《The Path of Taboo: Rebirth and Awakening》 Chapter 1: The Gods Corpses Hand
Buck took a deep breath, the fresh air trickling into his parched lungs like a cool spring. He slowly opened his eyes, his throat feeling so dry it seemed ready to ignite, while his brain was enveloped in a thick fog, leaving him in a state of half-withered agony. He strained to move his eyes, scanning the dimly lit tent before him. Everything around him felt unfamiliar and eerie. "A tent? Where is this... What exactly happened? I... Who am I?" A whirlwind of chaotic visions intertwined and clashed within Buck''s mind, as if an invisible force was preventing him from merging the memories of two different lives. Wait, memory fusion? A sudden realization struck him like a thunderbolt¡ªhis soul did not belong to this world. He had experienced death firsthand: his heart had stopped, his brain had descended into lifeless silence, and the past had become nothing more than a blurred haze. Yet, one name slowly emerged from the depths of his mind¡ªBuck. In both lives, he had been called this name. However, in this world, he was now known as Buck Frank. The movements inside the tent abruptly pulled him from his chaotic thoughts. "Young Master, are you certain you wish to begin?" A knight-clad guard standing beside him gazed at him with a solemn expression, his eyes filled with concern and hesitation. Begin what? And who are you? Buck furrowed his brows and finally noticed the eerie circle of robed figures standing silently within the spacious tent. At the center, an intricate formation was drawn in a deep crimson hue, exuding an ominous aura. A faint but unmistakable scent of blood lingered in the air. Buck¡¯s heart pounded¡ªthis red substance was no mere paint; it was fresh blood. Two young women in tattered garments stood motionless at the center of the blood-drawn ritual circle. They were breathtakingly beautiful, their flaxen hair cascading down like waterfalls. Even though their slave garments were worn and ragged, their exquisite figures could not be concealed, evoking an involuntary stir of emotions. And yet, in their hands, they each clutched a gleaming dagger, its cold sheen flickering under the dim light, poised to slice through the suffocating air at any moment. Buck quickly realized that every person in the tent¡ªwhether the black-robed figures or the guards standing behind him¡ªhad their eyes fixed on him, awaiting his command. The moment he gave the order, the two beautiful slaves would drive their daggers into each other¡¯s chests, spilling their warm blood onto the ritual circle. A slave duel? No¡ªthis was an unspeakably evil ritual! From the eyes of the two women, Buck could see the raw emotions of struggle, terror, and despair¡ªa desperate yearning to live, yet a helpless submission to fate. Behind him, the guards¡¯ gazes carried silent pleas: Young Master, stop this¡­ But the robed figures, on the other hand, stared at him with fervent, almost fanatical anticipation, eager to witness a grand blood sacrifice. An unshakable unease surged through Buck¡¯s heart. He understood that this was an extremely dangerous situation. "What the hell? Are you kidding me?" His breathing quickened. He pressed his fingers against his temples, squeezing them tightly as a dull throbbing pain pulsed through his head. He needed to calm down. At this moment, he urgently required more information to decide his next move. When Buck finally spoke, his voice was hoarse and grating, like rusted iron scraping against metal¡ªso unpleasant that it startled even him. The robed figure across the ritual circle, however, had already lost patience. They had waited far too long for this exhilarating blood-soaked ceremony. One of the robed men stepped forward abruptly, chanting an eerie incantation in a low whisper. In an instant, an invisible, bone-chilling darkness began to spread from beneath his feet, as if attempting to drag the entire world into an abyss of endless night. The two slave women trembled violently, their bodies seemingly controlled by an unseen force. Slowly, they stepped toward each other, raising their daggers. With a flicker of cold steel, the sharp blades sliced into their skin. The scent of blood thickened, saturating the air like a tangible mist, filling the entire tent. The moment the metallic tang reached Buck¡¯s nostrils, a violent shudder ran down his spine. No¡ªsomething was terribly wrong. This stench, this ritual, this ominous fluctuation of power¡ªit was all too bizarre, too perilous. A deafening warning bell rang in his mind. Then, amidst the chaos, Buck caught the faint echoes of something beyond the tent. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. A distant roar. A ferocious beast howling, its voice laced with insatiable hunger and rage, drawing ever closer¡ªundoubtedly lured by the thick stench of blood. "Stop!" Buck¡¯s voice boomed like thunder. At the same time, he reached out and seized the arm of the nearest guard captain, his grip urgent. "Stop them!" He didn¡¯t know what the real Buck Frank had intended to do, but whatever it was, it was a path to certain doom. The guard captain¡¯s eyes flashed with resolve. Without hesitation, his arm swung. A bloodied dagger appeared in the chest of the chanting robed figure, piercing his heart with unerring precision. A fountain of blood erupted, staining the ground. The abrupt turn of events threw the entire tent into turmoil. Buck¡¯s ears caught the unmistakable sound of swords being drawn, and the other guards instinctively gripped their rifles. The sharp clinking of metal echoed through the tense air. Rifles? Why would there be rifles in this era¡­? No¡ªnow wasn¡¯t the time for such questions. Buck lowered his gaze, frantically searching for a weapon of his own. The fallen robed figure lay motionless within the blood-stained ritual circle, while the other cultists erupted into frenzied rage. ¡°Traitors to our great master! You shall all be offerings to the Blood God!¡± With crazed roars, they charged forward like ravenous wolves. The two slave girls were so terrified by this sudden turn of events that their faces turned pale with fright, stumbling backward in panic. At this moment, the black-robed figures no longer had the time to concern themselves with them¡ªtheir eyes were filled only with hatred and madness. ¡°Lunatics¡­¡± Buck took a deep breath. In his frantic search, he realized he had no weapons on him. The only thing he could use for defense was the heavy black wooden box, the length of his arm, lying on his lap. The battle erupted in an instant. The black-robed figure closest to Buck was immediately struck down by the deafening roar of gunfire. However, the others displayed astonishing agility. They charged forward fearlessly, like moths to a flame, throwing themselves at the knights in their armor. They used their own bodies to shield their comrades from bullets and blades, sacrificing themselves as they clawed out the eyes of the guards with their bare hands. In an instant, screams of agony and battle cries intertwined, filling the entire tent with a nightmarish cacophony, as if hell itself had descended upon them. Panting heavily, Buck swung the solid wooden box with a reverse grip, smashing a frenzied attacker to the ground. In the chaos, no one paid any more attention to the two slave girls¡ªthey had likely already fallen under the flurry of blades. But before that, more guards and black-robed cultists had already perished in the brutal melee. ¡°What kind of lunatic cultists are these, daring to fight a noble¡¯s private soldiers to the death?!¡± Buck cursed inwardly. He swung the wooden box once more, deflecting another oncoming attacker. The blade tore through the tent fabric, and Buck, drenched in sweat, scrambled out of the blood-reeking battlefield. A gust of mountain wind howled past, sending a chill through his body. He looked around, and what he saw made his heart sink. This was neither a military camp nor a noble¡¯s estate¡ªit was a desolate, pitch-black valley, surrounded by jagged rocks, eerily silent. So that was it. The original noble youth, in order to avoid prying eyes, had secretly led a group of cultists into this remote mountain in the dead of night to conduct this horrifying ritual. What a foolish decision! A bitter smile tugged at Buck¡¯s lips. Just then, Buck noticed several towering shadows approaching from the depths of the valley. These figures stood over twice the height of a man, their massive bodies exuding a deathly blue-green hue. Their arms were unnaturally long, and their razor-sharp black claws gleamed ominously in the darkness, like the deadliest of daggers, sending shivers down his spine. ¡°Monsters?¡± Buck¡¯s heart clenched. The captain of the guards, drenched in blood, burst out of the tent. The moment he laid eyes on those creatures, his expression turned grim. He bellowed, ¡°Demonic beasts! Protect the young master! Form up¡ªattack!¡± The surviving guards, still reeling from the brutal slaughter inside the tent, emerged to face the monstrosities with visible dread. Yet, not a single one of them backed down. Without needing orders, half of them split off and charged forward alongside the captain, fully aware of the peril before them. Determination burned in the captain¡¯s eyes¡ªhe knew full well he might not live through this night. His only wish was for the honorable Viscount Frank to take care of their families. However, the disparity in power was simply too great. Despite their nearly equal numbers, the thick-skinned, iron-fleshed monstrosities tore through the formation with ease. Their razor-sharp claws sliced through armor as if it were paper; their foul, gaping maws crushed throats in an instant. Blood sprayed, screams echoed, and the stench of death thickened in the valley. Seeing this, Buck didn¡¯t hesitate. He grabbed the remaining guards and turned to flee. But the formation behind him collapsed too quickly. Some guards had no choice but to stay behind, sacrificing their lives to buy Buck time to escape. The wind howled in his ears as he ran, uncertain of how far he had gone. One by one, the guards around him turned back, wielding their swords with unwavering resolve to hold off the pursuers. No matter how hard Buck tried to stop them, they could not be swayed. Finally, his strength gave out. His legs could no longer support him, and he collapsed face-first onto the ground. He had to admit, the Frank family¡¯s guards were truly brave. They had nearly slain all the monsters¡­ nearly. The last remaining green-skinned fiend, moving like a specter, closed in on him. Its grotesque mouth curled into a sinister grin as it approached, as if savoring the thought of feasting on Buck. ¡°Am I going to die again¡­?¡± Sitting on the ground, Buck looked up at the towering beast with a dazed expression. A wave of desolation washed over him. He had entered this chaotic, dark world, only to be thrust into this life-and-death struggle from the very start. ¡°I was given a second chance at life¡­ How can it just end like this?¡± A surge of unwillingness flared in Buck¡¯s heart. He screamed inwardly, ¡°No! Never! I will do anything¡ªanything¡ªto survive!¡± Anything? As if answering his desperate plea, an unseen force stirred in the void, amused by the tiny mortal¡¯s cry. It granted him a faint, cryptic whisper. Buck, racking his brain for a way to survive, suddenly noticed the fallen box beside him. This box¡ªhe had held onto it from the very beginning. It seemed to hold some kind of special significance¡­ He hesitated for a moment, then reached out and slowly unlatched the box. A severed arm, deep crimson in color, tumbled out. As if guided by some sinister instinct, Buck grasped it. At that moment, a tidal wave of dizziness crashed over him! A terrifying psychic force assaulted his mind, plunging him into hallucinations. And then¡ªa strange prompt appeared, vividly etched in his consciousness. ¡¾Severed Arm of the Divine Corpse detected. Initiate grafting ritual?¡¿ Buck¡¯s eyes widened in shock as the monstrous fiend loomed ever closer. Gritting his teeth, he steeled his resolve and reached for the final straw extended to him from the abyss. ¡°Yes!¡± Chapter 2: Demon Creatures Arm What exactly is the "limb grafting ceremony"? Buck was utterly confused, unable to find any relevant knowledge about it in the fragmented memories he desperately tried to piece together. But right now, this was his only hope for survival. Boom... As soon as he chose "Yes," the dark red, eerie arm suddenly erupted with a massive flow of information, surging into his brain. The impact on his soul made him dizzy once again, the world spinning around him. In an instant, the arm vanished from his hand¡ªit seemed to have fused with his body! [Limbs grafting ceremony completed, obtained arm: Divine Corpse''s Hand] [Divine Corpse''s Hand I: Requires consumption of an indefinite amount of spiritual or life energy to activate.] Buck was stunned, looking at his hand. On the panel in his consciousness, there was now a peculiar ability listed. "Divine Corpse''s Hand... I see." He murmured softly, slowly raising his palm. With the information that had just flooded his mind, he quickly learned how to use this ability, but it wasn¡¯t the simple ¡°limb grafting¡± he had originally expected. At this moment, the monster had walked right up to Buck, who was sitting helplessly on the ground. The monster bared its sharp teeth, and a foul, rancid stench filled the air. Its enormous body cast a shadow that completely enveloped Buck. The creature looked at this person and determined that he had completely lost his will to survive. Excitedly, it extended its sharp claws, lunging toward this "lamb to the slaughter." Suddenly, the monster froze, blinking in disbelief, as if questioning whether it was seeing things. Because it saw a huge red arm suddenly stretch out from behind the seemingly weak "lamb"! The monster didn¡¯t even have time to react before its head was tightly gripped by the dark red-patterned palm. Buck stared at this scene blankly, instinctively squeezing his hand¡ªPff! The monster¡¯s head exploded like a watermelon, brain matter and blood splattering everywhere. Its massive body fell backward with a crash, raising a cloud of dust. However, Buck felt no joy from killing the enemy. Just as the arm crushed the monster¡¯s head, a sharp pain suddenly pierced through his chest, and a wave of weakness washed over him like a tide. Only then did he notice another two bars marked with values on the panel in his consciousness: [Life Energy: 20/120] [Spiritual Energy: 0/100] The spiritual energy bar was instantly drained as the arm activated, followed by the life energy bar dropping like a flood, leaving only 20 points. In that instant, Buck felt as though every ounce of strength had been drained from his body, plunging him into extreme exhaustion. Despite no external wounds, he felt that even a child¡¯s gentle kick could easily send him to his grave. "So, this ''life energy'' is just like a ''health bar.'' Once it''s depleted, I die immediately!" Buck thought bitterly. From the information he had received, he now understood that through this strange ceremony, he had transformed into an extraordinary being in this world... but one on the brink of death. Indeed, this world was full of mysterious forces, but dealing with the unknown often came at a heavy cost. The Church strictly prohibited any unknown ceremonies because even if successful, no one knew what kind of terrifying things they might attract. Now, Buck had personally experienced this¡ªblack smoke, like a rolling mist, rose from the void around him and slowly coalesced into a grotesque and nauseating phantom. It resembled a mass of filthy mud draped in a tattered black cloak, with a head that was nothing more than a massive, abyss-like mouth, continuously emitting the eerie, haunting growls of a hungry creature. Hunger... hunger... eternal hunger! Buck himself could truly feel that maddening hunger, and this endless torment would follow him for the rest of his life, like a shadow. [Spirit Possession by Ritual: The Devourer] This, then, was the "cost" he had incurred by performing the limb grafting ceremony! Worse still, the hungry spirit seemed to have noticed Buck¡¯s weakness and, driven by its insatiable hunger, it attempted to completely consume the last remnants of his life energy! Its grotesque mouth, like an insidious phantom, pressed against Buck¡¯s back, sucking something out of him. Each time it moved, Buck¡¯s life energy dropped by 1 point... "Damn it!" Buck nearly went mad. He had just escaped death¡¯s door, only to find himself facing another kind of death! As he watched his life energy slowly drain away, his breath became more erratic, and he grew weaker and weaker. Even though the shadow of death was closing in, the terrifying hunger still clung to him, filling his eyes with blood and pushing him to the brink of madness. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. In his dazed state, he saw the massive monster¡¯s corpse lying in front of him. Driven by hunger, he instinctively reached out and grabbed the monster¡¯s arm, biting down hard on the sharp claws. An unexpected thing happened! The prompt panel in his mind flashed, causing Buck¡¯s heart to skip a beat as his eyes slowly regained clarity. [Found Monster¡¯s Arm, would you like to perform the limb grafting ceremony?] [Hint: Consuming the freshly killed monster¡¯s arm can absorb its life energy.] In the midst of fate, there seemed to be an invisible force pushing him step by step towards the abyss. But at this moment, he had no other choice; he could only dive into this ritual once again! ¡°Yes! Make me swallow it, let me live!¡± The demon monster''s arm turned into an intangible form, merging into Buck''s body. At the same time, a surge of life energy, like a raging torrent, flooded into his exhausted body! [Devoured Demon Arm, Absorbed Life Energy, Maximum +200.] Buck was overjoyed to discover that his "health bar" not only returned to its original value but even exceeded the original 120-point maximum! [Life Energy: 220/320] [Mana: 20/100] [Limb Ritual Completed, Acquired Arm: Demon Creature¡¯s Arm] [Demon Creature¡¯s Arm I: Requires 10 Mana or Life Energy to Activate.] At this moment, Buck was fully immersed in the wonderful feeling of life energy flooding his body, with no time to care about the newly acquired arm''s ability. However, this joy did not last long. Soon, he had to face the price of the limb ritual once again! Another cloud of black mist, like lightning, rushed from the void into reality, stabbing into his eyes at an incredibly fast pace. Buck immediately screamed in pain, rolling on the ground in agony. ¡°My eyes!