Obsidian Heir

CHAPTER 3: THE PRICE OF POWER

Zachary’s grip tightened on the Void Card. The red light in his eyes flared in response to the simmering rage within him. He met his father's gaze, a silent battle of wills playing out between them.

“Fine,” Zachary said, the word clipped and edged with steel. He wouldn’t pretend to be grateful, not after twenty years of neglect. But he also wasn’t stupid. Power was power, and he intended to use it. "I'll play your game. What do you want me to do?”

Valerius’s lips curved into a genuine smile, the first Zachary had seen. "Excellent. The Prism Dragon Group will officially be under your control tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Zachary raised an eyebrow. “Seems a little… sudden, doesn’t it?”

“Expediency is key in our world, Zachary. Hesitation is a luxury we cannot afford.” Valerius waved a hand dismissively. “Besides, tomorrow is the Group’s anniversary celebration. All the major players in Silverwood City will be there. It’s the perfect stage for your debut.”

Zachary’s mind raced. A takeover, a party, and a room full of potential enemies. It was a trial by fire, and Valerius was throwing him straight into the inferno.

Seraphina, ever vigilant, stepped forward with a tablet. "Here is a list of the confirmed attendees, Young Lord."

Zachary took the tablet, his fingers brushing against Seraphina's cool hand. 

He scrolled through the names, a strange mix of curiosity and anticipation bubbling within him. 

He recognized many of the names from news articles and business journals – titans of industry, political heavyweights, and social elites.

Then, his eyes landed on a name that made his blood run cold: 

‘Sterling Corp’

“Bennett Sterling’s company is invited?” Zachary asked, his voice dangerously low.

Seraphina nodded, her expression unreadable. “Yes, Young Lord. They are a significant business partner.”

A cold smile curved at the corner of Zachary’s lips. “Things are getting more and more interesting.” 

Valerius observed him with a knowing gaze. 

‘Ahhh…. Revenge is a dish best served… immediately, it seems.’ he thought inwardly, a smirk pulling at his lips.

It seems his son was already fighting his own battles.

Clearing his throat, he continued,“Seraphina will brief you on the Group's structure and your authority. Familiarize yourself with it. You will be expected to perform."

"Understood," Zachary replied, his eyes still fixed on the tablet. The Prism Dragon Group's anniversary celebration was about to become a lot more… personal.

***

After finalizing the arrangements, Seraphina led Zachary to a waiting limousine. "Your father has prepared a villa for you, Young Lord. It is located in the Emerald Heights district.”

The villa was, to put it mildly, extravagant. Nestled on a sprawling estate overlooking the city, it was a palace of glass and steel, a testament to unimaginable wealth. As Zachary stepped inside, he felt a strange energy thrumming through the air, a subtle vibration that resonated deep within his bones.

He wandered through the opulent rooms, his mind still reeling from the events of the past few hours. He was the son of the King of the World, the hidden chairman of a massive conglomerate, and the possessor of a power he barely understood.

As he settled into one of the plush sofas, he sensed the power within his body surging like live electrical wires, ready to erupt at any moment. The memories and techniques flooding his mind were a torrent of information, a legacy of blood and power that threatened to overwhelm him.

“This ring…” Zachary muttered, tracing the blackened iron band on his finger. “It awakened something dormant within me, but my current body is still insufficient to withstand or absorb such immense energy.”

He needed to strengthen his physique, to forge his body into a vessel capable of containing the power that now coursed through his veins. 

He needed to fully digest this power, to master the techniques that were now his birthright.

And he knew just what he needed to do it.

The knowledge, unbidden, surfaced in his mind. He needed the legendary Celestial Harmony Crystal.

A legendary gemstone said to possess the ability to purify and amplify one's life force. 

It was incredibly rare, almost mythical, but he knew that it was exactly what he needed.

He focused his mind, sifting through the information he had received from the ring. 

The crystal, according to the ancient texts, was sometimes found in the possession of wealthy collectors or, more commonly, in the vaults of prestigious gemstone stores.

"Ms. Knowles…" he called out, still awkward about addressing anything other than that, even if she was his subordinate.

She was there in a heartbeat, her face a mask of professional calm, though her eyes flickered to the faint red glow beneath his skin. "My Lord?"

He rose to his feet, trying his best to ignore the pulsing in his veins, "I need a Celestial Harmony Crystal."

Seraphina's expression didn't change as she nodded. "I will make inquiries, Young Lord."

"Don't bother," Zachary said, a sudden surge of confidence coursing through him. "I know where to find one. The largest gemstone store in the city, 'Gems of the Orient.' Take me there."

Seraphina nodded, her eyes betraying a hint of curiosity. "As you wish, Young Lord."

***

The limousine pulled up outside "Gems of the Orient," a glittering palace of precious stones and polished marble. 

Zachary stepped out.

"You wait here," he said to Seraphina when she was about to step out and follow. "I'll handle this myself."

“But protocol—’

"No. I need to do this as myself, Ms Knowles. Not as a 'Lord.' Not yet."

Although reluctant, she bowed her head, the movement fluid and respectful. "I shall be here, then."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sleek smartphone, “Take this, Incase you need me." 

He nodded, pocketing the device before turning his back to her.

He walked into the store, the scent of expensive perfumes and polished stones filling his nostrils.

 The interior was even more lavish than the exterior, with displays of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds shimmering under the soft lighting.

He couldn't help but feel out of place here. 

He was still wearing the clothes from the night before—though Seraphina had provided a clean, high-end jacket, his jeans were faded and his boots were scuffed from the mud of the dog cage.

A clerk, impeccably dressed and radiating an air of bored disdain, approached him. "May I help you, sir?" she asked, her voice dripping with condescension. 

She barely glanced at him, her eyes already scanning the room for wealthier-looking customers.

"I'm looking for a Celestial Harmony Crystal," Zachary said, his voice calm and even.

The clerk's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "I beg your pardon?"

"A Celestial Harmony Crystal," Zachary repeated. "I understand you have one."

The clerk's disdain returned, hardening her features. "Sir, that is our top-tier collectible. It is… exceptionally rare and valuable. I doubt you would be interested." Her tone was dismissive, clearly intended to discourage him.

Zachary's eyes narrowed slightly. "I am interested. Bring it out."

The firmness in his tone caught the clerk off guard. She hesitated for a moment, then, with a sigh of exasperation, she said, "Very well, sir. But don't say I didn't warn you."

She led him to a heavily guarded display case at the back of the store. 

With a flourish, she unlocked the case and carefully lifted out a small, velvet-lined box.

Inside, nestled on a bed of silk, was the Celestial Harmony Crystal.

The shard was a jagged, raw hunk of deep violet crystal, pulsing with a rhythmic, inner light. Zachary felt the ring on his finger roar in response. 

The heat in his veins immediately began to pull toward the stone, the pressure in his chest easing for the first time in hours.

"It’s perfect," Zachary muttered. "I’ll take it."

Just then, a sharp, imperious voice cut through the air. “Hold it right there!”