Elena stood near the glass balcony, the soft morning light brushing her face with gentle warmth, a radiant embrace from the heavens themselves. Yet, her expression held a quiet storm—a turbulent sea of thoughts and emotions swirling beneath a calm façade. She had been attempting to remain composed ever since receiving Lucas' latest message, a mere blip of indifference that had insidiously chipped away at her tranquility.
His attitude—so casual, so dismissive—gnawed at her from the inside, a slow poison that threatened to spoil the fragile peace she had managed to cultivate in her heart.
Her fingers unconsciously drifted to the silver chain around her neck, a tactile reminder of love lost and found, her lifeline to a past that felt both distant and achingly close. Hanging delicately at the end of it was a small, heart-shaped locket, its weight a steady balm against the turmoil in her chest.
With a soft click, she opened it, revealing the photo she had kept hidden from the world—a cherished snapshot of the happiest moment of her life. Inside lay a picture of herself smiling alongside a much younger Leo, his small hands wrapped around her neck with innocent affection, his cheek pressed lovingly against hers in a moment of pure, unadulterated joy.
A genuine smile tugged at her lips as warmth flooded through her, swelling like the tide lapping at the shore.
From the corner of the room, her assistant—who had quietly observed Elena's many moods and fluctuations over the years—spoke gently, as if hesitant to disrupt the fragile serenity. "Ma'am, you smiled... it's been a while. You should do that more often," he remarked, a glimmer of hope flickering in his gaze.
Elena closed the locket slowly, allowing the warmth of memories to carry her for just a moment longer before reality seeped back in, cold and unyielding. She chose her words carefully as she replied, "With Leo by my side, I think I will."
The thought brought a serene confidence back to her, her mind wandering briefly to that unforgettable moment on her birthday years ago.
Little Leo had rushed into her room, excitement emanating from him like a bright sunburst, a handmade box cradled in his small hands. "Happy Birthday, Mama!" he had shouted, holding up the locket like it was the most precious treasure in the world.
Since then, she had never taken it off. It had become her talisman, her shield against the shadows that threatened to obscure her light.
But just as quickly, her expression hardened again. Lucas's face merged with the memories, a bitter reminder of the fracture their family had endured.
"I won't give up on Leo this time," she stated, her voice steady, resolute like the ancient trees that had withstood countless storms.
With determination, she picked up her phone and messaged Leo: I might need to be away for a few days. Business.
The reply arrived promptly, a beacon of warmth amidst the cold uncertainty.
Leo: Safe travels. Remember to take care of yourself.
Elena paused, a soft glow spreading through her chest again at his words. He still cared. That knowledge alone was enough to fortify her spirit against the brewing chaos.
---
Leo, on the other hand, found himself in the middle of a well-deserved short break.
After hours of relentless self-discipline and nonstop cultivation, even his Immortal Body needed a moment to relax and recuperate.
He sat in the quiet study room, a steaming cup of tea resting on the polished table before him. Slowly, sip by sip, he savored the fragrant brew, the gentle bitterness washing across his palate and soothing his nerves, calming the storm that had brewed within him.
The delicate aroma swirled in the air, entwining itself with his thoughts as he took the opportunity to review the latest reports from the ever-loyal Shadow Force.
Alex's movements were being shadowed with a precision that filled Leo with satisfaction and a hint of schadenfreude.
He smirked to himself. "Our beloved protagonist, always blessed by the heavens. But now, every step you take—every resource you touch—will be mine."
As if in response to his thoughts, a loud ding echoed in his mind, breaking through the stillness like a herald announcing his growing influence.
Ding! [You have earned 500 points for intercepting an opportunity.]
Ding! [You have earned 1000 points for resource plunder.]
Ding! [Total Points: +2500]
Leo sighed, feeling a sense of vindication wash over him. "System, mute notifications for now. You're ruining the mood," he ordered, a playful irritation creeping into his tone.
[Understood. Notification sounds disabled.]
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the status panel. But even in silence, his heart was light, buoyed by the cumulative total of 5000 points accrued, each one a stepping stone toward reclamation.
