As they headed back inside, Vaelor's mind was already working through implications.
Mother sealed my potential to hide me from powerful forces. But the system's awakening broke that seal completely. Which means...
Now that I can think about it, I can sense I have a dormant bloodline, its still in the metamorphism stage, it hasn't been fully awakened yet, but the seal isn't there. '
His thoughts grew cold and calculating.
Those forces she was hiding from might now be able to detect me. If the seal breaking sent out some kind of spiritual signature, they could already be looking.
Three years until apocalypse. Unknown powerful enemies potentially hunting me. A mother hiding somewhere with knowledge I need.
The timeline just became more compressed and complicated.
He glanced at his father's back as Thorne walked ahead into the house—a good man, a strong warrior by normal standards, but completely outclassed by the level of power Vaelor was dealing with.
I need to become stronger faster. Not just to face the apocalypse, but to protect what's mine from whatever comes.
The sun cultivation plan just became more urgent.
Inside, the house had settled into quiet evening routines. Aunt Mira and Uncle Torven were discussing logistics for tomorrow's move. Lyanna had retreated to her room, probably already planning how to decorate her new bedroom.
Vaelor climbed the stairs to his own modest room—likely the last night he'd spend here. The space was small, barely large enough for a bed, desk, and closet, but it had been his sanctuary for years.
He lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind processing everything that had happened today.
Shopping spree completed. Family convinced to accept the mansion. Father agreed to consider resignation. Mother's mystery revealed.
Tomorrow, they move into security and comfort. Tomorrow, the shadow clone takes over maintaining appearances.
And tomorrow night...
His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.
I leave for the sun.
Through the consciousness link, he could feel his shadow clone's presence across the city—still active, still monitoring, ready to seamlessly replace him when needed.
Everything is falling into place.
Vaelor closed his eyes, not to sleep but to meditate. His consciousness sank into his spiritual sea, observing the vast ocean of qi that churned within his foundation.
The illusory universes in his cells pulsed with concentrated energy. His meridians flowed with power that would have seemed impossible just days ago. The Eternal Cosmos Physique continued its constant evolution, preparing for challenges yet to come.
Advancement of Foundation Establishment stage is waiting, he thought with anticipation. But that requires the 10,000x upgrade first. And that upgrade...
He smiled in the darkness.
That happens after I've settled the family. After everything is secure.
Then I'll trigger the Divine Insight upgrade. And whatever comes from that...
The universe itself will take notice.
Meanwhile - High Above Thornhaven City
In the night sky, the city's industrial district, the hooded figure materialized from literal darkness—stepping out of the moonlight that shouldn't have been deep enough to contain a person.
The figure lowered its hood, revealing features that shifted and blurred as if refusing to be properly perceived. Eyes that held depths of ancient knowledge gazed toward the residential district where the Draeth family home stood.
"Interesting," the figure murmured, its voice carrying harmonics that suggested multiple speakers talking in perfect unison. "The seal has broken completely. Seventeen years of careful suppression, undone in an instant."
One hand rose, fingers tracing patterns in the air that left glowing trails of esoteric symbols.
"She hid him well. Even I couldn't detect the bloodline beneath that seal. But now..."
The symbols pulsed, showing connections—threads of fate, causality and time linking Vaelor to dozens of potential futures.
"Oh, interesting. Multiple EX-Rank talents. Divine-Grade cultivation methods. Advancement speed that defies natural law."
"Hmmmn very interesting, i cant divine the grade of his system or even this specific timeline future."
The figure's shifting features settled briefly into something resembling a smile—though whether it was benevolent or predatory remained unclear.
"And he doesn't even know what he truly is. What sleeping lineage runs through his veins. What his mother really sacrificed to keep him hidden."
Another gesture, and the symbols collapsed into a single point of brilliant light that hovered above the figure's palm.
"Three years until the God-Tier entity arrives. Three years until this world faces extinction."
The light pulsed, showing visions—possible timelines branching into infinite variations.
"In 847 possible futures, humanity on this planet falls completely. In 132 futures, scattered survivors flee to other human worlds. In 19 futures, a desperate last stand achieves partial victory."
The figure's voice grew softer, almost reverent.
"But in one future—just one—a young man with golden eyes stands before the God-Tier entity and doesn't fall. In that single timeline, humanity survives. But i cant see what happens after that, its too foggy."
The light intensified, showing an image: Vaelor, more mature and handsome, wreathed in power that made reality itself tremble, facing something so vast and terrible it couldn't be properly depicted.
"This brat is even more handsome than me."
"The question is whether this timeline is that one. Whether he can grow fast enough, strong enough, to become what that single future requires."
The figure closed its hand, extinguishing the light.
"I suppose I'll watch and see. After all... He is my nephew"
It began dissolving back into moonlight.
"...I've been waiting for this moment for seventeen years. A few more years to see how it ends won't matter."
The last wisps of darkness faded, leaving the night sky empty and silent.
As if no one had ever been there at all.
Draeth Family Home - Deep Night
Vaelor's eyes snapped open at 3:47 AM, his enhanced senses detecting something—a brief ripple in the fabric of space, a disturbance in the natural flow of ambient energy.
Someone had been watching. Observing. Analyzing.
Not hostile, his instincts told him. If they'd wanted to attack, they would have. This was pure surveillance.
He lay still, extending his consciousness outward, searching for traces of the observer. His spiritual perception swept across kilometers, finding... nothing. Whoever it was had vanished completely, leaving no trail.
Advanced space manipulation. Far beyond my current capabilities. Probably laws
So the seal breaking did attract attention. Just as I suspected.
Rather than fear, Vaelor felt only cold determination.
Let them watch. Let them analyze. Let them think they understand what I am.
By the time they realize their mistake, I'll be too strong to threaten.
He settled back into meditation, this time with a portion of his consciousness maintaining active surveillance. If that observer returned, he'd detect them.
Hours passed. The sun began its slow rise, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold.
The last night in the old house ended.
And with the dawn came transformation—both for the Draeth family, and for Vaelor's path to power.
Tomorrow, everything changed.
Tomorrow, a new chapter began.
Tomorrow...
The journey to the sun awaited.
TO BE CONTINUED...