.
.
Night covered the Heavenly Dao Academy.
The bright lights of the floating islands slowly faded.
Most disciples had already returned to their residences.
But one person remained awake.
Knox Void.
Standing on the highest tower of the academy, he looked down at the endless mountains below.
The wind moved his black robe.
His expression remained calm.
Yet his mind was focused.
Something was wrong.
The Heavenly Dao Academy was supposed to be a place for nurturing geniuses.
A place where future heroes were born.
But Knox had discovered something hidden beneath it.
An ancient seal.
A forbidden existence.
And a connection to the mysterious First Villain.
[Ding!]
Hidden Quest Reminder.
Objective: Investigate the Ancient Seal beneath Heavenly Dao Academy.
Time Limit: None.
Reward: Authority Fragment.
Knox closed the system screen.
"Something that even the System considers important..."
"Must be interesting."
A small smile appeared.
Suddenly...
A voice came from behind him.
"You always have that expression when you're planning something dangerous."
Knox turned.
Seraphina Luna stood there.
Her silver hair reflected the moonlight.
"You follow people often?"
She shook her head.
"Only troublesome people."
Knox raised an eyebrow.
"So I'm troublesome?"
"Very."
A rare smile appeared on her face.
Seraphina looked at him seriously.
"You are investigating something."
Knox didn't answer.
That was enough of an answer.
She sighed.
"Do you ever trust anyone?"
Knox looked at the sky.
"Trust is expensive."
"And you don't want to spend it?"
"No."
A pause.
"Because when someone betrays you..."
"They already know where to hurt you."
Seraphina became silent.
For a moment, she saw something hidden behind Knox's cold personality.
Not arrogance.
Not cruelty.
A person who had learned to protect himself.
"I'll come with you."
Knox looked at her.
"No."
"Why?"
"It's dangerous."
Seraphina smiled slightly.
"You say that like you care."
Knox paused.
"...I care about useful allies."
"That wasn't a denial."
Knox looked away.
"You're annoying."
"Thank you."
Together, they moved toward the forbidden area beneath the academy.
The entrance was hidden beneath an abandoned cultivation tower.
Most disciples didn't even know it existed.
Ancient symbols covered the stone door.
Knox placed his hand on it.
The moment his Void Bloodline touched the door—
BOOM!
The symbols lit up.
A message appeared.
"Only the successor of the Void can enter."
Seraphina looked at Knox.
"Successor?"
Knox frowned.
He didn't like that word.
The door opened.
A dark staircase descended into endless darkness.
The deeper they went...
The stronger the pressure became.
After several minutes...
They reached the bottom.
A massive underground chamber appeared.
At the center was a gigantic black chain.
And behind the chains...
Something was sealed.
A voice suddenly echoed.
"Finally..."
"Someone carrying his aura has arrived."
Knox stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?"
Silence.
Then...
A pair of red eyes opened in the darkness.
"I am the last guardian of the First Villain."
Seraphina immediately became alert.
"First Villain?"
The figure laughed.
"So he never told you?"
Knox's expression remained unchanged.
But inside...
He became interested.
The sealed figure continued.
"Long ago, before heroes existed..."
"Before gods ruled the heavens..."
"There was one person who challenged everything."
"The First Villain."
"He did not want destruction."
"He wanted freedom."
Knox listened carefully.
The figure looked at him.
"You inherited his authority."
"But you do not understand what you carry."
The chains trembled.
A terrifying pressure spread.
Seraphina took a step back.
Even she felt fear.
"How strong is this thing?"
Knox stared forward.
"Not strong enough."
The sealed figure laughed.
"Confidence."
"Just like him."
[Ding!]
Unknown Entity Detected.
Name: ???
Connection: First Villain's Legacy
Threat Level: High
Possible Ally.
Knox was surprised.
Possible ally?
The System had never suggested that before.
The figure spoke again.
"To awaken the true power of the Supreme Villain System..."
"You need three things."
"First..."
"The Heart of Rebellion."
"Second..."
"The Crown of the Fallen King."
"Third..."
"The Blood of a True Enemy of Heaven."
Knox narrowed his eyes.
"Where are they?"
The figure smiled.
"One is hidden in the Demon Realm."
"One sleeps beneath the Celestial Court."
"And the final one..."
The red eyes looked directly at Knox.
"Is already inside you."
Silence.
Knox touched his chest.
Inside him?
What did that mean?
Suddenly—
The entire underground chamber shook.
The chains began breaking.
The sealed figure's expression changed.
"Impossible."
"They found me."
Knox frowned.
"Who?"
The figure looked toward the ceiling.
"The Celestial Court."
Above the academy...
The night sky split open.
Golden light descended.
Thousands of armored warriors appeared.
Their leader stood at the front.
Wearing golden armor.
Holding a divine spear.
His pressure covered the entire academy.
Every elder awakened.
A terrifying voice echoed.
"By order of the Celestial Court..."
"Hand over the successor of the First Villain."
The entire Heavenly Dao Academy fell into chaos.
Students panicked.
Elders prepared for battle.
And inside the underground chamber...
Knox smiled.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
Finally...
A real enemy had appeared.
Seraphina looked at him.
"You are smiling."
Knox drew his sword.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I was getting bored."
The underground chamber shook.
The golden army descended.
The Celestial Court had arrived.
And they came...
For Knox Void.
End of Chapter 14