Revenge: A Path of Destruction
Chapter 81: Why 12 (Flashback)

Chapter 81: Why 12 (Flashback)

Alex’s thoughts fractured, his mind struggling to hold onto any semblance of control. He had always been told he was Mystic rank—like everyone else. Nothing more, nothing less.

But now?

Now his mother’s words rang in his mind, slicing through him like a blade.

Demi-god rank.

His stomach churned, a cold shiver crawling up his spine. Demi-god?

The word didn’t feel like an achievement. It felt like a death sentence.

He didn’t feel powerful. He felt... hunted.

Alex’s mind raced, desperately trying to make sense of it. In the world he knew, no one—no one—was at Demi-god rank. Not even Mystic rank was seen, let alone Demi-god. The idea of someone possessing the ability to transcend into godhood was a concept spoken of only in myths and legends.

He had always known that gods were out of reach for ordinary people. But Demi-gods? The mere presence of the word "god" attached to such a rank... meant something far more terrifying.

Demi-god or not, to the other Higher Clans, a god was still a god.

And anyone who possessed the talent to ascend to that level carried a dangerous potential—the ability to claim godhood itself.

The world was not ready for a being like that. No one was. The idea that someone could ascend to godhood was more than just a threat to the power structure—it was an existential one. Whoever controlled such a talent would hold unimaginable power.

He didn’t feel like that. He felt small. Weak. But that didn’t change the fact that the world would see him as a ticking time bomb.

His heart pounded, dread sinking its claws deeper. This wasn’t just about his talent—it was about survival.

The Higher Clans, desperate to maintain their hold on power, would do anything to destroy a potential Demi-god before they could rise. They would never allow it to go unchecked.

His mother’s voice echoed in his mind once again. Demi-god rank... They would have found out eventually, even if he hadn’t known.

But then, a new wave of confusion flooded him. How did they know?

He had always assumed the Orb of Truth would keep his true rank hidden. Only his mother and father had been privy to it, or so he believed. How did they know?

His thoughts spiraled in a whirlwind of fear and confusion. The pieces of the puzzle, the secrets buried deep within the Higher Clans, began to unravel before him, but they only left him with more questions than answers.

Why?

The idea that a demigod could exist in this world was an idea too dangerous for the ruling clans to allow. It had only taken one misstep for Alex’s entire world to start crashing down.

Before he could express his thoughts, his mother’s holographic face appeared to pause, her gaze softening slightly. She must have sensed his internal struggle, which shouldn’t have been possible since she was only a recording, her words following softly.

"I know this is a lot for you to understand, Alex... but believe me, you are not the only one who feels the weight of what your talent represents. Some would do anything to keep the balance, to maintain their hold on power. And the moment your true talent was revealed... they began to move against us."

Here’s the continuation of the scene with more emotion and explanation:

Alex’s mind was a storm, questions swirling as his mother’s words began to sink in. She continued, her voice tinged with regret as if every word she spoke was another weight she had to carry.

"I’m sure you’re wondering how they knew about your talent. After all, I made it a secret. I never thought anyone would discover it... But it all came to light during the 17th birthday celebration of the Fire Clan’s daughter, the current heir.

I don’t know why, but for some reason, he insisted that you and your siblings attend. The invitation felt off to me, and at first, I wanted to refuse it, sending a representative instead. But your father... He thought it would be good for you to meet the other children of the Higher Clans. He said it wasn’t just going to be a small affair, that other families would be there too, not just the Fire Clan. So, against my better judgment, I agreed. And I let you go..."

Alex’s stomach churned at the memory of that day. It had seemed like an innocent enough event, a birthday celebration among the elite families. He recalled the gilded halls, the formal airs, the way everyone had treated it like a performance. But to his mother, it had been the beginning of everything unraveling.

She paused for a moment, taking a shaky breath before continuing.

"But it was a mistake, Alex. I don’t know how Liè Yàn found out about the tampering with your talent, but somehow he knew. It was only a year after your ceremony. You were still only 13 at the time. That’s when everything changed.

At the ceremony, you were young, too young to understand the implications of what was happening... But they had an artifact. A scanning artifact that could verify your talent and check if the results matched. It was rare back then, but they had one. They couldn’t have known what they could find, but they were desperate to verify the talents of the other children. And that’s when they found you."

Alex’s breath caught in his throat as his mother’s words made his heart race. He vividly recalled that day; it was when his playboy persona began. He had tried to woo one of the clan girls, only for her to tell him that he wasn’t her type, as he wasn’t well known among the other Higher Clans like his siblings .

"I had prepared for it, Alex," his mother continued, voice heavy with regret. "I knew they would try something, so I gave you the wristwatch. Do you remember it? The Master-ranked artifact I gave you on your 12th birthday? It was designed to ensure your talent stayed within the Mystic rank. I had no idea that it would come to this, but I knew the Higher Clans would be suspicious, so I tried to protect you.

But... it wasn’t enough. The artifact that scanned you was of Grandmaster rank. A rare artifact back then, almost of the same level as the one used in the ceremony. They scanned you, and when they did, they saw everything—the truth. And it was then that they realized the threat you posed."

Alex’s eyes widened in disbelief. A Grandmaster-ranked artifact. It had been a precaution, something his mother had done to protect him without his knowledge. But it hadn’t been enough. The higher-tier artifact had exposed the truth, revealing the full extent of his abilities—abilities that should have remained hidden.

"And now..." his mother’s voice wavered, "You understand why I said you were the cause of our destruction."

The words hit Alex like a blow. I was the cause.

It wasn’t just about the power he wielded. It was about the danger it posed to the balance that the Higher Clans fought to maintain. His mother had tried to protect him. She had tried to keep his secret, but the truth had escaped, and now, the consequences were unfolding before him.

A cold sense of realization settled over him. His existence—his very being—was a threat to the established order. And now, it wasn’t just his talent that was in danger. It was everyone surrounding him who was in danger.