Lord Valerius paced his private study, a heavy scowl marring his plump face. "Unacceptable! Utterly unacceptable!" he fumed, gesturing wildly at Captain Rark, who stood stiffly by the door. "The Emperor appoints some green boy as a Lord, right on my borders, without so much as a word! This 'Lord Eric' is an insult to my standing, a slight to the Greyfang Territories! And he acts as if he owns the very air he breathes!"
"He is young, my Lord," Rark ventured cautiously, "but his spiritual energy is… impressive."
"Impressive?!" Valerius scoffed, throwing himself into a plush armchair. "He's a Foundation Establishment cultivator, nothing more! Does the Emperor truly believe such a trivial talent can manage these lands? No, this is a test! A challenge to my authority! He thinks he can just waltz in and take what is rightfully mine!"
Just then, a ripple in the air signaled a powerful presence. A figure materialized from the shadows in the corner of the room, cloaked and hooded, their aura cold and menacing. Valerius, startled, quickly composed himself.
"My Lord Valerius, your concerns are valid," the cloaked figure rasped, their voice low and devoid of emotion. "This 'Lord Eric' is indeed an affront to your rightful authority. But do not despair. I can help you rid yourself of this… inconvenience."
Valerius's eyes gleamed. "And who might you be, mysterious benefactor?"
"A friend to those who seek true power," the figure replied. "And an enemy of the Empire's meddling. We can offer you the means to reclaim what is yours, and much, much more. All we require is your cooperation."
A sinister smile spread across Lord Valerius's face. "Tell me more."
The next day, a familiar sight greeted Eric at his manor. His team had arrived, albeit discreetly, their usual Directorate uniforms replaced by unassuming, traveler's attire. Anya, Kord, Lysa, Jin, Roric, and Seraph stood before him, looking travel-worn but resolute.
"Lord Eric," Kord boomed, offering a respectful bow. The others followed suit, their faces serious.
Eric waved a dismissive hand. "Enough of that, Kord. We're on a mission. Call me Eric. No need for formalities here, especially when we're trying to keep a low profile."
They gathered in Eric's study, a large map of the Dragon's Roost Domain spread across the table. "Alright team," Eric began, his voice low and focused. "Master Varian wants us to investigate the Crimson Veil activity in this region. We know about the disappearances, which suggests they're operating subtly. Our priority is to find their hidden base or point of meeting."
He pointed to the vast, forested area dominating the northern part of the map. "I suspect their main activities are concentrated around the mountains within the Whispering Woods. The sheer density of spiritual energy and the rugged terrain would provide excellent cover for a hidden base. Keep a low profile. You are merely 'travelers' or 'explorers' interested in the domain's resources. If you encounter anything suspicious, report back immediately. Do not engage alone."
Over the next week, the team fanned out, meticulously searching the initial areas around the villages and the lower reaches of the forest. Eric, meanwhile, spent his days immersed in cultivation, diligently practicing the Scorching Dragon Breath technique. Under the Dragon Spirit's constant guidance, his proficiency grew exponentially. He could now unleash concentrated bursts of fire Qi that incinerated small boulders with ease, the technique feeling incredibly natural to his draconic essence.
Days turned into a week. His team returned, one by one, their faces drawn.
"Nothing, Team Leader," Anya reported, frustration in her voice. "We've scoured every cave, every abandoned structure within the accessible parts of the mountains. Not a single trace of any large-scale cult activity beyond the ambient spiritual decay one might expect."
"We checked the trade routes, the more populated areas," Jin added. "No unusual gatherings, no suspicious movements."
"The disappearances are still happening, though," Seraph added softly. "A farmer's daughter from the west village, two traders on the southern road. Small, isolated incidents."
Eric frowned, reviewing the map again. "You searched everywhere, you say?" His eyes lingered on the vast, untouched expanse of the Whispering Woods itself, particularly the deeper, more dangerous sections beyond the well-traveled paths. He had instructed them to focus on the mountains, but the forest... "Have you thoroughly searched the interior of the Whispering Woods, beyond the initial foothills?"
Kord shifted uncomfortably. "Team Leader, the Whispering Woods are notorious. Filled with high-level beasts, and the spiritual energy fluctuates wildly. It's dangerous, even for us. We stuck to the periphery."
Eric nodded slowly. "Precisely. If they're operating subtly, a place like that would be perfect. Remote, dangerous, and naturally camouflaged. We'll focus our search there next."
Just then, one of his Imperial Servants entered, bowing respectfully. "My Lord, a rider from Lord Valerius's manor has just arrived. He extends an invitation for you to dine with him this evening."
Eric's eyes narrowed. An invitation, after Valerius's thinly veiled threats? This was either an attempt at reconciliation, or a trap. Given the previous day's subtle animosity, he leaned towards the latter. This was an opportunity. "Inform him I accept. I will go by myself."
