NOVPUB"…you're simply worthless and you belong nowhere but my feet—"
Julius' words froze in his throat. His eyes narrowed. That same sensation had just gripped him again.
A sensation he'd felt before. One he hated with every fiber of his being. He looked down, his hands were shaking.
'Not again.'
He clenched his teeth, lifting his gaze to the one he instinctively knew was the cause, Malakai.
His entire aura had shifted, as though a switch had flipped. Killing intent bled from him, so thick it made Julius's skin crawl. He looked like a beast on the brink of mauling its prey.
'He's angry.'
Julius narrowed his eyes… then realization struck him like lightning, widening them instantly.
His lips curled into a slow, twisted grin.
"Well, look who still has a soft spot for those worthless fools," Julius said, watching closely as Malakai's eyes flickered.
He laughed, loud, as if he'd just unearthed a treasure.
"Oh, now I get it. The lowest of the low really did find each other in this dome," he continued, placing a hand on his chin like he was pondering something profound. "Two pathetic failures coming together to birth an even bigger disappointment." 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
He smirked.
"And when they saw what they created… they offed themselves, didn't they? Left you to rot in this world. Alone. Because even they knew just how much of a failure you were."
'That should do the trick.'
Excitement bloomed in his chest as the temperature began to plummet. Malakai's killing intent had grown manifold, suffocating.
But Julius didn't care. Not one bit.
He had planned everything. Malakai was going to die here, no matter what miracle he pulled.
But before that… Julius wanted to watch him crack.
He subtly reached into the small sack on his waist, gripping tightly onto an object hidden inside. Then, he waited, eager, for the moment Malakai snapped.
But just when it felt like the dam was about to burst, something changed.
The cold in the air started to wane. The storm calmed.
Julius's grin faded slightly.
'What's going on?'
The killing intent was still there, but something was… off. Malakai had been ready to erupt, but now, he was still.
While Julius tried to figure this out, in Malakai's mind, only one thing echoed, the Sanguine Creed.
He repeated its verse, letting the words ground him. The rage hadn't disappeared, but he reined it in. He'd prepared himself for this.
He could take insults to himself. But words about his parents… they were always his trigger.
It was a weakness he had discovered on his first day at the clan's training camp.
He couldn't afford to lose control every time someone dragged their names through the dirt. And right now, he was using Julius… to help him control his emotions.
He wanted nothing but to remov the bastard's head. But he didn't. Not yet, at least.
Still, that didn't mean he was letting it slide.
"You're pathetic."
"W-what…?"
Julius blinked, confused for a second, but Malakai continued.
"You talk like you're something, but you're just a sad little boy, screaming for a father who will never look your way. You dominate others just to feel relevant. Just to convince yourself that you're not as insignificant as you really are."
Malakai tilted his head slightly.
"He will never love you. You'll never matter. You'll keep clawing for attention, keep pretending you're something great, but in the end, you'll die as the insignificant fool you are. Just a bitter stain the world can't wait to wash away."
The words hit like daggers.
At this point, Julius' face had twisted into pure rage. His teeth clenched tightly, his whole body trembling.
'I'll kill this bastard… I'll fucking kill him!'
There was only one thing that had kept him in place all this while, and after a second, that condition had just been met.
In the sky, multiple flares ignited, each shooting from different directions but seemingly coming from near their location.
Julius saw it, and his lips twisted into a feral grin.
'Finally.'
He crushed the object in his hand, and without hesitation, launched forward like a missile, excitement filling his chest.
He had fantasized about this moment, about the different ways to kill Malakai.
His neck. His eyes. His heart.
So many choices. But he had to unfortunately pick just one.
He went for the neck.
Hardened blood coiled around his fingers as he thrust them forward, the air splitting from the force behind it.
His smile widened. And just as he raised up his eyes to meet Malakai's gaze, they narrowed.
He had expected to see a dread filled expression. But Malakai wasn't even panicking. He didn't even look surprised.
His eyes were dead calm.
'W-what!?' Julius' felt his heart racing.
Before he could react, Malakai vanished, his hand pierced through nothing but empty air.
In the next second, a massive fist filled his vision.
Boom.
The punch crashed into his mouth with force. His head snapped back, his body flying like a ragdoll before slamming into a tree with a thunderous crack.
…
Crack!
The sound echoed across the utterly silent hall.
Several Highbloods turned their shocked gazes toward the source, only to see Varnel staring at the screen as though he had just witnessed the most absurd thing in his life.
The sound had come from the armrest of his throne, which he had gripped so tightly that it cracked under the pressure.
No one needed to be told why.
They had all just seen it. On one of the main screens, a scene played that sent shockwaves through everyone present.
The eighth vein had attacked the ninth, and the latter had landed a clean hit, sending the supposed genius flying.
In that moment, a single thought echoed in all their minds.
So the rumors were true.
Varnel had dismissed it as a fluke. They had all been forced to agree, unable to imagine Malakai truly defeating someone like Julius.
But now… this one exchange had shattered that illusion.
Malakai had beaten Julius.
And if that was the case, then the implications… oh, the implications.
Thoughts raced through their minds like wildfire. If the ninth vein could overpower the eighth, especially after evolving just three months ago, then his standing, both within the clan and across the entire region, would soar to new heights.
It would mean his talent was… unfathomable.
The Sovereign's interest in him would spike. No one would be able to touch him.
He'd be left to grow, and if he continued at this rate…
Many of them couldn't help but think of Valerian, the one who, despite his young age, held dominion over all in the clan. Would history repeat itself?
They shuddered at the thought.
