"Ughhh… damn it, damn it!
Doesn't William have even a shred of mercy?!"
Baran shouted as he stood beside Narvik, blood covering both of their bodies. Behind them stood Suleiman, Lillian, and Aureus, all staring at the man standing before them… William.
They were inside a gigantic pit, its walls blackened and stained with traces of countless past battles. Above them, at the edge, William stood expressionless. He looked down at them coldly, then raised his hand without hesitation… and disappeared.
In the next instant, soldiers appeared around the edges of the pit, bows drawn tight, their eyes locked on those below.
They pulled their bowstrings.
Fwooom!
Arrows rained down upon them like a storm. Their powers were completely sealed—there was no chance to use any skills. Everyone shut their eyes for a brief moment.
But—
They opened them again.
Their bodies moved on pure instinct—twisting, bending, making narrow jumps. The arrows passed just centimeters away.
Amid it all, Baran muttered to himself:
A full month of William's training… a month of hell.
Only two hours of sleep a day… no more than three loaves of bread.
Endless running, weights tied to our bodies, and direct beatings from him.
He even forced us to dodge arrows repeatedly… and Narvik even challenged a duel against the demoness who sits on the throne as the strongest at the Skill Transformation Level.
And the Kingdom of Darkness has sent its request to the Kingdom of the Sun… and it was accepted. The date is in two months—one month has already passed.
The barrage of arrows finally stopped.
Narvik spoke while panting,
"There are two arrows you couldn't dodge, Suleiman."
Two arrows were embedded in Suleiman's shoulder and leg, blood pouring heavily.
Despite the pain, Lillian smiled and said,
"That's better than the first time. Back then, you were hit by twenty-three arrows."
There was an arrow lodged in her hand, yet she paid it no attention.
Aureus spoke bitterly,
"This time, Baran and Narvik weren't hit at all… and me? Four arrows. How disgraceful."
Aureus was the weakest among them, still at the Skill Transformation Level, and Baran had defeated him eight times before.
While they were speaking—
Suddenly.
William descended into the pit.
Everyone's eyes widened, but before anyone could blink—
William vanished.
And appeared beside Baran.
One strike.
Baran dropped to one knee, coughing blood.
William didn't give anyone time to react. He instantly moved to Narvik and Suleiman, grabbed their heads—
—and smashed them together.
Both fell to the ground as blood flowed like a waterfall.
William appeared behind Aureus, lifted his foot, and crushed his head with a kick.
Aureus lost consciousness instantly.
Only Lillian remained standing.
She was at the Existence Level—strong.
And yet, Suleiman had defeated her twice before.
William rushed toward her and struck her face directly. She fell to the ground, crying.
William advanced with visible irritation, but before he reached her—
A strange aura spread through the area.
He stopped.
Turning around, William said with a cold smile,
"This is interesting… who allowed you to enter the White Tower?"
A girl appeared, wearing a red-and-white dress. Her red hair was wrapped around her head, loose strands falling freely, glasses resting on her nose.
She stepped forward calmly and said,
"Have you no shame? Hitting a girl? That's not the conduct of a man, as you know."
William replied coldly,
"And interfering in others' affairs is not the conduct of a woman."
A slight annoyance appeared on her face.
She bent down, lifted Lillian, and looked around.
Suleiman and Narvik were holding their heads, blood everywhere.
Baran was struggling to stand despite the pain.
And Aureus… completely unconscious.
She said firmly,
"Call the healers immediately."
---
At the outskirts of the Kingdom of Bones, where footsteps rarely reached, lay a small village surrounded by towering mountains like the fangs of an ancient beast. From between the rocks, a massive waterfall flowed quietly, its waters falling into a small, clear lake disturbed only by whispers of the wind.
At the edge of the lake stood a lone young man.
His body was taut, his abdominal muscles carved like stone, and his long black hair flowed freely behind him. He looked toward the distant village and sighed in annoyance.
"Hmmm… they've come again. This is getting really irritating."
At that moment, twenty armed men stormed into the village. They were no mere travelers—chaos followed them everywhere. Houses were overturned, villagers were shouted at, and anyone who resisted was beaten.
"Where is Rio?!"
"Bring out the boy called Rio—now!"
Minutes passed, terror spread, and innocent blood flowed through the narrow streets.
Suddenly—
A sharp sound echoed, followed by terrifying silence.
Everyone turned toward the source.
A man stood there… headless.
A moment later, his body collapsed, his head rolling away as blood erupted like a crimson fountain.
The same young man stood there… Rio.
A sword in his hand, blood droplets still clinging to its gleaming blade.
One of the men screamed in terror,
"T-That's him! That's Rio! Kill him immediately!"
