After five days, I finally arrived at a one city in Frostland. The main city is called Moltier, and there are five smaller cities, most of which are near the borders of Frostland.
It still took me five days to travel, even as a Rank 6 extraordinary monster. I had to stop for a few minutes to recover fully. During the journey, I spent time reflecting on myself and realised a few important things. First, I lack proper information. Because of that, I have often relied on my own reasoning, which has repeatedly led me astray. The problem was not that the information itself was wrong, but that I misinterpreted it. From now on, I will avoid depending solely on my memory.
"When I reach the city, I need to find teleportation devices that can take me to Moltier. The teleportation device I obtained in my own city can only return me there, not to Moltier," I thought, running and considering every possible solution to obtain the shard and the branch of the Asdarty Tree.
"My original plan is cancelled because I left my shard behind. My shadow dimension is not safe when exposed to a Rank 15 aura—it will deteriorate quickly. I left my arcane artifacts there, which can slow down the deterioration if they remain active. My shadow dimension holds the my will of magic, meaning it carries my own will. I left my magic energy there, and as long as it remains, the arcane artifacts can keep slowing the decay. But since I left in a hurry, there isn't enough magic energy stored. This means I have roughly seven days to return and retrieve the shard. Time is not on my side."
Soon, I reached a city. Unlike the enormous Moltier, this city was small, almost like a village. Despite its size, it was surrounded by a protective barrier and had enough technology to be considered a proper city.
The moment I stepped through the barrier, the snowstorm outside ceased, leaving only a gentle breeze. I deactivated my magic shield technique and sprinted across the farmland, where robots diligently tended the fields. Before any of them could detect me, I had already crossed the fields and entered the city.
I soon reached the centre of the city, where a teleportation gate for monsters was located. Approaching the gate, I noticed a control panel embedded in its frame. I wrapped a piece of cloth around my wrist to reveal the Seal of Honour I carried. Though faintly active, it was enough to trigger the gate. Within moments, the lock on the control panel disengaged, and a list of options appeared.
"Sir, please identify yourself," said a voice behind me. One of the city's robots had approached, but I ignored it and stated my name. The robot immediately connected to the network, even linking with Moltier City, to confirm my identity.
"Sir, what can I do to help you?" the robot asked, moving to my side. It attempted to unlock the control panel but quickly grew confused, as it was already open.
"I need help. I'm trying to get to Moltier City—which of these gates leads there?" I said, scanning the list of teleportation gates. Each option displayed the name of a gate, but unfortunately, I didn't know which one connected to Moltier City.
"Oh, that will be the Alviedo Gate," the robot said.
After hearing this, I selected the Alviedo Gate option on the control panel. Immediately, the teleportation gate activated. A soft hum resonated as the frame began to glow, and from its centre, a swirling blue mist slowly formed. The mist twisted and spiralled, creating a stable portal that shimmered like liquid light. It had an almost magnetic pull, inviting anyone standing nearby to step through.
The blue mist was the gateway to another city—Moltier. The protective runes along the gate lit up, and a series of clicks signalled that the teleportation sequence was complete. All that remained was to step into the mist and let the gate transport me across the Frostland to my destination.
"Thanks," I said to the robot, and stepped through the gate. Immediately, I found myself walking through a tunnel made of swirling mist. It felt unreal, like drifting through a foggy dream. At the far end, I could just make out another gate, and I started moving toward it.
The concept behind these teleportation gates is surprisingly simple. About a 1000 years ago, a brilliant scientist monsters discovered that space behaves like an ocean. Instead of trying to sail through it in a straight line, as if in a ship across a sea, they created "tunnels" that bend space itself. These tunnels act like underwater passages—but without any water. Inside them, space no longer follows its normal rules of distance. A point that would normally take days, months, or even years to reach can now be accessed in moments.
However, there is one limitation: these tunnels do not exist naturally. They must be created and constantly maintained, or the pathway collapses. This is why teleportation gates are not true instant teleportation. They do not simply move one from one place to another—they let one travel along a much shorter, stable path, which, in the end, allows one to cross vast distances in a fraction of the time.
I stepped out of the other gate and finally arrived in Moltier City, where one of the city's fifty-six control towers stood tall before me.
"It seems I finally made it to Moltier City," I thought. "I need to prepare within two days and then return to the frost zone."
Without wasting time, I hurried toward the trading divide to buy supplies. But soon, I ran into my first problem.
"I'm sorry, sir, but this coin only holds 15.3 Tana," a local monster told me.
Only then did I realise my mistake. During my time in Frostland, I had been using Tana constantly. I had managed my coins carefully, but the Land of Kall had drained most of the Tana from my gold and silver coins. Out of habit, I had taken out the coin that felt richest in Tana, and it only measured 15.3.
I felt a wave of surprise and disappointment. It wasn't that I had no Tana at all—I simply hadn't brought enough. I had assumed that two pouches of gold coins would be sufficient for the trip, but now I faced shortages simply because I had underestimated what I would need.
Golden coins can hold 150 Tana, while silver coins hold 50 Tana. I had come here with about 1,250 Tana, expecting it to last months but only to see it lasted three week despite my careful planning, I have already nearly run out. It feels almost impossible to manage, but somehow, it still happened.
"In the short term, the only way to find more Tana is through the guild. Since we find the Land of Kall, and since I already have a huge lead, I would gain 1,000 Tana. But I'm an extraordinary monster—how could I explain that? The sealing method won't work because I am an unstable Rank 6. If I tried sealing, I would throw away all my achievements and have to start over again. Dropping to Rank 5 is not an option, especially since I need my full strength to survive in the frost zone."
As I walked the streets, I thought about my situation. Claiming that I had just become Rank 6 won't convince anyone. Even if I pretended it was a special method I had developed or a family tradition, they would see through the lie. The pressure made me truly realise how tight my situation had become.
"What should I do now?" I whispered, feeling the weight of my dilemma closing in on me.
As an extraordinary monster, my thoughts moved incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, I considered dozens of different plans to obtain Tana. Yet none of them felt safe or efficient. Every plan carried too much risk, and I had to abandon each one. Part of the problem was that the noble families were already investigating me. This meant I could not simply gather Tana in ways that would force me to reveal my Rank 6 status. If they discovered anything suspicious, it could lead to disaster.
Lucky's single question toward me on the Land of Kall had already proven that they were at least suspicious of me. That suspicion alone was dangerous. On top of that, there were countless unseen and uncertain threats I couldn't possibly predict. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became: I had to be extremely careful. Even the best plans I could come up with left too many openings for danger, and any misstep could ruin everything.
"What should I do…" I thought, sinking into deep reflection.
A faint voice in my mind whispered, "Why not let your older self come up with a plan?"
I shook my head silently. "No. My older self is tied up managing the soul and handling the alternative determination system. He can't help here. It's just you and me."
I spent the entire day thinking and drafting plans. Eventually, I created one that might work—but the risk was enormous.
"This could work," I murmured, "but with my current strength and situation, it's too dangerous. Should I bet everything on it? I really don't want to take that risk."
I sat on the edge of the tower, staring out at the borders of Moltier City, lost in thought. Until now, I had relied heavily on the knowledge and techniques from my previous life. That approach had brought me great success, but things were different now.
I understood something clearly: taking risks comes with two severe consequences. First, the pressure and restrictions would become unbearable even with my ascending speed. Second, all actions leave traces that would lead others to me. Sometimes, doing nothing is the safest path but can I afford it not in million years. Taking too many actions is like releasing burning butterflies—they will inevitably leave trails or set fires that could destroy me.
This is why I have always avoided reckless risk. Any bold move could leave evidence and trap me in my own mistakes. Ever since my regression, I've acted cautiously. My will is 189 years old, carrying skill and knowledge far beyond most. I've reached Rank 6 right now but is it my limit no, even with all my setbacks if I didn't slow myself, I might already be Rank 8 or 9.
But I chose to ascend slowly. Climbing faster would force me into loud, eye-catching actions and extreme situations. I know my limits. Even if I pushed at full speed, I would still be too weak when true danger comes. In this vast world, no one is free from hardship.
"But without the bravery to face obstacles and hardships, I would only weaken myself. Hehe… to think there would come a day I'd question my own courage," I sighed. Slowly, I stood up, resolved to take a gamble and face the risks ahead.
The next day, I used transformation magic to change my appearance into what I looked like back when I was Rank 4—an abomination-like creature. It was difficult to make myself resemble that form again, but I succeeded. Then I dressed in clothes that matched what I wore at that time, completing the disguise.
I am currently in imperial City Divide, which holds the greatest military power in Frostland. The core of strength of moltier city where the most skilled and battle-trained monsters reside. These soldiers are specialists in fighting and defending against the threats that cover the entire continent.
Every city in Frostland, including Moltier, is protected by a barrier. These barriers are deactivated once every five years. When this happens, the Imperial Divide sends its troops to every city to protect them from the Beast Tide.