¡± A sharp pain radiated from his eyeballs, and blood tears began to pour out ¡ª this time, it was an evil spirit residing in his eyes! [Ritual Evil Spirit Possession: The Observer] ... Buck did not know how long he had been lying in the desolate valley. It wasn''t until the pain in his eyes faded, his life energy slowly restored to full, and the tormenting hunger returned that he struggled to sit up. With his now slightly altered eyes, he looked around. The dark valley seemed somewhat clearer to him, but some vague, monstrous figures in the distance made his spine shiver. It seemed that other demon monsters were slowly approaching! Gritting his teeth, he turned and ran desperately toward the other end of the valley. As he ran, he struggled to use his chaotic mind to try to make sense of the connection between his abilities and the ritual. Preliminary judgment showed that the life energy was probably his "health bar," which would normally recover by a small amount every minute. Mana, on the other hand, seemed like the "blue bar" ¡ª this energy came from the evil spirits summoned by the ritual. He noticed that his Mana had recovered by 20 points, thanks to satisfying the "Devourer" evil spirit''s hunger. According to fragmented memories and newly acquired knowledge, people in this world who were supernatural beings fought using Mana. However, he seemed a bit different... While stumbling and running, Buck was in a rush, and just after crossing a low ridge in the valley, a massive cyan monster suddenly appeared in his view! The demon, seemingly having smelled the scent of a human, immediately lunged toward Buck, its movements swift as lightning! Buck¡¯s pupils involuntarily contracted. Strangely, he saw that a "health bar" had appeared above the monster''s head. "Is that its life energy?" he realized, understanding that the evil spirit residing in his eyes, "The Observer," seemed to have brought him some benefit... While he still didn¡¯t know what troubles this evil spirit would bring in the future, for now, he knew that this green demon monster had 200 points of life energy! So that''s how it works... In the blink of an eye, Buck suddenly understood what had just happened. The dark red arm had caused 200 points of damage to the monster by draining 100 points of Mana and 100 points of life energy, which was why it had been crushed to death! "Since that''s the case..." He instinctively wanted to summon that terrifying red arm again, but a sudden sharp feeling of palpitations gripped him, and terrifying whispers seemed to roar from every cell in his body. They were warning him not to do it... Buck broke out in a cold sweat, instantly realizing that something was wrong. He quickly checked the prompt in his mind and saw that the descriptions of those arms had some key new information. [God''s Corpse''s Hand I: Requires an indefinite amount of Mana or Life Energy to activate, Cooldown Time: 60 minutes.] [Demon Creature¡¯s Arm I: Requires 10 Mana or Life Energy to activate, Cooldown Time: 3 seconds.] "There''s even a cooldown?" Buck¡¯s heart sank. The ability of the God''s Corpse¡¯s Hand was still in a dim state. This powerful arm was likely the manifestation of some high-level mysterious power, and with his current physical state, he couldn¡¯t use it continuously. At that moment, the demon monster¡¯s sharp claws reached out toward his body. Buck instinctively raised his hand to block! The sharp claws instantly tore away 100 points of his life energy, ripping several bloody wounds across his arms and body! The excruciating pain of his body being torn apart nearly made Buck faint. But he endured the pain and didn¡¯t forget to fight back. Just as the demon monster''s claws struck him, another identical cyan claw materialized from his back and ruthlessly stabbed into the demon¡¯s chest! Chapter 3: The Continuously Evolving Arm Blood poured out like a fountain, gushing violently between Buck and the monster! Buck was splattered with blood, and the monster¡¯s blue blood sprayed all over his face. The hot and foul-smelling blood acted like a powerful stimulant, instantly igniting Buck''s fighting spirit. He roared, exerting all his strength to control the monster''s blue claw, launching a second savage attack! The monster, similarly roused by bloodlust, didn¡¯t back down. It bared its teeth and claws, swinging its sharp talons at the small human who dared challenge it. The monster''s claws, like sharp daggers, tore through Buck''s shoulder, blood gushing out and staining his clothes. However, Buck skillfully avoided the other claw, using its momentum to evade. At the moment the monster¡¯s attack faltered, Buck¡¯s mysterious claw shot out like a black lightning bolt, swiftly piercing the monster¡¯s throat! The monster froze in place, blue blood spurting out of its throat like a fountain. It clutched its neck in terror, stumbling backward two steps, before crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust. Buck, panting heavily, half-knelt on the ground, his wounds grotesque and terrifying, blood continuing to flow and staining the earth beneath him. But with his tenacious will, he refused to fall. From the very beginning of the battle, he was confident of his victory. His life energy was higher than that of the monster, and though his magic claw had a brief cooldown, it was more unpredictable and difficult to defend against than the monster¡¯s attack. The monster¡¯s claws had drained over two hundred of his life points, but his magic claw had caused a nearly equal amount of damage to the enemy. In such a fierce exchange, the scales of victory naturally tilted in Buck¡¯s favor. In the next moment, Buck, gritting his teeth in pain, crawled to the fallen monster¡¯s side and unhesitatingly grabbed its arm! ¡¾Devour monster''s arm, absorb life energy, increase maximum limit by 200.¡¿ As the arm merged with his body, Buck once again felt a surge of life energy flooding into him like a rushing tide. This power brought him immense relief, and the wounds on his body sizzled with white steam, rapidly healing at an astonishing rate! ¡¾Life Energy: 315/520¡¿ Seeing his maximum life points soar again, Buck slowly clenched his fists. While the life energy didn¡¯t fully heal his injuries, it no longer affected his ability to move. ¡°So, the life energy I absorb is actually the monster¡¯s life limit?¡± Buck thought to himself. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, as long as I keep killing these monsters, I can keep increasing my health... This ability is insane!¡± Moreover, Buck was delighted to discover that after merging the monster¡¯s arm, his magic claw had undergone a subtle transformation. It seemed to have grown stronger and more powerful, with its iron-blue skin becoming tougher. This claw could actually grow by devouring other arms! A confident smile slowly spread across Buck¡¯s face. But suddenly, his vision began to swing uncontrollably, and his gaze fixed on a distant shadow drawing closer. Above the shadow''s head, a life bar appeared... ¡¾Devour monster''s arm, absorb life energy, increase maximum limit by 200.¡¿ Soon, Buck, with his increasingly refined combat skills, swiftly defeated the second monster that appeared. This time, he barely took any damage. Under his strong control, the magic claw successfully blocked the monster¡¯s attack. As his life energy expanded, he felt his body becoming more agile and powerful. With a swift sidestep, he precisely seized the enemy¡¯s opening, then struck with force, piercing the monster¡¯s chest. As a result, his life limit had increased to an astounding 720 points, and his blue arm had once again grown stronger. ¡°This is the power of an extraordinary being...¡± Buck murmured. In just a few minutes, he had accumulated more than seven times the life energy of an average person, no longer the fragile human who could easily be struck down by a monster¡¯s swipe. But behind this great power, could he truly withstand the price? The torturous hunger surged once again, a relentless wave of hunger that seemed to threaten to consume him. Although absorbing and merging the arms slightly alleviated the desire of the evil spirit, he still couldn''t escape the insatiable hunger that seemed to devour him. He was desperate for food, aching to eat! Buck trudged forward, each step heavy, moving toward the other end of the valley. In his foggy memory, he recalled that if he could just get out of this desolate valley, he would return to the world of human civilization, where food awaited him¡ªfood he longed for... This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it In the darkness, Buck moved forward alone. There were no stars or moon in the sky, and everything around him was pitch black, as if the whole world was enveloped in endless darkness. He didn¡¯t know how long he had been walking until, once again, he crested a hill, and the plains outside the valley came into view. The black earth stretched endlessly toward the horizon. There, in the southern sky, hung an enormous crescent moon, so large it seemed to cover the entire horizon... ¡°This is... the moon of this world? This is just... not scientifically possible¡­¡± The shocking and terrifying scene seemed to spark something in Buck''s mind, and suddenly, he seemed to remember something. In the blurred knowledge of his original self, this world was always like this. The object that resembled a "moon" was not actually the moon, but another strange planet closely attached to the southern end of this world! Logically, two such close planets should have collided long ago, but strangely, this had never happened, and this bizarre situation had continued for over three hundred years! His thoughts became clearer, and more long-forgotten things resurfaced. Half of this strange world had already fallen into darkness. The once unlearned mind of the viscount''s son slowly began to recall certain historical knowledge... The vast Goliath Empire had risen forcefully three hundred years ago under the leadership of the Lionheart King. They utilized the knowledge of witchcraft and alchemy brought from another world, and tenaciously held half of the world, gradually leading the entire dynasty into a prosperous era where steam cannons and extraordinary blades coexisted. But darkness, like maggots on bones, had never truly faded... Buck walked aimlessly into the plains, facing the enormous shadow of the moon, his steps light as he continued forward. At this moment, he had completely lost the will to recall more things; all he could think about now was finding food. Even the roughest, hardest-to-swallow scraps would be invaluable to him. He would even be willing to set aside his former noble dignity and eat anything that could be shoved into his mouth! No¡­ Noble? I¡¯m not a noble¡­ But¡­ who am I? Buck''s mind was a chaotic mess. He ran forward in a daze until, just before dawn, he saw the lights of a village on the plains. The flickering lights were like stars of hope in the darkness. At dawn, a farmer with a hoe was walking toward his field. In the dim light, he saw a figure lying on the dirt road. The farmer was surprised and hurried over, carefully helping the young man in noble attire. He heard the young man muttering, "Food... give me food..." ... Buck was taken in by a kind farmer and finally got the food he longed for. Although it was only a potato (which for his original noble self, was of terribly poor taste), to Buck, it seemed like a delicacy. Under the warm gaze of the old farmer, Larsen, he devoured one potato after another, temporarily suppressing the hunger that almost drove him mad. What especially caught Buck''s attention was that the farmer, Larsen, had a daughter who seemed just about to come of age. This girl, named Citi, had a more mature and fuller figure compared to others her age. Especially her well-developed chest, which irresistibly drew Buck''s gaze... Buck awkwardly covered his eyes and sighed helplessly. Now, he finally understood what kind of trouble that "Watcher" evil spirit would bring him¡­ However, the girl seemed completely unaware of Buck''s strange look and kept observing him with curious eyes. This made Buck feel extremely uncomfortable... This was so wrong, completely different from what he remembered. In the memories of his previous self, the common folk should have avoided him at all costs, never daring to look at him in such a direct way. But his head still ached terribly, and many memories seemed to be shrouded in a fog, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t remember. He was simply too tired and desperately needed rest... Thus, Buck temporarily settled in this strange little village. Everything here felt unfamiliar to him, just as the entire world did. The strange little village, the enthusiastic villagers... In order to get more food, Buck volunteered to help the villagers work in the fields. Without hesitation, he took off his noble attire and changed into rough homespun clothes. Farmer Larsen gladly accepted his help, and Larsen''s daughter Citi still seemed indifferent to Buck¡¯s gaze. At night, Buck would leave the village on his own and venture into the dark forest and the edge of the mountains, searching for the roaming monsters. He would have no hesitation in using the divine corpse''s hand and the monster''s hand to crush the monsters'' skulls, then devour their arms... The monster¡¯s hand grew stronger and stronger with each brutal night of killing, as if there was no end to it. When he killed his tenth monster, his arm finally underwent a noticeable transformation. [Monster''s Hand II: Requires 10 spiritual power or life energy to activate, cooldown: 2.5 seconds.] It had leveled up, and the number after the name had changed to "II," with the cooldown further shortened. Compared to the divine corpse''s hand, which could instantly kill enemies as long as health and spiritual energy were sufficient, the monster''s hand, while not as powerful, had the advantage of a very short cooldown, allowing frequent attacks. The second-level monster''s hand had become much stronger. Now, Buck could directly use this arm to overpower monsters and even break their arms. His life energy had also grown to a terrifying 3520 after these few nights of fierce battles. Buck became stronger and stronger, strong enough that he no longer feared any attackers suddenly emerging from the darkness... But deep down, he felt that this was still far from enough. There were many memories he had not recovered, and it seemed like he had forgotten some crucial things. It wasn¡¯t until one night when Buck returned from the forest, that he saw, from a distance, that the usually peaceful village was now engulfed in roaring flames, and screams and cries for help echoed through the night. The shrill cries of women and some beast-like roars intertwined, sounding particularly harsh in the silent night sky... Chapter 4: The Clash in the Village and the Unfolding Truth Buck was frantic, like a black flash of lightning as he rushed into the village. As he feared, the worst had come true. It seemed that there had always been monsters lurking near the village, and no matter how hard he fought, those creatures were like weeds that could never be eradicated. Every morning, Buck would hear bad news from old farmer Larsen about more villagers missing. Without thinking, those missing villagers must have been devoured by the monsters¡­ Tonight, these monsters, hiding in the darkness, could no longer restrain themselves and had boldly invaded the village. In Buck''s mind, the image of farmer Larsen''s daughter, Citi, with her alluring figure, immediately surfaced, and guilt filled his heart. He couldn¡¯t allow this girl to die at the claws of the monsters. After all, he had gained immense strength! However, as Buck stepped into the burning village, the sight before him stunned him. The invader wasn¡¯t a monster at all¡ªit was a man, a human through and through. This man wore a black long coat, a triangular leather hat, and held a silver sword in his right hand, with a short gun in his left. He seemed like an emissary from hell, stepping through the roaring flames, swinging his weapon, the silver light flashing as he easily slaughtered the villagers. With every swing of his sword, another villager fell. ¡°Hunter! Damn hunter! Kill him! Kill him quickly!¡± The villagers were furious and rushed toward the enemy, seemingly fearless of death. Their tools¡ªhoes and machetes¡ªbecame their weapons against the strong enemy. However, this hunter''s movements were extremely strange, and the villagers¡¯ attacks were easily evaded. The hunter would flick his silver sword, and the villagers'' throats would be effortlessly slit. But those villagers with slit throats didn¡¯t fall down immediately. Clutching their bleeding necks, their eyes burned with fury as they continued to charge at the enemy. Their muscular arms bulged with veins, and their sharp claws glittered in the light of the flames. They used every weapon they could, even baring their teeth, determined to kill the arrogant hunter. A villager saw Buck and immediately shouted to him, urging him to join the fight and take down the enemy they loathed. But Buck¡¯s steps gradually slowed, and then completely halted. At this moment, he finally understood why this village had always felt so strange¡­ He finally remembered that crucial detail¡­ He saw old farmer Larsen, wielding a severed, iron-blue arm, swinging it at the hunter¡¯s sword. He saw those villagers who had once eagerly given him food and water using their claws to block the blood-colored bullets the hunter shot at them. He saw their bodies swelling up during the battle, their skin withering and turning pale, their faces becoming increasingly grotesque¡­ Buck suddenly realized, a bitter, self-mocking smile appearing on his face. No wonder that cute girl, Citi, didn¡¯t mind his lecherous gaze. Even when driven by the evil spirit¡¯s desires, he couldn¡¯t help but try to lift her skirt, but she showed no panic, instead revealing a strange, sneaky smile¡­ Now, he watched with his own eyes as the hunter¡¯s silver sword pierced Citi¡¯s mouth, yet she remained unfazed, squinting her newly grown eyes and using her sharp teeth to easily bite the sword, letting out a shrill, ear-piercing laugh. Yes, how could such a monster care about his perverse behavior? The hunter¡¯s silver gun roared, spitting out blood-colored bullets that instantly blew Citi¡¯s head apart. His efficiency in killing was terrifyingly high. Faced with these increasingly monstrous villagers, he showed no fear or hesitation. After all, he was a battle-hardened, experienced hunter. As the monsters fell one by one under the hunter''s sword and gun, Buck, who remained motionless, was getting closer and closer to him. Buck finally saw the face under the brim of the hunter¡¯s hat. In an instant, a flood of memories surged into his mind, and he finally fully recalled the past of his original self¡­ The son of Viscount Frank had died suddenly during a cult ritual in a desolate mountain, allowing Buck, the transmigrator, to take over this body. Everything was connected to this hunter in front of him¡ªViddens. He remembered this man had given the Viscount¡¯s son a vial of potion, claiming it was the path to "power." Looking at it now, that potion was undoubtedly a ticket to hell. As for why Viddens wanted to kill Buck Frank, Buck had no clue for now. But one thing was certain¡ªafter killing all the villagers, the hunter would not spare him. The hunter was here for him, and that was the real reason for his appearance here. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. When Buck saw Viddens, Viddens also noticed him. A cold smile appeared on his pale, emaciated face beneath his hat. "Finally found you, kid..." Viddens hadn¡¯t expected that the foolish Viscount¡¯s son would escape through the crack in Klan Mountain and run all the way to this plain. When he heard from the Viscount¡¯s territory that the young nobleman was missing rather than dead, he immediately set off, following the trail, and finally found his target in this strange village. Why hadn¡¯t the poison worked as expected? Viddens didn¡¯t want to dwell on this question anymore. This time, he had to make sure the kid died in his hands. Only then could he complete the task given by His Highness¡­ The hunter ran his hand over the silver sword, and the blood infused with spiritual energy instantly soaked into the blade. Flames ignited on the sword¡¯s edge! "Evil god, Scott¡¯s Flame!" This burning blade seemed to have a life of its own, easily cutting through all the monsters in its path, as if slicing tofu. Even the fiercest, hardest-to-deal-with monster had its arm severed with one swing. The hunter suddenly stepped forward, and his body infused with "Demon God''s Blood" erupted with astonishing speed, his form like a phantom, even leaving afterimages in his wake! He pierced the last monster with his sword, pinning it to the mud wall. Blood and fire splattered, and the force of the sword even created a large hole in the earth wall. The high temperature and immense strength completely destroyed the monster that had been transformed from Larsen. The hunter then slowly turned his head, his beast-like eyes locking onto the aristocratic young man still standing in place. "Scared dumb? Poor fool, just stand still, I¡¯ll make sure you die without any pain..." As the old farmer Larsen finally collapsed, Buck slowly lowered his gaze, silently thinking: It''s not bad to not have to do it myself... In the next moment, the dark pupils filled with evil spirits suddenly flickered, locking onto Viddens. A blood bar appeared above Viddens'' head. ¡¾Life Energy: 378/400¡¿ So little? Buck was puzzled. He had always assumed that all transcendent beings would increase their life energy as they grew, but now it seemed that was not the case. A faint smile appeared on Buck''s lips. Is this all you have? What will you use to defeat me? However, at that moment, the burning silver sword shot through the air like a silver lightning bolt. Buck''s smile froze immediately. In reality, health points didn''t represent everything. A real veteran hunter would stop at nothing, even willing to sacrifice their own life, to gain more powerful and mysterious high-level abilities. Viddens was like that now¡ªhis speed so fast that it was almost impossible to track with the naked eye. By the time Buck reacted, the old hunter had already materialized in front of him like a ghost, and the sword pierced directly through his chest! The burning blade caused Buck''s health to drop by over 300 points instantly! But that was all. In the face of Buck¡¯s 3,500+ health points, this blow that could have killed a monster was nowhere near enough to be fatal. Buck''s smile returned, and he ignored the sword lodged in his chest, focusing instead on raising his arm to strike with a punch! Viddens'' face showed surprise and confusion as he looked at the result of his strike. Though his silver sword had pierced the enemy¡¯s body, he clearly felt that the powerful muscles of his opponent were tightly gripping his sword. There were no signs that the enemy had taken any severe damage. Then, a soft punch from Buck came in, and Viddens instinctively dodged. At that moment, a green claw suddenly appeared from the other side, delivering a crushing blow to Viddens'' body with immense force! Buck could feel from the touch of the monster''s claw that beneath the hunter''s black coat, he was likely wearing extremely tough armor, which prevented Buck''s claws from directly tearing through Viddens'' body. However, this strike still caused Viddens'' health to drop by over 100 points. "How much more can you withstand?" Buck asked, having struck successfully. He immediately retreated. With the burning sword still lodged in his chest, he had no choice but to let the enemy pull it out, during which he lost another 300 points of health. In fact, if possible, he should have used his divine corpse hand earlier to crush the enemy''s head directly. Unfortunately, he had just used that arm, and it still had a few minutes before its cooldown was over... However, Buck felt that it wasn''t a big deal. Even if he had to trade blows with the enemy, he still had a great chance of winning! But was the situation really that simple? As the battle continued, Buck''s mood grew heavier. The experienced Viddens quickly realized that this aristocratic young man had undergone some astonishing change and was no longer the ordinary powerless human he once was. Using his seasoned combat experience, Viddens swiftly adapted his fighting style, taking full advantage of his far superior speed and agility to dodge Buck''s terrifying claw attacks while striking at Buck''s vitals in the gaps between their clashes! Buck was now trapped in a hard-fought battle. The gap in their combat skills was too vast. In the face of Viddens'' agile and sharp swordsmanship, Buck¡¯s claw attacks were like a three-year-old child flailing about, with no strategy whatsoever. His claws left deep scratches on the earth walls but could never touch the enemy. It seemed that Viddens had figured out the 2.5-second cooldown time of his monster hand, always attacking during that brief gap. Buck felt like he had become a boss that had been thoroughly researched, slowly being worn down by this hunter with far less health than his own... Chapter 5: Curse and Redemption After taking more than a dozen sword strikes, Buck¡¯s health wavered like a candle in a storm, rapidly dwindling to just one-third of its total value, placing him in an extremely perilous situation. His body was covered in crisscrossing wounds, with fresh blood oozing out and staining his once-pristine attire into a grotesque, abstract painting of red and black. Midway through the fight, the flames dancing on Viddens¡¯ sword flickered and gradually dimmed, like a campfire running out of fuel, before extinguishing completely. It seemed that such an ability required a continuous burn of spiritual energy or life force, and even a seasoned hunter like Viddens could not sustain it indefinitely. The moment the fire died, an inexplicable sense of unease spread through the air, as if the oppressive stillness before a storm had settled over the battlefield. Yet, this did not change the tide of battle. Buck¡¯s desperate attacks were nothing more than child¡¯s play before Viddens. When Viddens fought at full strength, his speed was so overwhelming that it created an illusion¡ªas if he could meld into the air and vanish without a trace. Each time Buck swung his monstrous claws, Viddens would effortlessly evade with a near-phantasmal agility, his movements resembling a bat gliding through the night¡ªfluid, elusive, and unfathomable. Retreating a few steps, the hunter curled his lips into a cold, mocking smile¡ªone laced with amusement and condescension. Without hesitation, he reached to his waist and retrieved a red injection vial, its surface gleaming with an eerie light under the dim battlefield glow. Then, without the slightest pause, he drove the needle into his neck with practiced precision and ruthless efficiency. Seeing this, Buck¡¯s eyes turned crimson in rage, like a wild beast driven to madness. He recognized that item¡ªit was a unique life-restoring serum used by hunters. Watching Viddens¡¯ health bar surge back up as the effects of the potion took hold, Buck¡¯s fury erupted to its peak. He roared internally, I don¡¯t have any healing abilities in combat! If this bastard recovers his health right in front of me, how the hell am I supposed to win?! At that precise moment, his demonic claw¡ªfreshly off cooldown¡ªlashed out with a piercing gust of wind. Its scaled surface gleamed with an ominous luster, and its razor-sharp fingertips sliced through the air with a shrill, lethal whistle. Viddens¡¯ calm gaze flickered with a sharp glint. Without panic, he lifted the short-barreled firearm in his left hand. The weapon seemed like an extension of his very being, melding seamlessly into his grip. His fingers squeezed the trigger with an effortless yet decisive motion. A thunderous crack shattered the battlefield¡¯s silence. Fueled by the burning of hunter¡¯s blood, the bullet was infused with a violent force, gaining unimaginable kinetic power. With a burst of crimson energy, it struck at the perfect moment¡ªhitting the precise fulcrum of the demonic claw¡¯s strike. Buck felt an overwhelming force crash against his monstrous hand, a force like a tidal wave that instantly ripped through its thick hide, leaving a gruesome hole in its wake. Simultaneously, his health plummeted by over 300 points, dropping to a mere 935. The impact sent his body reeling backward, his footing unsteady as he stumbled, carving deep trenches into the ground in a frantic effort to regain balance. A soft clicking sound emanated from the hunter¡¯s firearm¡ªit was the subtle hiss of a viper flicking its tongue. A silver needle shot out from the grip and plunged into Viddens¡¯ vein at lightning speed. The moment it made contact, the needle rapidly drained a significant amount of his blood, as if an invisible force was siphoning it away, channeling the essence directly into the gun¡¯s chamber. In the blink of an eye, a blood-forged bullet condensed within the barrel. The sinister projectile exuded a nauseating scent of iron, its surface undulating slightly as if it were alive. ¡°He can fire again?!¡± Buck¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his voice trembling with disbelief. The gun roared once more, releasing a second streak of blood-red light. The shot carried a terrifying momentum as it struck directly into Buck¡¯s chest¡ªshattering half of his heart in an instant. His body jerked violently backward as a fountain of blood erupted from his mouth, blooming in the air like a crimson plum blossom. His health plummeted by over 400 points, leaving his life force dangerously dim. After firing two successive shots, Viddens¡¯ face turned even paler, as white as a sheet of paper. His lips quivered slightly, drained of all color. This blood-forged ammunition consumed his own life force, and for these two critical shots, he had been forced to expend his only healing potion. But to him, it was a worthwhile exchange. From Buck¡¯s increasingly frantic and desperate strikes, Viddens could tell¡ªthe noble youth was at his limit. His life force was running out. A cold smirk curled on the hunter¡¯s lips. It¡¯s time to end this¡­ In a single, ghostly movement, he flickered forward, leaving behind only an afterimage. Within a heartbeat, he was upon Buck, raising his firearm directly to the noble¡¯s forehead. The dark barrel of the gun stared at him like the unblinking eye of death itself. As expected, the terrified noble activated his strange ability. Shadowy monstrous hands shot out from behind him, twisting like serpents as they seized hold of the now-empty gun. The barbed talons dug deep into the firearm¡¯s surface, producing an ear-piercing screech of grinding metal. Viddens sneered. Without hesitation, he lifted his silver blade¡ªits edge gleaming with a cold, merciless light¡ªand drove it straight toward Buck¡¯s eye socket. The scornful glint in his gaze seemed to say: In the end, you¡¯re nothing more than a helpless, inexperienced weakling. But just before the blade could pierce its target¡ª A massive, dark-red hand suddenly emerged from the void. It carried an aura of unfathomable mystery and power, exuding the chilling presence of something ancient and abyssal. With terrifying speed, the hand clamped onto Viddens¡¯ head. Its fingers, like unyielding iron, tightened their grip with inescapable force. A flicker of terror flashed through Viddens¡¯ eyes. He had never anticipated such an unforeseen development at this critical juncture. He struggled violently, his body thrashing in a desperate attempt to break free. But the grip of that infernal hand was as immovable as a mountain, rendering his resistance meaningless. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Then¡ª A dull, gruesome crunch rang out. The silver sword never reached Buck¡¯s forehead. Instead, the hunter¡¯s head exploded first. Brain matter and blood splattered across the battlefield in a grotesque display. His body lost all support and crumpled to the ground like a marionette with severed strings. His headless corpse collapsed with a dull thud, sending up a small cloud of dust. The look of panic quickly faded from Buck¡¯s face, as if it had never appeared. His gaze gradually returned to calm, and the crimson Divine Corpse Hand loosened, slowly withdrawing. From the very start of the battle, he had foreseen this moment. He knew all too well the unparalleled speed of Viddens, and that his only option was to stall using his crude attacks and his immense life force. He had to lull his enemy into complacency, had to make him believe he was out of options, had to create the illusion that he was slowly being cornered into despair. Viddens had to die here. He could not let him escape. As long as he could drag things out until the cooldown of the Divine Corpse Hand was over, his opponent¡¯s fate would be sealed. The only thing that had caught him off guard in this fight was the two immensely powerful blood bullets. But regardless, Buck held the absolute advantage. Even after taking two shots from his opponent, he still possessed more life energy than a hunter at their peak. His psionic energy had long been depleted due to the continuous use of the Demon¡¯s Hand. To ensure his victory, he had sacrificed a full 400 points of life energy in one go, directly crushing his opponent. Now, he had only 84 life points left¡ªno, 83¡­ 82, 81¡­ His life force continued to drain irrepressibly. Losing half a heart would be a fatal wound for an ordinary person, but for a transcendent being still under the protection of life energy, it was instead a severe, continuous bleeding injury. This wound was like a black hole, endlessly devouring his life force, and if left unchecked, it would claim his life in a short time. Buck cast his cold gaze toward the hunter¡¯s corpse, toward Viddens¡¯ sword-wielding arm. At that moment, a chilling voice suddenly echoed in his mind: ¡¾Detected the Heretic¡¯s Arm. Do you wish to proceed with the grafting ritual?¡¿ Another ritual¡­ Another new wraith¡­ Another new curse¡­ But it seemed he had no other choice. The deaths of those villagers had nothing to do with him. The grafting ritual did not respond to other corpses, meaning he could not consume their life energy. However, the hunter¡¯s arm did not belong to the category of demons. If he wanted to absorb its life energy, he would have to perform an additional grafting ritual. "Debts don¡¯t weigh down the already burdened," Buck murmured hoarsely, his voice carrying exhaustion and numbness. Slowly, he reached out, grasping the hunter¡¯s severed arm. His fingers trembled slightly, as if he were making a difficult decision. ¡¾Devour the Heretic¡¯s Arm, absorb life energy. Maximum life capacity +400.¡¿ ¡¾Grafting ritual complete. Obtained limb: Heretic¡¯s Arm.¡¿ ¡¾Heretic¡¯s Arm I: Can expend 100 points of psionic energy or life energy to activate "Fool¡¯s Touch." Cooldown: 5 minutes.¡¿ ¡¾Life Energy: 479/3920¡¿ ¡¾Psionic Energy: 0/100¡¿ Warm streams of life energy surged into his body, swiftly healing his fatal wounds. However, the complete depletion of his psionic energy once again left him at the mercy of two wraiths, torturing him relentlessly. It felt as though countless needles were stabbing into his flesh, an unbearable agony. And worse still, yet another wraith had silently emerged from the void. It was a dark shadow wreathed in black mist, thick and viscous like a pool of ink, slowly sinking into his own shadow. ¡¾Ritual Wraith Possession: Heretic¡¯s Shadow.¡¿ A chilling sensation swept through Buck¡¯s entire body, as if he had been thrown into an ice cellar. His body shivered uncontrollably, and his teeth began to chatter. But even worse than the cold was the hunger. The ever-hungry Devourer within him roared incessantly, urging him forward, forcing him to rush into the remaining village houses that had not yet been consumed by fire. Like a ravenous beast, he tore through the kitchen in desperation, his bloodshot eyes frantically searching. He no longer cared whether the food prepared by these monsters was edible or not. There was only one thought in his mind: to fill his stomach and quell the unbearable, burning hunger. He was on the verge of madness¡­ "Someone¡­ save me¡­" Buck¡¯s voice was choked with sobs as he painfully swallowed roots still covered in dirt. The rough, dry texture scraped against his throat like sandpaper, but he ignored the pain, devouring it all with reckless desperation. His shoulders trembled uncontrollably, his body swaying between extreme exhaustion and suffering. It took a long time before the agonizing hunger was finally subdued. Lying on the ground, Buck once again pulled himself back from the brink of collapse. But deep down, he asked himself¡ªhow many more times could he survive this? He crawled to the water jar and stared blankly at his own reflection in the water. A pale face, devoid of blood, a prominent nose that now looked too sharp, faint eyebrows furrowed tightly together, cracked lips dry and peeling. His wide eyes were hollow and terrifying. This was Buck Frank¡¯s face. Even though he still had the same long black hair and dark pupils, in this moment, there was nothing familiar about his own reflection. Suddenly, that face twisted into a sinister smile and spoke in a chilling voice: "I can help you¡­" Buck closed his eyes. He knew¡ªthis was the new wraith that had latched onto him, the Heretic¡¯s Shadow. He sneered coldly in his heart. When he opened his eyes again, the face in the water had returned to its usual cold indifference and exhaustion. "You can¡¯t help me. Only I can help myself." Buck¡¯s voice was firm and resolute. Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, he stood up and walked out of the house. Amidst the burning streets, he bent down and picked up the hunter¡¯s silver sword and gun. The silver blade gleamed coldly in the firelight, and the gun carried a faint scent of blood. Turning away from the village, he headed north. He had regained his full memories. And with that, he realized what a foolish mistake he had made. In truth, this plain was not within the borders of the Goliath Empire. It lay beyond the frontier¡ªa land known as the "Dark Territory" by the frontier nobles. The true human empire was to the north. He had been running in the wrong direction all along¡­ He should have fled from that enormous "moon." He should have returned to his father, the Viscount¡¯s, domain to seek a way to ease his curse. This world had supernatural beings like hunters. They wielded mysterious powers¡ªthere had to be a way to rid himself of these wraiths. The first thing that came to his mind was the Church, the very institution that noble young masters like him despised. Perhaps gods did exist within the Church¡­ Otherwise, why would his dark red arm be called the "Divine Corpse Hand"? Would the gods help him? He didn¡¯t know. But it was worth trying. More importantly, within the Viscount¡¯s domain, he had access to a vast array of resources. If he wanted to survive in this strange and treacherous world, he had to become stronger. He walked through the night, his figure swallowed by the abyss of darkness. By dawn, he arrived at the valley leading back into the Empire¡¯s borders. As expected, the Viscount had already cleaned up everything in the valley¡ªthere was no sign of the tent or any of the bodies. The place was eerily silent, as if nothing had ever happened. Also unsurprisingly, he soon found himself face to face with a vast regiment of knights, led by none other than Viscount Hein Frank, who had been preparing to cross the gorge in search of his missing son. Hein Frank, the frontier Viscount, sat atop his warhorse, an imposing presence akin to a towering mountain. A veteran commander who had long defended the border, he had earned the absolute respect of his troops. His gaze was sharp and unwavering, as if capable of seeing through everything. At that moment, as Hein Frank laid eyes upon the tattered figure of Buck Frank emerging from the valley, there was no joy of reunion in his expression. Buck could only see disappointment. Three parts disappointment. Three parts regret. And the rest¡ªpure, unfeeling indifference. That cold gaze pierced Buck¡¯s heart like a freezing wind. Chapter 6: Crimson Return Viscount Frank¡¯s long-lost son had returned safely. The news spread like wildfire throughout the viscountcy. On every street corner, people whispered among themselves, discussing the noble heir¡¯s mysterious reappearance. Many had witnessed the raggedly dressed Buck Frank riding slowly into the city gates. The commoners of the town instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet the young master¡¯s gaze. They knew all too well the kind of person he was¡ªan infamous scoundrel, cruel and oppressive, a name spoken only with fear and loathing. In this rigidly hierarchical world, no one dared to provoke a noble, least of all someone like Buck, whose reputation for tyranny preceded him. Seated on his horse, Buck gazed at the bowing commoners, a familiar feeling stirring in his heart. This was how ordinary people were supposed to react to him. In his memories, the viscount¡¯s son had once ruled over this land with unchecked arrogance, wielding his family¡¯s influence as a weapon. Fear and hatred had always followed in his wake. At least, he thought to himself, these people weren¡¯t as terrifying as the grotesque creatures with dozens of eyes he had encountered in the dark lands. As for Viscount Frank, after ordering his men to provide Buck with a horse, he had not spoken another word to him, nor had he asked where he had been these past few days. Their cold and distant exchange suggested this wasn¡¯t the first time such an event had occurred. Buck found this arrangement to his liking¡ªhe had no interest in forming a bond with this unfamiliar father. In this strange world, as long as he remained the viscount¡¯s son, his title alone was enough to grant him protection and resources. However, while the viscount showed no interest in him, two hunters intercepted Buck at the gates of his private estate. He recognized them¡ªthough back then, he had been too arrogant to pay them any real attention. Straining his memory, he finally recalled their introductions. The male hunter, dressed in a long black coat, was named Muken, while the agile female hunter in a fitted hunting outfit was called Veronica. Buck made the effort to remember their names because, like Viddens, they were from the imperial capital and had recently joined the frontier hunters¡¯ guild, operating near the viscountcy. He had met all three of them at a banquet, where, for reasons now unclear, he had deliberately approached Viddens. That night, he had obtained a vial of delayed poison from the hunter¡ªand had even willingly consumed it himself. Now, confusion filled Buck¡¯s mind. Why had Viddens tried to kill him? And did these two young hunters have anything to do with it? Supported by his servants, Buck dismounted slowly and strode toward the hunters. His sharp gaze quickly caught the hint of inexperience in their expressions. It was clear they were still novices, nowhere near as seasoned as Viddens, who had survived trials of blood and fire. Muken was the first to step forward, his eyes immediately locking onto the sword and gun strapped to Buck¡¯s waist. He recognized them at once¡ªthey belonged to Viddens. A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he spoke. ¡°Lord Frank, I¡¯m glad to see you safe. You may remember me¡ªI am¡ª¡± ¡°Muken. I remember you,¡± Buck interrupted without hesitation. He stepped closer, raising his head slightly to meet Muken¡¯s gaze with an icy stare, his height just enough to look down on him. At that moment, Buck saw Muken¡¯s life energy bar. [Life Energy: 210/210]. The short energy bar seemed utterly insignificant in Buck¡¯s eyes. He calculated quickly¡ªthe difference in their life force was nearly twentyfold. It was an overwhelming gap, an absolute suppression in terms of sheer existence. A chilling aura, as if rising from the depths of the abyss, surged from Buck as he approached. Muken felt an inexplicable sense of dread wash over him. Though he lacked the ability to gauge Buck¡¯s strength, his instincts as a hunter screamed that this man was unimaginably dangerous. Unconsciously, he took two steps back, his entire demeanor weakening in an instant. Buck raised an eyebrow. He had been indifferent to the idea of confronting these two, but from Muken¡¯s reaction, it was clear the hunter had no intention of provoking him. With that, he simply asked, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Lord Buck.¡± The female hunter, Veronica, sensing the tension in the air, bravely stepped forward, placing herself between them. Her gaze was firm as she spoke bluntly, ¡°We¡¯ve come to confirm something with you. Our mentor, Viddens, was on good terms with you, was he not? Upon hearing of your disappearance, he volunteered to search for you¡­¡± She gestured to the sword and gun at Buck¡¯s waist before continuing, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, those belong to him. Have you seen him? Where is our mentor, Viddens?¡± There was a certain fearless determination in Veronica¡¯s eyes, something Buck found intriguing. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he answered without hesitation, ¡°I saw him. He¡¯s dead.¡± Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. The two hunters froze, their faces filled with shock as they exchanged glances, struggling to process the revelation. Buck continued, ¡°He died saving me. He was a brave man and a hunter worthy of respect.¡± Watching their stunned expressions, Buck could read their emotions with ease. Their disbelief, their confusion¡ªit all confirmed his suspicion. They had no idea that Viddens had tried to kill him. As he spoke, he swiftly drew the pistol and silver sword from his waist with crisp, decisive movements. He placed the weapons lightly into the hands of the stunned and bewildered Veronica. The silver sword appeared unremarkable¡ªmerely a standard-issue hunter¡¯s blade, its steel gleaming coldly, forged with excellent craftsmanship but nothing extraordinary beyond that. However, the pistol intrigued Buck greatly. During his journey back, he had carefully examined its structure. This elegant short firearm, which fired blood-infused bullets, was unlike the gunpowder-based weapons he was familiar with. Instead, it operated through a mysterious alchemical reaction that propelled its ammunition. Even more astonishingly, it could directly absorb a hunter¡¯s blood as its source of firepower. Unfortunately, after experimenting, Buck discovered that he was unable to use the pistol¡ªhis blood lacked a particular trait unique to hunters. Thus, he decided to return the weapon to them, ending this test of his own accord. He was running out of patience. That damned lurking wraith kept gnawing at his senses, its presence pressing against his mind like an invisible hand, compelling him to fixate on the female hunter, Veronica. Her delicate face, the smooth curve of her neck, the gentle rise beneath her fitted hunting attire, the slender waist beneath her long coat¡ªall of it seemed to magnetize his gaze. Buck took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the impulse stirring within him. He abruptly closed his eyes and turned away. He knew that Veronica had likely noticed his slightly indecent stare long ago, but due to her fear of nobility¡ªespecially a notorious one like Buck Frank¡ªshe chose to endure in silence. ¡­ Upon returning to his private estate, Buck immediately indulged in a sumptuous feast under the attentive care of his servants. He devoured the food voraciously, like a starving beast, barely quelling the gnawing hunger within. Only after his appetite was sated did he have the mood to change into a more refined and comfortable nobleman¡¯s attire. He donned a luxurious silk shirt, layered with a finely crafted vest, paired with tailored trousers, and polished leather boots. Under the fearful gazes of his servants, he stood tall, announcing his return. A sycophantic attendant named Doug hurried over to his dining table. His face bore an ingratiating smile, one that bloomed like an overly obsequious flower. With a servile grin, he presented Buck with a newspaper. Buck was momentarily surprised¡ªhe hadn¡¯t realized that this world had newspapers. Upon further thought, it made sense; this world not only had newspapers but also factories, steamships, massive steam locomotives, and an extensive railway network. It was a world eerily similar to his previous life¡¯s era, yet starkly different in many ways. The development of civilization had birthed various modern technologies, yet strangely, the Goliath Empire still clung to its archaic aristocratic system. Buck speculated whether this was due to the world¡¯s darker forces. He shook his head, uninterested in pondering the complexities of politics and societal structure. Tossing the newspaper aside, he turned his attention to Doug, who continued to grin obsequiously. Doug had served Buck Frank for many years. With his sharp, rodent-like features and constantly darting eyes, he was cunning and quick-witted. He had often handled Buck¡¯s shady affairs, including acts of intimidation, coercion, and kidnapping. Now, with an ingratiating tone, he said, ¡°Young Master, I knew someone as blessed as you would be perfectly fine! That¡¯s why I stayed at the estate, waiting for your triumphant return¡­¡± Buck remained noncommittal, listening to Doug¡¯s flattery while contemplating whether to have him killed. He found Doug¡¯s sycophantic nature utterly repulsive¡ªnothing more than a spineless lackey who enabled his past sins. ¡°Oh, by the way, Young Master, I have some good news! Those two lovely slave girls you took with you that night? I managed to retrieve them for you!¡± Doug¡¯s words piqued Buck¡¯s curiosity. After Doug¡¯s boastful explanation, Buck finally understood¡ªhe was referring to the two slave girls who had almost been sacrificed that night. As it turned out, the two hadn¡¯t perished in the chaotic battle within the tent. Instead, they had been buried under a pile of corpses. When the viscount¡¯s men discovered the scene, the ever-opportunistic Doug had discreetly rescued them and locked them away in Buck¡¯s private dungeon. ¡°Well done. Lead the way,¡± Buck remarked indifferently. With that, he stood up and followed Doug, who grinned like a blooming chrysanthemum, toward the small dungeon at the rear of the estate. Several loyal guards of the Frank family stood watch over the dungeon¡¯s entrance. They were imposing figures, their expressions stoic, long swords strapped to their waists. At the sight of Buck, they saluted him without any change in expression. Though their faces remained impassive, Buck knew this was the greatest display of respect he would receive from them. Soon, he once again laid eyes on the two enslaved women. They were confined separately in narrow iron cages, the bars rusted with age. The moment they saw Buck, terror filled their eyes, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. ¡°Young Master, I knew you¡¯d return, so I made sure no one touched them,¡± Doug boasted, his sleazy grin making Buck¡¯s eye twitch in irritation. Feeling disgusted, Buck let out a small cough and turned his head away. ¡°Good. Have them taken out and chopped up.¡± Buck¡¯s voice was cold. Doug froze, bewildered. ¡°Young Master¡­ Isn¡¯t it a waste to just cut them up like that?¡± ¡°I was talking about you.¡± Buck¡¯s icy gaze locked onto Doug, devoid of any warmth. A bead of cold sweat trickled down Doug¡¯s forehead¡­ Chapter 7: Lost Memories and Ominous Omens ¡°Me?¡± Doug¡¯s eyes widened when he heard Buck¡¯s words, his smile frozen in an instant as if he had been hit by a freezing spell, standing there stunned. He never expected that the young master, who usually accepted his flattery, would suddenly turn against him today. Buck did not waste his breath repeating himself but instead gave a subtle nod to the guards behind him with his cold, frosty gaze. The two guards exchanged a glance, a barely noticeable smile curling at the corners of their lips. With a shrug, they took confident steps forward. In one smooth motion, they grabbed Doug¡¯s arms, while Doug screamed and struggled like a duck caught by the neck, kicking his legs helplessly in the air. Without mercy, they yanked him away from Buck¡¯s feet and dragged him out. To the guards, when the young master said to have him "chopped," it meant exactly that¡ªremoving such a scoundrel from the world was a much-needed service. ¡°Please, no! Young master, spare me! What wrong have I done? I am loyal to you!¡± Doug¡¯s cries echoed through the empty dungeon like the mournful hoots of an owl, full of despair. Just as Doug was about to be dragged out of the dungeon, Buck seemed to remember something and suddenly spoke up, ¡°Wait.¡± The two guards, upon hearing the command, couldn¡¯t hide their disappointment. Their movements froze momentarily. ¡°You go to the butler and pick up your wages for the month, and then get out. Never show your face in front of me again.¡± Buck¡¯s voice was cold and decisive, like the north wind of winter, devoid of any warmth. At his command, Doug, who had been crying in agony, immediately stopped. His face showed disbelief. He paused for a moment and then, as if granted amnesty, scrambled to his feet, nodding and bowing, retreating as he spoke repeatedly, ¡°Thank you, young master, thank you! I will leave right away¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, Doug was kicked out of the dungeon, literally rolling and crawling as he fled through the gates of the manor. After getting rid of Doug, Buck walked calmly to the cage and ordered the guards to open it. When the cage door creaked open, a damp, decaying odor hit him. As he looked more closely, he realized that the two female slaves were, in fact, very similar twin sisters. From Buck''s aesthetic viewpoint, they were indeed quite beautiful. Their flaxen hair fell like satin over their shoulders, and their large blue eyes resembled clear lakes, glimmering with a soft, shimmering light. They seemed to be slightly older than the seventeen-year-old Buck Frank, but not yet twenty. However, as soon as Buck saw them, a wave of irritation surged in his heart. Damn! That cursed voyeur spirit! It felt as though his gaze was being drawn by an invisible thread, and he couldn¡¯t look away. The twin slaves, upon seeing Buck approach, trembled with fear and huddled together tightly, their eyes full of terror and helplessness, like startled deer. Buck fought the discomfort rising in him, closed his eyes, and tried to calm the turmoil in his heart. After a long pause, he slowly spoke, his voice deep and firm, ¡°I¡¯m giving you both a chance. Come to my room tonight.¡± This was clearly not a suggestion, but an order, with the tone of an authoritative figure. Buck wasn¡¯t showing mercy by giving these poor sisters freedom. In this world, slaves were branded on the backs of their hands as a permanent mark of their status. Once a slave¡¯s identity was sealed, it could never be changed. For ordinary people, a slave without a master would only fall into an endless abyss, never to rise again. Thus, Buck believed keeping them around was the greatest salvation he could offer them. Moreover, he had another plan in mind: he wanted to uncover clues about that arm¡ªthe Divine Corpse¡¯s Arm¡ªfrom these twins. The origin of the Divine Corpse¡¯s Arm was a mystery, even to the original Buck Frank. That night was the first time he encountered the box containing the arm, and these two female slaves were delivered along with it by the cultists. They were likely descendants of a fallen noble family from the north, as nobles who were declared heretics or defeated in some struggle often became slaves. The arm itself was most likely a mysterious artifact that had come from the vault of one of these fallen families. ... Night fell like a massive piece of black satin, quietly enveloping the entire manor. Buck sat alone at his desk, the room silent except for the soft flicker of the candlelight on the table, casting shifting shadows. His brow furrowed as he struggled to resist the torment from the three malevolent spirits. At the same time, his mind was in turmoil, a tangled mess of thoughts. Suddenly, a soft knock on the door broke the stillness. ¡°Come in,¡± Buck said in a deep voice. The twin slaves entered the room, dressed in maid outfits, carrying tea. Their steps were a little clumsy, and their heads were lowered, their eyes still filled with fear, though not as evasive as before. In the dim light of the oil lamp, another kind of light flickered in their eyes. It was a glimmer of courage¡ªthe courage to survive, no matter what difficulties they faced. Buck noticed the change in their eyes and couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of admiration for the twins. Even he, a person who had inexplicably crossed into this unknown and dangerous world, needed such courage to survive. ¡°What are your names?¡± Buck suddenly asked. The sudden question left the twin sisters at a loss. They glanced at each other, their eyes full of confusion and hesitation. After a long pause, one of them timidly spoke, ¡°We... don¡¯t remember¡­¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Don¡¯t remember?¡± Buck raised an eyebrow in confusion, ¡°You don¡¯t remember who you are? What about your past memories?