Reborn as a Demonic Tree-Chapter 423: (Interlude) Silverspire Peak

Vespera Silverspire, second wife of the Silverspire Grand Elder, stood alone in a courtyard of dancing shadows. Her eyes were closed as she listened to the overhead rumbling of the heavens. It had been days since the divine lightning began enacting its wrath upon the peak, meaning her husband had commenced the final step of ascension.

She had no doubts he would succeed. Selene Silverspire, his third wife, was the Matriarch of the Astral branch of the family. She had a high comprehension of the celestial dao due to her blood relations with the Starweaver family, which gave her insights into the threads of fate.

Due to metal Qi's unique cultivation method of forming metal cores, there was far less friction in learning other daos. Selene had deep insight into cosmic dao, which gave her access to star metal techniques, while Vespera's branch of the family, the Silvernight, specialized in shadow dao, making them adept assassins and wielders of shadow metal.

Selene Silverspire had accurately predicted many things in the past, giving Vespera reason to trust her.

In exchange for her son's life, she told me three truths spoken of in the threads of fate. A soul will be forged in gold. A foreign princess will incite a slaughter, and a prodigy within the family will make themselves known. The first refers to the Grand Elder's ascension to the Golden Core stage. But I don't know of a princess, nor who could be slaughtered. Though, the one I'm truly concerned about is this prodigy. With the inheritance for the Silver Core at stake, I can't afford for another wife's child to outshine my own.

A faint presence cut Vespera's musings short.

"Speak."

A man clad in black emerged from the dancing shadows like a mirage.

"Matriarch of Silvernight, I come bearing news. Your son has returned."

"Where is he now?" Vespera replied without bothering to look at the man. He was part of the Ghost Edge, an elite group of assassins under her.

"His ship has docked in Argentum."

Vespera opened her eyes and squinted at the man, "Why did he land in the capital?"

Argentum was a giant city surrounding Silverspire Peak. Due to how deeply the mountain range they were upon had been mined, it was a multi-layered city going deep into the earth. While Argentum supported many places to dock an airship as the mining industry had to be conducted in faraway lands, they had their own personal dock.

"Trackers," the man gruffly replied.

Vespera's shadow stirred, and two eyes looked at the man. "Have the Ghost Edge escort him here. If anything happens to him, you know the consequences."

"As you command," the man shifted back into the shadows.

"Trackers. I thought this might happen." Vespera clicked her tongue. This place was secret to all except the Silverspire Grand Elder himself. Due to the nature of the inheritance challenge for the Silver Core, her son had to step out of the shadows and into the open to conduct business, making him a target.

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Shards of black metal rose from her shadow and floated behind her like a cape of shrapnel as she walked through the courtyard toward a meeting room.

It only took a few hours before Vespera felt a familiar presence.

"Daedrin," she said as a tall young man with jet-black hair streaked with silver stepped out of the darkness.

"Mother," he whispered in return. As a by-product of his intensive training during youth, he could never bring his voice above a whisper or look his mother in the eyes. "I have returned."

"And the trackers?" Vespera stood from her chair and walked over to her boy. She ran a finger down Daedrin's cheek, and he shuddered.

"Killed without a trace." He meekly replied.

"Good boy. Do you know who they were from?"

"They were from Zenovia's branch."

Vespera's finger paused against his cheek, and her face twisted into a vile expression. "Of course, only that bitch would be so brazen to try and harm my boy. Just because she's the first wife. Heavens, I can't wait to skin her alive someday. Say, Daedrin, where is your sister?"

Daedrin opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. He looked at the floor as if seeking comfort in the shadows.

"Daedrin dear," Vespera leaned in and felt his pounding heartbeat against her chest, "You wouldn't hide anything from your Mother now, would you? Where is your sister?"

"She..." he gulped, "Saphira is dead."

Vespera felt the world freeze at that moment. A hundred thoughts flashed through her mind, and uncontrollable emotions erupted. The metal shards in her shadow cried out. Disbelief, denial, anger, rage, and hatred overlapped like a raging storm. She opened her mouth, and a single word escaped her lips.

"Who?"

