I Have 10,000 SSS Rank Villains In My System Space - Chapter 366: A Month

Chapter 366: A Month

While Razeal remained sealed within the sphere of shadow, locked away from the outside world for reasons no one truly understood, time outside continued to move in its slow, uncomfortable way. Days passed first, then weeks, until even the rhythm of waiting began to feel heavy. The dark dome still floated in the middle of the water exactly as it had on the first day unmoving, silent, swallowing light itself. Nothing entered. Nothing left. It simply existed there, like a wound that refused to close.

More then a month had passed.

The air around it carried a strange stillness now. Even the water beneath seemed reluctant to ripple too close, as though instinctively avoiding whatever rested inside.

Sofia stood with her arms folded loosely across her chest, her gaze drifting again.. and not for the first time toward the floating mass of darkness. She had tried not to stare. Tried to act normal. But every few minutes her eyes returned there on their own, drawn by worry she couldn’t quite suppress.

“Hey… are you sure we shouldn’t go check on him?” Her voice came out softer than she intended, concern hidden beneath casualness that didn’t quite succeed. She didn’t look directly at Maria when she asked; her attention remained on the dome, as if expecting it to react simply because his name had been mentioned.

“It’s been almost a month,” she added after a moment, quieter now. “He hasn’t come out even once.. Like literally..”

Maria followed her gaze, eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at the shadow sphere. From the outside, nothing had changed. The same dense darkness, the same oppressive silence. No cracks, no fluctuations, no signs of instability. Just the constant presence of Razeal’s power lingering like a warning.

“Maybe let him be,” Maria said eventually, her tone flat, measured. “If something was wrong with him that thing would have disappeared already. It’s clearly one of his abilities. Or magic or Whatever it is… it’s still active. That means he’s alive.”

She paused, her eyes briefly shifting toward Merisa, who stood some distance away from the dome. The woman hadn’t moved for the entire month, her eyes never leaving the darkness before her. Maria only glanced at her for a moment before turning back to Sofia.

“Maybe he’s just taking his time,” Maria continued. “Whatever happened between him and his moth..” she corrected herself with a small frown, “I mean.. that woman inside… maybe he needed to calm down? Or maybe he’s dealing with whatever unstable emotions he always pretends he doesn’t have?”

“Or maybe he’s hiding in there because his ego got bruised. Being restrained that easily by one of the strongest people alive probably didn’t sit well with him.”

Her gaze shifted briefly, almost unconsciously, toward Merisa.

Maria watched her for only a second before looking away again.

“And will you stop asking me this again and again?” Maria suddenly snapped, irritation breaking through her calm. She turned fully toward Sofia now, arms crossing tightly. “This is like the hundredth time you’ve asked? And I’ve given you the same answer every time?”

Her voice rose without her noticing.

“If you’re that worried, go check yourself. Why are you asking me? Are you his wife or am I?”

The sharpness of her tone made Sofia blink, taken aback.

“Why are you yelling?” Sofia shot back almost immediately, frowning. “Can’t you just answer normally? You’re supposed to be a noble lady, aren’t you? What’s with that tone?”

She exhaled sharply, annoyance mixing with concern.

“I’m worried, that’s all. And don’t pretend you aren’t.” Her eyes slid sideways toward Maria, studying her expression. “I’m not stupid. I can tell you’re worried too, no matter how much you try to act cold.”

Maria’s jaw tightened.

“I’m not,” she cut in instantly. “I don’t care whether he dies or not.”

The words came too fast, too sharp defensive rather than convincing.

“Sure.. Whatever you say,” Sofia replied softly.

Sofia didn’t argue. She simply hummed under her breath, unconvinced, and leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice until it was almost a whisper.

“Why not ask that woman? She definitely knows something. At least we could find out if Razeal is fine or not.” Her eyes shifted subtly toward Merisa.

Maria frowned immediately, expression souring.

“Then go ask her yourself,” she said, dismissive. “Aren’t you her daughter-in-law? I have no reason to get involved.. I mean why are you looking at me again?”

