Muyeon's eyes flicked to the holographic chat window, where the Plague Monarchs message glowed ominously. Her words were sharp, her tone dripping with irritation.
'She's not someone to trifle with,' he thought, his mind racing. He could almost feel her anger radiating through the screen, a palpable force that made the air around him feel heavier.
With a calm demeanor, he typed out a message, his fingers moving swiftly across the holographic interface.
[Demon Heir (Admin): Greetings, Plague Monarch. I am Cheon Muyeon, the admin of this Multiverse Chat Group. Welcome. You are currently the only other member besides myself. Feel free to explore the system's settings and capabilities at your leisure. I will message you later to discuss further. Until then, I must attend to pressing matters.]
He sent the message, then quickly muted his notifications and closed the system. 'Let her cool off,' he thought. 'She'll need a bit of time to get used to the system anyway.'
Besides, he couldn't keep his mother waiting too long. Lady Mu was not known for her patience, and he had no intention of testing her limits—not yet, at least.
————
Meanwhile…
Querehsha stared at the chat window, her glowing red eyes narrowing as she read Muyeon's message. His tone was respectful, almost deferential, but it did little to quell her anger.
'How dare he dismiss me so casually?' she thought, her claws twitching. She typed out a scathing reply, her fingers moving with sharp, deliberate strokes.
[Plague Monarch: You think you can summon me, then disappear? Do you have any idea who you're dealing with?]
She hit send, but the message was met with silence. A moment later, the word [Offline] appeared next to Muyeon's name.
Querehsha's lips curled into a snarl. 'He dares ignore me?'
Her anger boiled over, and she unleashed a wave of her power, the air around her crackling with dark energy. The ground beneath her feet trembled, and her insectoid soldiers, sensing their queen's rage, scattered in every direction, their chittering cries filled with fear.
The sky above her hive-planet darkened as her energy surged, the very atmosphere seeming to recoil from her fury. Trees bent and cracked under the pressure, and the ground split in jagged lines, as if the planet itself feared her wrath.
'This isn't over,' she thought, her eyes glowing brighter. 'Whoever you are, Cheon Muyeon, you will regret crossing me.'
She clenched her fists, her mind already racing with plans. If this "Multiverse Chat Group" was as powerful as it seemed, then perhaps it could be useful to her. But first, she would make sure Muyeon understood the consequences of disrespecting her.
————
The dining hall of the Dark Clan's estate was a grand space, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings and its walls lined with banners bearing the clan's insignia. The long, polished table was set with an array of dishes, their aromas filling the air—roasted meats, steamed vegetables, and freshly baked bread.
At the head of the table sat Lady Mu, her posture regal and her expression unreadable.
Muyeon entered the room, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor. His mother's sharp eyes immediately locked onto him, and he could feel the weight of her gaze.
"You're late," she said, her voice cold but not unkind. Her tone carried the usual edge of authority.
Muyeon smiled, his demeanor calm and unbothered. "My apologies. I was in secluded meditation for almost a week, so I decided to take a long bath to freshen up."
Lady Mu's eyebrows rose slightly. She had expected him to cower or stammer out an apology, as the original Muyeon would have. Instead, her son stood tall, his expression relaxed and his tone respectful but confident.
Before she could respond, Muyeon walked over to her, his movements smooth and deliberate. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, his lips brushing against her pale skin. "Good morning, Mother," he said warmly, then took a seat directly beside her.
The room fell silent. The servants, who had been bustling about, froze in place, their eyes wide with shock. Even Lady Mu was momentarily speechless, her usually composed demeanor faltering.
'What has gotten into him?' she thought, her mind racing. This was not the timid, reserved son she knew. The Muyeon she had raised would never have dared to sit so close to her, let alone greet her with such intimate familiarity.
Muyeon, for his part, acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He turned to the nearest servant, a young woman who was still staring at him in disbelief, and said, "Please serve the food. I have training after this, so I'll need my energy."
The servant snapped out of her daze and hurried to comply, her hands trembling slightly as she placed a plate in front of him.
Lady Mu studied her son, her sharp eyes narrowing as she tried to make sense of his behavior. 'Is this some kind of ploy?' she wondered. 'Or has he changed somehow?'
As the meal began, the atmosphere was undeniably awkward. The servants moved quietly, their movements stiff and cautious, as if they were afraid to disturb the strange new dynamic between mother and son.
