Chapter 17 — The Gathering at Hollow Vault
Chapter 17 — The Gathering at Hollow Vault
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The night air was crisp, silent, and heavy with unspoken currents.
Cyrus approached the marked meeting point — fully prepared.
His weapons were hidden beneath his coat, his sensors activated, his awareness sharpened to an edge few could reach.
Every step was measured.
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> I've calculated 14 possible scenarios…
The air was still as Cyrus stood before the quiet alleyway deep within Sector Seven — an old transport hub no longer used by Galactus Academy. It was here the message from Adrien had led him.
A faint hum buzzed from the neon signs, flickering rhythmically against the walls. The city beyond was alive with students celebrating, yet here — silence.
> Strange. No cameras. No monitoring runes. He chose this place deliberately.
Controlled environment... nothing leaks out.
Cyrus' fingers brushed lightly against his watch as he approached.
His gut churned—not out of fear, but awareness. Something was amiss.
> He's been waiting for me. But not just me.
As he turned the final corner, his sharp senses picked up faint traces — multiple presences. Not one. Not two. But many.
And then he saw them.
Standing beneath a hovering crystalline platform, illuminated by the pulsing light above, were twelve figures.
Familiar figures.
The heirs of the Twelve Great Houses.
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His expression remained still, but his mind flared.
> Impossible. Why... why are they here?
Adrien stood at the center, his trademark calm smile painted perfectly across his face. His hands folded behind him, as if he were hosting an elegant dinner.
The group didn't look surprised at Cyrus' arrival. In fact, they were expecting him.
That unsettled him more than their presence.
> He played them the same way he played me.
Yet, the scene before him wasn't among any of them.
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In the open clearing stood not Adrien alone, but thirteen others.
Twelve young figures—familiar, powerful, dangerous.
The potential heirs of the Twelve Dominion Families.
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> Not all of them official heirs… but all strong candidates for succession.
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They stood in small clusters, quietly conversing, but fully aware of his arrival.
There was no surprise on their faces — only curiosity, amusement, and ambition.
They knew he was coming.
They were waiting for him.
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For the first time in a long while, Cyrus felt something tighten in his chest.
> How the fuck…?
How the hell did he convince them?
They would never gather like this easily.
And then it hit him.
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> The same way he played me.
He's using his "knowledge."
Information no one should possess.
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As Cyrus walked forward, Adrien's voice cut through the air:
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Adrien (warm tone, echoing gently):
"Ah, finally — Cyrus the Great joins us."
The words struck Cyrus like a cold dagger.
Cyrus (narrowing eyes, flat voice):
"Don't use that title."
Some heads turned with visible confusion at the title.
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Cyrus flinched.
That title—The Great—was long buried with the Aurelius massacre.
No one alive should know it.
> He sees not just my present… but my past too.
And Cyrus could feel the gaze of the others questioning the title .
Selene Drakonis (gentle but curious):
"Cyrus the Great? That title belongs to a certain... legend, doesn't it?"
Vynne Solarius (arms crossed, serious):
"I thought the Aurelius name was erased completely."
Kaito Solarius (chuckling lightly):
"Apparently, some ghosts still walk."
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> So they don't know who I truly am. Yet.
Good. Let it stay that way for now.
Adrien simply kept smiling, watching like a puppeteer admiring his strings.
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Adrien (smooth tone):
*"Relax, everyone. We're not here to discuss anyone's past — for now."
He glanced at Cyrus.
"We're here for opportunity."
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Cyrus' eyes quickly analyzed each person, one by one, memorizing every subtle movement, every glance.
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> They don't know who I am… not fully. But now seeds of doubt have been planted.
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Adrien's smirk deepened as if savoring Cyrus' discomfort.
"Well then, since everyone's here..."
"Let's get formal, shall we?"
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The group shifted, and for the first time, Cyrus fully registered who stood before him.
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The Gathering:
1️⃣ Selene Drakonis (House of Drakonis – Lords of Time)
Standing gracefully beside a floating chronosphere, observing every microsecond with eerie calm. Her long white hair glimmered faintly as if threads of time wrapped around her fingers.
2️⃣ Vera Nocturnis (House of Nocturnis – Silent Blades)
Leaning against a nearby rock, half-hidden in shadows, her soft eyes tracking Cyrus with silent interest.
3️⃣ Liora Valthorne (House of Valthorne – Mind Kings)
Playfully twirling a psychic crystal above her palm, eyes sharp beneath her flirty smile.
