The sound echoed sharply through the room.
SLAP!
Kelric's body was sent flying sideways.
He crashed against the ground, rolling twice before stopping.
Blood spilt from his mouth.
His cheek swelled instantly.
The man standing before him slowly lowered his hand.
His expression didn't change.
"…What a waste."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
The night outside felt darker.
Colder.
Then—
The man stepped forward into the dim light.
It was Marcus.
He calmly wiped his hand with a cloth, as if cleaning something filthy.
Kelric forced himself up to his knees.
His head lowered.
"Sir… there was a man—"
His voice trembled despite his effort to control it.
"He took the dagger… wiped out the entire squad in minutes…"
Kelric swallowed.
"I saw it with my own eyes."
He hesitated.
"…Sir… why are we still chasing that dagger so desperately?"
"We've already lost too many men."
"And that man… he might not even know the true meaning behind the symbol on it."
His fists clenched slightly.
"I don't think it's worth sending more people."
Silence.
Marcus didn't respond immediately.
Instead—
He stared at Kelric.
Cold.
Sharp.
"Kelric."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Do you even understand why you were slapped?"
Kelric froze.
Marcus stepped closer.
"That dagger…"
"…is enough to shake a Duke family."
Kelric's pupils shrank.
"And that 'helper' you mentioned…"
Marcus's gaze sharpened.
"What power did he use?"
Kelric hesitated for a moment.
Then spoke carefully.
"…Blood control."
"I didn't believe it at first."
"But when he used it on me…"
His voice grew tighter.
"I couldn't move."
"It felt like something was coiling around my heart… crushing it from inside."
"I've already checked every known record—no family matches this ability."
"…but we're still searching."
This time—
Marcus didn't mock him.
Didn't dismiss him.
Instead—
He went silent.
Completely silent.
His eyes lowered slightly.
Thinking.
Minutes passed.
Kelric remained kneeling.
Not daring to move.
Not daring to speak.
Finally—
He gathered the courage.
"…Sir. What are your orders?"
Marcus exhaled slowly.
Then spoke.
"Withdraw."
Kelric blinked.
"Stop all surveillance on the target."
"Pull every unit back."
"Do not observe him again until I give the order."
Kelric's eyes widened slightly.
"And the dagger?"
Marcus's voice didn't change.
"Leave it."
"If it's already in his hands…"
"…then he may know what it is."
Kelric lowered his head.
"…Understood."
Marcus continued.
"Clean everything."
"The scapegoat used for this operation—"
"If he's alive…"
"Silence him."
"Erase every link to us."
His gaze turned colder.
"Not a single trace must remain."
Kelric nodded quickly.
"And prepare new members."
"There are empty slots now."
"Other sectors need manpower."
"…Go."
Kelric didn't wait another second.
He stood up and left immediately.
The moment the door closed—
The shadows in the room shifted.
A figure appeared silently beside Marcus.
His face was hidden behind a mask.
What little skin was visible…
Was ruined.
Scarred beyond recognition.
His entire body was wrapped in cloth.
Only his presence spoke.
"Sir."
His voice was low.
"Should I pursue the one who interfered?"
"I can bring him back."
Marcus didn't even turn.
"No."
The man paused.
Marcus continued.
"If you move…"
"The Elders will be notified."
"And I don't intend to attract that kind of attention."
The masked man narrowed his eyes.
"But the dagger from the Hall is still with him."
"And that blood ability…"
His voice lowered.
"…we could extract something valuable from it."
In an instant—
He vanished.
Then reappeared directly in front of Marcus.
"…It could strengthen the family."
Marcus finally looked at him.
And for the first time—
There was weight in his gaze.
"You don't understand."
His voice dropped.
"Let me explain something to you."
He turned slightly.
"As you know…"
"There are Six ruling families on this continent."
"The Royal Family…"
"…and the Five Duke Houses."
"Each Duke family has its speciality."
"Bloodlines. Elements. Arts."
"Powers known to the world."
Marcus paused.
Then asked quietly—
"But do you know what power the Royal Family holds?"
Silence.
"No one does."
"Because those who witness it…"
"…don't live to speak."
The air grew colder.
Marcus's voice lowered further.
"…Blood."
