Chapter 7 Chapter 7
The Beginning of My Revenge
My heart nearly stopped.The system notification floated before my eyes while blue light flickered inside my consciousness.
[New Main Quest Activated.] [Activate Phoenix Eyes.]
[Activate Cheetah Speed.] [Reward: Unknown.]
[Failure: Death.] I stared at the glowing screen.
Phoenix Eyes? Cheetah Speed? These were completely new abilities. The system had never offered them before.
After everything that happened with Lucian Veyl and the Eclipse Order, it seemed the system finally recognized that my enemies were becoming more dangerous.
I mentally selected Accept, Immediately. BOOM! A violent wave of energy exploded inside my body. Pain shot through every muscle while making my vision blurred.
Then everything suddenly changed, my eyes burned instantly A strange golden flame appeared within my pupils.
My inner eyes suddenly became clearer. I could see tiny mana particles floating through the air.
I could see hidden enchantments carved into the walls.I could even sense magical signatures left behind by people who had walked through the room hours earlier.
My breathing became heavier. Then another notification appeared.
[Phoenix Eyes Successfully Activated.] [Ability: Mana Vision.]
[Ability: Truth Detection.] [Ability: Enhanced Awareness.]
Before I could fully process it, another wave of power surged through my body, making my muscles suddenly tightened.
[Congratulations.] [Cheetah Speed Activated.] [Cheetah Speed: Beginner Rank.]
Then footsteps approached. I looked up and it was Lucas Ashford. His face looked unusually calm. That alone immediately made me suspicious. Lucas never approached me peacefully.
Never. Yet he walked toward me carrying a silver tray. On it sat a crystal glass filled with dark red liquid.
He smiled. "Rowan." My eyes narrowed. "What do you want?"
Lucas sighed dramatically. "After everything that happened today..." He held out the drink. "You must be exhausted."
I remained silent. Lucas forced a smile. "Take it."
The system instantly flashed.
[WARNING.] [Poison Detected.]B[Outcome: Death.] My heart turned cold.
Poison. Of course. I should have expected this.
The funny thing was that Lucas actually looked sincere.
Anyone watching would believe he was trying to make peace. Meanwhile he was trying to murder me.
The system flashed again. [Phoenix Body Passive Activated.]
[Poison Resistance Increased.] Interesting. Very interesting.
I accepted the glass. Lucas' eyes brightened slightly. I almost laughed.
I raised the drink. Then swallowed everything.
The poison entered my body immediately. I felt it. A deadly substance moving through my bloodstream.
Then golden flames erupted within my mana veins. The poison was instantly burned away and destroyed completely.
Yet I allowed my body to fall. CRASH! I collapsed onto the floor.
Lucas froze. Then his face transformed. The fake kindness disappeared.
The mask shattered with pure hatred appearing, Finally His real face. A twisted grin spread across his lips.
"Yes." His voice trembled from excitement. "Finally." I kept my eyes closed pretending. Lucas crouched beside me. His smile widened.
"That's what you deserve." His breathing grew heavier.
"You think you can take my place?" "You think you can embarrass me in front of the entire academy?"
His voice became darker. "You were supposed to stay weak."
"You were supposed to stay broken." A tear rolled down my cheek. But because I suddenly understood something.
The original Rowan, the real Rowan, This was what he endured.
Every day, While trapped inside a crippled body and being mocked and humiliated.
My chest tightened. The old Rowan had lived through hell. And nobody helped him.
Lucas laughed. "You should've died years ago." Then another voice entered the room.
Cedric Ashford. The family head. The man responsible for everything.
I remained motionless, while listening Cedric stopped beside my body.
For several seconds he said nothing. Then he sighed.
"So it finally ends." Lucas laughed. "Dad, he's dead. Cedric looked down at me.
His eyes remained cold. No sadness and no regret.
Nothing. Then he spoke. Words that changed everything. "You know, Rowan..."
"I never expected your father to become such a problem."
My heartbeat slowed. Father? Cedric continued.
"Your father was talented." "Too talented." Lucas listened silently.
Cedric's eyes darkened. "He wanted to surpass me." "He wanted power."
"He wanted influence." "He wanted the position of family head." A cold smile appeared.N"So I killed him."
My entire body went rigid. What? Cedric continued casually.
"As for you..." He laughed softly. "Your mana veins weren't damaged naturally."
"I destroyed them." My mind exploded. The original Rowan. He wasn't born crippled.
