Jeremy stayed home the next day, the weight of everything that had transpired settling heavily on his shoulders. He refused to go to school, his thoughts consumed by the upcoming reunion. Beside him, Sophie sat quietly, her eyes distant as they waited for Celicia’s return. The house was tense, brimming with emotions yet unspoken, and Jeremy wasn’t sure how he’d face the next few hours.
By the afternoon, the sound of tires crunching gravel outside announced Celicia’s arrival. A sleek car parked in front of the house, and Jeremy could see Celicia through the window. She stepped out, her expression conflicted—confused, lost, and hurt. Jeremy could see it all in her eyes, in the way her shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world had been dropped onto her back.Sophie stood at the door, waiting with nervous energy radiating off her. There was a pause, a long, silent moment where Celicia just stood there, staring at Sophie. Then, as if the dam had finally brokenThat evening, Jeremy sat down with Celicia and Sophie, his face drawn with a mixture of determination and sadness. He knew they deserved the truth—all of it.“I need to tell you everything,” he began, his voice low but steady. “About our past… our struggles. About Burke, the uncle who betrayed us. And about how I survived.”Celicia, already broken by the revelations of the previous day, sat quietly beside Sophie, listening as Jeremy told the story of their family’s dark past. He explained how, after their father’s death, Burke had swooped in, not to help, but to use them, pulling strings behind the scenes for his own gain.Then Jeremy told them about how he grew strong—how he had joined a hunting guild, learning to fight, learning to survive. He spoke of his journey to becoming someone who could stand against the darkness of their world, someone who could take on men like Burke.When Jeremy talked about his birthday, the day everything changed—th
As the final bell rang, Jeremy and Celicia walked together through the gates of the school. The whispers and curious glances from other students followed them, but Jeremy didn’t care. Today, things had changed, and they both knew it.Reaching the outer gate, Jeremy stepped forward to flag down a public transport vehicle for Celicia. This would be her first time riding public transport, a stark contrast to the luxury she had grown accustomed to. Gone were the days of being chauffeured by private escorts.The car pulled up, and Jeremy opened the door for her.“What about you, Jeremy?” Celicia asked, her eyes wide and uncertain as she glanced at the car. "Aren’t you coming with me?"Jeremy smiled gently, shaking his head. “Don’t worry about me, sister. I prefer to walk home. It clears my head. Rejuvenates me.” His words were calm, but he could see the hesitation in her eyes.“Then I’ll walk too,” she insisted, taking a step back from the car
"Russ!" Jeremy shouted as he descended into the chamber, spinning in mid-air before spreading his arms wide. His tone was mocking, dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't know you were such a coward."Russ snarled, his eyes dark and menacing. "Idiot," he growled, his voice laced with contempt as he mimicked Jeremy. "Today, you meet your end."Jeremy landed hard, the force of his descent forming a small crater beneath his feet. The air between them was thick with tension, their gazes locked in a dangerous dance.“So,” Jeremy spoke, his voice low and calm, though his body was coiled like a spring ready to strike. “You were working as an insider, feeding information to the Dark Guild for him?” His words were a sharp accusation, but he didn’t wait for an answer.In a flash, Jeremy charged violently at Russ, his dagger glinting in the dim light of the chamber.Russ smirked, his muscles tensing as he raised his spiked mace. "Little bastard, you have n
Jeremy walked home, his thoughts still swirling from the confrontation with Burke and the violent exchange with Russ. His body ached from the fight, but his mind was elsewhere. As he reached his room, a faint memory surfaced—the package Jessica had gifted him on his birthday. In the chaos of everything, he had forgotten all about it.Curiosity tugged at him. Pulling the box from a drawer, he carefully unwrapped it, revealing its contents—a small set of glowing runestones. He blinked in surprise. The stones pulsed with a soft, ethereal light, unlike anything he had seen before. Runestones weren’t commonly used. They were rare, expensive, and required deep knowledge to activate, and even fewer people pursued the path of cultivation to harness their true potential.“Why did Jessica give me this?” he wondered aloud. It was an unusual gift, but now, with the events unfolding in his life, it seemed like exactly what he needed.Without hesitating, Jeremy pulled o
The following day, Jeremy strode confidently into Burke’s underground stronghold, the weight of leadership already settling on his shoulders. He knew the time had come to assert his authority, not just to Burke, but to everyone in the organization. As he pushed open the heavy doors to Burke’s office, the scent of old leather and smoke greeted him, along with Burke’s calculating gaze."Ah, Jeremy," Burke drawled, seated behind his large mahogany desk. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the arm of his chair. “You’ve come to make your mark, I assume?”Jeremy wasted no time with pleasantries. “All techniques, pills, illegal cultivation methods, and every scrap of forbidden knowledge that makes the other guilds tremble now belongs to me. From this moment forward, everything will be utilized under my supervision.”Burke’s face remained unreadable, his icy blue eyes flickering with a glint of amusement. Jeremy had expected pushback, perhaps resistance or a test o
Six months had passed, and in that time, Jeremy had fully immersed himself in the underworld guild Burke had handed to him. He studied every forbidden technique, every illicit cultivation method, and absorbed knowledge that was meant to stay buried in the darkest corners of society. The guild was now his domain, and with each passing day, his power grew.Clearing dungeons had become second nature to him. Once, these monstrous lairs would have taken entire teams of elite fighters, but Jeremy now moved through them alone, slaying beasts that could tear armies apart. One such dungeon was the Cavern of the Sunless Serpent, a place feared by even the most seasoned warriors. The dungeon was a labyrinth of pitch-black tunnels, guarded by creatures whose very presence drained light and hope. Yet, Jeremy had ventured in with nothing more than a katana and his dark determination. His skills were unmatched—he danced through the shadows, slicing down each creature t
In just a few short months, Jeremy had transformed into one of the most influential figures on Earth. No longer simply a man with power, he had become a bridge between worlds—mediating between guilds, underground associations, and powerful corporations. His presence was indispensable to both light and darkness, a stabilizing force in a chaotic landscape. Jeremy embodied the delicate balance between good and evil, walking a tightrope where a single misstep could cost him everything.His newfound prominence meant he was frequently seen in the company of the world’s elite—wealthy families, powerful firms, and influential guild leaders. These meetings, often held in private clubs or at opulent dinners, placed Jeremy at the heart of Earth’s political and economic networks. He wasn’t just building influence—he was becoming a force unto himself.At the pinnacle of this success, Jeremy built a sprawling mansion, a place where he could keep the people closest to him safe. Celicia, Sophie, and
Beneath the dim streetlights and the shadows of looming skyscrapers, Jeremy faced Soren. The rogue's crimson hair shimmered under the flickering lights, complementing the bloodlust that radiated from him like a storm waiting to break. His lips twisted into a grimace, eyes narrowed in a mix of amusement and warning.“Are you sure it’s a good idea? I mean, you have something to lose in the long run, don’t you?” Soren’s voice was smooth, but menace clung to his words like a blade ready to strike.Jeremy's hands clenched, irritation bubbling under his skin. A gleaming light shimmered around him, and in an instant, his katana materialized—sharp, deadly, and humming with latent energy. The weapon reflected his resolve.“Relax, kid,” Soren chuckled, casually cracking his neck. “I might kill you by mistake.”Jeremy kissed his teeth in frustration, his jaw tightening as his eyes locked with Soren’s. “You know I can never join you.”Soren’s grin deepened, his amusement laced with something dark