Chapter 7: The Hero in Hiding

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A Shadow Over the Empire

The empire's noble circles were in turmoil.

The first Chosen Hero, Darian Albrecht, had vanished.

Rumors of his supposed corruption had spread too far, too fast.

He had once stood under the empire's light, but now, his presence was an anomaly, a risk.

Some nobles whispered that he had been abandoned by the heavens.

Others believed he was a threat in disguise.

And Lucian?

He sat back and enjoyed the show.

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The Villain System's Notice

[Objective Progress: Reduce the Heaven Points of a Chosen One to 0.]

Darian Albrecht's Heaven Points: 52 → 35.

Lucian smirked.

He couldn't kill the Chosen Ones directly.

The system had made it clear: the heavens protected them as long as they retained their divine merit.

But what if those very heavens turned against them?

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A Hero's Desperation

Darian, now hiding in a remote monastery, gritted his teeth in frustration.

For days, he had sought an audience with the Emperor—only to be denied.

He had visited the Holy Church—only to be met with hesitation.

He had dreamed of becoming a legend.

Instead, he had become a pariah.

'This… this isn't how it's supposed to be.'

And yet, deep in his heart, he couldn't shake a chilling thought.

Lucian Valcrest.

There was something wrong about him—something inhumanly perfect.

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Annalise's Investigation

Meanwhile, Annalise was not idle.

She had spent days retracing Lucian's steps, speaking to informants, examining the rumors.

She knew Lucian was behind this.

She just couldn't prove it.

For every lead she followed, Lucian had already erased his tracks.

It was like fighting a phantom.

And worse—Lucian had gained public favor.

Wherever she looked, nobles praised his wisdom. Commoners admired his poise.

Lucian Valcrest was no longer just a noble heir.

He was becoming untouchable.

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The Second Chosen Hero Appears

Just as the empire reeled from Darian's disappearance, another name emerged.

A new Chosen Hero had been revealed.

A young woman from the distant Eastern Wastes.

Her name?

Seraphina Yue.

Unlike Darian, she was a warrior born from blood and steel.

And she would not fall for the same tricks.

Lucian chuckled to himself.

"Then let's see how you play this game, Seraphina."

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End of Chapter 7