The air at Lord Valerius's manor was thick with an unsettling silence. Eric, arriving alone, was led directly to the dining hall. Lord Valerius sat at the head of a long, elaborate table, an unusually large feast laid out before him, yet he was the only one eating. He looked up as Eric entered, a strange, expectant glint in his eyes.
"Lord Eric," Valerius greeted, his voice oddly jovial, too jovial. "Welcome! Please, sit. Join me." He gestured to a chair directly opposite him.
Eric sat, observing his surroundings. The hall seemed eerily quiet. There were no other guests, no jovial chatter, just the sound of Valerius chewing loudly. He didn't touch the food laid out before him.
"You're not eating, Lord Eric?" Valerius asked, a piece of meat dangling from his fork.
"I am quite content, Lord Valerius," Eric replied calmly. "I trust your meal is to your liking."
"Oh, it is, it is," Valerius chuckled, a nervous edge to his laughter. "Feasting is a pleasure, isn't it? The joys of life, pursued without restraint." He took another bite, chewing deliberately. "So, about your new domain, Lord Eric. Do you truly believe you can tame these wild lands? It requires... a certain ruthlessness. A willingness to do what others would not."
"I am prepared for the challenges, Lord Valerius," Eric stated, his gaze unwavering. He could feel a growing tension in the room, a subtle shift in the spiritual energy, almost imperceptible.
"Perhaps you are," Valerius said, then suddenly, his eyes flashed with malice. "Or perhaps you are merely a naive boy who has stumbled into a game far beyond his understanding!"
Before Eric could react, the heavy drapes on the walls suddenly swung open, revealing dozens of Lord Valerius's personal guards, their weapons drawn, their faces grim. They surged forward, a tide of steel and cultivated Qi.
"Kill him!" Lord Valerius shrieked, his voice filled with venom. "Show this 'Lord Eric' the true power of the Greyfang Territories! Show him what happens to uninvited guests!"
Eric didn't panic. He remained seated, his eyes calm as the first few guards lunged. With a blinding flash of motion, he exploded from his seat, moving with impossible speed. He evaded the first thrust, his hand a blur as he disarmed one guard, using his weapon to parry another's attack. He didn't kill, but aimed to incapacitate, striking pressure points and vital meridians with precision. He was a whirlwind of controlled power, his every movement economical and devastating. The guards, though numerous and well-trained, were no match for him. They fell like dominoes, groaning as they collapsed, disarmed and stunned.
But as he took down the first wave, more guards, seemingly from hidden passages, poured into the hall. They came from behind tapestries, from concealed doors in the floor, from the kitchen. It was an endless stream. Eric adjusted, his attacks growing slightly more forceful, incapacitating them quicker. He used the momentum of their own attacks against them, a blur of defensive and offensive movements.
"Foolish worms! Why are you so useless?!" Lord Valerius shrieked from his seat, his face contorted in a mask of fury. Suddenly, his body began to contort. His skin stretched, his eyes bulged, and grotesque, black veins pulsed beneath his skin. His Qi signature, once somewhat weak, flared with a dark, corrupted energy. His frame swelled, his clothes ripping, as small, black horns began to sprout from his forehead. He was mutating.
"I will do it myself!" Valerius roared, his voice now a guttural growl, no longer human. He lunged at Eric, his movements surprisingly fast, his mutated fists imbued with dark, corrupted Qi.
Eric evaded, narrowly dodging a brutal punch that splintered the stone floor where he had stood. The Lord's attacks were clumsy, but powerful, fueled by uncontrolled rage and the newly acquired corrupt energy.
Eric waited for an opening, aiming to subdue the frenzied Lord without permanent damage. As he moved to strike, a flash of movement caught his eye. The young woman he had seen yesterday, Lord Valerius's daughter, suddenly appeared, placing herself directly between Eric and her father.
"Father, no! Stop! Please!" she cried, tears streaming down her face, her eyes wide with terror.
The momentary distraction was all Lord Valerius needed. He roared, capitalizing on Eric's hesitation, and slammed a corrupted fist into Eric's side. The blow sent Eric sprawling, a searing pain shooting through him. He gasped, rolling to his feet, gritting his teeth.
"Get out of the way!" Eric yelled at the daughter, even as he dodged another wild swing from the mutated Lord. He moved with renewed urgency, not wanting to harm the girl. With a burst of speed, Eric closed the distance, weaving past Valerius's flailing arms. He delivered a swift, precise blow to the back of Valerius's neck, channeling a concentrated burst of suppressed Qi.
Lord Valerius staggered, his eyes rolling back, the grotesque mutation receding as his Qi flickered and dimmed. He collapsed in a heap, unconscious, his body still twitching faintly.
Eric stood over the unconscious Lord, breathing heavily, the pain in his side a dull throb. He turned to the young woman, who stood frozen, trembling, staring at her mutated father. Tears streamed freely down her face.
"He... he changed," she sobbed, her voice choked with horror. "What... what was that?"