That night, exactly at nine o’clock, a sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of the Laurent mansion.Kael stood by the car, waiting for Evelyne. The moment the grand doors opened, his breath nearly caught in his throat.A dark-blue evening gown, simple yet elegant, draped perfectly over Evelyne’s figure. Her black hair was neatly tied up, with a few loose strands framing her face. Subtle makeup only highlighted her natural beauty.And for the first time… Kael was truly speechless.“Don’t look at me like that,” Evelyne muttered softly, her cheeks tinged with pink.Kael smiled—a small, genuine smile, not his usual cocky grin. “I just realized… my wife can actually look this stunning.”Evelyne quickly turned her face away, trying to hide the flush spreading across her cheeks. But inside, a warmth bloomed she couldn’t quite ignore.Kael calmly opened the car door and bowed slightly, extending his hand. “After you, Mrs. Laurent.”Evelyne glanced at him, hesitated for a moment, then rel

That night Kael and Evelyne headed to their room with light hearts. Evelyne had just leaned against Kael’s shoulder and let out a satisfied little yawn.But before the bedroom light could be fully switched off, a heavy thud came from downstairs, followed by the main door being forced open with a creak.Evelyne jumped, her body tensing. “Kael… did you hear that?”Kael was already on his feet before she finished speaking. His expression turned cold. He felt a familiar aura pushing in—an oppressive pressure, laced with murderous intent.Heavy footsteps echoed through the mansion, then confused, panicked voices from the servants and the Laurent family.“What’s going on? Who dares to break into the Laurent house at night?!” Hector’s voice rang from below, followed by Mariana screaming in fright.Kael moved to the third-floor balcony with Evelyne. From there they looked down into the mansion’s grand foyer.A number of figures in white robes stood spaced across the room. Their aura wasn’t hu

Darius stepped forward, one steady step after another, drawing his long sword from its sheath. The blade gleamed coldly under the living room lights. His movements were measured, precise—like a soldier forged by countless drills. His breathing was steady, his stride unshaken. With eyes brimming with confidence, he raised the sword high, as if daring the world itself.“Do not touch the Laurents,” Vale’s voice cut through the air—cold, calm, commanding. “They are Edmond’s bloodline—Zion’s old friend. They must not be harmed.”Darius gave a slight nod, the corner of his lips curling into a hostile smirk. “Of course,” he muttered, then locked his piercing gaze on Kael. “I understand.”Kael held his breath. There was something off about Darius’s smile—a mask covering what Kael had once called friendship.“You’re really going to kill your own friend?” Kael asked, voice flat, but each word thrown like shards of glass. “Darius… is this what you call our oath?”Darius looked at him briefly, th

Kael struggled to stand, his body trembling. The cracks of black aura across his skin still faintly glimmered, like embers refusing to die out. He stared at his three opponents, his breaths ragged.“Don’t let him get back up,” Liora hissed. Her hand moved swiftly, pulling out several greenish orbs from a small pouch at her waist. “Hell’s Venom Drops!”The spheres floated like shimmering pearls, but the moment they touched Kael’s skin, a sharp hiss rang out—his flesh seared, blistered, and turned black. The stench of burning flesh filled the room.Veyro chuckled softly, then snapped his fingers. “Labyrinth of a Thousand Shadows.”Instantly, Kael’s world fractured. The pillars around him doubled, the floor twisted like shattered glass. Shadows of his enemies multiplied from every direction. His vision blurred, his steps staggered. He reached out for air but grasped nothing. In the chaos, Liora’s poison orbs struck him one after another, embedding into his skin, igniting pain like a thou

The night sky above the Laurent Family mansion rumbled, as if echoing everyone’s unease.Vale stood stiff, his eyes narrowing as the last shimmering dust from Kael’s dragon pendant drifted down. “He… vanished?” he whispered, disbelief in his voice.Edran immediately stepped forward, his face tense. “Vale! What did Kael just use?!”Vale stayed silent for a moment before answering heavily, “That wasn’t some ordinary trinket… I recognized the aura. That had to be a sacred artifact, one that came from Zion himself.”“A sacred artifact?!” another elder shouted. “So Zion really did give him something that valuable?!”But Vale flicked his hand, shutting down the panic beginning to spread. “Forget the artifact for now. What matters is this—Kael escaped. He’s still alive. And if he survives…” His voice trailed off, his icy gaze sweeping across the crowd. “…when he comes back, none of us will live.”A suffocating silence fell. Faces turned pale, everyone knowing deep down his words were true.E