The rejection came without hesitation.

Sofia made a face.

“But she’s scary,” Sofia answered honestly, remembering how cruel the woman had seemed. She still couldn’t erase the image of her from that day.. the way she had everyone under her control, the way she had spoken, calmly and directly, about killing her own son? With such conviction and composure that it sounded as if, to her, it would have been justified. That had been an extremely frightening and weird first impression of her newly gained mother-in-law.

Yes, that image had become a little more conflicted later, after seeing her cry and almost beg Razel for forgiveness, caught in whatever emotional outburst had overtaken her.. but the fear from that first moment still lingered.

Hearing this, Sofia fell silent. Her expression shifted, showing that she understood clearly, remembering how dangerous that woman truly was.

Obviously, Sofia might know nothing about the outside world as she came from Atlantis, with no knowledge of the lands above, the world’s strongest empires, or the woman who stood as the head of one of the most powerful families in existence. But Maria did know one thing.

She was aware of how psychopathic, cruel, and horrifying the Virelans were aware enough to feel uneasy whenever their name came up. And Merisa Virelan was the head of that family. Even one event from that woman’s past was enough to shake half the world. One didn’t need to know the details to understand the scale of terror.. just knowing the fact that the woman standing there was Merisa Virelan was enough. The women who is called Butcher of the Virelans. The woman who had slaughtered thousands of her own blood. Not enemies. Not outsiders. Her own literal family. From the simplest guards and housekeepers to elders who keep the rule in family to even the patriarch himself her brother and husband.. All killed by her own hands in a single night. One of the world’s strongest families bathed in blood, its legacy shattered in a massacre that still echoed through history decades later. The reasons behind it were still unknown, sealed away behind fear and silence, because no one had ever dared to ask her. That alone said enough about how terrifying Merisa Virelan truly was.

And even if Maria could, to a small extent, understand the shaken, conflicted image of Merisa she had seen over the last few months because of her emotional collapse in front of her son.. Maria knew better than to be fooled by that. That wasn’t who Merisa really was. That was only the version of her that existed in front of Razeal. A weak woman. A defeated mother. Broken only in that one place. For anyone else, she was still the same dangerous figure she had always been the cold, ruthless, dignified Merisa Virelan, whose name alone was enough to freeze blood.

Seeing Maria not replying, choosing silence instead, Sofia pouted slightly and let out a small sigh. She knew Maria well enough to recognize that kind of silence. It wasn’t denial.. it was reluctant acknowledgment. And Sofia also knew how to push her when needed. “Hey… you know about her,” Sofia said softly, her tone shifting. “Please go talk to her. Please. Just for me. If not for him, then at least for me.” She hesitated, then added with forced lightness, “I don’t want to become a widow on my first day of marriage, you know. How sad would that be?” She looked at Maria with exaggerated puppy eyes, clearly trying to guilt her into moving.

“Don’t do this with me,” Maria snapped immediately, raising both hands as if physically blocking Sofia’s expression. “Ewwww.” Her face twisted in clear disgust. “I don’t care about you becoming a widow or whatever. And did you even listen to me? I said he’s probably fine. You’re just wasting your time worrying about him.” Her voice was sharp, defensive, and she deliberately took a step back, trying to put distance between herself and Sofia, both emotionally and physically.

“But can humans survive without eating food for a month?” Sofia asked suddenly, cutting Maria off before she could continue.

Maria froze. The words hit before her mind could dismiss them. “…That’s not something you need to worry about,” she replied reflexively. “That guy doesn’t eat normal human food…He probably be eating those apples of his…” Her voice trailed off. Her mouth closed mid-sentence as she suddenly remembered that Razeal’s apples had run out when he had used them to kill the sea monsters, firing them one after another during the waves of attacks. Her mouth closed abruptly, and she said nothing for several seconds.

A cold thought crept in. Did that bastard not die in there? The question sent a sharp jolt through her chest. Before Sofia could say another word, Maria vanished from where she stood. One moment she was there, the next she was gone, leaving Sofia blinking in surprise. Sofia looked around quickly, confused, before spotting her again.. Maria had reappeared beside Merisa.

