Several weeks had passed...
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Thunderous explosions shook the air like lightning splitting the heavens. Dozens of giant eagle-shaped monsters—ferocious creatures with wingspans as wide as ancient trees—shrieked in heart-wrenching terror. Their cries echoed among the mountain peaks as their massive bodies scattered in all directions, desperately trying to flee from an unimaginable figure.
Bone-chilling screams of agony resonated through the thin mountain air. These predators, once fierce and ruthless, now could only remain helplessly silent, their sharp eyes filled with fear as they gazed upon the 'human' figure standing with complete indifference before them.
A cruel irony—initially, they had mistaken the being before them for easy prey, a weak human lost in dangerous territory. But reality had twisted fate: they were the ones who had become prey!
The tall, majestic figure stood calmly amidst the destruction. A flowing white robe covering his body swayed gently in the mountain breeze, while a mysterious hood concealed part of his face. Most striking were his arms, colored dark brown and adorned with gleaming golden patterns like living ancient carvings, radiating an aura of undeniable power.
Yet of all that was terrifying, it was his golden eyes that made the giant monsters tremble to their very bones. That cold, profound gaze seemed capable of seeing into their souls, watching with a calmness more horrifying than rage itself.
"I will not repeat this for a third time," his voice flowed cold as bone-piercing winter wind. Every word carried undeniable authority. "Tell me..." A deadly pause. "Where lies your queen's palace."
The giant eagle monsters let out weak growls, their wild instincts rebelling against submission. But when they saw the entire expanse of ground around them trembling as if alive—massive floating stones, golden cracks spreading like spider webs, and most terrifyingly, the long golden-brown spear gleaming with a murderous aura in the figure's hand—they finally surrendered.
With shattered pride and lives threatened, the monsters finally revealed their hiding place through their primitive language of growls and shrieks.
Strangely, the figure seemed to understand completely. "Very well, I express my sincere gratitude for this information." His tone softened slightly, though still filled with authority. "Accept this as my apology for the rough treatment earlier."
The figure raised his right hand, and from his palm emerged a mesmerizing orb of light—a blend of pure gold and warm brown that shone with almost blinding purity. The light swirled gently before he cast it toward the wounded monsters.
A miracle occurred in the blink of an eye.
Instantly, all wounds and cuts on the monsters' bodies closed perfectly, leaving not a trace behind. But even more astounding—they could all feel the power flowing through their bodies increase dramatically to an entirely different level! An instant evolution that left them speechless with shock.
The hatred and vengeance burning in their chests suddenly vanished completely, replaced by genuine gratitude. They bowed their heads respectfully to the mysterious figure before flying away with their newfound abilities.
Not far from the chaotic arena, a petite girl with gleaming golden hair and ocean-deep blue eyes stood stunned, wearing a similar white robe. She witnessed the entire event with an expression of unbridled amazement and awe.
Unconsciously, a whisper of admiration escaped her small lips: "Incredible..."
***
Several days passed like a vivid dream. Silvana, the petite six-year-old girl, had begun a life-changing journey alongside the figure who had saved her life from death's grasp—Morax, known as the God of Contract.
Initially, the little girl's heart was filled with worry and anticipation. She thought this journey would be an exhausting trial filled with dangerous challenges. She had even prepared herself mentally to face any obstacles that might arise, determined not to become a burden to her savior.
But reality left her astounded—her expectations were completely off the mark.
Challenges? There was hardly anything that could be called a real threat to either of them.
Whenever hordes of savage Magical Beasts or bandit groups dared to block their path, all such problems would be resolved by Morax with a single elegant movement that didn't even require significant effort. Under the God of Contract's attacks, not a single creature could offer meaningful resistance!
However, the sight that truly made Silvana's jaw drop was when she witnessed Morax casually dropping meteors from the sky!
Good heavens! Silvana could only widen her beautiful blue eyes when she saw the massive celestial object plummeting at terrifying speed, creating enormous craters and earth-shaking tremors!
Even among the famously powerful elite forces of the Heavenly Sky Kingdom, only a handful of highest-level mages could perform magic on such a scale, and even then it required lengthy ritual preparations and assistance from dozens of other mages—not like what Morax did, which looked as easy as waving his hand!
What made Silvana even more astounded was... what madman would drop meteors just to fight a group of common bandits?! It was like using a dragon sword to cut vegetables!
Her journey with Morax truly provided entirely new perspectives and experiences for a girl who had once been confined within luxurious palace walls.
Although it hadn't even been a full month, it felt like she had lived through epic adventures lasting years. Each day brought new surprises, each location they visited held its own wonders.
This experience... made her soul feel more alive and passionate compared to her monotonous and confined life in the royal palace. She truly enjoyed every second of this life-changing adventure.
Moreover... if people assumed that Morax was a perfect being thanks to his tremendous power that could move mountains and summon stars, they would be shocked to learn the actual truth!
Initially, Silvana had thought the same. In her naive imagination, she considered Morax a 'perfect' being without weaknesses due to his tremendous power and profound wisdom.
But that assumption... was dead wrong.
Morax's fatal weakness that nearly made Silvana faint was... he always forgot to pay!
Not a metaphor or figure of speech—Morax literally, actually had a chronic habit of forgetting the concept of payment!
This shocking revelation began when they stopped at a luxurious restaurant in a trading city. They ordered delicious dishes in very large portions, enjoyed the finest food available, and when it came time to pay... what happened?
Exactly right. Morax rose from his chair, walked calmly and dignifiedly out of the restaurant without pulling out a single coin, as if the concept of payment were foreign to him.
At that moment, not only Silvana was shocked—even the restaurant waiters, cashier, and all other patrons were stunned by this unusual behavior.
It was no wonder that Morax's attitude of leaving without paying was considered criminal. He was forcibly brought back by the restaurant's security staff, and when firmly asked about his reasoning...
After thinking for a moment with a serious expression, Morax answered: "... I forgot."
That brief answer left the restaurant owner, security staff, and everyone who heard it speechless with mouths agape. They never expected the reason behind the 'crime' to be so... nonsensical.
Fortunately, before the situation escalated into a bigger problem, Silvana quickly pulled out all the Magical Beast cores that had been killed by Morax during their journey.
The girl had initially only collected those shiny objects out of curiosity, thinking they might be useful someday, but never imagined her casual collection would save them from an embarrassing situation!
Silvana thought that incident was just a small, understandable mistake in daily life. She even found it amusing and thought it natural for a being as powerful as Morax to make such trivial errors occasionally.
But how wrong she was to think that way...
Not just once, but repeatedly—almost everywhere they visited—Morax would repeat the same 'crime' with the same serious expression!
No, seriously! What god could forget such a fundamental concept as money?! Even five-year-old children understand that money is needed to buy food and goods!
This made Silvana begin to wonder: do gods truly think differently from ordinary humans? Are they so powerful and mighty that they consider money an irrelevant concept in their lives?!
Morax's image as a calm, wise, and perfect god began to crack and shatter piece by piece in Silvana's mind...
However, when asked whether the girl began to hate or lose respect for Morax because of his endearing weakness... the answer was no, absolutely not.
On the contrary, she actually liked this human side because Morax's weakness made the figure who once seemed so high and unreachable feel closer and more familiar. She could feel warmth and intimacy that had never existed before.
Even so, this also meant Silvana had to take full responsibility for their financial situation. After all, she didn't want to be arrested and executed just because her protective god forgot to pay for food—how embarrassing and ridiculous such a reason for death would be!
