Elsewhere across Tempest City, the figure of a dark-robed youth blurred through the streets. Sinking into shadows and emerging hundreds of meters away. His presence going completely unnoticed.

Shadow teleporting rapidly, Ulric sank deep into his thoughts as Alaric’s words played at the back of his mind repeatedly.

Demons. Dragons with the power to rule over the realm. And so many more beings far stronger than he could have ever imagined. For the first time, he truly felt weak. And if that wasn’t enough, there existed a royal family elsewhere that would kill him just for the sole reason of his existence.

When faced with all these in the future, would he be left weak and helpless with nothing to do? Before the thought could fully form, he discarded it instantly, his fists clenching tightly.

No. He would meet them with absolute strength. And that was why he knew what he must do. It was time to finally break through to D-rank. And not just any regular breakthrough. With the sea of insights swirling at the back of his mind—brought by the Soothing Essence Tea and the month of darkness he had spent meditating.

His path to power had finally solidified. He could see a path leading to a perfect breakthrough, and he couldn’t wait to try it out.

As the thought formed, he suddenly halted. Appearing at the entrance to the Greyson residence.

Sprinting forward, his figure blurred before appearing at the grand battlefield. His eyes widened in surprise at the resulting sight.

It had been a couple of hours since he had left, and he had expected most of the crowd to have already dispersed. But they had only grown in number.

The surrounding area was filled with their intense murmurs as their excitement had yet to wear off.

Scanning through the crowd, his eyes flickered slightly, catching a glimpse of Amber and Lyra deep within the battlefield as they still appraised the shadow guardians.

Now in the middle of a squabble, possibly arguing on what name to assign to a particular shadow guardian.

His lips twitching slightly, his gaze averted, falling to Aelira. Her face scrunched up when their eyes locked.

One moment she had been deep into her thoughts about a rematch with the dark-robed youth. And the next, he had just... suddenly disappeared. His presence vanishing completely.

A few hours passed this way. Until she felt the link forming their connection flicker as she sensed his presence. Just as she was about to walk up to him, he suddenly vanished again.

Where’d he go? She wondered. Just as frustration was about to well up on her face.

The air behind her shimmered slightly, rippling for a moment to welcome a new presence.

Before she could even turn, the air behind her vibrated once more as his hand dropped to smack her ass with a sharp cracking sound, eliciting a surprised yelp.

"Looking for me?" Ulric muttered, leaning in to breathe into her ear as his other hand reached out to grab her waist tightly.

Feeling the warmth of his touch, Aelira turned slowly. Her obsidian eyes locking with his crimson eyes.

Her heart thumping rapidly, a faint blush spreading across her face. The fiery glint in her eyes slowly easing.

She tried to suppress the blush on her face but to no avail. She didn’t know why, but every time his gaze pierced into hers, it seemed almost as if he could see straight to her soul, laying her whole being before him. His touch not helping matters.

A few seconds passed this way before she finally found her voice. Her brows furrowing slightly as she fired a barrage of questions at him.

"Where did you go? Didn’t you promise never to leave me again? Argh! Tell me already."

Before she could speak some more, Ulric leaned closer as he pulled her closer than ever, planting his lips over hers and stealing her breath for a moment.

When he let go, the blush on her face had spread to her neck. Her eyes fluttering rapidly. Causing him to smile faintly.

"I’ll tell you all about it later."

He muttered, slowly letting go as he walked to the front of the crowd, a glint of determination flashing across his eyes.

First, there was something he needed to do he had been putting off for a long while now.

At the back, Aelira stared in a daze at the dark-robed youth’s retreating figure. Her legs grew weak as raging desire consumed her.

Before she snorted. Her fists clenching tightly. Hmph! He teased her too much. One day she would repay it tenfold!

Still, she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of curiosity. What was so urgent he needed to take care of that couldn’t wait?

***

Approaching the front of the crowd, the cheers and murmurs filling the crowd suddenly erupted once more as he drew everyone’s attention.

Before he sighed quietly, raising one hand into the air as silence descended once more.

Feeling all the eyes burning across his frame, he shook his head slightly before his mouth opened to speak, expression growing icy.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand," he began, drawing confused frowns from those around him.

"So today... I will make it whole."

Ulric remained unbothered as he continued. "Within you lie a few whose hearts are not true to the Greyson banner, those who would see its fall rather than its rise."

