NOVEL NEXT Chapter 325 Calculated Restraint
Silas ascended into the skies above the ruins of the Ebon Frost family's once-proud stronghold.
The icy castle lay shattered, its walls crumbling and its proud legacy broken. Yet, despite his overwhelming victory, he left them alive.
To some, this decision might seem merciful—or even weak. Why let the very people who had wreaked havoc on the world live? Why allow them the chance to rise again?
For Silas, the choice was far from simple, but it was deliberate, strategic, and calculated.
---
Phenomenals were rare—so rare that even with the recent surge in their emergence, they still made up less than 0.001% of the world's population.
Silas understood this reality deeply. Each Phenomenal represented a unique asset, a potentially irreplaceable force of power, talent, and skill.
Wiping them out entirely would be akin to burning a valuable resource that the world might desperately need in the future.
Yes, Silas had access to the Genetic Enhancement Serum (GES), a tool capable of granting powers to ordinary people.
However, the serum wasn't a miracle solution. Its success rate was alarmingly low, with less than 50% of those who took it ever awakening powers.
For Silas, the Ebon Frost family and others like them were more than just enemies; they were future tools.
"Why kill what you can use?" he thought.
By keeping them alive, Silas left the door open for the possibility of repurposing their power. If they could be bent to his will—or at least forced to act within his framework—they might one day prove invaluable.
---
Silas' decision was also shaped by his own history. He had made mistakes before—decisions born of necessity that came with unforeseen consequences. Chief among them was the destruction of the Black Hand.
At the time, dismantling the Black Hand had been unavoidable. Their stranglehold on the world, their manipulation of governments and economies, and their direct attacks on him, his family and those he cares about left him no choice. They had to be eradicated.
Yet, in doing so, Silas had inadvertently created a power vacuum. The fall of the Black Hand had given rise to new factions, including the hidden Phenomenals families.
"Destroy one tyrant," he mused, "and another takes their place."
The Ebon Frost family was no different. If Silas completely eradicated them, another family—or perhaps an entirely new faction—would undoubtedly rise to claim their territory. Worse, there was no guarantee that this new force would be any better. It might even be worse.
Leaving the Ebon Frost family alive wasn't about trust or leniency; it was about containment. They were a known quantity. Silas understood their strengths, weaknesses, and ambitions.
By sparing them, he ensured that they remained in the open, where he could monitor and control their actions. Destroying them would only invite chaos—and chaos was something the world could no longer afford.
---
Despite his overwhelming power, Silas was under no illusion that he could fight every battle alone. Yes, he had defeated the Black Hand and the world's governments, but those victories had come with significant risks and relied heavily on the element of **surprise**.
The world now knew who Silas Kurt was. They had witnessed his strength, his intelligence, and his unyielding resolve.
And while they feared him, they were also preparing for him. Nations, factions, and even independent Phenomenals were undoubtedly devising ways to counter him.
"They know they can't control me," Silas thought. "So they'll try to contain me."
The world was vast and chaotic, and while Silas could crush individual threats, he couldn't be everywhere at once. That reality gnawed at him, pushing him to consider new strategies.
"What happens when another family rises? When the next crisis demands my attention?" he thought. "I can't keep playing whack-a-mole with the world's problems."
This realization fueled his long-term vision. Silas didn't just want to dismantle tyrants—he wanted to build a system that could sustain itself without his constant intervention.
But for now, that vision remained a distant goal. The immediate priority was stabilizing the world.
In this new world order, Silas had to be smarter. He couldn't simply rely on brute force to solve every problem—it was unsustainable.
Instead, he needed to think several steps ahead, treating the global stage like a game of chess. Leaving the Ebon Frost family alive was a calculated gamble. It allowed him to conserve his strength while sending a clear message:
And just as Silas said: "Challenge me, and you will lose."
---
Silas' parting words to the Ebon Frost family hadn't been idle threats. He fully expected them to test his authority.
Their pride, legacy, and thirst for power would demand it. And when they did, Silas would be ready to respond without hesitation or restraint.
To Silas,this wasn't him showing them mercy, it was him giving them an ultimatum.
By sparing them, Silas ensured they would live with the humiliation of their defeat. The matriarch, Lady Selyna, and her once-proud house would be forced to reckon with the reality that they were no longer untouchable. Their actions moving forward would determine their fate.
If they chose to reform, Silas would let them be. But if they continued their tyrannous acts, he would return—and this time, there would be no survivors.
---
News of Silas's confrontation with the Ebon Frost family spread like wildfire. Videos of him hovering above their icy fortress, shattering their defenses, and leaving their matriarch defeated circulated across every platform. The reactions were mixed:
Governments saw his actions as both a relief and a warning. On one hand, Silas had neutralized one of the most dangerous Phenomenals families. On the other, his unchecked power continued to terrify them.
Phenomenals families and factions took the warning to heart. Some began strengthening their defenses, preparing for the day Silas might arrive at their doorstep. Others questioned whether it was worth challenging him at all.
The public remained divided. To some, Silas was a hero, a symbol of justice in a chaotic world. To others, he was a dangerous wildcard, someone who operated above the law and answered to no one.
Regardless of opinion, one thing was clear: Silas Kurt's actions had reshaped the global power dynamic yet again.
---
Back in his facility, Silas entered his command center, where Luna was already waiting. Her voice greeted him softly.
{Welcome back, Master. You handled the Ebon Frost family efficiently.}
"They'll challenge me again," Silas said, as he walked towards her.
{Most likely,} Luna agreed. {Their pride and ambition won't allow them to remain subdued for long.}
Silas sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't kill them because they're still useful. But sometimes I wonder if it's worth the risk."
{Your decision was logical,} Luna replied. {Eliminating them entirely would have created a power vacuum, much like the one left by the Black Hand. By leaving them alive, you maintain control over the situation.}
Silas smirked faintly. "Control, huh? Feels like I'm just playing damage control."
{Perhaps. But it's the kind of control that shapes the future.}
---
As Silas stared at the holographic map of the world, he felt the weight of his decisions pressing down on him.
Sparing the Ebon Frost family had been the right move, but it was only the beginning. Other families, factions, and forces would rise, each testing his resolve.
"I can't do this forever," he muttered.
{No,} Luna said. {But you don't need to. Your actions now lay the foundation for a world that can sustain itself without you.}
Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire
Silas nodded slowly. He didn't just want to be the man who crushed tyrants—he wanted to be the one who built something lasting.
For now, though, he would remain vigilant. The Ebon Frost family had been warned, and the world was watching. The next move was theirs.
And he would be ready.