Chapter 219: Chapter 219: Duskworn Chapter 219 – Duskworn Just like the first time, the chime of the Records disturbed countless beings across the universe. And those who understood its implications did not smile. Their faces grew solemn, even a bit pale, because they knew exactly what a new faction meant—a new competitor, a new force to account for, and a new storm approaching fast. With its arrival, the fight for resources would become even more vicious, and the frequency of war would rise beyond what anyone wanted to imagine. So, without needing instruction or command, they all began to prepare in their own way. Some summoned back their descendants who were scattered across realms. Others tripled the intensity of their armies’ training, leaving no weakness untouched. And a few—the more desperate or cynical ones—began pillaging their own worlds, stripping them bare as if expecting they might lose everything and choosing instead to leave behind only ruin. Each of them readied themselves for an unknown enemy. And that was precisely the problem: they didn’t know who they were preparing to face. Which meant, no matter how thorough they were, it would never be enough. Especially not if that enemy was Noah—a being who, by nature, never played fair. An abomination who never followed the expected path. A creature who wouldn’t just attack you directly, but would bury a knife in your ribs while making you think you were winning the war. That was how he worked. That was Noah. ... Minutes after the Records’ announcement, inside the realm of Laeh, Noah sat midair, calmly—peacefully—with the little girl gently sleeping on his lap. His hand moved slowly through her silky white hair, and in that moment, he looked nothing like a terrifying monster of universal upheaval. He simply looked... content. He had heard the chime, of course. He had heard the Records’ words. But he didn’t react much. Not because it wasn’t important, but because at least—for now—they hadn’t revealed his faction’s name or the location of his world. People would begin looking. He knew that. Some of them would even guess his true identity. But let them try. Because if they were expecting to find a physical world somewhere out in the endless void... They were already lost. The world wasn’t out there. It was inside of him. At that thought, Noah couldn’t help but smile. "It’s time to speed up some things," he muttered to himself, almost too quietly for even the realm to hear. He would give Ester and the others a little more time to collect a few things at the shadow realm. But he didn’t want to wait much longer. Not anymore. And speeding up didn’t mean acting recklessly. No—Noah was too smart for that. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢 Especially now. Because not long after the Records’ announcement, another message had echoed quietly in his mind, one that didn’t reach the universe, one that only he was meant to hear: {We acknowledge you, Noah Vaelgrim.} {You have reached the next threshold.} {You may now step into the Supreme Rank.} {Wish it, and the process will begin.} So, it seemed that turning your soul into a world wasn’t something minor. It wasn’t just an insane gamble—it was a cosmic achievement. And that achievement made him eligible for the rank where mortals stopped being mortals, and began becoming something else entirely. The same rank Elira had reached. But it made Noah pause, just a little. "Is there no rank limit, Laeh?" he asked quietly, because Laeh was still a low-grade world. She shouldn’t, by all logic, even be capable of supporting a single SSS-rank being, let alone someone Supreme. Laeh stirred slightly, then nodded. "There is. The limit right now is SS rank," she answered, her voice calm, her tone that of someone drawing directly from cosmic law. "But... the Vaelgrims are exceptions, as they are the rulers of this world. Even so, they cannot go beyond Mythic rank for the moment." Noah nodded thoughtfully. He understood now. The rank wasn’t tied to him—at least, not entirely. It was tied to the world that birthed and sustained his power. And that world was still growing. Then he rose gently to his feet,"You’re able to exist outside this realm, right?" he asked, his voice light. Laeh nodded again, a little more excited this time. Noah smiled. "Then come with me. I’ll introduce you to our family." That made her blink. "Our family? What family? I don’t have one," she said, her expression puzzled in a way only someone newly born could be. "My family, of course. The Vaelgrims." He paused for just a second, letting the words sink into her. "And from now on," he continued, grinning wider, "you are the little sister of Noah Vaelgrim, the ruler of the Vaelgrims. So let’s go—I’ll introduce you to my women, who are now your sisters-in-law, and also to the two troublesome brats I adopted, Lorna and Premier." He chuckled to himself. "I bet you’ll love them. But don’t get corrupted. They’re both troublesome abd rebellious," he said with a very serious expression, already playing the part of the doting big brother. Then, without another word, he picked her up and disappeared—straight toward the White Castle. Laeh remained confused, cradled in his arms. And Noah, in contrast, was quietly giddy. ’I’ve never had siblings in either of my lives. Now I do. That’s... kind of amazing.’ Unpredictable as ever. ... Meanwhile, the Shadows had entered their respective territories, each carrying out their mission in their own fashion. Eric’s method was a little different. Yes, he wanted to gather information for Noah. Yes, he wanted to serve his role. But above all, he wanted to sharpen himself—grind himself into something fierce and untraceable. So, he went to the Colosseum. In Mortis’s domain, the Colosseum wasn’t just a place for fights. It was a stage for recognition—a pit for rising stars. Nobles came to witness blood and power, sometimes to select warriors for their houses, other times to test their own champions in battles that held nothing back. And sometimes... it wasn’t just honor at stake. Sometimes, it was worlds. Or treasures. Or slaves. Or forbidden knowledge. The stakes were high. The attention even higher. And inside one of the VIP chambers of that dark, violent arena, a noblewoman was seated in silence. She was stunning. Hair like blazing red silk, eyes that shimmered with predatory intelligence. She wore a dress of black shadows, tight to her sinfully curvaceous figure, and her crossed legs revealed smooth, glowing ebony skin. This was Aerica Dusk, a Great Commander of Mortis—second only to the man himself. And right now? She was livid. "That damn useless bastard... after all the resources I poured into him, he make me lose two low-rank worlds?" She grit her teeth, leaning back in her chair with barely restrained fury. She had thought she’d found a prodigy. Turned out, it was just a polished turd. Sighing, she waved a hand toward the maid beside her. "Who’s fighting today? Anyone interesting?" "There is the champion of Lord Atreus, who will be facing a rookie." "A rookie?" Aerica raised a brow. "Poor fool. What’s his name?" The maid glanced at the obsidian-colored paper in her hands. "...Duskworn," she said. "His name is Duskworn, my lady." —End of Chapter 219—