At first, Chen Ye thought his meeting with the members of the Yozakura Family would end in disaster.
The subtle threat in Inaba Tsukuyo's warning still rang in his ears.
On top of that, his experience with Cecilus Segmunt's condescending attitude earlier had left him with a poor impression of the other members.
But he was wrong—very wrong.
"WOW! WE HAVE A NEWCOMER!"
That cheerful, energetic voice broke the silence, making Chen Ye flinch.
A girl leapt in front of him with a movement the eye could barely follow.
"You must be the one Tsubomi mentioned, right?!"
The girl leaned her face in, her red eyes shining with curiosity, so close that Chen Ye could feel her breath.
"Eh?"
Chen Ye blinked and stepped back by reflex, startled not only by the unexpected closeness but also by the girl's appearance.
A slender figure with skin as smooth as porcelain stood before him.
Long purplish-black hair flowed beautifully, shimmering in the light from the tall windows behind her.
Her red eyes radiated a strange warmth—a contrast to the color usually associated with danger.
What made her truly different from an ordinary human were the pointed ears jutting out from her hair and—most surprising of all—a pair of transparent, bat-shaped wings glimmering with a purple tinge on her back.
The girl wore an obsidian breastplate that looked light yet sturdy.
A knee-length, airy skirt in a matching color completed her elegant yet battle-ready look.
A sword in a thin black sheath hung gracefully at her waist.
"Stop pestering him." Inaba Tsukuyo frowned, her voice sharp. "You'll make him uncomfortable before the training even begins."
The winged girl pulled her face back and scratched her head in embarrassment.
"Oh! I'm sorry."
Her disappointed expression lasted only a second before turning cheerful again. She immediately held out her hand to Chen Ye and said enthusiastically,
"Nice to meet you, my name is Konno Yūki. I'm usually known as Zekken (Absolute Sword), but you can also just call me Yūki!"
"Zekken?"
Chen Ye hesitantly took the offered hand. Her hand was warm and Yūki's grip was strong yet gentle.
"You don't know?" Yūki's eyes widened with excitement. "Here, let me explain—"
"Enough," Inaba Tsukuyo cut in with a heavy sigh full of weariness.
"As you can see," she turned to Chen Ye, "she's not human. She's a Fairy, specifically a mutated type called an Imp."
"Yes! What Tsukuyo said is right," Yūki nodded eagerly.
"But even so," she drew her sword in a graceful motion and twirled it at incredible speed before sheathing it again in one smooth movement, "I'm pretty good at swordsmanship and can be your teacher. So from now on, please take care of me!"
"Y-yes, please take care of me too." Chen Ye smiled awkwardly.
Unlike Cecilus Segmunt, who always seemed to cover everything with a fake smile, the girl before him radiated a sincerity that was almost dazzling.
Her warmth was so real that Chen Ye didn't know how to respond properly.
"Haah, come, I'll introduce you to the others."
Inaba Tsukuyo massaged her forehead in exasperation as though used to dealing with Yūki's antics.
"Oh, right! You should get to know the others too." Yūki clapped her hands once, loudly. "Everyone, let's welcome our new member!"
Only then did Chen Ye truly notice the large room he was in.
The afternoon sunlight pierced through the tall windows, forming golden beams that cut through the air.
The wooden floor creaked softly as he stepped further inside.
Besides the girl who called herself Konno Yūki, there were at least seven others present in various positions in the room.
Some sat quietly enjoying tea, others leaned against the wall with arms folded, and the rest seemed indifferent to his presence.
Chen Ye sensed waves of different energy from each individual, but one conclusion clearly formed in his mind:
They were very strong!
He swallowed.
The pressure aura from each person in this room was enough to make even a Rank A tremble.
His survival instincts screamed that a single attack from any one of them could destroy his body in an instant.
Chen Ye clenched his fists to stop the trembling that was beginning to appear.
"So this is the Sword Child?"
The voice came from behind him—cold and heavy like a death knell at midnight.
Chen Ye turned tensely, almost tripping over his own feet.
A young man with long black hair stood facing him, staring sharply with light brown eyes that were almost bright yellow—like the eyes of a hawk watching its prey.
He was tall, perhaps nearly two meters, with an upright frame wrapped in trained muscle yet still lean and agile.
His clothing consisted of a black shitagi with a grayish wind design flowing across the upper part, a black kosode with a similar pattern on both sleeves, and a sleeveless white haori that fluttered gently even though there was no wind.
A large X-shaped scar stretched across his face, making his cold expression even more intimidating.
Every movement, even something as small as a change in his gaze, radiated an almost unstoppable power.
Only then did Chen Ye notice another figure—a girl with short black hair and deep black eyes—sitting casually on the young man's right shoulder.
In contrast to the large man's build beneath her, the girl looked small and fragile.
The girl wore a black sailor uniform with a red belt and red side skirt cover.
Her long black socks and shoes looked glossy as if brand new.
Her blouse was a little too short, almost revealing her small navel. Red gloves covered her fingers, which were busy munching on a snack.
When their eyes met, the girl hurriedly hid the food she was eating with a wary motion, like a little cat afraid of losing its prey.
The girl's behavior briefly distracted Chen Ye, but his gaze quickly returned to the intimidating figure before him.
Every instinct in his body screamed that this man was the most dangerous predator in the room.
At that moment, the Sword King's voice echoed in his mind, its tone filled with an admiration rarely heard.
'This man is insane! He's actually enveloping his entire body in air pressure of an extreme level! This pressure... even a Rank S would be overwhelmed facing it!'
Chen Ye was startled by the explanation.
If true, the man before him was not only strong—he lived his life under a burden that would crush the bones of an ordinary person.