As his words echoed, the confusion of the crowd slowly shifted to surprise before morphing into full-out rage as murmurs swept across.

"Does this mean what I think it does?"

"Yeah... I think so too. There are traitors in our midst!"

"Huh? But why... why would anyone betray us after everything the lord has done for us?"

"Hmm, I don’t know why. But I don’t think they are very smart."

"Well... who is it?"

"Who dares repay kindness with evil?"

As the crowd’s murmurs filtered across his ears, Ulric raised his hand once more. This time, darkness slowly oozed out of him to form tendrils that shot toward the crowd.

Before dragging a few figures forward as they shrieked in surprise.

As the crowd stared at the figures, their eyes widened in surprise. Silence blanketing the crowd. Before a figure in the crowd suddenly yelled.

"Look! It’s Lady Valeria and her daughters!"

Crouching down, Ulric stared at the middle-aged woman. A devious smile spreading across his face.

Having faced endless suffering through her hands, he had never liked her from the start. And this seemed better than any time for revenge.

Lady Valeria didn’t seem to share his thoughts as she shrieked while flailing wildly, trying to break free from the burning tendrils of darkness that were sinking into their flesh with every passing second.

"What is the meaning of this?! Let go of me this instant! Otherwise I’ll make you pay..."

Before she could mutter more, Ulric’s hand shot forward. Grabbing her by the throat and squeezing slightly. Causing her eyes to bulge slightly as her breath was cut off. Instantly silencing her.

Staring into the pained look in her eyes, Ulric muttered slowly, "Oh, this is just the beginning." No different than the devil incarnate.

Rising to his feet, he lifted her into the air before continuing,

"For crimes against the clan’s rules, attempted assassination and collusion with the former Red Streaks Clan. I sentence you to death."

Ulric muttered, his face flashing with disdain. As his words trailed across the crowd, gasps rippled across.

At first, when she sent the Sisters of Death to assassinate him, he didn’t think much of it.

But all that changed when the Red Streaks Clan attacked. Given Greyson’s C-rank strength, they wouldn’t even have dreamed of it... unless they knew he nursed a grave injury, leaving him weak.

Something only him and her knew. Meaning she must have divulged this news to the enemies. For whatever reason or benefit she hoped to receive.

Because of her, hundreds had died and major destruction had been unleashed. She was the primary reason his father had died. And for that alone, he could never forgive her.

As all these thoughts swirled at the back of his mind, the rage seething within him only grew. Before he hurled her, sending her rolling across the ground. Cracking sounds echoed as multiple bones broke from the force unleashed.

As Ulric’s voice trailed after her, "Any last words?" His deadly calm words sent chills across the crowd.

But having processed the implication of her actions, no pity flashed across their eyes, only hatred.

Battered and broken, with bruises lining all across her face, Valeria lifted her head, spitting a mouthful of blood alongside a few teeth. Before she jerked her head into the air.

As she laughed hysterically, "Hahaha! You’ll pay for this! Do you know who my father is? A C-rank expert! You can’t kill me... if my soul flame is extinguished... he’ll hunt you and everyone else down!"

As her laughter grew shrill, her eyes widened. Seeing the unbothered look plastered across his face, his next words caused the blood to freeze in her veins in fear.

"I’ll be waiting for him then."

As his words echoed, his fists clenched. Darkness oozed out of his frame in menacing trails before bursting to encapsulate the figure before him.

Instantly after, the figure broke out into shrill screams as the darkness corroded her frame. Until she was reduced to ashes that were swept away in the breeze.

Still not done, his figure turned to stare at the six figures before him. Valeria’s daughters. Staring blankly at him.

A moment of silence passed before Ulric’s voice echoed once more. His cold gaze piercing into them.

"Might you also betray us one day?"

Gulping audibly, one of them muttered hurriedly, their voice shaken.

"N-no... Great Lord."

Sighing quietly, Ulric shook his head. Past their fear, he could see the unmistakable hatred in their eyes.

If it was before, he wouldn’t have paid it any mind. But his departure was impending and he couldn’t leave anything to chance. With this thought.

He growled.

"I don’t believe you."

As his words echoed, the darkness coalesced into a blade. Before slicing through their necks, killing them instantly before it devoured their corpses, leaving nothing behind.

When all this was done, cheers erupted from the crowd. But he didn’t pay it any mind as he grabbed Aelira and the rest before his figure vanished.