Rise of The Virel Absolute Revenge Cultivation

The return of the Hunter

Kael was still squinting, staring at the marble pillar where Arka was hiding with an intensity that could burn a hole through stone. Arka’s heart raced, but he forced every muscle fiber to remain still.

"What is it, Kael? Why did you stop?" Irina asked, her slender fingers touching Kael’s arm, drawing his attention back to her.

Kael took a deep breath, then shook his head slowly. "Just a feeling, darling. Perhaps it was only the shadows from these trees. Come, your father is already waiting for us in the study."

As soon as their footsteps faded and they disappeared behind the massive oak doors, Arka leaned his back against the pillar. Cold sweat drenched his forehead.

Damn, he almost noticed me, Arka thought. System, how much longer can I maintain this camouflage?

Status: Disguise stable. However, target alertness has increased by 15%. It is recommended to immediately move away from the open area, the cold voice of the system echoed in his mind.

"I can't leave now," Arka whispered almost inaudibly. "Kael mentioned something about a plan. I have to know what it is."

Detecting target location: Main Study. Distance: Forty meters. Would you like to activate the 'Absolute Hearing' ability?

"Do it," Arka commanded. "Use the necessary retribution points."

Activating Absolute Hearing... Consuming 50 Retribution Points. Duration: 10 minutes. Range focused on the Main Study.

Instantly, the noise of the wind and the chirping of birds in the garden faded, replaced by a high-frequency hum that gradually shifted into incredible vocal clarity. Arka could hear the rustle of paper, the ticking of a wall clock, and finally, the heavy baritone voice of Lord Volkov—the head of his greatest enemy's family.

"Sit down, Kael," Lord Volkov’s voice sounded authoritative. "Irina, leave us. This is business that does not need to be heard by a woman’s ears."

"But Father—"

"Get out, Irina," Volkov cut her off uncompromisingly.

The sound of a door closing followed, followed by a moment of silence before Volkov spoke again. "Kael, forget your affections for my daughter for a moment. What is the progress of the cleansing in the East District?"

"Everything is on schedule, My Lord," Kael replied in a tone far more submissive than when he was with Irina. "We have secured several former Virel officers. They are stubborn, but our interrogations are starting to yield results."

"Good. I do not want a single seed of rebellion remaining. Who is on the list today?"

Arka sharpened his hearing. His chest felt tight as he heard Kael begin to recite names he knew all too well.

"Sergeant Galdor, Uncle Hali from logistics, and Captain Bran," Kael reported flatly. "They all refused to swear an oath of loyalty to Volkov. They still believe that 'Lord Arka' will return from the dead to save them."

"How foolish," Lord Volkov chuckled, a sound that felt like sandpaper against Arka’s ears. "Arka Virel is already rotting with the rats in the ravine. Tomorrow at dawn, show the people of Oakhaven what happens to those who harbor false hope."

"You wish to conduct a public execution?" Kael asked.

"Of course. At the Dawn Tower. We will behead them one by one as the sun rises. It will be a clear message to anyone still hiding the silver-blue banner of Virel under their beds."

Arka gripped the dagger at his waist so tightly his knuckles turned white. Sergeant Galdor... Uncle Hali... they were the ones who taught me how to hold a sword and read books. They stayed loyal to me, even when the world branded me a murderer.

Warning: Heart rate increasing. Host's emotions are unstable. Risk of aura leakage increasing, the system warned.

"Be quiet, System," Arka growled internally. Kael, you truly have no heart. They were the people who protected you when you were a child.

"One more thing, Kael," Volkov’s voice returned. "Ensure the list is complete. I heard some of their families are trying to flee the city. Capture them. We will exterminate the bloodline of anyone associated with Virel."

"I will carry it out immediately, My Lord. The physical list is on your desk, right? I will take it to the execution unit now."

Damn, I have to get that list, Arka thought. If I know exactly who is to be executed, I can plan a rescue.

Side Mission Detected: Rescue of the Loyal Blood.

Objective: Retrieve the execution list in Volkov’s study without being detected.

Reward: 200 Retribution Points and Invisible Wraith Skill Upgrade.

Failure: Identity exposed and the death of the loyalists.

"I'll do it," Arka muttered. He looked around, ensuring no guards saw him, then began to creep along the palace walls, utilizing every shadow of the pillars.

Arka climbed through a ventilation window on the second floor, moving with an agility that surpassed human limits thanks to his system. He landed silently in a hallway lined with red velvet carpet. Ahead of him, two guards stood stiffly in front of Lord Volkov’s study door.

Use Skill: Invisible Wraith. Duration: 30 seconds. Cost: 30 Retribution Points.

Arka’s body seemed to fade, merging with the surrounding air. He walked casually past the guards, who didn't even feel a breeze as he passed. The study door was not fully locked. Arka slipped inside just as Kael and Volkov were looking at a map on the wall, their backs to him.

Arka saw a thick parchment with a red wax seal on the luxurious mahogany desk. Without wasting time, he approached, his hand trembling with rage as he reached for the document.

"Who’s there?" Volkov barked suddenly, turning with the speed of a high-level cultivator.

Arka froze. His heart felt as if it had stopped beating. He was still in transparent mode, but the instincts of a master like Volkov could not be underestimated.

"What is it, My Lord?" Kael turned as well, his hand already on the hilt of his sword.

Volkov narrowed his eyes, staring exactly at the spot where Arka stood. "The air in this room... it suddenly turned cold. And the smell... the smell of death."

Arka held his breath completely. He felt as if Volkov’s eyes were peeling back his very soul.

"Perhaps it was just an open window, My Lord," Kael tried to soothe him, though he himself looked alert.

Volkov walked toward the desk, straight toward Arka. Every footstep sounded like a death knell. Arka slowly backed away, the document now tucked safely inside his cloak.

Invisible Wraith Time: 5... 4... 3...

Damn! Arka lunged toward the outer balcony just as his transparency vanished.

"Intruder!" Volkov screamed. A blast of energy was released from his hand, shattering the balcony door just after Arka jumped down into the darkness of the garden.

Arka rolled onto the grass, ignoring the sting in his shoulder from the wood splinters. He kept running, leaping over the palace fence with full strength while the shouts of guards and warning gongs began to echo throughout the palace complex.

Hours later, in a dark alley far from the city center, Arka leaned against a cold brick wall. He opened the parchment he had managed to steal with trembling hands.

Under the dim moonlight, he read the rows of names. Tears he hadn't felt in a long time began to well in the corners of his eyes. There were more than thirty names there. People who loved him, people he had let down.

Sergeant Galdor... Uncle Hali... Aunt Marta...

"Execution at dawn," Arka read the note at the bottom of the document. His eyes no longer showed sadness, but rather a smoldering fire ready to burn the entire city down.

System, how many points do I have now?

Total Retribution Points: 350. It is recommended to increase physical strength before tomorrow morning's confrontation.

Arka clenched his fist until blood seeped from between his fingers. He stared toward the Dawn Tower looming in the distance, the place that would be a silent witness to tomorrow morning's bloodshed.

"Tomorrow at dawn, Volkov will learn one thing," Arka whispered, his voice sounding like a promise from hell. "That the lives of my people cannot be traded for gold or power."

He turned and disappeared into the darkness, realizing he only had a few hours before sunrise to prepare the craziest rescue ever attempted in the capital of Oakhaven.

"I’m coming, my friends," he murmured to the night wind. "Wait for me."