The Beast Tide is a catastrophic event when all the beasts in the Frost Zone on border of Frostland come out in a frenzied hunt. Mostly the monster cities are targets, and the threat is immense. For the beasts, however, the Beast Tide is also an opportunity. By hunting monsters, beast can absorb magic energy and have a chance to ascend to a higher rank.
The last Beast Tide occurred two years ago. Also there is one assumption that in the central Frost Zones, there are many Rank 6 beasts. A popular theory suggests that every five years, these Rank 6 beasts require new magic energy. They trigger the Beast Tide to indirectly harvest magic energy, creating the devastating cycle that has shaped life in Frostland for centuries.
We are monsters. We created the beasts, and we both nurture and battle them. In our world, strength is not fixed, and the food chain constantly shifts. Survival requires us to ascend to higher ranks. The beasts are not to blame—they are simply following their natural path to survive. If their strength were fixed, like that of ordinary animals, the food chain would be unchanging, with only hunters and prey. In a way, the Beast Tide is our responsibility, because we have given the beasts the chance to rise in the food chain.
And reason I came here was to reveal my predator identity to the public and to investigate why the noble house of Laperdo was so interested in the Land of Kall. I also needed to find out if they knew about the shard, because certain things just didn't make sense.
As I wandered through the city, the word "Begin!" suddenly echoed from an open training ground. I turned my head and saw two Rank 5 monsters sparring with swords. Their fight was clearly a contest of pure strength and technique, with no use of magic.
Bam!
The ground beneath me began to tremble slightly. I paused and reflected.
"If only monsters could use their full strength without restraint, we might have defeated the humans. But the truth is clear: humans counter monsters, monsters counter demons, and demons counter humans. This cycle has always existed, and I could never change it. That is why I chose to walk the path of demons and eventually became a member of the Unholy Path. Yet, thinking about it now, I don't even feel that demonic in nature," I murmured to myself.
I continued walking around the training ground, observing countless Rank 2 and Rank 3 monsters meditating and training with quiet focus.
Some of them looked at me with confusion, but that was fine. For now, my predator identity should remain hidden. But soon, I would need to spread this identity to achieve one of the objectives in my plan, but the time was not yet right.
Soon, I reached a giant iron wall—the Great Wall that separated the noble house's domain from the outside. With a figure connected to Moltier City's network, he manipulated the wall's mechanisms, and it slowly opened for me. I walked into the tunnel beyond, greeted by the cold, echoing space.
During a Beast Tide, monsters go to safe ground, and the noble houses' domains serve as such havens. Each divide's monsters retreat noble monster domains, and the protective city gardens are deactivated to house hundreds of thousands of monsters.
I sighed as I walked, feeling a heavy sense of hopelessness. My plan seemed increasingly likely to fail. With the experience of my memories, this realization felt like a form of foresight, warning me of the difficulties ahead.
But without courage and a bit of recklessness, I would never be able to stand on my own. Right now, I need to rise and do everything I can.
Soon, I reached the castle. It looked much like the domain of any other noble house. I prepared to use my shadow magic. Shadow magic excels at versatility and stealth, not direct combat. With my identity as a predator, I had the freedom to use this magic to its fullest.
My body transformed into a shadow, allowing me to travel through the castle. As an extraordinary monster I was using true shadow magic—not the artificial kind. True shadow magic allows me to split into multiple smaller shadows that mentally stay connected. I began to explore the castle in this form, scattering my shadows into different parts of the castle while maintaining our link to one another.
Before long, I had already explored half the castle. Through my split shadows, I could see multiple areas at once, and only my rank 6 extraordinary monster mind allowed me to handle the overwhelming flow of simultaneous visions. Without this level of strength and mental capacity, the constant barrage of visual information would have quickly surpassed my ability to comprehend it.
Soon, I entered an office room, and all my split shadows gathered there. I began to reform into my full physical shape, piece by piece. As one of my hands finished forming, I immediately started searching the room.
I opened every drawer, looking for anything useful. Then, something caught my attention.
"Hmm, what is this?" I murmured, picking up a diary with interest. Before opening it, I noticed it was dated 20 years ago—three years older than the earliest records of the search for the Land of Kall. That meant it might contain exactly the information I had been looking for.
I began flipping through the pages. With each page I read, my interest grew. The contents were becoming more and more intriguing.
"So, the Land of Kall was not the first city of monsterkind, but only a part of it," I thought, feeling a wave of surprise as I read the diary entry. The Land of Kall I had entered was not the true land, but a fragment—a lost piece of the original Land of Kall. According to the diary, there were supposed to be nine such fragments. Five had already been discovered, and the sixth had just been found by me.
So far, this diary had not revealed the specific information I was searching for. I was about to keep reading when my sharpened senses picked up the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the distant hallway. As a Rank 6 extraordinary monster, my enhanced perception caught every subtle vibration and whisper of movement, alerting me to the approach of someone unseen.
I encouraged myself as I sat in the chair, thinking, "Let's keep reading this book to see what else I can find. I'm about to do something embarrassing, so I need to prepare myself."
Kleeng
Soon, the door opened, and a Rank 5 monster entered the room. He was a phantom monster as he white fur, two horns, two antlers, and deer-like ears. He appeared to be about 21 years old.
"Who are you? Identify yourself!" he demanded the moment he saw me, instantly preparing to fight as he released the presence of a Rank 5.
I snapped my fingers and directed a wave of Rank 6 presence at him. I couldn't release true Rank 6 pressure, but with enough focus, I could imitate one convincingly.
"An extraordinary monster… Forgive my rudeness. I didn't know Father had sent someone," he said, startled at first but then relaxing as he closed his eyes for a moment.
"It's nice to meet you too, young heir of Laperdo. I pay my respects. I know I wasn't supposed to touch anything, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to read your diary. Please forgive my ignorance," I replied in as friendly a tone as I could, holding out the diary. I already had some insight into the Laperdo noble house, and having read 38 pages per minute, I was already familiar with the beginning of the diary.
"So, did you satisfy your curiosity?" he asked, walking toward me and taking a seat in the chair I had just vacated.
I stood up and replied, "No, I'm even more curious now. The subject of the Land of Kall has such an intriguing background, and I want to learn more."
He sighed and closed the diary. "I'm not supposed to share this with anyone. But, since Father sent you, I suppose I need to give you more detailed information. So, what do you want to know?"
I felt pleased, maintaining the role of an extraordinary monster sent by his father.
"I want to know the things that only you, Your greatness, are aware of. I only know what I need to know," I said, choosing my words with care so they wouldn't seem suspicious. If I acted as though I knew too much, I might be caught. If I acted as though I knew too little, I might also be caught. I needed to appear as though I had just the right amount of knowledge.
"Oh, a searcher with self-control, huh? Not bad. Well then, let's begin," he said and started explaining why he had sought the Land of Kall.
"More than two millennia past, this world was the dominion of monsters. In those days, our kind swept across Frostland, searching for a sanctuary worthy of their might. At last, they chose a place no mortal imagination could fully grasp: a city built within a literal space tunnel. Vast and unshakable, it defied belief when we first heard the tales. Yet in our research, we discovered the reason for its stability—every inhabitant was an extraordinary monster, most of them Rank 8 or Rank 9. By their combined might, the tunnel itself was bound and reinforced.
When their extreme harbinger monsters, the leader of those monsters, approached death, he performed the unthinkable. He fused his soulland into the city, transforming it into a realm of power and permanence. The Land of Kall ceased to be a mere city. It became a floating domain in dimensional space, self-sustaining and brimming with Grade 8 magic energy. Protected by his soulland, it thrived for centuries."
He paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air, and pulled open a drawer. From within, he withdrew a tome weathered by time, its cover cracked and its pages yellowed—a relic nearly two hundred years old.
"This," he said with quiet reverence, "is the record of my family's entire lifetime of research. It tells how the Land of Kall endured and how, against all reason, it shattered. The archives insist it was immortal, self-sustaining for eternity unless an external calamity intervened. Yet break apart it did. Within these pages, we also found mention of a contingency—the monsters of those times prepared for the day their sanctuary would fragment. They foresaw the risk but left no clear account of the nature of the safeguard. Only one truth shines through: until we uncover all pieces of the Land of Kall, the next clue will remain hidden."
He leaned closer, eyes gleaming with the fire of obsession. "The ancient monsters wrote little, almost as if they feared their own knowledge. Modern monsters misunderstand history because of this. But our family… we hold the truth. And do you know why we seek to restore the Land of Kall? Because of one unparalleled gift: such soulland infused the domain with the essence of Ascension. In that place, the path to transcendence is swift and sure. Ordinary monsters became extraordinary monster, one after another, breaking records that stand unchallenged to this day."
His voice rose, alight with ambition. "Imagine it! When the fragments are united, the complete Land of Kall will become a crucible of evolution. Any monster who steps within can ascend to extraordinary monster realm. Revolutionary, isn't it? No more fear of the beasts. We could save thousands—tens of thousands—of monster lives. That is why I will not rest. I will not stop until the Land of Kall is whole again."