Sofia shook her head slowly, watching from a distance. And she still says she doesn’t care about him, she thought sarcastically.

Some distance away, Merisa remained exactly where she had been for the past month. Standing. Staring. Her eyes locked onto the small shadow dome floating in front of her, the one that held Razeal inside. From the moment he told her to leave, she hadn’t moved. Not an inch. She hadn’t sat down, hadn’t rested, hadn’t spoken to anyone.. or anything. She simply stood there, unmoving, like a statue carved from guilt fear and sadneness her gaze fixed on that dark sphere as if afraid that looking away might cause it to disappear.

When Maria appeared beside her, Merisa finally spoke. “Yes?” she asked quietly, recognizing the Grave family’s daughter instantly. Yet even as she spoke, her eyes never left the shadow dome. Not for a moment. She remained standing there, rigid and still, as if the entire world had narrowed down to that one place where her son was sealed away, and nothing else existed beyond it.

Maria swallowed hard before she even realized she was doing it. Her throat felt strangely dry, her jaw tightening as a quiet pressure settled over her chest. Merisa had done nothing.. no aura, no killing intent, no release of power but that single word, that calm acknowledgment, was enough. It pressed down on Maria in a way she couldn’t explain, a reminder of who was standing beside her. She forced herself to breathe evenly before speaking again. “I just… I just want to know if Razeal is fine,” she said, her voice lower than she intended. Then, almost against her will, the word slipped out. “Ma’am.”

The respect wasn’t deliberate. She hadn’t planned to say it. In fact, she had every reason not to, considering how this woman had treated Razeal before. But fear, instinct, or perhaps something deeper made it escape her lips anyway. Maria stiffened slightly afterward, annoyed at herself, but she didn’t take it back.

“He is,” Merisa replied plainly. Her voice carried no emotion, no reassurance meant to comfort Maria, just a statement of fact. “Don’t worry. He is completely fine and healthy.”

She didn’t even turn her head to look at Maria when she said it. Her eyes still remained locked on the shadow dome ahead, as they had been for the past month. The truth was, she couldn’t see Razeal inside. She couldn’t sense him through mana, psychic perception, bloodline techniques, or any method she knew. No matter what she tried, the shadow dome resisted her completely, refusing to let her pierce even the faintest thread of information through it. And yet.. she knew.

Because… She felt him.

The sensation didn’t come from her mind or her senses, but from somewhere deeper, as if his presence echoed within her own being. It was subtle but undeniable, like a quiet pulse that assured her he was alive, stable, existing. Merisa didn’t fully understand it, but she suspected the reason. The blood. The link he had mentioned Maybe? The act of drinking his blood, of sharing blood in return, of being transformed by him into something no longer human? She remembered his words about a connection, about a bond or whatever and only now was she beginning to grasp what he had maybe meant? Because whatever it was, it existed. And because of it, she was certain he was fine.

“But…” Maria hesitated, unwilling to accept it so easily. “He doesn’t have anything to eat in there. He’s still human. Can I go and check?” She paused, then added again, more quietly, “Ma’am.”

It wasn’t that Maria didn’t wanted to believe in her. It’s just that she really doesn’t.

Merisa finally answered though still not turning. “He is not human,” she said calmly. “So don’t worry. He is fine trust me.” There was a faint edge in her voice now, not anger, but certainty. “Beleive me.. I care about him more than you or anyone can ever do.”

The words weren’t meant as an insult. They were simply true.. from Merisa’s perspective. She had been turned into whatever Razeal was now. A month was more than enough time for her to realize it. She herself hadn’t eaten anything during that entire time. No food. No rest. Just standing there. And yet she wasn’t weak. Her body demanded something different now. Blood. Even then, she had learned that she could survive for a long time without it, though the thirst never truly faded. Her throat was constantly dry, a dull ache that never left, and thoughts of Razeal’s blood surfaced more often than she liked to admit.. But yeah that was it.

