The Discarded Husband: Lucian Vale - The sovereign Collector

Chapter 5

"Today marks the beginning of a new era of glory for all high-ranking factions of our academy."

Aldric Stormbane’s voice echoed with authority, greeted by cheers of admiration from hundreds of students in the main hall.

The golden emblem on his elite uniform gleamed dazzlingly under the morning sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows.

Beside him, Seraphina Dawncrest smiled gracefully, wrapped in a perfectly tailored white silk gown.

"We will no longer allow irrelevant individuals to hinder this academy’s great progress moving forward," she added in a soft yet lethal tone.

The two of them stood atop the marble stage like an untouchable ruling couple.

The academy elders nodded in satisfaction from their honored seats, captivated by the flawless charisma of the two young heirs.

BANG!

The three-meter-tall oak double doors were kicked open and shattered from the outside.

Chunks of thick wood scattered through the air, instantly silencing the applause inside the hall.

The sound of leather boots thundered through the sudden frozen silence.

Lucian Ravencroft stepped slowly into the light, wearing a black shirt and a long coat.

His breathing was faintly ragged, struggling to hide the pain from his still-shattered internal organs.

The backlash from last night’s karma strike continued tearing through his nerves without pause.

"Is that Lucian? Didn’t Lady Seraphina divorce and expel him last night?" whispered a student in the front row with disgust.

"How dare a man without mana flow stain our sacred hall with his footsteps!"

On the main stage, Seraphina’s victorious smile froze for a moment upon seeing her former husband still alive.

Her sharp eyes narrowed suspiciously, but she quickly rearranged her expression into a mask of compassion.

"Lucian... why are you forcing yourself to return here after all the kindness I showed you last night?" Seraphina spoke softly.

"You don’t need to cause such a pitiful disturbance and embarrass yourself further in front of the elders."

Lucian stopped in the middle of the hall crowd, staring at her with ice-cold eyes.

"Embarrass myself? Or are the two of you afraid your filth will be exposed to the public?"

"You deliberately hired a high-level assassination squad to cut off my head in the lower district last night."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned tense, filled with shocked murmurs from the students.

Seraphina immediately covered her mouth with one hand, looking at Lucian as if he had lost his sanity.

"What kind of insane accusation is this, Lucian?"

"I know the divorce last night devastated you, but please don’t fabricate such vile slander," she replied sorrowfully.

Aldric stepped forward quickly, positioning himself protectively beside Seraphina.

"We let you leave peacefully last night, yet you repay our kindness with filthy delusions."

The academy heir turned to the elders with a concerned and responsible expression.

"Last night, the academy’s security committee detected an intense surge of dark magic from the lower district."

"And this morning, you suddenly appear before us without a single fatal injury."

Aldric pointed his thumb toward Lucian’s pale face.

"Only forbidden dark arts could restore your crippled body overnight."

"Lucian... are you that desperate?"

The entire hall erupted into horrified murmurs as the students and elders quickly fell for the manipulation.

"You sold your soul to dark curses because you couldn’t accept my divorce, Lucian?" Seraphina added, shedding fake tears.

"How neatly and cunningly you’ve scripted this morning’s performance," Lucian chuckled hoarsely.

Fresh blood rose in his throat again, but he forcibly swallowed it back.

"You’re trying to cover up your attempted murder by blaming the victim directly, Aldric."

"Lucian, we truly don’t want to see you fall into becoming such a monster," Seraphina said pleadingly.

"Surrender to the council of elders now, and I will personally plead for your life to be spared."

Lucian smiled coldly at the disgusting offer.

"Spared?"

"After you let your dogs crush my ribs?"

Aldric shook his head slowly, as if deeply disappointed by Lucian’s chosen path.

"He is completely consumed by darkness and deep hatred," Aldric declared to the audience.

"As the head of the security committee, it is my duty to protect all of you from this monstrous threat."

He raised his hand, giving a decisive signal without tarnishing his heroic image.

"Guards, secure this dark magic threat immediately for the safety of our academy!"

Shing! Shing! Shing!

Dozens of academy guards drew their silver swords and surrounded Lucian from all directions.

Students gasped and stepped back in fear at the sight of the drawn blades.

Lucian stood still, refusing to summon his karma chains.

He knew his mortal body would explode into dust if he forced himself to use that power again today.

One of the front guards leaped forward, swinging his steel sword straight at Lucian’s neck.

The blade reflected sunlight, ready to behead him without trial.

BOOOOM!!

The thick stone wall on the right side of the hall exploded violently, smashed from the outside.

Massive chunks of marble flew wildly, crushing the formation of guards surrounding Lucian.

"Aghhh! Fall back!" the guards screamed as they were struck by the heavy debris, coughing blood.

Smoke and thick dust instantly swallowed most of the visibility in the main hall.

Seraphina quickly cast a high-level light barrier on the marble stage.

She shielded herself and Aldric from the raining debris.

From within the thick cloud of smoke, the sound of combat boots echoed, shaking the marble floor.

A group of elite mercenaries marched in through the destroyed wall.

A dense killing aura radiated from their massive, blood-stained weapons.

At the very front stood Zephyr Ironveil, his black cloak fluttering arrogantly.

The king of the underworld looked at Aldric with a predatory smile, openly challenging his authority.

"It seems this elite academy gathering is a bit too noisy for such a bright morning," Zephyr greeted in his deep baritone voice.