Chapter 54: The Corruption Core

Kang Min-jae and the surrounding Hunters grew visibly anxious the moment Kael’s final words settled over them. If the real heart was hidden beneath Ashford Central Subway Station, then every second wasted could mean disaster.

Victoria turned to Daemon.

"Do you have a plan?"

Daemon didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes and reached out through the bond.

Sana.

Her voice came back faintly, distorted by distance, but clear enough for him to convey what he needed. When he opened his eyes again, his expression was firm.

"Sana is already heading to the subway station. We’ll wait for her report.

Until then, we need to evacuate everyone near this area including the rescued civilians and the Hunters."

He looked toward the deeper part of the mountain.

"I want to check the Corruption Core alone."

Victoria’s brows furrowed. Hesitation flashed across her face.

Daemon met her eyes and spoke more gently.

"I’ll come back as soon as possible."

He then turned to Lucien.

"Take care of Victoria until I return. No matter what happens, don’t let her come near the mountain."

Lucien nodded and immediately took Victoria’s hand, pulling her toward the outer edge of the forest. Victoria’s gaze never left Daemon.

Even as she was being led away, she spoke clearly over her shoulder.

"Don’t do anything reckless. When this is over, you’re going to tell me everything about your so-called mistresses. We need a long conversation don’t make me wait."

Daemon’s steps paused for half a second.

A complicated mix of guilt, warmth, and helplessness crossed his face before he exhaled quietly and continued deeper into the mountain.

Meanwhile, Sana was already moving.

Using Umbral Passage, she slipped from shadow to shadow at a speed far beyond what she had been capable of months ago.

Her mana reserves had grown tremendously under elven training. At her current pace, not even Daemon would have been able to track her by sight alone.

She reached Ashford Central Subway Station within minutes.

The station was crowded. People moved in every direction office workers, students, travelers completely unaware of the danger buried beneath their feet.

Sana had no time to check each person normally. She sank into the flow of shadows once more, passing through one silhouette after another, scanning for unstable mana and irregular heartbeats that carried traces of corruption.

So far, nothing.

She descended further toward the lower platform.

Then she saw him.

A man wearing a low cap moved faster than anyone else in the station, weaving through the crowd with unnatural urgency. Sana’s eyes sharpened. She followed.

The man suddenly jumped down onto the train tracks, landed cleanly, and turned around.

When he saw her, he smirked.

That was all the confirmation she needed.

The man tried to detonate the Corruption Core planted inside his heart, but Sana was faster.

Transparent mana gathered between her hands and formed a pure energy bow. She drew the string and released the arrow in a single fluid motion.

The mana arrow pierced straight through his heart.

His eyes widened in disbelief. He never imagined someone could react that quickly.

Sana grabbed him before he collapsed fully and dragged him into a nearby service passage where no civilians were present. Only then did she contact Daemon.

Daemon still had two teleportation uses remaining for the day.

Light flashed.

He appeared beside her and immediately checked her condition first.

"Are you okay?"

Sana nodded, slightly out of breath but otherwise unharmed.

"I’m more than fine."

Only then did Daemon look down at the man bleeding on the ground.

The original Kael.

Blood soaked through his clothes where the arrow had struck. Even so, when his eyes focused on Daemon, pure hatred twisted his face.

"You’ll die with me," Kael spat weakly. "My heart carries a Corruption Core. Once it detonates, both of you will die with me!"

He laughed through the blood.

Daemon grabbed him by the neck, his expression ice-cold.

"Not today."

His grip tightened.

"You have more tricks than anyone I’ve met. But you’re the one who’s going to die because of that corrupted heart. I’m not the one killing you."

Before Kael could respond, Daemon activated Bond Teleport for the final time that day.

They reappeared near the outer edge of the corrupted mountain, close enough for Daemon to carry him straight toward the core.

At the center of the mountain, the Corruption Core pulsed like a living organ. Thick black energy radiated outward in every direction, staining the surrounding rocks and air with a heavy, oppressive force.

Daemon didn’t hesitate.

He threw Kael into the core.

The black mass reacted instantly. It swallowed Kael’s body whole.

There was no time for a full scream only a brief, choked sound before his form was completely destroyed and absorbed into the swirling corruption.

Daemon stared at the core for a moment, then spoke inwardly.

System. What should I do with this?

[Recommendation]

[Absorb the Corruption Core.]

[It will assist in advancing the Host’s bloodline stage.]

Daemon frowned slightly.

Absorbing something this filthy went against every instinct he had. But the System continued.

[Clarification]

[The Host’s bloodline will not be corrupted.]

[Only growth and unlocked potential will occur.]

After a brief hesitation, Daemon stepped forward and placed his hand against the core.

Black energy surged into his body like a violent tide.

It burned. It twisted. It tried to invade every pathway it could find but the Nameless Bloodline crushed the corruption the moment it entered, breaking it down and converting it into pure force.

The process was rough and uncomfortable, like forcing unstable power through veins that were still adapting.

Daemon clenched his jaw and endured it.

Bit by bit, the massive core shrank. The oppressive energy flooding the mountain weakened. The black glow dimmed.

When the final fragment disappeared into his hand, a wave of light dizziness washed over him. He steadied himself against the nearby rock and waited for it to pass.

[Bloodline Status Updated]

[Nameless Bloodline: 21%]

Outside the mountain, Victoria had already finished her reports and remaining formalities with Kang Min-jae.

She instructed Lucien to return to Ashford by plane, then immediately went to wait for Daemon.

When he finally emerged from the forest without any visible injuries, the tension in her shoulders loosened at once.

A faint fear of the mountain’s corruption still lingered in her eyes, but everything had clearly gone well.

She ran forward and threw her arms around him.

Daemon smiled and held her tightly.

After a moment, he spoke softly near her ear.

"Can you forgive me? This is the last time I’ll ever leave you alone like that."

Victoria didn’t answer with words at first. She only tightened her hug and murmured,

"You already know how I forgive you."

Daemon blinked.

It took him a second to understand.

"...You want to go home first?"

She pulled back just enough to look at him, a small smirk forming.

"Then use your teleportation magic. Come on."

Daemon’s expression stiffened.

He had already used all three daily slots.

Forcing an awkward smile, he said,

"I... can’t right now. We’ll have to wait until tomorrow."

Victoria stared at him for a second — then burst out laughing.

"So even you actually have limits."

Daemon shot back dryly,

"I’m not invincible."

They both laughed under the dim forest light. Then Victoria’s eyes glinted with mischief.

"I have an idea. Come with me."

Before he could ask, she grabbed his hand and dragged him along.