The serene atmosphere of the [Fox Tribe Village] belied the storm brewing just beneath the surface.
Alex’s gaze was steady, but his mind raced.
The [Golden Star Festival] was a mere six days away, and every moment felt like a countdown to disaster.
The vision haunted him: flames consuming the village, blood soaking the earth, and the lifeless bodies of those he cared for.
But Alex wasn’t one to wait for fate to strike.
He needed answers.
“Anyway, let me tell you what I saw,” Alex said, not planning on hiding anything as it was stupid to do so.
The surroundings fell into silence as Alex recounted what he had seen.
He described the carnage, the [Hatred Demon], and the growing unease gnawing at him.
At the mention of the demon, even Alera, the usually calm Fox Queen, frowned deeply.
“That’s impossible,” she said, her voice low. “The [Hatred Demon] was destroyed by the Grand Mages centuries ago.”
“Maybe,” Alex replied, his voice steady. “But something’s not right. The [Heart of Calamity] showed me that vision for a reason.”
The barrier protecting the village was strong, capable of absorbing up to 100 million damage points.
Yet Alex knew that wouldn’t be enough. The [Hatred Demon] could break through that in seconds.
“Still,” Alex muttered to himself, “reviving the demon should be impossible…”
He paused, his jaw tightening.
The [Vial of Undead Blood] was still inside the [Mage Tower], and the [Heart of Calamity] was inside of him, as it was the one that gave him the vision.
Maybe that vision of his was false?
Maybe the [Heart of Calamity] was trying to put him on the wrong direction, after all it was supposed to be the heart of the hatred demon itself, meaning that it should be evil in itself.
Alex shook his head, pushing the doubts aside.
“We can’t take any chances. Aurelia, we’re going to your home in the real world.”
Aurelia nodded, her expression serious.
The group shared a brief but meaningful goodbye with Alera before logging out of the game.
[Do you want to leave Universal Descent?]
It had been a while since Alex saw this panel, but he simply nodded.
“Yes.”
And so all three were teleported out of the game in a flash of blue light.
…
Far from the tranquility of the [Fox Tribe Village], Daniel stood atop a cliff overlooking the land.
His eyes burned with a dark intensity, and the power of the [Hatred Demon] coursed through his veins.
The voice of the demon whispered in his mind, feeding his anger and sharpening his focus.
[You are close, child. The festival will be the perfect time to strike.]
Daniel clenched his fists, a cruel smile curling on his lips.
“I’ll take everything from him,” he muttered. “Just like he took everything from me.”
The shadows around him seemed to pulse in response, a tangible manifestation of the hatred that consumed him.
With each passing moment, the demon’s power grew stronger, and Daniel’s resolve hardened.
The stage was set.
And soon, the world would burn.
“Sir, let’s go,” Vex, Daniel’s second-in-hand, called out, “We need to hold another meeting.”
“Yes,” the man grinned, “Leave me just a few minutes, I’ll come.”
“Very well,” Vex bowed before leaving.
“Hatred Demon,” Daniel called.
[Yes, child?]
“I’m ready for the third and final task.”
Upon saying that, the laughter of the Hatred Demon grew so much that it became almost unbearable to Daniel himself.
[Very good choice, child, get ready!]
Ding!
The panel appeared in front of him, and as he read it, he couldn’t help but be shocked.
[Hatred Quest #3]
[Severe all ties to those you consider close to yourself, let your hatred take over.]
[Objective: Kill Aurelia Thunder and Mike Thunder in the real world.]
[Time Limit: 1 week.]
[Penalty for failure: destruction of the soul.]
“Hahaha…” Daniel laughed in return as he read that, “Amazing! Truly fantastic!”
[Do this, child, and the powers you will be granted will make anybody fear you.]
“Very well,” Daniel confirmed that he agreed to finish the task, “But I think I’ll be waiting until the very last moment to make them despair.
[Do whatever you wish, as long as you complete it.]
And with that, Daniel turned around, following the direction Vex went in.
…
In the real world, Aurelia appeared in her spacious, modern home, while Alex and Alice reappeared in their villa.
“Been a while, heh~” she grinned, after all Alex hadn’t left the game in weeks since there was no need to anymore.
Alex smirked, “Yeah, but the game’s still better.”
“Agreed. The village is way more peaceful than a luxurious villa.”
Before they could continue, Alex’s chat panel blinked with a new notification.
He opened it instinctively.
[Aurelia: I told my dad everything. He says you can come over now, but it’s a bit far.]
[FateBreaker: It’s fine. We’re on our way.]
[Aurelia: Wait. Don’t head out just yet. Our house’s location is hidden for security reasons. Send me your coordinates, and I’ll send a driver.]
[FateBreaker: Got it.]
Alex sent the location without question, understanding the need for secrecy.
Aurelia’s family, like many powerful families, had enemies. Their whereabouts had to remain a mystery.
“We’ll have to wait a bit,” Alex said, closing the chat panel.
Alice smirked, “Waiting isn’t so bad. We’ve got time to kill.”
I think you already know what the two of them did, but let’s skip that.
Hours passed, and by the time the driver arrived, the sun had begun to set.
Alex received another message from Aurelia and quickly headed outside.
A sleek black limousine awaited them at the front gate.
“Do all rich people use these?” Alex asked as he opened the door.
Alice chuckled, sliding into the backseat. “Pretty much.”
The ride was smooth at first, but soon, the path became increasingly unusual.
The limousine veered off the main road and onto a winding, narrow trail.
Dense trees loomed on either side, their canopies forming a tunnel of shadows.
“We’re heading up a mountain,” Alice noted, peering out the window.
The car followed a secret path, climbing higher and higher until the trees thinned out, revealing a sprawling estate at the peak.
The mansion of the [Thunder Family] stood like a fortress against the night sky, its towering spires and intricate architecture exuding wealth and power.
“Here we go,” Alex murmured as the car came to a stop.
The driver turned to them with a serious expression.
“Be cautious. The Thunder Family has a reputation for being… short-tempered.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Alex replied, stepping out and helping Alice from the car.
Together, they approached the mansion’s grand entrance.
The doors opened before they could knock, and there was no servant, meaning it was automatic as several cameras were placed.
In comparison to Alice’s home, the [Thunder Family] truly didn’t want to take any chances, having no servants on site except for a cook.
The inside of the mansion was as grand as its exterior, with gleaming marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and intricately carved woodwork.
In the living room, a tall man with sharp features and an air of authority awaited them.
He leaned casually against the armrest of a leather sofa, a glass of whiskey in hand.
“Alex, I presume,” the man said, lifting an eyebrow before offering a small smile, “I’m Mike Thunder. Please, sit. I understand you have something urgent to discuss.”
Alex stepped forward, his gaze unwavering. “It’s about your son, Daniel.”
Mike’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of mild curiosity, “Go on.”