I listened calmly on the outside, but inside I was shocked.
(So, a complete Land of Kall can transform any Rank 5 monster into Rank 6—and not just that, it can assist in ascension beyond that. This is fascinating. If I help them gather all the fragments of the Land of Kall, Frostland could become full of extraordinary monsters. That would be a tremendous advantage against a human invasion. The effort and dedication they've poured into this project are admirable—they want to stop the casualties caused by the Beast Tide. The Land of Kall is their solution, and the other noble houses support this effort.)
Even though I frowned when I realised the diary hadn't mentioned the shard at all. Either the Laperdo family truly didn't know about it, or they had deliberately chosen not to record it. I forced myself to keep a neutral expression and asked politely.
Inside, I felt a strange mix of relief and unease. I had always believed that I alone could defend monsterkind in this world. But if the Laperdo family really managed to gather the entire Land of Kall and harness its power, they could create enough extraordinary monsters to push humanity back.
This realisation stirred both hope and conflict within me. Hope, because monsterkind would finally stand strong. Conflict, because even though I want to help I'm also one who blocking it indirectly.
"Forgive my curiosity," I said, leaning forward with genuine interest. "But is there a personal reason why you're enduring all these hardships? It doesn't seem like just duty—it feels more personal. Please, correct me if I'm wrong." My tone was curious and respectful, because I truly wanted to understand. I had never seen a monster speak with such ambition, and from his voice alone, I could feel real emotion.
He paused in surprise, then chuckled softly. "Heh, you extraordinary monsters are very observant, aren't you? Yes, I do have personal reasons. My mother was an extraordinary monster like you. When I was six, she joined the military to defend the cities during a Beast Tide. But she was trapped with four Rank 6 beasts… and she died that day. I lost my mother, and I swore an oath—using a Seal of Vow—that I would protect all monsters. The only thing I can do to fulfil that oath is to gather the pieces of the Land of Kall."
He smiled briefly, but it quickly faded. His eyes narrowed.
"Who are you?" he demanded, and suddenly countless Rank 5 monsters rushed in, surrounding me.
I sighed, realising I had been caught. Tilting my head slightly, I said, "So, I've been caught. Not bad. I suppose you noticed I was an impostor because I acted too calm… or seemed too clueless?"
His expression grew complex. "Exactly. You were too clueless. The detailed information about the Land of Kall is known only to my family and a few other noble houses but also extraordinary monsters. You gave yourself away because you failed to answer my question about the 'searcher with self-control'. That was a code phrase. At first, I thought you just didn't hear or didn't realize it. But then you showed your keen observation skills. If you truly were one of us, you would have understood the code. Not knowing it means you are lying. So… how about you start explaining yourself?"
immediately rank 5 monster around cast restriction spells around me, binding me with layers of barrier. But as an extraordinary monster, such spells could not hold me. I simply moved, and all the spells shattered like glass.
"I see that you truly are an extraordinary monster. State your name and explain your actions, and perhaps we might forgive you," he said with genuine confidence. The noble house of Laperdo possesses more than ten extraordinary monsters—some of them are even transcendent Rank 6.
But I was not ignorant of this; I knew it too well. That is why I had already admitted to myself that my plan was likely to fail. Extraordinary monsters have minds sharper than the greatest geniuses. They could track me down easily in six days, and that would be the longest I could remain hidden.
Yet, now that I had begun executing my plan, could I really stop halfway just because of this? No. I had to see it through.
"Well, you might say that, but I'm not scared. Let me tell you my name. You might know me as Predator—the abomination that destroyed the tournament. Does that ring a bell?" I declared.
Everyone immediately grew alert and stepped back. Slowly, I reached up and removed my mask, revealing my terrifying face.
"It's him! It's really him!" one of them shouted, and the others quickly cast their magic shields. But as I released my Rank 6 presence, their magic shields began to crumble like sand in the wind.
With a snap of my fingers, infused with magic energy, I blew up the entire office room. Then, using my shadow magic, I fled the scene, leaving behind only a faint trace of space magic—just enough for an extraordinary monster to detect.
Satisfied, I left the noble house's domain, knowing I had completed the first stage of my plan. Now, all investigations about me would be directed towards the Laperdo family. I intentionally left traces of space magic to mislead them, because space magic can be clearly tracked. However, I also used shadow magic—a rare type of magic that very few extraordinary monsters could specialize in.
I didn't bother hiding my shadow magic traces. If some extraordinary monster happened to be skilled in shadow magic and detected them, they would be puzzled. They wouldn't know if I was careless, or if it was an intentional trap. Either way, it would create confusion and distract them from discovering my true intentions.
Soon after, I appeared in another city divide and unleashed chaos by using my space magic to disrupt all local activities. I deliberately revealed myself to every monster in the area, ensuring that they saw me. Then, in an instant, I vanished again, disappearing through the use of space magic.
…
At the Homellka Guild, Marvellia sat at a table, holding three Rank 4 wisdom-type arcane artifacts in her hands. Her eyes were closed, and a soft blue light shone from them as she focused.
The door creaked open, and Marliris entered, his face set in a deep frown. He dropped into the chair beside her with a heavy sigh.
"Anything new?" Marvellia asked without opening her eyes, still radiating that faint blue glow.
"No," Marliris replied wearily. "I sparred with Sans in the training hall and didn't notice anything unusual. But his sudden rise in rank can't be ignored. I tried every method I could, but I'm not a mind magic specialist, so I didn't find any solid evidence."
The blue light in Marvellia's eyes dimmed and then vanished as she blinked them open. "Nothing useful either. My intuition only whispers that Sans is connected to the Predator in some way."
"Yeah," Marliris said, rubbing his temple. "It doesn't take much to see that Sans is suspicious, but we have no proof. No clear reasoning. It's just dead end after dead end."
Before they could continue, a sudden alert message reached both of them, detailing Sans's latest actions.
"Holy moly, we need to move now!" Marliris exclaimed, leaping to his feet. He immediately activated his space magic.
A swirl of blue mist enveloped them both, and in an instant, they teleported straight to the noble house of Laperdo.
Then both of them walked to the office that Sans had just invaded. Inside, there were several other extraordinary monsters. Some of them were members of the Laperdo family, while others belonged to guilds and different noble houses.
"Looks like we aren't the first to arrive," Marliris said as he approached, while the other extraordinary monsters began their investigations.
Among the non-extraordinary monsters, Lucky sat in a corner, looking deeply depressed. His core overflowed with magic energy. The young heir of Laperdo approached him quietly.
"Brother, are you alright?" the young heir asked, sitting down beside Lucky.
"No… no, I'm fine. It's just…" Lucky hesitated.
"It's about Sans, isn't it?" the young heir said. Lucky nodded.
"He… I mean, Sans… it just seems too much of it not a coincidence. He looks like the Predator or is somehow connected to him. But I can't decide if it's all just a coincidence that the Predator appeared right after Sans stayed in the Land of Kall. I don't know if I should believe Sans is the Predator. If he is, then I believe it… yet if he isn't, he's still accused. Doesn't that mean I'm the one who failed?" Lucky expressed his inner conflict, sinking deeper into the struggle between logic and the fear of consequences.
The young heir, Fortune, hugged Lucky to comfort him.
"Look, I understand your feelings. But first, we need to stop the Predator. After that, we can figure out what's true and what isn't, alright?" Fortunate said with comforting tones
"It's strange that Sans could reach Rank 6 under your supervision," Fortune said, voicing his doubts. "Even if we assume he became Rank 6 after staying in the Land of Kall, the timing doesn't make sense. Normally, becoming Rank 6 takes at least a weeks, sometimes a month or even a year. The fastest recorded advancement to Rank 6 was one and a half weeks."
Hearing this, Lucky let out a sigh of relief. It meant there was still a chance that Sans was not the Predator. Logically, it made more sense for them to be two separate individuals.
Marvellia suddenly noticed something unusual and fixed her gaze on Lucky.
Marliris, seeing her expression, walked over and asked, "What is it?"
Marvellia hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I… I wonder if Sans is doing all of this on purpose, trying to throw us off. It's just a feeling I have, but… I don't have any solid reasoning to support it."
As she was thinking aloud, a monster rushed into the room.
"Your Excellencies! The Predator has appeared in the Central Divide!" it shouted.
The instant the extraordinary monsters heard this, they activated their space magic and teleported to the Central Divide without delay.
…
"Finally," I thought as I completed my work. I had finished destroying the newly built tournament grounds using only time magic. The spell caused the structures to rapidly deteriorate, some crumbling into ruin, while others aged so much that trees had already begun to sprout from the cracks.
Without wasting a moment, I left a letter behind and teleported away. I reappeared at the border of the city divide, where I began preparing for my next actions.