The masked man stiffened.
"They control blood."
"Like the Duke families control elements."
"But far beyond that."
"Every Royal descendant…"
"…is born stronger than a Duke heir."
Marcus's eyes darkened.
"The younger generations of all six families compete."
"To determine the strongest genius."
"And since the founding of the Empire…"
"…the Royal Family has never lost."
Not once.
Silence filled the room.
"Some of them can control blood outside the body."
Marcus continued.
"But controlling blood inside the body…"
He shook his head slightly.
"That is something else entirely."
"Which means—"
"That man is either far above normal standards…"
"…or connected to something we should not touch."
Marcus turned fully toward him.
"And if the Royal Family is involved…"
"…we're already dead the moment we interfere."
The masked man said nothing.
Marcus's voice returned to normal.
"Drop it."
"The dagger is no longer our concern."
"Focus on your assigned regions."
After a brief pause—
The masked man disappeared into the shadows.
Gone without a trace.
The room fell silent again.
For several minutes—
Marcus didn't move.
Then—
Crack.
The calm on his face shattered.
His teeth clenched violently.
"Why now…?"
His voice dropped into a growl.
"That man… he's the same one…"
"…who saved the boy from the poison."
His fist tightened.
"The venom…"
"…only a few know how to cure it."
"And most of them…"
"…belong to the Royal Family."
His eyes darkened further.
"And that dagger…"
"If they connect it back to the Hall…"
"…we're finished."
His hand shot out.
A vase exploded into pieces.
Fragments scattered across the floor.
Marcus inhaled slowly.
Then exhaled.
And just like that—
The anger disappeared.
His face returned to its usual calm.
Cold.
Controlled.
As if nothing had happened.
He adjusted his clothes.
And walked out.
He never noticed—
That in the shadows above—
A pair of eyes had been watching everything.
"Hmph."
A faint sound echoed.
Then—
That presence vanished as well.
The night deepened.
Across the capital—
Chaos slowly settled.
The destroyed street was now filled with workers and officials.
Guards secured the area.
Police investigated every inch.
Hosric stood there—
Overseeing everything.
But his attention…
Never left the house.
Rey had been moved to another room.
The servants worked through the night cleaning up the destruction.
No evidence linked Rey to anything.
To the world—
He was nothing more than an unlucky neighbour caught in a clash between martial artists.
The real culprits?
Untouchable.
The only remaining mystery—
Was the unknown figure.
And no one dared to chase it.
Morning came.
Slowly.
Quietly.
The investigation continued.
Hosric finally returned inside.
He sat down on the sofa.
A maid placed a cup of coffee in front of him.
His eyes were bloodshot.
Dark circles hung beneath them.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on his body.
But his mind—
Was still alert.
Still watching.
Still focused on Rey's room.
Inside—
Rey lay asleep.
Unmoving.
Peaceful.
A servant checked on him every hour.
Adjusting his blanket.
Waiting for any sign of movement.
Hosric stared in that direction.
His thoughts grew heavier.
'I need to move him.
Somewhere safer.
This place is no longer secure.'
He rubbed his temples.
'I need to talk to Father…'
He exhaled.
Then leaned back into the sofa.
His body finally gave in.
Within minutes—
He fell asleep.
A butler passed by.
Noticing him—
He quietly placed a blanket over Hosric.
And left without a word.
But Rey…
Was not at rest.
Inside his consciousness—
There was no bed.
No room.
No peace.
Only darkness.
Endless.
Silent.
He floated within it—
Alone.
Waiting.
For something to awaken.
'Now… this is peace.'
Rey floated in the endless darkness.
Weightless.
Silent.
There was no pain.
No danger.
No pressure.
Nothing to chase him.
Nothing to fear.
A faint smile formed on his face.
No enemies… no problems…
Just… this.
"…"
A sound.
Faint.
Distant.
Rey's eyes shifted.
"…W…"
It came again.
Barely audible.
"…What…?"
He looked around.
But there was nothing.
Only darkness.
Even his own body was unclear—
Just a faint outline drifting in the void.
Then—
A dot appeared.
Far away.
Small.
Almost nothing.
But it was growing.
Slowly.
Getting bigger.
"…What is that?"