Cedric did it. Everything, every year of suffering and humiliation, because of this man. Lucas laughed loudly. "So that's the truth?"
Cedric nodded. "I made sure Rowan would never become a threat."
"But somehow..." His eyes narrowed. "You survived."
I wanted to kill him. Right now. At this very moment. I wanted to rip his throat out.
But I forced myself to remain still.Cedric turned away.
"Throw him into the Shadowfang Forest." Lucas grinned.
"The wolves will finish what's left." The servants hesitated. Then obeyed.
Minutes later my body was dragged away. Nobody suspected I was conscious. Nobody suspected the poison had failed.
And nobody realized their greatest mistake. They believed I was dead.
Night covered the forest. The servants dumped my body beside an old pathway. Then left immediately looking terrified.
The moment they disappeared, I opened my eyes. The system appeared.
[Danger Detected.] [Multiple Shadowfang Wolves Approaching.]
I slowly stood. Growls sounded so loud through the darkness.
Red eyes appeared between the trees. One, Five, Ten, Twenty.
My expression hardened. The same creatures that nearly killed me before.
But this time was different. I wasn't the same Rowan. The largest wolf stepped forward.
Its crimson eyes glowed with Its massive body radiated killing intent.
The Alpha. The system flashed. [Shadowfang Alpha.]
[Tier Three Beast.] [Threat Level: High.]
The beast roared. The entire forest shook. Then the pack attacked, at once.
WHOOSH! Phoenix Eyes activated. The world slowed. Cheetah Speed exploded through my muscles.
I vanished. BOOM! The first wolf flew into a tree. CRACK!Its skull shattered.
And the second lunged. I twisted. My fist slammed into its neck. Another corpse dropped. The pack became frenzied.
Growls filled the forest. Dozens attacked together. Yet my body moved like lightning.
The battle continued for nearly an hour.Blood covered the forest floor with wolf corpses surrounded me. My breathing became heavier.
Then the Alpha attacked. The strongest beast. Its claws tore through the air. I activated Arcane Devour. Blue energy erupted.
The Alpha froze. Then screamed. Mana flooded into my body. The beast weakened rapidly, it's strength, Its vitality and Its power everything became mine.
Moments later the Alpha collapsed. The system exploded with notifications.
[Ding.] [Shadowfang Alpha Devoured.]
[Reward Obtained.] [Tier Increased.]
[Tier Three Apprentice Mage → Peak Tier Three.]
[New Skill Acquired.] [Wolf Sense.]
A powerful wave of energy surged through me.
I smiled Cedric wanted me dead and Lucas wanted me dead, but instead... They made me stronger.
The next morning, sunlight broke through the trees. The system appeared once more.
[Ding.] [Special Reward Available.]
[Academy Recognition Package.] I blinked.
What now? Blue light appeared beside me.
A black outfit materialized from thin air. My eyes widened.
The clothes looked incredible. Black combat coat with silver runes and dark boots with protective enchanted gloves.
Everything looked expensive, powerful and Legendary The system displayed another message.
[Arcane Heir Combat Attire.] [Rank: Rare.]
I quickly changed. When I finished... Even I barely recognized myself.
I actually looked like a powerful mage. Hours later I arrived at the Imperial Arcane Academy.
The reaction was immediate. Students stopped walking while conversations died.
Everyone stared. Some couldn't even believe their eyes.
"That's Rowan?" "He survived?" "Impossible." "Wasn't he injured yesterday?" Whispers spread rapidly. Girls stared openly.
Students moved aside as I walked past. The atmosphere felt completely different.
With Respect, fear and curiosity. The weak Rowan no longer existed.
Then I sensed killing intent. I looked ahead. Lucas Ashford stood near the academy entrance.
He was really Frozen, with His face was completely pale. For several seconds he simply stared.
As if looking at a ghost. Then he rushed toward me.
"You..." His voice trembled. "No." His eyes widened.
"That's impossible." Students immediately gathered around.
Lucas grabbed my collar. "Who are you?" The crowd gasped.
His expression looked insane. "Tell me!"
His breathing became frantic. "The poison should've worked!"
The crowd froze. Lucas immediately realized what he said.
But it was too late. Every student heard it. I smiled slowly. A cold smile. I leaned closer. Then whispered.
"You should've used something stronger." Lucas' face turned white. Pure terror appeared in his eyes.