I sat down to meditate, focusing on my shadow magic. This is a new approach for me, but I believe I can manage it.
Shadow magic revolves around manipulating, creating, and developing shadows. My current shadow magic is Rank 6, which means I can only use my own shadow. When I expend my shadow, it disappears for a time before naturally recovering. This limitation forces me to manage my usage carefully. After my infiltration of the Laperdo domain, my shadow was heavily depleted. Fortunately, I can force its recovery by using my magic energy through a technique known as shadow magic recovery casting.
Each category of magic has several ways of using which is combat magic, versatile magic, unique magic, and universal magic—when we consider artificial magic. True magic, however, has no option it has countless way of using depending on user. Shadow magic recovery casting allows me to restore my shadows, but I believe I can do more than that.
I am exploring an entirely new concept: creating shadow decoys that could function as communication devices. With the proper focus and the help of the figure by my side, I feel that nothing is impossible.
…
Not long after, the time for the meeting arrived. I walked across the open field outside Moltier City, though I was still within the protective barrier.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
Three extraordinary monsters appeared in front of me. I turned around and saw three more behind me. Then, to my left and right, another three each appeared. In total, nine extraordinary monsters surrounded me.
"Well, right on time," I said indifferently. My body seemed like a shadow forced into form, black smoke flowing in and out of me as I stood, calm and prepared.
"Who are you?" one of them demanded as he approached, reaching to grab my shoulder. His hand passed straight through me, leaving him startled.
I forced a smile, hiding my nerves. "I'd also like to know your name, friend."
Inside, my chest tightened. I knew that my plan was on the brink of complete failure. They had probably already discovered most of my secrets—my identity as the Predator, my mastery of shadow and soul magic, and even my access to Rank 8 magic. Standing there, I understood clearly that they now suspected Sans was the Predator.
"One wrong word and I'll be exposed," I thought, letting out a quiet sigh. I went over my plan in my head and whispered to myself, "You can do this."
Before anyone could speak, I said, "Before we start talking, I'd like to know all of your names. Then I will share mine."
Their faces were hidden behind veils, clearly an attempt to keep their identities secret. I assumed that as long as they wanted to remain hidden, they wouldn't press me too hard—or so I thought.
"Kamila Morotu," said the extraordinary monster in front of me. Without hesitation, he removed his veil.
My mind shook slightly. So this was a test. They wanted to see if I intended to hide my identity, and on top of that, they wanted to observe my reaction up close. They truly were difficult to deceive or manipulate. I had anticipated something like this, but not quite in this way.
Then, one by one, they removed their veils and stated their names. Some of the names I recognised, while others were unfamiliar to me.
"Well then… my name is Sans Wing Ding," I said confidently, without hesitation. This was a deliberate part of my plan to take control of the situation.
"What!" they exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening with shock. Suspicion clouded their faces, and from their gaze alone, I could see that seeds of doubt were beginning to form.
That was exactly what I wanted. By giving my real name, I appeared to be the same Sans they suspected. Yet, since I had previously shown signs of wanting to hide my identity, they would start to doubt whether I was telling the truth. This contradiction would confuse them: if I was truly the Predator, why reveal my name? But if I wasn't, why would I risk saying it? Either possibility seemed plausible, forcing them to focus on the essential fact—that the Predator had to be one of them.
"Why are you so surprised? Isn't this exactly what you expected to hear?" I said with a mocking tone, adding fuel to their uncertainty. It was as if I were intentionally trying to mislead them or perhaps just toying with them.
"Then again, I was too mysterious to remain undiscovered, wasn't I?" I said with a smile. Before they could think any further, I vanished.
Moments later, my partial consciousness returned to my true body, and a grin spread across my skull. My new technique had worked. Not only had I successfully created two shadow decoys in separate locations, but the second decoy was far more convincing—it didn't even appear to be made of smoke. I had reinforced it with multiple arcane artifacts to make it as realistic as possible. I used other decoy like previous one but altered it slightly, presenting the Predator as Sans—me. Basically one shadow decoy is convincing predator is one of them other one is presenting predator is Sans this contradiction would only deepen their confusion.
With this, I was controlling the pace of their investigation. Also buying so much time that my second objective was complete without any drawbacks. Now, on to the third the troublesome one.
"If only my shadow decoys could interact with physical objects," I sighed as I walked toward the Homellka Guild Mansion.
Before arriving, I hid every part of my Rank 6 presence that could be concealed, using the inherent instability of my extraordinary monster body to manipulate myself more freely. It had taken me an entire day to manage this, and I nearly passed out twice in the process. It was like rearranging the bones of body made of flesh and blood but it was possible because monsters are made of magic, but extremely difficult.
Finally, I walked through the quiet hallways and entered my room, already thinking about the next step of my plan. I lay down, pretending to sleep, but in truth I was only disguising my alertness as I prepared for my move.
Knock, knock.
"Hmm, who could it be?" I thought, surprised that anyone would come. Extraordinary monsters wouldn't visit without a reason, and I was sure nothing unusual had been discovered. Confused, I got up and opened the door. What I saw shocked me.
"Marvellia?" I said, unable to hide my surprise as I let her in.
"What brings you here, Marvellia?" I asked, sitting down and preparing tea.
"Well, you've heard about the chaos caused by the one they call the Predator, haven't you?" Marvellia asked, her eyes narrowing.
I remained calm. "I see. So you've caught on," I said, taking a sip of tea with a serious gaze.
"I see you want to play that game, hmm? Well then, let's start. Why?" Marvellia crossed her arms, watching me closely.
"Because I needed more Tana," I said, meeting her gaze seriously.
"Just for Tana? Are you serious?" she asked, incredulous.
"Yes. I need it badly so I can do what I must. You know it," I replied.
"I don't know anything about it. So why did you do all of that?" she pressed.
"What else did you expect me to do? I need to prepare for the expedition before they start moving," I said.
"What are you talking about—what expedition?"
"Marvellia, Fool's Day is already over. Stop pretending; this is awkward," I said flatly.
Marvellia looked genuinely surprised, clearly not expecting to be the one under pressure.
"I needed to buy runes and weapons for the younglings. You know how fragile they are," I explained. "I even need to buy simple armour for them, just in case."
"Oh, you were talking about those… I thought we were on the same page, but it seems we're in completely different books," Marvellia muttered. While she was distracted, I quietly finished what I had intended to do. Now, all I could do was wait and see how useful my actions would turn out to be once everything concluded.
After that, I managed to excuse myself and end the encounter. Marvellia had come with unclear intentions, which I had misunderstood, and the blame easily shifted onto her. This forced her to leave.
I sighed as I finished my work. "Tomorrow, I need to create chaos in the Monderia family. Tomorrow is going to be a long day," I muttered to myself.
…
In her office, Marvellia sat down in her chair, using her wisdom-type arcane artifacts. The blue glow around her faded as she let out a deep sigh.
"Nothing… I still haven't found anything," she murmured. "Well, I did find that he made mistakes at his job. It's almost hilarious. If I hadn't gone to meet him personally with our seal of approval, I wouldn't have confirmed the truth. Technically, that proves he isn't the Predator… Wait, why am I even saying it like this?"
Marvellia frowned, surprised by her own words. Sans had been avoiding the topic of the Predator, which made him even more suspicious, yet she had just claimed he wasn't the Predator.
"Maybe it's because I've used wisdom-type artifacts too many times" she whispered. "My mind isn't working clearly. I need to rest."
She sighed again and leaned back, closing her eyes. Wisdom-type arcane artifacts are designed to aid mind magic users, but they have side effects. For those who do not specialize in mind magic, these effects can become negative if overused. Marvellia was only an amateur in mind magic, and though her artifact was powerful, the strain had caught up with her.
Soon, she drifted into sleep, her thoughts clouded and unclear, a victim of the very tools she depended on.
From her bed, the shadows began to move on their own, sliding across the floor and creeping up the walls. They drifted silently through the room, reaching the arcane artifacts and curling around them like smoke. For a moment, it seemed as if the artifacts would be swallowed by darkness. Then, just as suddenly, the shadows withdrew, and everything returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Marvellia woke up, startled by the sudden movement in her room. She glanced around, her thoughts still clouded.
Marvellia stirred in her bed, startled by the sudden movement in the dimly lit room.
"What was that?" she muttered, her voice low and uneasy.
She inhaled deeply and tried to calm herself. "It's just me… No, it must be the side effects of the arcane artifacts. They're wearing me down. I need to rest to recover from them."
With that reassurance, Marvellia lay back down. Her eyes drifted closed, and soon she was slipping into sleep again. Unseen by her, the shadows in the room began to stir once more, gliding silently along the walls and floor.
…
"Again," Millia said, rising from the ground and gripping his wooden sword tightly. Across from him, Asok stood with his own wooden sword, calm and composed.
