Rebirth of the Fallen Zenith.-Chapter 39: The Wrath of a Father

The Wrath of a Father

"Goodbye, Orion Vale."

Then—the earth shook.

BOOOOOOM!!!

The very air trembled, a thunderous roar crashing through the trees.

"YOU DARE."

It was like the heavens had split apart.

The five hooded attackers froze, terror flickering in their eyes. The leader's mocking expression vanished as his head snapped toward the sky.

Orion's heart pounded. He looked up, lips parting.

The trees bowed, wind screaming through the forest as mana surged like a tidal wave. The ground cracked beneath them. The invisible silence barrier shattered with a sharp shriek, as if the forest itself had been unshackled.

"YOU DARE TO LAY HANDS ON MY CHILDREN—"

A golden radiance burst through the treetops like the rising sun, illuminating the blood-stained clearing.

The five assassins turned in unison. Their faces, finally visible beneath their hoods, twisted in raw fear and disbelief.

Orion gasped; his eyes wide.

"That voice..."

Elara stirred weakly where she lay, groaning.

Lysandra winced, blood oozing between her fingers as she clutched her side, her breathing ragged.

Orion whispered in a daze, "...Is that... him...?"

And then—he appeared.

A man stepped through the forest's edge, walking into the light as if the world itself parted to make way.

Clad in regal golden robes, his jet-black hair flowing behind him, his presence was overpowering.

His eyes—cold and black as obsidian—burned with divine fury.

Theo Vale.

Viscount of Valeric City.

Father of Orion and Elara.

The man Orion had always seen as distant, indifferent—a ghost of a parent—stood now like a god descended to earth.

He didn't speak. He didn't need to.

The five men trembled, their feet frozen under the weight of his presence.

One of them stammered, voice cracking, "H-How... how did you break the barrier?! How did you even get here?!"

Theo didn't answer immediately. His eyes swept over the five of them like a judge gazing at the condemned.

Then, in a voice calm yet seething with rage, he spoke:

"Who sent you to bleed my children?"

No one answered. Teeth clenched, eyes darting—but silence ruled them now.

Then, another figure descended from the trees.

A grey-haired man in a crisp butler's uniform, eyes sharp as a blade—Walton.

Orion's breath caught as Walton landed beside his father.

Without turning, Theo said in that same thunderous calm:

"Take them. And feed healing pills them."

Walton bowed slightly.

"As you command, my lord."

The old butler moved with surprising ease, lifting Orion in one arm, then Lysandra's unconscious, bloodied body in the other. He stepped over to Elara, lifting her gently onto his back.

"W-Wait, Butler Walton," Orion coughed, struggling weakly, "I want to fight... I want to stay—"

Walton glanced at him with a softness.

"Your courage is admirable, young master. But this fight is no longer yours."

Orion wanted to argue, but deep down... he knew.

He looked toward his father.

Theo Vale... the man who had never smiled at him, never praised him... was now standing like an avenging god, ready to kill for his children.

Why?

Why now? Why this fury, this protection?

Conflicting emotions swelled in his chest. Confusion. Anger. Awe.

Walton gently handed him three healing pills. Orion understood.

With trembling fingers, he carefully fed one pill to Elara. Her shallow breathing steadied. Her broken bones began to mend. She remained unconscious—but alive.

Then, he pressed the second to Lysandra's lips. Her blood stopped flowing, skin regaining colour. She, too, did not wake, but the pain faded from her face.

Finally, Orion swallowed the third himself, a cool warmth spreading through his body as the wound on his leg sealed. Strength slowly returned.

Theo's voice echoed again, deeper, colder:

"Last chance. Who sent you?"

Still—no answer.

Theo's lips twitched. Not in anger.

In disgust.

Golden light surged around his fist. He took a single step forward and drove his fist into the chest of the man closest to him.

BOOOOM!!!

The man didn't scream.

He exploded.

Blood and flesh painted the forest floor.

The remaining four assassins stared, horrified. Their faces drained of color.

Orion stared in disbelief and he look toward Walton see his expression but he didn't even flinch.

He... knew all along. He knew how strong my father truly is...

Theo turned his gaze to the four remaining men.

"One is gone. Four remain."

"Speak... or join him."

One assassin gritted his teeth, face contorting with desperation. "We'll kill you first!"

The four charged.

Theo didn't move.

Not at first.

Their blades flashed in the energy—but in the next instant, Theo met them.

Metal clashed. Trees splintered. The forest quaked.

He didn't dodge. He met their blades head-on, every movement crisp and deadly. Within seconds, two more lay dead—crushed, sliced clean, lifeless.

The last two turned to flee, fear overtaking rage.

But one didn't get far.

Theo raised his hand.

"You think you can run?"

The forest pulsed with his power. The fleeing man collapsed, crushed by invisible pressure, falling to his knees.

Theo walked toward him slowly.

Each step echoed.

Orion watched, silent, heart racing.

The last hooded man gasped, coughing blood. His hood fell away.

Black hair. Pale skin. Eyes—blood-red.

Theo's expression changed. Just for a second.

Shock.

The assassin grit his teeth. "Kill me today—but my kin... will kill you tomorrow."

Theo's voice dropped to a whisper.

"Your kin...?"

Without another word, Theo chopped at the man's neck—not to kill.

To knock him unconscious.

The assassin dropped like a stone.

Orion caught the shift in his father's demeanor—confusion, hesitation, maybe even recognition.

Theo turned to Walton; voice grim.

"Take him to the dungeon. Lock it with the second seal. Triple-layer ward."

Walton approached, now equally surprised upon seeing the man's face. His eyes widened—but he said nothing.

"Yes, my lord."

"Take him to the dungeon. Lock it with the second seal. Triple-layer ward."

Walton approached, now equally surprised upon seeing the man's face. His golden eyes widened—but he said nothing.

"Yes, my lord."

With a wave of mana, Walton lifted the man and took to the sky.

Theo finally turned to Orion.

Orion stood, still holding Lysandra, his voice hoarse:

"Father...?"

Theo nodded once. His voice was quieter now.

"You've proven your worth... son."

Orion froze.

Son.

He'd never said it before.

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The word cracked something inside him.

Emotion surged—years of silence, rejection, confusion. And now...

Orion could only nod. "...But... the competition—"

Theo waved it off.

"The competition ends this year."

Orion blinked. "What?"

"No buts. Let's go home. Your mothers are worried."

Theo walked to Elara, cradling her gently in his arms. She murmured weakly; eyes still shut.

Then he turned to Lysandra, still unconscious in ground.

"You carry her."

Orion looked down. Her body had healed—but blood still coated her. His chest tightened, remembering how she had thrown herself between him and death.

Orion's lifted her into arms he adjusted her in his arms, more gently now. Her face... it looked so peaceful. Beautiful, even.

A strange warmth bloomed in his chest.

"Let's go," Theo said.

Orion nodded, still lost in thought.

Theo raised his hand. Light swirled around them.

Their bodies began to lift into the air, rising gently.

But just before leaving, Theo's gaze fell one last time on the ground—in hallow pit a patch of wet, churned mud. His black eyes narrowed.

Orion, still holding Lysandra, followed his line of sight... but saw nothing unusual.

Theo turned his gaze back to his son.

Orion, however, wasn't paying attention anymore.

His eyes were locked on Lysandra's face.

Theo eyes shine by something.

As they soared into the sky, the forest below faded into mist and shadows, they fly toward vale estate.