Valen stirred from his deep sleep, the warmth of the soft morning light filtering through the large windows of his chamber.
Six long years had passed in seclusion, and while much had changed within him, the world outside is not the same as well.
He stretched, feeling the strength coursing through his body—the result of intense cultivation and his newly-formed core.
After a moment of quiet reflection, he rose from the bed and made his way toward the adjoining bath, eager to refresh himself after years of unrelenting focus.
As the warm water cascaded over him, Valen examined his reflection in the mirror.
His once youthful, childish features had been replaced by a sharper, more mature visage.
His jawline was more defined, his violet eyes glimmered with intelligence, and his skin, while pale, seemed to possess a faint, ethereal glow.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Alaric's voice followed, respectful as always. "My lord, your parents have requested your presence for breakfast. They have been informed of your return."
Valen stepped from the bath, dressed quickly, and opened the door to find Alaric waiting patiently.
"I'll join them shortly," Valen replied with a nod. He glanced at his reflection once more.
His physical transformation had made him almost unrecognizable, but it wasn't just his appearance that had changed—his newfound strength and Void Essence pulsed beneath the surface.
It was only a matter of time before others began to take notice.
As he and Alaric made their way through the grand corridors of the Aetheris estate, Valen turned to his servant. "Did anything of importance happen during my seclusion?"
His voice was calm, but there was an edge to his question.
Alaric contemplated for a moment before speaking. "Nothing significant, my lord. However, two years ago, there was an incident in Count Eres's territory.
A town called Serendale was overrun by a beast tide. The Arcane Beasts massacred much of the population—90% if speaking roughly.
However, Count Eres and his legion, the Silver Vanguards, managed to intervene and eliminate the threat before it spread further."
Valen gave a slight nod, outwardly unaffected by the news, but inwardly, his mind was turning. It has begun.
Soon enough, they arrived at the dining hall, where his parents, Marcellus and Isolde, awaited him.
His mother was the first to greet him, her joy evident as she rushed toward him. "Valen!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace.
"You've grown so much... Six years without seeing you—it feels like forever."
Valen smiled faintly, hugging her back. "I've missed you too, Mother."
He glanced at his father, who stood stoically, his sharp eyes assessing Valen's new form.
Marcellus stepped forward with a rare, approving nod. "It's good to see you again, son. Come, let's eat and talk."
The three of them sat down at the grand dining table, and a variety of dishes were presented before them.
As they ate, Valen's mother was full of questions—asking about his time in seclusion, how he felt, and how his cultivation had progressed.
Valen answered patiently, choosing his words carefully to keep up the appearance of a dutiful son.
"I've made progress," Valen began, "though the path I've chosen is... unconventional. It has led to the development of new techniques and a core far different from the one I once had."
His mother looked concerned, while his father, ever the pragmatic one, remained silent, waiting for more details.
"Unconventional?" Marcellus asked, raising an eyebrow. "Explain."
Valen knew this moment would come. Without hesitation, he activated the Veil of Conceal, displaying his power at the Mana Foundation Realm.
His parents could sense it, their brows furrowing in concentration as they attempted to probe deeper, but their attempts were met with nothing.
"Your cultivation is back on track," Marcellus said, but Valen could sense the unspoken question behind his father's words. "Yet... we can't sense the full depth of your core."
Valen met his father's gaze evenly. "That's part of the path I'm following. My new techniques prevent others from probing my core, allowing me a measure of security."
He allowed a slight pause. "You needn't worry—everything is progressing as it should."
Marcellus remained silent for a moment, but eventually gave a nod of acceptance. "As long as you're progressing, that's what matters."
The rest of the breakfast passed with lighter conversation. Valen inquired about estate matters, and they spoke of family business and recent political developments.
————————
Back in his room, Valen closed the door behind him, leaning against it briefly as he let out a small breath.
His parents were none the wiser, and he had successfully diverted any suspicion.
He moved toward his desk, where a soft glow flickered to life as Nyx's presence stirred within his mind.
"Show me my status," Valen commanded.
Before him, a translucent screen appeared, displaying his current condition:
[Name: Valen Aetheris]
[Age: 14]
[Cultivation Realm: None]
[Mana Breathing Technique: Sovereign's Breath (10th Order)]
[Battle Arts: Astral Edge (10th Order), Void Step (10th Order)]
[Core: Core of Nihility]
[Skills: Eye of Dominion, Veil of Conceal]
[Bloodline: Emperor of Nihility]
[Physique: Origin Voidborn]
[Villain Points: 100,000]
[Fate Essence: 0]
Valen's eyes scanned the information. His Void Essence was still minimal, but his Core of Nihility was formed—a powerful foundation that would only grow.
He noticed his 100,000 Villain Points and wondered about their use.
"Nyx, explain the function of Villain Points," Valen asked.
[Villain Points can be used to purchase items, skills, and techniques from the system store.]
[These items include cultivation techniques, treasures, skills, weapons, and more—everything you need to further your path.]
Valen's interest was piqued. "Show me the store."
[To unlock the system store, 70,000 Villain Points are required.]
Without hesitation, Valen agreed. "Unlock it."
The screen shimmered before revealing a vast collection of items.
Valen's eyes scanned over the treasures—potions that increased cultivation speed, weapons infused with rare materials, and techniques that promised mastery over various elements.
However, one item in particular caught his attention:
[Voidshard Amulet]
[Cost: 500,000 Villain Points]
[Description: A rare amulet that enhances the user's ability to manipulate void energy. Increases the absorption and conversion of mana to Void Essence by 30%, and boosts the power of void-related skills by 25%.]
Valen smirked. "Interesting," he muttered, eyeing the amulet. Though he couldn't purchase it yet, it was something he would keep in mind for later.
With everything in place, Valen's gaze darkened slightly as his thoughts returned to his cultivation and his future plans.
The world was shifting, and he had no intention of being caught unprepared.
"Let's begin," he said softly, before delving once again into his plans for the future.