The Glitched Mage-Chapter 73: A Final Goodbye

The next morning arrived with the sharp scent of damp earth and the distant hum of construction echoing across the encampment. The first beams of sunlight stretched over the horizon, casting long shadows over the growing settlement.

Riven emerged from his tent, his robes loose over his shoulders, his blood-red hair still slightly damp from the bath the night before. His body felt rested, but the tension remained—a constant thrumming just beneath his skin. He was too close now.

One more push.

He needed to reach the Third Circle.

His eyes swept over the encampment, where workers were already hauling supplies to the unfinished apartment. The skeletal framework of the towering structure loomed over the settlement, a sign that the Shadow Kingdom was no longer a graveyard, but something rising anew.

Further ahead, the road project continued. The dirt path leading toward Eldrin's Crossing was slowly being shaped into something more permanent, lined with stone reinforcements to prevent erosion. The workers moved with a quiet determination, their actions fueled by more than just orders—they had a future to build.

But for now, Riven had his own goal.

He turned toward Mal's tent.

The Shadow General had taken up residence in the farthest section of the encampment, away from the noise. His tent was unassuming, but the air around it hummed faintly with lingering magic. Riven pushed aside the entrance flap without hesitation.

Inside, Mal was hunched over a table littered with parchment, ink bottles, and vials filled with various substances. His silver eyes flicked up immediately, surprised.

"My king, what can I do for you?" Mal asked as he rose to his feet.

"I need another mana potion," Riven said. "If you have any to spare." He had no intention of wasting time traveling to a nearby town when he was this close to breaking through.

Mal studied Riven for a long moment, his silver eyes sharp with understanding. He didn't need to ask why—he could see it in the way Riven carried himself, the barely restrained energy simmering beneath his skin.

Wordlessly, Mal reached down and pulled open a wooden chest at his side, rummaging through carefully arranged bottles before plucking out a small glass vial filled with a deep, swirling blue liquid.

"This is the last of my high-grade stock," Mal said, rolling the vial between his fingers before handing it over. "It's more potent than the ones you've been using, but that also means the mana rush will hit harder."

Riven took the vial, weighing it in his palm. The liquid inside pulsed faintly, a concentrated force of raw energy.

"That's exactly what I need," he said simply.

Mal smirked slightly. "You're pushing yourself hard for this breakthrough. You sure you're ready?"

"I don't have the luxury of waiting," Riven replied.

"Then allow me to oversee your breakthrough," Mal said, already moving toward the tent entrance and pulling the flap aside. "Everyone else is occupied, and the medicinal plants are still in their growth phase. I have time."

Riven considered for a brief moment before nodding. "Very well."

Together, they made their way back to his tent. Riven settled onto the bed, crossing his legs, the mana potion cool in his grip. He exhaled slowly, steadying himself before uncorking the vial and downing it in one smooth motion.

The moment the liquid hit his stomach, the surge was instantaneous.

[[ You've ingested a Mana Potion! ]]

[[ Mana gained +10% ]]

[[ Mana Heart Expansion Ready! ]]

[[ Upgrade will take 15 Hours ]]

[[ Would you like to proceed? ]]

[[ Yes/No ]]

Mal's voice reached him through the haze. "Good luck, my king."

Riven took a final breath before selecting [[ Yes ]].

The world around him dissolved into darkness.

—x—

Golden light pooled behind Riven's closed eyelids, and he blinked against it. When his vision cleared, he found himself staring up at an elaborate ceiling of polished obsidian, its dark surface glimmering faintly with veins of silver that pulsed like slow-moving starlight. It stretched high above him, the sheer grandeur of it impossible to ignore.

As he pushed himself upright, his boots met cool stone, and he took in his surroundings. The chamber was vast—elegant yet imposing. The walls, like the ceiling, were crafted from polished obsidian, but they gleamed with intricate silver inlays, swirling patterns that seemed almost alive under the warm golden glow of floating lanterns. Towering moonstone pillars lined the room, their smooth, pale surfaces reflecting the light with an ethereal sheen. The contrast between dark and light, shadow and brilliance, was seamless, woven together in a way that made the space feel both regal and ancient.

The walls themselves were lined with open balconies, carved from the same moonstone as the pillars, their edges adorned with delicate filigree. The fabric of the silk drapes billowed softly, caught in the steady currents of wind that carried the scent of something rich and intoxicating—like rain on hot stone, with the faintest hint of night-blooming flowers.

A strange urge pulled him to one of the balconies and his steps slowed as he reached the edge. The moment his eyes landed on the city stretched before him, his breath caught.