Two men charged at him without hesitation.
Rio didn't move.
He waited until they were close—then—
In the blink of an eye, he sheathed his sword and drew it again at terrifying speed.
One man was split clean in half, his body falling before he could even understand what happened.
The other drew his sword and swung with all his strength. Rio merely smiled calmly… confidently.
Before the blade could reach him, an arrow pierced the man's head, dropping him dead on the spot.
Rio smiled mockingly.
"Seventeen left… and you didn't even bring a single person at the Hidden Level."
The moment he finished speaking, he rushed forward like a killing storm.
The men didn't think—they charged recklessly. But Rio was faster, smarter, and deadlier.
He raised his sword and, with a single strike, cut off another man's head, blood bursting forth like a waterfall.
Another man stepped forward, raised his sword, and brought it down toward Rio. Their blades collided, sparks flying through the air.
Rio pushed his opponent back a step, only for the man to advance again—but the difference in strength was clear.
Suddenly, three men appeared behind Rio. Before they could raise their swords, two of them collapsed, arrows embedded in their heads, blood spreading rapidly.
Rio clenched his teeth and pressed harder, cracking his opponent's sword.
In desperation, the man raised his blade and struck at Rio, while a third attacker came from the side.
The sword descended—
But Rio stopped it with his bare hand.
Blood poured from his palm, yet he didn't care. He smiled, pulled his sword free, and decapitated the man whose blade he had stopped.
Without hesitation, he spun around and severed the head of the other man whose sword had shattered.
Silence fell.
Rio stood before the remaining men and said calmly,
"I think that's enough."
He raised his hand toward the sky.
The blood scattered from the corpses began to rise, defying the laws of nature, shaping itself into swords and spears made of blood.
Rio lowered his hand.
The blood weapons rained down, and within moments, all the men were dead—
Except one.
The very man who had ordered Rio's death.
The man collapsed to his knees in terror.
Rio approached, grabbed him by the throat, and said coldly,
"Who ordered you to kill me?"
The man trembled and whispered with difficulty,
"He's… behind you."
He pointed toward the sky.
Rio froze.
He slowly turned, and the shock in his eyes transformed into deep confusion and genuine unease.
"Voltar…?"
"Voltar? What is someone like you doing here?"
Voltar looked at Rio calmly, his gaze hiding overwhelming pressure.
"So… you're Rio.
You've killed many people and stolen many things."
Rio's heart pounded violently as a suffocating pressure gripped his chest.
Damn it… what brought someone at the Balance Level here?
Did the king really assign someone like Voltar just to kill me?
Contrary to his expectations, Voltar smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. I don't want to kill you.
I want to help you with something."
Voltar slowly descended from the sky, as if the air itself parted for him, and stood before Rio.
"You'll help me… and I'll help you.
You want that necklace, don't you?"
Rio smiled.
"Yes. I want that necklace badly.
I'll do anything for it."
Voltar nodded, as if the matter were settled.
"Do you know the city of Thraven?"
Rio stiffened slightly as memories surfaced.
Thraven… a massive city.
Once ruled by a powerful clan, annihilated by the king's orders.
I heard it was later occupied…
"Yes, I know it," Rio replied.
"Do you want to take control of it?"
Voltar's smile deepened.
"Exactly.
There's someone at the Balance Level who wants to claim it, and I want you to help me kill him."
Rio was silent for a moment, then asked cautiously,
"Alright… what's your plan?"
Voltar reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, dark vial.
"This is poison.
Make him consume it. After that… we kill him.
Join him. Make him trust you."
Rio gasped and sat down angrily.
"Are you joking?!
How am I supposed to make him trust me?
And how do you expect me to fight him with you? One hit from him and I'm dead!"
Voltar laughed softly.
"I know you can fight him with me… using your skill."
Rio froze.
My skill…
Blood control.
If I take the blood of someone stronger than me, my attacks reach their level for a short time…
How does he know this?!
Rio looked at him coldly.
"I'll do it… for the necklace only."
They talked for a while longer before Voltar left, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Rio looked up at the sky and whispered,
"My whole life… battle after battle.
But for what?
What is my goal in this life?"
A familiar voice interrupted him.
"Heeey! What happened, Rio?
Did that man leave?"
A young boy ran toward him, his short blond hair fluttering, a bow and quiver on his back.
His name was Jack.
Rio looked at him and said,
"Listen, Jack… we're going to Thraven."
Jack didn't object. He simply nodded, as if used to following his master's orders.
Rio and Jack set off toward Thraven City.
With dark resolve shining in his eyes, Rio thought:
I'll kill everyone there. I'll destroy everything.
Are you trying to toy with me, Voltar?
I'll show you… who I really am.