The ten great families of Ukraine_Europe.
The Valeborne family was once ranked third among them. But now, they were nothing more than a laughingstock_scapegoats, and a living reminder of why no one should ever trespass against a Monarch.
But all that was about to change.
It had been three days since the Valeborne family's trade routes were cleared of all threats, and ever since then, their daily income had tripled. News and rumors began to swirl that Mr. Unicorn might secretly be an ally of the Valebornes.
And now, it was time for the usual morning report from Vinicuis, but this time, he seemed… different.
He wore a bubbly expression, practically glowing with energy, and seemed unusually happy. Caelum was almost too nervous to ask why, but in the end, he had no choice.
"Vinicuis, what's the Valeborne GeneX stock market price today?" he asked rather awkwardly.
"I'm glad you asked, Lord Caelum!" Vinicuis beamed. "Since the past three days, our stock price has increased twofold, about £2,200 per stock," he stated excitedly.
"Not only that, but our sales have also doubled. I think we made good use of Bari Mulcaster's disappearance. Though…"_his voice suddenly dropped into one of concern_"…I'm a bit worried. The bandits haven't made any attacks as of late."
"Don't worry too much. We'll be okay," Caelum reassured him, tapping Vinicuis on the shoulder.
As Caelum turned to leave, he spotted one of his siblings walking down the hallway toward him.
His presence was proud and scornful–elegant in blood but disgraceful in bearing. He walked like a thug: utterly inelegant, yet undeniably handsome in a way Caelum couldn't help but hate. Behind him trailed his loyal butler, Victor Taurus.
It was none other than Theron Valeborne_Caelum's direct elder brother, and a merciless bully. His ability was sinister and terrifying. Because of this, the previous Caelum had no choice but to obey Theron like a caged animal.
But this was no longer the old Caelum.
This was Darius, reborn into Caelum's body. And he would never allow himself to be walked over again.
Tomp. Tomp.
Theron and his butler, Victor, stopped directly in front of Caelum and Anna.
"I heard you were finally given your coming-of-age mission, brother," Theron said with a mocking smile. "You might be kicked out of the family soon... for failure."
He snickered.
Then, Theron casually placed his left hand on Caelum's shoulder. "But don't worry too much. As your elder brother, I'll do my very best to assist you," he said, acting so kindly it could almost pass as genuine.
Almost.
Because in that very moment, the sheer pressure he applied to Caelum's shoulder was bone-shattering.
Pa!
Caelum had had enough.
He slapped Theron's hand off his shoulder with a single motion_sharp, direct, and so forceful that Theron's hand turned red and swollen instantly.
"Huh! You've built some nerve since the last time I saw you," Theron growled, his irritation flaring.
Then his eyes darted toward Anna, who stood quietly behind Caelum.
"So this old hag's the one teaching you bad manners," he sneered. "I'll have to correct her."
Without warning, he swung his fist violently toward Anna's face.
Pa!!
This time, Caelum didn't hold back.
He slapped Theron's arm mid-swing, nearly dislocating it with the raw power of the blow.
"Please refrain from harassing my maid," Caelum said coldly, his glare razor-sharp.
"Ugh! How dare you lay hands on my master!" Victor_Theron's butler, stepped forward, glaring daggers at Caelum.
"Ha... hahahaha," Theron burst into laughter, but not of joy.
It was the laughter of a man pushed to the edge, boiling with rage.
His kind facade twisted into something far more sinister_a seasoned murderer's glare.
"It seems you've forgotten your place, brother," he snarled. "Allow me to remind you."
The moment the words left his mouth, Theron activated his ability.
Immediately, several tiles from the marble floor tore themselves free and hovered in the air, before splitting into dozens of smaller, sharper shards.
"I'll take your eyes first," Theron declared.
The hovering tiles danced violently through the air, then launched forward.
But not at Caelum.
At Anna.
That's right, Theron targeted Anna, not his brother. Because deep down, Theron had always feared Caelum's super-duper strength. So, to assert his dominance, he would attack the person Caelum cared about instead.
In the Valeborne family, servants were forbidden from retaliating against their master, or against any other Lords or Ladies of the household. If they dared, they would be executed by the Patriarch himself: Lord Alaric.
But there were no rules stopping a Master from attacking their own servant. Physical violence, verbal abuse, manipulation, it was all permitted.
Thus, it was the servant Master's duty to protect their own.
Theron knew this. That's why he abused Anna, not Caelum. To make Caelum suffer emotionally, helplessly.
And in the past, the old Caelum would just stand there.
Do nothing.
And as for Anna–she accepted it.
She saw herself as nothing more than a tool for the Valeborne family. If she could bear the pain instead of her Master, then she would gladly be beaten again and again without hesitation.
But not today.
Enough!!
A powerful female voice rang out from behind them.
Instantly, Theron's ability vanished. The floating tiles dropped with sharp clacks to the marble floor, mere inches from Anna's feet.
It was none other than Selira Valeborne.
Her striking, authoritative appearance immediately made Theron pale with fear.
She walked with cold grace, accompanied by her ever-watchful maid, Domas.
Today she wore an overflowing_show lap yellow frilly gown. It was adorned with beautiful blue crystal pearls. She looked powerful yet-breathtaking.
"Theron. Caelum. You two shouldn't be fighting in this building," Selira scolded, her voice firm yet poised. "We have esteemed guests and important customers here."