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t remember¡­ They... erased most of our memories¡­¡± one of the female slaves trembled, tears welling up in her eyes as she spoke in a daze. Damn it... Buck cursed inwardly, raising his hand to rub his forehead. It was only now that he remembered the cruel methods those people had at their disposal. In this world, most of the nobles who had been reduced to slaves had their memories erased through some kind of dark ritual. Unless he could find a way to break the influence of that ritual, the chances of getting any information from these twins about the arm seemed hopeless. "Fine, I''ll give you new names," Buck sighed helplessly, then casually pointed to the female slave on his left and said, "From now on, you''ll be called Left Yi..." He then pointed to the female slave on his right, "And you¡¯ll be Right Yi..." The name Left Yi sounded somewhat normal, but Right Yi... The two slaves exchanged glances upon hearing their new names, a hint of confusion in their eyes, but they dared not comment on the names given by their young master. Buck inwardly grumbled, swearing that he would never admit that these names were chosen randomly based on the direction of the twins¡¯ hair. "That¡¯s it, I¡¯m going to rest now," he said, standing up and slowly walking towards the bed. At that moment, the two maids, who should have left, exchanged a glance. The light of courage sparkled in their eyes once more, even brighter than before. Especially Left Yi, who, with a glance, encouraged the once timid and hesitant Right Yi, who now gathered the courage to stand with her before Buck''s large bed. "What are you doing?" Buck paused, looking at the twin maids, his face showing confusion. The twin maids lowered their heads, their faces flushed red, like ripe apples, charming and delicate. They didn¡¯t answer Buck¡¯s question, but simply stood there quietly, nervously clutching the edges of their clothes. Buck immediately realized that the two sisters were pledging their loyalty to him, their new master. "I don¡¯t need this..." Buck sighed inwardly. What he truly needed were the memories they had lost. He shook his head gently, a bitter smile appearing on his face. At this moment, he had no mood to accept this meaningless gift. Moreover, in this perilous world, any gift might carry hidden poison, so he had to be cautious. The twin maids, seeing that their master had no reaction, realized that he was not interested in them at all. They became even more embarrassed and timid, flustered as they prepared to flee. "Wait..." Buck called out to them, then sat back down at his desk, resting his hands on his chin and silently watching them. While he didn¡¯t need the twins to sacrifice themselves, there was no harm in enjoying the view. The evil spirit hidden in his eyes seemed to sense his thoughts and let out a satisfied cheer. At the same time, his spiritual energy began to recover little by little. This was another reason why he had kept the two sisters¡ªhe needed to satisfy the evil spirit to regain spiritual energy. After all, the spiritual energy from the evil spirit wouldn¡¯t recover on its own, and this was one of the ways, aside from devouring food, that he could restore his energy. The twin sisters were taken aback by Buck¡¯s sudden behavior, unsure whether to stand or leave, their faces as red as if they were about to drip with water. Suddenly, the bold Left Yi seemed to have realized something, and a ripple of thought stirred in her mind as she secretly wondered, "Has the master changed his mind?" Buck looked at them with an indifferent expression, completely unmoved. Seeing that the maids were too shy, he simply reached out and extinguished the oil lamp on the desk. With the help of the voyeuristic evil spirit, his vision was unaffected in the dark, and the twin sisters found some comfort in the pitch-black environment. ... In the late hours of the night, everything was quiet, and the entire manor seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. Buck sat alone on the balcony, perched on a high terrace, the view expansive. He could clearly see the giant crescent moon rising above the distant mountains. The moon emitted an eerie and mysterious glow, as though silently revealing the secrets of this world. Buck stared at the planet in a daze. As the gentle night breeze blew, he felt his eyelids grow heavier, and before he knew it, he fell asleep. He had a very strange dream¡ªstrange and terrifying. In the dream, it was as if he had traveled through time and space, returning to the familiar blue planet. However, the scene before him left him speechless. He saw the beautiful planet shattering, countless red arms stretching out from the void, like a horde of vicious demons, grabbing onto the planet itself. Those terrifying claws, adorned with dark red patterns, were incredibly powerful, slowly crushing the planet into fragments, as if playing a brutal game of destruction. Buck suddenly woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air, his eyes filled with fear and confusion. Looking toward the horizon, the western sky had already lightened, the dawn quietly dispersing the darkness. "Was that a dream? The hand in the dream... the God¡¯s corpse hand!?" Buck stared at his palm, a strange thought suddenly rising from deep within. Perhaps the arm of the God¡¯s corpse was related to his old world? Could he have a chance to return? To the world he knew, one without curses, without evil gods... Buck shook his head, trying to rid himself of these chaotic thoughts. He slowly got up, entered the room, and began to dress. As he did, he set a few goals in his mind. To uncover why Viddens wanted him dead, as it was crucial to his safety in this world; to increase his strength and lift the curse on him, only then could he stand his ground in this dangerous world; to investigate the origins of the God¡¯s corpse hand, as it might hold the key to his return to his original world. He wanted to survive and to live a life more glorious than his previous one. He silently swore that until he regained the memories lost in his past life, he would never give up. To live again, he would not let it be in vain... Chapter 8: ceremony Upon returning to the Viscount''s estate, Buck Frank underwent a drastic change in demeanor, becoming surprisingly subdued. This shift was like a blazing sun suddenly being obscured by dark clouds, leaving those around him bewildered. The commoners with unmarried daughters couldn''t help but gossip, fearful that the once-dreaded young master might be plotting something sinister once again. After all, in their eyes, Buck Frank had always been a ruthless and wicked person. The young noblemen who had once called Buck Frank their close friend were equally puzzled. The young master had turned down all invitations to parties, something he had once loved. Even more unbelievable was that he refused to continue his previous enjoyment of bringing common girls onto the stage for entertainment. Whenever the young nobles gathered, they discussed this strange behavior, wondering what had happened to Buck. Could it be that he had fallen seriously ill and his personality had completely changed? In truth, Buck Frank was not ill. To be precise, the old Buck had died. The soul that inhabited his body now was a completely different one, and the new Buck found himself in a place the old Buck would never have dared to visit¡ªa small chapel atop a hill. When the clergy saw Buck arrive, they turned pale, trembling uncontrollably. They feared that the infamous young master might suddenly order the destruction of this sacred place. However, to their surprise, Buck did not act recklessly. Instead, he behaved with unusual reverence. It was as though he was a weary traveler, a pilgrim who had journeyed far to visit a holy site, though with an air of dominance. As soon as he entered the chapel, he ordered the other people inside to leave. He then walked alone to the inner sanctum, where he knelt before the statue of the Goddess of the Sun, closed his eyes, and began to pray devoutly. The state religion of the Goliath Empire worships both the Sun and Moon gods. However, three hundred years ago, the Moon god perished, leaving only the Sun goddess to watch over humanity. The state religion was subsequently renamed the Church of Light. The statue before Buck was that of the Sun goddess. Her face was serene, her gaze gentle, as if she were watching over all the creatures of the world. Buck was so devout because he had discovered that perhaps the gods in this world truly possessed extraordinary power. From the moment he stepped into the chapel, an extraordinary sensation filled him. The evil spirit within him seemed to encounter its nemesis and was subdued by an invisible force. All the curses, all the tortures, and the voices whispering in his ears diminished significantly. It felt as though a ray of light had pierced through the dark abyss, bringing him a sense of warmth and reassurance. "Merciful Goddess of the Sun..." Buck''s eyes filled with tears. He couldn''t help but fall to the ground before the statue. At that moment, if the Sun goddess had truly stood before him, he would have kissed her feet without hesitation, to express his gratitude and reverence. Unfortunately, as is often the case, good moments are fleeting. The warmth he felt soon began to fade. Buck couldn''t help but feel disappointed. He speculated that perhaps the goddess sensed the blasphemous thought in his heart, or perhaps the evil spirits realized that the statue was merely an empty shell, and so their torment surged back once again. With a sigh of resignation, he left the chapel. He knew that while the gods might indeed be able to save him, it was clear that the deity in this small chapel could not solve his problems. This was merely a detour for Buck. His true goal lay beyond the chapel, in the cemetery behind it. During his days back at the Viscount''s estate, he had been secretly searching for the cultists he had previously encountered. Although the group he had led into the valley had all perished, he knew these bloodthirsty fanatics did not stop at just those few. In the underground of the Viscount''s estate, there were still many of them, and their power was supported by certain noble families. The old Buck Frank had been one of these nobles. The reason these nobles provided funding was simple: they needed the cultists to carry out their dark deeds. Take Buck Frank, for example. The ritual he had spent a fortune on was meant to secretly acquire some extraordinary power to kill his father, Hein Frank. However, the new Buck no longer cared for the petty struggles within the Viscount''s family. His focus was now firmly fixed on the cult. Finding these cultists was no easy task, but Buck had an acute sense of smell. By tracking some financial transactions and utilizing his connections in the "underground world," he soon pinpointed the location of the cult gathering. To his surprise, it was located beneath the cemetery behind the chapel. As one of the major backers of the Blood God cult, Buck, uninvited, was not turned away by the cultists. After confirming that he was alone, the cultists, though cautious, led him underground to meet the esteemed "High Priest." The stench of decay filled the air in the underground crypt, nauseating him. Inside, many ordinary people were bound and suffering. Their fates were tragic¡ªsome had fallen into a deep, fearful sleep, unaware of the nightmares awaiting them; others were still crying out in despair, their voices heart-wrenching, as though trying to break free from the dark prison. But to the cultists, these cries were like beautiful "music," filling them with excitement and satisfaction. Naturally, the cult''s gathering could not proceed without a bloody sacrifice. The sun had not yet set, and the light of the Sun goddess still illuminated the world. Therefore, the sacrificial ritual had not yet begun... but it was coming soon. The impending scene of bloodshed hung like a dark cloud over the innocent victims. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Buck tore his gaze away from the pitiable figures and, forcing back his anger and sympathy, silently followed the cultists into the depths of the crypt. "Distinguished guest, Lord Buck Frank, it''s a pleasure to see you," a voice came from the front. The high priest of the Blood God Cult, cloaked in a thick black robe and hood, slowly approached. From his appearance, he seemed to be a kindly old man with a white beard, wearing a gentle smile that gave off a friendly vibe. However, no one knew that beneath this amiable exterior hid a heart full of cruelty and madness. In reality, he was a demon who devoured people. "High Priest..." Buck gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. After the other cultists left, he sat across from the high priest at a wooden table lit by an oil lamp. The dim, flickering light from the lamp cast eerie shadows on their faces, adding to the sinister atmosphere of the scene. "I''ve come to talk to you about the ceremony last time," Buck said without hesitation. The high priest narrowed his eyes, a knowing smile spreading across his face. He looked into Buck''s cold eyes and felt an inexplicable chill, as if the gaze could pierce through his body and see into his soul. However, being the high priest of the Blood God Cult with years of experience and strong psychological resilience, he maintained his calm demeanor, trying to keep up the mysterious and wise air. "My lord, as far as I know, that ceremony failed..." the high priest spoke softly. "Yes," Buck responded briefly. "Was it because of the monster''s attack?" the high priest asked further. "Yes... but I don''t intend to pursue it anymore," Buck''s tone carried a sense of finality. The high priest''s lips twitched slightly, secretly cursing in his mind, "You''re not going to pursue it? We lost so many people, and I still want to investigate!" Of course, he didn''t dare say this aloud. He knew that this young master was crucial to the Blood God Cult, and with his presence, the cult could continue to quietly develop in the territory of the Viscount. Therefore, he had to give this young master enough respect. "Then, Lord Buck, would you like..." The high priest began to speak, but Buck interrupted him. "I came here to ask you some questions," Buck said coldly, "About that arm used as a sacrifice and the twin slave girls you captured, can you tell me more about them?" "This..." The old man hesitated, a troubled expression appearing on his face. "Actually, I''m not sure about their origins. Those were items that came from the black market in the north, you know..." "I want to hear the truth," Buck''s tone grew firmer, and his eyes radiated an undeniable authority. The high priest suddenly felt a tremendous pressure, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on him. Even the oil lamp on the table seemed to dim under this pressure. "My lord, I am not lying to you, and I have no reason to lie. Anything used in the Blood God''s ceremony is carefully selected by us. Although the arm''s origin is unclear, it contains genuine mysterious power, making it an excellent core material for the ritual..." The high priest quickly explained. "Enough." Buck shook his head, feeling that the other party might truly know no more. "I have another question. About the hunter Viddens, and the Flame of the Evil God, what do you know?" This was another goal of his. Viddens'' fire left a deep impression on him, and he knew that kind of power was not something an ordinary church hunter possessed. Viddens must have connections with other dark forces. The high priest laughed, as if he could answer this question. "Hunter Viddens is an experienced old hunter. Unfortunately, he has never been able to complete the second-tier promotion ceremony in the church, perhaps because he realized how false his faith was. But our great Dark Lord accepted him, made him a servant of the Evil God Scott, and allowed him to successfully complete the promotion ceremony..." The high priest said with great enthusiasm. "What is the promotion ceremony?" Buck pressed. "It''s like the ceremony you''re preparing for the Blood God. Once you accept the Blood God''s power, you will receive the apostle granted by the Blood God and share in the spiritual energy. The promotion will grant you even more spiritual energy and stronger power from the apostle..." The high priest explained, his face glowing with pride. After hearing the high priest''s explanation, Buck nodded to himself. So, in order to increase his spiritual energy, he needed to undergo deeper ceremonies. No wonder he had always had a pitiful 100 spiritual energy points. Those hunters probably had much higher energy... But then he thought, he didn''t actually need these. After all, life energy could replace spiritual energy. As for performing a ritual to enhance the evil spirits? He certainly didn¡¯t want to suffer any more torment. "Lord Buck, we can prepare another sacrificial ceremony for you at any time. Rest assured, this time, I will personally preside over it to ensure you can smoothly enter the embrace of the great Blood God!" The high priest said with a tempting expression, his eyes gleaming with greed. "A ceremony?" Buck glanced at him, slowly standing up, a disdainful smile appearing on his face. "I don''t need those anymore." The high priest was stunned, his face filled with surprise. "My lord, are you seeking the power of someone like Viddens? It''s not impossible, but..." "No, I don''t need your pathetic power..." Buck grinned, his voice soft but cold. "I am invincible." As soon as the words left his mouth, a loud crash echoed through the room. A deep green, monstrous claw suddenly appeared, tearing through the wooden table between them with the force of a thunderstrike. The five claws were razor-sharp, gleaming with cold light, like five venomous snakes, each of them piercing into the high priest''s chest. The high priest''s body trembled violently, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. The old man widened his eyes, filled with terror and disbelief, staring at the monstrous hand that had pierced through him. He never expected that this young master, who had always cooperated with the Blood God Cult, would suddenly strike at him. Then, another pale, human-like arm, resembling a human limb, emerged from Buck''s back. It had six long fingers, each with dark, ominous nails. This strange hand slowly pressed down on the high priest¡¯s horrified, desperate gaze, gently caressing his forehead... The Arm of the Heretic, the Touch of the Fool. The last bit of the high priest''s resistance was instantly snuffed out, and he fell into a dazed, near-death state. "I ask you..." Buck leaned over, his voice low and cold as he whispered in the high priest''s ear, "Who paid the price for Viddens'' ceremony?" Chapter 9: Revelation of Power 100 points of spiritual energy were quickly drained in the intense clash, like a candle flame extinguished by a fierce wind. But in return, Buck obtained the answer he had long sought. Under the powerful control of the Apostate¡¯s hand, the high priest struggled to reveal the identity of the person backing Viddens. "The Hunter... Guild... Someone from the imperial capital... A big shot... The details, I don''t know..." The high priest¡¯s voice was weak and trembling, like a candle in the wind, ready to flicker out at any moment. Buck, hearing this, felt a bitter sense of irony. The Hunter Guild, which should have been the defenders of the light, had now willingly allowed their hunters to embrace the darkness. How absurd and tragic that was. He shook his head helplessly, a glimmer of resolve flashing in his eyes, before he abruptly tightened his grip around the high priest''s neck with the Monster''s Hand. The high priest''s body tensed immediately, his face contorting in pain as he struggled futilely, trying to break free from the deadly grasp. But against Buck''s level 2 Monster''s Hand, it was all in vain. With a dull sound, the high priest¡¯s life force was completely extinguished, and his body collapsed lifelessly to the ground, becoming nothing more than a cold corpse. These cultists, having been strengthened by dark powers for so long, possessed extraordinary physical strength and far surpassing human life force, reaching 180 points. This explained why they dared to fight head-on with fully armored guards. To them, the strength of ordinary humans was like that of ants. However, in front of Buck¡¯s powerful Monster¡¯s Hand, they were no match at all, easily crushed like fragile ants underfoot. In contrast to the Monster''s Hand, the Apostate''s Arm was less offensive. Its power was mainly focused on control. Once it touched any living being, it would briefly plunge them into a "foolish" state, as if their soul had been drained and they had lost their sense of autonomy. This was undoubtedly a potent control ability, but it had a long cooldown of 5 minutes, which was a significant limitation in fast-paced combat. Buck''s mind stirred as he fixed his gaze on the high priest''s arm. He knew that the Apostate''s Arm could grow, and that its targets for consumption should be the arms of other humans who had fallen into darkness. With an expectant look in his eyes, Buck reached out and slowly grasped the high priest''s arm. ¡¾Devour Apostate''s Arm, absorb life energy, max limit +180.