It wouldn't matter if she had to die for being accused as a kingdom traitor or murderer, but dying for not paying a restaurant bill... even Silvana would cry in the afterlife for such an absurd reason.
Therefore, whenever they followed Magical Beast hunts—which Morax always won easily—Silvana would diligently collect cores from the slain monsters to trade with traveling merchants or independent Hunters they met on their journey.
Indeed, the price was only half the official market value at the Hunter Association, but that wasn't a big problem considering the quality of cores from Magical Beasts killed by Morax was truly extraordinary. Even half the price of one high-quality core was enough to let a middle-class family live comfortably for several years.
Silvana's current condition could be called Morax's personal 'walking bank,' and the little girl had to always stay by the god's side wherever they went...
When asked whether the role of the god's personal treasurer was burdensome or troublesome... once again, the answer was no.
Her decision to sign a contract with Morax was the best decision she had ever made in her life, something she would never regret even if she had to repeat that choice a thousand times.
She was very grateful and happy that fate brought them together. Therefore, she was strongly determined to work as hard as possible not to become a burden to the god who had saved her life...
Fortunately, based on the contract they had agreed upon, Morax was also committed to training and developing her abilities...
***
They were now heading to a fairly large city that supposedly had a Hunter Association branch with complete facilities and a good reputation.
When entering the magnificent city gates, Silvana's eyes immediately sparkled with curiosity. The scene before her was very different from the small towns they had visited before—this place was far more advanced and modern, filled with sophisticated technological equipment that amazed her.
Tall buildings soared with futuristic architecture, wide clean streets, vehicles moving with magical technology, and what caught her attention most were the digital information boards displaying various announcements and advertisements in bright colors.
"Follow me," Morax said in his usual calm tone, without looking back.
"Y-yes, but Lord Morax seems already familiar with this place. Have you visited this city before?" Silvana asked curiously while stepping to follow Morax's long strides.
There was a few seconds' pause before the white-robed man answered, as if recalling old memories. "... Yes, I've come here several times in the past."
"Lord Morax truly has had a very rich and long life experience. This makes me a bit envious..." Silvana murmured with a tone of admiration mixed with envy.
"No need to feel envious," Morax glanced at her briefly with a gentle gaze. "A life that's too long is actually filled with countless problems. Besides..." His golden eyes seemed to gaze far into a dark past. "... Sometimes living too long isn't a good thing."
"..." Silvana fell silent and somehow felt guilty for touching on a topic that apparently held painful memories for Morax. It seemed she had inadvertently reminded him of something unpleasant...
Fortunately, Morax wasn't too bothered and spoke in his usual indifferent tone. "We've arrived. Let's go in."
"Y-yes!"
They both entered the magnificent five-story building with a gleaming 'Hunter Association' sign above it. The building looked very modern with glass walls reflecting sunlight and architecture combining technology with art.
As soon as they stepped inside, their ears were immediately greeted by characteristic commotion—the busy atmosphere of a large office that never sleeps. Dozens of beautiful receptionists spoke through magical communication devices in various dialects and languages, several Hunters could be seen proudly showing off their achievements as Rank D or C Hunters to others while laughing loudly.
In the room's corners, representatives from various large and small guilds in colorful uniforms were actively trying to recruit new members by offering various attractive benefits. There was also a group of nervous-looking people queuing for Talent awakening tests, hoping to have special abilities that would change their lives into Hunters...
Silvana, witnessing all this hustle and bustle, couldn't hide her great curiosity. In her previous life as an isolated royal princess, she had often heard that the Hunter Association was the most prestigious and influential organization in the world. Now she could finally see for herself how this legendary organization operated.
A big question arose in her mind: just how strong were these people called Hunters? Was there anyone among them who could match Lord Morax's power?
But after thinking more deeply, she realized how naive that question was. It seemed very unrealistic to compare these ordinary Hunters with Morax, who could easily drop meteors from the sky.
Yes, it seemed rather unfair and even insulting to compare Lord Morax with these people. After all, Morax was a true god, while these people... were just ordinary humans with clearly visible limitations.
There was no point in comparing heaven with earth.
Morax's appearance with his unique look—flowing white robe, mysterious hood, and strong authoritative aura—attracted some attention from other visitors. Added to that, he was accompanied by a small girl like Silvana, making their combination quite conspicuous from any angle.
However, they soon turned their attention back to their respective affairs. The Hunter Association indeed wasn't lacking in people with eccentric and unique appearances. Morax and Silvana's appearance was still within reasonable limits compared to some Hunters with strange costumes wandering around there...
Silvana felt relieved when people's attention decreased, though it didn't reduce her level of vigilance. The traumatic experience from her first life as a princess who was always watched and judged made her very careful when in crowded public places.
"What are we here for, Lord Morax?" Silvana asked in an almost whispered tone, trying not to attract attention.
"There are several important things I need to ask them about. As for you..." Morax looked at her briefly. "Do whatever you want to gain experience, but remember this well. Don't go too far from here."
Silvana nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, I understand!"
She was already used to Morax's habit of often seeking information about various things. That's what the god had been doing since their journey began...
All this time, Morax had been continuously gathering information about various rare items and artifacts. Silvana had never heard the names of those items before, but some of them she remembered from ancient books in the palace library... Those items were legends that were almost impossible to find, with their very existence doubted by many experts.
She didn't know exactly what Morax's purpose was in seeking information about those legendary artifacts, but she was determined to help as much as possible if needed...
Silvana's eyes explored the entire large room. There was a counter specifically serving professional Hunters, an area selling various items and equipment, but what she was looking for was... a place that handled exchanging Magical Beast cores for currency.
After walking around for a while, she found the right counter and approached it with hesitant steps.
"Excuse me, I have some cores from Magical Beasts that I'd like to exchange. Can I make a transaction here?" Silvana asked politely to the young brown-haired receptionist.
The receptionist was a bit surprised to see the small girl in a white robe before her. She seemed hesitant for a moment—perhaps questioning whether a child this small really had Magical Beast cores—but still smiled professionally and said kindly, "Of course, please. Which cores would you like to exchange?"
Silvana didn't want to attract too much attention or create a commotion. So carefully, she only took out a few Magical Beast cores that weren't too conspicuous or rare.
Cores from Rank C and B Magical Beast hunts... She took out about five cores with fairly good quality but not too conspicuous.
However, the receptionist's expression became somewhat astonished. Although this city had a fairly large Hunter Association, the quality of local Hunters wasn't that high. At most, there might be only a few Rank A Hunters, and even then their numbers could be counted on one hand.
So it was very rare for anyone to successfully hunt Rank C Magical Beasts, let alone Rank B ones that required experienced Hunter teams...
"Sorry to ask, but did you come here alone?" the receptionist asked cautiously.
Silvana furrowed her small brow, then pointed toward Morax who was talking with another receptionist. "No, I'm with him..."
The receptionist followed the direction Silvana pointed and stared at Morax's figure with increasingly widening eyes. "Oh, are you both from outside this city?"
"Yes, that's right..."
"No wonder," the receptionist nodded with an understanding expression. "If from outside the city, then it makes sense. Many strong Hunters often transit through our city."
This also quite surprised the receptionist because she could guess that the white-robed man was most likely a Rank A or even A+ Hunter. After all, only Hunters of that caliber could hunt Rank B Magical Beasts alone without team assistance.
"Here's your payment, but I suggest being careful. There are many people with bad intentions around here, don't show this much money to just anyone," the receptionist handed over a silver payment card with a fairly large credit amount displayed on its small screen.
