Inside the Clan Head Office—
The vast hall stood in silence, its towering pillars casting long shadows under the dim golden light of hanging lanterns. Incense smoke drifted slowly through the air, giving the entire place a suffocating calm.
At the center stood an elderly man.
Bald head.
A long white beard that reached past his chest.
A simple white robe that swayed slightly with every movement.
Yet despite his plain appearance—
The air around him felt heavy.
Oppressive.
As if the entire hall bent around his presence.
This was the leader of the Wuyu Clan—
Jezu.
Suddenly—
Footsteps echoed.
Fast. Uneven. Desperate.
A servant rushed into the hall, nearly stumbling as he fell to his knees.
"L-Leader Jezu!"
His voice trembled.
Jezu didn't turn immediately.
"…Speak."
The single word felt like pressure pressing down on the servant's chest.
"S-Supreme Elder… Kiv Laimian…"
"He has been heavily injured!"
Silence.
The incense smoke paused mid-air.
Even the flickering flames of the lanterns seemed to slow.
Jezu slowly turned his head.
His left eyebrow lifted slightly.
"…What?"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Say that again."
The servant swallowed hard, his throat dry.
"It's confirmed, Leader!"
"Healer Dali examined him personally—his neck was nearly snapped!"
BOOM.
A terrifying aura spread across the hall.
The servant's body trembled uncontrollably.
"…His neck…"
Jezu muttered.
"…was snapped?"
His eyes narrowed.
"…Impossible."
His voice turned darker.
"Is there anyone in this clan capable of such a thing?"
A pause.
"…Or is this some kind of accident?"
The servant shook his head quickly.
"No one knows, Leader…"
"He is currently at the Genesis Hall."
Jezu turned fully this time.
His robe fluttered behind him.
"I'm going."
His tone allowed no refusal.
"Prepare everything."
"Inform the entire clan."
His eyes gleamed coldly.
"No one leaves."
"No one hides."
---
Meanwhile—
At the edge of a quiet pond.
The atmosphere was completely different.
No shouting.
No chaos.
Only stillness.
The surface of the water reflected the pale sky above, slightly trembling with the passing breeze.
Beside the pond stood a tall maple tree.
But it was not spring.
Its branches were dry.
Its leaves gone.
It looked… lifeless.
Leaning against its trunk sat Lumian.
Head slightly lowered.
Eyes half-closed.
Still.
Unmoving.
Too still.
Because this—
Was no longer Lumian.
This was Reyax.
The wind brushed past him.
Yet he didn't react.
His presence felt… wrong.
Like something ancient had awakened in a fragile body.
Suddenly—
Footsteps approached.
Fast.
Panicked.
"Lumian!"
Lu ran toward him, her breathing uneven, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
She stopped right in front of him—
Then slowly lowered herself to sit.
Her eyes searched his face.
Confusion.
Fear.
Doubt.
"…Lumian…"
Her voice trembled.
"What… was that…?"
"…Why did you do it…?"
A long silence followed.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Then—
Lumian spoke.
Calm.
Too calm.
"This world…"
"…never gives opportunities to the weak."
His voice was steady.
Almost emotionless.
"The foolish."
"The naive."
"They are not protected."
"They are used."
"Broken."
"Discarded."
Each word fell slowly—
Like drops of poison.
Lu's fingers tightened.
She didn't understand.
But she felt something was terribly wrong.
"If I ask you to choose between something good and something bad…"
"You will choose the good."
He continued quietly.
"But if I ask you to choose between a clever person and a fool…"
"…you will choose the fool."
Lu's brows furrowed.
"…What are you saying…?"
"The truth is simple."
His lips curved slightly.
"Do whatever is necessary… to live comfortably."
Silence.
Lu stared at him.
Her heartbeat grew louder.
"…Who are you…?"
The thought echoed in her mind.
Because this—
Was not the Lumian she knew.
Not even close.
Lumian slowly turned his head.
Their eyes met.
His gaze was deep.
Cold.
Unfamiliar.
"Tell me…"
"If a tiger suffers under a fox for ten days…"
"…and then one day, the fox strikes back—"
"Why is that considered wrong?"
SLAP!!
The sharp sound echoed across the pond.
Lu flinched violently.
A red mark appeared on Lumian's cheek.
Standing behind him—
Chesse.
Her eyes burned with rage.
Her entire body trembled.
"You…!!"
Her voice shook with fury.
"Why did you attack your father?!"
"You shouldn't have even been born!"
Lu quickly stood and grabbed her arm.
"Aunt—please—!"
She tried to pull her away.
But Chesse resisted.
Her anger had already gone out of control.
Meanwhile—
Lumian lowered his head.
His face hidden in shadow.
Silent.
Still.
Then—
A faint sound escaped.
"…Heh…"
It grew.
"…Hah…"
And then—
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!!!"
A twisted, distorted laugh burst out.
It echoed across the water.
Cold.
Unnatural.
Terrifying.
Lu froze.
Chesse stepped back unconsciously.
Lumian slowly raised his head.
His eyes—
Dark.
Mocking.
"Humans…"
He whispered.
"…are truly amusing."
"They endure pain for a hundred days…"
"But the moment they return it once…"
"…it becomes a sin."
He tilted his head.
"So…"
"My existence is a curse to you?"
A smile stretched across his face.
Cold.
Cruel.
"Then free yourselves."
"I don't need you."
"I won't create any more 'problems.'"
Chesse's eyes widened in fury.
Her face twisted.
"You—!!"
"Laimian should have killed you!"
"Keeping a curse like you alive—!!"
Before she could finish—
Lumian moved.
In an instant—
He was right in front of her.
Lu's eyes widened in shock.
"…Too fast—!!"
Lumian gently placed a finger on Chesse's lips.
Stopping her words.
His expression—
Calm.
Almost gentle.
"Curse…"
He whispered.
"…Interesting."
A faint smile formed.
"What if…"
"Instead of you killing me—"
"…I kill you?"
The world froze.
The wind stopped.
The water stilled.
Lu's pupils shrank.
"…Lumian—!!!"