The Hidden Monster of House Vale

Lucien sat alone inside the cave, the flickering light of the flames casting shadows across his face as he stared into the darkness ahead.

The Hollow Grave of Death Pit.

The name alone was enough to send chills down the spine of any cultivator. A world-ender dungeon—one that had claimed the lives of countless realm masters who had dared to enter its depths. The system had warned him with a success rate of only ten percent. Ten percent. For someone like Lucien, who had grown accustomed to overcoming impossible odds, that number was almost insulting.

But the system had never warned him before. Never. Which meant this dungeon was different. This dungeon was dangerous.

He wasn't scared. Fear was a luxury he had abandoned long ago, buried somewhere in the depths of his soul alongside the boy he used to be. But he was concerned. Concerned enough to know that he needed to be prepared for the worst. Concerned enough to know that if he walked into that dungeon without a plan, he might not walk out.

"There is something I am missing..."

He had faced countless enemies, schemes, and life-or-death situations. But this time, his instincts were telling him that the Hollow Grave was different.

It was not just dangerous.

It was hiding something.

After a while, Lucien stood up.

"Thinking about it won't give me answers."

I need air, he decided, rising from the table and making his way toward the cave entrance.

The moment he stepped outside, he was surrounded. Realm masters of all ranks and backgrounds swarmed him, their faces alight with admiration and greed. They clapped him on the back, congratulated him on achieving the peak Spirit Forge realm, and peppered him with questions about his cultivation techniques.

"Master Lucien!"

"Congratulations on reaching the peak Spirit Forge Realm!"

"Your talent is truly unbelievable."

"To reach the peak at such a young age—incredible!"

"Please, share your secrets with us!"

Women pressed closer, their eyes hungry, their bodies brushing against his with practiced subtlety. They touched his arms, his chest, his shoulders, their fingers lingering just a moment too long. Some were beautiful, others average, but all of them wanted the same thing—a piece of his power, a connection to his rising star.

Lucien smiled, raised his goblet in a toast, and drank deeply. Then, in a swirl of motion, he disappeared into the crowd, leaving them grasping at empty air.

The forest was quiet, the sounds of the camp fading behind him as Lucien walked deeper into the trees. The moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting silver patterns on the forest floor. He followed a winding path until he emerged at a small lake, its surface glowing with the reflected light of the moon and stars.

He sat down at the water's edge, dipping his feet into the cool water. The tension in his shoulders began to ease, if only slightly.

Then he felt it—a gentle touch on his shoulder.

"Sera," he said without turning. "What are you doing here?"

Seraphina slid down beside him, her red hair catching the moonlight like spun fire. "I saw you disappear into the crowd. I followed you." She paused, her voice softening. "Do you not want me to follow you?"

Lucien finally turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "No. There's no such thing. Come, sit."

She settled beside him, her legs dipping into the water alongside his. The silence stretched between them, comfortable and familiar.

"You seem troubled," she said finally.

"Why do you think so?"

She smiled, a soft, knowing expression. "I can see it in your eyes. I know you, Lucien. I've known you ever since we were kids."

Lucien blinked, genuinely surprised. He was usually so careful about hiding his emotions, about presenting the perfect, unshakeable facade. That she could see through it so easily...

"You're quite perceptive, Sera," he admitted. "I am in trouble."

He told her everything—about the Seven Realm Breakers, about Marson Mordric, about Gwenra's offer and the dungeon that awaited him. He told her about the feeling that something was terribly, terribly wrong.

Seraphina listened in silence, her expression growing more troubled with each word. When he finished, she was quiet for a long moment.

"That seems like a lot of trouble," she said finally. "And isn't that dungeon a world-ender? Why are you even going?"

"I'm curious," Lucien replied, his voice distant. "I want to know what's inside. I want to understand why it's so dangerous."

"And what if it costs you your life?" Her voice cracked slightly. "What would happen to me? Did you even think about me when you made this decision?"

Lucien was stunned into silence. She was right. Whenever he made decisions, he never thought about anyone else. He saw only himself in the picture, only his own goals and ambitions. But the way she looked at him now—the pain in her eyes, the desperate love that radiated from every fiber of her being—made him realize just how much this woman loved him.

They had only been reunited for two days after a year apart, yet she loved him as if she had been loving him for decades. It was overwhelming. It was terrifying.

I can't trust anyone, he reminded himself. If I become dependent on someone, I'll lose them eventually. That's how the world works. That's how it's always worked.

But before he could voice those thoughts, Seraphina was still talking, her words tumbling out in a rush of emotion.

"Lucien, please. If it's too dangerous, don't go. We can look for another dungeon. We can find something else, something safer. I can't—" Her voice broke. "I can't lose you. Not now. Not when I've just found you again."

Lucien watched her, his heart pounding in his chest. And then, without thinking, he leaned forward and kissed her.