Every movement, every step, every breath was performed against pressure that could crush steel.
The tall young man seemed to notice the silent communication between Chen Ye and the invisible spirit.
His eyes narrowed dangerously before he said in a cutting cold tone, "So, are you done talking with your invisible friend?"
"Y-yes," Chen Ye straightened up, trying to look unintimidated. "Do you need something from me?"
"At first I wanted to see who had caught the Family Head's attention."
The young man's gaze moved from top to bottom, appraising Chen Ye like a buyer unimpressed with the merchandise.
"But… it seems this was a waste of time."
"…"
The air felt frozen.
"You're very weak," he continued coldly.
"Even if you took a single blow from me, your body would shatter like a dry twig."
"What—" Chen Ye gasped, anger surging in his chest like a suddenly ignited fire. His hand moved by reflex toward his sword.
But before he could do something he would regret, the Sword King manifested in his half-body form.
"Boy," the Sword King's voice was calm yet held hidden power.
"Don't you think your words are a bit excessive? Though he is weak right now, he is still my disciple."
The Sword King's sudden appearance drew everyone's attention in the room.
Some looked surprised, others curious. The girl on the tall young man's shoulder even stopped chewing and stared with wide, fascinated eyes.
After all, it wasn't every day they got to see a soul in the form of a half-bodied ghost.
But unexpectedly, the tall young man seemed entirely unimpressed.
His eyes looked at the Sword King with the same disdain he had given Chen Ye.
"So you're the one called the Sword King?" His voice remained cold and controlled.
"It seems you're not good at training your disciple."
The young man stepped closer, his pressure aura growing more intense until the wooden floor creaked in protest beneath his feet.
"Besides..." his contemptuous gaze grew more evident, "...a soul that isn't even as strong as a Rank SS still has the nerve to reprimand me?"
The Sword King fell silent, stunned.
In hundreds of years of existence, this was the first time any being had dared to mock and belittle him after learning his identity!
"Stop! Stop! Let's stop here, okay?" Konno Yūki leapt between them, her wings flapping quickly and creating a gust of wind that refreshed the tension.
"We're here to get acquainted, not to fight!"
Her cheerful smile did not fade even when sandwiched between two entities ready to fight.
"Besides, if you destroy this room, Tsubomi will definitely be unhappy and I don't want anyone getting hurt on the first day of introductions!"
Hearing that, the tall young man merely snorted.
Without a word, he turned and walked toward the exit. The girl on his shoulder was still looking at the Sword King curiously before resuming her snack.
Before reaching the door, the young man paused briefly without turning.
"A weakling like you is not worthy of receiving training from me."
The sound of the door closing echoed in the oppressive silence.
For some time, the room was filled with tension that felt almost solid.
Inaba Tsukuyo cleared her throat to ease the awkward atmosphere.
"No need to take offense. Kurogane Ouma is like that to everyone."
"I-I know..." Chen Ye replied, though annoyance and shame were still clearly visible on his face.
The Sword King returned to his body, but Chen Ye could feel the sword spirit still seething with anger.
"Even though Ouma is like that, he is actually very kind," a soft yet authoritative voice came from the side of the room.
"He's just wary of people from outside the Yozakura. Please don't take offense."
Chen Ye turned and found a short young woman approaching him gracefully.
Her every movement was reminiscent of calm yet deep flowing water.
The woman wore a beautiful orange gown interwoven with gold thread, adorned with small gems that caught and reflected the light.
Her black hair was styled in an intricate, ornament-filled fashion—floral hairpins, strands of tiny pearls, and gold ornaments that chimed softly as she walked.
Her yellow eyes radiated the wisdom and calm possessed only by those who had been through many battles.
In her hands, she held a unique orange sword with glowing red crystals around its hilt.
Her aura felt like that of a wise ancient queen...
"You..."
The woman smiled warmly, creating fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
"Allow me to introduce myself… My name is Ji Xuanyuan."
"Ji Xuanyuan?" Chen Ye was slightly surprised to hear a name similar to his own.
"Yes..." Ji Xuanyuan nodded while continuing to smile kindly.
"It seems we come from the same place." She gently touched her orange sword. "Our worlds may differ, but our roots are alike."
"T-that's unexpected..." Chen Ye looked at the woman with great curiosity. "Then, who exactly was that very rude man just now? And why is that girl always with him?"
Inaba Tsukuyo, who was still standing beside him, answered in a flat tone.
"The man you called rude is named Kurogane Ouma, and the girl on his shoulder is named Kurome. The reason Kurome follows Ouma is simple—" she looked toward the door that had just closed, "—she feels safer because Ouma is one of the strongest people here."
"The strongest? Someone like him?"
Chen Ye felt disbelief.
Although he could sense the great power from that young man… his arrogant attitude made it hard for him to accept the fact.
Ji Xuanyuan smiled at the doubt in Chen Ye's voice.
"Except for me," she said with graceful humility, "he can defeat everyone in this room with ease. Including your teacher."
"Exactly!" Konno Yūki nodded eagerly, her wings quivering in rhythm with her head movements.
"Ouma is really strong, you know! One of his attacks can beat me completely! Even in our last sparring match, I couldn't even see him move before my sword was thrown off and his sword was pressed against my neck!"
Chen Ye was speechless.
He couldn't believe that such a rude man truly possessed the power they claimed.
Even the Sword King in his mind felt skeptical, though he made no further comment.
If their words were true, then Kurogane Ouma was not merely equal to an ordinary Rank SS—he might be on a higher level—Rank SS+… This thought made Chen Ye feel small and insignificant.
"Now, forget about that." Konno Yūki patted Chen Ye's shoulder lightly, snapping him out of his reverie. "Now, I'll introduce you to the others!"