Not to say over the last month, she had also discovered other many things about herself. Her physical strength had increased beyond reason. Her mind was sharper, faster. Injuries healed unnaturally fast she was certain now that even losing half her body wouldn’t kill her. Hunger, exhaustion, pain these concepts had changed. She understood now that Razeal wasn’t bound by human limitations either..

“Not human?” Maria frowned, the words catching her attention sharply. She was about to think or maybe question it.. but before she could Merisa suddenly turned her head.

“You are worried for him,” Merisa said, looking directly at Maria now. Her gaze was steady, penetrating, and Maria felt herself stiffen under it.

Maria’s breath hitched.

“I have been watching all of you.. And i did precieve that you genuinely seems to care about him.” Merisa continued calmly. “Which is actually funny.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Because.. I used to think you would be one of the people who hated him the most? Considering who your father was. And the influence your mother must have had on you… or tried to have.”

“Please don’t bring my mother and father into this,” Maria said immediately, her voice sharp but strained. Her head bowed without her realizing it, her hands clenching at her sides.

Merisa watched her for a long moment. Then she just shook her head lightly, not mocking, not dismissive just acknowledging. She didn’t comment on it or press any further. But she continued speaking, her voice steady.

“Well… I actually did believe you hated him,” Merisa said suddenly, her voice calm but not detached, even as her eyes never left Maria’s bowed head. She didn’t even sound accusatory. More like someone stating an observation that had lingered in her mind for a long time. “After everything you did at the academy. The way you treated him. The way you acted around.” Her gaze flickered briefly, as if replaying memories she had already examined countless times. “You were clearly targeting him. Trying to get him expelled. Challenging him to a duel. All of it.”

She paused for a moment, then continued, her tone still steady. “It did made it look obvious. As if you really hated him. As if the two of you were enemies. At least, that’s how it appeared to me.” There was no judgment in her voice, only acknowledgment. “And honestly… I didn’t think it was strange. Given the environment you grew up in. Given what you were taught.”

“I said please don’t bring that up!” Maria suddenly shouted, her voice breaking as she snapped her head up. Her eyes were wet now, shimmering with emotion she had been holding back for far too long. “Don’t.. don’t talk about that!”

Merisa saw it the instant Maria looked up. The redness in her eyes. The way her jaw trembled, teeth clenched as if she was trying not to cry or scream or both. For a brief moment, Merisa paused before she just sighed…

“I apologize,” Merisa said quietly after a pause. Her voice softened, just slightly. “I didn’t mean to reopen those wounds.” She exhaled slowly. “I only meant to make you understand that I knew where you were coming from. That I understood your position.”

She tilted her head just a fraction. “Even back then… despite everything you did, I never acted against you or your family. Not once. No matter how far you went.” Her voice remained composed, but there was weight behind the words. “Because I knew. You were just a child afterall.”

Maria didn’t respond. Not because she didn’t want to but because she couldn’t. What was there to say? She stood there, silent, shoulders tense, fingers curling into her sleeves.

After a moment, Merisa continued. “But still I’m curious.” She turned her gaze fully to Maria now. “What changed?”

Maria stiffened slightly.

“What made your view of him change?” Merisa asked. “From hatred… to concern.”

The words hit harder than Maria expected. She opened her mouth, then closed it, then finally spoke her voice rising, trembling, almost shouting as if she needed the words out before she lost courage.

“Because he isn’t a bad person!” Maria burst out. “He’s not!” Her chest rose sharply as she breathed in. “He just acts like one. He forces himself to be cold. To be cruel. To be distant.” Her fists clenched. “Because in his head, being like that means being strong. And that’s stupid. It’s so stupid.”

Her voice cracked, but she didn’t stop. “Inside… he’s just trying to protect himself. That’s all. He’s not evil atleast not nowww as farr as ive seen.”

Merisa didn’t react immediately. She simply hummed softly, a low sound, neither agreement nor denial. Her eyes drifted back toward the black shadow dome floating over the water, silent and unmoving. For a long moment, she said nothing at all. Her face was unreadable.

