Chapter: The Game Behind the Curtains
The Training Ground of the Corruption Domain had become one of the most terrifying arenas in the entire war-front region.
The structure itself stood in the center of the corrupted forest like a colossal circular fortress. Massive stone pillars surrounded the arena, each etched with glowing abyssal runes that pulsed faintly like a living heartbeat. Black vines crept along the stone floor, forming intricate patterns that constantly shifted as if the domain itself was observing the combat.
Above the arena floated several hovering crystals recording every movement, every strike, every burst of mana.
Because this was no ordinary training ground.
This was a combat evolution laboratory.
And today, the battlefield trembled once again.
The Puppet Arena
Standing at the center of the arena was Draven.
His demonic wings were folded behind his back while his crimson eyes scanned the battlefield calmly.
But what stood in front of him made even his generals uneasy.
Another Draven.
Except this one radiated far more power.
The creature looked identical to him in every way.
Same horns.
Same wings.
Same abyssal blade.
But the aura was different.
Heavier.
Darker.
More violent.
This was the Advanced Puppet created by the training ground using the evolved form of Draven's Puppet Creation Skill.
The puppet's strength had been deliberately set to twice Draven's current power level.
The generals standing around the arena watched silently.
Prince Varuk crossed his arms.
Samuel's skeletal gauntlets tightened.
Even the normally fearless Dullahan tilted his head slightly, examining the puppet with interest.
Draven cracked his neck.
"Let's see," he murmured calmly.
The puppet moved first.
It vanished.
A fraction of a second later—
BOOM
A shockwave exploded across the arena.
The puppet Draven appeared above the real one, swinging the abyssal blade downward with enough force to split mountains.
Draven instantly teleported.
The blade slammed into the arena floor.
The ground exploded.
Stone shattered.
Black lightning erupted outward.
Draven appeared behind the puppet, his wings spreading wide as abyssal flames surged around his sword.
"Abyssal Cleave."
The attack cut through the puppet's body.
But the puppet didn't die.
It turned.
Its own sword ignited with demonic lightning.
"Shadow Rupture."
BOOOOM.
Both Dravens collided midair.
The shockwave blasted across the arena like a miniature earthquake.
Around the battlefield, the generals smirked.
Their turn was coming.
The Generals' Training Battles
Across the arena, other battles were raging simultaneously.
The arena had already gathered months of combat data.
Now it was generating advanced combat puppets based on the abilities of each general.
And those puppets were ruthless.
Samuel vs Gargoyle Puppet
The Death Knight Samuel clashed with a towering Gargoyle Puppet.
The puppet roared as gravity magic erupted around it.
"Meteor Dive!"
The puppet launched upward before crashing down like a falling meteor.
Samuel raised his sword.
Nether flames erupted around his armor.
"Claw of the Underworld!"
Massive skeletal claws burst from the ground, grabbing the gargoyle puppet mid-impact.
But the puppet shattered the claws instantly.
Samuel grinned beneath his helmet.
"Good," he muttered.
The two monsters charged again.
Gargoyle General vs C3 Puppet
Nearby, the real Gargoyle General was facing a puppet version of C3 the Corrupted Archmage.
The puppet floated above the arena.
Three spirit circles formed around it.
"Spectral Chains."
Dozens of glowing chains shot toward the gargoyle.
The gargoyle roared.
"Gravity Shield!"
The chains bent and twisted as gravity warped around the gargoyle's body.
Then he counterattacked.
"Wrath of Gravital Destruction!"
The arena floor cracked open as gravitational force slammed toward the puppet mage.
B2 vs Dark Elf Puppet
Across the arena, B2 the Phantom Huntress fired arrow after arrow.
Her opponent was a puppet version of the Dark Elf General.
The puppet vanished repeatedly using Illusion Veil.
Each time B2 released a volley.
"Elemental Tempest Barrage!"
Hundreds of arrows rained across the battlefield like a storm.
The puppet appeared behind her.
Venom blade raised.
But B2 smirked.
She had expected that.
A1 vs Dullahan Puppet
A1 was fighting the puppet of the terrifying Dullahan.
The headless rider galloped across the battlefield atop a nightmare steed.
"Shadow Gallop!"
The horse burst forward like a black lightning bolt.
A1 stepped forward calmly.
"Elemental Fusion Strike."
Flames, wind, and lightning merged around his blade.
The two attacks collided.
The entire arena shook.
Dullahan vs Dullahan Puppet
Meanwhile the real Dullahan was fighting… himself.
Two headless riders clashed like death incarnate.
Chains.
Soul attacks.
Phantom charges.
Each strike echoed like thunder.
Prince Varuk vs Morlock King Puppet
At the far end of the arena, Prince Varuk faced a puppet version of his own father.
Water exploded across the battlefield.
"Tidal Lunge!"
"Abyss Leap!"
Ocean magic clashed violently as both Morlocks fought like raging sea gods.
The Monster Army Training
Outside the arena, the monster army was also evolving rapidly.
The Core of Corruption had drastically increased monster population.
