Leo stood solemnly in front of the majestic iron gates of the Aetherwind household, their once gleaming surface now tarnished by time, rust, and the weight of betrayal. The place that had once meant home—where laughter had woven itself into the very walls now echoed with eerie silence—now felt like a rotten shell, hollow and devoid of the warmth and love that once flourished within.
He dragged his suitcase forward with a sense of heaviness in his heart and a newfound fury in his veins, barking coldly, "Maid. Carry this to my room."
The housemaid—a frail, elderly woman who had devoted decades of her life to serving the family—lowered her head, her frail form trembling slightly. With a nervous quiver in her voice, she replied, "Young Master Leo, the Head Lady has forbidden us from serving you..."
At those words, fiery rage ignited within Leo, his eyes turning crimson with bloodlust, a storm churning in the depths of his being.
SLAP!
A loud crack echoed through the hollow marble hall, reverberating against the cold stone like thunder announcing an approaching tempest.
The maid clutched her cheek in shock, her wide eyes reflecting disbelief as Leo snarled, "Who the hell does that bitch Sophia think she is?! I'm the rightful heir of this goddamn place!"
His roar reverberated throughout the estate, cascading down the halls like an avalanche of raw emotion, a declaration that shattered the uneasy silence and sent ripples through the very foundation of the Aetherwind name.
Every servant froze in place, trembling, their hearts pounding in response to the volcanic fury erupting from the young heir. Leo's fury wasn't just some ignoble flame; it was the rage of a man who remembered everything—the humiliation of being cast aside, the treachery of betrayal like a dagger buried in his flesh, the moment his trust was shattered by those he had once given everything to defend.
He stormed down the corridor, his boots smacking against the polished marble floor with a ferocity that echoed the chaos as his fury propelled him forward. Just as he was about to reach his room, a cold and familiar voice called from behind him, slicing through the charged atmosphere.
"Leo."
He turned to see the man who had raised him, the one whose blood coursed through his veins—a man he had once idolized, now a figure standing amidst the ruins of his trust.
His father.
Lucas Aetherwind, a man whose presence had once provided him with a sense of stability now stood before him like a relic of faded glory. For a split second, Leo's heart stirred, memories of a past life mingling with the present—an aching sense of loss and longing intertwining in a visceral dance. In his previous life, he had died before ever seeing this man again, never to reconcile the gulf that now lay between them.
But that moment of warmth quickly froze over, a chilling breeze sweeping through his soul, a bitter reminder of the past. This man had let those two vipers reside in their home, thoughtlessly enabling the betrayal that had shattered their family.
Lucas frowned, a cloud of disappointment darkening his features. "Why did you accept today's punishment without defending yourself?" he probed, eyes narrowing as if attempting to gauge Leo's motivations.
Leo sneered, the corners of his mouth curling into a derisive expression. "So what did you expect me to do? Crawl on my knees to beg that traitorous wench Sophia's forgiveness?" He spat the words with venom, each syllable like acid dripping from his tongue.
Lucas's face darkened, confusion mingling with the growing anger, but Leo wasn't done. His wrath surging like a tidal wave, he continued, "She stood by that sissy Alex and threw her own brother under the carriage. She sided with an outsider and brought shame to this house.
Do you understand that, old man?"
Lucas's expression wavered, faltering at the force of Leo's words. The Leo he once knew would never dare speak to him like this, and yet here he stood, unrestrained, wielding his grievances like weapons.
Suddenly, Sophia appeared, storming in with the fierce determination of a lioness ready to defend her territory. But the moment she stepped into his presence, her breath hitched, caught in the web of tension that thickened the air.
Her cultivation as a Mystic Vein Realm, Third Sub-Realm warrior—the second highest known level within the family—was rendered ineffective against the oppressive aura Leo now emitted. It was the bloodlust of a man who had faced death and emerged sharper and more dangerous than ever before, his fury refined through experiences that had forged him in searing fire.
