[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-journey-to-become-the-zenith":3,"chapter-journey-to-become-the-zenith-journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-47":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Journey to Become the Zenith",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1828584,2432,"Chapter 47: The First Step Beyond Shadows","journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-47",47,"\u003Cp>The First Step Beyond Shadows\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s voice was calm. Not loud. Not theatrical. Just steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile tugged at his lips again, softer this time—but far more dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And when I’m done with Skyfall...\" he added quietly, almost to himself, \"we’ll see how wide this world truly is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief second, no one spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the air felt heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three former rulers of Fantom City’s underworld stood facing him—each with different thoughts twisting behind their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one most shaken, however, was Videl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rule the whole underworld of Skyfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then... the world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swallowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Victor,\" she said after a pause, her tone controlled but tight, \"can we talk, over there for a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three former rulers were left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silence lingered between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Broken walls. Cold stone. The scent of dust and blood still faint in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gian—known as Night—was the first to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you guys think of his plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was level, but his gaze remained fixed on Victor’s retreating figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eon answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have no objections. As long as he grants me the increase of my mana, I will do my best to aid him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His jaw tightened as he said it. There was no hesitation there—only hunger. Hunger to finally feel whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brinda did not answer immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She watched Victor’s silhouette, half-hidden by shadows, golden eyes glinting beneath dark hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gian’s eyes shifted to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So you’re alright with following his plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze sharpened. He knew her reputation. Knew she was not the type to surrender without calculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brinda caught that look and smiled faintly—slow, composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What choice do we have?\" she replied smoothly. \"We either cooperate with him... or leave Fantom City.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She folded her arms loosely beneath her chest, leaning slightly against a cracked pillar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leaving everything behind and heading to another city isn’t an option. He plans to conquer the whole kingdom’s underworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She tilted her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The only other option is to flee to another country. But who’s to say he won’t decide to conquer that as well?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips curved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"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.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let that settle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Overall... joining him doesn’t seem so bad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But behind her composed smile, her thoughts were far more layered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He has it in abundance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mana—when she felt it earlier—had nearly suffocated her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was... dominant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like it would swallow everything around it if he let it loose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brinda had spent years ruling the northern district. Running brothels. Controlling information. Manipulating nobles. Smiling sweetly while pulling invisible strings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Men fell for her voice. For her eyes. For the curve of her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Victor?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No flicker of lust. No hesitation. No interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only assessment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting, she thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had built her entire empire on understanding men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he didn’t respond like one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made him dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And desirable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I serve him... stay close...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes softened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power like that does not stay unnoticed forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he truly aimed beyond the kingdom... beyond Skyfall...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then aligning early was not submission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She straightened subtly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wife?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought came unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She almost laughed at herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Age? Position? Reputation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of that mattered to men who rewrote the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered was courage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she could match ambition with ambition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he conquers this world, she thought calmly, then what is a brothel queen compared to that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips curved again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’ve run an empire from the shadows. Serving him would not make me small. It would make me closer to the throne.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gian exhaled quietly, pulling her from her thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He studied the cracked floor beneath his boots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Underworld. Kingdom. World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care about crowns or conquest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cared about purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’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.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He killed the corrupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waited for requests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not enjoy slaughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victor’s ambition did not frighten him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It intrigued him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because ambition like that required sharp tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eon stood silent now, fists loosely clenched at his sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Victor truly removed the curse inside him—if he truly awakened what had been sealed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then loyalty was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strength for strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Debt for debt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the room, Victor stood near the darkened wall, lantern light tracing the edge of his jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze lifted toward the broken ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skyfall is only the beginning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stagnation of this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Power hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Talents buried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curses scattered like chains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bianca. Isabella. Eon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were players here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And players meant games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And games meant growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small smile returned to his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Underworld first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned slightly, sensing the three rulers’ eyes still on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind him, Videl’s voice cut softly through the dim space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Victor...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her tone carried weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something heavier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conflict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lantern flame wavered again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the underworld of Fantom City held its breath.\u003C\u002Fp>",1042,"2026-06-09T06:06:36.650Z",1,"novelbin.me","7b5d3d4a43fe08debe501f07ab63809623291d2613780766c41877832a8046ef","journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-48","journey-to-become-the-zenith-chapter-46",253,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fjourney-to-become-the-zenith-cover.jpg"]