She pointed to a corner of the room where a black-haired young man sat alone, enjoying a cup of tea with a calm that contrasted with the earlier tension.
"That gloomy, quiet one over there is named Tomioka Giyū. If you want to know who is truly skilled at swordsmanship here, he's one of them."
Chen Ye studied the young man carefully.
A pair of sharp dark-blue eyes stared back without any readable emotion. His face was like a mask, calm and controlled, hiding whatever thoughts lay behind it.
Tomioka Giyū wore a haori with a unique half-blue, half-red pattern over a traditional black kimono.
The sword at his side was unremarkable, but Chen Ye could sense the sharp aura radiating from it, a sword that had tasted real battle.
While everyone was busy with Chen Ye's arrival, Giyū calmly enjoyed his tea.
He sensed Chen Ye's gaze, but chose only to give a brief nod of acknowledgment without changing his stoic expression.
"Ahem, all right, let's continue," Konno Yūki hopped lightly with enthusiasm.
"That very beautiful girl with red hair and red eyes is named Tsukuyomi Tsukasa. If you're curious about life, you can ask her."
Chen Ye shifted his gaze in the direction Yūki pointed and was instantly transfixed...
The figure sitting by the tall window held every word in his throat.
Her long red hair gleamed like rubies in the setting sun, flowing beautifully until it touched the floor.
A pair of eyes of the same color radiated an enchanting beauty.
Tsukuyomi Tsukasa wore a white yukata that contrasted with her snow-white skin.
Her aura was different from everyone else in the room—not the aura of a powerful fighter, but of someone who had lived a long life.
Her gaze seemed to have seen many things, yet remained calm and unaffected.
She lifted her teacup with movements that looked like those of an elegant lady.
"A pleasure to meet you," she said briefly, in a voice like the chime of distant bells.
"M-me too. Please take care of me," Chen Ye replied haltingly, still enchanted by the woman's almost otherworldly presence.
Tsukuyomi Tsukasa merely nodded subtly before returning to her tea and looking out the window, as if seeing a world invisible to others.
"Don't be too sad, Tsukasa just doesn't talk much," Konno Yūki patted Chen Ye's shoulder enthusiastically.
"But if you want to ask her something, I'm sure she'll answer."
Chen Ye nodded and said, "I understand. Then..."
He swallowed as his eyes shifted to the last two figures in the room who had not yet been introduced.
The first... Chen Ye even doubted whether that being could still be categorized as "human."
Unlike Konno Yūki, who, though not human, still had a familiar form, the being in the corner of the room truly surpassed the definition of any race or species he knew.
The upper half of its body resembled a human, though entirely covered in jet-black machinery that gleamed coldly.
Its eyes glowed green like an intimidating fire—not a fire that warms, but one that burns and destroys.
Its lower body formed the shape of a mechanical horse with metal legs that looked capable of crushing stone with a single stomp.
Its appearance was literally something Chen Ye had never imagined before.
Especially… its face, which was like an ancient war mask fused with futuristic technology.
"I know you're surprised," Inaba Tsukuyo said calmly upon seeing Chen Ye's expression.
"But he's one of our strongest bastions of defense. His name is Xiang Yu."
"Yes! If you want to know about the life of war, Uncle Xiang Yu is the best choice!" Konno Yūki added enthusiastically.
"Although, well... I doubt he'll talk, since it's very rare for him to speak, but he's a good person, really!"
As if hearing his name mentioned, Xiang Yu turned his glowing green gaze toward them.
His stare seemed to trace through Chen Ye's soul, assessing every aspect of his being down to the core.
Without a word, he gave a brief nod—a simple acknowledgment that somehow felt very meaningful.
Chen Ye nodded stiffly, still a little intimidated.
He was curious because the name Xiang Yu clearly suggested that the being came from the same place as him, but its very different form made him wonder what transformation had occurred...
His gaze shifted to the last figure who had not been introduced—a figure still hiding in the shadows of the adjoining room, showing only the silhouette of a body in a perfect seiza sitting position.
Inaba Tsukuyo, noticing the direction of Chen Ye's gaze, opened her mouth to explain. "That's Kokushi—"
"No need."
The voice cut off Tsukuyo's explanation, echoing in the room like a whisper from deep darkness.
Chen Ye flinched, his heart seeming to stop beating as he realized a figure was now standing right beside him—a figure who a second earlier had still been in the adjoining room.
'How could he move that fast without a sound?'
Cold sweat ran down Chen Ye's back as a heavy, oppressive aura enveloped the area around him, making the air feel thick and hard to breathe.
Beside him stood a towering figure—taller than Chen Ye but not as tall as Kurogane Ouma.
The figure had long, spiky black hair with blood-red tips, tied in a high ponytail that fell like a waterfall of night.
His skin was extremely pale, almost like paper, in sharp contrast with his dark clothing.
He wore a nagagi kimono with a purple-black hexagonal pattern that seemed to move and change when viewed from different angles.
Black umanori-style hakama trousers tied with a white uwa-obi encircled his waist.
His feet were clad in zōri with purple straps and spotless white tabi socks.
But it was not his clothing that made Chen Ye's breath catch… It was his face.
Three pairs of eyes stared at him from a face that should have had only one pair.
Six eyes with yellow irises and blood-red sclera, each with a straight black line deviating from every iris.
On the middle set of eyes were symbols or writing that Chen Ye did not recognize.
The figure's appearance radiated an aura of undeniable majesty and dignity, but at the same time, his presence felt terrifying and unnatural because of the extra eyes that gazed sharply as if looking into one's soul.
