《The Hero Who Shouldn't Have Returned》


 The Lost Legend

    Decades ago, the world faced an era of chaos. Monstrous creatures poured out of mysterious portals known as "gates," threatening to wipe out humanity. To combat this threat, warriors known as "hunters" emerged¡ªindividuals with extraordinary abilities capable of clearing these gates and protecting mankind.


    Among them, one man stood above all. He single-handedly conquered every calamity-level gate¡ªportals so destructive that a single one could spell the end of the world. No hunter, no army, no force on Earth could rival his strength. The people called him the Calamity Killer.


    Yet, despite his legendary feats, no one knew his true identity. His name, his face, his origins¡ªeverything about him remained a mystery. Only one person knew the truth, a man who stood beside him through every battle. His name was Cale, the only known friend of the Calamity Killer, and the only one who understood the full extent of his power.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    When the final calamity-level gate, known as Inferno, appeared, the world held its breath. It was said to be the most dangerous gate in history, one that even the strongest hunters feared. Without hesitation, the Calamity Killer stepped forward. He entered the Inferno Gate alone... and was never seen again.


    Then, something unprecedented happened. With his disappearance, the gates across the world began to vanish. One by one, the portals closed, and no new ones appeared. The world entered an age of peace. With no more battles to fight, hunters found themselves purposeless. Many retired, some took up ordinary jobs, while high-ranking hunters joined politics, the military, or government positions. The nightmare that had plagued humanity for so long was finally over.Or so they thought.


    They celebrated, believing they had escaped the era of destruction.But they did not know...A far greater calamity was coming......................................


    To be continued

 Beginning of new era

    Ten years had passed. The world had changed. The hunters, the gates, the battles¡ªthey were now distant memories. People had moved on, embracing peace. But one name remained etched in their hearts, whispered in hushed tones, feared and revered alike¡ªCalamity Killer.


    It was an ordinary night in the city. The streets were quiet, save for the occasional distant chatter and the flickering neon signs. In a dimly lit alley, an unusual glow pulsed from the darkness. A drunk man, swaying with unsteady steps, squinted at the strange light. Curiosity, or perhaps his drunken stupor, pushed him forward.


    "What... is this?" he mumbled, rubbing his bleary eyes.


    A gate. A circular rift of shimmering blue energy hovered in the air, its surface rippling like disturbed water. The man chuckled drunkenly. "Heh... maybe I''m dreamin¡¯..." He stepped closer.


    Then, something moved.


    A figure emerged¡ªlow to the ground, moving on all fours. Red eyes. Razor-sharp fangs. A monstrous snarl.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    A hellhound.


    The drunk man''s amusement turned to horror. "W-what the¡ª?!" He barely had time to scream before the beast lunged. Jaws clamped down. A sickening crunch. Blood splattered against the alley walls. His body convulsed, then went limp.


    But the monster didn¡¯t stop. It toyed with its kill, nudging the lifeless body with its claws, tilting its head as if curious. Then, it howled¡ªa chilling, bone-deep sound that echoed through the streets.


    And the gate responded.


    One by one, creatures began pouring out. More hounds. Crawling horrors. Winged beasts with hollow eyes. A new nightmare had begun.


    The people in the nearby streets turned to look¡ªfirst in confusion, then in sheer terror. Screams erupted as the monsters charged, sinking their fangs into helpless civilians. Buildings were torn apart, cars flipped like toys. The peaceful era had made humans weak. No one knew how to fight anymore. They could only run. But where? The city had become a hunting ground.


    And someone was watching.


    A lone figure stood atop a tall building, the wind rustling his black coat. Crimson eyes. White hair. A face unreadable, but eyes sharp¡ªcalculating. He watched as the city burned, his fingers tightening into fists.


    The air behind him shifted. A presence.


    "I thought you were dead."


    The figure didn¡¯t turn. He simply exhaled, eyes still locked onto the destruction below.


    A smirk played on his lips.


    To be continued¡­

 Mysterious Figure

    "Do you think there¡¯s anyone out there who can kill me, Cale?" the figure said, his voice cold yet unwavering.


    A chuckle echoed from the shadows. "Oh? So you still recognize my voice? For a moment, I thought you¡¯d lost your memory or something." Cale stepped forward, his smirk barely visible under the moonlight. "After all, you¡¯ve been silent for ten years. No calls. No signs. Nothing. What happened, Snow? Or should I say... Calamity Killer?"


