The man's words made Rey's thoughts freeze mid-turn, as if his mind had slammed into a wall.
"Now that the hindrance is gone," the man said calmly,
"I suppose I should introduce myself."
His gaze never wavered.
"I am Veylen Shadowthrone. The one who pulled you into this grand play of destiny. A play that will one day devour you, just like it devoured every other member of my family."
The sentence landed like a death verdict.
Rey felt it.
A certainty.
A future already sealed.
"But—"
The pause crushed his chest.
Rey couldn't hold it in anymore.
"But what?" he snapped. "If your Shadowthrone family is doomed no matter what, then why do you keep dragging more people into it? Why not try to break the curse yourselves instead of pushing it onto the next one?"
His voice rose without him realising.
"You all just think, 'Maybe the next one will fix it.' That's it, isn't it? Passing the burden forward like cowards."
The moment the words left his mouth, regret followed.
This was a being Aiden couldn't even touch.
And Rey had just challenged him.
"Hoh…"
Veylen sighed.
With a lazy flick of his finger, everything beside him vanished.
The space warped.
Fear punched straight into Rey's spine.
Veylen stood up.
And walked toward him.
Rey stumbled back, legs failing, until his back slammed against the wall. He slid down, breath ragged, eyes wide.
"Listen carefully, kid," Veylen said.
"Our family history predates the formation of the superclusters themselves."
His voice was flat. Absolute.
"When all living beings were born, our ancestor was among the first. He was the first to hold the Law of
Rey's pupils trembled.
"A law above all others. A law that devours origins themselves."
Veylen's eyes glinted faintly.
"Our doom is not fate. It is balance. The universe refuses to allow one being to rule over all."
He smiled faintly.
"We were cursed for being too close to perfection."
Rey's heart pounded.
"Even the so-called True Gods at the center of the superclusters are nothing but pebbles to us."
The words crushed him.
Then Veylen's gaze sharpened.
"But here lies the mistake."
His eyes locked onto Rey.
"You."
Rey flinched.
"You are not even comparable to an ordinary genius, yet you became the Shadowthrone of a new era."
Each word stabbed.
"A surprise to every soul watching from beyond."
Rey clenched his fists, shaking.
"Then why?" he shouted. "If I'm trash, why choose me? Don't tell me the Shadowthrone couldn't even find a genius!"
Veylen's expression turned cold.
"Be grateful you're alive."
His voice dropped.
"If you weren't a potential variable, I would have destroyed your body and imprisoned your soul until you begged for annihilation."
Rey shrank into himself, terror flooding his bones.
"Good," Veylen said. "Now listen."
"Talent matters. Genius matters. But the true requirement to join Shadowthrone is affinity."
He raised a finger.
"One being across all clusters. One qualification."
"Ultima-grade affinity."
He paused, then scoffed.
"98% minimum."
Rey's heart thumped.
But—
"You don't even have a tenth of that."
Silence fell.
"You possess 7.2% Darkness affinity."
Rey felt something inside him collapse.
"But," Veylen continued, eyes narrowing, "even that isn't the worst part."
Rey looked up weakly.
"Fire: 4%. Water: 8%. Wind: 11.3%. Earth: 2%."
Veylen shrugged.
"No higher elements. No hidden traits. Nothing."
His tone turned almost amused.
"It's as if heaven created you in a foul mood."
Rey's vision blurred.
"So why?" he whispered. "Why me?"
Victor's voice suddenly cut through the pressure.
"Oi. Aren't you running your mouth a bit too much, old fool?"
Victor stepped forward, fury blazing. Aiden stood behind him.
Veylen glanced at them.
"Did I lie?" he asked calmly. "You relics are far more valuable than this host."
Victor's jaw tightened.
"Even if he's trash," Victor snapped, "you don't get to belittle our host."
Aiden crossed his arms.
"Luck is still a stat," he added flatly.
Rey felt even worse.
Veylen sighed.
"You cling to a vessel not worth mentioning."
Then his gaze shifted.
"But there is one thing interesting here."
His eyes moved past Rey.
Toward Zero.
"A being from outside. A relic living within."
Zero stiffened.
Veylen smiled faintly.
"You'll show your value soon."
Then his eyes returned to Rey.
"And now," he said quietly,
"The real reason you were chosen."
Rey held his breath.
"You possess—"