"What’s happening?"

Alden’s mind screamed as blood-red energy erupted from his body, triggered by the button he had pressed. A massive dome appeared, surrounding the platform he stood on along with the one beside him, where Cedric was.

Except for Seles, Cedric, and himself, only Jeremy was allowed inside as everyone else was pushed back by the barrier.

Blood-red ropes restrained Alden’s body as he looked toward the sky, where the man with pure black hair and eyes descended slowly downward. His appearance was far different than before, countless cracks spreading across his body.

"Even for someone so cautious, you’re quite trusting of those close to you, aren’t you?" Jeremy said, stopping some distance away from Alden. "You never once doubted that beastwoman before pressing the button."

He finally landed right in front of Alden, the entire platform cracking beneath his feet.

"But oh well... that did make things easier for me."

"What are you doing, Master?"

Alden asked cautiously, pretending he hadn’t already realized what Jeremy was planning.

Meanwhile he tried to activate his Abyssal Soul, trying to absorb the magical restraints into his body but nothing worked because the restraints were made from his own mana and his ability only worked on mana of others.

So he gave up and played along.

Jeremy smirked.

"Master? Ahh, right... my dear disciple, don’t worry. What’s happening is actually quite simple." His voice was smooth, almost comforting. "I’m merely collecting the fee for being your master."

"You see, your master’s health is deteriorating rather quickly and you wouldn’t want anything happening to your dear master, would you?" His smile widened slightly. "So all I ask is that you hand over your young, talented body to me and allow yourself to be absorbed into my soul."

He took another step forward.

"You should be honored since you will become the fuel for my revenge. Most disciples leave behind a legacy for their masters but you, however, will leave behind your body. Isn’t that great?"

Alden’s lips twitched.

What fee, you fucking bastard?

He barely managed to hold back the stream of curses threatening to spill out of his mouth. Jeremy had hardly taught him anything beyond the basics, yet now he was demanding Alden hand over his own body.

Yeah, even shamelessness should have limits.

But despite those thoughts, Alden wasn’t nervous or afraid in the slightest. He didn’t know whether his Supreme Ability would work the way he hoped. He didn’t know if Jeremy would truly be devoured by it instead.

But honestly, he didn’t have any other choice.

He was restrained by his own mana. There was nothing he could do except gamble on the possibility that his Supreme Ability would somehow interfere with the soul-swapping ritual or whatever voodoo Jeremy was planning.

Otherwise... he was going to die.

And in either case, fear was completely useless.

"What are you talking about, Master?"

So, he made sure to act like an oblivious boy captured by his trusted master. His eyes widening just enough, his face twitching just enough but even then his mind raced, trying to find out a way.

"You do not need to understand everything, but you know what? I am feeling especially generous today." Jeremy smiled faintly. "After all, the three most important people in my life are all here."

"My two children and the disciple I cherish so much... all working so hard to help me achieve my revenge." His smile widened. "So yes, I suppose I do owe you some explanations."

"Two children?"

Alden frowned in confusion.

What the hell was he talking about?

The only people inside the dome were Seles and Cedric apart from himself and Jeremy.

So what did he mean?

Alden couldn’t understand at first, but then his eyes widened slightly.

Wait...

Are Seles and Cedric Jeremy’s children?

No... that shouldn’t be possible.

The Draven family wasn’t some random household and they thoroughly checked the bloodlines of every heir. Even Alden himself had only managed to pass because his mother had used a special technique... to completely merge his bloodline with the Draven family.

The moment that thought crossed his mind, Alden realised something.

A technique?

Jeremy used some bloodline technique to absorb his own children to get power in the past... he also used the same technique to swap bodies with Lucien in the novel... then why couldn’t he do something as simple as hiding the bloodline of his children?

His gaze snapped immediately towards Seles who was lying injured some distance away, her body twitching faintly as she struggled to get back up.

"Oh... shit."

And then...

Everything suddenly started making sense.

Why Seles had been working with the demons, why she was trying to kill Lucien and every other strange thing that never quite fit together before.

But then another thought left Alden confused.

Was Jeremy using a technique similar to the one his own mother had used merely a coincidence?

...

But he quickly dismissed the suspicion.

There could easily be countless techniques that produced similar results and that didn’t necessarily mean they were the same. Instead, he focused back on Jeremy, who now wore an amused smile on his face. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"So, you already figured it out, huh? Yes... Seles and Cedric are indeed my own flesh and blood."

The moment those words left his mouth, a trembling voice echoed from some distance away.

"You... you’re lying... aren’t you?" Cedric’s voice shook with disbelief. "I... I am the son of Alaric Draven, not you."

It was Cedric. Even in his spirit integration form, his composure was falling apart. His half-green hair fluttered wildly as his eyes trembled in shock.

"Why would I lie, my son?" Jeremy replied calmly, strangely talkative for someone who had once been colder than ice itself. "You could even ask your mother for confirmation..."

He paused before smiling wider.

"Though I doubt you’ll be able to do that anymore."

Jeremy’s smile twisted into something darker.

"Since you’ll be dying here as well... along with your sister."