4️⃣ Seraphina Ravencourt (House of Ravencourt – Lords of Balance)
Kneeling beside a small injured animal, softly healing it while humming, but her aura crackled with hidden bloodlust.
5️⃣ Aurora Vermillion (House of Vermillion – Reality Architects)
Standing tall, observing the conversation from a distance. The air distorted slightly around her like fragile glass ready to break.
6️⃣ Iris Obscura (House of Obscura – Grand Illusionists)
Seated on a floating petal, humming to herself, eyes glinting beneath her innocent facade.
7️⃣ Ren Valerius (House of Valerius – The Unbroken Line)
Arms crossed, unreadable expression, but his overwhelming physical presence undeniable.
8️⃣ Shun Mercurius (House of Mercurius – Infinite Thieves)
Winking at Cyrus as if greeting an old rival, casually spinning twin daggers between his fingers.
9️⃣ Daiki Stormgrave (House of Stormgrave – Immortal Shields)
Standing like an immovable wall, completely still but exuding monstrous physical strength.
🔟 Kaito Solarius (House of Solarius – Energy Sovereigns)
Calm, polite smile as always, but his glowing eyes reflected dangerous ambition.
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And then, there were two others—lesser known but still ambitious candidates from minor lineages tied to the Twelve Houses:
1️⃣1️⃣ Marcellus Durn (Minor Line of Ravencourt – Blood Diviners)
Smiling slyly, studying Cyrus like prey.
1️⃣2️⃣ Vynne Alaric (Distant Branch of Vermillion – Spatial Benders)
Fidgeting nervously, eyes darting across the field, clearly overawed by the gathering.
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Finally:
1️⃣3️⃣ Adrien (Transgressor)
Standing at the center — orchestrator of this entire gathering.
And lastly:
1️⃣4️⃣ Cyrus Aurelius.
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Cyrus (internal monologue, coldly analyzing):
> All of them… heirs or potential successors of their Houses.
Twelve families. Twelve monsters. And one wildcard — me.
He truly pulled them together. Using what? Their weaknesses? Their ambitions? Their fears?
He knows too much .
For a brief moment, absolute silence blanketed them.
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The Conversation Begins
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Adrien (calm tone):
"Now then... since you're all here, allow me to formally welcome you all to an opportunity unlike anything the Dominion Nexus has ever seen."
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Liora was first to break the tension.
Liora (playful tone):
"I must say, Adrien… your invitation was quite persuasive."
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Vera (soft whisper):
"Curious indeed."
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Ren (cold, calm tone):
"Get to the point."
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Shun (grinning):
"I'm only here because this sounds fun. And dangerous."
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Aurora (mature tone):
"We've all taken great risk gathering here unsanctioned. You better make it worth it."
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Adrien smiled wider.
Adrien:
"The Hollow Vault of Serathis — a dungeon lost even to Dominion records. And yet... it's right beneath our feet."
He tapped the ground gently.
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Cyrus (quiet, tense tone):
"You say that with certainty... yet no record exists. How?"
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Adrien's eyes gleamed:
Adrien (soft voice):
"Because I see what others cannot."
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The others exchanged glances, the weight of those words pressing into their minds.
Adrien continued.
Adrien:
"Inside the Vault lies not just power… but knowledge forbidden by the Council of Thrones."
"Knowledge that could reshape the balance of the Twelve Houses."
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Daiki (stoic voice):
"Then why invite rivals? You could attempt it alone."
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Adrien:
"Because what's inside requires a team… at least for now."
"And because—whether you admit it or not—you're all curious enough to be here."
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The group grew restless, silent calculations flashing behind each pair of eyes.
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> Their motives varied:
Power.
Revenge.
Ambition.
Survival.
But all shared one thing: desire.
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Seraphina (calm, dangerous tone):
"And what makes you think we won't turn on each other inside?"
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Adrien's smile deepened.
Adrien:
"You will."
"And that... is part of the fun."
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The wind shifted.
For a brief second, Cyrus could feel the entire balance of power here — unstable, yet exhilarating.
> They're all sharks circling each other. Including me.
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Cyrus finally spoke, eyes locked on Adrien:
Cyrus (icy calm tone):
"You've manipulated us to gather, Adrien."
"That alone proves you're dangerous. But not yet trustworthy."
He glanced at the others slowly, letting his words cut into the air:
Cyrus (low, steady tone):
"For now, I'll play along."
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Adrien's eyes flashed.
Adrien (whispered, knowing tone):
"That's all I needed, Great One."
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The others slowly began approaching the marked location.
Yet—no entrance to the dungeon was visible.
Only empty ground.
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End of Chapter 17