Rain fell silently on the ground.
Thunder roared across the sky as the lightning strike nearby ground.
A man crawled desperately as lightning struck nearby. He screamed in agony— his voice break in fear.
"Please… someone save me from this maniac…!"
Then a sudden—
Silence.
A clean slash cut through his neck ripping it in half part.
His head fell down and rolled forward.
His body collapsed lifelessly nothing left inside.
His screams ended as the voice interrupt then blood poured endlessly from his neck.
A voice echoed—cold, silent… almost empty deadly.
"Congratulations… it's my 27th kill."
He gasped for air his breathing was heavy.
His clothes were covered in blood.
His hands were straight holding something tightly.
A dagger rested in his grip firm.
"I hate criminals…"
He paused his gaze lingered around the ground.
"…but I never realized… I've become one too."
He sat down on the corpse the body trembles a bit before dying off.
"After all… this dude deserved it."
He licked his palm, tasting the blood like a physopath.
"My skin… is burning from fever…"
He sighed his breath was warm and heavy.
"…but at last, I gave him what he deserved."
The boy stood up his steps were heavy, his voice clear—yet cold and deadly.
"I sent him to the judgment of God… and I wish he rots in hell."
His grip tightened against the dagger.
"For raping… and murdering a young girl."
Thunder roared again across the sky lighted everything.
"Let's go…"
He stepped forward as the rain slowly soaked his clothes a blood droplet fell from his hair.
His eyes was hazel yet very calm and almost dead his face was cold too matured but very young and there's blood hidden behind his black hairs.
A voice appeared behind his back cold ruthless firm.
"You killed him, right?"
The tone sounded… interested.
The boy turned around, his voice cold yet alert.
"Yeah… why?"
His hand slipped into his pocket holding something tightly.
"I killed him. He was my 27th."
A pause then both gaze met each other.
"Do you want to become the 28th?"
The man shook his head then muttered coldly.
"No."
He smirked his eyes were searching his gaze.
"But I like your ego… you're something that was meant to rule—yet you kill relentlessly like a tyrant."
The boy looked down and spoke calmly yet hint of alertness in his voice.
"I don't kill boys."
A pause his hands shaked a bit.
"I kill those who sin badly."
His voice remained steady but interruped by a cough.
"Not women… not children."
His eyes darkened glared at the man.
"I only kill those who take lives."
Another pause he press his hand against his chest.
"I am neither a ruler… nor a tyrant."
He gasped slightly his eyes went dizzy.
"…This is trouble."
The man observed him Calmly.
"You look sick."
There was a hint of worry—but it felt fake.
"I'm fine," the boy replied coldly. "You shouldn't show the fake concern."
The man chuckled his eyes were clearly amused.
"Oh… you caught that."
He straightened his posture crack his knuckles.
"Why don't you kill women or girls?"
"Simple."
His voice turned colder eyes darkened.
"…I have sisters at home."
The man placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it puff the smoke.
"Your name, boy?"
The boy stood silently for a moment then raised his head.
Then—
"Ashura…"
A pause rain fell on ground tapping.
"…Ashura Rivaan."
Thunder roared again.
The man cracked his knuckles and yawned.
"I don't know why… but you look very confused right now."
Ashura spoke in a calm, cold tone.
"Why don't you fear? You can be killed at any time."
The man smirked—darkly.
"Come on… you don't know what I have."
Ashura glanced at him, confused.
"Oh?"
His hand moved to his gun.
The man spoke again.
"What's your age, boy?"
"…Sixteen."
The man raised an eyebrow.
Rain fell slowly. The moment turned silent.
"That's incredible."
He clapped.
Ashura drew his gun and fired.
"Now… your end."
The man smirked.
"Really?"
As the bullet flew toward him—
It was deflected.
By bats.
Ashura stared, confused.
"…How?"
He stood there, stunned.
A voice echoed—dark, mocking.
"For now, Ashura… you've lost."
A bullet shot into his chest.
"Aghhh—!"
His eyes began losing consciousness.
He fell to the ground.
Coughing blood.
"…Who… is that man…?"
His fist clenched weakly.
The last thing he saw before blacking out—
Was the man's face.
"Goodnight."
Another bullet shot.
Darkness.
Chapter 1 Ended