It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was deep, passionate, their tongues meeting in a dance that spoke of longing and desperation. Her lips were soft against his, her taste like honey and wine. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer, and she melted into him, her fingers tangling in his hair.

They kissed for almost a full minute before breaking apart, both of them breathing heavily.

Seraphina's eyes fluttered open, a smile spreading across her face. "Did you do that just to stop me from lecturing you?"

"Maybe," Lucien replied, his voice husky. "Or maybe I just wanted to do that."

She laughed, a sound like wind chimes, and threw her arms around him. "Please, Lucien. If it's too dangerous, don't go. Please."

He cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Don't worry. No one can defeat me." His voice was steady, confident, but there was something else there too—something softer. "Wait for me. I'll definitely come back."

Seraphina's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She rested her head on his shoulder, her fingers intertwining with his. "What happened?" he asked, alarmed.

She shook her head, a sad smile on her lips. "Don't worry. I'm not crying. It's just... I'm so happy in this moment. I wish it would never end." She took a shaky breath. "I love you, Lucien. I've loved you from the day we met. The day I rejected you in front of everyone—" Her voice choked. "It was a nightmare. I cried that night without stopping. Do you hate me for it?"

Lucien's expression softened. "No, I don't. I told you—I've forgotten that part of my life. I don't remember you ever hurting me. The only moments I remember are when we played together, hiding under the bed, when you made a crown of flowers for me, when you made me smile whenever my father scolded me."

Seraphina sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You never forgot a single moment with me."

To Lucien, that rejection had never belonged to him.

The person who had suffered that moment was the previous owner of this body.

The memories he treasured were the ones where Seraphina had been beside him.

And those were the memories he chose to keep.

"After making me so happy," she whispered, "if you don't come back alive tomorrow, I'll kill you myself."

Lucien laughed, a warm, genuine sound. "Don't worry. No one can defeat me."

She smiled through her tears, and something in his chest loosened. And then she was on top of him, her body pressed against his, her lips finding his once more.

They kissed like they were seeing each other after thousands of years, their passion building until their clothes felt like weights, like barriers between them. They stripped them away, embracing each other in the moonlight, their bodies becoming one. Two bodies, one soul, intertwined beneath the stars.

Morning came with golden light filtering through the trees. Lucien woke to find Seraphina in his arms, her red hair spread across his chest like a fiery blanket. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open, and the first thing she did was kiss him.

"You woke up?" he asked, his voice rough with sleep.

"Mm." She smiled against his lips. "Just now." She pulled back, her cheeks flushed. "Thank you."

"Thank you for what?"

"For being gentle." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It was my first time. At first, I thought I would die, but when it started, I just felt... safe in your arms." She bit her lip, her eyes searching his. "How was it for you? Did you enjoy it?"

Lucien's hand caressed her cheek, his thumb brushing away a strand of hair. "Still thinking about me? I'm glad your first time was beautiful. As for me... I'm just happy to have you in my arms. The rest is a bonus."

She beamed, snuggling closer. "You're so sweet sometimes. It's hard to believe you're the same person who beheaded Marson Mordric's head off."

"Different situations call for different approaches," he replied, a hint of his old mischief returning.

They bathed in the lake together, their laughter echoing across the water, and made their way back to the camp. Most of the families had already left for their own bases, but a few familiar faces remained.

Celbeth spotted them first. "Ohhhhhhhhh," she drawled, a knowing grin spreading across her face. ""It seems someone had an interesting night!"

Seraphina's face turned crimson. "S-stop saying things like that!". She squeaked, hiding her face in her hands, and bolted into the cave without another word.

Celbeth's grin widened. "Wow. I was just kidding, but her reaction definitely confirmed it. So, Master Lucien..." She sidled up to him, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper. "Are you perhaps cheating on me?"

Lucien rolled his eyes. "Fuck off." He reached out, touching her face briefly as he pushed past her, making her gasp in surprise.

"Not a denial," she called after him, laughing.

Inside the cave, everyone was packing. Gwenra stood near the entrance, her expression calm as ever. She inclined her head as Lucien approached.

"Lucien. Are you ready to set off?"

"Yeah. What about the others?"

"Everyone is ready. I'm not taking any retainers—only the seven of us will enter the dungeon."

"That sounds wonderful." Lucien paused, a thought occurring to him. "Wait for me. I have some work to do."

The Seven Realm Breakers were waiting outside when Lucien finally emerged. Gwenra stood at the head of the group, her dark hair whipping in the wind, her golden eyes fixed on the horizon.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready."

They set off at an incredible speed, their peak Spirit Forge realm power propelling them across the landscape. It took only half a day to reach their destination—a giant door made of dark red stone, standing alone in the middle of an empty plain.