"I don't—"

"Who was it, Daedrin," Vespera said, her Qi-infused voice cutting the air like knives. "Who. Was. It. Who killed your sister—my daughter? A proud member of the Silvernight branch. I need a name, a face, a description. Now."

"A monster, Mother. A terrifying creature from the beyond. I swear—" words cascaded out of Daedrin's mouth as if he was scared to pause and breathe "—I picked Saphira up from a city near Terraforge Peak. We were traversing the western wilderness when her ship's defensive formations suddenly powered up to full. We didn't know what was happening, and it was already too late by the time we went to investigate."

Daedrin, a man trained to kill since birth, shook like a leaf as he recalled the event. "I tried to save her Mother—we all did. But it was hopeless. That thing cannot be beaten."

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Vespera clamped her fingers around Daedrin's throat, "Details, Daedrin. What did this monster look like? How did it kill Saphira?"

Daedrin choked as he replied, "The monster's top half was a mixture of a ghostly woman with translucent eyes and deer antlers. But her legs were a squirming mass of shadow tendrils. It was these she used to attack. They phased right through Saphira's defenses and ripped out her soul."

To Vespera's surprise, Daedrin actually raised his voice higher than a whisper.

"Mother, I saw it all. Everyone was dead, only she was still alive when we boarded the ship. The monster had saved her for last as if she were a dessert. She... she looked at me. Hoping I could save her. I tried. But I was too late! I watched as my sister's soul was devoured. Even if you send me to the gates of hell, I will not find her. Only in the stomach of that monster does she exist now."

Vespera released her grip on her son, and he coughed as he stumbled backward.

"Didn't I inform you to take the long way around the western wilderness!? We already knew something was lurking there!"

"The Ghost Edge had cleared the path beforehand, and we were taking a less direct route toward the east." Daedrin's voice dropped to a whisper, "What we didn't expect was this monster could phase through reality and ignore our defenses. The monster was not something we could fight. It was the spirit of death."

"Could this be the slaughter princess the prophecy spoke of?" Vespera cursed as she turned away from her son and began pacing the courtyard. The loss of her daughter would significantly harm her political power within the family.

I now have as many children as Lyriana. My only advantage is that Daedrin is older and has reached the Silver Core Realm, unlike Ryker, who is only five and likely still in the Iron Core Realm at best.

She turned on her heel and stared at her only remaining child. "Daedrin, how did your business venture go?"

"Quite well," he replied in his usual hushed tone. "I set up an underground bounty-hunting company and secured a few high-end deals before hastily returning here. I highly doubt my other siblings could have set up anything as profitable so quickly."

"For your sake, I hope your words are true," Vespera said with a serious tone, "Because with your dear sister dead, you're the only pawn I have to play. Whoever inherits the Silver Core is guaranteed an effortless path to the Golden Core Realm. Whichever branch of the family inherits the Silver Core will be considered the main branch and assume control over the metal supply. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Mother," Daedrin said wholeheartedly.

Vespera turned to the side as a presence lurked in the shadows.

"Speak."

It was the same man from the Ghost Edge assassins. "Matriarch, your presence is urgently required on Silverspire Peak."

"Why?" She snapped at the man, "Can't you see I'm busy talking to my son here?"

What could possibly be more important than learning of my daughter's death and that the fate of the Silvernight branch hangs in the balance.

"Matriarch, please excuse my intrusion. But the Celestial Empire and the Starweaver family have arrived at our gates and demanded an audience. As the Grand Elder is currently in closed-door cultivation, the duty of attendance falls upon his wives."

Vespera's eyes widened, "The Starweavers, I could understand as we have some close ties to them, but why is the Celestial Empire here?"

"I apologize, but I do not know. The Celestial Empire arrived so suddenly we haven't had a chance to investigate possible causes."

Vespera frowned. "Those bastards are far from home, so their motives can be discerned by the size of their forces."

"The situation is still developing, but as of now, we believe their force to be a small fleet of elite highspeed airships carrying fifty Enforcers and a member of the Celestial Council."