The two were in a secure location, heavily guarded. After Sans had thrown the city into chaos, Asok had been evacuated here for safety. The Predator had already targeted him once, and there was no guarantee it wouldn't happen again. Millia had chosen to stay with him. Sitting in silence quickly became dull, even for the usually indifferent Asok, so the two decided to spar with wooden swords.
Asok had already won four matches in a row. Sword dueling was his specialty, and his technique far outstripped Millia's. Still, Millia wasn't without skill—just nowhere near Asok's level. His emotions, however, were slow to develop, limiting his ability to generate magic energy. In monsterkind, emotions weren't merely feelings—they were the source of strength and magic.
Bam! Bam!
Their swords clashed as they moved across the training ground. Millia attacked with determination, but Asok moved effortlessly, as if he could predict every strike. He dodged each swing and tapped Millia's hand several times before delivering a final, powerful blow that knocked the sword from Millia's grasp.
"Dammit! Okay, you win," Millia said in irritation, standing and dusting himself off.
"What should we do now? I don't want to keep dueling. Is there something else we can do?" Millia asked as he stretched.
Before either of them could come up with an answer, the ground suddenly shook beneath their feet.
Millia stumbled as the ground shook beneath them, his wooden sword slipping from his grasp. "Wh-what is happening?" he stammered, his eyes wide with alarm. The tremors only grew stronger, rattling the walls of the training hall.
Asok steadied himself with a hand on the floor, his expression tense. "This… this isn't normal," he murmured, scanning the room as if expecting an enemy to burst through the walls. The vibrations didn't fade—they intensified, pulsing like a heartbeat from the earth itself.
Another shockwave rippled through the ground, nearly knocking Millia off his feet. "It's getting worse! I've never felt anything like this," he whispered, a flicker of fear breaking through his usual composure.
Asok's eyes narrowed, his mind racing through possibilities. "Could it be… the Predator?" he said cautiously, his voice low and measured. "If he's here, and if he's clashing with the other extraordinary monsters…" He trailed off, the weight of his words hanging in the air.
Millia swallowed hard, gripping Asok's sleeve unconsciously. "Then we're not safe here, are we?" he asked, his voice trembling between fear and restraint.
Asok didn't answer immediately. He simply stared at the quivering floor, his jaw tightening. At last, he said, "If that's the case, we need to be ready for anything. Pray that this storm isn't about to reach us."
Bam!
Suddenly, someone crashed through the wall. Dust filled the air, and when it settled, the figure's back was revealed—it was a monster with snow leopard-like features. He was tall and had long limbs, but within moments, his limbs began to shrink until he stood at a more typical height for a monster.
"This is already the fourth time… How is he doing this?" the unknown monster muttered in confusion. Before him, wisps of blue mist began to fade into the air. He turned and locked eyes with Millia and Asok.
"Shit it already reached here in that case Kids, follow me. This place is no longer safe. That Predator guy has already found us, and he's using some strange space magic that's throwing everything off," he said gravely.
As he spoke, he released his Rank 6 presence. The wall that has a broken-glass like effect start to disappears. Then he reached out to both children, taking each of them by the hand, and started to lead them away.
Millia and Asok gasped in shock as they exited and saw a towering structure ahead—a massive tree-like formation made entirely of the same strange, glass-like material that shimmered in the air.
The roots of the strange, tree-like structure expanded rapidly, moving like snakes across the ground. From its branches, thin streams of blue powder drifted downward. Even Asok and Millia could tell that the powder carried space magic properties. Whenever it touched physical objects, it exploded, leaving behind sharp, glass-like material that resembled the back of a hedgehog.
"What is that? Is this really space magic? How terrifying!" Millia exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, it is space magic," the Rank 6 monster confirmed calmly. "But this is artificial space magic. It appears to be a Rank 8 magic. We expected the Predator might use Rank 8 magic, but I never imagined he'd have knowledge of this type of space magic. This magic seems to follow the properties of unique magic, yet it also carries traits of universal magic."
The Rank 6 monster led the two young monsters through the streets as the colossal roots slithered above, weaving between buildings like serpents. At one point, the three of them stopped atop a rooftop, watching the chaotic scene.
Then, Millia asked curiously, "Sir, I thought every extraordinary monster could use space magic. Why didn't you just teleport us away?"
The Rank 6 monster kept his sharp gaze on the enormous, glass-like tree and replied, "It's not that I lack skill in space magic. The problem is that the space around here is far too unstable. If I tried to teleport, the magic would reach a random destination—always somewhere within the noble house's domain. We wouldn't be able to get outside the barrier, and we could even appear somewhere dangerous."
Millia felt relieved that he hadn't risked using teleportation. Asok, however, was tense, remembering the chaos from the previous tournament.
"Artificial magic is complex and weaker than true magic in some ways," the Rank 6 monster continued. "But it has one immense advantage: lower-ranked monsters can cast higher-ranked magic. True magic is fixed—you need the rank to match the magic. With this level of knowledge and creativity, if the Predator were a magic researcher, he would be a shining star."
He paused, then added with respect, "Used properly, artificial magic allows an extraordinary monster to fight opponents much stronger than themselves. Given enough preparation and intelligence, it can even threaten higher-ranked beings. That is why, even with its disadvantages, artificial magic still holds incredible value at the highest levels."
Millia listened intently, focusing on every word. Then he suddenly remembered something and asked hesitantly,
"Sir, I never asked your name before. I'm sorry… what should I call you?"
The Rank 6 monster smiled slightly before answering, "My name is Ilta Kaniera, of the Kaniera house, grand overseer you guys must be young heirs."
But Immediately after speaking, his smile vanished, replaced by shock. "What!" he gasped.
In an instant, Ilta unsheathed his claws and activated a sharpening technique. He turned to the two young monsters with a grave expression. "Wait here, and do not move. Take these—these arcane artifacts will protect you if needed."
Ilta handed the artifacts to Millia and Asok. Then, with a blur of speed so fast that the children could not even see him move, he disappeared into the horizon.
…
"*Gasping*… Such preparation! You really are the one who created that Rank 8 magic," the female extraordinary monster said, staring at her trembling hand.
"Oh, please. This is just the beginning," I said with a mocking tone. On the outside, I seemed confident, but inside, I was both impressed and nervous. Without my careful preparation and the arcane artifacts I carried, I would have already lost this battle.
Even with all my preparation, she was still proving to be a difficult opponent. Since this was a one‑on‑one fight, I could manage, but if I had been unprepared or facing two enemies at once, I would not have stood a chance. She had already studied and adapted to all of my attack patterns, but she had still taken heavy damage in the process.
I glanced behind her at my own distortion tree. It was starting to spiral out of control. Because I was not Rank 8, I was heavily restricted. To even cast it, I had to give up direct control, leaving only a simple on‑and‑off switch.
I'm in a very difficult situation. The Distortion Tree is Rank 8 magic, and a Rank 6 monsters can't do much more than hold it off for a short while. Most of the Rank 6 monsters are focused on the Distortion Tree, which has given me just enough time to continue executing my plan. However, I underestimated their intelligence. They have already taken effective countermeasures, and now I'm feeling extremely desperate.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, another extraordinary monster appeared behind me. I barely managed to react before my hand was half‑cut.
I spun on the ground, trying to catch my attacker, but he moved with incredible speed. In a swift backflip, he soared over me completely, throwing my balance off.
"This speed… and that move… Ilta!" I thought in shock. I knew many extraordinary monsters in Moltier City by name, but little more than that. Ilta, however, was officially recognized as one of the fastest extraordinary monsters in the city. For him to appear here meant they were becoming desperate as well.
"This battle is no longer about winning through strength alone—it's about who can hold out the longest," I thought. My goal was simply to endure while working toward my objectives.
The key difference between me and my opponents was clear: I could withstand their attacks, while they had to split their focus to suppress the Distortion Tree. If I played this carefully, even a Rank 7 monster would struggle against me.
With that thought, I activated my boost magic and dashed forward.
Whoosh!
In an instant, I closed the distance to Ilta. He looked slightly surprised, but before I could reach him, he dodged to the side and grabbed my forearm. I smiled, because I saw his hand begin to liquefy like water. His eyes widened in shock as he leapt backward, realizing what had happened.
Ilta stared at me in shock. "Soul magic? How are you using two different kinds of magic? You're clearly only a semi–Rank 6 wait no you didn't even have the full strength of semi Rank 6, yet you're in a Rank 6 state! What is this?"
He quickly began to cast healing magic, but the wounds mended only slowly, far from the instant recovery he was expecting.
"As expected from soul magic," he muttered. Then, at the very next moment, he raised his other hand and chopped off his other arms. The severed hand turned into dust right then. He took it out.
"Legendary hero?"
Right then he eat legendary hero which severed hand regrown on their own
Ilta and I faced each other in the ruined streets, tension thick in the air.
Ilta narrowed his eyes, his voice tense. "I don't know how you keep doing these tricks, but you must be close to your limit, right?"