"Sophia," Leo growled, his voice cold and devoid of warmth, a winter's frost that froze all emotions in their tracks. "Did I say something wrong?"
She opened her mouth, but no words came—only silence echoed her paralysis.
"Don't think everyone is as blind as you. The evidence was clear. Alex stole it. But because he reminded you of your pathetic past, you betrayed me. You turned on your own blood!"
Tears welled in Sophia's eyes, glistening like fragile crystals ready to shatter at the slightest disturbance. "I–I thought you'd understand…"
"You were wrong," Leo snapped, his tone punctuated by the crushing reality of their fractured bond. "It would've been better if you and that other bitch never stepped foot in this house!"
That sentence hit her like a thunderclap, the raw power of his words reverberating through her very being.
She remembered—it was Leo who had once begged their father to adopt them when they had been cast aside, given nothing but the bitterness of abandonment. He had given them a home filled with love, and offered them a future when all hope had seemed lost.
And she had repaid him with betrayal, a grievous sin that now weighed heavily upon her conscience.
Why? she thought, spiraling down into the deep chasms of her regrets. How did we reach this point, where blood ties could so easily dissolve into contempt?
A look of bewilderment crossed Lucas's face, twisting in fury and confusion as he grappled with the weight of Leo's accusations.
SLAP!
In an unexpected burst of authority, he struck Leo across the face, the sound reverberating through the hall like the tolling of a funeral bell.
"You dare speak like this in my house? Apologize! Now!" Lucas thundered, his voice laced with indignation, the shockwaves of his authority crashing against Leo's simmering rage.
Leo turned back slowly, rubbing the sting of the slap on his cheek, a smile creeping up that resembled a predator's grin—the delight in confronting his prey. He chuckled coldly, the sound devoid of warmth.
"So what if I don't? What will you do, old man?" he taunted, the words dripping with disdain that echoed in the hollowness of the grand hall.
Lucas's expression transformed into something more severe, the anger brewing like dark clouds before a storm. "Then get out of this house!"
To his shock, Leo nodded in agreement, affirming the challenge with unexpected ease.
"Fine. I'll leave," he said simply, the finality of his declaration reverberating through the grand chamber, sealing his fate with each syllable.
Sophia gasped, her breath catching in her throat. "Wait—Leo!" she cried out, a plea laced with desperation, but he was already heading toward his room, determined to pack and sever the ties that bound him to this place.
She followed, a surge of panic and remorse propelling her forward, but the look in his eyes—cold, distant, and resolute—made her stop in her tracks, paralyzed by the implications of his resolve.
A moment later, as Leo moved down the oppressive hallway, reminiscent of the tombs he felt he was walking through, he heard a familiar, childish voice echo like a nostalgic cry from a forgotten past.
"Stinky brother! Go get me some snacks! Or I'll ignore you forever!"
It was Zoe, the younger sister he had once cherished, her innocent laughter a mere remnant of a bond that had blossomed in the innocence of youth.
His rage, buried beneath layers of calm, surged forth again, a monstrous tide threatening to drown him in memories that had turned sour.
Without a word, Leo walked past her coldly, an icy wind that left her bewildered.
Zoe blinked, confusion written across her youthful features. She chased after him, her voice an insistent echo in the stillness of the corridor. "HEY! I'm talking to you, stupid!"
Before she could utter another word—
"SHUT UP, YOU BITCH!"
Leo's roar exploded forth, an eruption of demonic fury that sent chills cascading through everyone present.
Everyone—Lucas, Sophia, even Zoe—stood frozen in shock, paralyzed by the intensity of his rage. The very air trembled under the weight of his wrath, charged with an energy that throbbing like a heartbeat, palpable and menacing.
This was the girl Leo once adored, whose laughter had filled the halls with life.
Now, she stood trembling, her facade of innocence shattered, the childlike hope she had carried crumbling to dust beneath the weight of his words.
And Sophia… finally understood, the gravity of her choices settling in like lead.
