Entering the Village

"So your sister denied the Marriage proposal from the Second prince, Due to which your family was targeted," Aldrich asked Remi after listening to her story.

"Yeah. It started with simply pressurizing our father, Count Stoneheart. They slowly isolated us by turning our benefactors into our enemies."

"Then they accused my father of treachery, executing him. My sister blamed herself for everything, committing suicide." Remi released intense killing intent.

Aldrich patted Remi's shoulder, "I will help you take your revenge. You can help me pursue my goals".

"Which family tasked you with assassinating me?" Aldrich asked Remi. It was better to use Remi and her network in the underworld to get some information which could be of use to him.

"The parties don't reveal their information. We just get a message with the target and the reward. If you want, I can ask someone to extract the information" Remi had decided to trust Aldrich for now. She knew that Aldrich, or whoever that man was, would grow up to be strong enough to topple the kingdom.

"There's no need. You will alert the other party." Aldrich had a devious smile. "You keep acting like you plan to assassinate me while trying to understand the party's intentions.",

The two finally reached a small village near the Inheritance Dungeon.

Noticing their shabby appearance, the guards stopped them, asking for identification.

Noticing Aldrich's appearance, they realized that it was the worthless son of the family head.

"Must be screwing with the maid", one of the guards quietly said, giggling with his friends.

Aldrich ignored the soldier's gazes as he walked ahead, trying to find his father.

"Look who it is, the star of tonight's trial", a sarcastic voice rang the entire village. A young man walked towards Aldrich with a look of disdain on his face.

"Trash like you are occupying the spots for the trial. No wonder the family is in decline under the current family head",

A cold feeling erupted in Aldrich's heart. He couldn't care less if someone badmouthed him, but why bring the family head, the only person who has been nice to him.

Aldrich released his intense killing intent, focusing entirely on the man before him.

"Kugh", the young man fell on his knees, unable to handle Aldrich's pressure.

"What were you trying to say?" Aldrich stepped on the man's face, rubbing it into the ground.

"Trash son, Family head's fault?",

The young man started to bleed, feeling intense pain like never before.

Everyone surrounding them was shocked. They were ready to see Aldrich getting beaten up, but they never expected Master Fin to be suppressed this easily.

"STOP", a voice imbued with mana roared in the surroundings, pushing Aldrich away.

"How dare you?" a middle-aged man leapt towards Fin, trying to check his condition.

"Take him away", he ordered the nearby soldiers.

The man looked at Aldrich, "You think you can live after doing this to my son?" he took out his sword, ready to attack Aldrich.

"Enough, Martin. You know who started it" Erik walked towards the group with his trusted subjects.

He looked at Aldrich, giving him a thumbs up. "The Healers will treat your son. Go away, Martin", He ordered.

Aldrich smiled before leaving with Remi.

Aldrich entered a huge house situated next to the Dungeon. He noticed that many kids older than him were already present there, talking with each other.

"My father has incorrect information. A few of them are about to reach two stars" Aldrich noticed the strength of his cousins.

Aldrich could recognize a few of the people here. When the Drakewind family was destroyed, many small families joined other factions.

"None of them were that helpful" Aldrich remembered the great families' contribution against the Dragons.

"In-fighting and civil war had weakened them way too much. Should I help families useful to me and prevent their downfall?" Aldrich considered his options.

Everyone had heard of the outside commotion and was in no mood to provoke Aldrich. Aldrich minded his own business, heading upstairs to go to his room.

The next day, Aldrich stepped downstairs and sat next to his father. Slowly, the rest of the Elders and family members started filling up the table chairs.

When everyone had arrived. Erik stood up and said, "Today, you all kids will enter the inheritance dungeon. This Dungeon was created by our ancestors to select the brightest amongst the family to be nurtured. "Erik looked towards his son with a smile.

"But there are some rules to be followed. No killing your cousins", Erik spoke solemnly.

Martin, Erik's brother, said, "But what if the monsters kill the child?" He looked at Aldrich with a smug smile.

"Of course, then that's a different thing." Erik released the aura of a 7-star Warrior, "Just don't forget that your actions will have consequences",

The meeting concluded, and the children got ready to enter the Dungeon.

"Good luck, son", Erik said.

Aldrich looked towards his father, as he walked ahead, entering the Dungeon.

[You have entered the Inheritance Grounds of Drakewind Family]