.”
“No.”
“He is different now.”
She laughed quietly.
“Maybe you would stop calling him kind after seeing him cut off Sarric’s uncle’s head.”
Mirina remained silent.
“But perhaps he still has a special place for you.”
“Definitely.”
Seraphina smiled bitterly.
“A special place where he ignores my existence.”
She looked down.
“I have been in Ancient Breach searching for opportunities, but everything slips away from me. Every dungeon I reach is already claimed by another family.”
Her voice became weaker.
“When you become weak, you keep becoming weaker. The strong continue becoming stronger.”
She stood up.
“There is one dungeon I want to enter. I will go alone. Tomorrow I will send my retainers on different missions.”
She paused.
“I believe there is a spy among them.”
Before she could finish, voices came from outside.
A guard rushed into the camp.
Mirina frowned.
“How rude. Don’t you know you need permission?”
The guard immediately bowed.
“It is urgent.”
His expression was terrified.
“Sarric Mordric is here.”
Seraphina and Mirina immediately went outside.
They saw him.
Sarric.
Exhausted.
Breathing heavily.
Like someone running away from death.
“Seraphina…”
He looked desperate.
“Please help me.”
Lucien’s name came out next.
“Lucien is trying to kill me. He already killed my uncle.”
Seraphina froze.
She knew the truth.
She had seen everything.
“He has become a madman,” Sarric continued. “He will come for you too.”
He grabbed her shoulder.
“You rejected him as well. Do you think he will forgive Thornveil family?”
His eyes became desperate.
“This is our chance. He must be tired after fighting my uncle. We can ambush him and kill him.”
Seraphina stared at him.
“How did you come here?”
“I used a relic my uncle gave me for emergencies. I teleported here.”
Then Sarric said the words that disgusted her.
“Lucien loved you once. Ask him to meet you at night.”
He smiled.
“Seduce him. Lower his guard. Then we attack.”
Seraphina felt disgust.
She could not believe she once considered marrying this man.
“After we kill him, we can marry. My family is strong. I will solve all Thornveil problems.”
A voice interrupted.
“Stronger than Alde family?”
Everyone turned.
Delian Alde stood there.
A cold smile on her face.
“I guess not.”
Sarric’s face turned pale.
Delian looked at him.
“Let me give you a prophecy, Sarric Mordric.”
Her eyes became terrifying.
“When I leave Ancient Breach, I will personally attack the Mordric family.”
She stepped forward.
“What you tried today is unforgivable.”
“I will make an example out of your family.”
Sarric trembled.
“Lucien is only doing this because he has your support. Without you, he is nothing.”
Delian looked at him like he was stupid.
“Are you an idiot?”
Her voice became colder.
“It is the Alde family that is indebted to Lucien.”
She smiled.
“Anyone who is Lucien Vale’s enemy is my enemy.”
She looked toward Seraphina.
“Should I assume Thornveil family supports Sarric Mordric?”
Seraphina immediately answered.
“No.”
Her voice was firm.
“Thornveil family has no connection with Sarric Mordric. He came here in desperation.”
She looked at Sarric.
“He wanted to use me as a trap against Lucien. I never supported him.”
“You bitch!”
Sarric shouted.
“You sold me out!”
Immediately, soldiers became hostile.
Then…
Clap.
Clap.
Clap.
Everyone turned.
Lucien walked forward.
His golden hair moved with the wind.
A calm smile rested on his face.
“That was interesting.”
He continued clapping.
“Really good entertainment.”
He looked at Sarric.
“So… did you really think I could never catch up to you?”
Sarric’s face became empty.
Seraphina looked at Lucien.
But once again…
He did not even look at her.
Lucien grabbed Sarric by the neck.
The difference in strength was absolute.
Sarric was only at the peak Body Tempering Realm.
To Lucien, he was nothing.
Lucien looked into his eyes.
“Abyssal Soulburn.”
The moment their eyes met, the skill activated.
Sarric screamed.
His body felt like it was burning.
But it was not his body.
It was his soul.
He desperately tried healing himself.
Nothing worked.
His screams became worse.
Lucien watched without emotion.
“There is a reason I let you escape.”
His voice was calm.
“I wanted everyone to understand something.”
He looked at the crowd.
“Anyone who tries to hurt the people close to me…”
His eyes returned to Sarric.
“They will receive the same punishment.”
Delian looked at Lucien proudly.
She wanted to hug him.
She wanted to show everyone that she was someone important to him.
Someone close.
Seraphina watched silently.
Once, she had that place.
But not anymore.
Lucien used Void Tear.
Space split open.
He stepped inside with Delian.
The portal disappeared.
Sarric continued screaming.
Until finally, he tore his own flesh apart and died.
Seraphina ordered the guards to bury him.
She stood there silently.
Her heart felt like it was bleeding.
She wished she could return to the past.
To fix everything.
The day she humiliated Lucien replayed in her mind endlessly.
She had failed.
Failed in love.
Failed as a family heir.
Unlike Lucien, she followed rules.
She believed in morality.
But Lucien had changed.
To him, anything that made him stronger was good.
Anything that weakened him was bad.
After Sarric and his uncle’s deaths, news spread.
People no longer saw Lucien as someone ordinary.
They feared him.
He had not only defeated his enemies.
He had sent a message.
Seraphina looked toward the distance.
“I have no choice.”
She clenched her fists.
“I need to enter that dungeon myself.”
She needed power.
She needed Lucien to look at her again.
Then she realized something.
She was now standing where Lucien once stood.
A year ago, he wanted love.
He wanted to make his family stronger.
And what did she do?
“...I crushed his heart with my own feet.”
Two days passed.
Lucien and Delian returned together.
They told their retainers they had been searching for opportunities.
The truth was different.
They had spent those two days together.
Delian walked slightly awkwardly.
After years of being a powerful woman, she acted like a young girl whenever she was with Lucien.
And Lucien liked that side of her.
“You screamed my name too much last night,” Lucien said with amusement.
Delian immediately looked at him.
“And whose fault was that?”
She smiled.
“It was your fault.”
Lucien laughed.
“If your husband was here, he would have died from a heart attack.”
“He is just a mortal.”
Delian leaned closer.
“He could never handle me like you do.”
She looked at him.
“And after reaching Peak Soul Forge Realm, you don’t even let me rest.”
She sighed.
“My walk has become awkward because of you.”
Lucien smiled.
Before they reached the cave, they noticed Thornveil retainers standing outside.
Mirina was there too.
The grey-haired maid rushed toward them.
“Master Lucien…”
Her eyes were filled with tears.
“Please help us.”
Lucien’s expression changed.
“Miss Seraphina is missing.”
Author Note:
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