    Snow exhaled sharply, his crimson eyes glowing faintly in the dark. "I¡¯ll tell you everything... but first, I need to deal with this mess."


    Without another word, he leaped from the rooftop. The moment his boots hit the pavement, the ground cracked beneath him¡ªBOOM! Dust and debris scattered, but instead of a graceful landing, his knee buckled slightly. Pain shot through his body. He was weaker.


    Cale landed beside him effortlessly, arms crossed. "You used to jump from buildings twice this height without a scratch. What happened to my strong Calamity Killer?"


    Snow pushed himself up, shaking off the pain. "It¡¯s a long story." He extended his hand. "Lend me your sword."


    Cale sighed but tossed him a blade. The moment Snow gripped the hilt, something inside him awakened¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t the overwhelming power he once commanded. No mana. No divine strength. Just his raw skill.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The hellhounds turned toward him, their glowing eyes locking onto their new target. Their bodies tensed, their claws scraping against the concrete. Then¡ªthey pounced.


    The first hound lunged, aiming for his throat. Snow moved.


    His sword sliced through the air¡ªa blur of steel and death. The blade cut through the beast''s neck so cleanly that for a second, it didn¡¯t realize it was dead. Then, blood sprayed, and the head tumbled to the ground.


    The other monsters hesitated.


    Snow''s movements weren¡¯t human. They were haunting. His footwork was precise, his swings effortless, his strikes delivered with a cold, mechanical grace. A dance of death. But this dance wasn¡¯t beautiful¡ªit was horrifying.


    The next hellhound lunged. He sidestepped. The beast¡¯s claws barely grazed his coat before¡ªSHING! A reverse cut sliced it in half.


    The watching civilians trembled. Some clutched their mouths, eyes wide in shock. This wasn¡¯t a hero¡¯s battle. This was an execution.


    "M-Monster..." someone whispered.


    More hounds charged. Snow didn¡¯t stop. He twisted, spun, and struck. Every slash was surgical, every movement calculated. His blade never wasted a single inch.


    In less than a minute, the street was littered with corpses. Not a single monster left standing. The only sound that remained was the dripping of blood from Snow¡¯s sword.


    Then¡ªhe vanished.


    One moment, the people were watching him. The next, he was gone. No trace, no sound, nothing but the chilling memory of his blood-soaked swordplay.


    High above the city, on another rooftop, Snow wiped his blade clean. Cale stood beside him, his expression unreadable.


    "Your swordsmanship is as terrifying as ever," he muttered, "but your power... it¡¯s just average now. You weren¡¯t using any mana. What happened to you?"


    Snow didn¡¯t respond immediately. He simply stared at the moonlit city, his grip tightening around the sword¡¯s hilt.


    Finally, he spoke.


    "It¡¯s gone."


    To be continued...

 The phantom returns

    The night had passed, and with the rising sun came chaos. The streets buzzed with murmurs, whispers of a nightmare they had all believed was long gone. Fear hung thick in the air.


    Then came the media.


    Reporters flooded the devastated area, cameras flashing as they interviewed trembling survivors. The same words echoed from every mouth:


    "The gates... they''ve returned. The monsters have returned."


    "The hellhounds¡ªthose creatures should only appear in calamity-level gates! But they were here, hunting in packs! It was a massacre!"


    "And then he appeared... a man with crimson eyes and white hair. He moved like a phantom, cutting them down as if they were nothing! His swordsmanship... it was terrifying! Like death itself was dancing before us!"


    The news anchors scrambled to make sense of the chaos. "Could this mysterious warrior be a high-rank hunter? A secret protector?"


    Then someone hesitantly spoke, "No... There was someone with him. A man with jet-black hair, carrying a red sword¡ªit was like the legendary blade, Berserk!"


    That was all it took for realization to strike.


    "Cale."


    "It had to be him! Swordmaster Cale! And the only person he would lend his legendary blade to... Could it be? Could that be the mighty Calamity Killer?!"


    Panic turned into frenzy. News stations across the globe broadcasted the footage, spreading one message:


    "The Calamity Killer has returned."Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Some were in awe. Some were terrified.


    And somewhere far away, in the shadows of a grand hall, figures sat in silence, watching the news unfold.


    One chuckled, a smile playing on his lips. "So, he''s alive. I thought he was just a ghost story now."