"Alright, I understand and thank you for the advice," Silvana nodded politely while carefully storing the card, then began to move away as she didn't want to attract further attention.
While walking away from the counter, her gaze suddenly stopped at a large screen displaying a bounty price list for various criminals being hunted.
Right... that was a digital bulletin board showing photos of people targeted by Bounty Hunters, complete with rewards offered for each head. Hunters could choose their targets by touching photos on the screen.
However, Silvana's expression turned deathly pale when she saw one of the photos on that screen...
Among all the bounty targets, her own photo was clearly displayed with a number that made Silvana's knees nearly buckle: 1 billion credits.
Silvana's body began to tremble and she frantically pulled her hood deeper, hoping no one would recognize her face. Cold sweat ran down her back.
She felt the Heavenly Sky Kingdom family had truly lost their minds... How could they put such a high bounty on their own princess?! One billion credits was enough to buy a small city!
"What's wrong, little girl? You look unwell?"
"?!!"
A large hand suddenly tapped her small shoulder from behind. Silvana immediately panicked and nearly jumped in fear, her body freezing as if unable to move, especially when she saw that the person who tapped her shoulder was a tough-looking Bounty Hunter with various weapons hanging from his body.
The Bounty Hunter raised his thick eyebrows seeing the little girl's excessive reaction. "Little girl, are you alright? Where is your family—"
"She's with me."
A familiar calm and authoritative voice interrupted. Silvana felt tremendous relief when she saw Morax's figure already standing not far from them. She hurriedly ran over and hid behind the god's tall body, tightly gripping the edge of his white robe.
"... She's quite shy and easily startled. Please don't mind it," Morax said in a flat tone.
The Bounty Hunter scratched his bald head and spoke in a more relaxed tone. "Well, it's not a problem. The important thing is she's okay and not separated. My advice as a fellow hunter, next time don't let a girl that small be alone in a place like this. The Hunter Association isn't a safe place for children."
"I'll remember your advice." Morax answered briefly but politely.
That Bounty Hunter no longer cared about their affairs. He nodded briefly then walked away while muttering about his next mission, leaving Morax and Silvana still standing in the corner of the room.
"He's gone. No need to be afraid anymore." Morax said indifferently.
"S-sorry for troubling you, Lord Morax. I-I didn't mean to..." Silvana whispered with a trembling voice, still not daring to lift her head.
Silvana's small grip on Morax's white robe tightened until her knuckles turned white. The little girl seemed to be trying hard to stay calm and appear independent, but her efforts were in vain as her body was still deathly pale and trembling like a leaf in strong wind. Fear was still clearly radiating from all her movements.
Suddenly, the small hand cold from fear was gently grasped by a larger brown hand with beautiful golden patterns. Warmth from that touch immediately spread throughout Silvana's trembling body.
"Calm down. As long as I'm still here, no one dares to disturb you."
That statement full of certainty managed to calm Silvana little by little. However, the girl still seemed unwilling to release her grip on Morax's robe, as if the man was the only anchor preventing her from drowning in an ocean of fear.
A big question mark seemed to appear above Morax's head when he realized Silvana's grip wasn't loosening despite the safe atmosphere.
Silvana felt that confused gaze and her face immediately turned bright red. Her head bowed even deeper while speaking shyly, "S-sorry, could I keep holding your hand a bit longer, Lord Morax? I feel much safer this way..." Her voice grew smaller until it sounded almost like a soft whisper nearly swallowed by the air.
Morax only made a small 'oh' sound while nodding with his still calm face. "Of course. No problem."
Silvana felt relieved hearing such an understanding response. Behind her robe's hood, a small warm smile began to bloom on her blushing face. However, that small happiness didn't last long because Morax suddenly straightened up and stared sharply toward the entrance.
The atmosphere inside the Hunter Association building suddenly became eerily quiet. Everyone—whether experienced Hunters or usually busy receptionists—they all seemed to fall silent and exchange anxious glances. Even the sounds of footsteps and small whispers disappeared, replaced by uncomfortable silence.
The reason behind this sudden silence soon became clear when a young man with messy brown hair and dark black eyes walked in through the main door while casually dragging the corpse of a Magical Beast—a giant bear whose body was covered in deep wounds. A trail of blood followed his steps on the clean marble floor.
Silvana blinked in confusion while observing everyone's reactions around her. She found them all looking stunned, with some appearing frightened and stepping back. A tense atmosphere immediately enveloped the entire room.
'What? What's so special about that person?' she wondered curiously.
Silvana observed the young man carefully, trying to figure out what made him so feared. However, she found nothing too remarkable about his appearance, except the fact that his aura emanated an impression of being 'quite strong.' Even so, compared to the majesty and power emanated by Morax, that young man was still far behind.
Only somehow, there was something that bothered Silvana's heart. A strange feeling she couldn't explain.
The young man looked rather pitiful with tattered clothes and a tired face, yet people around him clearly didn't dare underestimate him. Even Hunters with muscular builds and fierce faces seemed to avoid the path he walked.
Small whispers began to be heard when the young man brought the still-dripping Magical Beast corpse to the receptionist's desk:
"He's doing it again? I'm starting to wonder why someone like that is still roaming free in our city."
"They say he's looking for very strong creatures, but the strongest creatures around here are at most Rank B, right? Is he still not satisfied?"
"That's just an excuse to cover his real intentions. He definitely wants to steal all the profitable hunts in this city. Just look at that person's behavior—how dare he exchange hunt results at the Hunter Association when his status is just an Irregular Hunter..."
Irregular Hunter. Silvana had heard that term before. They were Hunters who worked actively but were never officially registered in the system database. They deliberately hid much of their personal information, so they were often avoided and suspected by other Hunters.
Everyone in this city seemed to look down on and dislike that young man's presence, but at the same time... they also appeared very afraid and didn't dare confront him directly.
The clear evidence was that although the young man had the questionable status of an Irregular Hunter, even the receptionist who seemed firm in applying rules didn't dare refuse the corpse he brought. Instead, the woman looked nervous and broke into cold sweat while serving him.
Was he a bad person? Silvana wondered. Impossible. If that person was truly evil, he would have been arrested or expelled from this city. That meant he was still within acceptable tolerance... Then why was everyone so afraid of him?
While still lost in those confusing thoughts, Silvana's expression suddenly changed because she realized that the Irregular Hunter was starting to walk toward where they stood with steady and purposeful steps.
Silvana immediately felt nervous and hid even more tightly behind Morax's back. Her heart beat fast with anxiety.
However, surprisingly, the Irregular Hunter suddenly stopped in the middle of his path as if receiving a dangerous warning from his instincts. His already grim expression became even darker and more serious. His sharp eyes stared intently at Silvana first, then shifted to Morax with a gaze full of wariness and... respect?
"You..." The Irregular Hunter began speaking in a very serious tone, but carefully choosing every word he would say. He seemed to be weighing the risks of each sentence. "Someone who possesses power at your level... why are you in a small city like this?"
"There's something important I must settle here," Morax answered in a calm tone that carried undeniable authority.
"I see..." The Irregular Hunter nodded slowly with an expression showing understanding. "That's all I wanted to ask. And regarding the girl with you..." He paused briefly while glancing at Silvana with a gaze that was hard to interpret, then seemed to give up on something. "I want to warn you that this girl possesses certain dangerous powers that she might not be aware of yet. Take good care of her."
Morax's gaze narrowed sharply, showing he didn't take that warning lightly. However, he still nodded calmly. "Yes. I will do so."