Then her eyes narrowed.
"And as for you, Theron... the next time I even sense bloodlust from you…"
She stepped forward and whispered something into his ear.
Theron's face turned an unnatural shade of pale. Ugly with fear
He's hands also began trembling with overwhelming fear.
And so was the face of his butler_Victor behind him.
Tsk!
He clicked his tongue and stormed off, his butler trailing behind with a sinister look etched deep into his face.
Name: Theron Valeborne
Monarchical Sect: None
Ability: I Can Control Everything
Description: Telekinesis at a master level
Hobby: Chess
Whatever Selira had whispered to Theron, no one knew. But if it was enough to make him retreat with his pride crushed, it had to be something terrifying.
Selira then glanced over at Caelum, a cheeky, knowing smile playing on her lips before she turned and continued walking.
Caelum didn't fully understand why she would help him to this extent—but regardless, he and Anna still bowed respectfully as she departed.
As Anna and Caelum took the elevator down to the basement, a quiet resolution formed in his heart.
Something the old Caelum could never do.
Facing forward in the elevator, he spoke softly but firmly. "From now on, I won't let anyone hurt you. I won't let anyone precious to me suffer because of me." Then he turned and gave her a warm, heartfelt smile.
Unbeknownst to him, that simple smile caused something to stir in Anna's heart_something she never imagined she would feel for Caelum.
Admiration.
She had been Caelum's maid since he was two years old. For all those years, she had only ever seen herself as a tool, one of many servants bred to serve the Valeborne family without question.
But lately, she had sensed a shift in him. Caelum had begun to change–subtly but surely. There was now a quiet wisdom behind his words, a calm strength in his actions. He did things with purpose. And for the first time in years, her heart genuinely swelled with happiness.
Meanwhile, Selira Valeborne's reason for stepping in this time was different.
She had always known that Theron bullied Caelum, and she often intervened merely to save face for the family's weakest heir–the boy who only had a head for business.
But now… now things were different.
Caelum had revealed to her that he possessed dual abilities, something nearly unheard of in this era. She realized, in that moment, that he could've easily defeated Theron any day he chose.
So why hadn't he?
Why had he allowed himself to be walked on all this time? Why had he waited until now to show her his power? And more intriguingly_does Anna know? Has she been quietly playing along as part of some long plan?
So many questions flooded Selira's mind ever since Caelum had revealed his Thunder Force ability.
Basement Level – Valeborne GeneX Skyscraper
Caelum and Anna stood over a large velvet-covered table, gathering several shimmering, precious materials.
The Black Ore.
The rare and volatile material needed to forge the world-changing Static Rune.
Today, neither of them wore their unicorn masks. They had come only to craft.
"Trial 332," Anna announced, scribbling in her notebook.
It had now been a week since he and Selira had discovered the hidden Black Ore cave. Since then, he had been tirelessly trying to refine the ore by infusing it with his Monarch's Aura, but the task had proven immensely difficult.
Now, he understood why the previous Caelum had given up.
But this Caelum was determined to succeed.
He grabbed a piece of Black Ore from the table, holding it tightly in his right hand as he channeled the second stage of his Thunder Force into it.
Yellow lightning–this was the evolved form of his Thunder Force. He couldn't maintain it for more than five minutes in this new body, but using it like this pushed his limits and trained his control.
Zap!
Thunder cracked around the ore, causing it to glow fiercely_until, moments later, the Black Ore split in half, cracked down the middle.
Shit.
"Still too high," Caelum sighed, and Anna calmly noted the result.
"Trial 333," she said without skipping a beat.
"When I use the first stage of Thunder Force–blue lightning–it's too weak to penetrate the ore. But when I use the second stage_yellow lightning–it destroys the ore because the voltage is too high," Caelum muttered to himself, eyes narrowing as he reached for another sample.
"I'm running out of time. I have to refine this ore soon," his thoughts urged with growing pressure.
Then an idea struck him.
"What if the ore breaks not because the voltage is too high… but because it's too fast? What if I tried infusing it more slowly, letting the ore absorb the energy gradually, storing and amplifying it on its own?"
Excitement flickered in his chest.
Caelum summoned yellow lightning again, allowing it to crackle around his palm. This time, he slowly forced it into the Black Ore.
The ore reacted, glowing faintly, but nothing significant occurred.
Still too little.
Then Caelum added a faint stream of blue lightning, intertwining it with the yellow in a delicate balance.
The two merged into a stunning blue-yellow current, which seeped slowly and smoothly into the ore.
For two entire minutes, the lightning penetrated the material, until suddenly, the ore cut off the flow by itself.
Caelum's eyes widened in shock.
"T-the ore didn't break… and it's glowing!"
A jolt of joy surged through him. He leaned closer and saw that the Black Ore had transformed—its surface now a brilliant cyan color, radiating a faint blue aura.
"T-this… it worked!" he breathed, overwhelmed.
He had done it.
Despite the toll of using two different stages of Thunder Force back-to-back, he had succeeded.
In his hand, he held the first-ever Static Rune.
The future it could shape, its power, its innovation–thrilled him to his core. Anna stood silently beside him, staring at the glowing rune, a flicker of admiration and awe dancing in her eyes.
This would change everything.
This... would be thrilling.