The forest had already turned into a battlefield.
Broken trees, burning ground, and injured cultivators were scattered everywhere.
Under the blood-red moon, a single figure stepped forward.
Kairo.
His hood covered most of his face, but the faint curve of a smile could still be seen.
In front of him stood the injured Three-Headed Wolf, its massive body trembling with rage.
One of its heads growled deeply.
The beast could sense something dangerous about the young man standing before it.
Kairo slowly cracked his neck.
So you're the famous beast everyone was scared of?
His voice was calm… almost bored.
Let's see if you're worth my time.
The wolf suddenly lunged forward.
ROOOOAR!!
Its claws tore through the ground as it attacked with terrifying speed.
But Kairo simply stepped sideways.
The massive claws missed him by inches.
Too slow.
Before the beast could react, Kairo punched one of its heads.
BOOM!
The impact sent the gigantic wolf sliding several meters back.
The cultivators watching from a distance were stunned.
T-that… that kid…
He's fighting it alone…?
The wolf roared again and attacked repeatedly.
Flames burst from one head.
Wind blades shot from another.
The third head tried to bite him apart.
But Kairo moved through every attack like a shadow.
Punch.
Kick.
Slash.
Every strike crushed the beast further.
After several minutes of brutal fighting, the wolf collapsed to the ground.
Its three heads struggled to move.
Kairo slowly walked toward it.
Then—
CRACK!
He stomped down.
The final head shattered against the ground.
The legendary Three-Headed Wolf was dead.
Kairo looked at the corpse with a disappointed expression.
Chi…
How boring.
Then he slowly turned his head.
His eyes landed on the remaining cultivators
The moment they saw his gaze…
A cold terror spread through their bodies.
His eyes looked like those of a complete psychopath.
One cultivator couldn't endure it anymore.
Y-you bastard!
Don't look at us like that!
But the moment he finished speaking—
Slash.
His head suddenly fell to the ground.
No one even saw Kairo move.
Blood sprayed across the grass.
The remaining cultivators froze in horror.
S-so fast…
What monster is he…?
Among them, Ketlos was also watching.
Even he felt a deep chill in his heart.
Kairo slowly raised his hand.
A dark aura spread out.
Suddenly—
The spiritual energy inside the injured cultivators began flowing toward him.
W-what's happening?!
He's… absorbing our cultivation!
One by one, their powers were forcefully drained.
Their bodies became weak and lifeless.
Kairo simply smiled.
An evil smile.
Within seconds, he had absorbed the cultivation power of all of them.
Some collapsed unconscious.
Some were left half-dead.
Then Kairo spoke softly.
If any of you…
Tell someone about me…
His smile widened.
I won't kill you.
The cultivators looked confused for a moment.
But then Kairo finished his sentence.
I'll give your families a slow and painful death instead.
Their faces instantly turned pale.
Fear completely filled their hearts.
No one dared to speak.
No one dared to move.
Under the red moon, Kairo simply laughed quietly.
And then—
The scene shifted.
Far away…
Inside the Royal Palace.