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Chapter Four: The Path and Price for Strength
After hearing the truth, Valen is stunned by the words told by Marcus.
Marcus sees Kairos Veridian standing there smiling without doing anything. Then Marcus realizes,
"He can kill me the second he wants to—but he wants to make this event forge Valen into the ultimate weapon."
Marcus grips the Celestial Blade tightly, and a faint golden dawn appears from the blade. A voice comes from the blade:
"You are worthy of the power, child of Alderwoods."
With that voice, a bright golden light explodes throughout the hall, sending all the nobles reeling back with the explosion of the energy.
Marcus' hands tremble from the power, but he somehow manages to control it and disappears into the night—leaving a black feather behind as a mark of the Fallen Archangel's presence.
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The Duke's Offer and the Bloodbath for the Crown
Valen is still standing there, his mind still processing the events.
The Duke smirks and approaches him, then fixes his jaw and says,
"My son Valen Veridian, he has taken something precious from you, yet you can't do anything because of how pathetically weak you are. My son, I have an offer to make. My son, if you accept, I will lend you the might of House Veridian for revenge."
Valen looks up to his dad.
"It… it does not matter what offer you will make. I will do anything to get revenge." Valen speaks, still trembling with rage.
Duke Veridian smirks and says,
"Eliminate all of your brothers and sisters and get the position of heir yourself. Then I shall lend you the power you desire."
Valen is shocked and enraged by his father's words and clenches his fists.
"Have you ever even thought of me as your son? No. Have you—of anyone—as your child? Or do you think of them as weapons you can replace?" Valen speaks with anger in his voice.
The Duke, with a calm expression, adjusts his hands and says,
"I have thought of my other children as weapons I can replace, son—but not you. You are the finest weapon in our history, and even weapons can become kings if they are sharp enough." The Duke says with a grin on his face.
Valen freezes at the reply of his father. He begins to walk away until he is interrupted by his eldest brother, Cassius Veridian, 15 at the time.
"Weakling, you could not protect your self-proclaimed elder sister—a maid of lowly birth—nor could you catch her killer, who stood in front of you. Do a useful thing at least: die by my hands like that bitch and give up on the heir position."
As he speaks that, Valen sees all his siblings except the youngest laughing at him, mocking Ellara's death. Valen is swallowed by rage and hatred in that moment.
"You... You dare insult her, you bastard?! I, Valen Veridian, challenge you to an honor duel! Now face me if you dare, you coward! And not just you—all of you who want to compete—I challenge all of you together now!"
All people in the hall are shocked at Valen's words. But his siblings are happy to eliminate the strongest foe in their way.
They all go to the arena and Valen grabs his swords against all his siblings.
All of them charge at him—Cassius Veridian constantly charging at him. Valen fights all of them but is quickly overpowered. Selvira Veridian, 4th child and his sister, presses her daggers into his skin.
Valen roars in rage. All of them grab him, and Cassius mocks him further:
"Do you think you could catch the Alderwood? Even after seeing how he escaped, you still struggle? Just die and mourn that bitch."
But Valen subconsciously hears it. At the brink of his death, he sees Thanatos, the God of Death, sitting in a sea of blood. The murderous aura covering him was so immense it was tearing apart Valen's mind. Then, the God of Death finally spoke:
"Veridian child… I will lend you my power. In return, you just have to give me the souls of your siblings."
Without thinking of anything, Valen agrees.
Dark aura—the aura of death—bursts in Valen's body, destroying the whole area. Valen's body was surging with rage. The murderous aura engulfed him. It was like watching a demon god descending into the mortal world.
Valen appeared behind Cassius. He slashed all his limbs in one attack. Cassius begged him, but despite that, he killed all of his siblings except his youngest—because she did not take part in the duel.
He looked at her. She was scared to death. That gaze made her see death before her eyes. That was when Valen Veridian became the heir of the Veridian House.
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The Scene Shifts to a Forest
Marcus is sitting there, panting—
Until the Celestial Blade starts to float in the sky.
Marcus gets on one knee.
Suddenly, Marcus wakes up to a void of stars and blackholes.
Once the definition of perfection—now a fallen angel—a towering figure stood before him: The Dawnbringer, Lucifer.
Lucifer said to Marcus:
"Why have you taken my blade, child of Alderwood?"
Marcus, still enraged, declares his wish to the fallen angel:
"I wanna bring down the Empire and kill all of them."
Lucifer's white wings unfold and he says,
"Then let us see your wish."
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The Trial
Two Choices:
1. Path of Revenge:
Marcus sees himself slaughtering royals and destroying the Empire—but he also sees himself losing his mind to madness.
2. Path of Rebellion:
Instead of destruction, he sees himself tearing down the corrupt system, leading the revolution—not as a monster, but as a leader.
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Lucifer's Judgment
Lucifer speaks, and his voice alone shatters the space:
"If you seek only blood, then know this—I will shatter your mind the moment you strike down the Imperial Family. You may borrow my strength, but not for senseless slaughter."
Marcus kneels in front of Lucifer and chooses the path of rebellion.
The Celestial Blade glows with dark celestial energy. Its once-spirit form shatters and enters the Divine Stage.
Lucifer:
"Then rise now, Marcus Alderwood. Wield my power and break your chains."
The trial ends.
Marcus awakens, drenched in sweat, the sword humming with newfound power.
But in his mind, Marcus still seeks the path of revenge and endless slaughter—even if it means losing his mind and brain to madness.
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The End of Chapter 4
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