The Shadow Patriarch's Rebirth: Cast Aside as the Weakest, I Returned to Rule the World
Chapter Seventeen — Bloodline Unsealed
Location:
House Valerius — Hall of Oaths & Blood
Time: The following night
Scene 1: The Accusation
The Hall of Oaths burned with crimson light.
Ancient runes formed a circle.
Kael and Darius stood within it.
Elders surrounded them.
Duke Magnus raised his hand.
Magnus: "By Valerius law… speak the truth."
The runes flared.
Kael laughed nervously.
Kael: "This is unnecessary."
The runes pulsed.
Kael screamed.
Kael: "I—We only… adjusted him!"
Darius clenched his jaw.
Darius: "…We sealed his core."
Gasps echoed.
Lyra covered her mouth.
Scene 2: The Crime Revealed
An elder stepped forward.
Elder: "The method?"
Darius spoke flatly.
Darius: "Bloodline suppression using void needles."
Darius: "Permanent… unless reversed."
Magnus's aura exploded.
The hall shook.
Magnus: "You crippled your own brother."
Kael collapsed to his knees.
Scene 3: Punishment
Magnus's voice was cold steel.
Magnus: "Kael Valerius."
Magnus: "You are stripped of succession."
Magnus: "Exiled."
Kael screamed.
Kael: "Father!"
Magnus turned to Darius.
Magnus: "Darius Valerius."
A pause.
Magnus: "House arrest. Bloodline shackles."
Darius bowed silently.
Scene 4: The Unsealing
Location: Blood Chamber
Celsius lay within the circle.
Lyra held his hand.
Magnus placed his palm over Celsius' chest.
Magnus: "This will hurt."
Celsius nodded.
Celsius: "I know pain."
The runes activated.
Cracks formed in the unseen seal.
Celsius screamed.
Shadow and sword aura collided.
Light erupted.
Scene 5: Awakening
The Shadow Vein flared—then stabilized.
A new aura ignited.
Silver-black.
Balanced.
The Patriarch's Sword rang from afar.
Elder (awe): "Dual authority…"
Celsius gasped.
Celsius: "So this was mine…"
Scene 6: Father's Regret
Magnus knelt.
A patriarch kneeling before his son.
Magnus: "Forgive me."
Lyra wept openly.
Celsius closed his eyes.
Celsius: "…Stand up, Father."
Magnus did.
Scene 7: The God Watches
Location: Inner Void
Eridiaries smiled.
Eridiaries: "Now you resemble him."
Celsius's voice was calm.
Celsius: "No."
Celsius: "I'll surpass him."
The god laughed softly.