The room they locked her in was buried deep beneath the Valen estate—no sunlight, no warmth, and no exit except through a single guarded door. The only sound came from the occasional drip of water from the ceiling onto the stone floor. Serena had grown used to the dark by now. After all… wasn't darkness her element?
But even her resilience was wearing thin.
Her injuries had begun to ache worse. The suppressing cuffs dulled not just her energy but her senses. And yet, through the haze of discomfort and bitterness, the system spoke again.
> [New Mission Available] Objective: Escape confinement before custody transfer. Reward: +1 Combat Skill, +20 Silent Core Points, Partial Darkness Technique Unlock. Penalty: System Lockout for 30 days.
Her eyes widened.
So they were going to hand her over.
> [Estimated Time Until Transfer: 3 Days] [Suggestion: Begin preparations.]
But how? She could barely move without the cuffs suppressing her energy.
"Think," she whispered. "There's always a way out."
---
Above her, the plotting had begun.
Inside the Ravenhart estate, Lord Aldric Ravenhart spoke with a man whose presence commanded absolute silence—an envoy from House Vaelcrest, clad in flowing gold and obsidian robes, with an emblem shaped like a coiled wyvern etched onto his breastplate.
"She is confirmed to possess darkness," Lord Aldric reported. "And she is unstable. It's only a matter of time before the Valens lose control of her."
"And her cultivation stage?"
"Essence Vein Stage 4, but progressing. Far too fast for someone without… assistance."
The Vaelcrest envoy's eyes sharpened. "Then she is marked. Our house has no interest in hosting potential calamities."
"Should we apply pressure?"
"You will not need to," the envoy said coldly. "We will visit the Valens ourselves. If they do not comply, then they will face extermination."
---
In House Valen's inner courtyard, Alina sat beside a woman in pale blue robes—Verena Kaelthorn, the daughter of House Kaelthorn, one of the mid-tier families that had once aligned with the Valens. She was graceful and cold, with sharp silver eyes that missed nothing.
"I saw your match," Verena said, sipping tea. "You were robbed."
"I was," Alina replied stiffly. "And now… she's the center of everything."
Verena smirked. "Then take everything back."
Alina turned toward her.
"You want her gone. I want House Valen to fall. Let's not pretend there isn't a solution."
Alina's fingers tightened around her cup.
---
Later that night, hidden deep within the Ravenhart war room, Celeste Arvendale stood before a map of Valeria. Her finger circled House Valen's lands.
"Once they give her up, they'll be exposed. We will demand full control of their mines and restrict their use of trade routes. They'll become a puppet family by winter."
"And if they refuse?"
She smiled. "Then we kill her en route and pin it on a rogue beast attack."
---
But fate had other plans.
Two days later, as the golden airships of House Vaelcrest descended upon Valen skies, Serena's system pulsed violently.
> [Emergency Trigger: Custody Transfer Imminent.] [Skill Unlocked: Shadowpulse Evasion – Rank: Unrated (One-Time Use)] [Warning: Use will break restraints for 5 seconds. Plan your movement carefully.]
And so, when the guards came for her, she waited—silent, patient, calm.
As they loaded her onto the flying beast carrier bound for the Vaelcrest estate, Serena sat like a lamb in chains.
Until the moment the beast soared above the Duskriver Gorge—a legendary ravine known for swallowing travelers whole.
That was when she moved.
Her body surged with a pulse of raw shadow. The cuffs shattered. The guards gasped.
And Serena dove.
Off the side of the flying beast.
Into the dark, winding river below.
Into freedom—or death.