Blood began to rise around Rio—not falling, but swirling around him like a living entity, moving slowly before piercing his body and merging within.
A devilish smile spread across Rio's face, his eyes fixed on the man in front of him.
The man shouted, "Is this your special skill transformation?! Nothing's happening to you!"
Before he could finish, Rio's back split apart.
Sharp blades emerged, tethered by cords of flesh and blood, swaying as if alive, seeking their prey.
Heavy seconds passed…
Then Rio's hand changed, coated in a dark crimson, his fingers turning into claws.
Blood gathered around his head, slowly forming a crown—an emblem of dominion.
Rio stood firm.
Suddenly, blood shot from his eyes, streaming down his face to his neck—and froze there, etched like a dark tattoo.
The man gasped in shock.
"This… this transformation… someone at Hidden level?! How is this possible?!"
He gritted his teeth and added with brutality,
"Doesn't matter… I'll crush you anyway."
Rio paid him no mind.
He leaned slightly forward, ready to strike.
The ground cracked beneath his feet, rocks shattered instantly, and with an explosion of dust, Rio lunged at the man with terrifying speed.
The man's eyes widened as he realized Rio was attacking… with his hand, not a sword.
A smirk crossed the man's face as he planted his feet.
"Heh… come on. Let me see your strength."
---
In the Kingdom of Darkness, the White Tower's doors burst open violently.
Baran entered, accompanied by Narvik, while William sat calmly, a deadly calm in his gaze.
Baran stepped forward.
"We've come, William. You asked us here, didn't you?"
William lifted his eyes to them.
"I received two messages… one from the Kingdom of Light, the other from the Kingdom of Venom."
Baran froze, anger flaring within him. Before he could speak, William continued:
"The message from the Kingdom of Light… it's addressed to you, Baran."
Baran grabbed the letter, staring at its seal. He muttered,
"This isn't the seal of the Light King… this message was sent without his knowledge."
He opened it. Within seconds, fury exploded.
Lightning surged from Baran's body, destroying walls and chairs—a black storm crackling with flashes of terrifying gold.
Narvik shouted,
"What does it say, Baran?!"
Baran didn't answer.
He tore the letter apart, voice charged:
"I'm heading to the vault."
And he vanished.
Silence fell.
Narvik looked at William.
"He's gone… what happened to him? Do you know what was written?"
William's voice remained calm.
"No. No one knows."
He rose and added,
"I leave on a mission. You two… head to the Kingdom of the Sun. There isn't much time before your battle with the one known as the Deviless."
Narvik hesitated.
"But… we have to cross the Land of Chaos?"
William gave a faint smile.
"It's not as fearsome as they say. You'll get through it."
Narvik muttered as he left the tower:
"The Land of Chaos… in the center of the world, swallowing sixty percent of it.
Slaughter is allowed, monsters countless…
a Hidden-level monster appearing? Not rare at all."
William remained alone.
He sighed slowly, eyes falling on the message from the Kingdom of Venom.
---
As soon as Rio waved his hand, the ground around him split without warning.
Cracks tore through the air, a terrifying fusion of blood and energy, as if reality itself couldn't contain him.
Five dark-red fissures appeared simultaneously—they were summoned by Rio.
The man leapt back, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the air before him tore again.
Other fissures appeared, closer… deadlier.
Rio swung his claws with controlled frenzy, every strike carrying a pure intent to kill.
The man dodged each blow effortlessly, as if his body predicted the attacks before they happened.
Rio scowled.
Suddenly…
The blades on his back detached, flying like living creatures toward the man with terrifying speed.
> "Even the blades… dodge them?!"
Rio lunged forward—but unexpectedly, the man didn't retreat.
He advanced.
Rio didn't hesitate, striking directly.
The man blocked and countered, but Rio grabbed his arm at the last moment, yanking him violently forward.
Rio raised his leg and delivered a deadly kick—
But before it landed… the man vanished.
Rio's eyes widened.
The blades ignited in midair, energy pulsing through them until—
In an instant, beams of crimson light shot from every blade.
The man tried to escape, but the beams bent in the air, following him as if conscious.
Before he could move—
Rio appeared before him.
He waved his hand.
The fissures exploded.
The man fell, hand torn, back bleeding profusely.
Blood flowed endlessly…
Yet he merely smiled.
---
Rio sank to his knees, gasping violently, sweat covering his entire body.
This is my chance…
I'll use my strongest technique.
He slammed his hand on the ground, shouting a voice that shook the heavens:
> "Blood Art — Ultimate Technique!"
The ground trembled violently as his voice rang again:
> "Eternal Hell's Blood!"
The earth erupted.
Sharp crimson pillars shot up like burning hell-spikes, surrounding his enemy from all sides.
Each pillar pulsed… moved… obeyed Rio's will.
Rio grinned defiantly and surged forward.
But the man—
Didn't move.
He stood firm… a deadly smile on his lips.
With a single gesture, he shattered all the pillars, as if they were illusions.
Then disappeared.
He reappeared before Rio with blinding speed.
Strikes rained down—
Unseen, unheard… only their impact.
The ground shook beneath Rio's feet with every hit.
Rio tried to summon more pillars, but the man destroyed them instantly.
Blood splattered from Rio's body.
Yet Rio didn't fall.
He held his ground.
The man smirked, striking relentlessly… until suddenly stepping back as Rio swung his sword.
The man stared in shock:
> "What…? How is his sword back?
Wasn't it behind him after he transformed?"
---
Panting… gasping… struggling…
Intakio panted heavily, hiding among the rubble, trying to escape Jack.
> "Damn… how can he possess such skill?!"
Before he could finish—
A sonic-speed arrow shot through the air.
It struck the wall… passed through without breaking it, exiting the other side as if the wall never existed.
Intakio's eyes widened in terror, and he fled wildly.
---
> "Damn… this is seriously annoying."
The prince observed the battlefield between the revolutionaries and the kingdom's forces.
> "Sir! Sir! There's a huge problem!"
A soldier ran to him, shouting.
> "What's happening?"
> "No need to shout… I'll handle him."
Rivan appeared suddenly beside the prince.
The prince froze, then turned forward—
And was utterly shocked.
A man was flying in the sky, looking down at them.
Long hair fell from his head to below his waist, two strands framing his body.
He was… unnaturally beautiful.
Rivan stepped forward, standing before him, voice calm yet heavy:
> "Finally… you've appeared, Voltar?!"