New creatures were appearing daily.
Chimeras.
Mutated beasts.
Corrupted elementals.
Entire legions were training under the generals.
The corrupted forest had become a living military empire.
And its monarch watched everything.
Meanwhile — The Eastern Empire
Thousands of kilometers away, inside the royal capital of the , the atmosphere was tense.
Inside the royal castle, the emperor sat alone in his private chamber.
His name was .
And he was furious.
A wooden chessboard lay on the table before him.
The pieces represented his empire's strongest forces.
Knight orders.
Generals.
Nobles.
But one piece had been carved differently.
A lion knight.
The piece representing the Lion Knight Order Leader.
Gustav picked up the piece slowly.
His hand trembled.
Then—
CRACK.
Black flames erupted from his palm.
The wooden piece burned to ash.
"Useless," Gustav growled.
He slammed the chessboard against the wall.
Pieces scattered across the floor.
The emperor inhaled slowly.
Then spoke coldly.
"Summon the ."
Moments later armored knights knelt before him.
"Increase capital security immediately."
"No information about the war front must leave the empire."
"If anyone spreads rumors that the eastern war front has fallen to demons…"
His eyes turned cold.
"Kill them."
The knights bowed deeply.
"And burn the that refuse cooperation."
"Any suspected foreign spy…"
"Execute them."
The emperor leaned back.
"And prepare the empire for the anniversary ceremony."
"And the diplomatic visits."
The knights left immediately.
Moments later chaos erupted across the capital.
Houses burned.
Guilds were destroyed.
Suspects vanished overnight.
The empire was cleansing itself.
But it was already too late.
The truth had begun spreading through the shadows.
The Western Province
Far away in the western provinces, the rain had finally stopped.
The streets were quiet.
But guards were still investigating a massacre.
Bodies lay scattered in an alley.
The victims were members of the imperial bureau.
Their killer was obvious.
Each crime scene had the same signature.
A single playing card.
Ace of Spades.
The mark of the man known as the Greedy Goblin.
The guards searched desperately.
Mana detection.
Spirit dogs.
Tracking magic.
Nothing worked.
Because their target had already disappeared.
The Greedy Goblin's Hidden Base
Behind a waterfall in a remote mountain stood a hidden base protected by powerful anti-detection runes.
Inside the cave sat a man wearing a demon mask.
Gold coins filled the room like a miniature treasury.
Stacks of documents covered the tables.
Blueprints for magical weapons were pinned to the walls.
The man leaned back in his chair calmly.
In his hand was a small mirror device.
He activated it.
Runes glowed along the frame.
The mirror flickered.
Then another face appeared.
A woman wearing a flower mask.
A high ranking member of the .
"Greetings," she said.
The masked man sighed.
"I told you before," he replied lazily.
"I'm not your ally."
"I'm just a greedy man obsessed with gold."
The woman laughed softly.
"That's exactly why we like you."
She continued calmly.
"We sent you a gift."
"A letter written by a knight commander stationed near the corrupted forest."
The man's interest immediately sharpened.
She continued.
"It carries the imperial seal of confidential communication."
"We intercepted it from the border town guard captain."
"And we thought…"
"Someone obsessed with profit and information might appreciate it."
The masked man chuckled inside his demon mask.
He adjusted his tie.
"I appreciate the gift."
"And I will help your Ring Master… when the price is right."
The woman nodded.
The connection ended.
The man stood slowly.
Gold coins clinked under his boots.
He grabbed his coat.
His hat.
Then vanished.
The Underworld
Moments later he appeared in a dark alley.
The alley led to the underground criminal district of the empire.
A massive metal door guarded the entrance.
Two guards stopped him.
He raised his gloved hand.
A golden bracelet gleamed under the torchlight.
The guards instantly bowed.
A VIP mark recognized by the criminal kings.
They opened the door.
Inside was chaos.
Gambling.
Drinking.
Illegal auctions.
Assassins everywhere.
A fight ring stood in the center.
The masked man walked calmly through the crowd.
He ordered a drink.
His mask opened slightly at the mouth.
He took a sip.
Then sat beside the ring announcer.
A deadly assassin known as The Watcher.
The Watcher caught a gold coin thrown by the masked man.
Lightning fast.
"Who are you betting on tonight?" the Watcher asked.
The masked man watched the fighters carefully.
"Red."
The Watcher grinned.
"Good choice."
Then he leaned closer.
"But that's not why you came here."
The masked man took another drink.
"Correct."
"I'm looking for someone."
"."
The Watcher shook his head.
"You're late."
"He left yesterday."
The masked man raised an eyebrow.
"Hunting again?"
The Watcher tossed him a black coin.
The coin had a carved symbol.
A vampire crest.
"His target," the Watcher said calmly.
"."
The masked man looked at the coin.
Then chuckled inside his demon mask.
"We should pray."
The Watcher frowned.
"For who?"
The masked man stood up slowly.
"For the Vampire Count."
Because somewhere in the darkness…
A hunter was coming.
TO BE CONTINUED....