The "Record of Souls" felt warm against Arain's chest, its rhythmic pulsing matching his own heartbeat. As they exited the Forbidden Library, the oppressive silence was replaced by the distant, frantic ringing of the manor's alarm bells.
The hunt was no longer silent. It was a storm.
"Young Master, the East Wing is swarming with knights," Kael whispered, his eyes glowing with a faint purple tint—a side effect of the Shadow Bond. "They've blocked the main gardens. There's no way out."
Arain stood at the edge of the darkened stone corridor. He didn't look like a boy trapped in a corner; he looked like a spider waiting in the center of its web.
[System Notification: Evolution at 12%.]
[New Skill Unlocked: Domain of the Unseen.]
"We aren't going to the gardens, Kael," Arain said, his voice dropping an octave. "We're going to the Great Hall. If the Baroness wants a monster, I should at least show her how a King dines."
Suddenly, the sound of heavy boots shattered the silence. Four knights in silver-plated armor rounded the corner, their spears glowing with the 'Holy Light' of the Luxmore house.
"There he is! The cursed brat!" the lead knight shouted. "Target his legs! Don't let him—"
Arain didn't wait. He didn't run. He took a single step forward and slammed his hand against the stone floor.
[Skill Active: Domain of the Unseen.]
[Mana Consumption: 15 points.]
The torches on the walls didn't just flicker; they died. A darkness thicker than ink erupted from Arain's shadow, spreading across the floor like spilled oil. Within seconds, the entire corridor was submerged in a void where sight, sound, and even smell ceased to exist.
"My eyes! I can't see!"
"Where is he?! Argh!"
In the darkness, Arain moved with terrifying precision. He didn't need eyes; the System mapped every heartbeat in the room. He slipped past the first knight, his small hand brushing against the man's throat.
Snap.
It wasn't a physical blow. It was the Essence of the Ink-Wraith he had absorbed in the library. A thin needle of dark mana pierced the knight's windpipe, freezing his vocal cords.
[Critical Strike: Silence Inflicted.]
Arain stood behind the lead knight, who was swinging his spear wildly into the void. Arain leaned in close, whispering into the man's ear.
"The light you worship is just a candle in my world," Arain whispered. "And I just blew it out."
He touched the knight's armor. The 'Holy' silver began to corrode, turning black as the Void Mana ate through the metal like acid. The knight collapsed, not from a wound, but from sheer, overwhelming terror.
[Enemy Neutralized. XP Gained: 150.]
[Loyalty Update: Kael is witnessing your power. Loyalty increased to 92%.]
The darkness receded as Arain reached the end of the hall. Behind him, four elite knights lay paralyzed on the floor, their eyes wide and staring at nothing. They weren't dead—Arain knew that dead men couldn't spread rumors. He needed them alive to tell the Duke that the 'trash' had become a nightmare.
"Let's go," Arain said to the stunned Kael.
They reached the balcony overlooking the Great Banquet Hall. Below, Baroness Elara was surrounded by dozens of guards, her face twisted in a mixture of hysteria and rage. She was screaming orders, her voice cracking.
"Find him! Bring me his head! I don't care about the Duke's orders anymore!"
Arain looked down at her, his violet eyes shimmering in the dim light. He felt the "Record of Souls" vibrate in his pocket. A new name was being written on its pages.
[New Target Locked: Baroness Elara Luxmore.]
[Soul Rank: B.]
[System Reward for Harvest: Complete Restoration of Mana Core.]
"She's loud," Arain muttered, a small, cruel smile appearing on his face. "Kael, do you know what happens to a bird that screams too loud in the dark?"
Kael swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "It... it attracts the predators, Master."
"Exactly."
Arain stood on the railing, the wind catching his tattered cloak. He looked like a dark omen carved out of obsidian.
"Tonight, the Baroness will learn that some regrets... can never be buried."
[Warning: High-Energy Signature Detected.]
[The Duke has returned.]
Arain's smile didn't fade. If anything, it grew wider. The final player had entered the stage.
Author's Note :
"The Predator has arrived! 🌑🔥
Arain just decimated elite knights without breaking a sweat, but the real challenge is here. The Duke has returned. Will the father recognize the monster he created, or is Arain ready to face the strongest man in the Empire?
BIG NEWS: We have been officially recommended as a POTENTIAL STARLET! 🌟 Thank you to all 9,000+ readers who made this possible.
We are at 9 Collections! One more and I will reveal the first LEGENDARY skill of the Monarch System!
Join the void. Add to Library. Leave a comment: Should Arain forgive his father, or make him regret everything? 💎✨"