I met his gaze seriously. "Maybe so—but you're slowing down too. My Distortion Tree is already affecting you." I shifted my stance and focused my boost magic, ready for the next move.
Ilta exhaled and gave a firm nod. Then, with a sharp motion, he extended his claws, and a surge of magic energy spread across his entire body, preparing him for battle.
Whoosh!
Bam!
The moment our hands collided, a powerful shockwave tore through the area, shattering the entire street. We didn't pause—we clashed again and again, destroying gardens and smashing street after street as our battle raged on.
His speed was astonishing—blindingly fast. Every time I moved, he was already there, intercepting me and shutting down my attacks. Even with my boost magic fully focused on speed and durability, I could barely keep up.
But hurting him wasn't the point. My goal was different: I only needed to touch him, even for a brief moment. Each contact, no matter how short, would be enough to make my plan succeed.
But injuring him wasn't my goal. All I needed was to keep touching him, maintaining steady physical contact. That alone would be enough for my plan.
"Agh!" Momeent Ilta landed his claws on me it tore apart my arm chopping it completely
"Damn it" I take my distance and take out my own legendary hero and eaten it which my hand regrow
"Instead of fighting like this, why don't we just talk?" Ilta said tiredly, before he fell unconscious.
This was my plan: extraordinary monsters can withstand and recover from severe physical injuries, but they are vulnerable to soul magic unless they specialise in it themselves. I had already coated my entire body with soul magic and kept it active by using the magic energy stored in all my golden coins. Since the figure was present, the effect of my soul magic remained stable. This allowed me to focus entirely on fighting, without worrying about maintaining the protective enchantment.
"Now that I've incapacitated several extraordinary monsters—and with the Distortion Tree having grown to a sufficient level—it's time to take Asok as a hostage," I said to myself. "He should be at the castle."
Using my shadow magic, I moved swiftly from the garden to the castle. Unlike the noble domain of the Laperdo family, I was already quite familiar with this place. This was the Monderia family's domain.
In my previous life, after the annihilation of the 12th Squad, I had been invited here by the Monderia family. They had wanted to speak with me. The invitation came as a recommendation, and I had met Asok then. They believed that, once I recovered, I could guide and protect the younger members of the Monderia family, helping them travel safely across Frostland with my experience. I had intended to fulfill that promise, but the day never came.
Now, as I stood in the shadow of the Monderia family castle, I realized that time itself was the foundation of my plan. Who would have thought things would come to this?
"Hm… where could Asok be hiding?" I murmured to myself. "If it were me who hide him, I would hide him in an underground secure area. But the Monderia family aren't fools—they're extraordinary monsters. They know I have a trump card. They wouldn't think in the most logical way; instead, they'd hide Asok somewhere unexpected. So… where could that be?"
I tried to consider things from the Monderia family's perspective, but I still couldn't figure it out. Then, I spotted a group of extraordinary monsters. Among them, I recognized Asok's sister, Kallia Monderia, along with two other Rank 6 monsters. I watched as they moved quickly down the hallway, then suddenly split up.
I assumed Kallia was heading toward Asok, so I decided to follow her. I slipped into the shadows, using my true shadow magic to travel silently and invisibly through the halls and tunnels. Moving unnoticed was effortless in this form.
After weaving through corridors and hidden passages, we finally arrived in a giant room. Kallia suddenly stopped. Then, to my surprise, she turned around to face me.
"Come out—I know you're here," she said. In an instant, the enormous room filled with space magic, cutting it off completely from the outside world.
With no other choice, I allowed my body to reform, revealing my physical shape. I looked at her, curiosity burning within me.
"How did you find me?" I asked, already preparing myself for a fight.
She smirked. "Remember the torches? They were hidden detectors. You're exceptional at hiding; almost all of them missed you. But the last one… it detected everything—movement, magic energy, heat—every trace. It showed two entities entering: me and you."
With that, she tossed the small screen aside. Magic energy surged around her hands, condensing into whips of pure power. I could feel it—Grade 2 magic energy.
"…I suppose there's no other choice," I muttered.
I activated my offensive Severiat technique, causing the liquified Severiat metal to rise and swirl around me like a living shield. With focus, I coated my hands in the molten metal, shaping each into razor-sharp claws, ready for battle.
Whoosh!
Kallia and I clashed instantly. Her whips cracked through the air with fierce precision, intercepting my lunging claws. Sparks and heated droplets of metal sprayed as the impact rattled the room. The clash of claw against whip rang out in rapid succession, each strike echoing with the tension of our duel.
Cling
I caught the whip and twisted my arm, pulling her toward me. But the whip suddenly extended and wrapped tightly around my body, binding me in place.
Whik
Kallia hurled me across the room, her whip throwing me as I collided with the wall repeatedly.
"Aghh!!!" The wall, imbued with magic energy, instantly fried my solidified magic, which had formed my body.
"Damn it," I muttered, as I quickly commanded the Severiat metal to absorb the magic energy from the whip that had bound me.
Ghoish!
The whip dissolved into mist, and I was free.
"Oh…" Kallia regarded me with a calm, indifferent stare, as if she had expected this all along. Only then did I realise she had prepared for this exact outcome.
"Impressive… but those walls—I need to avoid them at all costs," I thought, pushing myself up.
I directed the Severiat metal toward Kallia and channelled her own absorbed magic energy into it, shaping it into a roaring fire spell. The flames burst forth with such immense power that I had to cover myself with a barrier of Severiat metal to endure the heat.
Hup! Hip! Hup!
Kallia moved gracefully, dodging the surging waves of fire as if she were dancing through a storm. The flames flooded the room like a rushing sea, yet she remained untouched. Soon, I realised why—the orange glow of a thin magic shield shimmered around her. My fire spell was useless against it.
I realised that Kallia was protected by an advanced magic shield, shimmering like a thin, translucent layer of glass across her skin, and my current tactics were not enough to break through it. Sparks of magic rippled along its surface, radiating a faint orange glow whenever a stray ember touched it. I needed a new approach.
Focusing intently, I tightened my control over the Severiat metal. The liquefied metal coiled around my arms like living serpents, glinting with molten light. Each strand quivered with restrained power, reflecting the room's torchlight in orange-gold flashes.
I thrust my hands forward, directing the Severiat metal toward Kallia's shield. The metal shot across the chamber with a piercing hiss, twisting and darting like liquid arrows. Kallia leaped aside with flawless precision, her long hair whipping through the air as she spun. The metal slammed into the stone wall, leaving smoking gouges, then turned sharply, homing in on her again.
Whoosh.
Whoosh.
We streaked across the vast, echoing room at incredible speed, our movements blurring into streaks of shadow and light. The Severiat metal chased her relentlessly, coiling through the air in jagged arcs. Every impact rattled the walls, and dust fell like rain from the ceiling.
Gusts of wind surged in our wake, spiraling around the room like miniature storms. The force of our rapid motions sent nearby chairs and tables skidding across the polished floor, some shattering against the walls. Each time the metal struck her shield, sparks erupted like tiny fireworks, briefly illuminating Kallia's sharp, focused eyes through the haze.
The roar of magic filled the air like an unending storm, each surge colliding with the sharp, metallic screams of the Severiat metal as it spun and twisted violently across the room. The liquid metal coiled and snapped like serpentine whips, glinting in the torchlight with every rapid spin. Sparks showered from the walls where the metal scraped and gouged the enchanted stone, leaving behind trails of smoke and the faint hiss of superheated air.
A swirl of wind and dust spiraled around us, kicked up by the force of our movements. The glowing orange reflections danced across the polished floor, interrupted by the jagged shadows of furniture hurled aside by the shockwaves. Every impact sent small pieces of rubble skittering, and the resonant clang of Severiat metal against the floor sounded like a chorus of steel bells.
Cluck!
When she was running I see opportunity and dashed toward her as my hand finally caught hers, the heat and raw magic surging between us in that instant. But before I could fully tighten my grip, she twisted like a coiled spring. In a blur of motion, her hand seized my shoulder, and the world inverted.
BAM!
I was slammed against the ground so hard that the tremor rippled through the entire chamber. Dust cascaded from the high ceiling, and the floor beneath me groaned in protest. My vision wavered as the echoes of the impact resounded against the distant walls.
"Ow, ow, ow! Where did you learn to fight like this?" I gasped, wincing at the sudden jolt of pain. The crude throw was devastatingly effective, leaving a clear imprint of my body in the slightly cracked floor. My regeneration flared to life immediately, threads of magic knitting my battered form back together, heat rising off my bones as the injuries began to mend.
Even sprawled on the cold stone, with the metallic scent of Severiat in the air and the acrid smell of scorched magic lingering in my nose, I could only marvel at her strength and technique. The entire room seemed to pulse with our clash, alive with the storm we had unleashed.
I smiled once more, knowing that my earlier touch had already allowed my soul magic to begin taking effect. One more strike, and she would be completely incapacitated—but I could feel that the time limit on my soul magic was nearly up.