The Irregular Hunter felt satisfied with that brief conversation and no longer cared. He turned around and walked away with the same steady steps, leaving Morax and Silvana alone in the still tense atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Silvana, who had heard the entire conversation, hesitantly began to dare to ask. "That person... Do you know him, Lord Morax?"
"Not really acquainted. Just know who he is." Morax answered in his usual indifferent tone. "Let's leave here. We need to find a safe and comfortable place to spend the night."
"Alright..." Silvana nodded obediently, though her curiosity about the mysterious Irregular Hunter wasn't fully satisfied.
***
When night had fallen deep and Silvana slept peacefully in their simple bed, Morax—or more precisely, Lux using the Morax template—stood by the window, lost in deep thought about the unexpected encounter earlier.
'What a surprise... I never expected to meet a Son of Destiny who once had a relationship with Mayuri appearing in a place like this.'
Indeed, the Irregular Hunter who had made the entire Hunter Association of this small city tremble with fear was no ordinary person. He was Shou—a Son of Destiny who once had a very deep relationship with Takamiya Mayuri. An individual possessing a cheat in the form of a very rare and powerful system called the Divine Contract System.
What was even more intriguing was that, unlike his previous appearance which seemed desperate and broken when separated from Takamiya Mayuri, the young man's demeanor had undergone significant changes this time. He appeared more mentally stable and capable of clear thinking, though there was an aura of darkness surrounding him.
Lux (Morax) felt somewhat curious about this development. Considering that he was a Son of Destiny with extraordinarily high luck, perhaps Shou had already succeeded in contracting with a very powerful creature through his Divine Contract System?
Most likely, thanks to his system, Shou also knew several important things about the 'secrets' hidden within Silvana. From his reaction earlier, it must be a power that was tremendously dangerous, enough to make a Son of Destiny like him interested in approaching that petite girl.
However, because Lux (Morax) was present and standing by Silvana's side, the young man ultimately abandoned his intentions and chose not to seek unnecessary trouble.
'A very interesting sight... A Son of Destiny wanting to contract with another Son of Destiny.'
Lux (Morax) wondered to himself. If two Sons of Destiny gathered together for a long time, would their luck reinforce each other and become more formidable, or would it be the opposite—would their luck and destinies clash against each other, creating uncontrollable chaos?
This thought made Lux (Morax) want to conduct a small experiment to test this theory, but it was still too early and risky at the moment. He would save that idea for the future.
Rather than dwelling on that, he was more interested in the reason for Shou's arrival in this remote small town. From the information he had gathered earlier, the young man was searching for very powerful creatures to contract with. Judging from how he directly approached Silvana so suddenly, he seemed very rushed in his efforts to increase his power.
As for the reason behind this urgency... it wasn't too difficult for someone like Lux to guess.
'He must intend to save Takamiya Mayuri.'
Thinking about this, Lux (Morax) felt that Shou's efforts would most likely end in futility. Currently, Takamiya Mayuri was in the Holy Spirit Empire—the strongest empire possessed by humanity in this world. Even if Shou was a Son of Destiny with extraordinary luck, it would be very difficult for him to penetrate the layered defenses of the Holy Spirit Empire.
After all, that place had many deadly SS-Rank Hunters. Not to mention the fact that the empire had two or even three Transcendent-level creatures as their main protectors. Most remarkably, they even had five High Spirits who were literally equivalent to Takamiya Mayuri—where the girl herself was a Pure Spirit with very pure power.
In his other identity as the 'Frost Assassin,' if not for the power of his Divine Ice Emperor Talent and Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, Lux had nearly died multiple times when facing the power of the Holy Spirit Empire. And that was because he was fortunate not to be too rampant in his assassination activities within that empire's territory.
To be able to attack and break through the Holy Spirit Empire frontally, one would need at least Unknown Rank power like True Cthulhu, or an entity with power that was truly beyond common sense like the Template 'Kiana Kaslana - Herrscher of the Void Version'...
But setting aside all those strategic analyses, there was one thing that made Lux curious.
'I want to know what creature is currently his main contract partner.'
To be able to hunt very powerful creatures as he was doing, Shou certainly needed power from another creature that had already become his main source of strength through the contract system.
Borrowing power from other creatures by making mutual contracts, but as compensation, he had to fulfill the requests or desires of the creatures he contracted... That was the essence of the Divine Contract System that Shou possessed.
'The Morax template I'm currently using isn't particularly skilled at sensing or analyzing the power of other creatures from a distance, so I can't determine who and how powerful the creature he has currently contracted is.'
Lux (Morax) thought for a moment while analyzing various possibilities. Shou was a Son of Destiny who had previously succeeded in contracting with Takamiya Mayuri, who possessed SS-Rank level power. So for his next contract, it was very possible he had already obtained a creature with SSS-Rank power or even Transcendent level.
As for creatures with Unknown Rank... Lux didn't even seriously consider that possibility.
Creatures with Unknown Rank were entities that could already influence the destiny of death itself. Even a Son of Destiny couldn't easily influence or contract creatures of that level through luck alone. Something far greater and more dangerous would be required.
And to know for certain the type and power level of the contract creature that Shou possessed, Lux himself would have to take action and move directly.
He paused for a moment, then slowly scrolled through the array of template cards that began appearing before him like shimmering holograms. Each template card emitted various unique lights and colors, reflecting the personality, power, and special characteristics of each template character.
Of course, the most striking and attention-grabbing colors were the pure gold and shimmering rainbow cards—indicating extraordinarily high levels of power and rarity.
Lux's (Morax) sharp gaze finally stopped on one bright gold template card that emanated a dark, evil, yet very alluring aura. The aura emanated by that card was so strong it made the surrounding air feel heavy and oppressive.
Considering the characteristics and special abilities possessed by this template character, this card was very suitable and effective for dealing with Shou, who most likely had a very powerful monster or creature as his contract partner.
However, before switching templates, there was one important thing he had to do first.
Lux (Morax) glanced toward the bed where Silvana was still sleeping peacefully. The girl's innocent face looked serene in her sleep, unaware of the various complex plans and calculations running through his mind.
Slowly, he approached and placed both palms on Silvana's warm forehead. Gentle golden energy began flowing from his hands as he murmured in a voice barely audible.
"<
This was one of Morax's original techniques—a technique that allowed the user to give beautiful, peaceful, and pleasant dreams to others. This technique not only made the target sleep more soundly but also protected them from nightmares and mental disturbances during sleep.
Yes, Lux (Morax) deliberately gave Silvana very beautiful and calming dreams. The reason was very clear—it would be troublesome and dangerous if the girl suddenly woke up when he wasn't by her side, especially alone in a place that was still unfamiliar.
Of course, this action was also closely related to the sacred contract he made as a God of Contract. Pathetic indeed, but this was the greatest weakness of the Morax Template—every contract made had to be observed and fulfilled very seriously, regardless of how small or trivial the contract was. Lux couldn't even refuse or ignore it even if he wanted to.
As if to prove how seriously he took every contract made, Lux (Morax) even unconsciously began manifesting one of the special legendary items belonging to the true Geo Archon.
"Memory of Dusk."
Warm and soothing golden light began gently illuminating the entire room. In Lux's (Morax) hand, a very unique cube-shaped artifact slowly appeared—made from pure gold mixed with intricate glittering patterns, giving an impression both luxurious and mysterious.
Memory of Dusk... Indeed, this was only a copy or replica of the original and more powerful Memory of Dusk, but at least this artifact would provide very strong protection to Silvana if unwanted or dangerous things occurred. With this protection, except for attacks equivalent to nuclear bombs or power of that level, Silvana would not suffer any wounds or injuries whatsoever.