He hadn't lifted a finger, after all; all he had done was lay a net—and like hapless prey, the ambitions of his rival had fallen effortlessly into it.
Feeling a surge of proactive energy, he immediately dispatched orders to the Shadow Force.
"Don't just follow Alex," he commanded, voice firm with authority, "Stockpile the resources he loses.
We'll use them for training and development. Make sure no resource is wasted."
The ten Starforged members and the two Dominion Realm guards nodded in unison, resolute determination reflecting in their eyes.
"As you command, Young Master," they pledged, loyalty evident in their expressions.
Leo's orders were treated as law, but what truly warmed the hearts of his followers wasn't merely his strength or foresight—it was his care that distinguished him from others. Distributing the harvested resources to them rather than hoarding them for himself spoke volumes; it meant something deeper, something that fostered trust and connectivity.
"Our master truly values us," one of the Starforged warriors whispered, a flicker of pride igniting in his chest as he regarded Leo with renewed admiration.
Back in the study, Leo chuckled softly to himself, a sound filled with both mirth and cunning.
The best way to build loyalty is to give them a stake in your success—the notion settled warmly in his heart, a truth that promised unwavering allegiance and a united front as they faced the looming challenges ahead.
With that thought in mind, he leaned back against the plush chair, eyes closed, a satisfied smirk gracing his lips.
Alex, wherever you walk, heaven might still smile on you—but I'll be the shadow behind you, turning your luck into my fortune.
---
Meanwhile, far away within the opulent confines of the Skydawn manor, Lucas sat enveloped in a sea of his own thoughts, staring unblinkingly at the message displayed on his phone.
Elena had made it abundantly clear: he was not to contact Leo without her express permission.
Her exact words echoed mercilessly in his head, a relentless repetition that rendered him powerless: "He's my son. Don't forget that, Lucas."
He wanted to argue. Wanted to counter her claims, insist on his role as a father. But the fire that had once burned brightly in his chest had dimmed, leaving only the ashes of resentment and regret.
Sophia stood nearby, her demeanor reflective of her internal strife as she asked hesitantly, "Father, should I go bring Leo back? It was my fault after all..."
"No. Let him be," Lucas replied, his voice lacking its usual strength, hollow and defeated.
For the first time since Leo's departure, the realization crashed upon him like a wave; Leo had grown beyond his reach, a truth that struck hard against his heart, forcing him to confront the rift that had distanced them.
---
Back on Leo's end, the sky began to darken as dusk crept in, shadows lengthening and weaving across the landscape like the fingers of night ready to drape their veil over the world. He stood by the window, the cool breeze brushing against his skin like a soothing balm, grounding him in the moment as twilight deepened to purple hues outside.
His phone buzzed insistently, breaking through the pervasive ambiance of twilight. A report from the Shadow Force blipped across the screen.
Target has entered the eastern market district. Spotted negotiating a trade with guild merchants.
A smile of satisfaction spread across Leo's face, mirroring the growing turbulence within him that thrummed with anticipation.
"That's it, Alex. Just keep chasing your fate," he murmured, a quiet confidence wrapping around his words. "I'll be the one rewriting it."
In that moment, he felt the weight of potential pressing against him—each victory, each loss of Alex, a stepping stone toward acquiring more power. The winds of fortune were shifting, and Leo intended to command them.
As the dusk deepened, he returned to his cultivation, focusing on harnessing the Nature Vein Overdrive technique, the ambient energy in the room shifting to accommodate his desires, swirling with expectancy. Each breath became a thread weaving him closer to the fabric of the universe, harmonizing with the innate power that surrounded him.
Leo's mind was a whirlwind of strategies and plans as he prepared to take the next step forward into the night, convinced that from the mists of fate, he could carve out his destiny.
As he sank deeper into his cultivation, ruling the shadows around him through determination and skill, he understood that he was no longer merely a son seeking recognition—he was a force to be reckoned with, a tempest ready to unleash its fury.
---
To be continued…
(✧ω✧)
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