Kallia narrowed her eyes, suspicion clear in her gaze. Before she could act or think further, I launched my attack. I compressed my magic energy into the Severiat metal, shaping it that of arrow, and fired it directly at her. It was bolt of lightning filed toward her
Kiiizzzaaaa
Kallia groaned as the attack struck her arm, which erased her arm like sans on air and the magic force dissipated into the air.
"I've never seen this technique before… What is it called?" she demanded, her voice strained. All the while, her wounded arm slowly regenerated, missing parts of arms knitting back together before my eyes.
"This is the offensive Severiat technique—my own creation, so don't think too much of it," I said. Then, without hesitation, I charged forward once again.
Bam bam bam
Even with only one arm, she held her ground remarkably well, as I couldn't inflict decisive damage. However, injuries began to accumulate on her as Severiat's metal transformed its style every time under my command. Sometimes, it would slash and cut, leaving wounds, while at other times, it would hammer and break her body gradually, and occasionally, it would thrust into her.
Soon, she left the opening, which was the moment I seized the opportunity. I grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the wall. Then, I took a few small steps back and slammed into her, breaking through the wall completely.
We fall into a sudden abyss, and I froze for a moment, startled by the abrupt shift in the environment.
Kallia laughed faintly, her voice echoing in the darkness. "Did you really think defeating me would let you escape so easily? I'm not foolish. From the records, I knew you had extensive knowledge and experience in countless fields. I understood I will not win in, so I prepared this trap. Unless you're a member of the Monderia family, there's no way to escape."
Her laughter faded into a quiet breath as the effect of my soul magic finally took hold, and she lost consciousness.
"Oh, Kallia," I said with a slight smile, "if you truly knew the extent of my knowledge and experience, you wouldn't have underestimated me like this. It seems none of you fully understand my capabilities—but that's fine with me."
I activated my shadow magic to escape, but the moment I tried, I froze in realization. This place had been specifically prepared for me. Every wall and surface shimmered with concealed enchantments. My shadows were unable to slip into the darkness as they normally would. It was a trap, meticulously designed to nullify my abilities.
I let out a soft sigh. "So, you've been preparing for me all along… clever," I muttered, my mind already working on the next step.
Shadow magic was useless in this abyss-like trap. The Monderia family had prepared for me, using Rank 8 artificial space magic to nullify all my usual methods. If I hadn't been a regressor, this would have been my final moment. Still, an idea sparked in my mind.
"This might work… but I don't even know how to use it properly. I'll need to read her mind. Alright—let's try," I muttered to myself.
Kallia had mentioned something that stuck with me: if her words were true, my artificial soul could be the key. After all, my artificial soul was created as a copy of Asok's, perfectly matching the requirements for this situation. With that in mind, I approached her unconscious form and began preparing to use artificial mind magic.
Until now, I had focused on shadow magic and soul magic. These two disciplines are completely different, yet they remain compatible up to Rank 8. I had never specialised in mind magic, but by combining my experience with artificial magic, I believed I might have a chance.
Extraordinary monsters typically specialise in a single type of magic. Our bodies are highly adaptive; as we ascend in rank, our natural affinity narrows and strengthens toward the magic we use most. This adaptation amplifies our primary magic to incredible levels but prevents us from efficiently using other types of magic. Only upon reaching Rank 10—the body of an Extreme Harbinger Monster—do we gain full compatibility with all magic.
Because of this, battles between extraordinary monsters are usually straightforward. Each combatant relies on one type of magic as their body adapts to it. The monsters I faced were all mid Rank 6, and their bodies were not yet fully adjusted. This limited their fighting styles, making them predictable. Low Rank 6 monsters can wield multiple magics, but their attacks are weak. I was able to perform feats they could not because of my knowledge and experience.
Artificial magic, while powerful, is slow and consumes massive amounts of magic energy. It is unsuitable for unprepared fights. However, in this case, it allowed me to bypass the natural limitations of my extraordinary monster body. The rank 7 artificial mind magic this was only way
I pressed my hands near Kallia's head and activated artificial mind magic. Her memories unfolded before me like an open book.
…
"This is getting out of control! We need to do something about it!" one extraordinary monster yelled, watching in alarm as his space magic broke apart under the influence of the Distortion Tree. The tree's power was like pouring cold fuel onto a fire—every attempt to suppress it only made it grow stronger.
The extraordinary monsters tried to seal the Distortion Tree by cutting its connection to space itself. But it was too deeply rooted, too intertwined with the fabric of space to uproot completely. In the end, they resorted to burning it, knowing that was their best option.
The Distortion Tree was Rank 8 magic. Though seemingly limitless, it still followed core principles and mechanics. Overuse would slowly deteriorate it. The extraordinary monsters understood this, so they attempted to suppress and burn the tree simultaneously, trying to push it to its limits.
Despite their efforts, the situation was spiraling. Two Rank 7 monsters were fully devoted to containing the tree, while all the Rank 6 monsters did everything they could to stop its relentless expansion. Even so, the battle was slipping out of their hands.
A voice called from behind the extraordinary monster, "What should we do?"
He turned and saw Millia and Asok, each holding an arcane artifact in their hands.
After Ilta had left, he sent a mental message to the other extraordinary monsters. They responded quickly when they learned Sans had fallen into Kallia's trap. One extraordinary monster moved to cover the children. But the Distortion Tree behaved strangely—it was actively targeting extraordinary monsters. This forced the monsters to focus on holding the tree back, leaving Millia and Asok vulnerable. The extraordinary monster had to split his attention: suppress the tree while protecting the children.
Because of this, the arcane artifacts were used one after another until they began to break from overuse.
Arcane artifacts are powerful and versatile, but they have a clear limitation: they can be destroyed if overused. They require periods of recovery to maintain their integrity.
In general, there are two main types of arcane artifacts:
Durable arcane artifacts. These are built to last and can be used many times. However, they rarely produce large-scale or highly efficient effects. Their strength is in their repeated, reliable usability.
High-Impact arcane artifacts. These artifacts create powerful and efficient effects but are extremely fragile. Some can only be used once before breaking completely.
In short, the more spectacular and efficient the effect, the fewer times you can safely use the artifact. To preserve arcane artifacts, one must manage their usage carefully and allow for recovery between activations.
Whoosh.
Soon, the artifact in the children's hands released a soft blue mist. It engulfed all of them, and in the next moment, they appeared at the border of the noble house's domain.
"Take this," the extraordinary monster said, handing them another artifact. "Use it again when the roots get close to you." He left quickly afterward, rushing back toward the battle.
"Oh, my Archios… when will this end?" Millia whispered, trembling with fear. The trauma from the tournament was still fresh in his mind, and the sight of the Distortion Tree made the storm happen at tournament get in surface it brought pressed heavily on him.
Asok, on the other hand, was not frightened, but he felt anxious, unsure of what to do.
The Distortion Tree shuddered violently, its glass‑like trunk cracking with icy blue light. A deafening creak shook the air, like the sky itself was breaking. Then, with a thunderous crack, the trunk split in two, sending sharp crystal shards tumbling to the ground like falling stars.
From the split trunk, two massive, twisted copies of the distortion tree emerged. Their glassy forms were unstable, and their roots writhed like snakes. Every time a root struck the ground, the earth quaked. Buildings cracked and collapsed as glowing fissures spread across the streets, pulsing with unstable energy.
Above, the branches whipped through the air, scattering showers of blue‑white sparks. The branches slashed through walls and rooftops with a humming, glass‑like shriek. Sparkling dust filled the air, reflecting the cold light of the twin trees and making the city look like a glowing, alien ocean.
The twin Distortion Trees rampaged, tearing open streets, walls, and even space itself. Waves of distortion rippled outward, twisting distant shapes into flickering illusions. In moments, the once‑calm domain fell into chaos, lit by the cold, hunting glow of the overlapping trees.
"W‑what!" Millia cried.
Fighting one Distortion Tree was already hard enough. Two of them, even smaller, were a disaster—twice the danger. And then, before anyone could react, the two trees began to overlap, twisting around each other yet still remaining separate, their combined threat more terrifying than ever.
Boom!
Suddenly, the distortion trees shattered like ice smashing against stone. Shards burst outward, raining across the entire noble house's domain like a deadly snowfall.
Moments later, whenever one of these shards struck a physical surface, it erupted into jagged, glass‑like formations, sprouting outward like the spines on a hedgehog's back.
Before anyone could even react, the noble house's entire domain was covered in these spikes. Then, the spikes began to twist space itself—locations blurred and shifted, and the world seemed to rearrange with each pulse.
"What!"
Millia and Asok froze in shock. They had been standing at the border of the noble house's domain, yet now it was as if the land itself had slid beneath them. In an instant, without moving a single step, they found themselves standing at the entrance of the castle, as if the world had carried them there like ice sliding over iron.