"Now... Let's begin."
Lux (Morax) stood upright with full confidence, and one of the gold template cards emanating a dark aura appeared and floated in his hand. The card trembled slightly as if impatient to be used.
[Ding! Does Host want to install this Template Character?]
The mechanical voice of the system sounded in his head with a neutral yet anticipatory tone.
"Install."
[Ding! Template installation initiated... Please prepare for transformation...]
Intense golden light began enveloping Lux's entire body, marking the beginning of the template switching process...
***
The silent night suddenly felt oppressive. In a dim corner of the city, a young man with a face cold as winter ice sat alone. His dull brown hair and dark black eyes reflected the hidden darkness of his soul. His pale hands gripped a glass of cold water, trying to quench a thirst that never seemed to fade—not just physical thirst, but a thirst for power that had haunted his life.
Shou appeared like an ordinary young man drowning in gloom, but who would have thought that beneath his shabby appearance lay hidden power capable of shaking kingdoms? His brow furrowed slightly when he heard a voice that had disturbed him far too often.
"[Foolish human! Why did you let that little girl get away like that?! I've told you repeatedly, she could restore my lost power!]"
The woman's voice, full of anger and arrogance, echoed in his head. Her cold tone implied an ingrained superiority, as if this world belonged to her alone.
Shou, already familiar with the bad temper of the creature within him, only stared at the transparent figure before him with an annoyed look. His lips formed a cynical smirk as he answered with an indifferent tone that cut deep, "If you want to die faster, don't drag me along with you."
"[How dare you say that to me! Don't forget who gave you the power to become as strong as you are now!]" The creature snapped with a voice trembling from burning anger and hatred.
"But without me, you would have been a corpse long ago. So, shut your mouth," Shou replied coldly, as if cutting arteries with his words.
"[You bastard! Back then you were just lucky! If not for my dying condition, what fool would want to sign a life-and-death contract with a weak and pathetic human like you?!]"
Though the creature's voice was full of anger, Shou knew she wasn't entirely wrong. His gaze became colder, but in his heart, he acknowledged that truth. He had indeed only relied on blind luck when he succeeded in contracting with the creature before him.
The figure now standing transparently before him was a woman of extraordinary beauty. Her perfect body was wrapped in a thin transparent gown that was more provocative than concealing. Her diamond hair that sparkled like pure crystal flowed long, adorned with a magnificent crown bearing nine colorful crystals, each emanating different elemental energies.
Her intoxicating beauty could awaken the desire of any man with a single glance, but Shou would never be deceived. He knew very well the true form of this alluring creature—one of the most feared Transcendent entities: Nine Elemental Hydra.
And now, Nine Elemental Hydra was the creature he had successfully contracted through that mysterious system.
Ironic indeed. With his very weak power, especially with his first 'contract' shattered to pieces, Shou had absolutely no chance of even touching a Rank B creature, let alone a Transcendent entity of Nine Elemental Hydra's caliber.
So how could he contract her?
The answer was simple: pure luck that was almost impossible to occur.
At that time, Shou was drowning in deep despair. He was so frustrated searching for powerful creatures to contract so he could become stronger and escape his life's downfall. Unfortunately, not a single creature met the requirements to contract with him—a weak human with a pathetic E-Rank Talent.
Until one day, fate led him into a forbidden forest where he found the figure of Nine Elemental Hydra dying, severely wounded from a devastating battle with an unknown enemy.
Shou seized that golden opportunity with all the courage he possessed. He tried to make a Divine Contract with that legendary creature while explaining the extraordinary benefits of contracting with him.
Of course, Nine Elemental Hydra didn't believe that nonsense at all. After all, what fool would believe that an ordinary human could fulfill any request just by contracting with him?
Unfortunately, Nine Elemental Hydra's condition, being on the brink of death, left her with no other choice. Reluctantly and full of unwillingness, she finally made a Divine Contract with Shou.
Since then, Shou and Nine Elemental Hydra became 'comrades in struggle' bound by a life-and-death contract.
Their relationship was initially very bad and full of quarrels. However, over time, Nine Elemental Hydra was forced to acknowledge Shou's extraordinary talent in using her power. Not just anyone could master the power of a Transcendent creature as easily as Shou did.
Only, that positive impression immediately vanished when Shou stubbornly refused to bring the human girl who had the ability to restore Nine Elemental Hydra's power!
At the previous Hunter Association, Nine Elemental Hydra had sensed an extraordinary aura from that small robed girl. She was certain the girl could restore her severe injuries instantly, possibly even dramatically increase her power!
Unfortunately, Shou had no intention of helping, leaving Nine Elemental Hydra to brood with burning anger in her heart.
'[If not for this cursed life-and-death contract, I would have torn that annoying body to shreds!]' Nine Elemental Hydra thought furiously.
Shou, sensing the waves of anger from Nine Elemental Hydra, chose to remain silent. He closed his ears to every cold sentence full of threats from that Transcendent woman.
Honestly, Shou also realized something very 'unique' and interesting about that girl through the Divine Contract System he possessed. However, unlike Nine Elemental Hydra who wanted to devour the girl, Shou actually desired to make a Divine Contract with her.
The Divine Contract System he possessed had reached level 3, meaning he still had two empty slots for new contracts.
The problem was, when he tried to approach the girl, the white-robed man beside her made him feel a bone-chilling terror.
Nine Elemental Hydra didn't sense it because she was still in a severely wounded condition, but Shou could determine the terrifying level of danger from that robed man through his system's evaluation.
A creature with power equivalent to SS+ Rank or even higher. With his current strength and Nine Elemental Hydra's condition at only S+ Rank strength, Shou didn't dare make an enemy far beyond his limits.
That was why, with a heavy heart, Shou was forced to abandon his intention to contract with that mysterious little girl.
But still...
'Actually, it wouldn't be a bad thing if I could contract with that robed man,' Shou thought to himself.
Besides making him much stronger, he would also have a figure with SS+ Rank power as his protector and supporter.
Currently, he desperately needed power. He needed much more and had to become strong as quickly as possible...
"That way, I can save you faster..." Shou murmured softly in a voice barely audible.
The figure of a very beautiful and graceful girl in a white sailor uniform with soft blonde hair and charming pink eyes flashed through his mind. Her calm and peaceful face always succeeded in making his heart feel warm.
The only girl who had become a bright light and hope in the midst of his world's darkness. The only one who made him feel what was called 'loyalty' for the first time in his life.
"[...]" Nine Elemental Hydra beside him raised an eyebrow with an unreadable expression.
During their long journey together, she certainly already knew the identity of the figure Shou meant, and that was also part of the reason why the young man was undertaking this dangerous journey full of death risks.
But honestly, Nine Elemental Hydra felt like laughing mockingly out loud.
Pure Spirit... Nine Elemental Hydra certainly knew something about that rare creature, but if Shou thought he could win the heart of such an entity, she could only mock the young man's foolishness.
A Spirit born from the essence of pure love of six women toward one man—even a fool could know where that love would flow upon its birth.
And Shou would never have a chance to interfere in that matter. His presence in that Pure Spirit's life was merely coincidence.
Moreover, every Pure Spirit's appearance was always very beautiful and stunning, while Shou possessed no beauty or charm whatsoever worthy of accompanying her...
To Nine Elemental Hydra, Shou's attitude reflected the classic saying: 'a toad wanting to eat swan meat'—an impossible and ridiculous dream.