"I am Kokushibo," his voice was calm yet held hidden power.
"I don't care whether you're the disciple of the King Sword or anyone else's. But you need to remember one thing."
The six terrifying pupils narrowed simultaneously, creating an effect that made the hairs on Chen Ye's neck stand on end.
"You must be prepared to die if you want to undergo training from me. Do you understand the meaning of my words?"
His voice did not rise, there was no explicit threat in his sentence, but Chen Ye felt the heavy weight in every syllable Kokushibo uttered.
"Y-yes. I understand." Chen Ye answered in a voice he hoped did not sound trembling.
Kokushibo stared at him a little longer, his six eyes analyzing and appraising.
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door with steps that made almost no sound.
"Come to my place anytime," he said before reaching the door. "I will train you."
The door closed behind him on its own, without a sound, as though afraid of disturbing the figure who had just passed.
Silence crept through the room before Konno Yūki clapped once, breaking the tension.
"Hahaha, it seems you've had a lot of surprises today. Haven't you?"
Her laughter was cheerful, in sharp contrast with the earlier tense atmosphere.
"Yes... the people here are quite... unique."
Chen Ye wiped his sweaty forehead.
While the girls in this place were quite friendly—though not all of them—nearly all the men seemed to look at him with disdain or even hostility.
Training in this place would probably be far harder than he had imagined.
"No need to worry about Kokushibo," Inaba Tsukuyo said in an unusually reassuring tone.
"Unlike Cecilus and Ouma, he's serious about training someone. Considering your Talent, he won't treat you badly... at least not worse than necessary."
"Understood." Chen Ye nodded, though doubt was still visible in his eyes.
Although Chen Ye knew from the aura that Kokushibo was still weaker than Kurogane Ouma and Xiang Yu, there was something about that six-eyed being that froze his blood.
Something vile, hidden behind a calm and controlled appearance.
Inaba Tsukuyo did not seem to notice—or chose to ignore—Chen Ye's unease.
She turned toward the window, watching the sky begin to change color.
"Actually, there are a few more Yozakura members," she continued, "but they couldn't be here today because of various missions and obligations. It's just that..."
Inaba Tsukuyo glanced at Chen Ye with her half-closed eyes, "you can be sure that those present here undoubtedly have the ability to train you to become stronger."
Chen Ye straightened his body, his gaze turning sharp.
"Please look after me from now on. I won't disappoint you."
And so… hellish training began.
***
[𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝗢𝗯𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝟱𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀]
The announcement echoed in his mind, causing Lux, who was in the form of the Morax Template—the Geo Archon—to open his eyes.
His golden eyes glittered like ancient crystals holding certain secrets.
He quietly exhaled, shedding an invisible burden from his shoulders.
He had just tried to pressure the Son of Destiny through several Templates and the results did not disappoint.
At least his earnings were enough to cover part of his losses.
But his sharp eyes narrowed as he recalled his situation.
'This is still not enough.'
Lux (Morax) frowned.
His total Achievement Points had previously touched 10 billion, but after maximizing the progress of all his Templates and creating the Yozakura Family's history in this world through 'History Template Creation'... his points were almost completely drained.
On top of that, the total failure to create the History of the Seven Archons had consumed one billion points with no result at all...
Calculated carefully, the total points remaining were only about eight hundred million (800,000,000).
An amount that still sounded fantastic, but was almost meaningless for using the 'Character Template Power-up' feature.
To upgrade several crucial Templates like Inaba Tsukuyo and the others, he needed far more points.
The failure rate in the Template upgrade process was very high, sometimes consuming more than a hundred million points just for a single star upgrade.
Just one Son of Destiny was clearly not enough.
He glanced calmly toward the large bed in the corner of the room, where a long-haired golden-haired girl still slept soundly.
'She will wake up soon,' thought Lux (Morax) as he observed the small movements beneath the girl's eyelids, which had begun to stir.
'I hope she can give me more points.'
***
Silvana Heavenly Sky.
That name should have evoked respect and awe from anyone who heard it.
As the only daughter of the magnificent Heavenly Sky Kingdom, she should have lived in luxury, surrounded by boundless love and protection.
Her every step should have been accompanied by respectful bows, her every word listened to attentively.
But… the reality that befell her was far from that beautiful imagining.
Her life in the luxurious palace, which should have been a paradise, turned into a nightmare that never ended.
Every dawn that broke brought not hope, but new suffering waiting for her.
The servants who should have knelt before her instead looked at her with gazes full of hatred and disgust.
Abuse after abuse befell her every day, like rain that never stopped.
Even more painful, her own family members—the father who should have protected her, the older brother who should have been her guardian, and the younger brother who should have cherished her—all closed their eyes, as if Silvana were a shadow unworthy of being seen.
Their indifferent attitude only freed the servants to act even more cruelly.
Her beautiful clothes were torn to rags, leaving her small body shivering with cold.
Stinging cold water was prepared for her baths, giving her fevers and chills for days.
Her private palace funds were embezzled by the servants, including her own personal maid, leaving her without a single coin for her basic needs.
Locked in a dark room without sunlight, beaten until her body was covered in bluish bruises, trampled until she felt her ribs crack, and fed stale food that even stray dogs would refuse to touch…
Silvana experienced every form of torment with her small, fragile body.
Every day was a struggle to stay alive, every breath a bitter miracle.
But what shook her soul the most was when one of the servants dared to try to end her life with a rusty dagger!
Silvana's eyes widened in horror as she saw the flash of metal heading toward her.
Fortunately, the assassination attempt left only a graze on her arm, but the trauma that remained was far deeper than the physical wound.
That fear lodged like a thorn in her heart, filling her sleep with nightmares.
At first, Silvana lived in agonizing confusion.