    Another remained still, eyes unreadable. "Things just got interesting."


    But one man did not speak. His hands clenched around the fragile porcelain cup in his grip. A vein pulsed at his temple as he watched the screen with growing fury.


    CRACK.


    The cup shattered, its remains melting into a pool of boiling liquid. His voice was ice-cold.


    "Calamity Killer... you''ve finally crawled back from your grave."


    Meanwhile, in a dimly lit apartment, Snow leaned back on Cale¡¯s couch, lazily watching a K-drama, completely indifferent to the chaos outside.


    Cale crossed his arms, staring at his old friend in disbelief. "You''re seriously sitting here watching TV? The world is going insane because of your return."


    Snow smirked, sipping a can of soda. "You know I''m a fan of K-dramas. I didn''t have time for them before."


    Cale sighed. "Why aren¡¯t you at your place, anyway?"


    Snow¡¯s smirk faded slightly. "I don''t have one. The government assumed I was dead and sold off everything I owned. Donated it all to charity."


    Cale¡¯s eyes widened. "Are you serious?"


    Snow shrugged. "Yeah. And besides¡­ I haven¡¯t had time to watch TV in ten years. I was sleeping in a cold cave for ten years, recovering there."


    Silence hung between them for a moment. Then Cale spoke again, his voice lower this time.


    "Snow¡­ what the hell happened in that last gate? How did you end up like this? How did you lose everything?"


    Snow''s grip on the can tightened. He exhaled slowly, forcing a grin. "That, my friend¡­ is a long story."


    Cale leaned back, his sharp gaze studying his old friend. He hadn¡¯t changed much¡ªstill the same lean yet powerful frame, his hair a wild mess of white, his crimson eyes carrying the weight of battle. But something was different. His aura was weaker, as if a force that once burned within him had dwindled to embers.


    Cale reached for the sword beside him¡ªBerserk. His legendary blade, a weapon that had carved through countless gates. The mere presence of the sword carried a chilling intensity, as though it thirsted for battle. And yet, Snow wielded it with ease, even in his weakened state.


    Cale chuckled, shaking his head. "You¡¯re still terrifying with a blade in your hands. But I noticed something back there... You weren¡¯t using mana. Not even a bit. Why?"


    Snow¡¯s expression darkened.


    "Because... I don¡¯t have any left."


    To be continued...

 FLAHBACK OF THE PAST

    The early morning light filtered through the curtains of Cale¡¯s apartment, casting long shadows across the room. Snow sat lazily on the couch, flipping through TV channels with a distant look in his crimson eyes. His white hair shimmered in the sunlight, making him seem almost otherworldly. Meanwhile, Cale leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping his coffee, his sharp gaze locked onto his old friend.


    ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me what happened, Snow.¡± Cale¡¯s voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it.


    Snow didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he let out a long sigh, his eyes lingering on the TV screen. The news still replayed footage of last night¡¯s battle. The return of the Calamity Killer was the only thing the world could talk about.


    Finally, he spoke. ¡°Honestly? I think some of my memories are sealed¡­ by someone, or something, far stronger than anything I¡¯ve ever faced.¡± His voice was unusually serious. ¡°Far stronger than all the monsters I¡¯ve ever fought¡ªcombined.¡±


    Cale narrowed his eyes. ¡°Sealed?¡±


    Snow nodded. ¡°I only remember fragments. But I do remember this¡ªInferno Gate was no ordinary calamity-class dungeon. It was like... a stage set up for torture. As if someone designed it, not to be conquered, but to break whoever entered.¡±


    A chill ran down Cale¡¯s spine. ¡°What do you mean?¡±The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Snow clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. ¡°That gate wasn¡¯t like the others. There wasn¡¯t just one boss. Every single monster I¡¯d ever faced, every boss that had ever existed in previous gates¡ªnormal, medium, difficult, hell, disaster, and calamity¡ªthey were all inside. Waiting. It was like I was fighting the history of the gates itself.¡±


    Cale¡¯s grip on his cup tightened. ¡°All of them? That¡¯s¡­¡±


    Snow¡¯s voice dropped lower, a haunted look flickering across his face. ¡°I fought them all. Every. Last. One. Not just the ones I personally defeated, but even those from the past¡ªmonsters I had only read about, legends that were supposed to be long gone.¡±


