Chapter 4 — The Summit of Fear
The chamber doors had already opened moments earlier.
Dion stood inside — tall, elegant, posture perfectly composed as if he belonged at the center of every room he entered.
His presence was quiet… yet impossible to ignore.
Zhao Kenjiro raised a hand casually.
"Yo, Dion. It's been a while."
Arun Nakamura smirked, arms crossed. "Yeah. You suddenly vanished after we refused. Thought you were hiding from us."
Dion blinked once, expression flat.
"It has only been a few months."
Kenjiro shrugged. "That's long for someone like you."
Arun snorted.
"You didn't even say hello properly. Still rude as always."
Dion stared at them both.
"…Hello."
Kenjiro and Arun nodded, satisfied.
Everyone else just stared.
The two strongest clan leaders greeting Lin Xuan's attendant like he was an old brother was insane enough.
But the casualness?
Terrifying.
Dion turned his gaze toward the remaining clan leaders — the ones who weren't smiling, weren't relaxed, and definitely weren't happy to see him(exept for Astrid Gunnarson).
Erik Johnson scoffed loudly.
"So Lin Xuan didn't even bother coming himself," he said, voice dripping with contempt.
"He sent his slave to answer us."
The word echoed through the chamber with venom.
Marcus Diodoros leaned forward, smirking cruelly.
"Slave? No, no… he's not even that.
You're not a man.
You're not a woman.
What even are you?"
His tone was mocking, disgusting.
Lucien De Silva watched silently, lips curling with faint amusement.
Erik added, laughing,
"You were once called the most beautiful spirit in the Nexus.
And now look at you — reduced to a man.
Pathetic."
The words struck something deep.
Dion's eyes narrowed just a fraction — and suddenly, a flash burned through his mind.
Flashback:
A much younger Lin Xuan — perhaps eighteen — stood in an ancient-looking chamber, robes torn, hands trembling.
His eyes were filled with confusion, shock, and… worry?
"Daeun…" he said softly, voice cracking.
"Why did you do that…?"
The memory cut off abruptly.
Present-day Dion inhaled once — slow, steady.
Then he raised his gaze, eyes sharp like cold blades.
"You pieces of sh*t," he said softly,
"you think I care about your words?"
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Erik roared and slammed his palms together, lightning erupting around him.
Marcus activated his defensive aura, a golden dome forming around his body.
Both of them charged at Dion from opposite sides—
The chamber shook.
The table cracked.
Farid and Takeda braced instinctively.
But Dion… didn't even blink.
He simply lifted two fingers…
…and flicked the air.
Tap.
A sound softer than a raindrop.
Erik froze mid-lunge.
Marcus's aura shattered like glass.
BOOOOM!
Both men were thrown across the chamber, slamming into opposite walls hard enough to fracture the Lunarglass surface.
They collapsed instantly, unconscious, limbs twitching, eyes rolled back.
Not dead.
But completely unable to fight.
Dion brushed imaginary dust off his sleeve.
Then he spoke again, tone colder than before—
"Next time you speak about my form or my past…
I'll remove your ability to speak entirely."
Every leader in the chamber went silent.
Even Zhao Kenjiro stopped smirking.
Even Arun straightened.
Because they all knew—
Dion wasn't bluffing.
He didn't bluff.
The chamber was silent after Erik and Marcus hit the walls.
Dion didn't spare them another glance.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small obsidian-colored data drive—etched with the symbol of the Obsidian Onyx Guild.
He placed it gently on the Lunarglass table.
"This," Dion said quietly,
"contains all the evidence against the Nethyra Clan."
The hologram above the table flickered.
Files opened.
Images appeared:
● illegal Asura-technology
● hidden portals
● Asura blood rituals
● maps marked with invasion points
● data logs of Nethyra providing resources to Asura warlords
Farid Albrecht's eyes widened.
Lucien De Silva leaned forward with real interest.
Takeda Pratap clenched his jaw.
Hiro Kalani's cheerful expression vanished entirely.
Dion continued, his tone clinical.
"They were working with the Asuras.
Trading human captives.
Smuggling artifacts.
Preparing a gate breach."
The room temperature dropped.
Even the strongest leaders stiffened.
Dion finally straightened.
"And I apologize on my master's behalf," he said with a polite bow,
"He was unable to attend this meeting."
Zhao Kenjiro waved his hand dismissively.
"Nah. No need to apologize."
Arun nodded.
"Lin Xuan doesn't owe anyone an explanation."
Takeda Pratap added softly,
"A clan working with Asuras deserves worse."
Dion's expression remained calm.
But something in his eyes softened—
just for a second.
Then he turned and walked out.
Leaving the ten greatest leaders of Earth in utter silence.
The starship door opened with a soft hiss.
Lin Xuan stepped out first.
Vaibhav and Alicia followed, eyes wide as the floating island stretched before them— Mercury Haven, glowing under artificial starlight.
But something felt off.
The walkways were empty.
The sky-rails inactive.
The entire amusement district… silent.
No people.
No staff.
No crowds.
Vaibhav blinked twice.
"Uh… why is this place so empty?
Does nobody come here?"
Lin Xuan responded plainly.
"It's not like that.
I bought the entire island for today."
Vaibhav almost fainted on the spot.
"B–b–bought?
The whole island?
But 1 UC is 50 Bitcoins!
Then buying an entire island like this— that's— that's—"
Lin Xuan tapped his forehead lightly with two fingers.
"Don't think so much, kid."
Anika wrapped her arm around Vaibhav's shoulder.
"Yeah, stop calculating and enjoy! It's your birthday."
Alicia giggled softly.
Vaibhav, still mentally exploding, nodded stiffly.