Rather than that, Nine Elemental Hydra was actually more interested in the mysterious figure of 'Frost Assassin' who had succeeded in stealing that Pure Spirit from Shou's hands. In her opinion, she was more suited to the Frost Assassin who seemed dark and dangerous.
When Shou was gazing at the full moon shining brightly in the night sky, suddenly his brow furrowed because he realized he was being watched by someone.
He turned quickly and found that the person watching him didn't even bother to hide their presence at all.
A mysterious figure with jet-black hair wearing a white kitsune mask with charming motifs. He wore a dark blue-gray robe with gray layers and luxurious fur collar, as well as a gray-blue cloak.
Black fingerless gloves wrapped neatly with red-brown leather straps studded with metal spikes, loose black pants comfortable for movement, and red-brown sandals.
His appearance was indeed somewhat suspicious and raised questions, but Shou didn't think about it too deeply. He only intended to walk past that masked figure indifferently until—
"This is truly an unexpected surprise... Meeting you in a place like this." A deep, hoarse voice came from behind the young man's mask.
"..." Shou's steps stopped immediately. He furrowed his brow suspiciously and asked in a piercing cold tone, "Do we know each other?"
"On one hand, yes... but on the other hand..." The masked figure glanced at him indifferently, as if looking at a disgusting insect. "...We are enemies."
"?!!!" Shou's eyes widened in shock when the masked figure before him suddenly launched an extremely fast and devastating punch with terrifying power!
BANG...!!
His punch created an extraordinarily powerful shockwave, causing tremendous destruction to the surrounding area. The ground cracked, trees fell, and the air vibrated violently.
"Oh?" The voice from the masked figure sounded full of interest and slightly surprised. "Quite impressive. You really managed to block my punch directly."
Indeed, instead of choosing to dodge quickly, Shou surprisingly chose to block the punch that could knock out a B-Rank Hunter instantly.
What was interesting was that Shou's hand was enveloped by a layer of shimmering silver diamond that looked very solid and beautiful.
Shou's expression appeared as cold as ice on the highest mountain peak. "Who are you really?"
Indeed, he had once had enmity with several arrogant nobles, but to avoid continuing troublesome problems that threatened his life, he had already killed all those who opposed him down to their roots.
Could it be from the Light Sun Kingdom? Impossible, the possibility was very small. Besides his complicated relationship with the third prince a few months ago, there was no strong reason for the Light Sun Kingdom to oppose him.
Then who exactly was this mysterious person?
As Shou was lost in thought while furrowing his brow, the deep voice of the kitsune-masked young man was heard again with a disturbing tone.
"Very unpleasant and disgusting."
"Hah?" Shou didn't understand his meaning.
"Really very annoying. Your existence in this world... I feel very disgusted and nauseated seeing you."
'What kind of crazy person is this?' The wrinkles on Shou's forehead deepened because he was increasingly confused by the strange person before him who suddenly uttered annoying sentences without clear reason.
However, he didn't have time to think further because the masked young man launched another devastating punch far stronger than before!
BANG!!
That surprising punch was like a tsunami wave that destroyed everything in its path, but Shou didn't panic at all.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes sharply and said in a terrifyingly cold tone.
"So you won't answer my question properly... In that case, I can only force you to talk in a harder way."
"A very funny and ridiculous statement." The masked young man's voice sounded amused and dismissive. "With that half-borrowed power from other creatures, you think you can defeat me?"
"?!!" Shou's eyes widened in total shock. "How could you know—"
His words were cut off when the masked figure shot toward him at high speed that was almost invisible to the eye!
'Damn it!'
Shou's expression became very grim and serious. He extended his hand and one of his eyes changed to a glowing red color like hellfire.
Then tremendous and terrifying flames shot out at high speed!
BOOM!!
The masked figure dodged with elegant, fluid steps, causing a massive explosion behind him like a grenade blast, but Shou didn't stop attacking.
His right eye, which had been red, transformed into gleaming silver, and his body was suddenly enveloped in blinding white lightning!
Shou's figure flickered, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared directly in front of the masked youth!
Then—
BANG! BOOM!
Shou's strike, wrapped in terrifying white lightning, hit the masked youth's body directly.
However, Shou's eyes widened in disbelief as his punch stopped right in front of the youth, as if some incredibly strong invisible shield was blocking it!
"Is that all the power you have?"
Shou's expression changed drastically. He tried to retreat quickly to maintain distance, but the masked youth seemed to have predicted this move, instantly gripping Shou's arm with crushing force!
Without hesitation and without emotion, the masked youth twisted it in an inhuman direction until Shou's hand was severed from his body, spurting horrifying fresh blood in all directions!
A terrible expression of agony formed on Shou's face. The youth wanted to scream in pain, but he held it back forcefully, causing the silver lightning around his body to blaze even more intensely with insane intensity!
"<
CRACK...!!! BOOM!!
Both the masked youth and Shou were blown apart by the devastating white lightning.
Although Shou was the cause of the lightning explosion, he couldn't avoid the fact that he was also severely injured. His body was slightly charred and emitting hot steam, showing serious burn damage.
Shou's right eye, which had been white, then changed color again to a calming ocean blue.
Cooling water enveloped his body and miraculously, all the damage he had suffered vanished completely as if nothing had ever happened.
Only his clothes became extremely tattered and shabby.
However, Shou felt neither happy nor relieved. On the contrary, he became more alert and anxious because he knew for certain that his enemy was still alive and well.
Sure enough... The sound of calm footsteps could be heard walking out from behind the smoke of the white lightning explosion.
If the masked youth had been seriously injured, Shou might not have felt so gloomy. But unfortunately, far from serious wounds, his clothes only emitted a little smoke from the strong electrical pressure earlier.
"Even though the power you're borrowing is still half-hearted and imperfect, it seems you've been able to maximize its use quite well. But I'm more surprised by something else..." The masked youth's voice sounded full of interest. "From what I've heard, you're not the type of person who would do something like sacrificing your own body for victory. You've really changed surprisingly."
Shou took a deep breath to calm himself, then asked in a more cautious tone, "Why did you attack me suddenly? Maybe there's a misunderstanding between us?"
From their brief exchange of attacks, Shou immediately realized that the masked youth possessed truly terrifying power beyond his reasoning. At least, his current self wouldn't be able to win easily—perhaps couldn't win at all.
"A very ridiculous and absurd question. I remember you just said you'd force me to talk? Where's that blind confidence you had before?"
"..." Shou's face became grim and uncomfortable, but he still tried hard to control his emotions. "For my reckless words earlier, I sincerely apologize. However, if we can still avoid a life-threatening battle, I'd rather let myself feel ashamed."
"I see... That's an interesting statement." The masked figure tilted his head curiously. "Then, what if I told you that I know important information you've been desperately wanting to know?"
Shou's body tensed drastically upon hearing this. He tried to appear calm, but his tone still trembled uncontrollably, "...What do you mean? What information do I want to know?"
The masked youth chuckled softly. His voice sounded indifferent, but managed to make Shou even more trembling and nervous, "Still want to pretend? Who do you think could give me detailed information about you?"
"..." Shou's pupils dilated tremendously with deep fear.
The masked youth walked forward calmly and leisurely, then whispered in a soothing yet terrifying tone, "Frost Assassin... I'm sure you'll never forget that name, right? He's the one who told me everything about you, and you know what? I wanted to burst out laughing hearing stories about you from him."
He continued without caring about Shou's increasingly chaotic emotions and feelings, "Threatening a Pure Spirit with your worthless life? Who do you think you are in front of such a special being?"