    He exhaled, his breath shaky. ¡°I burned through every last drop of my mana, my life force barely holding me together. I was at death¡¯s door, barely standing. And just when I thought it was over¡ªjust when I thought I had won¡ªanother gate opened.¡±


    Cale felt a cold dread settle in his gut. ¡°Inside the Inferno Gate? Another gate?¡±


    Snow nodded. ¡°It wasn¡¯t normal. The air around it¡­ it felt wrong. Like reality itself was rejecting it. But I had no choice. I stepped through.¡±


    His fingers trembled slightly as he recalled the memory. ¡°And then... I saw him.¡±


    Cale frowned. ¡°Who?¡±


    Snow shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He had no face. No body. Nothing. Just... presence. Like a shadow that wasn¡¯t really there. But I could feel him looking at me. Studying me. And then... he spoke.¡±


    Snow¡¯s crimson eyes darkened. ¡°¡®You did a great job, you measly human.¡¯¡±


    A silence heavier than steel filled the room. Cale¡¯s mouth was dry. He had faced some of the strongest beings in existence, but even he felt an unfamiliar unease creeping up his spine.


    Snow¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°His voice wasn¡¯t spoken. It was inside my head. Calm... but suffocating. Like it could crush my soul with a single thought.¡±


    Cale leaned back, running a hand through his black hair.  ¡°Oh man¡­ we are so screwed.¡±


    To be continued...

 Chapter-6: BEYOND THE INFERNO

    Cale leaned back, his eyes fixed on Snow. ¡°So¡­ what happened after you met him? Do you remember anything he said to you?¡±


    Snow¡¯s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as if he was fighting an inner battle. For a moment, Cale thought he wouldn¡¯t answer. But then, with a voice weighed down by reluctant truth, Snow spoke, ¡°He said to me, ¡®This gate is just a trial for the catastrophe to come... and you are the worst obstacle in my plan.¡¯¡± His voice grew colder. ¡°Then he attacked me. That¡¯s the last thing I remember¡­ until I opened my eyes again.¡±


    Cale leaned forward, his heart thundering in his chest. ¡°And where was that?¡±


    Snow¡¯s gaze grew distant, his words heavy with nostalgia and pain. ¡°A cave¡­ surrounded by water on all sides. I was on an island in the middle of an endless ocean. I didn¡¯t know how much time had passed or even what year it was. My body was broken. I couldn¡¯t stand. I couldn¡¯t feel any mana.¡± He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. ¡°It was like I was hollow inside.¡±


    Cale felt a chill crawl up his spine. He¡¯d never heard of Snow being this vulnerable. ¡°You¡­ lost your mana?¡±


    Snow¡¯s voice grew bitter. ¡°That was the price of surpassing my body¡¯s limit¡­ of using my life force to power my mana. I had burned through everything, leaving me¡­ empty. My memories were fragmented. I couldn¡¯t remember my power¡­ or who I was. For years, I stumbled in that haze. But¡­¡± He looked at his hands, the fingers trembling slightly. ¡°The experience of the Calamity Killer¡­ that was harder to forget.¡±


    Snow¡¯s voice grew steadier as he continued, ¡°Day by day, I trained my body, trying to remember my powers, refining them without mana. It was hell. But I clawed my way back¡­ to this state.¡± He exhaled sharply, his shoulders sagging. ¡°But even now, I am far from my prime. Without my mana¡­ without Shelly¡­¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Snow¡¯s crimson eyes flickered with longing. ¡°Shelly¡­ my familiar¡­ my sword. She¡¯s not here. I remember¡­ sending her away after clearing the Inferno Gate¡­ but where did she go?¡±


    Cale¡¯s mouth was dry, his mind struggling to catch up. He opened his mouth, closed it, then finally managed, ¡°You just dropped that story on me¡­ and then you¡¯re casually asking about Shelly? Give me a damn minute to process this! Maaan, I¡¯m freaking out!¡± He buried his face in his hands. ¡°You went through all of that¡­ and then just disappeared? And now you¡¯re back¡­ without your powers¡­ or Shelly?¡±


    He looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief. ¡°For your information, I don¡¯t know where Shelly is. She vanished just like you did.¡±


    The air grew cold. Cale felt it immediately¡ªa bone-chilling, suffocating pressure. He looked at Snow¡­ and saw crimson eyes glowing with raw fury.