Rey narrowed his eyes.
The sound returned.
Louder this time.
"Wa… p…"
It was distorted.
Broken.
Like something trying to force its way through.
Rey frowned.
"I can hear it… but I can't understand it…"
The dot grew larger.
Faster.
The sound followed.
"WAA… …PPP!"
It echoed unnaturally through the void.
Rey focused harder.
Trying to understand.
Trying to catch the meaning.
The closer it came—
The louder it became.
Until—
"WWWWAAAKKKEEEE UUUUPPPP!"
The scream exploded.
Rey flinched violently.
"ARGH!"
He clutched his ears instinctively.
His entire mind shook from the force of it.
"What the hell was that?!"
His eyes shut tightly.
For a moment—
Everything went silent again.
Slowly…
He opened his eyes.
The dot—
Was gone.
"…Did it disappear?"
Rey turned slightly.
Or at least—
Tried to.
His body didn't move freely.
Only a slow, helpless rotation in place.
"…Weird."
He exhaled.
"Probably just my imagination—"
He turned.
And froze.
The dot was no longer small.
It was right in front of him.
Massive.
A gigantic sphere.
So large it filled his entire vision.
Pitch black—
Yet outlined in a thin, glowing white border that separated it from the surrounding void.
Rey's breath slowed.
"…What… is this?"
Something inside it moved.
Faint.
Shifting.
Watching.
Rey swallowed.
A strange pull dragged his hand forward.
He didn't resist.
He couldn't.
His fingers reached out.
And touched it.
Ripples spread across the surface.
Like touching water.
Soft.
Disturbing.
Rey pulled his hand back instantly.
"…That felt—"
He stopped.
A sensation crept up his spine.
Cold.
Sharp.
Like something was looking at him.
Not just looking—
Seeing through him.
Every thought.
Every memory.
Every fear.
Rey snapped his head around.
Nothing.
Just darkness.
"…My imagination again…"
He muttered.
Then—
He looked back.
And his body locked.
Two eyes.
Right in front of him.
Watching.
The sclera—
Pure white.
Too white.
The pupils—
Black.
Endless.
Blending perfectly with the surrounding void.
They didn't blink.
They didn't move.
They just stared.
At him.
Rey's throat went dry.
"…What the hell…"
Then—
Another pair opened.
And another.
And another.
And another.
One by one—
Dozens.
Hundreds.
The entire sphere became covered in eyes.
All of them stared.
At him.
Unblinking.
Unmoving.
Judging.
Rey tried to move.
His arm didn't respond.
His body didn't respond.
He tried to close his eyes—
They wouldn't shut.
It was as if he had been nailed in place.
Forced to watch.
A thin line appeared across the center of the sphere.
Horizontal.
Splitting it into two.
Rey's breathing stopped.
"…No…"
The line widened.
Slowly.
The sphere opened.
And what lay inside—
Was not darkness.
It was teeth.
Endless rows of jagged, razor-sharp teeth.
Layer upon layer.
Stretching deep into an infinite throat.
A mouth.
A massive, living mouth.
Rey's mind went blank.
"…No."
The pull intensified.
His body moved forward.
Against his will.
"Wait—"
His voice trembled.
"Wait, no—"
He tried to raise his hands.
They didn't move.
"LET ME GO—"
Too late.
The mouth closed.
He was inside.
Darkness swallowed everything.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
Pain.
A sharp slice tore through his side.
Rey's body jerked.
"AAAH—!"
Another cut.
Then another.
Then dozens.
Blades.
Everywhere.
Invisible.
Relentless.
Tearing through his flesh.
Ripping him apart.
Piece by piece.
"I—"
Another cut silenced him.
His body was shredded.
Destroyed.
Reduced to fragments.
But his consciousness remained.
He could still see.
Still feel.
Still exist.
Trapped in the void of being devoured.
Then—
Even the pain faded.
His vision dimmed.
Darkness closed in again.
…Finally…
Peace…
But—
A sharp impact struck his face.
CRACK.
"—!"
Rey's consciousness snapped violently.
Light flooded his vision.
His eyes shot open.
Reality returned in an instant.
A figure stood in front of him.
Blurry.
Familiar.
"You—"