Three Days Later — Maxwell Estate — Eastern Continent
The Maxwell manor stood on a hill overlooking the city of Thornfield—a sprawling compound of ancient stone and modern reinforcement, walls thick enough to withstand siege, grounds wide enough to train armies. For three generations, the Maxwell family had ruled this region, their Explosion superpower making them feared throughout the eastern continent.
Today, the manor was silent.
Servants moved on tiptoe, speaking in whispers. Guards stood at every door, their expressions grim. In the great hall, the family gathered—and waited.
The doors burst open.
Lord Marcus Maxwell stormed in, his face a mask of controlled fury. Behind him, two servants carried a stretcher between them.
On the stretcher lay Sebastian.
Or what remained of him.
His arms were gone—both of them, severed at the shoulder and hastily bandaged. His lower body was wrapped in blood-soaked cloth, the stain spreading. His face was gray with blood loss and shock, his eyes staring at nothing.
The great hall went deathly silent.
Marcus's father—Old Maxwell, the family patriarch, a man whose cultivation blazed at peak 5th Order—rose from his chair at the hall's head. His eyes took in his grandson's condition in a single glance.
"Report."
Marcus's voice was raw. "He triggered the emergency teleport an hour ago. Arrived at the secondary estate in this condition. The healers say—" He stopped, his jaw working.
"What do the healers say?"
"They saved his life. Barely. But his arms are gone—can't be regrown without high-grade regeneration pills we don't have. And his..." Marcus couldn't finish.
Old Maxwell's eyes went to his grandson's lower body. Understanding dawned.
"Who did this?"
"I don't know yet. He hasn't spoken—shock, the healers say. But I have people investigating. The teleport originated from Silverwood Valley. Something happened there."
Old Maxwell walked to his grandson's side, looking down at the broken boy. Sebastian's eyes flickered, focusing on his grandfather's face.
"G-grandfather—"
"Quiet, boy. Save your strength." Old Maxwell's voice was surprisingly gentle. "You're alive. That's what matters."
Sebastian's face contorted. "He—he took—I can't—"
"I know." Old Maxwell straightened, turning to his son. "Find out who did this. Find out everything. And when you do—" His eyes hardened. "Bring them to me. I want to see the face of the person who dared touch a Maxwell."
Marcus nodded and left.
Old Maxwell looked down at his grandson one last time.
"Whoever you are," he murmured, "you've made a terrible enemy tonight."
Academy — Class A Dormitory — Same Morning
Nova woke to sunlight and warmth.
Priscilla lay beside him, her head on his chest, her breathing slow and peaceful. For the first time in days, her face held no fear—just the soft relaxation of deep, untroubled sleep.
He watched her for a long moment.
The bruises on her face were fading. The split in her lip had healed. She'd taken one of the recovery pills last night, and her body was responding. In a few more days, there'd be no trace of what Sebastian's people had done to her.
But inside—that would take longer.
She'll heal, Nova thought. I'll make sure of it.
He slipped out of bed carefully, pulling on clothes. The Moonlace seedling glowed on the windowsill, its silver bloom brighter than ever. He touched its petals gently, and it seemed to lean into his hand.
Alchemy Tower — Late Morning
Katherine was already working when Nova arrived, her golden hair tied back, her sleeves rolled up to reveal forearms dusted with herb residue. She glanced up as he entered, her sharp eyes taking in his expression.
"You look like shit."
"Good morning to you too."
She snorted. "Sit. What happened to you?."
Nova sat on his usual stool. "Nothing happened."
"Nothing happened." Katherine's voice was flat. "You've been gone for two days. Priscilla's been gone for three. You both come back looking like you've been through a war, and nothing happened?"
Nova met her eyes. "Nothing that concerns you."
Katherine studied him for a long moment. Then she shrugged.
"Fine. Keep your secrets." She pushed a mortar toward him. "Grind this. We're working on meridian expansion pills today."
Nova worked in silence, his hands moving automatically while his mind churned.
Alchemy Lab — Afternoon
The work helped.