    A pulse of killing intent surged from Snow, so fierce it was almost tangible. Cracks spread like spiderwebs across the walls, the ground quaked, and the air itself felt heavy, like a crushing weight on Cale¡¯s chest. Objects shattered and collapsed around them, reduced to dust by the sheer force of Snow¡¯s rage.


    Cale¡¯s body froze, his muscles paralyzed by the oppressive aura. He couldn¡¯t breathe. Couldn¡¯t even scream. Outside, the tremors rippled through the neighborhood. People stopped in their tracks, shivering uncontrollably, an instinctual fear gripping their hearts.


    Miles away, high-ranking hunters jolted upright, eyes wide with horror. The air was thick with power¡ªraw, uncontained, and unmistakable.


    A veteran hunter¡¯s voice shook as he whispered, ¡°No¡­ that monster¡­ he¡¯s really back.¡±


    Inside the room, Cale felt the cold sweat on his brow, his vision blurring at the edges. He was drowning in Snow¡¯s killing intent.


    Snow¡¯s voice echoed, low and menacing, ¡°Shelly¡­ where are you?¡±


    To be continued...

 POWER OF THE PAST

    Cale¡¯s voice trembled, his body still paralyzed from the suffocating aura. ¡°S-Snow¡­ stop¡­ Please¡­ stop¡­¡±


    Snow¡¯s crimson eyes flickered, the rage within them slowly dimming. The air around them shifted, the suffocating pressure easing as the killing intent vanished. Cracks that marred the walls ceased spreading, and the ground stopped trembling. In an instant, the overwhelming darkness dissipated, leaving behind an eerie silence.


    Across the city, people gasped, clutching their chests as the crushing aura lifted. Some collapsed to their knees, drenched in cold sweat. Even the highest-ranking hunters felt the blood-chilling sensation. A shiver ran down their spines as they whispered in terror, ¡°That monster¡­ he¡¯s really back¡­¡±


    On the other side of the world, in a grand hall shrouded in darkness, an urgent meeting was convened. Twelve seats were arranged in a circle, eleven occupied by figures radiating immense power. Each was an S-rank hunter, worshipped as deities among humans. Yet, a lingering fear haunted their eyes.


    The man at the head of the table stood up, his lean frame cloaked in emerald robes. His venomous aura rippled through the room. He was the Poison King, known for his deadly poisons that could dissolve anything they touched.


    His voice cut through the silence. ¡°Gates are re-emerging¡­ and not just ordinary ones. Difficult, Hell, Calamity-class gates¡­ monsters are pouring out like never before. Tonight, a Hellhound appeared in the city. It was defeated¡­ by one man.¡±


    Murmurs spread across the room.


    ¡°Cale was following him,¡± Poison King continued, his eyes narrowing. ¡°You felt it too, didn¡¯t you? That suffocating aura¡­ That killing intent¡­ We tried denying the rumors, but he¡¯s back. The Calamity Killer¡­ has returned.¡±


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    Silence. Cold and heavy.


    Then, a sinister laugh echoed through the hall. A man lounged with his feet propped on the table, his body seemingly drenched in blood. His eyes gleamed with wicked amusement. ¡°Snaky,¡± he mocked, his voice dripping with contempt. ¡°You¡¯re trembling in fear, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    The Poison King¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Blood King¡­ you¡ª¡±


    But the man waved him off. ¡°If I wanted, I could crush him like an insect. I haven¡¯t played in the hunter world for twenty years¡­ Do you think I¡¯ve grown weak?¡± His laughter filled the room as his body melted into a pool of blood, vanishing from sight.


    Crimson stains remained on the floor where he once stood.


    Before anyone could speak, another figure stood up. A young man in his twenties wearing a casual hoodie and black pants. He was shadow killer known for His face and power that can devour the shadow . He looked completely uninterested in the meeting.


    ¡°What a boring meeting. I¡¯m out,¡± he yawned, his voice lazy. In the next moment, his body melted into the shadows, disappearing without a trace.


    The Poison King¡¯s fists clenched, his poison aura crackling. ¡°Those freaks¡­ just like him.¡± He took a deep breath, regaining his composure. ¡°The rest of you¡­ we must unite. You all remember¡­ the first time we heard of the Calamity Killer, he was already clearing Calamity-class gates solo. But when we saw him¡­ he was just a child. A child¡­ with the eyes of death.¡±


    The air grew colder. Memories resurfaced¡ªthe crimson eyes, the overwhelming aura, the sword that exhaled pure killing intent. ¡°That sword¡­¡± Poison King¡¯s voice trembled. ¡°Shelly¡­ the red sword that devoured everything. Only that monster could wield it. If he¡¯s really back¡­ we need to eliminate him before he regains his power.¡±


    The others nodded, their faces pale but resolute. One by one, they vanished, leaving the Poison King alone.