Why?
That question echoed ceaselessly in her mind.
Why did people hate her?
Why did her own family treat her like a plague to be avoided?
What mistake had she made to deserve such cruel treatment?
Until finally, the bitter truth was revealed like a sword piercing her chest.
She was regarded as the queen's murderer.
When her mother, the Queen of Heavenly Sky beloved by all the people, breathed her last while giving birth to Silvana, everyone pointed their fingers at that tiny baby as the mastermind behind the queen's death.
How could a newborn baby be considered a murderer? What logic could justify such a vile accusation?
But hatred knows no logic.
Grudges need no reasonable grounds.
Silvana wanted to scream, to be angry, to protest the injustice that befell her.
But every time that anger arose, a greater fear swallowed her whole.
Fear of death that could come at any time, fear of even crueler torment, fear of endless solitude.
That fear shackled her voice, leaving her silent in her suffering.
For that reason, she chose a different path. She decided to study.
With burning determination, Silvana tried to gather as much knowledge as possible.
She hoped that by becoming the smartest person in the palace, her family's hatred would turn to pride.
Perhaps they would see her as a valuable asset rather than a shameful burden.
But the path to knowledge was like walking on burning thorns.
Every book she owned was scribbled over with black ink until it could not be read.
Her pen and writing ink were destroyed again and again until she had to write with charcoal on scrap paper.
Even the library guards firmly forbade her from entering, forcing her to sneak in silently in the middle of the night like a thief.
For years she struggled in the darkness, gathering knowledge drop by drop like someone dying of thirst in the desert.
Her body was weary, her eyes ached, but her spirit never died out.
And at the age of 16, a miracle happened.
She could use light magic!
At that time, Silvana was merely idly trying out a movement she had read in an ancient magic book.
But suddenly, her palm radiated a warm, soothing golden light.
The light was so beautiful, like morning sun piercing through mist.
For the first time in her life, Silvana felt true wonder.
Joy made her lose her reason.
Without thinking, she ran to the family room to share the happy news.
Her eyes sparkled, her smile spread wide—she was sure her family would be proud of her.
But… what she met was not pride or joy.
It was horror that froze the blood.
Her father's expression changed into a mixture of shock, anger, and... fear?
Her older and younger brothers looked at her as if she were a monster that must be exterminated at once.
Even the servants, who usually showed only hatred, now looked at her with real terror.
Only then did Silvana realize the fatal mistake she had made.
Light magic was strictly forbidden in the Heavenly Sky Kingdom.
The prohibition was rooted in a dark history of the past.
The God of War, the Transcendent being who blessed and protected the Heavenly Sky Kingdom, had once been publicly humiliated by the Holy Spirit Empire, which was under the protection of the God of Light.
That humiliation left a deep wound in the God of War's heart, causing him to hate everything related to the light element.
And as a kingdom living under the God of War's protection, the Heavenly Sky Kingdom had to obey its master's hatred.
Anyone who dared use light magic would be considered a traitor and must be executed before the public.
Silvana's fate had been written from the moment that golden light appeared from her hand.
Within hours, she was arrested and thrown into a damp, dark underground prison.
The cell was unfit even for animals—its walls were mossy, its floor muddy, and the air inside so stifling that it was hard to breathe.
But that prison was only the beginning of the real hell.
For four full years, Silvana was tortured with various horrifying instruments of torment.
Barbed whips that tore her skin, hot irons that burned her flesh, and dozens of other torture devices that made her scream until her voice was hoarse.
The pain was so terrible that again and again she wanted to end her own life.
But even the desire to die was taken from her.
She was forced to sign a magical 'suicide prohibition' contract that bound her soul, making her unable to end her own suffering.
She was trapped in an endless cycle of torment, living in absolute despair.
Four years passed like four long centuries.
When her 20th birthday arrived, it was the day of her execution.
Her golden hair, once shimmering like sunlight, was now dull and lifeless, having lost all its beauty.
Her blue eyes, once clear as a spring sky, were now dim and empty, no longer reflecting any light of hope.
Her body, once small and healthy, was now gaunt like a skeleton wrapped in skin.
For years, she had been given only one piece of rotten bread each day—bread that even stray dogs would refuse to touch.
When the day of execution arrived, Silvana was dragged out of her prison cell like a sack of rice.
The dazzling sunlight blinded her eyes, which had not seen brightness for so long.
The clamor of the gathered people deafened her ears.
But it was not cheers of support she heard—it was curses and hateful insults hurled at her.
They threw gravel, rotten garbage, and filth at her fragile body.
Every throw was accompanied by shouts:
"Queen-killer!"
"Cursed witch!"
"Just die!"
Silvana's head bled after being struck by a hard stone.
Fresh blood flowed down her face, blurring her vision.
Her weak body could barely endure the repeated blows of pain.
Then, she was placed on a high execution platform, before thousands of pairs of eyes staring at her with hatred.
A huge and terrifying guillotine stood tall above her, ready to end her life.
What hurt her heart the most was seeing her entire family present in the front row.
Her father sat on the throne with a cold expression as if the one about to be executed were not his own flesh and blood.
Her older and younger brothers stood beside him with faces that showed no emotion at all.
It was truly ironic.
They were her family, blood of her blood, flesh of her flesh. They should have been the people who would protect her to the death…
Yet here they were—sitting calmly watching their daughter and sister about to be executed as if watching a theater performance.
What shattered her heart even more was seeing them smile warmly at another girl standing near them.
The girl looked the same age as Silvana, dressed beautifully and treated with great affection.
Her family's attitude toward that girl was in stark contrast to how they treated Silvana—warm, loving, and protective.
