Chapter 327: The Hunt Begins

Sage’s head snapped toward Cassian, her golden eyes blazing with fury. She grabbed his shirt.

"Aren’t you too pessimistic?!" Sage shouted, her voice cracking. Tears welled in her eyes spilling down her cheeks. "That is Kael! He’s your friend! You’re just going to give up?!"

Her grip tightened. Her body trembled from raw, unfiltered emotion.

Cassian didn’t react to her outburst. His silver-white hair fell across his face, obscuring his expression.

Yenna stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on Sage’s shoulder.

"Sage, calm down. Try to understand the situation." Yenna squeezed her shoulder gently. "Cassian isn’t saying that because he doesn’t care. He’s saying it because the people who took Kael have already left the Void Realm. They didn’t use the same gate we did. By now, they could be anywhere in the galaxy. Searching blindly won’t help."

Sage’s grip on Cassian’s shirt loosened, her hands falling to her sides. Her shoulders trembled—the fight draining from her body, replaced by helpless desperation.

"Then what do we do?" Sage whispered.

"Hey, kid."

A deep, gravelly voice cut through the moment. The group turned to see a broad-shouldered man approaching. Brody. The Origin Realm cultivator assigned by Cassandra Vorn as Kael’s Guardian Knight. His face was grave. He had been waiting at the gate for Kael’s return. The boy hadn’t come out. Every minute that passed without Kael appearing had tightened the knot in his stomach.

His only duty from Lady Cassandra was to ensure Kael returned to the family safely and as time passed, it became clear he had failed.

Recognizing Cassian, the one he had driven to this planet along with Kael—Brody stepped forward.

"Where is Kael? What happened to him?"

Cassian met Brody’s eyes.

"When I was inside the some ruins, I used my ability to observe the battlefield," Cassian explained. "I was able to see pieces of what happened. A demon and another man radiating dark energy, wearing a black mask. He could devour any form of energy and I think abilities too as he used multiple abilities. They’re members of the House of Crimson."

Brody’s expression darkened at the mention of the House of Crimson. But when Cassian said "devour abilities," something changed. The color drained from Brody’s face.

"Devour abilities?" Brody repeated, his voice low. "A man who can devour abilities?"

Sage nodded. "He used lightning, wind, teleportation, darkness—multiple abilities. He used them all in combat against Kael."

Brody was far more shocked to hear of the Devouring Spirit Clan than the House of Crimson. The House of Crimson was a known threat. The Devouring Spirit Clan was a nightmare from five centuries ago. A clan that should have been erased from existence entirely. If one of them was alive and operating with the Shadow Vatican, the implications were catastrophic.

"I need to go back and inform the clan," Brody said, his voice tight. "Lady Cassandra needs to know about this immediately."

Sage’s eyes widened. She grabbed Brody’s arm.

"Wait! Isabella—Isabella Vorn was with them!" Sage’s voice was frantic, the words tumbling out. "She was with the people who took Kael! But she seemed... controlled. And her eyes seemed soulless. Maybe if you see her in the clan, she can help. I don’t know."

Sage didn’t mention Sebastian. She didn’t know who Sebastian was—had never met him before, didn’t know his relationship with Kael or his status as a Vorn. She assumed he was another part of the House of Crimson, another masked operative or subordinate.

Brody’s jaw tightened. If a Vorn family Shadow had been compromised, especially Isabella who usually worked with the logistics, the security breach was catastrophic. Isabella was Shadow Rank, one of the strategic minds of the family. If she was compromised, the Vorn family’s internal security was compromised.

"I’ll report this too," Brody said. "Lady Cassandra will need to act quickly."

Cassian spoke up. "I’ll also involve my family."

Yenna hesitated for a moment, her expression conflicted. She crossed her arms, her ice-blue eyes thoughtful, distant. The internal struggle was visible on her face. Then she spoke, her voice carrying reluctant determination.

"I hate to ask the Sterling family for help," Yenna said. "But Kael has saved me more than once. So I will help in any way I can, including asking help from the Sterlings."

The Sterling family. One of the great families, known for their powerful frost abilities. The Frostveil family—Yenna’s family—was just a branch of the Sterling family. Yenna’s connection to them was complicated. Her immense talent had elevated her status, but the politics of the main family and its branches were a minefield of expectations and obligations. She was willing to navigate that minefield for Kael.

Brody turned to leave. "I’m leaving now. Every hour we waste is an hour they get further away." He looked at Cassian. "Keep me informed. I’ll contact you through the Vale family communication network once I’ve spoken with Lady Cassandra."

Brody strode toward the landing pads as he boarded his spaceship. The engines ignited—FWOOM—the vessel lifting off and disappearing into the sky in seconds.

Cassian and Yenna moved toward Yeena’s own ship. Sage watched them go.

The male fox elder placed a heavy hand on Sage’s shoulder. "We leave now, mistress. The first mistress needs immediate care."

Sage nodded. She followed the elders toward their own vessel, Rue cradled gently in the female elder’s arms.

Each of them entered their spaceships and departed in different directions.

Meanwhile, in an undisclosed location deep within House of Crimson territory, a portal opened.

Claude stepped through first, his burned body barely supporting itself. His cracked mask finally crumbled, pieces of porcelain dropping to the stone floor, revealing a face scarred by decades of conflict.

Draxos followed, his diminished form still towering over everyone present.

Sebastian carried Kael through—GRUNT—dumping his unconscious brother onto the stone floor unceremoniously—THUD. Kael’s body lay motionless, blood still caked on his face, his hair matted and tangled.

The Clown, Claudia and Isabella walked out next.

The House of Crimson base was vast—a massive underground cavern converted into a military installation. Stolen technology lined the walls. Runic formations and cells lined the far wall, some occupied, some empty.

And waiting for them were the garrison.

Various Peak Spirit Soul cultivators stood in formation—twelve of them— their auras suppressed but unmistakable. And behind them, two figures radiating power that made the air itself heavy.

Two Origin Realm masters.

One was a woman in dark crimson robes, her hair a cascade of blood-red, her eyes crimson depicting her identity as a vampire. The other was a man in grey, his face hidden behind a metallic mask, his hands folded behind his back.

The woman in crimson stepped forward. She looked down at Kael’s unconscious body on the floor, her black eyes studying him with clinical interest.