    His face twisted with anger. ¡°If not for you¡­ I¡¯d be the strongest hunter. You and that cursed sword¡­ The only reason you defeated me was because of it. But not anymore¡­¡±


    His gaze shifted to the far end of the hall. Encased in a glass tank was a crimson sword, its blade glowing ominously as if alive. It pulsated, radiating a killing intent that sent chills down his spine.


    The Poison King¡¯s lips curled into a wicked grin. ¡°Soon¡­ you¡¯ll be mine, Shelly.¡±


    The blade¡¯s glow intensified, as if it understood his words. Its blood-red aura flickered, whispering of carnage and death.


    To be continued...

 THE FAMILY

    Chapter-8: FAMILY


    We¡¯re back at Cale¡¯s house¡ªor at least, what¡¯s left of it. The place was barely standing. Appliances? Totaled. The walls? Well, let¡¯s just say they weren¡¯t looking too stable either.


    Cale let out a deep sigh before turning to Snow. ¡°Even with your power sealed, you¡¯re still this strong? Are you sure you¡¯re not just talking nonsense and spouting bullshit?¡±


    Snow, unfazed, casually shrugged. ¡°My power is sealed. That¡¯s why your house is still here. And you. And all the people in the neighborhood. Still alive.¡±


    Cale¡¯s expression shifted like he just remembered something crucial. Right. The man standing in front of him wasn¡¯t just some reckless twenty-something. He was the Calamity Killer.


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    ¡°Ahhh, damn it. Sorry, I guess I forgot for a second,¡± Cale grumbled, rubbing his temples. ¡°But still! I¡¯m in my thirties now, you know? And because of you, this house is barely standing! Do you have any idea what my wife will say?! She designed this house herself! And my daughter¡ªshe loves this house more than she loves me!¡±


    Snow¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh yeah! Speaking of which, where¡¯s your wife? And my niece? I haven¡¯t seen them yet!¡± He grinned. ¡°Man, I can¡¯t wait to eat the food she makes! Ohhh, I missed it so much!¡±


    Cale shot him a look. ¡°Don¡¯t forget¡ªmy wife doesn¡¯t know who you really are. She only remembers you as the little 13-year-old kid I picked up on a rainy day. She¡¯s the one who named you Snow.¡±


    Snow chuckled. ¡°Oh, I could never forget that. She was just like a mom to me.¡±


    Cale¡¯s gaze softened, but then he asked something he¡¯d been meaning to for years. ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve ever brought up your own family in a conversation. You¡¯ve never talked about them before.¡±


    Snow¡¯s playful expression faded. Annoyed, he muttered under his breath, ¡°They are not¡­¡±


    To be continued...

 THE PRESENT

    CHAPTER 9: THE PRESENT


    Snow scoffed. ¡°They¡¯re not worth mentioning. Just people who wanted to survive, even if it meant abandoning their own son. Forget it.¡± He waved a hand dismissively before turning to Cale. ¡°Now, hurry up and rebuild this house. Don¡¯t forget¡ªI haven¡¯t touched my account money. It¡¯s still the same.¡±


    Cale grinned. ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m not crying? I was just thinking, even if you didn¡¯t say that¡ª¡±


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    Snow groaned in annoyance. ¡°Just go already! And don¡¯t show me your face. I¡¯m leaving to call Myra and Aera¡ªI need to let them know I¡¯m back.¡±


    Cale smirked. ¡°Are you sure about that? You disappeared for ten years. You were only fifteen back then! My wife is definitely going to kill you.¡±


    Snow chuckled. ¡°Ahh, don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s the only one who has the right to scold me.¡±


    Suddenly, Cale¡¯s phone rang.


    He picked up, and a small, trembling voice came through the speaker.


    ¡°Dad... please help me... please... please¡ª¡±


    Clink.


    The call cut off.


    To be continued...

 Melancholia

    Cale¡¯s expression twisted into something unrecognizable¡ªpure, unfiltered desperation. It was as if the world had just collapsed around him, and the only thing left was rage, grief, and a burning need for vengeance.