Muyeon, however, seemed completely at ease. He ate with a refined gusto, occasionally making small comments about the food or asking his mother about her plans for the day. His tone was light and conversational, a stark contrast to the tense silence that usually accompanied their meals.
Lady Mu found herself responding, her initial shock giving way to curiosity. She had always been a woman of few words, preferring to let her actions speak for her. But there was something about this new version of her son that intrigued her.
'Perhaps he's finally growing up,' she thought, a flicker of pride stirring within her. She had done everything in her power to secure his future, even if it meant making ruthless decisions.
For instance, she orchestrated the death of Lady Hwa, the original main character's mother and the Demon Lord's favored wife. However, this act was not driven by mere jealousy toward her fellow sister wife. Rather, Lady Hwa's demise was a calculated sacrifice—a strategic move to remove a formidable rival and secure Muyeon's ascent to power.
As she watched him now, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Her son was growing up.
The meal continued, the awkwardness gradually giving way to a more relaxed atmosphere. Lady Mu found herself engaging in conversation, her sharp tone softening ever so slightly.
Muyeon, meanwhile, hid a small smile as he ate. He knew he was acting out of character, but it was all part of his plan. Strengthening his bond with his mother was crucial for his future, and he was willing to play the part of the dutiful, affectionate son to achieve his goals.
But there was more to it than that. In his past life, he had never known the love of a mother. Lady Mu, for all her ruthlessness, genuinely cared for him. She had made sacrifices for his sake, and he couldn't help but appreciate that.
For now, he would enjoy this rare moment of warmth. The road ahead was fraught with danger, and he would need every advantage he could get.
————
After eating their fill, Lady Mu led Muyeon into the courtyard, her steps measured and deliberate. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, the silence broken only by the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze.
The courtyard training grounds of the Dark Clan were a vast, open space surrounded by towering stone walls. The ground was paved with smooth, dark tiles, and the air was thick with the scent of earth and metal. Weapons racks lined the edges of the courtyard, their contents gleaming in the morning light—swords, spears, and other martial tools meticulously maintained by the clan's servants.
Muyeon glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the area. "Where's Trainer Kang?" he asked, referring to the Expert-level martial artist who usually oversaw his training.
Lady Mu stopped and turned to face him, her expression unreadable. "From now until you leave for the Demon Academy, I will be your trainer," she announced, her tone firm and leaving no room for argument.
Muyeon's eyebrows rose in surprise, but he quickly masked his reaction. Inside, however, he felt a surge of excitement. His mother was a Peak Master-level martial artist, a powerhouse whose skills far surpassed those of Trainer Kang. This was an opportunity to push his limits and grow stronger—something he desperately needed if he was to survive the challenges ahead.
(A/N: Martial Realms in order from weakest to strongest: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, Master, Grandmaster, Enlightened Grandmaster, Divine Master, Heavenly Master, Void Master, Willful Master, and finally, the last realm is unknown.)
(A/N2: Also, there are minor realms as well: Entry, Proficient, and Peak. You must break through these minor realms to move up to the major realms shown above. For example: to go from beginner to intermediate, you would have to become an Entry level Beginner, then a Proficient level Beginner, and finally a Peak level Beginner before finally breaking through to the Intermediate Realm. And so on and so forth.)
"Understood," he said simply, nodding in acknowledgment.
Lady Mu studied him, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. She had expected him to whine or protest, as he usually did when faced with her whims. But instead, he seemed almost eager.
'Has he truly changed?' she wondered, a flicker of curiosity stirring within her.
Lady Mu stepped back, her posture straight and commanding. "We'll start with a sparring match," she said, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "I want to see how much you've improved—and where you still need work."
Muyeon smirked, a glint of determination in his dark eyes. Without a word, he walked over to the weapon rack and selected a one-handed sword, its blade gleaming as he tested its weight in his hand.
Lady Mu watched him, her expression unreadable. She had expected resistance, perhaps even a complaint about how unfair it was to spar with someone of her caliber. But instead, her son seemed almost eager to prove himself.
Muyeon returned to the center of the courtyard, his movements fluid and confident. He took his stance, the sword held firmly in his grip. Right Sword, Left Palm, a Dark Clan Master-level secret art that allows the user to quickly use martial arts with both arms rather than just one.