"...That's enough." Shou's voice began to tremble with suppressed anger.
"But I admit your nerve in using her power in public was quite high and brave. Yes, courage based on pure stupidity. Too bad that Pure Spirit had to be captured because the human she contracted with turned out to be just pathetic societal trash."
"I said stop talking!" Anger began to peak.
"What was that Pure Spirit's name again? Ah, if I remember correctly..." The eyes behind the mask gleamed with terrible malicious intent. "...Takamiya Mayuri? That's her name, isn't it?"
"?!!"
BOOM...!!
Like a trigger causing a devastating explosion, Shou's body immediately released an extremely terrifying and frightening aura. His footing directly caused large, deep cracks in the ground beneath him.
Shou, whose body was enveloped in fierce blazing red flames, roared with uncontrolled anger, "I'LL KILL YOU!"
A terrifying punch full of hatred directly aimed at the masked youth, but that deadly attack was easily blocked by the youth's clenched fist.
"An attack like this will never be able to hurt me—"
His words stopped when he found his palm beginning to feel very hot and burning. He stared at Shou's figure in front of him, whose appearance was slowly changing drastically.
Part of his hair had a blazing red color that glowed, the pupils in both his eyes had turned red like hellfire. Most striking was that on his forehead there was a kind of red crystal ball pulsing with terrifying energy!
"<
BOOM...!!
A devastating red flame explosion directly blasted the masked youth's body until he was thrown far back!
The masked youth's body quickly regained balance as he performed several elegant somersaults. He glanced at his slightly burned shoulder with a surprised expression.
But his thoughts were immediately diverted when giant fireballs the size of trucks shot toward him one by one at terrifying speed!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Those fireballs were like nuclear bombs falling from the sky, directly causing huge craters and burning the entire area into a sea of fire!
WHOOSH!
The masked youth's figure flickered and shot at high speed toward Shou, but suddenly Shou's form changed again surprisingly!
What had been all red now became yellowish-brown like earth and stone!
Without the slightest hesitation, Shou slammed his fist into the ground with full force, and hundreds of terrifying, countless earth spikes emerged from the ground, trying to pierce and target the masked youth from all directions!
But as if he had predicted all these attacks beforehand, the masked youth only released a kind of faint purple gravitational push that easily destroyed all those earth spikes!
But just as the masked youth had predicted Shou's attacks, Shou had also anticipated this, so he quickly switched to a different element!
"<
His hair and eyes changed to a golden color that shone bright like the sun, and something like a giant magic circle appeared behind him with blinding light!
"DIE RIGHT NOW!!"
Accompanied by his roar full of hatred, that terrifying and destructive light beam shot directly at light speed with unmatched energy, annihilating everything in its path!
The masked youth hadn't expected this attack at all. With amazing reflexes, he spread waves of dark energy from his body—a terrifying push that usually could paralyze A-Rank Hunters in an instant.
But it was useless.
The golden light cut through his dark defenses like a hot sword cutting through butter, penetrating every layer of protective energy he formed.
BOOOOOOOM....!!
A devastating explosion shook the entire city district. Shock waves spread within a radius of hundreds of meters, lifting dust, debris, and glass shards into the air. Traditional-style houses and modern buildings behind the youth vanished in an instant—not just destroyed, but completely annihilated, leaving a gaping crater five meters deep with edges still glowing from the residual heat of the light attack.
White smoke billowed from the crater, creating thick fog that smelled of burned metal and ozone.
Shou stood calmly in the midst of destruction, his golden gleaming eyes staring at his handiwork without emotion. Even if the opponent he faced was an S-Rank Hunter, they would be instantly vaporized without a single speck of ash remaining under the power of 'Elementalist: Light'.
"[Waste of time. Why didn't you finish it from the beginning?]"
The annoyed voice of Nine Elemental Hydra echoed in Shou's mind.
Shou's phenomenal power increase was indeed thanks to his contract with that transcendent creature.
Nine Elemental Hydra, as its name suggested, was a creature with nine heads, each mastering nine specific elements.
The nine elements it mastered included: Flame, Water, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Light, Dark, Diamond, and... Time...
As its contract partner, Shou had access to all those elements. However, because his human soul was still very weak, he could only use one element at a time.
The 'Elementalist' technique he had just used was a temporary form where he and the elemental power synchronized perfectly, allowing elemental manipulation at a higher level.
In this mode, Shou's power immediately jumped to equal an S-Rank Hunter—maybe even more!
But this technique had a steep price. He could only maintain it for a maximum of thirty minutes.
He was actually reluctant to use this technique, but the masked youth's words earlier—especially those touching on Mayuri—really burned his anger to the core.
"Talking nonsense about Mayuri, that person must be taught a lesson," Shou muttered, the golden aura around his body flickering like turbulent flames.
"[...]" Nine Elemental Hydra fell silent, but its gaze became condescending when looking at Shou. Really... Truly a frog dreaming of eating swan meat.
"[Tsk, quickly finish this matter and—]"
"Heh... Hahahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!"
Laughter full of madness suddenly thundered from the direction of the crater. Not only was Shou shocked—even Nine Elemental Hydra blinked.
They both turned with wide eyes, and the sight they witnessed was truly beyond their expectations.
The masked youth was still standing upright in the middle of the gaping crater! Although his black robe was tattered and emitting thick smoke, although the exposed skin showed severe burns, he was still alive—even still laughing with a tone that made hair stand on end.
"So that's it... No wonder this feeling is so annoying and unpleasant." The masked figure stepped out of the crater with steps that were strangely still steady, despite his body trembling from the damage he received.
Large cracks began to spread across the entire surface of his white kitsune mask, like a spider web growing wider.
"A very disgusting feeling... Even though you're very weak, strangely your elemental power is very strong—even the creature inside me is struggling to get out and escape. But this is exactly what makes it more interesting to destroy..."
CRACK!
The cracks on the kitsune mask widened further and then—
CRASH!
The mask that had been hiding his identity shattered into pieces, its white fragments scattered on the cracked ground.
What was revealed shocked both Shou and Nine Elemental Hydra tremendously.
The youth was actually still very young—perhaps around fifteen years old. His face had sharp features, but most striking was a pair of eyes with glowing red pupils that had vertical black lines in the center—like predator reptile eyes—and three cat whisker-like lines on both cheeks.
But it wasn't his physical appearance that shocked them both, but rather...
THUMP!
Hatred.
Hatred that seemed to have no foundation or limits.
An aura so dark, full of pure evil that thickened like poisonous fog.
This wasn't just ordinary negative emotion. This was hatred that had crystallized into something more terrifying—hatred that had become part of his existence, like a vital organ that couldn't be separated.
"A creature with Transcendent power..." The youth grinned with a terrifying expression. "Even Kyūbi wouldn't be your match under normal conditions. It's just—"
His grin widened, showing rows of teeth that appeared sharper than they should be.
"—Defeating me won't be as easy as you imagine."
WIIIIIIING! WIIIIIIING! WIIIIIIING!
At that moment, the city's emergency warning sirens suddenly sounded loudly and repeatedly, alarm sounds usually only used for national disaster-level threats. Red warning lights throughout the city began flashing, giving warning that a high-level attack threatening the safety of all residents was occurring.
But both the mysterious youth and Shou only focused on staring at each other with intensity that could burn the air between them.
Only one thought kept spinning in Shou's mind...
How... How could a human—even one still so young—possess hatred so great and dark? This level of hatred should have been enough to make someone lose their sanity... But he could still think clearly and even control extraordinary power...
"[... Who exactly are you?]"