    Snow raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off. "Hey, what¡¯s with that look?" he asked, half-joking. "You look like you just lost everything."


    But Cale didn¡¯t respond. He wasn¡¯t even looking at Snow anymore. His body was trembling, his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles turned white. He didn¡¯t blink, didn¡¯t move. It was as if his mind had shattered in an instant.


    Then, without warning, the sky darkened. Ominous black clouds rolled in unnaturally fast, swallowing the sunlight, casting the house into shadow. The air grew thick¡ªheavy, suffocating. Snow¡¯s instincts screamed at him, but before he could react¡ª


    BOOM!


    A spear of brilliant blue lightning crashed down from the heavens, splitting through the house like divine judgment. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, shaking the entire neighborhood. And just like that¡ªCale was gone.


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    Only scorched earth remained where he had stood.


    Snow stared at the spot in disbelief. His eyes narrowed, scanning the area. No trace of Cale. No residual mana, no lingering presence. Just... nothing.


    "...The hell?" he muttered, his usual nonchalant demeanor cracking. He tilted his head back, staring up at the storm-choked sky. Then, suddenly, he scoffed.


    "What a damn hypocrite," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. "He lectured me about wrecking his house, and then he goes and does this?" He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Seriously, what is with this uncle-type guy?"


    Shrugging it off, Snow stretched his arms behind his head and turned away. "Whatever. It¡¯s not my problem. I have a mission¡ªa very important one." His eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I need to eat some damn ice cream."


    He vanished in a blur, reappearing in front of his favorite store. A nostalgic sigh escaped him as he gazed at the counter. "Man, ten years without my favorite ice cream¡­ the suffering I¡¯ve endured¡­" He stepped forward, ready to place his order¡ª


    Then he froze.


    Something was wrong.


    Cale¡¯s presence¡ªgone.


    Not just far away. Not just hidden.


    Gone.


    The ice cream store, the bustling street, the people around him¡ªthey all blurred into the background. A strange, hollow feeling settled in his chest.


    "What¡­?" he whispered, his grip tightening. His usual carefree expression faded into something deadly serious. "Why¡­ why can¡¯t I sense him?"


    "what the heck is going on here......"


    To be continued¡­

 Desperation(Part 1)

    Snow stood still, his breath steady but his mind racing. No¡­ this can¡¯t be right. His senses, though dulled by his weakened state, screamed at him¡ªsomething was wrong. He tried to dismiss it, telling himself that Cale was too strong to fall so easily. But then, a sharp buzz rang through his head, like a warning siren echoing in his very soul.


    Damn it¡­ what is this feeling?


    He clenched his fists, frustration creeping in. He was too weak to pinpoint the exact source, too drained to properly sense what had happened. That alone sent a cold chill down his spine. His instincts had never failed him before. If he couldn¡¯t feel Cale¡ª


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    Without a second thought, Snow bent his knees slightly, then vanished from his spot. The ground beneath him cracked like shattered glass, debris shooting in every direction. With no mana at his disposal, this was purely raw strength¡ªproof that his body, even in its current state, was still a weapon.


    Within seconds, he landed atop the tallest building in the city. From there, he surveyed the landscape, scanning for anything¡ªany presence, any disturbance.


    Nothing.


    No trace of Cale. No presence. No heartbeat.


    For the first time in years, a terrifying thought gripped him. Cale¡­ are you dead?


    to be continued

 DESPERATION (PART 2)

    Meanwhile¡­


    Cale moved like a flash of lightning across the sky, his speed tearing through the wind. He hadn¡¯t wasted a second¡ªhis instincts, his very blood, screamed at him that something was horribly wrong. Within moments, he arrived at the vacation house where his wife and daughter were supposed to be.


    And what he saw made his blood run cold.


    The house¡­ was unrecognizable. The once-pristine home had been ripped apart, the walls barely standing, the floor covered in a thick, greenish-black slime. The scent of venom filled the air, burning his lungs even with just one breath. His body tensed as he looked around.


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    Bodies. His elite guards¡ªmen who had served him for years, who were among the strongest in his guild¡ªlay motionless. Some convulsed weakly, their veins bulging and blackened. Others¡­ were already dead, their flesh melted beyond recognition.


    His daughter. His wife.


    They were gone.