Both of them stood there in silence, the air heavy between them. Time passed minutes, maybe more. Neither of them knew how long. The world around them remained still, as if waiting.

Finally, Maria broke the silence, her voice quieter now, filled with unease. “What… what is he even doing in there?” She gestured weakly toward the dome. “It’s been more than a month. What’s wrong?”

Merisa answered without hesitation. “He likely just needs time alone.”

Maria frowned. “Why?” she asked instinctively.

“Because,” Merisa said, turning her head to look directly at Maria, “I told him about his father.”

The words landed like a hammer.

“W..what?” Maria’s eyes widened in shock. “You what?”

Her breath caught as understanding rushed in all at once. She knew. Of course she knew. Some truths were buried so deep that only a handful of people in the world carried them. And she was one of them. Razeal’s father hadn’t just been anyone. He had been her father’s closest friend. And through her mother, Maria had learned the truth long ago.. the kind of truth that stains everything it touches.

Maria’s hand flew to her mouth as emotion surged through her chest. Her eyes trembled, filling rapidly as she imagined what Razeal must be feeling right now. She remembered herself. The moment she had learned. The denial. The nausea. The anger. The shame that wasn’t even hers, but still crushed her anyway.

For Razeal… it would be worse. Much worse.

Her gaze snapped back to the shadow dome, her eyes full of pain and understanding. “Oh no…” she whispered.

“He needs time… with himself. Alone.”

Merisa continued quietly, her voice low and heavy, every word carrying the weight of things she could not say out loud. She didn’t turn away from the shadow dome as she spoke. Her eyes remained fixed on it, unblinking, as if staring long enough might somehow reach him inside. “Just to accept this reality. To come to terms with it.”

She paused for a moment, her fingers curling slowly at her side. “And maybe… to cope with the fact that what I did back then might not have come from cruelty alone or whatever he had thought” Her voice wavered slightly, though she did not let it break. “That my decisions toward him… the punishment… the way I treated him…”

Her throat tightened.

“Maybe they were born from the dark shadow of my own past,” she continued. “From fear. From trauma I never healed from.. as maybe just hating the thing i hated the most.”

She exhaled slowly, as if the words themselves hurt to say. “He might be conflicted right now. Thinking that… if he were in my place, wearing my shoes, living with my memories… maybe he would have made the same mistake.”

Merisa’s eyes dimmed, sadness pooling deep within them. “And that thought… is painfully hard for anyone to accept.”

She finally lowered her gaze just a little. “Because all this time, he convinced himself of something else.” Her voice softened further. “That we never loved him. Never cared. Never wanted him or other many things.”

Her fingers trembled. “But now he’s being forced to face the possibility that the people who hurt him… were not monsters.”

She swallowed. “But.. Just weak and pathetic.”

The last word barely left her lips. She did not finish the thought that followed. She couldn’t. The rest of it remained trapped in her chest, unspoken, heavy, crushing.

She understood too well what might be happening inside Razeal’s mind right now.

Obviously, she left out the part about Razeal might getting overwhelmed by other emotions too about how she herself had been raped by his father. The very idea of it would have been extreme for a child of sixteen or seventeen, far too much to process all at once. This was not information many people knew, that she had been raped by the man who later became her husband after she killed them all ofcourse.

Obviously, Maria wouldn’t know this. All she knew was that her father was a rapist and that he had been very close friends with Razeal’s father, if not more. She had no idea of the full truth. If she had, she might have felt even sadder..

Just imagining what kind of chaos might be raging inside Razeal’s mind was enough to make her chest ache. Rage. Sadness. Disgust. Pity. Hatred. Doubt. Self-loathing. Questions without answers. Emotions colliding all at once, with no space to breathe.

No wonder he locked himself away.

Maria stood there, listening in silence, her hand covering her mouth. Her shoulders trembled faintly. She didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. The explanation alone was enough to make her feel sick.

She finally understood.

Why he needed to be alone. Why a month wasn’t enough. Why the silence felt so terrifying. She slowly lowered her hand, shaking her head as tears gathered in her eyes.

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