There was nothing behind it. Nothing except the door itself, ancient and foreboding, covered in runes that pulsed with malevolent energy.

To enter the dungeon, they had to combine their power, proving to the gate that they were all at the peak of the Spirit Forge realm. They did so in silence, their auras merging into a single overwhelming force.

The door groaned, then slowly swung open.

The chances are that they know this dungeon is dangerous, Lucien thought, his eyes scanning his companions. But they have no idea how dangerous. And why is Gwenra so calm? It's a little suspicious, how easily she agreed to give me her share of the treasure. And why are the other members of her team so anxious and shocked, while she seems so composed? Almost as if she already knows what's going to happen.

I need to be careful. I have very little information about this ordeal.

The gates opened, and they stepped inside.

They found themselves in an icy room, enormous and forbidding. The walls were made of solid ice, the floor slick and reflective. In the center of the room stood a tomb, carved from the same frozen material.

Lucien felt a chill run down his spine. He looked behind him, but there was nothing there. Just the empty darkness of the corridor they had come from.

Something is watching me.

He turned back to the tomb, his eyes narrowing. The others were already gathering around it, examining the ancient corpse lying within.

Quindic reached out to touch it, and Perie—a blonde man who looked too young for his age, dressed in green—slapped his hand away. "I feel like this is a trap."

Quindic scoffed. "Trap? It's just a dead body."

But Perie was insistent. "Test it first."

Quindic grumbled, but he pulled an apple from his satchel and tossed it toward the tomb.

The moment it touched the ground, eight dragon-shaped statues erupted from the ice, their mouths open wide. Poison gas billowed from them, thick and green, filling the room in seconds.

Isalyn—a beautiful woman with blonde hair and a white gown, her curves barely hidden by her flowing robes—stepped forward. She raised her hands, and a soft white light emanated from her palms, purifying the poison with a single gesture.

"Easy," she murmured, her voice like honey.

Samley, the masked assassin, tilted his head. "You just had to touch something, didn't you?"

"What did you say, you bastard?" Quindic snarled.

"Stop it, both of you," Gwenra commanded. "Focus."

Lucien studied the room, his mind working overtime. We're basically stuck in a room. Unlike other dungeons, where there's plenty of room to move, this one is designed to force us forward. To progress, we need to solve this puzzle and trigger the room's boss.

"Miss Fayie," he called out. "Can you shoot the eyes of the dragon heads?"

Fayie—the elf, silent and deadly—gave him a curt nod. She drew her bow, a magnificent weapon of purple and yellow, massive in scale. She pulled the string, and an arrow materialized, glowing with power.

She released it, and the arrow split into sixteen separate projectiles, each one striking the red eyes of the dragon statues with perfect precision.

Every red eye shattered.

The wall moved.

Lucien smiled slightly.

'Her ability is probably never missing her target.'

'Impressive.'

Suddenly, four dragon heads emerged.

One was made of astral energy.

One of iron.

One of magma.

One invisible.

Samley moved first.

The invisible dragon died instantly.

Lucien barely saw him move.

'An assassin.'

'And his speed...'

"Too easy," Samley muttered, but he was already moving. The invisible dragon that had appeared to attack them was dead before anyone had even seen it. He moved so fast that Lucien hadn't even blinked.

Gwenra raised her hand, and a beam of dark blue energy shot forth, annihilating the astral dragon in an instant. Her expression was bored.

Quindic engaged the iron dragon head, wrestling it with raw physical strength. He pried its mouth open and tore it in half, roaring with triumph.

Lucien smiled lazily. He melted into the shadows, reappearing in front of the magma dragon. He raised a finger, and a single bloody vein erupted from the ground, stabbing through the creature's body. Again. Again. Again. Hundreds of veins pierced the magma dragon, draining its life force, sucking its very soul.

The creature died, its body collapsing into a pile of cooling rock.

Everyone stared at him.

Even Quindic, despite his hostility, couldn't hide his shock.

He wasn't kidding, they all realized. When he said he would hurt people before he died, he meant it.

Gwenra alone seemed unsurprised. She had expected this kind of power from Lucien Vale.

The path ahead was clear—a long hallway stretching into darkness.

They started walking.

When they were halfway through the hallway, Lucien suddenly stopped. "I dropped one of my rings while using my abilities," he said, his voice casual. "You guys go ahead. I'll catch up."

Without waiting for a response, He turned around.

The others continued.

After some time, Lucien returned.

But when he reached them...

Everyone was standing still.

Their expressions were shocked.

Lucien walked forward.

And then he saw it.

Beyond the hallway was not another room.

It was a valley.

A complete world.

A village stood beneath a blue sky.

Trees.

Houses.

People.

A place that looked alive.

Lucien stared.

His expression finally changed.

"What is going on in this dungeon?"

Author Note:

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

/cw/thenoctvale