"Let's get into the castle! Those things are clearly linked to space magic, and inside the castle, they won't be able to affect us," Asok said urgently. He and Millia sprinted toward the entrance.
Asok's quick decision came in barely five seconds—fast, but decisive.
The moment they reached the heavy doors and pushed them open, skeletal hands shot out from the darkness beyond and seized Asok by the throat.
"Asok!" Millia shouted, instantly trying to cast a fire spell at the figure. But before the spell could finish forming, the figure's other hand struck Millia's hand, breaking his concentration and sending him stumbling backward. The interruption was so sudden that Millia's body went limp, and he fell unconscious for reasons he couldn't understand.
Under the pale moonlight, the figure's true form emerged—it was Sans. His face was weary, and his body trembled with exhaustion. The terrifying Predator disguise he had worn seemed to peel away like a cracking mask, revealing his true identity beneath, worn and drained.
…
Everything was ready for my final action.
"Guh! I need to hurry," I muttered while feeling my body was weakening faster than I had expected.
I staggered toward the border as I commanded the Distortion Tree to deactivate. The massive crystal shards, which had spread across the entire noble house's territory, began to vanish one by one. Every step I took felt heavier than the last, my strength draining rapidly, but I forced myself to keep moving. I had to cross the border before my body gave out entirely.
Tzing!
A sudden beam of light hit my leg, almost making me fall.
"In Moltier City, the only extraordinary monster who uses light magic is Tabib Leah. He's rank 7. I'm done for," I said as I stood up. But before I could do anything, Tabib appeared and hit me in the stomach with his knees.
"Gah!" I staggered back, nearly falling again, but right then Tabib shot more light beams at my shoulder and leg, leaving me completely unable to move.
"Damn it… okay, I lost," I said helplessly as I fell to my knees.
"Don't even think about pulling any tricks. I'm very tired. let's end everything here, okay?" Tabib said, looking at me, his horns slowly shrinking. He was vey tired as sweats were all over his body
"Fine. I don't have much time left anyway," I replied in a resigned tone. My words caught Tabib's attention.
"What do you mean—"
"I'm dying what do you think," I said in mocking tone
"What?!" Tabib's eyes widened in shock. He immediately rushed to my side and cast healing magic, his magic ray reach over me as he examined my condition. Moments later, his face twisted with horror.
"You lunatic! You went through ascension into Rank 6 and advanced in grade at the same time—are you out of your mind? This… this… there's nothing I can do about it now," Tabib exclaimed, his voice full of worry. Seeing his genuine concern made me feel a pang of guilt. I had planned this from the beginning, yet deceiving someone who truly worried about me was harder than I expected.
"Why did you do all of this? Why?" he asked, finally stopping his healing magic, his eyes locked onto mine with frustration and fear.
"I don't understand," Tabib said, his voice filled with both confusion and frustration. "With your talent and intelligence, you could have lived any life you wanted. Why would you choose to commit such crimes?"
I gave a dry chuckle and met his gaze. "Heh… It was my preference. I wanted to do something like this. After all, I never had enough time."
My voice was calm but weighed down with exhaustion. I said, "Since I'm dying, I have no reason to hide anything anymore. So, ask me—what do you want to know? All the forces behind you needed you to bring me in alive, but now that you can't, I'll answer all your questions as much as you want. Think of it like a last goodwill act before dying"
Tabib hesitated before speaking, "What drove you to do all of this?"
I raised my hand slowly, revealing a faintly glowing construct that pulsed with an otherworldly light. "Heh… It was all because I wanted to create this," I said, showing him my artificial soul.
When Tabib saw this, he was stunned. "This… this is the Monderia family's soul, yet I know for certain you are not a member of the Monderia family… Ah, I see—during the tournament, this was what you were trying to achieve, wasn't it? Your mastery in the soul research path is remarkable. If you and I had the chance to work together, I would have gladly supported talent like yours. Such a pity. Is there anything else you want to say?"
I gave a faint, weary smile. "No there is nothing more to say after all I accomplished what I set out to do, and it worked. But because of the ongoing investigation, I had to stay hidden and push myself to the limit against all of you. I truly gave it everything I had, relying on my seal of vow with Sans. I managed well for a time, but you all were closing in too quickly, so I had to act. In the end, I see now—I underestimated you and overestimated myself. Still, I have no regrets."
After a long pause, I asked, "Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" Tabib asked, his voice deep and resonant.
"Can I die without revealing my identity? I understand that due to your responsibilities, you shouldn't do this, but this is my last wish like thing," I said, a chuckle escaping my lips as I felt my dying too quickly for me to speak properly.
"Is this your last wish?" Tabib inquired.
"Yes," I replied.
"Then be it. I do have responsibilities, but I can't refuse your last wish. You will be remembered as the Predator, and not as your true self. Are you alright with that?" he said.
Even though it was all just acting, I felt awful. Monsters rarely lie, and because of that, they might believe this is real. That thought made me feel even worse.
"Of course. After all, I have reasons." Reasons that require me to lie, which I hate, but I need to do this.
As soon as I said it, my body began to turn into dust, until nothing remained.
—————————————————————————
I smiled, knowing I had finally completed my plan.
My plan had several interconnected objectives:
First Objective was to gain the attention of every force investigating me, while also uncovering why the Laperdo family sought the Land of Kall. I discovered that the Land of Kall was not their true goal—they were searching for something else entirely. This revelation cleared my initial misunderstandings, and the first step went smoothly.
Second Objective was to Slow down or control the investigating forces. While I could not fully take control, I managed to delay their work long enough to create my greatest trump card: a clone. This clone was crafted using transformation magic as its foundation, reinforced with time magic. In Kallia's trap, I changed my strategy. I used time magic to accelerate my own time, so while only two hours passed outside, I experienced an entire week. This was possible because I found Kallia's arcane artifacts that could influence time—it was sheer luck. Rank 6 Time magic is very weak but from rank 7 it get impactful but with those arcane artifacts I was able to pull this off
I had originally planned to create a Rank 5 clone, but events gave me an unexpected opportunity. I upgraded that clone to Rank 6 and gave it an artificial soul for stability. I then crafted the situation so that the artificial soul would appear to advance to Grade 2, making it look like the clone was ascending to Rank 6 and Grade 2 at the same time—a process that normally guarantees death. When the clone died, every extraordinary monster who saw it believed it was real and never suspected it was only a decoy.
Losing that artificial soul was no true loss for me. I had already created a new Grade 2 soul based on Kallia's, crafted from my experience with artificial souls and my extraordinary monster body. I left no traces behind, and since artificial souls can't advance further anyway, the exchange was entirely in my favour.
My original plan had been much simpler it was to use a Rank 5 clone to show that Predator and Sans were two separate beings. But the unexpected chance to end the Predator identity entirely appeared. By letting the clone die dramatically, I concluded the reasons of investigations against me. It was the perfect way to shift all attention away from my true self.
Still, I am realistic. People like Marvellia will not stop investigating. Lies are like illusions—they can last a long time, but sooner or later, someone finds the angle that reveals the truth. To protect myself, I must leave fragments of truth hidden among the lies, along with a web of variables and contradictions. That is the only way to maintain my cover and remain safe.
"My new Grade 2 artificial soul… heh. With this, I no longer need to fear using Rank 7 artificial magic. My magic energy will be far stronger and more efficient. In other words, Rank 6 beasts are no longer a problem for me. My body has stabilized as well—halfway to being fully stable. Once I completely stabilize, I will truly be a Rank 6 monster. A whole week has already passed like this, though I did leave one trace behind: I used arcane artifacts on Kallia. It's suspicious… but I had no choice."
Thinking about it now, my clone isn't perfect. Unlike Imertia Tomura's clone which belong to Rank 6 beast were based on real flesh and blood, so they could exist permanently. My clone, on the other hand, is formed from half‑solidified magic. It only keeps its shape because of the flow of magic energy. Over time, that energy leaks away, so the clone can only survive about one day.
However, by giving it a Grade 1 artificial soul, I provided a source of energy. That artificial soul powers the clone and lets it live for its short duration.
When I become an extreme harbinger monster, I plan to focus on the field of cloning. If I can create at least a few independent extraordinary monster clones, my ability to manage everything will improve greatly. But there is still a long road ahead.
I sighed and lay down on my back inside my shadow dimension, which had shrunk to just one‑tenth of its original size. I had transferred my shadow dimension into Millia's shadow. Because of this, I can only leave it when he is in complete darkness or when night falls. The last time I saw outside, dawn was breaking, so I knew I would have to wait a long time.
Even so, I felt satisfied. I needed to sleep because in order to give my clone a will and mentality identical to my own. I had used mind magic so extensively that my mental strength was almost completely spent. The only way to recover from this fatigue was to sleep.
If I were not an extraordinary monster, I wouldn't have even been able to create that will before passing out. Time and time again, the mind of an extraordinary monster proves itself to be a force of its own.
With that thought, I finally drifted into a deep sleep for five hours.