That question came from Nine Elemental Hydra—which was quite surprising because this transcendent creature rarely showed interest in other individuals. The figure now stared at the youth with an unreadable expression...
The youth looked at Nine Elemental Hydra with his increasingly wide evil grin, but he chose not to answer that direct question. Instead, he shifted his attention to Shou with a threatening gaze.
"Shou... That's your name, right?" His voice was low but piercing. "Even though you're just an ordinary human with trash E-Rank Talent, somehow you managed to make a contract with a Transcendent creature... Even the strongest S-Rank Hunters couldn't do such a thing."
He began walking with calculated steps, each footfall leaving small crack marks on the ground. Those red eyes reflecting pure evil radiated an extremely frightening aura—like the gaze of an apex predator considering the most painful way to kill its prey.
"Your secret that enables contracts with creatures this powerful... The Kyūbi inside me doesn't like it at all. So what do you think about me, who is its host?"
His body slowly began to be enveloped by thick red energy that moved like liquid fire, radiating an evil aura full of hatred. The air around him began to distort from the heat he emitted.
"—What Kyūbi feels, I also feel with many times the intensity. Try to guess..." He held half his face with a theatrical gesture that was terrifying. "What do you think I most want to do to you right now?"
The red energy around his body thickened and churned more.
"The desire to kill you. Do you understand what I mean? This feeling is the same as when you wanted to kill me earlier with that light attack, but my desire to see you die is many times stronger. So..."
His grin changed to a truly psychopathic expression.
"Why don't you just die and save us both some time?"
BOOOM....!!
The dark red aura spread explosively in all directions like a tsunami wave of energy, creating a destructive vortex that destroyed everything it passed. The ground cracked in radial patterns for hundreds of meters, houses around the battle area suffered severe structural damage with scattered broken glass, even some electric poles collapsed from the extraordinary vibrations.
Shou, still in his 'Elementalist: Light' form, felt deep horror witnessing the destructive power the youth released.
He hurriedly said to Nine Elemental Hydra in an urgent tone, "Help me maximize elemental power output! If not, we'll both really die here!"
But instead of hearing and responding to Shou's request, Nine Elemental Hydra kept staring at the youth's figure with a very unusual gaze—a mixture of curiosity and deep interest.
"Can't you hear—"
"STOP MOVING THERE! YOU'RE ALL UNDER ARREST!"
A harsh command voice from outside suddenly echoed through loudspeakers. Shou turned with slight shock because elite Hunter forces and special security forces from the city had arrived at the scene!
Not only that, military forces were also on standby in full formation—combat helicopters hovering in the air, reconnaissance drones circling above the battle area, and armored vehicles forming a security perimeter.
Shou didn't feel panicked by their arrival. On the contrary, he felt frustrated and cursed their stupidity in his heart.
Couldn't they sense how terrifying the aura of the youth in front of them was?! This wasn't a battle that could be intervened by ordinary humans!
"Ah, I almost forgot about all of you." The youth shifted his gaze toward the newly arrived forces with a very conspicuous dismissive expression. "City guards and soldiers, huh? I'm not in the mood to be disturbed by weak insects like you."
"What are you—"
The Hunters and force members who heard this were immediately stunned, then their faces reddened with anger. But the next second, their expressions changed to horror when they felt the extremely frightening spiritual pressure and hatred-filled aura emanating from the youth!
The youth then performed a series of complex and precise hand movements—hand seals.
"<
As he mentioned each name with powerful intonation, a giant mandala began to form above his body, shining with dark red light. Complex symbols appeared in perfect order, forming a cross pattern that was geometric and beautiful yet terrifying.
The energy radiating from the mandala made the air vibrate and created visual distortions around it.
"Come to me, <
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
When the incantation was completed, supernatural beings began appearing one by one from the mandala floating in the air! Nine different entities—five in the form of animals with terrifying auras and four in humanoid forms with various weapons—shot downward then immediately attacked the forces who were shocked to see their appearance!
What the hell was this?!
Expressions of disbelief and horror appeared on all force members' faces because the power of each summoned creature was equivalent to A-Rank Hunters, and some even reached A+ Rank level! This was power usually only possessed by major guilds!
Nothing could be avoided anymore—everyone was immediately attacked relentlessly by those summoned creatures without mercy!
BOOOOOOM...!! CRASH!! BANG!!
Explosion after explosion occurred throughout the area, creating total chaos beyond belief. Screams, gunshots, and explosion roars mixed into a terrifying symphony of death.
But Shou's gaze remained fixed only on the youth's figure who was now also looking toward him with an expression full of anticipation.
Shou took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions. Then with a slightly trembling voice, he said:
"You said you have information I desperately want to know, right? The information you mean is..."
The youth looked at him with an increasingly wide grin showing sadistic anticipation. "Yes... Takamiya Mayuri. You want to know where that Spirit is currently, don't you?"
"..."
Shou's breath seemed to catch in his throat and the Light elemental energy around his body began rubbing against the air uncontrollably, creating golden sparks indicating his emotions were in total chaos.
He thought the intended information was data about powerful creatures or hidden dungeon locations, but who would have thought... It was information about the most impossible thing.
Shou took deep breaths repeatedly, trying hard to stay calm and not lose control. But it couldn't be avoided that his body trembled slightly, especially because this concerned Takamiya Mayuri... The Pure Spirit who had disappeared without a trace.
With a voice that was cold but trembling from suppressed emotion, he said: "It seems... I have to bring out everything I have without reserve. So don't die before you give me that information."
"Hahaha! I want to say the same thing to you... I mean..." Those eyes with evil red pupils sharpened like knives. "Please die as quickly as possible."
They stared at each other in suffocating silence for several seconds that felt like eternity...
Then—
FLASH!
Both moved in flashes of contrasting golden light and dark red!
WHOOSH! BOOOOOOOM.....!!
Two mutually repelling powers now collided with truly terrifying intensity, creating destructive shock waves that not only split the night sky, but also created small cracks in the air!
***
The template that Lux currently has:
1. Raiden Ei / Shogun
• Origin : Genshin Impact
2. Takamiya Mayuri
• Origin : Date a Live
3. Artemisia Bell Ashcroft
• Origin : Date a Live
4. Inaba Tsukuyo
• Origin : Busou Shoujo Machiavellianism
5. Dabi / Todoroki Toya
• Origin : Boku no Hero Academia
6. Tomioka Giyū
• Origin : Kimetsu no Yaiba / Demon Slayer
7. Kiana Kaslana – Herrscher of the Void
• Origin : Honkai Impact 3rd
8. Takamiya Mio (Limited)
• Origin : Date a Live
9. Itsuka Kotori
• Origin : Date a Live
10. Aoi Sui
• Origin : Mission, Yozakura Family
11. Yozakura Tsubomi
• Origin : Mission, Yozakura Family
12. Morax
• Origin : Genshin Impact
13. Cecilus Segmunt
• Origin: Re;Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu
14. Konno Yūki
• Origin : Sword Art Online
15. Kurogane Ouma
• Origin : Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry
16. Kurome
• Origin : Akame Ga Kill
17. Ji Xuanyuan
• Origin : Honkai Impact 3rd
18. Tsukuyomi Tsukasa
• Origin : Tonikaku Kawaii / Fly Me to the Moon
19. Xiang Yu
• Origin : Fate/Grand Order
20. Kokushibo / Tsugikuni Michikatsu
• Origin : Kimetsu no Yaiba / Demon Slayer
21. Observer α (Alpha)
• Origin : Azur Lane