    Cale¡¯s fingers twitched, his entire body trembling¡ªnot from fear, but from unfiltered, seething rage. His golden lightning crackled around him violently, reacting to his fury.


    His eyes, once sharp with focus, burned with unbridled hatred. He knew exactly who did this. The venom, the destruction, the slow, excruciating death¡ª


    A low growl escaped his throat before erupting into a roar that shook the ruined house.


    "POISON KING!"


    The name alone dripped with venom, carrying a promise of absolute annihilation.


    To be continued¡­

 AGGRESSION

    Cale stood amidst the wreckage, his fists clenched, his body pulsing with electricity. His golden lightning crackled violently around him, illuminating the ruined house in eerie flickers of light.


    He had one objective¡ªfind the Poison King.


    Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and sent out waves of lightning, pulsing like sonar across the entire nation. Every bolt that shot into the sky expanded his reach, mapping the terrain, bouncing off buildings, sensing every lifeform within miles.


    But no trace of him.


    Damn it¡­


    The venom still lingered in the air, burning his nostrils, reminding him that he was too late. His wife and daughter¡ªwhere were they?


    Then, an unexpected noise cut through the silence.


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    Riiing.


    A phone.


    Cale flinched, his narrowed eyes snapping toward the source. A landline phone, barely clinging to the wall, rang in the middle of the destruction.


    For a moment, he hesitated.


    Was this a trap? A cruel joke?


    He was about to ignore it, focusing back on his search, but the sound wouldn¡¯t stop. It drilled into his head, disrupting his concentration. Annoyed, he scowled, sparks flickering across his fingertips.


    "Shut up, you damn thing."


    In a flash, his lightning surged toward the phone, lifting it from the receiver and bringing it to his ear. His voice was sharp, filled with venomous impatience.


    "Who the hell is calling?"


    The voice on the other end sent a chill down his spine.


    "Hey¡­ servant of the Calamity Killer."


    The voice was low¡ªdangerous.


    It carried an unnatural glee, as if the speaker was reveling in something horrifying. There was no urgency, no rage¡ªjust slow, creeping amusement, like a predator toying with its prey.


    Cale¡¯s grip on the phone tightened. His teeth clenched.


    The voice on the other end chuckled, a sound drenched in satisfaction.


    "You sound angry. Good¡­ because I¡¯m just getting started."


    To be continued¡­

 Chapter 14 - TRUE POWER

    Cale''s fury surged as the Venom King¡¯s voice echoed in his mind. He no longer cared about the consequences¡ªwhether his body could withstand the strain or what side effects would follow. None of it mattered anymore.


    Closing his eyes, he whispered, "Come forth, my true power."


    The moment he opened them, his entire being was engulfed in a brilliant blue aura. Lightning crackled around him, forming a coat of pure energy, as if the very elements had bowed to his command. His eyes shone an intense, electric blue, radiating power so overwhelming that it seemed he could destroy anything with just a glance.


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    With his full power unleashed, his senses sharpened beyond human limits. He could feel everything¡ªevery shift in the air, every heartbeat in the world. He sensed Snow desperately searching for him, the chaos unfolding across the land¡­ but above all, he found what mattered most.


    The Venom King.


    To be continued...

 Chapter 15 - FIGHT TO THE DEATH

    Cale¡¯s fists clenched as his heightened senses locked onto the location of his wife and daughter. His fury turned into an uncontrollable storm the moment he saw them¡ªtrapped, helpless under the Venom King¡¯s twisted torment.


    A sharp breath left his lips. He no longer cared about the world, the aftermath, or the cost of using his full power. Right now, there was only one thing on his mind.


    Destruction.


    Summoning every bolt of lightning in the sky, he roared as his body transformed into a streak of pure energy. With a deafening crack, he teleported directly into the Venom King''s lair. A pillar of lightning crashed down like divine judgment, obliterating everything in its path. The building crumbled, engulfed in electrified ruin.


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    But amidst the destruction, a protective barrier of blue energy remained, shielding his wife and daughter.


    He turned to them with a smirk, his eyes still glowing with untamed power.


    "Do I look cool protecting you like this?" he asked, his voice carrying a mix of relief, humor, and lingering worry.


    His wife looked at him for a moment before chuckling. "Not bad¡­" she teased. "But you''re still way behind Snow."


    She smiled, and despite everything, for a brief moment, warmth filled the air.


    To be continued...