It was incredible.

Unlike the clustered stonework of Solis or the crude defenses of lesser kingdoms he had seen in his past life, this city sprawled in perfect harmony—both elegant and fortified. Streets wove together with precision, lined with dark marble buildings veined with silver, their rooftops arched in graceful curves. Spires of black quartz pierced the sky, adorned with intricate carvings and shimmering sigils, a testament to a civilization that had been far beyond what any other kingdom had achieved.

Bridges, sculpted from the same black quartz, arched over glimmering canals that cut through the city like veins, reflecting the glow of floating lanterns. The market squares stretched wide, bustling with shadowy figures, their stalls overflowing with silks, rare gemstones, and mana-infused artifacts pulsing with latent power. The streets hummed with life—a kingdom thriving, powerful, untouchable.

Even without understanding how, Riven knew.

This was what the Shadow Kingdom had looked like.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

A deep voice cut through the silence behind him and Riven stilled.

"It is," he admitted, exhaling slowly. Then his gaze hardened. "A shame you let it fall over something as naive as love."

The words landed sharp, deliberate. He didn't care if they stung.

Velmorian chuckled, stepping forward to lean against the railing beside him. "Yes," he murmured. "A shame indeed." The humor in his voice faded as his violet eyes swept over the city—his city.

Riven studied him. No battle this time? No trials?

"No harsh lessons today, Velmorian?" He raised a brow.

The former king sighed. His silver hair stirred in the warm wind, his tired gaze never leaving the kingdom below.

"Not this time," Velmorian said quietly. "I've sensed you've reached the Shadow Kingdom." His fingers clenched against the stone. "I've seen your memories. What's left of it… the ruins, the waste, the bones of my people." His voice dipped lower. "My city… is gone."

A shadow passed over his face, but then—a spark of something else.

"But I have also seen what you've done," Velmorian continued. "You've begun to rebuild. Bigger. Stronger. You tore yourself apart to heal even a fraction of the land—so that my people, your people, could eat." His gaze shifted, meeting Riven's fully for the first time. "You've worked hard."

Riven said nothing, but he didn't need to. The weight of Velmorian's words settled between them.

"You call me a fool for believing in love," Velmorian sighed. "And perhaps I was. But when you've lived for centuries, when all you've known is loneliness and regret, you start to hope. To think—maybe, just once, it could be different."

"You should have learned," Riven cut in, his voice colder. "People don't change. Betrayal comes again and again. Instead of clinging to some foolish hope, you should have relied on those who were actually there for you—your generals, your family."

Velmorian flinched. The words hit, each one carving into old wounds. But instead of anger, his expression softened with something closer to understanding.

"This is why I chose you."

His hand reached out, grasping Riven's wrist. His grip was firm, but his touch was fleeting—like something fading.

"When what little of my soul remained saw you in the Abyss, I knew immediately," Velmorian murmured. "You were the one who would inherit my kingdom. I saw your pain, your own betrayal. But more than that—I saw what it did to you. How it reforged you. Hardened you. Your soul is the strongest and most bloodthirsty I've ever seen."

He let out a dry chuckle. "Everything I wasn't. Everything I should have been as the Shadow King."

Riven's eyes narrowed slightly as Velmorian continued.

"That's why I gave my system and my bloodline to you. Why I placed you in the Drakar family's youngest son. The original Riven's mother was a descendant of the Shadow Kingdom—her blood carried my lineage. Your bodies were nearly identical. It was… fate, in a way."

Riven inhaled deeply, understanding settling over him at last.

Velmorian watched him, his expression unreadable. "So," he exhaled. "I can rest now." His voice was quiet, but final. "I can leave knowing that the Shadow Kingdom is in your hands."

Silence stretched between them.

Riven looked over the city once more—the legacy that had been lost, the power that had been wasted. He exhaled sharply.

"You failed your people," he said at last. "You let them burn for something as fragile as love. I detest you for that."

Velmorian bowed his head. "I know."

But then—

"…Thank you."

Velmorian's eyes snapped up, wide with surprise.

Riven's expression remained unreadable, but his voice was steady. "It's still a fact that you pulled me from the Abyss and gave me another chance at life after my first ended so pitifully." He exhaled, looking back over the city. "So… thank you."

Velmorian blinked, stunned. Then, slowly—his features softened. For the first time, true relief flickered across his face, as if something deep inside him had finally unburdened.

"I'll leave it to you, then."

The former Shadow King dropped to his knees, bowing low.

