Cherreads

Chapter 27 - The Garden of Poisoned Roses

The moonlight filtered through a curtain of black mist, casting a silver glow over the hidden fortress of the Dark Heaven Society. The air tonight wasn't just cold—it was charged. As if something ancient was about to stir.

Within the velvet chambers of the inner sanctum, Priyanshu Yadav stood before a colossal map of the continent. His sharp gaze traced glowing red marks spreading across it—each one representing a city now quietly under his indirect control.

❝Phase Three has begun, ❞ he whispered, more to himself than to the dozen shadows kneeling before him.

The candlelight danced across the obsidian walls, illuminating the intricate sigil of the Dark Heaven Society—a black crown entangled in thorns, wrapped around a dying star. It was more than a symbol now. It was a warning.

Suddenly—

🩸[DING! Hidden Villain System Notification]Progress Update:

Subjugation of Eastern Mercenary Guild: ✅

Seduction of Imperial Princess via masked identity: ✅

Recruitment of Elite Rogue Cultivators: ✅

Shadow Influence Spread to 43.9% of Imperial Territory

🔓[Unlocked Skill]: Demonic Charisma Lv.3—Your gaze now compels obedience in weaker minds. Use with caution.

Priyanshu's lips curved into a slow, deadly smile.

❝Soon, even the righteous will kneel and beg to sin,❞ he murmured, running a finger along the map.

But that wasn't the highlight of the evening.

The doors of the chamber swung open, revealing a beautiful girl with icy silver hair and crimson eyes—Amara Nightveil, one of the top enforcers in the Dark Heaven Society, bearing the title: Obsidian Thorn - Rank 5.

❝Master, we've located the rumored Garden of Poisoned Roses. Hidden under the collapsed ruins of Sky Lotus Temple.❞

Priyanshu's golden eyes gleamed.

The Garden of Poisoned Roses wasn't just a legend—it was a sanctuary built by an ancient alchemist sect. It was said to contain roses that bloomed only when fed with a drop of blood and whispered the secrets of immortality to those who dared to listen.

❝Perfect.❞

He turned toward the kneeling figures.

❝Prepare the stealth unit. We move at dawn. And send a Raven Wing to monitor the Royal Oracle. I don't want any divine eyes watching our little excursion.❞

⚔️Meanwhile…

Inside the Imperial Capital's White Lotus Hall, chaos brewed under a mask of calm.

The Crown Prince sat on his golden throne, surrounded by trembling ministers. Reports of growing unrest in border regions, vanishing noble heirs, and corrupted city guards were pouring in.

Yet no evidence could point toward the perpetrator.

Only one name was whispered in the dark corners of every tavern, every brothel, and every bloodied battlefield:

"The Nameless King."

And only a few dared to guess the truth behind that name.

✨Back at the Dark Heaven Society Headquarters…

Priyanshu stood in front of a massive iron gate carved with serpentine vines. Behind it lay the teleportation array that would take them to the garden ruins.

His team was ready.

Amara Nightveil – Obsidian Thorn (Rank 5)

Varun the Mind-Twister – Psychic Hand (Rank 4)

Zoya Flameheart – Crimson Blade (Rank 6)

Kael the Bloodsmith – Flesh Artificer (Rank 5)

Each held unspeakable power in their domains, handpicked and molded by Priyanshu himself.

With a wave of his hand, the portal burst to life. A spiral of violet flames licked the air as they stepped through into the unknown.

🌹Within the Garden of Poisoned Roses…

The sky above was a surreal shade of black-violet, and the ground was a bed of soft ash. Twisted rose bushes grew in the ruins, each blooming with ethereal petals that glowed with a dark allure.

One rose, in particular, stood out.

It pulsed—like it had a heartbeat. Like it knew Priyanshu had arrived.

The moment he approached, the entire garden trembled.

🩸[DING! Hidden Villain System Quest Activated]Quest: Bloom the Sovereign Rose

Conditions: Offer blood of a True Cultivator

Reward: Unknown

Danger Level: SS+

Without hesitation, Priyanshu bit into his palm and let his blood drip onto the pulsating rose.

It screamed.

The petals turned black. The ground split. A wave of corrupted energy surged through the ruins, causing the rest of the team to falter.

Priyanshu, however, stood still welcoming the storm like an old friend.

Suddenly, a system window flashed—

🩸[New Title Acquired]: The Blooming Calamity—You are now bound to the Rose of Sins. Its scent follows you. Its curse empowers you. Those who smell it will either fall in love or perish.

His heartbeat once. Twice.

Then the world around him changed.

He saw visions—alternate futures, dying gods, screaming stars—and above them all, a throne of obsidian where he sat alone.

The villain behind everything.

As the rose melted into his hand and vanished beneath his skin, Priyanshu turned to his companions.

❝We now have something the gods themselves desired but failed to tame. ❞

Zoya stared, speechless.

Kael knelt. ❝You… you're not just a villain anymore. You're a walking calamity.❞

Priyanshu smirked. ❝Good. Because the world needs a calamity… to be reborn. ❞

And as the garden roared with unnatural wind, and the ruins cracked open, Priyanshu Yadav stood tall—his power now no longer in the shadows but rooted in the blood of the old world.

The Dark Heaven Society had just claimed its place in legend.

And the Hidden Villain System?

It purred like a satisfied beast.

🩸[Chapter Complete]Next Quest Unlocked: Infiltrate the Saint's Baptism and Corrupt the Light from Within.

More Chapters