Who was that girl? Was she Silvana's replacement in the family?
Those questions arose in her mind, but she was already too tired to look for answers.
She… had given up on everything.
The only thing she hoped for now was a quick and painless death.
A loud thud sounded as the guillotine's holding rope was released.
Silvana's eyes shut tightly, waiting for the final pain that would end her suffering.
CHTAK!
Silvana's head was separated from her body in a single stroke.
Strangely… she could still see—her own body lying headless on the platform, fresh blood flowing heavily over the execution wood.
She thought it was all over.
The twenty years of suffering had finally come to an end.
But…
Fate had other plans.
When her consciousness returned, she found herself lying in the same bed, in the same room, in the same body—the body of a six-year-old child with chubby cheeks, clear blue eyes, and shining golden hair.
A body still innocent of all suffering, still clean of the stain of hatred and torture.
She had returned to the past.
Panic immediately seized her.
Was it all a dream? Had the fourteen years of suffering been just an illusion?
But as she looked around the very familiar room, her brain immediately understood the situation.
This was not a dream.
She truly had gone back in time, given an unexpected second chance.
And only one thing came to her mind:
RUN.
There was no time to take belongings, no time to dress properly, no time to think about courtesy or royal etiquette.
All she needed was one thing: to escape this palace as fast as possible.
Her small body shot out of the room at astonishing speed.
The servants and knights she passed looked shocked to see the little princess running headlong as if chased by a ghost.
And indeed, she was being chased—by the ghost of her own past.
Anyone who tried to block her path was instantly blinded by a flash of golden light from her hands.
The light magic that had once been a curse was now a weapon to free herself.
She didn't care about the consequences; what mattered was… escaping this hell!
Her small body moved nimbly and swiftly, leaping over obstacles with an ability unnatural for a child her age.
Even trained adults were astonished at her speed and agility.
In no time, she had reached the forest that formed the border between the main territory of the Heavenly Sky Kingdom and the territory of the Frozen Sky Duke Family.
Even the knights deployed to chase her could not catch up.
But that joy did not last long.
The sound of giant wings beating thundered above her head.
The cavalry was not the greatest threat—what the kingdom had sent was a Wyvern force.
Silvana's eyes looked up in despair.
Over a dozen Wyverns with bodies as big as houses flapped their wings, creating strong winds that almost knocked her down.
On the back of each Wyvern sat an elite knight in gleaming armor with a long spear.
Even though she could use light magic, how could a six-year-old child fight such a terrifying aerial force?
Despair seized her again and she thought her fate would repeat exactly as in her previous life.
But fate, once again, changed the course of the story.
***
"..."
The melodious sound of birdsong broke the silence, replacing the terrifying roar of Wyvern wings.
Silvana's blank gaze stared at an unfamiliar yet warm wooden ceiling.
A peaceful and comfortable atmosphere enveloped her tired little body.
"I... am still alive?"
Silvana whispered with a trembling tone.
She raised her small hands, making sure this was not a dream or a hallucination before death.
Somehow she had managed to survive the pursuit of the terrifying royal force.
When she tried to get up, an extraordinary pain and cramping immediately struck her whole body!
Her muscles felt as if pierced by thousands of needles, her bones as if shattered!
"Ouch!" she cried and fell back onto the mattress helplessly, wincing in pain.
It was then that a calm, composed male voice sounded from the corner of the room...
"I don't recommend moving."
"?!!"
Silvana's eyes widened in shock and a little panic.
Unconsciously she turned to look at the source of the voice, and then... time seemed to stop beating.
The figure before her wore a cloak that seemed to merge with his own existence.
A blend of deep earthen brown, golden yellow glowing softly like the rising sun, and white as clear as the highest mountain snow.
The cloak was no mere garment—it was a symbol of undeniable power.
Both of the figure's arms were adorned with intricate, meaningful patterns—ancient symbols shimmering gold like living sacred writing.
Every line and curve of the pattern radiated an aura of power that made the air around it vibrate.
Although his face was hidden behind an elegant hood, his beautiful golden eyes were clearly visible—and those eyes did not belong to an ordinary human.
A certain power flowed within them, wisdom that transcended time and something… far deeper than mere strength.
But Silvana, staring directly into those captivating golden eyes, could only murmur...
"Beautiful..."
"..."
The figure raised one eyebrow, seeming slightly surprised by the unexpected comment.
"Should I thank you for the compliment?"
The question snapped Silvana out of her trance as if she'd been struck by lightning.
Her face instantly turned bright red as she realized how impolite her behavior had been.
"N-no! I-I apologize for my extremely rude behavior!" she stammered in panic.
"Are you the person who saved me?"
Just from looking at those golden eyes, Silvana's memories began to return slowly.
Yes... when she was being chased by the royal force and nearly lost consciousness from exhaustion, someone had appeared like a guardian angel.
As if confirming that faint memory, the figure nodded calmly.
"Yes, that's right. I saved you in accordance with the contract we made earlier."
"C-contract?" Silvana frowned, trying to dig through her still-muddled memory.
The figure seemed to narrow his eyes as if appraising Silvana's reaction.
"Don't tell me you've already forgotten, human child."
"N-no! N-not at all!" Silvana shook her head in panic.
"I-it's just that my condition was terrible at that time and my memory isn't very good, so I would like a little explanation about the details of that contract..."
"..."
The figure fell silent for a moment, as if weighing whether to explain or not.
Finally, he opened his mouth again in an authoritative voice.
"As I said, the two of us made a binding contract. However, at that time, the content of the contract appeared very unfair to you. So I decided to change it to make it more balanced."