There was something soothing about alchemy—the precision, the control, the way complex processes reduced to simple steps. Nova lost himself in the rhythm, his All-Seeing Eye guiding each movement, each adjustment.
By mid-afternoon, he'd produced three meridian expansion pills—all standard quality, all perfectly formed.
Katherine examined them with professional appreciation. "You're getting better."
"I have a good teacher."
"Flattery." But she smiled. "Seriously, Nova, your progress is impressive. Most students take months to reach this level. You've done it in weeks."
Nova shrugged. "I've had practice."
"With what? That journal you mentioned?"
He nodded.
Katherine studied him, curiosity in her eyes. "You're a mystery, you know that? Class C student with ancient bloodline, cultivation accelerating faster than anyone, alchemy talent that puts second-years to shame." She leaned forward. "Who are you really?"
Nova met her gaze.
"A genius."
Katherine held his eyes for a long moment. Then she nodded slowly.
"Fair enough, She replied with a pout on her face. Same time tomorrow?"
"Same time."
He gathered his materials and left.
Class A Dormitory — Evening
Priscilla was awake when he returned.
She sat on his bed, wrapped in his cloak, staring out the window at the artificial sky. When he entered, she turned—and for the first time in days, she smiled.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself." He sat beside her, pulling her close. "How do you feel?"
"Better." She leaned against him. "The pills help. Your stupid cloak helps. You being here helps most of all."
Nova kissed her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere."
They sat in comfortable silence, watching the sky shift through evening colors.
"Nova?"
"Hmm?"
"What happened in the valley... Sebastian and his people... they're all dead, aren't they?"
Nova considered lying. Considered protecting her from the truth.
But she deserved honesty.
"Most of them. Sebastian escaped."
Priscilla stiffened. "Escaped? How?"
"Emergency teleport. Family treasure." Nova's voice hardened. "But he didn't escape intact. He won't be touching anyone ever again."
She looked up at him, questions in her eyes. He didn't elaborate.
After a long moment, she nodded slowly.
"Good."
They sat together as darkness fell.
Priscilla slept off.
Nova sat at his desk, reviewing his status.
GODLESS SYSTEM — CURRENT STATUS
NAME: Nova Almond
AGE: 15
RACE: Human (Ancient Bloodline — Almond Family)
BLOODLINE ACTIVATION: 60%
CULTIVATION: 2nd Order, 9th Rank
CURRENT RANK: 13 (Class A)
BLOODLINE ABILITIES:
Frozen Domain (Active)
Soul Perception (Passive — 1km range)
Regeneration Level 1 (Active)
CULTIVATION TECHNIQUE:
Voidfrost Sutra — Heaven-Grade — 41% mastered
ACTIVE QUESTS:
Survival of the Fittest — Complete
The Maxwell Storm — In Progress
NOTE: Maxwell family retaliation pending. Estimated time: 2-8 weeks. Prepare accordingly.
Two to eight weeks, Nova thought. Not much time.
He looked at his mana stones—fifty low-grade, twelve mid-grade.
I need to find that fragment, he realized. The fourth Godless piece. Level 2 unlocks the shop, credit conversion, ability upgrades. That could change everything.
But the fragment could be anywhere on Earth as hinted by the system that it was near. Planetary range meant he could sense it, but not pinpoint it.
One thing at a time, he told himself. Survive the Maxwells. Find the fragment. Grow stronger.
He closed his eyes and began to cultivate.
Maxwell Estate — Night
In a darkened room, Sebastian Maxwell lay in a bed surrounded by healing arrays.
His arms were gone. His manhood was gone. His body was a ruin.
But his eyes—his eyes burned with hatred.
"Nova," he whispered. "Nova Almond."
The name was a curse, a prayer, a promise.
"I'll kill you," he breathed. "I'll kill you and everyone you love. I'll make you watch while I fuck your—"
He couldn't finish. Couldn't even imagine what he'd do, because the thing he'd wanted to do most was now impossible.
Tears streamed down his face.
"Father," he whispered. "Grandfather. Please. Please kill him."
In the darkness, no one answered.
But somewhere in the manor, plans were already being made.