Chapter 2: The Blackthrone Family Betrayal and Shadowfang Woods

In the grand Blackthrone family mansion, a young girl named Isabella hesitantly approached a large room. The heavy wooden doors loomed before her, ornate carvings cast in shadows by flickering torchlight within. As she peeked inside, a rush of emotions overwhelmed her—curiosity battled apprehension. The throne room was both majestic and intimidating, where her father, Nove Blackthrone, sat on an imposing throne with a solemn expression that mirrored the grand yet oppressive nature of his surroundings. Next to him was Kane, his devoted advisor, an ever-watchful figure whose presence only deepened Isabella's unease.

"Did you call for me, Father?" she asked softly, anxiety threading through her voice as she tried to keep her composure in the face of uncertainty.

Nove looked at her, the weight of his responsibilities clear in his eyes, etched deeper by the burden of unspoken truths. "Yes, Isabella. I need to share some difficult news. You are to marry the crown prince of the Vermilion Kingdom."

The declaration sent a chill down Isabella's spine, and her heart sank at the thought. She had only heard tales of the crown prince—stories filled with arrogance and a reckless pursuit of power. The notion of being bound to him stirred dread in her stomach. "But Father, I don't feel ready for this. He has such an arrogant reputation... I don't think I can bear it."

Her father's brow furrowed with concern, the flicker of compassion struggling against the boundaries of duty. "I understand your feelings, but this union is essential for our family's standing. It's a complicated situation that stretches beyond our immediate desires."

"I would rather face anything than marry him, Father," Isabella pleaded, tears pooling in her eyes. The cold reality pressed down on her like an insurmountable weight. "Please, I beg you."

With a heavy heart, Nove commanded, "Take her to her room. If she resists, we may have to impose a command seal until she agrees."

As the guards approached to escort her away, their grim expressions failing to soften their brutality, Kane, who had been quietly observing, ventured a suggestion. "What about Azeris?"

Nove's expression turned grave as the name hung in the air. "The servant boy? It seems Isabella has feelings for him, despite his humble origins. It complicates our plans further."

Kane understood the stakes, knowing well that the lives and futures of many rested upon their choices. "Yes, Father. What course of action should we take with him?"

Nove's anger simmered just below the surface, a fierce tempest of conflicting emotions. "Make it look like an accident and hide his body in the Shadowfang Woods. The last thing we need is for Isabella to cling to any hope of rescue."

Kane hesitated before asking gently, "And what of his mother and sister?"

"Remove them too," Nove replied, his tone icy as the resolve solidified in his decision.

Kane took a breath, weighing his words carefully, as the implications of such actions sank in. "May I keep the mother and daughter to spare them from a harsher fate? It would serve their lives while ensuring we maintain control over the situation."

After a moment of tension-laden contemplation, Nove reluctantly agreed. "Very well, but be careful in your dealings. You must remember your commitment regarding the marriage. The family's legacy is more vital than any individual sentiment."

"Yes, Father," Kane replied, though a sense of reluctance lingered in his voice, a chilling awareness of the dark path that lay ahead.

*...Hours later...*

Elsewhere on the estate, Azeris meandered through the moonlit garden, seeking solace beneath the enchanting canopy of stars. In the serene beauty of the flowers and the sweet serenade of the night, he found a momentary escape as thoughts of his beloved sister and mother filled his heart with warmth. Yet, like a fleeting dream, his peace was shattered when two men cloaked in black emerged from the shadows, daggers glinting ominously in the moonlight, their intentions clear and deadly.

Realizing the peril he was in, Azeris fought bravely, his instincts priming him for a fight despite the looming threat—a mere mortal against skilled cultivators. They attacked with relentless ferocity, and despite his immense determination, he was overpowered. Wounded and helpless, he felt the sting of despair as he glimpsed his mother and sister struggling against their captors, their fear evident, forming a palpable link of anguish that tugged at his heart.

As the darkness began to close in around him, their fates hanging precariously, obscured by the chaos that engulfed them, Azeris was roughly dragged away toward the Blackthrone family dungeon—a place steeped in shadows and despair, where hope rarely lived.

After they tossed him onto the cold forest floor, their harsh laughter echoed in his ears. "Good luck surviving, filth," they mocked, leaving him vulnerable and alone as their footsteps receded into the distance.

In the depths of Shadowfang Woods—where danger lurked at every turn and the shadows seemed to breathe—Azeris lay on the ground, his body failing him, his mind swirling in a fog of confusion and overwhelming loss.

"Is this… how it ends for me?" he thought, despair washing over him like a dark tide, dragging him into the depths of hopelessness, but then—

Amidst the darkness, unexpectedly, a flicker of resilience sparked within him, ignited by the love he held for his family and the burning desire to escape the fate laid out by those who sought to destroy him. It was a deep-seated strength, something powerful yearning to awaken against all odds.

And then—

[Ding! Infinity Dragon System Awakening.]

The air around him began to tremble, reacting to the dormant power within, and golden flames ignited from Azeris's body, casting aside the shadows as they danced with intensity. The flames were not merely a manifestation of energy; they were a herald of something ancient and powerful, a legacy waiting to be embraced. The pain in his body faded as the warmth of the flames enveloped him, healing wounds he never thought he could recover