It was all my fault…
Leo stood at the grand mansion gate, poised to board the carriage that symbolized his family's legacy, but Lucas barked, "This carriage is mine. If you want to leave—walk!"
He expected Leo to give in, to recant his words and fold under the pressure of familial bonds once again.
Sophia did too, holding her breath in anticipation, a disbelief settling in the pit of her stomach.
But Leo merely smirked, a wicked, defiant curvature of his lips that screamed rebellion.
Without a word, he tossed down his suitcase, stripping off the family heirloom ring that once held a promise, the elegant watch that Lucas had gifted him, and even the pendant Sophia had given him years ago—a token of affection now tainted by their betrayal.
All of it—cast away into the dirt as if it were worthless.
Finally, with a decisive motion, he shed his noble jacket, that façade of distinction that now felt like a shroud, and turned around to face them.
"No need. I'll pay back everything I ever owed you, Mr. Lucas."
The finality of the words stung like a bee's venom, acrid and painfully sweet.
He didn't even call him father anymore; the term had lost its meaning, turned to ashes on his tongue.
Lucas's fists clenched tightly, knuckles white against the strain of his inner turmoil, but he found himself speechless, nothing but silence filling the space where commands would have echoed.
Sophia dropped to her knees, tears flowing freely from her eyes, vivid and unrestrained, as if the dam of her emotions had broken, washing away any remnants of pride.
Zoe stood behind her, lips trembling in disbelief, a mere ghost of her former exuberance, now swallowed in uncertainty.
Leo didn't look back, determined in his decision—for this time, the path ahead was shrouded in darkness, yet it also shimmered with the promise of liberation.
This time, he would destroy everything that betrayed him—the family bonds that had twisted into shackles, the love that had curdled into contempt, and the trust that had become naught but a mirage leading to ruin.
---
DING!
"Congratulations to the Host for altering the original plot line."
"Reward: 5000 System Points and 1x Constitution-Strengthening Pill."
Leo paused in the middle of the dark road, the cold night air wrapping around him like a cloak of shadows, his eyes narrowing with a glacial intensity.
So it begins, he thought, a mixture of anticipation and vengeance bubbling beneath the surface like a cauldron simmering with dark ambitions.
---
Status Panel: Leo Aetherwind
Cultivation Realm: Mortal Root Realm (Peak)
Bloodline: Pure Aetherwind
Hidden Bloodline: Unknown (???)
Physique: Immortal Body [Locked]
System Points: 7500
Inventory:
- 1x Constitution-Strengthening Pill
- 3x Low-Grade Spirit Stones
- Shadow Movement Manual (Beginner Tier)
---
The details cascaded before him, each line of text igniting his imagination. With the haunting specter of betrayal as his fuel, he felt an insatiable hunger grow within him, a primal yearning to seize his destiny with hands unyielding.
The moon above cast a ghostly light upon the path ahead, illuminating the crossroads where he now stood—a precipice where reckoning met resilience. In that moment, Leo Aetherwind embraced the darkness swirling within, accepting it as not just an extension of himself but as a guiding force that would propel him to unimaginable heights.
The sweet taste of vengeance hung heavy in the air, intoxicating and inviting as he looked toward the sprawling landscape of the Aetherwind estate now fading into the night. It had been the cradle of his suffering, but now it would become the foundation of his resurgence.
With an indomitable spirit coursing through him, Leo stepped forward into the enveloping shadows, leaving behind the vestiges of a past that served only as a reminder of his former weakness. The cold wind howled in approval, echoing his resolve as the stars twinkled overhead like a shimmering constellation of warriors cheering him on—a silent army ready to follow him into battle against the world that had scorned him.
And as he walked deeper into the night, a single thought burned brightly in the forge of his heart:
This time, he would shape his destiny with the ferocity of a storm, a tempest unleashed upon the world, and nothing—absolutely nothing—would stand in the way of his vengeance.
To be continued…
(✧ω✧)
---