FLASHBACK. Fifteen years ago, in the tranquil, fog-shrouded dawn at the Moon Lotus Sect, Aruji, the revered master, was deeply immersed in meditation. This disciplined figure had maintained his meditative posture since the previous night, seated cross-legged under the awakening sky, a testament to his unwavering dedication. The serene silence of the morning was unexpectedly pierced by the sound of soft footsteps. A beautiful woman, embodying grace with her every move as if materializing from the mist itself, approached Aruji. Her demeanor radiated excitement, hinting at a pressing message she bore for Aruji. This woman, with her hair cascading like a waterfall and eyes alight with a proud gleam, moved towards Aruji with a silent, elegant grace. Despite her quiet approach, Aruji, ever attuned to his surroundings, sensed the slight disturbance in the calm of dawn. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze meeting the woman's directly. "Aruji," the woman spoke, her voice carrying a melodic qu
The conflict persisted, escalating rapidly. In a swift, decisive maneuver, the First Demon unleashed a devastating blow upon Lucas. With a single touch, the protective mist shrouding Lucas dissipated, leaving him defenseless and catapulted through the air, akin to a leaf caught in a tempest's fury. Covering a distance of two kilometers in what seemed a mere moment, Lucas' body endured a brutal impact, his back colliding against a massive tree trunk. This collision caused a shower of leaves to descend like a gentle rain. "Ugh, he's such a monster," Lucas grumbled, frustration lacing his voice. Brushing off the incident, Lucas ran his fingers through his long, white hair with a nonchalant grace, indicating his readiness to continue the duel. Despite the intensity of their clash, he perceived this confrontation as an eternal struggle against his formidable adversary. "No, for every beginning, there is an end. And this is where it ends," Lucas resolved quietly to himself, his determin
The twilight sky enveloped the forest where Lucas had engaged in battle earlier. This area was steeped in legend as a site of ancient conflict between gods, yet unknown to all, it was Lucas who had instigated the recent turmoil.Nearby, Coil and his troops had regrouped. Their heavy footsteps echoed, resonating with the splintered remnants of trees shattered in the skirmish.Coil, the young lord of Crimson Jade, was determined not to let this chance slip away. Like many others, he harbored hopes that a deity would align with them, granting dominion over these lands.As he surveyed the scene, Coil's expression grew intense, his eyes alight with resolve. "Jade Valley... a city blessed," he murmured to himself.His envy was palpable. In Jade Valley, not one but two 'ahrta'—mystical occurrences—had manifested. The first was a vast chasm formed in the past, from which Coil had failed to extract the hidden treasure. The second was recent, evidenced by the battle scars that suggested the des
On a normally quiet street corner, the rumbling of astonishing news sparked a heated debate between two men. Consumed by mistrust and intense emotions, they engaged in a fierce argument that teetered on the brink of violence."Impossible! Gods are mere myths!" exclaimed one man, his fists clenched and face flushed with anger."You're ignorant to deny it! The Shadowblade family has summoned him!" countered the other, his eyes ablaze with belief.Surprisingly, the news was heartwarming to many. Who could have imagined that the Shadowblade family had actually succeeded in summoning a god to their side?Furthermore, the scars from the recent battle were a testament to this unbelievable feat. Only a being beyond human could create a chasm tens of kilometers long.And astonishingly, this godlike figure was said to have been invited to the Shadowblade residence.As the argument reached its peak, a hush fell over the crowd. Every gaze turned to a figure who approached with serene yet majestic
Under the imposing shadow of the towering gate, Peler stood, embodying arrogance with a mocking pose. His eyes, alight with disdain, observed Lucas emerging into the blistering sunlight. With an overly dramatic flourish, he pointed directly at Lucas' chest, his gesture oozing with haughtiness. "Kneel," he commanded in a tone dripping with condescension, "and as a token of your defeat, surrender your wife to me."This display of arrogance was particularly bold, coming after Peler's recent proclamation of divinity that had sent ripples of fear through the crowd."Do you dare to challenge a god, young man?" Peler taunted, his demeanor more akin to a boisterous circus performer than a deity, as he jabbed his finger towards Lucas repeatedly.Lucas, for his part, regarded Peler with an indifferent gaze, seemingly unimpressed by the spectacle."Lucas, I would advise you to kneel this instant," came the ominous suggestion."Peler is not merely posturing; he is a god with the power to level ci
In the expansive estate of the Crimson Jade family, amidst its myriad of opulent buildings, there was a particular spot that was exclusively associated with Mato, the family's eldest son."Have you recognized your error?" Mato inquired, to which the man responded in a weak, raspy voice.Displaying a domineering attitude, Mato perched arrogantly atop a man whose spirit had been thoroughly crushed, relegating him to nothing more than a human stool for the entirety of the day. The man's complexion had turned ashen, his gaze vacant, and his physique slumped in defeat under Mato's relentless dominance."Hey, are you even listening to me anymore?" Mato prodded, but the man remained silent, evidently too worn out to muster the energy to part his lips."You're worthless," Mato spat out disdainfully, his tone icy and piercing, slicing through the room's stillness. The man under him struggled to breathe, each exhalation an ordeal.Eventually, utterly drained of vitality, the man collapsed onto
Lucas had long harbored a desire to explore the White Swan Pavilion but found himself inexplicably barred from entry, the reasons for which remained a mystery to him. On this occasion, Lucas found himself in close proximity to the pavilion.The air that morning was rich with the enticing aroma of flowers, complementing the bustling sounds of the nearby streets. The pavilion itself stood out due to its grandeur and size, dwarfing even the residence of the head of the Stormwind family, a prominent household in Jade Valley city.Upon arriving at the entrance, Lucas, with a sense of nostalgia, whispered, "Ah, it's good to see them again," to the two women stationed there. These same women had previously denied him entry, though Lucas was still unaware of the reasons behind their actions. Their hesitation now was palpable.Lucas's reputation had since evolved; rumors circulated that he had slain the leader of the Ironfist clan and had recently compelled the head of the Shadowblade family to
While Lucas was still deep in thought about the half-coin Aranea had brought him, he was startled by the pavilion master's words."Lucas," she said, her voice almost a whisper, "the other half of the coin you seek is in the possession of the Ironfist Family."Lucas's eyebrow arched in surprise at her revelation. He wondered if this woman was alluding to his earlier admission concerning the Ironfist family's ties to another distinguished family."What do you mean?" Lucas inquired, his gaze probing for more information."I once saw a similar half-coin. The eldest son of the Ironfist family brought it here to flaunt before the courtesans," she explained."Do you mean Lorrick?" Lucas asked, mentioning the man he had slain first. The pavilion master nodded in confirmation.This was an unexpected development for Lucas. He had been seeking information about the "God of Mist" and its relevance to him. The piece of the coin that Aranea had retrieved appeared to hold some clues to this mystery.