And as the world around them began to crumble, dissolving into shadow and light—

His final words echoed through the void.

"Long live the Shadow King."

And then—

Everything fell apart.

—x—

[[ Congratulations! ]]

[[ Mana Heart Upgrade Successful! ]]

[[ Mana Heart: Abyss Mana Heart (+3 Circles) ]]

Riven's body jerked as reality snapped back into focus. A sharp crack echoed in his chest, reverberating through his core. Looking inward, he saw it—a third circle, faint at first, sluggish in its orbit around his mana heart. But then, with a surge, it quickened. Faster. Stronger.

The air in his tent trembled. Mana stirred, as if called to him, bending to his will. A low wind picked up from nowhere, swirling around him.

Above his chest, a vortex formed—a spiraling pull of energy greedy and insatiable. The third circle pulsed, drinking in every trace of mana in the air.

"My god…" Mal breathed.

Then—a rush of movement.

His generals burst into the tent, weapons drawn, their bodies tense with the instinct to fight whatever force had just rattled their senses.

"What the hell is going on?" Krux demanded, his golden eyes narrowing at the sight before him.

Nyx's stare was sharp with disbelief. "Did he just break through? Already?"

Riven barely heard them. His body trembled as his mana heart continued to devour everything in its reach, pulling hungrily, recklessly. It wasn't enough.

"There's not much mana in the Wastes right now," Aria observed, her voice steady but urgent. She moved swiftly to Riven's side, kneeling behind him. "We need to supply him with more."

Without hesitation, the others sheathed their weapons and stepped forward.

One by one, they placed their hands on his back.

Warmth exploded through him. Raw mana—poured into his body from their own reserves. A surge of energy so intense it nearly blinded him.

Riven's head snapped back, his spine arching as power flooded through him, igniting every nerve, every fiber of his being. His mana heart thundered, the third circle stabilizing, spinning at a speed that nearly sent his body into shock.

The shadows in the tent flickered, bending toward him as if pulled by something unseen.

And then—silence.

The vortex collapsed. The mana stilled. The world settled.

Riven slumped forward, catching himself on his hands. His heart still pounded.

The generals withdrew their hands, their faces paler, their breathing heavier—but they knelt before him, heads bowed.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough, my liege."

Riven inhaled deeply, steadying himself. He lifted his hands, flexing his fingers. Abyssal fire curled around them, purer and stronger than before. His mana reserves overflowed.

"Thank you," he said simply, motioning for them to stand.

"Nyx, come take a walk with me."

Nyx's face, though ashen from the energy she had given, showed no surprise. She already knew.

They walked in silence along the perimeter of the encampment. The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of earth and burning wood. The sounds of construction echoed faintly from a distance.

Visit ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience.

"You know about the system Velmorian left for me," Riven said at last. His tone was level, but his gaze was piercing. "You've overridden it before. Annoyingly, I might add."

Nyx let out a small chuckle. "Annoyingly?"

"Yes."

She didn't deny it. Instead, she exhaled softly. "When I returned to the Abyss, he appeared before me—just for a moment. He told me he had found his successor, that he needed my help to guide you." Her voice was distant, eyes lost in memory. "At first, I thought he had finally lost it. That there was no way he had found someone capable of bringing the Shadow Kingdom back from ruin."

She turned to him then, smirking slightly. "Especially not some stubborn, reckless kid like you."

Riven rolled his eyes.

Nyx chuckled. "But then I saw you. I saw you fighting in the Abyss, battling against forces that should have consumed you. I saw how you bent the shadows to your will, how you refused to break. And I knew—" she stopped walking and faced him fully. "That I would follow you. That my loyalty belonged to you."

Her voice was firm. Absolute.

"From that moment," she said, "I never saw you as anything other than my Shadow King."

A beat of silence passed between them. Then—

Riven placed a hand on her shoulder. Nyx stiffened slightly, startled by the friendly gesture.

"He's gone," Riven said quietly.

Her body tensed.

"But you already know that, don't you?"

Nyx inhaled sharply. "I felt it… when you broke through." Her voice wavered just slightly.

Riven nodded. "His last ties to this world are gone."

She closed her eyes for a moment. "I know."

"Are you sad?"

Nyx exhaled, then—without hesitation—reached up and squeezed his hand. "No. Not anymore."

Riven studied her for a moment before giving a small nod. He squeezed her shoulder lightly before stepping away.

Nyx watched him go, expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she tilted her head toward the sky.

And with a quiet breath, she whispered her final goodbye to her former king.