The technique is only known by Muyeon and the person who taught him, his Grandfather, the Dark Clan leader and first Elder of the Cult, Mu Jinwon,
"Come at me, Mother," he said, his voice steady. He gestured with his free hand, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Show me what a Master can do."
Lady Mu's lips twitched, almost as if she were suppressing a smile. She raised her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, a sword flew from the rack into her grip, the weapon seemingly drawn to her by an invisible force. Her Ki flared briefly, a faint aura of dark energy surrounding her as she took her stance.
"Confidence is good," she said, her tone cool but with a hint of amusement. "But let's see if you can back it up."
The air between them grew tense, the atmosphere crackling with anticipation. Muyeon's grip tightened on his sword, his body poised and ready. Lady Mu's eyes gleamed with a mix of challenge and curiosity as she prepared to test her son's limits.
For a moment, neither side moved, their eyes locked in a silent challenge.
Then, with a speed that seemed almost inhuman, Lady Mu struck.
Her blade cut through the air like a flash of lightning, aimed straight for Muyeon's shoulder. He barely managed to raise his sword in time, the clash of metal ringing out as he parried the blow. The force of her strike sent a jolt through his arms, and he staggered back a step, his muscles straining.
"You've grown bolder," Lady Mu said, her voice calm but laced with a hint of amusement. She stepped forward, her movements fluid and precise. "But boldness won't save you in a real fight."
Muyeon gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "I'm not the same as before, Mother," he replied, his tone steady despite the strain. "I won't hold back."
Lady Mu's lips curved into a faint smirk. "Good. Let's see if you can keep up."
She attacked again, her strikes coming in rapid succession. Each blow was calculated, designed to test his reflexes and push him to his limits. Muyeon dodged and parried, his body moving on instinct as he tapped into the memories of his training.
The courtyard became a blur of motion, the sound of clashing swords echoing off the stone walls. Lady Mu's attacks were relentless, her blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Muyeon found himself constantly on the defensive, his movements growing more desperate as he burned through his Ki reserves, struggling to keep up.
At one point, Lady Mu feinted to the left, then swung her sword in a wide arc aimed at his side. Muyeon barely managed to twist out of the way, the blade grazing his arm and drawing a thin line of blood.
"Too slow," Lady Mu said, her tone sharp but not unkind. "In a real fight, that would have cost you an arm."
Muyeon didn't respond, his focus entirely on the battle. He could feel the Ki coursing through his veins, his heart pounding in his chest. Every move, every strike, was a test—one he couldn't afford to fail.
Lady Mu continued to press him, her attacks growing more intense. She deliberately put him in life-threatening situations, forcing him to dodge, parry, and counter with split-second timing. Each close call was a lesson, a reminder of the stakes he would face in the Demon Academy.
Despite the pressure, Muyeon held his ground. His movements became more fluid, his strikes more precise. He began to anticipate her attacks, his instincts sharpening with each passing moment.
Lady Mu noticed the change, her sharp eyes narrowing as she observed her son. 'He's adapting,' she thought, a flicker of pride stirring within her. 'And faster than I expected.'
The fight reached its climax as Lady Mu unleashed a powerful technique. Her sword glowed with dark energy, the air around her crackling with power. She swung the blade in a wide arc, a wave of energy surging toward Muyeon.
Muyeon's eyes widened, but he didn't falter. Digging deep, he channeled his Ki into his own sword, the blade glowing faintly as he met her attack head-on.
The clash of their swords sent shockwaves through the courtyard, the force of the impact knocking both of them back. Muyeon skidded across the ground, his arms trembling from the effort, but he remained standing.
Lady Mu lowered her sword, her expression unreadable. For a moment, there was silence, then she nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Not bad," she said, her tone approving. "You seem to have stepped into the Entry level Advanced Realm during your week-long Meditation."
Muyeon let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his body aching but unbroken. He wiped the sweat from his brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "I told you I wouldn't hold back."
Lady Mu studied him, her sharp eyes gleaming with a mix of pride and curiosity. 'I don't know what caused this change in him,' she thought, her gaze lingering on his determined expression. 'But it doesn't matter anymore. This is who my son was meant to be.'
For now, she was satisfied. Her son was no longer the petulant and timid boy she had to constantly push and prod. He was becoming a warrior—one who might just live up to her expectations.
A/N: 2664 words :)
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