Evolution of the Ruined Heir

‘Now to business.’

He exhaled and cleared his mind, his expression turning serious.

Turning slightly, he saw Valentine watching him with a sad expression, clearly unhappy that the smile he wore earlier was now gone.

“It’s time to get back to the pressing matters. I’d like your thoughts on a few things,” Malakai said.

Valentine sighed and floated closer, nodding.

First and foremost, Malakai decided to address the most confusing matter.

The Sovereign.

“Why do you think he helped me?” Malakai asked.

He had a few assumptions of his own, but nothing concrete. Still, he wanted to hear Valentine’s thoughts. The man had been right about Varnel once, there was no harm in trying again.

“Honestly, I can’t say for sure. Just looking at that man frightens me. I can’t even tell what he’s thinking,” Valentine replied.

“Understandable,” Malakai nodded.

Most couldn’t even look the Sovereign in the eye. The weight of his gaze alone could drive someone mad.

Even the Pulses found it impossible to discern his thoughts. Everyone walked on eggshells around him, using only his past actions to guess what might be acceptable.

“But if everything you’ve said about him is accurate, then maybe this is his own way of showing support? After what you did today, I think it’s obvious to everyone that you’re extremely talented.”

Malakai fell silent. He had thought of that too. But something still bugged him.

“That makes sense… but he helped me lie in front of everyone. Which means he knows I’m hiding something.”

“Yeah, that part’s pretty confusing,” Valentine admitted. “It’s strange he’s not trying to find out what it is.”

“Is it possible he already knows?” Malakai muttered. He couldn’t begin to fathom the perception of a Zenith.

It wasn’t impossible that the Sovereign had already seen the truth… seen the life essence within him.

“I thought so too,” Valentine said. “But even if he could sense the essence in your body, there’s no telling what it actually is.”

Malakai nodded slowly. ‘How should I proceed?’

That was the real issue. If the Sovereign was suspicious, Malakai would be a fool to assume his support meant he was on his side.

‘I can’t trust him.’

But even so, there was nothing he could do. Not now, at least.

“I think it’s best we conclude that he’s interested in you because of your talent. So for now, I’d say keep showing it. Prove you’re an asset to the clan.”

“So… basically keep doing what I’ve been doing,” Malakai said with a frown, though he nodded. It was all he could do for now.

“What about that new mentor of yours?” Valentine asked.

“Rhett? What about him?”

“I can tell you don’t trust him. How do you plan to move forward with that?”

Malakai went quiet for a moment before replying.

“From what I’ve seen, he knew my father. I suspect he was one of his faction members back when he was alive.”

“Oh…” Valentine mouthed and fell silent. He knew how Malakai got when it came to his parents. The last thing he wanted was to say the wrong thing.

“Yeah,” Malakai muttered, then added, “The truth is, I don’t trust him. I don’t trust anyone. Maybe he was loyal to my father once, but it’d be naive to think he still is.”

Even as he said that, Malakai couldn’t ignore how Rhett had stepped in to defend him against Drennos and Varnel.

‘It could be a trick.’

That had become Malakai’s motto, question everything. Everyone. There was always more than what was shown.

‘They could’ve orchestrated the whole thing. Had Rhett defend me just to earn my trust and get close.’

But that wasn’t the reason Malakai had chosen him. Not even close.

It was the symbol Rhett had shown on his chest, the same sign his father always used before heading into battle.

Only someone close to him would know that. Valerian never displayed that sign in public.

“So what’s the plan?” Valentine asked.

Malakai thought for a moment.

“While I can’t trust him… if he was close to my father, I want to see if he knows anything about his death.”

Valentine fell silent again, then gave a small nod. There was no swaying Malakai from his revenge. Every step he took was built around it.

Before they could move to the next topic, Malakai decided to check his changes first.

‘Manifest.’

A glowing panel appeared in front of his eyes.

…

“Who was that man?”

At the question, a response came instantly.

“His name is Rhett Sanguine, First Pulse. Lost his family some years back and has been a drunken womanizer ever since. He was considered second-in-command to the former Sixth Pulse when he was alive, but now he’s joined the Sovereign’s faction after the his death. He’s considered a wild card by the other captains and isn’t taken seriously by anyone.”

A deep frown appeared on Drennos’ face.

He was currently airborne, seated inside a carriage headed back toward his city. In front of him sat a woman clad in a bright red maid uniform, one that signified the servants to the Pulses. She was Nia, his subordinate.

“He was Valerian’s second-in-command? I’ve never seen him before.”

“Yes, First Pulse. It was never made official, and he rarely interfered in the faction’s affairs. But multiple former members confirmed that they were inseparable.”

Drennos’ frown deepened. “How annoying.”

He tapped his finger against his temple, resting his head on it.

His mind replayed the image of Rhett standing there, challenging two Pulses just to defend Malakai.

‘People like him are… difficult.’

The fact that he had done that meant only one thing: the man’s loyalty hadn’t wavered. He was still trying to protect Malakai.

‘Another bloom on his side.’

Things were spiraling out of control. First, it was the Red Eclipse. Now… Rhett.

A synergy stage evolver could be managed. But a Bloom…

That was Drennos’ true concern. Killing a synergy stage evolver would birth a grade three darkness creature. A single Bloom was enough to deal with that.

However, killing a Bloom… would birth a calamity.

Entire cities could be reduced to rubble if things went wrong.

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