Meanwhile, Theo whispered to Daichi:
"He's going to get nosebleeds from stress."
Daichi whispered back, mouth full:
"Can we eat the entire island's food now?"
Theo: "No."
As they reached the entertainment district, Anika clapped her hands.
"Alright! Perfect timing!
There's a romantic movie playing in Theatre Hall 3."
Vaibhav blinked.
Alicia blinked.
"Okay…?" Vaibhav asked slowly.
Anika turned toward the two, her smile turning mischievous.
"You two should go watch it together."
Vaibhav's face turned red instantly.
"W–wait—alone? Why us? What will you do?"
Anika leaned closer, whispering teasingly:
"Why?
Because I want you two to get a little closer.
Maybe in the dim theatre light…
there might be a chance for a kiss~"
Alicia froze, ears red.
Vaibhav looked like he got hit by lightning.
"W–WHAT!?"
"Aw, look at them blush," Yan'er said softly, smiling.
Anika then turned toward Lin Xuan.
"And we—me, Yan'er, and Brother Lin—are going to watch a romantic movie in Theatre Hall 1."
Lin Xuan paused.
"I am not interested in romantic movies.
So I am not coming."
Anika raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really?
Did you forget you promised me you'd do anything I say?"
> "No."
> "You will."
> "No."
> "Yes."
Lin Xuan exhaled.
"…Alright. Alright. I'm coming."
Vaibhav whispered to Alicia:
"We're doomed."
Alicia whispered back:
"…I know."
And Anika grinned like a demon who had orchestrated everything perfectly.
"Okay!" Anika clapped her hands. "Everyone else can pick a different movie or go to the amusement park. Your choice."
Daichi raised his hand immediately.
"ROLLER COASTER!!"
Theo grabbed his collar.
"You just want to eat snacks while screaming—"
Daichi nodded proudly.
"Yes."
Theo: "That wasn't a compliment!!"
Lin Xuan ignored them.
Anika pulled him and Yan'er toward Theatre Hall 1.
Vaibhav and Alicia were gently pushed into Theatre Hall 3.
The rest of the family cheerfully headed to the roller coaster section.
Two theatres.
Two atmospheres.
Two different types of chaos.
Teen Theatre – Hall 3
The lights dimmed to a soft rose hue.
Vaibhav and Alicia sat side by side, both stiff as statues, their shoulders barely brushing.
On-screen, the romantic leads were confessing under starlight.
Alicia's fingers trembled.
Vaibhav's heart hammered so loud he was sure she could hear.
Slowly—almost painfully slowly—they inched closer.
Her head tilted.
His breath hitched.
The soft glow of the screen painted their faces in warm colors.
Alicia whispered,
"…Vaibhav…"
He whispered back,
"…Yeah…?"
Their noses brushed—
And then—
They kissed.
Soft.
Nervous.
Warm.
Alicia's cheeks turned crimson.
Vaibhav forgot how to breathe.
But neither pulled away.
Adult Theatre – Hall 1
The movie played softly in the background—dramatic music swelling, two actors confessing on a bridge.
But the real drama wasn't on-screen.
It was in the back row.
Anika leaned toward Lin Xuan with a grin.
"Hey. Kiss me."
Lin Xuan blinked slowly.
"…What?"
"I told you," Anika said, eyes sparkling,
"Kiss me."
Before he could respond—
she grabbed his collar and kissed him herself.
Yan'er gasped quietly beside them, face completely red.
Anika pulled away and smirked.
"See? Easy."
Then she pointed at Yan'er.
"Now kiss her."
Lin Xuan frowned.
"No. Not without her consent."
Anika scoffed.
"Oh, please. You kill people without asking—just kiss her. Besides…"
She leaned closer.
"…She likes you too."
Yan'er covered her mouth with her sleeve, trembling.
Lin Xuan turned to her gently.
"Yan'er…
Can I?"
Yan'er didn't trust her voice.
So she nodded.
Lin Xuan leaned in—
And kissed her.
Yan'er's hands trembled.
Her heart raced.
But she didn't move away.
Her cheeks burned the color of a sunset.
Anika squealed quietly, whispering,
"Kyaaaaaa~ romantic…"
Meanwhile—
Arjun, Vivan, and Prabhat sat calmly on the coaster.
Daichi sat next to Theo…
Still eating snacks.
Even as the coaster climbed a 90-degree drop.
Theo screamed,
"STOP EATING DURING A FREEFALL YOU MANIAC—!"
Daichi finally sighed,
"Fine…"
He lowered the snack bag—
Grabbed Theo's collar—
And YEETED him off the coaster.
Theo spun through the air.
Into space.
Far off in the distance, his echoing voice rang out:
"DAAAAAAICHHHIIIIII—!!!"
Daichi shrugged.
"He'll be back."
Arjun didn't even react.
Vivan calmly marked a page in his book.
Just another normal family outing.
Back in Theatre Hall 1, the movie played quietly while Lin Xuan and Yan'er awkwardly tried to regain composure.
Anika leaned back comfortably.
"By the way," she whispered,
"Daeun should have been here. Don't you think?"
Yan'er instantly shook her head.
"No. She wouldn't come."
Anika raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?"
Yan'er looked toward the glowing screen, voice soft and honest.
"…Because… she's afraid."
"Afraid of what?" Anika asked.
Yan'er's fingers played with her sleeve, cheeks pink.
"She's afraid of falling in love with Brother Lin."
Anika: Yes, I totally forgot.
Lin Xuan sighed deeply—
as if dealing with emotions was far more troublesome than killing clans.
And the movie continued playing…
quietly wrapping them all in a rare warmth.