Evolution of the Ruined Heir - Chapter 344: Answer

Chapter 344: Answer

“You may ask your questions now.”

Malakai remained rooted in place.

’The fresh blood ranking.’

It was one recognized by the entire clan, used to tell just how far apart each youth in the clan was when it came to their genius.

The last time Malakai checked, he had seen Othric and his father topping the rankings. But after the incident at Sylvastein, with the number of darkness creatures he slaughtered, Malakai had no doubt about the current situation.

’It’s not only the darkness.’

The lifeguard had no way of visibly knowing how many darkness creatures were killed. There was only one way it measured the death of darkness creatures, the vita. In essence, the surge of vita that came from the death of any darkness creature.

Depending on the amount of vita, points were given accordingly. However, aside from the darkness, Malakai had also absorbed a sick ton of vita from the vita cores he ate, and also the fountain of Vitaeon.

If the lifeguard had measured each surge, Malakai shuddered at the thought of the points he gained.

As the sovereign’s question reached his ears, Malakai clenched his fist and fell silent.

’This is it.’

He had dreamt of this day. The day he would finally get to find out the people responsible for his parents’ death.

Malakai only ever had one question.

“Who… who plotted and had my parents killed.”

He was as direct as he could be. Who knew what was going through the sovereign’s mind? Who killed his parents could be answered with; darkness creatures. Who plotted to have his parents killed could also be interpreted in another way.

Valerian was the greatest genius ever born in the history of the sanguine. Who didn’t want him dead?

To his question, the sovereign fell silent for a moment, his gaze flickering as though going through countless emotions at once.

“The first pulse…” he began, the words seemingly causing Malakai’s heart to freeze. He clenched his fists and steadied himself. His gaze was intense, cold. He didn’t want to miss any moment of this.

“…third pulse, and the scarlet ten.”

Malakai found his heart beating fast. Pounding, like the rumble of a wardrum. The outside world seemed to blur, and for a moment he saw nothing other than the faces of the people the sovereign just mentioned. His enemies.

Two pulses, and each of the scarlet ten.

The pillars of the sanguine clan. Each one held an unfathomable amount of power and authority. But Malakai felt no awe, no fear. He felt only one thing, anger. Vengeance.

Finally, after so many years, he had found where he could direct his bottomless hate. They were the ones who had taken everything from him. Who had taken them from him.

Malakai took a deep, shuddering breath. Memories of that night flashed in his mind, but he shut them down. He had a question to ask.

“You knew this… since. And yet you did nothing.” He felt a surge of seething rage, so potent, that he braved the pressure resting on him and raised his gaze to meet the sovereign.

For a moment, there was utter silence. Despite his instincts screaming at him to lower his eyes, Malakai did not listen.

But the sovereign remained calm.

“They were punished.”

“Punished?” Malakai forced out. His breathing was uneven, eyes burning. “Yet they still walk, free. They still breathe! He was your son! My father!”

Malakai shakily rose to his feet. He had lost himself to anger, the sovereign realized.

“But you did nothing to avenge his death! Did he really mean nothing to you? Punished? Who did you punish!?”

“You will show the proper respect.”

A wave of force slammed onto Malakai, sending him crashing down. The floor cracked beneath him. He tried to raise his head, but could not.

The sovereign’s voice rumbled, each word heavy.

“I accept your father’s death as my failure, as a clan head, and as a father. But I do not repay the death of one of my kin with another. You would not be alive if I did.”

The pressure weighed on Malakai’s back, grinding him lower.

He understood what the sovereign was saying, but he did not accept it. The first and third pulse were his sons, and the scarlet ten his brothers and blood.

Though they had conspired to kill his parents, the sovereign refused to kill his kin. He had chosen to ’punish’ them instead.

Still, it did nothing to bury the bottomless rage within Malakai. He would have his revenge.

“I apologize for my rudeness, Sovereign.” He bowed.

The sovereign’s eyes flickered with something different. Sadness. Regret. Guilt.

“Don’t forget my warnings. You are dismissed.”

Malakai swiped his eyes with his sleeve, cleaning his tears, then shakily rose to his feet. With a bow, he turned and left the grand hall.

“You didn’t tell him everything, my sovereign.”

Darke appeared from the shadows, sinking to both knees. The Iron Saint also joined him. Though he was quiet, there was no doubting his curiosity.

The sovereign fell silent for a moment, shutting his eyes. It seemed as though he was going through a wave of emotions.

“Because it’s likely we’re wrong.” He finally said, sighing. He suddenly appeared older. Human. Even the blood sovereign could be so… tired.

“We suspect that Valerian somehow escaped the dome, but no one can survive what awaits outside. There’s only darkness.”

“But there’s a chance, my sovereign. Hope will do the ninth vein a lot of good.” The Iron Saint spoke up. The man rarely spoke, especially to the blood sovereign. That he spoke now showed just how much the matter troubled him.

“He may already be dead.” Othric frowned.

“It’s better he knows that now than giving him false hope only to be crushed later on.”

“Bu—”

“That is enough on that matter.”

The Iron Saint sighed, but bowed. The sovereign’s words were law. They have always been law.

“Now to more important matter.” The air around the hall shifted, as though what was about to come was of grave importance.

“Has he been found?”

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