Chapter 71 – The Hunt BeginsDawn cracked open over BB City, spilling a pale light that filtered through cracked windows and stretched across the city streets. Max Vale stirred awake at his usual hour, the cold bite of reality pressing against the edges of his mind. The events from the previous day—those shadowed, brutal moments—still clung to him like a second skin, but Miss Raelyn’s quiet assurance offered a fragile balm to his fraying nerves.Even so, the lingering fear didn’t paralyze him. Last night, despite knowing that the mixed Xeon Users who haunted the alleys were unlikely to appear, Max had made his rounds as usual. The streetlamps cast their weak, yellow glow over the empty blocks as he moved through the city’s veins, eyes sharp, senses stretched taut like the string of a bow ready to unleash. Nothing came—not a single shadow stirred—but that only hardened his resolve.Now, fully dressed and packed, Max slipped out the door, meeting Cedric at t

. Chapter 74 – Echoes of the Unseen Race Max Vale’s sharp gaze narrowed as he tracked Angy’s figure cutting through the dense forest. Then a strange thing happened—her eyes closed, serene and unwavering, yet her body moved with an uncanny precision, dodging every tree trunk, every jutting branch, as if guided by some invisible force. What the hell...? Max’s brow furrowed with suspicion and fascination. There was something primal, something beyond the ordinary, stirring within her. Suddenly, Angy’s eyelids snapped open, a fierce light igniting in her irises. A subtle but unmistakable shift began—right from the center of her forehead, another slender, sharp horn emerged. She already bore two, symbols of her Xeon bloodline, but now a third sprouted, twisting upward with a silvery sheen that shimmered faintly in the dim forest light. The atmosphere thickened, the air vibrating with a sudden surge of arcane energy

Chapter 76 — The Unseen Agony The interior of the sleek, midnight-black vehicle felt more like the command deck of a starfighter than a mere car. Smooth leather upholstery stretched taut over the seats, while a complex array of holographic displays shimmered faintly on the dashboard, casting ghostly glows that danced across the cabin. The scent of polished metal mixed with faint traces of rare incense, an indulgence for only the most elite. Seated in the front passenger seat was a stoic sentinel clad entirely in shadow — black tactical gear that absorbed light rather than reflected it, eyes hidden behind obsidian lenses. His hair was a fierce, fiery red, pulled back tightly, a stark contrast to his cold demeanor. The driver, in contrast, was nondescript — thin, unassuming, with eyes that held nothing but obedient neutrality. “Take us to the sanctuary,” Max Vale ordered from the rear seat, his voice crisp but laced with the lazy confidence

Chapter 78 — Crimson Veins of DominionThe body collapsed with a dull thud onto the cold tiled floor. A man dressed in midnight-black trousers, a crimson shirt beneath a cobalt-blue jacket, stood above the fallen form with a cruel grin curling his lips. His face was narrow, almost gaunt, framed by long, chestnut hair that spilled past his shoulders like a dark waterfall.Max Vale crouched down, eyes cold and calculating as his fingernails elongated unnaturally—sharp, deadly talons extending nearly three inches beyond their tips. The faint glint of bloodlust flickered in his gaze as he reached for the neck of the limp figure before him."Time to begin," Max whispered with wicked satisfaction, pressing his claw-like nails into the soft flesh of the man’s throat.A deep crimson glow erupted beneath the surface, veins like molten fire snaking beneath the skin, pulsing with otherworldly power. The air around them thickened, charged with an oppressive e

Chapter 80 – Veil of DiscordMax Vale had been scrutinizing those two for an entire week, like a predator sizing up its prey before the final strike.He was fully aware of Cedric’s meal schedule, so he knew exactly what kind of grub the guy would get today.Sure enough, when Cedric and Roy Madsen strolled together into the cafeteria to pick up their lunch, they couldn’t resist sneering in Max’s direction as he stood behind the counter, dishing out food.Max had anticipated their arrival. He’d deliberately stationed himself by the serving line, a silent sentinel ready to play his part.That calculated move earned Cedric a “special” meal that left him doubled over with stomach cramps and running for the restroom repeatedly.Max, once assumed to have abandoned the arena of sparring sessions, lingered just beyond the fighting grounds, always lurking at the periphery during bouts.He’d been observing ever since the break, tak