He then explained in detail:
The terms of the new contract were: the God of Contract would save a certain human child—namely Silvana Heavenly Sky—from all dangers threatening her life. In addition, the God of Contract was also obliged to guarantee her safety from all threats, and train her until she was able to protect herself with her own power.
In return, during the period of training and protection, the human child must assist and obey all orders given by the God of Contract, as long as those orders did not harm her own life.
"..."
Silvana gaped slightly at the detailed explanation.
Her mind struggled to process every word spoken.
"Why? Is there a problem?" asked the figure calmly.
"At that time you literally handed over your entire life to me unconditionally. That was extremely unfair and detrimental to you, so the contract had to be modified to be more balanced."
"..."
Silvana was silent for a moment, then answered gently, "I'm... fine with this," her voice full of relief.
And indeed, what the figure said was true.
In the midst of absolute despair, with death lurking at every corner, she had been truly ready to do anything to make sure she could be free from the Heavenly Sky Kingdom's clutches.
Even if she had to sell her soul.
"In fact... I feel this contract is very beneficial for me," she added in a voice full of gratitude.
"..."
The God of Contract looked at her with a hard-to-read gaze.
"For a human child who just nearly died, you are quite calm and rational."
"R-really?"
Silvana became nervous again upon hearing the comment. "I-I think maybe it's because I feel safe now..." she murmured in a voice that was almost inaudible.
Fortunately, the God of Contract did not dig too deeply into the matter.
He stood from his seat and said in an authoritative but not harsh tone.
"Rest enough and heal your body soon. Once you have fully recovered, we will depart for a safer place."
"U-understood, Sir."
The God of Contract walked toward the door with calm and dignified steps.
But before he could exit, Silvana's voice suddenly stopped him.
"W-wait!"
He paused and turned slightly. "What is it?"
"T-thank you..." Silvana's voice trembled with overflowing emotion.
"Thank you for being willing to save me from that hell... I-if it weren't for you, I'm afraid the rest of my life would have been spent in endless suffering..."
Her voice was full of sincere gratitude, her small eyes glistening as she held back tears of emotion.
"..."
"That's no big deal for me," the figure replied in a tone that remained indifferent.
"O-one more thing..."
Silvana bit her lower lip nervously. "May I know your name?"
Her face turned red as a tomato as she asked the question.
"..."
The figure seemed to think for a moment, making Silvana grow more anxious.
What if she had overstepped by asking something too personal?
"I-if it feels uncomfortable or breaks etiquette, I'm fine not knowing—"
"Morax."
"—Eh?"
"That's one of my many names. Just call me Morax."
"Morax..."
Silvana murmured softly, tasting each syllable of the name on her tongue.
The name felt strong, noble, and gave a strange sense of security. With a sincere gentle smile, she said, "That's a very good name, Lord Morax."
"..."
"Get enough rest. Your body needs time to recover fully."
Click.
The door closed gently, leaving Silvana alone in the warm room.
But even though the mysterious man—Morax—was gone, Silvana's heart was still pounding like a bird wanting to fly out of its cage.
"God of Contract... Morax..." she murmured with a gentle smile spreading on her lips. "So... from now on, he will protect me..."
The cool evening breeze blew through the open window, making the white curtains flutter calmly and elegantly.
The golden twilight sunlight illuminated Silvana's brightly smiling face—something that happened for the first time since her second birth.
For the first time in her life, in both the past life and the present one, Silvana felt something she had almost forgotten:
Hope.
On the other side, Morax—or more precisely Lux, the form he now took—radiated an almost unshakable calm.
His expression remained flat, as if Silvana's turbulent reaction were no more than a gentle breeze.
But behind his calm face, something had caught his attention.
His eyes fell on his palm, where a strange mark was etched—a faint burn scar, as though his skin had been touched by an unnatural fire.
Lux (Morax) narrowed his eyes, his brow lifting slightly.
"What a... strange body."
As the Geo Archon, the Morax Template was no ordinary figure.
His power as ruler of the Geo element allowed him to sculpt life from stone, heal wounds in an instant, and even create new life—albeit with the right catalyst.
So healing Silvana's body should have been as easy as turning over a hand for him.
But surprisingly... when he tried to heal Silvana with pure Geo energy, the girl's body turned into a bottomless abyss that absorbed his energy with terrifying greed, even wounding him like a vampiric parasite that knows no satiety in draining its victim's blood.
If someone else had tried, there was no doubt they would have been drained to a dried corpse by Silvana without the girl even realizing it.
Was this some kind of very rare Talent? Or was there something far stronger lodged within her...
Lux (Morax)'s curiosity about this Son of Destiny's secrets grew even larger…
But his focus was diverted when fragments of memory from a certain Template began to merge with his consciousness like waves crashing on a shore...
'Oh? So they've truly lost their patience. Interesting.'
***
𝙏𝙖𝙠... 𝙏𝙖𝙠...
Steady footsteps echoed in the dark corridor, heading toward a spacious room radiating a mysterious aura.
Its walls were adorned with intricate coiled serpent patterns, as if alive and watching every movement.
The dim light filling the room was not enough to illuminate its corners, creating shadows that seemed to move on their own.
For the sensitive, this room was not just a place… it was a lair of darkness, filled with a terrifying aura capable of sending shivers down the spine and making the heart pound.
But the robed figure who stepped inside seemed undisturbed.
His black cloak, decorated with coiled serpent patterns, fluttered softly, enveloping his slender body.
His blackish-purple hair shimmered in the dim light and a pair of sharp purple eyes stared straight ahead with an almost defiant courage.
He was the Leader of the Black Mamba, a Rank SSS Hunter, the pinnacle of humanity, yet the sworn enemy of the King Sword.
Before the world, he was a feared threat.
