Journey to Become the Zenith-Chapter 47: The First Step Beyond Shadows

The First Step Beyond Shadows

"Oh that. My plan is pretty straight forward. Fantom City’s underworld is but the first step. My true plan is to rule over the whole underworld of the Skyfall Kingdom."

Victor’s voice was calm. Not loud. Not theatrical. Just steady.

A faint smile tugged at his lips again, softer this time—but far more dangerous.

"And when I’m done with Skyfall..." he added quietly, almost to himself, "we’ll see how wide this world truly is."

The lantern flames flickered violently, as if disturbed by an unseen current. Shadows stretched long against the cracked walls, bending toward him like kneeling subjects.

For a brief second, no one spoke.

Even the air felt heavier.

The three former rulers of Fantom City’s underworld stood facing him—each with different thoughts twisting behind their eyes.

The one most shaken, however, was Videl.

Her blue sapphire eyes narrowed. She didn’t interrupt immediately. She just stared at Victor’s back—the confident line of his shoulders, the ease in his posture.

Rule the whole underworld of Skyfall.

Then... the world?

She swallowed.

"Victor," she said after a pause, her tone controlled but tight, "can we talk, over there for a bit."

She gestured toward the darker corner of the ruined building. Victor glanced at her, studied her face for a second longer than usual, then nodded lightly.

"Sure."

As Videl moved, Lane followed without a word. Her expression remained unreadable, but her eyes flickered between Victor and Videl before she stepped after them.

The three former rulers were left behind.

A silence lingered between them.

Broken walls. Cold stone. The scent of dust and blood still faint in the air.

Gian—known as Night—was the first to speak.

"What do you guys think of his plan?"

His voice was level, but his gaze remained fixed on Victor’s retreating figure.

Eon answered without hesitation.

"I have no objections. As long as he grants me the increase of my mana, I will do my best to aid him."

His jaw tightened as he said it. There was no hesitation there—only hunger. Hunger to finally feel whole.

Brinda did not answer immediately.

She watched Victor’s silhouette, half-hidden by shadows, golden eyes glinting beneath dark hair.

After a moment, she spoke.

"I think with his strength..." Her voice lowered, thoughtful. "Not only the underworld of the kingdom—I think he can take over the whole kingdom. And the neighboring kingdoms as well."

Gian’s eyes shifted to her.

"So you’re alright with following his plan?"

His gaze sharpened. He knew her reputation. Knew she was not the type to surrender without calculation.

Brinda caught that look and smiled faintly—slow, composed.

"What choice do we have?" she replied smoothly. "We either cooperate with him... or leave Fantom City."

She folded her arms loosely beneath her chest, leaning slightly against a cracked pillar.

"Leaving everything behind and heading to another city isn’t an option. He plans to conquer the whole kingdom’s underworld."

She tilted her head slightly.

"The only other option is to flee to another country. But who’s to say he won’t decide to conquer that as well?"

Her lips curved.

"It would be better to simply serve him. If we join now, we’ll be his first subordinates. And he did promise us glory and power."

She let that settle.

"Overall... joining him doesn’t seem so bad."

But behind her composed smile, her thoughts were far more layered.

Power.

He has it in abundance.

His mana—when she felt it earlier—had nearly suffocated her.

It wasn’t just strong.

It was... dominant.

Like it would swallow everything around it if he let it loose.

Brinda had spent years ruling the northern district. Running brothels. Controlling information. Manipulating nobles. Smiling sweetly while pulling invisible strings.

Men fell for her voice. For her eyes. For the curve of her lips.

But Victor?

He hadn’t even reacted.

No flicker of lust. No hesitation. No interest.

Only assessment.

Interesting, she thought.

She had built her entire empire on understanding men.

And he didn’t respond like one.

That made him dangerous.

And desirable.

If I serve him... stay close...

Her eyes softened slightly.

Power like that does not stay unnoticed forever.

If he truly aimed beyond the kingdom... beyond Skyfall...

Then aligning early was not submission.

It was investment.

She straightened subtly.

Wife?

The thought came unexpectedly.

She almost laughed at herself.

Age? Position? Reputation?

None of that mattered to men who rewrote the world.

What mattered was courage.

And power.

And she could match ambition with ambition.

If he conquers this world, she thought calmly, then what is a brothel queen compared to that?

Her lips curved again.

I’ve run an empire from the shadows. Serving him would not make me small. It would make me closer to the throne.

Gian exhaled quietly, pulling her from her thoughts.

He studied the cracked floor beneath his boots.

Underworld. Kingdom. World.

He didn’t care about crowns or conquest.

He cared about purpose.

’I don’t care if he controls the whole underworld of the kingdom,’ he thought. ’The only thing I care about... is if I can continue my job as an assassin.’

He had rules.

He killed the corrupt.

He waited for requests.

He did not enjoy slaughter.

Victor’s ambition did not frighten him.

It intrigued him.

Because ambition like that required sharp tools.

Eon stood silent now, fists loosely clenched at his sides.

Mana...

If Victor truly removed the curse inside him—if he truly awakened what had been sealed—

Then loyalty was simple.

Strength for strength.

Debt for debt.

Across the room, Victor stood near the darkened wall, lantern light tracing the edge of his jaw.

His gaze lifted toward the broken ceiling.

Skyfall is only the beginning. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He could feel it.

The stagnation of this world.

Power hidden.

Talents buried.

Curses scattered like chains.

Bianca. Isabella. Eon.

There were players here.

And players meant games.

And games meant growth.

A small smile returned to his lips.

Underworld first.

Then the kingdom.

Then beyond.

He turned slightly, sensing the three rulers’ eyes still on him.

Behind him, Videl’s voice cut softly through the dim space.

"Victor..."

Her tone carried weight.

Not fear.

Not doubt.

But something heavier.

Conflict.

The lantern flame wavered again.

And the underworld of Fantom City held its breath.