Fifty Enforcers? Vespera couldn't believe what she was hearing. Enforcers were usually elites in the Star Core Realm. Such a number would be enough to wipe out a noble family, and with the involvement of a member of the Celestial Council who was either in the Nascent Soul Realm or Monarch Realm, this force was powerful enough to wipe out a sect.

"Do you think we should flee?" Daedrin asked, bringing Vespera out of her shock.

"No," she flatly replied. "The Celestial Empire hasn't come here for a fight."

"How do you know, Mother?"

"We are still alive, are we not? With a force like that, they wouldn't have bothered knocking at our door first. Either they have demands we must accept, or there's something else I've missed." She tapped her chin, "Fifty Enforcers is one of the largest fleets I've heard of in a long time, but still within the realm of possibility. But a Council member? Just what could require a council member to move? They rarely show much interest or presence out here in the wilderness."

Vespera turned to her son, "I have a job for you."

"Am I not coming with you?" the boy tilted his head.

She shook her head, "No. This meeting doesn't matter as we ultimately have no control over their demands. However, if the Silverspire family comes out of this alive," her eyes narrowed, "I want us to emerge victorious. This is a good opportunity—kill your siblings."

"What—"

"Hush," she put a finger on his lips, "Don't say what—the correct question is who. Just do as Mother says. There's a monster out there that killed your sister without leaving a trace, and there's the most powerful empire knocking at our door. The other branches may panic, but we will focus on the objective."

"The Silver Core."

"Indeed, it seems you have inherited my intelligence, at least," she said, lowering her hand. "Kill your elder brothers and sisters first. Target those from Zenovia's branch."

Daedrin nodded, "What about Ryker?"

"Ryker?" Vespera snorted, "He's only five and was sent off to Darklight City. He's not worth worrying about."

"I'm not so sure, Mother. That kid, he always seemed a little different."

"Oh?" Vespera searched his expression. He seemed unsettled. "An assassin needs to trust their instincts, and looks can be deceiving. Fine, if you want to kill him, go for it." Vespera waved dismissively, "I never liked the twerp and his mother anyways. The Grand Elder obviously has a soft spot for them, so removing Ryker from the occasion will doom Lyriana. After all, without a pawn in the game, she can't even play."

"It's as you say, Mother."

"Good, now go. I have a meeting to attend."

***

Vespera felt an oppressive aura blanketing the entire peak as the black suit of armor she wore to approach stealthily fractured into many shards and retracted into her shadow.

Landing in one of the many courtyards, her sword splintered, joining the suit in the shadow. Checking her robes were immaculate, she strode through a doorway and down a corridor to the main hall.

On the way, she had the misfortune of running into the Grand Elder's favorite little flower.

"Lyriana," Vespera called out.

The regal woman covered from head to toe in clinking jewelry glanced at her. "Vespera, for a branch family focused on stealth, you sure are noisy."

Vespera almost felt a vein pop in her forehead. Somehow, this vile woman got under everyone's skin so effortlessly. However, she usually wasn't so direct.

"And you're just a pretty flower with no thorns," Vespera snapped back.

"Oh, I have thorns," the woman smiled, "But I find thorns work best when kept hidden."

Vespera snorted, "Hidden or not, dull thorns are nothing but bumps."

"Let's stop beating around the bush, dear. It's so very tiresome." The bitch stared at her blankly, "Do you need something from me?"

"What could I possibly need from you? All that talking with you results in is a headache."

"How curious. If I recall, you were the one to call out to me. Are you perhaps a masochist who enjoys being so easily tormented like a child?"

Shards of black metal erupted from Vespera's shadow and paused an inch from Lyriana's neck. "The Grand Elder has no need for a vixen like you."

"Do it." Lyriana stared right at her, "Kill me."

The shards trembled in the air, edging ever closer until they pressed against her slender neck.

"I know you won't." Lyriana narrowed her eyes.

"Oh?" Vespera smirked, "Has Ryker returned yet?"

"No, but he will soon."

"I wouldn't count on it," Vespera recalled her metal and walked past Lyriana. She had no desire to kill the woman as it would be far more satisfying to watch her downfall.

Whether Ryker lived or not, it didn't matter. There was no chance the Silver Core would go to the 7th son.