But here… in this room, he bowed his head in deep respect.
"It is an honor to be summoned by you, Your Majesty," he said, his voice low but firm.
Suddenly, a deep, trembling voice filled the room, as if the walls themselves shook in fear.
"[𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻]"
As if summoned from cosmic darkness, a pair of yellow eyes with vertical purple pupils appeared from the shadows, staring sharply at the Leader of the Black Mamba.
A terrifying pressure swept the room, an aura so strong the air felt heavy, as if gravity itself were pressing on his shoulders.
Yet the Leader of the Black Mamba stood upright, only a little cold sweat running down his temple.
He knew exactly who he faced—a Transcendent being whom even the Gods hesitated to challenge.
"[𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁... 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁]"
"Wiped out?" The Leader of the Black Mamba could not hide the shock in his voice. "How is that possible? According to the reports, the King Sword's disciple is only Rank B."
"[𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴,]" the voice echoed, carrying a tone of amusement yet terror. "[𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗜𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆]"
The Leader of the Black Mamba frowned. "Is there a third party interfering?"
"[𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆,]" the voice grew colder, as if hiding a darker secret. "[𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴... 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲.]"
The Leader of the Black Mamba's pupils contracted.
The Yozakura Family—if his memory served, one of the founding families of Master Swordsman City, a force not to be underestimated. "Does Your Majesty mean... they can heal you?"
"[𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆... 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻...]" The terrifying gaze turned directly toward the Leader of the Black Mamba with an intensity that could burn the soul. "[𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗲... 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽𝘀. 𝗜𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀...]"
The Leader of the Black Mamba nodded, understanding how complicated the task was.
Attacking the Yozakura Family directly was not a wise choice—Master Swordsman City was guarded by two Rank SSS Hunters, while the Black Mamba had only himself as a Rank SSS and five Rank S Hunters.
Their strength was limited compared to the other Top Guilds.
"Your Majesty's orders will be carried out perfectly..."
The Leader of the Black Mamba showed a deep understanding of this complex situation, so he offered no resistance whatsoever.
"[𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 thing...]" Suddenly the yellow eyes turned cold as hell's ice as they looked toward a certain direction with pure killing intent. "[𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲?]"
The Leader of the Black Mamba flinched, confusion crossing his face.
Before he could ask, a terrifying burst of dark aura shook the room.
𝘽𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙊𝙈!
The attack tore through the air, striking a corner of the room with enough force to annihilate a Rank S Hunter in an instant.
The walls trembled and dust flew into the air, which now felt full of death.
Suddenly, soft laughter like silver bells broke the silence.
"𝘈𝘳𝘢~ how terrifying. Truly merciless. Even I would surely not have survived without paying a high price~"
The thick smoke slowly cleared, revealing an unexpected figure.
A girl floated in the air, her body wrapped in a soft bluish glow.
Her silvery-white hair fluttered gracefully, reflecting the moonlight that slipped in through the cracks of the room.
Her sharp golden eyes radiated a mysterious aura, looking at the two figures below her without the slightest fear, with scientific curiosity.
Her skimpy outfit—almost like a futuristic bikini—revealed her pale skin, which shimmered as if she were not a being of this world.
She sat on a strange device, like a wheeled chair filled with metal tentacles and advanced cannons humming softly, radiating an unknown technological aura.
Her appearance was a blend of elegance and threat, like a goddess descending from another dimension.
"[𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴,]" murmured the yellow eyes, the pupils glinting with curiosity. "[𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲, 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻'𝘀... 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗡𝗼, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹... 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹? 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 '𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮' 𝗮𝗻𝗱 '𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻,' 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴...]"
The giant golden eyes probed with curiosity at the enigmatic creature before them.
From the outside, she did look like a human girl equipped with advanced technology, but her internal and existential structure contained various revolutionary elements never before encountered even by a being of his caliber...
The girl smiled faintly, unbothered by the sharp observation.
"Fufu… as expected of a Transcendent being," she said teasingly.
"Your analysis truly reflects your reputation as the legendary 'Demon Dragon Lord'~"
"..."
"[...]"
Both the Leader of the Black Mamba and the golden eyes—the Demon Dragon Lord—narrowed their eyes with cold, piercing killing intent.
What was even more shocking, she had been able to slip into this room undetected by a Rank SSS Hunter...
"Who are you?" The Leader of the Black Mamba's aura changed, now radiating a deadly threat. "You'd better answer or you won't leave here alive."
"How scary~" The girl giggled, her tone still light but her eyes glinting with an aura hard to describe.
"But you needn't worry. I'm merely an observer, nothing more. However…" She paused, her smile widening. "I can help you in a few things."
"Why should we trust you?" The Leader of the Black Mamba narrowed his eyes, his tone full of suspicion. "It would be easier to torture you and extract information."
"Fufu~ your words are so cruel~" The girl wagged her finger as if scolding a child. "But you will trust me because… I can heal the Demon Dragon Lord's wounds."
"?!!"
The Leader of the Black Mamba's eyes widened, while the Demon Dragon Lord's pupils sharpened with dangerous intensity.
"Do you think we'll believe such nonsense?" snapped the Leader of the Black Mamba.
"[𝗘𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵.]" The Demon Dragon Lord's voice cut in, cold and firm, silencing the room again.
His eyes stared at the girl, delving into every detail of her existence. "[𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲… 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆? 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺?]"
The girl giggled softly, her voice like a captivating melody yet laced with veiled danger.
"I'm no one, just an Elite Siren serving as an observer. But if you want to know what to call me…"
Her golden eyes glimmered beautifully with a strange hypnotic light.
"In databases and communication networks, I'm better known as 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿 α (𝗔𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗮)."