¡¿ The system prompt echoed in Buck''s mind, and a satisfied smile spread across his face. After absorbing the old man¡¯s arm, he felt the Apostate''s Arm becoming more agile, as though it had gained its own consciousness. The length of the arm increased slightly, and each finger exuded a mysterious aura. The people outside the wooden door of the tomb seemed oblivious to the bloody carnage occurring within. They were still immersed in their own world, unaware of the impending danger. After waiting for five minutes, the cooldown finally ended. Buck took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the door, his eyes gleaming with cold light. He simultaneously unleashed the Apostate''s Arm and the Monster''s Hand on the two cultists guarding the door. The Apostate''s Arm struck one of the cultists like a white lightning bolt, plunging them into a foolish state. The Monster''s Hand, like a fierce beast, tore into the other cultist¡¯s body with its sharp claws. The two cultists, their faces covered in blood and marks, didn¡¯t even have time to scream before they were silently and swiftly killed. Buck absorbed their arms and casually tossed the bodies back into the room before continuing to walk out of the tomb as if nothing had happened. Along the way, some cultists, upon encountering this noble young master, greeted him with eerie smiles and praised him using the cult''s unique etiquette. Buck returned their smiles with an especially bright one, though behind that smile lay an endless murderous intent. It wasn¡¯t until he reached the only exit of the tomb that the cultists suddenly realized what Buck¡¯s smile truly meant. It was the smile of a butcher looking at a lamb ready for slaughter, filled with blood and cruelty. Buck¡¯s monstrous claws instantly shredded the cultists in front of him, blood splattering and bodies flying. His figure flickered in and out of the blood mist, like a demon from hell. The sounds of slaughter and screams intertwined, echoing throughout the tomb. The cultists grabbed their weapons, trying to resist, but their strength seemed insignificant before Buck. Thousands of points of life energy acted as an impenetrable wall in front of them, and they couldn¡¯t even get close. Corpses quickly piled up, forming a small mountain, bearing witness to this bloody massacre. ... On the other side of the tomb, in a locked secret room, two young hunters, Muken and Veronica, were trapped in an iron cage. Muken¡¯s face was bruised, with a wound on his forehead still seeping blood. His eyes were filled with anger and frustration. Veronica, on the other hand, had a wound on the back of her head. Her face was pale, and her body trembled slightly, clearly still not fully awake from her fainting. It was clear that these two hunters had been captured by the cultists. As trained church hunters, to fall into the cultists'' trap, knocked unconscious with forks and hammers, and have their gear confiscated, was truly a disgraceful event. What awaited them would be a bloody sacrifice. The cultists loved to use hunters as offerings to their dark lord, believing their blood would please the dark god and grant them power. Listening to the cries and wails of the captured outside the secret room, Veronica¡¯s heart sank to the bottom. She even felt a sense of despair. In her mind, no other hunters would come to their rescue. They were like lost souls trapped in the dark abyss, abandoned by all. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. "Damn it! I knew that damned noble young master had a problem! Otherwise, why would they have discovered us the moment we found traces of his dealings with the cult?!" Muken angrily smashed the cage, each blow filled with force, but the iron cage didn¡¯t even budge. His voice echoed in the secret room, full of rage and regret. "We should have reported this to the guild earlier..." Veronica muttered to herself, her eyes filled with regret. At first, they hadn¡¯t believed that Viddens'' mentor would die so easily, so they had secretly investigated Buck Frank. When they discovered the noble young master¡¯s dealings with the cult, the confident Veronica had thought she could solve the problem on her own. She wanted to catch Buck in the act, leaving him no chance to turn the tables, and avenge her mentor. However, reality had delivered a heavy blow. Now, Veronica regretted it. But it was too late. Soon, those cultists would carve open their bodies and extract their hearts. At this thought, Veronica¡¯s body couldn¡¯t help but tremble, fear engulfing her like a tidal wave. It seemed that the cries and screams outside the secret chamber grew even louder, as if the cultists were preparing for a ritual, or perhaps more victims had already appeared. This filled Veronica with fear, as it was the closest she had ever been to death and the most helpless she had ever felt since becoming a hunter. Her heartbeat accelerated, and her breathing became frantic, as though she were a lamb awaiting its fate. After a while, the silence outside the door was absolute, leaving only the sound of her own rapid heartbeat in the female hunter¡¯s ears. Suddenly, the door to the secret chamber was flung open, startling both hunters. However, to their surprise and confusion, the one who opened the door was not one of the black-robed cultists, but a blood-soaked nobleman. Buck Frank. Muken was stunned. He had just thought that Buck Frank might be here to personally sacrifice them, but now he saw that behind the nobleman stood several freed commoners. Their faces were filled with fear and gratitude, and their eyes sparkled with the light of hope. Buck Frank wasn¡¯t here to kill them. On the contrary, he had slaughtered all the cultists in the crypt, not leaving a single one alive! Buck¡¯s face remained expressionless as he looked at the two, feeling somewhat strange, even amused. No wonder these two had stopped bothering him recently and had disappeared as if off the face of the earth¡ªthey had been captured by the cultists. The two freed hunters stared dumbfounded at the bodies of the cultists in the crypt. Dozens of cultists had been killed by this nobleman, all by himself?! They could hardly believe their eyes; everything felt like a nightmare, yet the bloody scene before them was all too real. Undoubtedly, this was the truth. All the rescued commoners could attest that it was Buck who saved them. They gazed at him with a mixture of fear and reverence, although the fear far outweighed the reverence. In their eyes, Buck was like a mysterious and powerful being, capable of both bringing death and offering hope. Buck smiled and raised a finger to his lips in a ¡°silence¡± gesture. The people immediately nodded anxiously, as if frozen in place, forcing themselves to forget the terrifying magic claws of the nobleman. They knew well that if this secret got out, it could cost them their lives. Not only were they terrified of his magical claws, but Buck had also torn off the arms of all the cultists. The bloody scene was even more disturbing than the cultists themselves. His figure appeared especially menacing in the blood mist, as though he were a demon risen from the depths of hell. Buck didn¡¯t care that these commoners had seen his arm; he only cared about his power. After absorbing and merging dozens of the ¡°Heretic¡¯s Arms,¡± his arm had undergone significant changes. [Heretic¡¯s Arm II: Can consume 90 points of spirit or life energy to activate the ability ¡°Touch of Foolishness,¡± cooldown: 4 minutes.] This grown pale arm reduced energy consumption and cooldown time, while becoming longer and more flexible. Every swing seemed to carry endless power, able to control life and death. More importantly, Buck¡¯s maximum life energy had been greatly increased once again, growing ever more exaggerated. [Life Energy: 9080/9380] ... By nightfall, everyone in the crypt had returned to the surface. The golden rays of the setting sun bathed them in light, as though cloaking them in a golden robe. They cried and sobbed as they looked at the sunset, some even kneeling and kissing the ground, thanking Buck for saving their lives. In their eyes, Buck was their savior, the only hope they had seen in the darkness. Buck didn¡¯t linger too long with these commoners. He sent them to the church, as if shedding a heavy burden. The priests of the church were in a panic when they saw these unlucky souls, having no idea how to handle them. With the unspoken rule of never offending Buck Frank, the church later secretly sent these people to Buck¡¯s manor... but that was another matter. The two hunters stood in the twilight, looking disoriented. They still couldn¡¯t accept everything that had just happened, as though it had been a dream. Their eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment, as if they were lost lambs in the dark. ¡°I don¡¯t believe him. Killing cultists doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s not a heretic. Maybe he just wants to cover up his own crimes¡­¡± Muken gritted his teeth, saying stubbornly. His voice was full of doubt and anger, as he still believed there were too many questions surrounding Buck¡¯s actions. From a distance, Buck, who had stopped at a new grave, heard him and smiled, baring his teeth. ¡°You were right.¡± His smile held a hint of mockery, as though laughing at Muken¡¯s na?vet¨¦. He turned around and walked away from the graveyard, his silhouette fading into the setting sun. The new grave contained the remains of the guards who had sacrificed themselves to save him that night. Their loyalty was something Buck deeply respected. The viscount had, of course, provided their families with ample compensation, but Buck had also secretly sent them money himself... This was one of the few compensations he could offer. In his heart, he felt guilty for their sacrifice and hoped this would bring some comfort to their families. As for the events that had unfolded, Buck planned to credit the two hunters for the work. Buck Frank would still be the ruthless behind-the-scenes patron, and it would be best if more cultists came to him so his arm and life energy could grow even further. He knew that he wasn¡¯t strong enough yet, and in this dangerous world, he had to keep growing in power to survive. Not enough¡ªhe was still not strong enough... After learning that the supporter behind Viddens was a bigwig from the Hunter¡¯s Guild, Buck felt a sense of crisis. He understood that future enemies would not be these weak cultists. He might face other battle-hardened old hunters, even more difficult opponents than Viddens. With this in mind, Buck¡¯s gaze hardened, and he silently swore to become stronger. ¡°It¡¯s time to go out¡­¡± Buck muttered, his voice echoing in the night sky as if declaring his resolve. Chapter 10:The Shadow of the Dark Tide On a seemingly calm morning, yet one filled with hidden turmoil, the soft sunlight gently bathed the city of Frank in the Viscount''s territory, draping it in a layer of golden gauze. Buck Frank quietly boarded his carriage, like a night owl hidden in the darkness, discreetly leaving his estate and the city, both familiar and foreign to him, heading toward the border fortress in the Cran Mountain Range. For this trip, he traveled light, bringing only his twin maids, LeftYi and RightYi, along with some necessary belongings. The carriage driver was none other than Doug, the man Buck had once cast out of his house. That''s right, young master Buck had eventually taken Doug back. Over the past few days, he had sent people to secretly observe Doug''s every move. It turned out that Doug, aside from drowning his sorrows in drink at home and getting drunk every day, had done nothing to harm him, nor was there any sign of revenge against Buck Frank. As a loyal follower who had been with Buck since childhood, Doug''s loyalty was beyond question. To Buck, there existed a special and profound master-servant bond with Doug, and at least, he felt he could trust this scoundrel who would likely be killed in the streets without him. Thus, Buck chose to welcome Doug back, ignoring all of Doug''s obsequious praises and gratitude, simply making Doug follow him as a laborer to do his bidding. Thus, Buck and his party smoothly settled into the border fortress, taking up residence in a small house beside the military camp. The military officers were not unfamiliar with Buck, and initially, they thought this infamous young master had come to the camp looking for someone to accompany him on a hunt, as Buck was known for such antics. But this time, he did not do that. For once, Buck did not disturb anyone, and he remained secretive, almost never interacting with anyone at the fortress. In fact, most of the time, he was not even in the fortress, disappearing without a trace, as if he had evaporated. ... Deep in the unmanned forests of the Border Mountains, a mysterious and ominous atmosphere hung in the air. Tall, dense trees blocked the sun, making the valley and forest dark and damp, quiet enough to send a chill down one''s spine. Buck, dressed in a black long coat, resembled a messenger from the dark world, holding a light axe in hand as he casually stepped into this shadowy region. His figure weaved through the forest like a black lightning bolt, silent and swift. Buck pulled a bottle of black potion from his waist, and under the sunlight¡¯s refraction, it shimmered with a strange glow. Without hesitation, he poured it onto the ground, and immediately, the black liquid emitted a pungent, nauseating odor, like the stench of decaying corpses, making one want to vomit. The smell quickly spread with the wind, diffusing through the surrounding area. This potion was a special concoction Buck had obtained through those black channels. Its effect was to attract evil, non-human creatures. Over the past period, he had made full use of Buck Frank''s original wealth and connections, obtaining considerable knowledge about monsters through cults and various underground black markets. This knowledge taught him how to lure these monsters, much like possessing the key to open the gates of darkness. After all, this potion was not something to be ingested; its preparation was not overly complicated. And as expected, the potion proved highly effective. In less than ten minutes, some large and bizarre figures appeared in the dark forest. They seemed like demons crawling out of the depths of hell, slowly closing in on Buck. These monsters had pale skin covered in a layer of fur that emitted a foul stench, and in the sunlight, they shimmered with a nauseating gleam. Their faces were as horrific as drowning victims, with hollow, lifeless eyes, yet they seemed to see through everything. The claws on their arms were deep black, sharp as blades, dripping with a foul-smelling liquid, telling of their evil and terrifying nature. These creatures were different from the claw monsters Buck had previously hunted; their vitality was even higher. Buck looked up, and the monster''s health bar appeared in his vision: [Health: 320/320]. He expressionlessly pulled up his mask, attempting to block the suffocating stench, but the cloth''s effect was minimal, and the odor still seeped through, invading his nostrils and irritating his nerves. In the next moment, several of the creatures, like hungry beasts, simultaneously launched an attack. They bared their claws and pounced on him, quickly surrounding Buck. Looking at the monsters rushing towards him, Buck felt no fear at all. Instead, a wave of excitement surged within him. He raised his axe in a symbolic gesture to block, but with his current combat skills, the block was almost ineffective. He didn¡¯t mind, though, because he had his own advantages. A black claw slashed at Buck¡¯s coat from behind, making a sharp sound, but the wound left on him was shallow. The damage caused by the monsters'' attacks was only around 100, and compared to his nearly 10,000 health, their attacks felt like mosquito bites, causing only minor injuries. Buck grinned, his smile tinged with cruelty and madness. With a thought, the Monster Claw shot out like a green snake, piercing the chest of a monster behind him in an instant. The monster¡¯s body froze, terror in its eyes, before it was lifted like a ragdoll by the magical hand, then thrown viciously onto the ground, raising a cloud of dust. Seeing a companion easily killed by the green monster claw, the dark creatures seemed somewhat surprised, but they showed no signs of retreat. On the contrary, they immediately changed tactics, becoming more agile and trying to dodge Buck''s attacks. Their bodies were swift, darting through the forest like ghosts. But to Buck, all of this was meaningless. Wielding his axe, he was like a berserker, unafraid of the monsters'' counterattacks. He swung the axe wildly¡ªthough without technique¡ªeach time he swung with full force, his strikes carried immense power, forcing the monsters to dodge. Every time the monster dodged, the monster claw would follow like lightning, landing a crushing blow. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. This tactic proved effective, and Buck quickly found his rhythm in the battle. He fought like a seasoned warrior, learning and growing with each move. He learned how to use his substantial health advantage to crush his opponents, how to kill efficiently. His eyes grew more determined, his movements more practiced. A few minutes later, four or five monsters lay dead in the dark forest. Their bodies were sprawled across the ground, their blood staining the earth around them, filling the air with a strong, metallic scent. Buck dropped his axe and grabbed one of the monsters'' arms. Instantly, a powerful surge of life energy flooded into his body, and the system¡¯s prompt sounded in his mind: [Devour Monster Arm, Absorb Life Energy, Max +320]. A large amount of life energy flooded in, and the max limit increase prompt continued to chime. Buck felt a surge of comfort, a pleasure that temporarily numbed his nerves, which had long been tortured by malevolent spirits. Devouring the arm of these non-human monsters would enhance his Monster Claw, and he eagerly anticipated making this key weapon of his stronger. Suddenly, there was a rustling in the forest, followed by the sound of branches being pushed aside, as if a giant beast was passing through the trees. The heavy footsteps came next, thunderous like the sound of a storm, causing the ground to tremble slightly. It seemed that the smell of the potion had attracted another large creature. Buck slowly turned his head and looked at the enormous shadow approaching, his pupils narrowing. A massive monster appeared in his line of sight, standing on all fours, towering at three meters high, like a small mountain. Its body was covered in disgusting fur, but its head was like that of a wolf, with vicious fangs and blood-red eyes that seemed to glow with malice, as if it could devour anyone. Buck''s eyes once again showed the creature''s health bar: [Health: 4800/4800]. Seeing the first blood bar of such length, Buck couldn¡¯t help but freeze for a moment. A strong sense of danger surged in his heart, but at the same time, it ignited his fighting spirit. Not only that, but the creature''s size was also massive, standing at three meters tall on all fours. It resembled a giant gorilla covered in disgusting fur, but with the head of a wolf-like beast, complete with menacing fangs. Clearly, this was a higher-tier dark creature than the ones he had encountered earlier. Upon noticing Buck, the creature let out a roar that echoed like a giant bell, shaking the leaves around them. It then charged toward him, its massive body crashing through the trees in its path. Buck felt a powerful gust of wind hit him, and instinctively, he turned and ran sideways. But the creature was too fast, reaching him in the blink of an eye. Three thick claws swung at him like giant iron rods, accompanied by a whistling sound. Buck was hit and sent flying, his body arcing through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground. Buck spat blood, his health dropping by over five hundred points. He rolled several times on the ground before managing to stop, his bones feeling as though they were about to break. This hit was even more terrifying than Viddens¡¯s blood bullets! The stench of blood covered Buck¡¯s entire body, splattering onto the trees in the forest, painting a horrific picture. He climbed to his feet, brushing away the monster''s black blood from his hair and muttered, ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll need to wear a hat next time¡­¡± Despite the dire situation, Buck still maintained a bit of humor, perhaps as a way to cope with the pressure. The massive creature collapsed to the ground, its neck, now severed, spraying black blood like a fountain, quickly pooling into a foul-smelling puddle on the ground. The dark, crimson ¡°corpse hand¡± slowly retracted. Buck¡¯s face turned pale as he spat out the remaining rancid taste in his mouth. It turned out that while the creature struck him, his ¡°corpse hand¡± had grabbed its head and, using immense strength, tore it off. This cost Buck 4800 points of health, leaving him with less than three thousand. Indeed, his decision to not frequently use the ¡°corpse hand¡± was correct. When facing such terrifying enemies that could not be defeated by regular means, using the ¡°corpse hand¡± to quickly take them down was the right choice. Fortunately, this monster¡¯s health bar wasn¡¯t as long as his own¡­ Buck silently congratulated himself. However, the rewards from this dangerous monster were exceptional. Wounded, Buck immediately rushed over to the creature''s body and grabbed its arm without hesitation. Instantly, a massive amount of life energy surged into him, and the system¡¯s prompt echoed in his mind: ¡°[Devour Monster¡¯s Arm, Absorb Life Energy, Upper Limit +4800].¡± The overwhelming life energy flooded his body, making him breathe heavily as if a powerful force was coursing through him. At the same time, his ¡°monster¡¯s claw¡± underwent another transformation. ¡°[Monster¡¯s Claw III: Requires 10 spirit or life energy to activate, cooldown: 2 seconds.]¡± Its level had increased, the cooldown time had shortened, and the claws had become sharper, with a significant boost to attack power. The feeling of overwhelming strength in his arm made Buck feel confident. If he faced Viddens again now, he might just be able to kill him with a single slap. ¡­ In the evening, the dying rays of the sunset bathed the borderland in a golden glow. Buck appeared before a border outpost, where the bored Doug had been waiting for him. Doug was sitting idly by the carriage, occasionally glancing into the distance with an anxious expression. When he saw Buck returning, covered in blood, his whole demeanor froze. His eyes widened in shock, and his face turned pale as he hurried toward him. ¡°Master, what happened to you?¡± Doug asked anxiously. Buck paid him no mind and waved off his suggestion to treat his wounds. He then tossed a large bag of materials he had collected from the monster onto Doug''s horse. The bag contained claws, teeth, and fur from the creature, exuding a strong, foul odor. Doug¡¯s face turned white as he covered his nose, his brow furrowing with disgust. The clever lackey immediately recalled that his master, Buck, had once shown an interest in mysterious powers. Perhaps the ritual he had performed earlier had truly succeeded, and he had become a powerful transcendent being¡­ No wonder his presence had become so terrifying. Doug¡¯s sense of awe towards Buck grew even stronger as he pondered these thoughts. ¡­ Over the next two months, Buck continued hunting dark creatures in the border mountains. Like a lone hunter, he moved through the forests, engaging in life-or-death battles with various monsters. During this time, his strength steadily grew, and his combat skills became more refined. In fact, these dark creatures weren¡¯t overly abundant, and Buck even felt that, with each hunt, there seemed to be fewer of them. He was like a dark purifier, gradually eradicating the evil forces in this land. Just when he thought he had cleared out all the dark creatures in the area, a dark tide arrived. A massive shadow, like a heavy curtain, descended upon the border mountains, casting an eerie shadow across the land. The entire world seemed to fall into an endless darkness, and a suffocating, terrifying aura spread, making the air feel thick and oppressive¡­ Chapter 11:The Bloodstained Hunt The dark tide surged, shrouding the world in a thick, oppressive gloom. Deep within the Klan Mountains, Veronica and the injured Muken were running for their lives, their figures flickering in and out of the dense forest, as if the darkness itself threatened to devour them at any moment. Muken¡¯s right arm had been torn open by the razor-sharp fangs of a Void Hound, leaving a deep, bloody gash. Blood gushed from the wound, streaming down his arm and leaving a trail of crimson droplets behind him. His weapon had long since been lost, and now he could only clutch a short rifle in his left hand, his gaze filled with both vigilance and terror. Every few moments, he glanced back at the monsters relentlessly pursuing them. The two Void Hounds were lean, sleek, and eerily smooth, like messengers from the depths of hell. Their speed was terrifying, and their hooked claws gleamed menacingly in the dim light, slicing through the air with each leap. They could have easily caught up to Veronica and Muken, tearing them apart in an instant with their grotesque, petal-like maws. Yet, they didn¡¯t. Instead, they seemed to be savoring the hunt, relishing the fear radiating from their prey. It was a cruel game¡ªone where they delighted in watching their victims struggle in despair. Veronica¡¯s heart pounded with urgency. She ran with all her might, occasionally grabbing Muken to urge him forward. She knew that if they could just reach the patrol range of the border fortress, they might have a sliver of hope. But Muken¡¯s steps were growing heavier, his breath ragged and labored. The void toxin was steadily eating away at his body. ¡°Hang in there, Muken! We¡¯re almost there¡­ almost!¡± Veronica shouted, her voice trembling¡ªnot just to encourage Muken, but to reassure herself. Ahead, the boundary of Klan Mountain was finally within sight¡ªhope flickered before them like a distant flame. But fate had never been kind. Suddenly, the darkness ahead churned as if stirred by an invisible hand. A towering, black monstrosity lunged forth, its petal-like maw splitting open as it let out an ear-piercing screech. A sickly red tongue lashed out like a writhing whip, striking Veronica¡¯s neck. A putrid stench assaulted her senses, making her stomach churn. ¡°They¡¯ve caught up!!!¡± A chill of fear shot through Veronica. Fury and despair intertwined in her heart. These wretched Void Hounds¡ªthey had been toying with them all along. Letting them glimpse salvation, only to snuff it out in the cruelest way possible. She stared at the writhing rows of eyes atop the creature¡¯s head, her gaze hardening with resolve. Without hesitation, she drew her longsword, ready to fight to the death. ¡°If I¡¯m going down, I¡¯m taking that disgusting tongue with me!¡± she snarled through gritted teeth. ¡°So, their weakness is the tongue?¡± A low voice suddenly echoed from the shadows beside her. Veronica stiffened in shock, her sword nearly slipping from her grasp. She whirled around, only to see a tall figure emerging from the trees. Dressed in a long black coat and a leather hat, the man exuded a chilling presence. ¡°Buck¡­ Frank!?¡± Veronica¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She never could have imagined Buck appearing at such a moment. Buck stood there silently, his gaze fixed coldly on the Void Hound. In the depths of his black pupils, something dark seemed to whisper¡ªan unsettling presence that sent a shiver down the spine. ¡°1777 HP?¡± he murmured to himself, his voice calm and measured, as if the terrifying creature before him was nothing more than a trivial nuisance. It made sense now. No wonder the young hunters couldn¡¯t stand a chance against these Void Hounds. A dark beast of this caliber¡­ even a Second-Tier Hunter like Viddens would have to tread carefully. In truth, even an elite Second-Tier Hunter would hesitate before engaging two Void Hounds. A single misstep would spell certain doom. But in Buck¡¯s presence, it wasn¡¯t the hunters who needed to measure their strength¡ªit was the Void Hounds. The beasts sensed the overwhelming life force radiating from him, and for the first time, they hesitated. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it A shudder ran through the Hound¡¯s body, its eyes glinting with wariness. It had never encountered a human exuding such sheer, suffocating power. Then, from the darkness behind Buck, another Void Hound lunged. This one was larger, its aura even more insidious. Unlike its cruel counterpart, which delighted in tormenting prey, this one preferred swift, lethal strikes¡ªan executioner in the truest sense. Like a bolt of lightning, it pounced toward Buck¡¯s back, claws gleaming with murderous intent. ¡°Watch out!¡± Veronica¡¯s scream tore through the night, her heart hammering in her chest. Her breath hitched as she stared in horror, uncertain how Buck could possibly counter such a sudden, vicious assault. But then¡ª A deep crimson fist lashed out from behind Buck, its speed so blindingly fast that Veronica barely registered the movement. With a thunderous impact, the punch struck the Hound¡¯s midsection. A massive shockwave erupted as the beast¡¯s body twisted unnaturally¡ªbefore splitting in two. ¡°Dead¡­?¡± Veronica¡¯s eye twitched violently. She could scarcely believe what she had just witnessed. The attacking Void Hound had been obliterated midair, its flesh and blood bursting apart in an explosion of gore. Thick, purplish-red ichor rained down like a grotesque storm, drenching the earth in nightmarish hues. The other hound trembled upon witnessing its companion being instantly slain, involuntarily taking a few steps back, its eyes filled with fear. It seemed to realize that this human before it was not an opponent it could easily handle. It wanted to escape, to flee from this terrifying existence. But how could Buck let it go so easily? His gaze sharpened as he swiftly grabbed his hand axe and dashed forward in a single bound. The hound flicked its body, its long tail transforming into a shadowy whip lashing toward Buck. A cunning move¡ªits real intent was merely to lure Buck into closing the distance. Void Hounds knew no fear. They were born savage, fearless of anything. But at the same time, the word "dodge" did not exist in Buck¡¯s vocabulary either. With unwavering determination, he stood his ground, allowing the barbed tail to pierce into his body. Then, with a sudden twist, his powerful muscles clamped down, trapping the tail¡¯s tip within his grip. What followed was a brutal, blood-soaked clash that Veronica had the misfortune¡ªor perhaps the privilege¡ªof witnessing. The noble young master who usually seemed distant and aloof now fought like a crazed warrior, locked in a life-or-death struggle against the monstrous creature. Veronica¡¯s mind went blank. She could only watch in stunned silence as Buck¡¯s axe severed the hound¡¯s tail. As the battle raged on, Buck faced off against the beast¡¯s razor-sharp claws and fangs without faltering. He went as far as to rip off one of the hound¡¯s legs with his bare hands. With its agility crippled, the creature''s movements became sluggish. Seizing the moment, Buck pressed forward. Months of grueling training had refined his combat skills to an entirely new level. His axe intercepted the hound¡¯s snapping fangs, and then, like a bolt of lightning, his monstrous hand plunged into its throat. He wrenched its body toward him, then drove his knee brutally into its heart. Desperation drove the dying beast to unleash a final, vicious counterattack¡ªits back suddenly split open, revealing a pair of bladed appendages that shot straight toward Buck¡¯s eyes. A perilous situation. Yet Buck remained unfazed. A pale, inhuman arm shot forward, effortlessly catching the bladed claws mid-air. The hound froze, as if it had momentarily forgotten its next move. Without hesitation, Buck¡¯s monstrous hand dug into the creature¡¯s chest and wrenched out its heart in one swift motion. The entire battle lasted barely a minute. Buck had only activated his monstrous claw six times in total. The Void Hound¡¯s relentless flurry of claws and venomous fangs had managed to inflict over a thousand points of damage on him. But compared to Buck¡¯s staggering 48,830 health points, this was nothing¡ªbarely a scratch. With a final, decisive strike, Buck severed the hound¡¯s arm before retrieving the shattered claw of the slain beast. He absorbed and devoured them with practiced ease, his life force surging by another three thousand points. Only then did he finally turn toward Veronica, his gaze cold as ice. Or more precisely, his gaze was fixed on her chest. "Lady Veronica, you are safe now." His voice was deep and steady, as if the harrowing battle just now had been nothing more than a trivial exercise to him. Snapping out of her shock, Veronica instinctively tightened her hold on the unconscious Muken and took two steps back, her expression complex as she stared at Buck¡ªfilled with both fear and unanswered questions. "Who¡­ are you really?" she asked, her voice trembling. At that moment, she no longer cared about where Buck¡¯s eyes had been wandering. "I am Buck Frank. Have you lost your memory?" Buck frowned slightly, but inwardly, he was already deep in thought. He was considering whether he should simply eliminate these two hunters right here. Because of Viddens, he had always regarded the Hunter¡¯s Guild with caution. If any high-ranking figures from the guild sought to target him, he had no qualms about killing every lone hunter he came across. In fact, he had been waiting for them to make a move. Viddens had died so mysteriously¡ªsurely the Hunter¡¯s Guild wouldn¡¯t just let it slide. Yet strangely enough, no retaliatory attacks had come. He was certain the guild had taken notice of his relentless demon hunts over the past two months. So why hadn¡¯t they made a move yet? Veronica observed Buck¡¯s contemplative expression, and a thought crossed her mind. There had been rumors circulating recently¡ªwhispers of a powerful figure relentlessly hunting dark creatures along the frontier. Could that person be Buck Frank? "Lord Buck, how¡­ how did you achieve this?" Veronica¡¯s curiosity was now fully piqued. She was desperate to know where Buck¡¯s overwhelming power came from. This wasn¡¯t the kind of twisted power one could obtain from a mere cultist¡¯s ritual. True ascension into supernatural power was no simple feat. The success rate of any ascension ritual was abysmally low. Even Viddens, after years of effort, had failed to ascend. But Buck showed no intention of answering. Unwilling to give up, Veronica pressed further. "Lord Buck, why have you not joined the Hunter¡¯s Guild?" Buck stared at her expressionlessly. "Are you inviting me to join?" "The frontier branch of the guild does not oppose the use of¡­ unconventional means to combat the darkness. With your strength, you could save many lives." Her eyes shone with expectation. Buck rolled his eyes. Then, he pointed at Muken slumped against her back and said coldly, "If you don¡¯t heal him soon, he¡¯s going to die." To him, Muken¡¯s health bar was already nearing empty. Veronica jolted in alarm, suddenly remembering her companion¡¯s dire condition¡­ Chapter 12: Hunter鈥檚 Gambit Hunters, as a group of extraordinary individuals dedicated to hunting the darkness, have gradually developed a unique way of operating over the long years. In truth, aside from those within the Church who adhere strictly to orthodox doctrines, most hunters do not reject the power of darkness. They understand that in a world filled with peril, one must be willing to use any means necessary to defeat evil. This was the origin of the first hunters¡ªfigures who walked the fine line between light and shadow, guarding the land in their own way. Unknowingly, Veronica''s perception of Buck Frank had undergone a significant shift. The noble scion, whose reputation was infamously poor among the locals, had now saved her life twice. The first time, she had dismissed it as mere coincidence. But this time, when faced with the terrifying Void Hound, Buck had displayed overwhelming strength and decisive action, forcing her to reevaluate him. For the first time, she felt that beneath his cold exterior, Buck might not be the villain the rumors portrayed. Perhaps, deep within, he harbored a side unknown to the world. "So, the borderland Hunter''s Guild doesn¡¯t reject special means to combat darkness?" Buck mused, watching Veronica hurry away, and dismissed the thought of killing her. It wasn¡¯t out of gratitude for her sincerity, but rather because he suddenly realized something about the guild¡¯s stance. He had been caught in a mental trap, his perspective too narrow ever since inhabiting Buck Frank¡¯s body. Perhaps the one who wanted him dead had a far greater goal than just eliminating the young noble. There might be a deeper conspiracy hidden beneath it all. Days passed unnoticed, yet the coming storm had little effect on Buck¡¯s relentless demon-hunting. If anything, the increasing presence of dark creatures made it even easier for him to find prey. He continued his daily expeditions into the Klan Mountains along the frontier¡ªthe breeding ground of dark beings and his personal hunting grounds. By nightfall, he would return to the relative safety of the fortress, indulging in brief moments of peace. Doug took the blood, entrails, and eyes of the slain creatures to the black market in exchange for needed supplies. The twin maids prepared his meals¡ªthough their cooking was atrocious at first, Buck hardly cared. To him, food was merely fuel to satiate his ravenous hunger. Doug, however, suffered in silence. His life had become more ascetic than that of a monk. While the young lord enjoyed the company of beautiful twin maids, Doug himself couldn¡¯t even catch a whiff of meat. But what could he do? Buck had changed. He no longer indulged in revelry, nor did he bring Doug along for pleasure-seeking. In fact, merely receiving one of Buck¡¯s piercing stares was enough to make his knees weak. Buck¡¯s presence had grown increasingly terrifying. With each hunt, he became stronger, his life force swelling to an astonishing degree. Yet, for an ordinary man like Doug, what was truly terrifying was not Buck¡¯s growing strength, but the deepening gloom on his face. For nearly a year now, Buck had been tormented by the three evil spirits. His frayed nerves kept him in a perpetual state of near-collapse, leaving no patience for anyone. His once-pale complexion was now marred by dark circles beneath his eyes¡ªproof that the spirits denied him even the solace of restful sleep. Beyond hunger, cold, and his wandering gaze, Buck had begun noticing something deeply troubling about the Specter of the Exile. Sleepwalking. Uncontrollable sleepwalking. One night, he awoke to find himself inexplicably in the wilderness. Since then, he dared not let himself fall into deep sleep. That specter¡ªit wanted control of his body. And that was Buck¡¯s greatest fear. To prevent this, he had the twin maids take turns watching over him at night, waking him whenever he drifted too far into unconsciousness. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. It wasn¡¯t as though Buck never entertained certain thoughts while spending time with the twins. But the longer he was around them, the more he restrained himself. He feared he might tear them apart in a fit of unconscious rage. Perhaps only when he found a way to rid himself of the spirits could he finally relax. Half-asleep, half-awake, he was plagued by the same recurring nightmare¡ªan endless sea of dark-red arms, stretching across the cosmos like a starry sky, crushing a vast blue planet over and over again. Each time, the Hand of the God-Corpse would stir restlessly, as if craving something. It was urging Buck to act, tormenting him without end. Only within the small chapel of the Sun Goddess could he find the briefest moments of peace. And so, he became a regular visitor. Even the clergy were bewildered, never expecting that Buck Frank would turn out to be such a devout follower of the goddess. That night, as usual, Buck sat alone in the front row of the chapel, staring blankly at the modest statue of the goddess, savoring the fleeting tranquility it provided. The chapel was filled with a tranquil atmosphere, the dim candlelight flickering gently as if whispering ancient tales. Suddenly, the chapel doors swung open, allowing a gust of cold wind to rush in, making the candle flames dance wildly. An elderly man, wrapped in a thick black coat, stepped inside and closed the doors behind him. This was something that should not have happened¡ªwhenever Buck was in the chapel, he would usually drive everyone away. Clearly, this uninvited guest did not care about Buck Frank¡¯s notorious reputation. He was a hunter¡ªa powerful veteran from the Frontier Hunter Guild¡¯s headquarters in Greenfield City. A Tier-3 hunter, McKinley Owl. When the white-bearded old man removed his round hat and fixed his sharp gaze on Buck¡¯s back, Buck immediately sensed it. That stare was like an icy blade, piercing straight through him. "So, he finally came," Buck muttered as he stood up, turning around slowly. A faint surge of blood energy crept onto his somber face¡ªa manifestation of the vast life force within him. His eyes carried a trace of wariness, mixed with a hint of anticipation. What surprised him, however, was that his vision failed to display the man¡¯s "health bar." Buck felt the Observer Wraith in his eyes roaring in frustration. It tried to see through the man but was blocked by an invisible force, left fuming in impotent rage. It seemed this hunter had some kind of anti-detection ability. Or rather, this man possessed a power similar to the Observer Wraith¡ªone far stronger than Buck¡¯s unenhanced version. "So, I¡¯m the one getting my health bar revealed instead?" Buck grinned, baring his white teeth in a way that appeared almost menacing in the dim candlelight. In this light, it almost seemed like the hunter had come to challenge him, the boss. But with his current life force, he was more than worthy of that title. He saw the old man''s pupils contract, saw his hand reaching toward his waist, saw the weapon holstered there¡ªa finely crafted double-barreled shotgun, so exquisite it looked more like a piece of art than a tool of death. But Buck knew better. That gun was anything but harmless. He adjusted his collar slightly, let his arms hang loosely, and bent his knees just a little, assuming a combat stance. His muscles tensed, ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice. Yet just as the hunter''s hand reached for his weapon, it abruptly stopped. The old man hesitated. He lowered his sharp gaze and took a step back. He had backed down. Buck furrowed his brows, withdrawing his advancing foot, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes. "Lord Buck Frank," McKinley addressed him with a calm expression, spreading his hands to show he meant no harm. Or rather, he could no longer afford to harbor any ill intentions toward this noble heir. Because he understood¡ªhe could not win. The old hunter¡¯s pupils trembled slightly. In his "Seeker¡¯s" Apostle vision, Buck Frank radiated a life force as vast and unshakable as a mountain! He was like a blazing titan standing upon the land, his fiery vitality burning so fiercely it could set the sky aflame. Unless his aging eyes deceived him. Unless the Seeker¡¯s information was somehow mistaken. Otherwise, he had no choice but to stand down. ¡¾Life Force: 316,384 / 316,384¡¿ Three hundred thousand? What kind of existence possessed such a terrifying life force? Was he even human anymore? What kind of ritual could create something like this? Tier-4? Tier-5??? McKinley could not fathom it, but one thing was certain¡ªthere was no way he could kill this man. There was no contest. And so, he withdrew his hand and reconsidered their dynamic, quickly deciding to take a different approach. "Respected Lord Buck." "I''m listening," Buck Frank replied coldly, his expression unreadable. The old hunter nodded. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is McKinley. I am the regional agent dispatched by the Frontier Hunter Guild¡¯s headquarters in Greenfield City." "A pleasure to meet you, Hunter McKinley." Buck nodded impassively, though there was no trace of actual pleasure in his voice. His tone was as flat as stagnant water. "I am here to confirm something with you," McKinley continued as he adjusted his round hat. "Regarding the death of Hunter Viddens. I''ll be direct¡ªwas it you who killed him?" Buck remained silent for a moment. His gaze deepened, turning as cold as ice, as if contemplating something. Suddenly, the corner of his lips curled into a half-smile¡ªone that was neither warm nor friendly. "And what if I did?" "I have no objections," the old hunter replied evenly, as if they were merely discussing a dead rat in the street. His eerily calm demeanor sent a faint chill down the spine. Chapter 13: Whispers in the Garden "Lord Buck, as a hunter who had fallen into darkness, Viddens had already crossed the line of what the guild could tolerate. We have confirmed his hostility towards you, as well as his actions against you. Your slaying of him was beyond reproach." McKinley gazed at Buck with sincerity, his tone steady, attempting to convey the Hunter¡¯s Guild¡¯s impartial stance on the matter. Before Buck could respond, McKinley continued, "I must clarify one thing¡ªViddens'' actions in no way represent the position of the Hunter¡¯s Guild. You should be aware that Viddens was affiliated with the Royal Capital¡¯s Church, and the Church has long been displeased with your father¡¯s stance." Buck raised an eyebrow at these words, inwardly musing¡ªjust as expected. He had long suspected that Viddens¡¯ hostility toward him was no mere coincidence. Now, with McKinley¡¯s words confirming it, he was even more certain that the reason lay with his father. As a borderland noble, Viscount Hein Frank had long wavered between the empire¡¯s two major factions. The conservatives, centered around the Church and the Royal Capital¡¯s aristocracy, were opposed by the radicals, represented by many powerful frontier lords. The two sides had always been at odds over numerous affairs. With the King of the Goliath Empire growing older, the struggle for succession among the princes had intensified, pulling these factional disputes into an even deeper conflict. In such turbulent times, a viscount who commanded a strong military force yet remained undecided was bound to provoke the ire of those in the center of power. McKinley had explicitly pointed out that Viddens had been sent by the Royal Capital to deal with Viscount Frank and his son, but Buck had a different view. In his eyes, killing the viscount¡¯s only heir would only push the enraged noble straight into the opposing camp¡ªan error far too foolish for the aristocrats of the Royal Capital to make. McKinley had expected that by blaming the conservatives, he could provoke Buck into an immediate fury, redirecting his ire toward the Royal Capital. However, Buck saw through the truth in just a second. The Fourth Prince, His Highness Roland, the most prominent figure of the radical faction, ruled over a domain in the southern borderlands and held significant influence among frontier nobles and the Hunter¡¯s Guild. He was the most likely suspect behind the attack. "I have heard that His Highness Roland has been making great efforts to win over the border nobles in Greenfield City lately. It¡¯s a shame¡ªmy father did not accept his invitation." Buck¡¯s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. McKinley¡¯s expression stiffened slightly. He had tried his best to avoid bringing the prince into this conversation, yet Buck had so directly pointed to him. "Indeed¡­ what a pity," the old hunter murmured, momentarily at a loss for words. Unexpectedly, Buck¡¯s tone took a sudden turn, and he began praising the Fourth Prince. "In my opinion, His Highness is undoubtedly the one we border nobles should rally behind. My father must have been too old and stubborn to reject the prince¡¯s goodwill. As for me, I look forward to meeting His Highness¡­" "This¡­" McKinley¡¯s lips twitched slightly, taken aback by Buck¡¯s abrupt shift in stance. "I will make sure His Highness sees my sincerity. Surely, Prince Roland will uphold justice for me. And of course, the Hunter¡¯s Guild will continue to protect House Frank, won¡¯t it?" Protect you? With your current strength, do you even need protection? The old hunter took a slow, deep breath before nodding. "I will relay your message. Rest assured, Lord Buck¡ªsuch incidents will not happen again." In truth, the Hunter¡¯s Guild had delayed approaching Buck for an entire year because they had noticed that Viddens¡¯ assassination attempt had done nothing to shift Viscount Hein Frank¡¯s political stance. His Highness had given McKinley two choices: the first was to quietly eliminate Buck, escalating the conflict beyond repair¡ªbut McKinley knew he could never accomplish that. Thus, he had chosen the second option: to ease the tension between both sides. After all, Prince Roland was about to return to the Royal Capital; he did not wish to leave behind an uncertain variable at the border. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Yet now, the situation seemed to have taken an unexpected turn. Buck Frank had responded with surprising cooperation, even proactively expressing a desire to meet the prince. Did this mean¡­? McKinley pondered this carefully, feeling that his trip here had not been in vain. Concluding their rather cordial conversation, he took his leave from the small chapel. "In three days, you will come of age. Allow me to offer my early congratulations¡ªI hope you will meet the one you wish to see at your banquet." Buck adjusted his hat, watching the old hunter depart with satisfaction. Three days from now, he would reach adulthood. Unknowingly, a full year had passed since he arrived in this world¡ªa year of torment, cursed by malevolent spirits, filled with hardships and struggles. But after a year of growth and preparation, he finally had enough confidence to step beyond the lands of Viscount Frank and into the vast world beyond. At dusk, a grand banquet was being held at the Frank Castle to celebrate young Buck¡¯s coming of age. The castle was adorned with lanterns, and the glow of lights illuminated every corner, creating a festive atmosphere. Servants bustled around, serving guests in an orderly yet busy fashion. Buck had returned to the castle the day before. When his father, Viscount Hein Frank, received him in his study, he coldly informed Buck that he was to choose a fianc¨¦e at the banquet the following day. This was not a request but an unquestionable order. Clearly, the Viscount viewed Buck as nothing more than a tool for continuing the family line, given that he was the only son. Had Hein Frank not been wounded in battle, losing his ability to father children, Buck would not have been his only heir. Buck did not object to this and paid little attention to the matter. On the day of his coming-of-age ceremony, though his eyes occasionally wandered over the many young ladies present, the only person he truly cared about was none other than Prince Roland. As expected, Prince Roland appeared at the Viscount¡¯s castle. Hein Frank greeted the prince with his usual indifferent demeanor, while Roland, in turn, showed impeccable courtesy. Truthfully, Prince Roland was a man of extraordinary charm. With the signature golden hair of royalty, his deep blue eyes like a vast, serene lake, and a slender yet upright figure, his handsomeness was undeniable. His demeanor was warm and gentle, like a prince straight out of a fairy tale. He smiled courteously at everyone, with no trace of royal arrogance. Even when an awkward servant spilled wine in front of him, Roland showed no sign of anger, his good-natured temperament eliciting admiration from those around him. This left Buck with a positive first impression of the prince¡ªprovided that his manners were not mere pretension. Just as the Count¡¯s daughter, Sherry Gustav, who was almost certainly the one chosen by Buck¡¯s father to be his fianc¨¦e, approached him with a reserved smile, Buck gently pushed her aside without even meeting her gaze. In the midst of Sherry¡¯s astonished stare, Buck walked straight toward Prince Roland, who seemed to have been waiting for him at the entrance of the garden, greeting him with a warm smile. ¡°Is it true that the notorious Buck Frank, who is said to be a bully of women, doesn¡¯t like women at all?¡± Sherry, unable to recognize the modest prince in the dim light, watched in confusion as Buck ignored the young, beautiful girl and instead walked toward a man. She couldn¡¯t help but speculate to herself. ¡°This is quite surprising,¡± Sherry mused, her curiosity piqued. ¡°No wonder he¡¯s been so reckless all these years without any rumors of illegitimate children.¡± She tried to follow the two men into the garden, but other guests blocked her path and drew her into their circle. When she turned back to glance at the garden, Buck¡¯s figure had already vanished. ... ¡°Buck Frank, I must say, I am truly impressed.¡± ¡°Your Highness Roland, your courage and character deserve my utmost admiration.¡± Buck and Prince Roland strolled through the labyrinthine garden, walking leisurely side by side, hands behind their backs. The surroundings were quiet, save for the sound of their footsteps echoing softly against the cobbled path. Buck¡¯s gaze lingered on the unguarded back of the prince¡¯s neck, and he silently pondered¡ªif he were to act right now and strike down the prince, there was likely no one who would stop him. It was for this reason that he held a certain admiration for Roland¡¯s bravery. Knowing that he was an extraordinary individual, Roland dared to approach Buck alone¡ªeither he was truly ignorant and reckless, or he had absolute confidence in himself. Was this behavior perhaps an attempt to provoke Buck into action? Breaking the silence, Roland spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Buck Frank is a complete scoundrel, and if he were to suddenly perish, no one would shed a tear.¡± Buck remained calm, unaffected, for the scoundrel described in the rumors was not truly him. Roland turned to face him, noticing his indifference, and nodded slightly. ¡°It seems that the rumors are not entirely true. What has changed you?¡± ¡°It was your Highness¡¯s threat, and the encroachment of darkness,¡± Buck responded with a smile. Roland smiled in return, and compared to Buck¡¯s gloomy grin, his own was like a refreshing breeze. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve already figured it out.¡± ¡°Indeed, but that does not mean anything. I have chosen to join.¡± ¡°Your father is still hesitant.¡± ¡°But I have decided to join.¡± Their conversation may have sounded perplexing to others, yet at this moment, they both clearly understood each other¡¯s intentions. Roland¡¯s smile deepened with a look of genuine interest. ¡°Actually, ever since Viddens¡¯ failed attempt, I¡¯ve been quietly observing you for the past year.¡± Chapter 14: Shadows of the Past and the Path Ahead Buck blinked and thought to himself, "Do you have a voyeuristic tendency too?" The thought flashed through his mind, but his expression remained calm as he waited for the prince''s next words. The prince continued, "I once considered taking action against you again, but later I realized that you''re not a simple useless person, so I gave up on that idea early on." "Are you this merciful to all your enemies?" Buck¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile, one that held a hint of sarcasm. "Not necessarily..." Roland shook his head slightly and continued walking, his pace steady and confident. "I admit, at first, I misjudged you. I never expected that the real Buck Frank would be a man who hides his true self behind a bad reputation. If I hadn''t decided to force Viscount Hein to choose a side, others might never have discovered your true nature. I shouldn''t have used you as leverage to move the viscount." If you hadn¡¯t killed the original Buck Frank, I wouldn¡¯t have had the chance to occupy this body, Buck thought silently. However, the prince¡¯s candid admission of his scheme made him somewhat admire him. In fact, whether it was the prince¡¯s misjudgment or his own admission of mistakes, such things had never happened before. Prince Roland O''Brien Goliath was widely regarded as a genius throughout the empire, and he was known for his precision in everything he did. He had never made mistakes, including when he first sent Viddens to eliminate Buck Frank, the so-called scoundrel. If Buck hadn¡¯t crossed over into this body, Viscount Hein would have surely been forced into Roland¡¯s camp under those circumstances. It was the failure a year ago that gradually sparked Roland¡¯s strong interest in Buck. When McKinley returned and informed him that Buck¡¯s strength had exceeded expectations, Roland realized that he had misjudged the same person twice. So, he had specifically come tonight to meet with Buck. Then, he discovered that his third judgment was wrong. This person was actually planning to set aside his father¡¯s position and choose to follow him. Did he truly understand what that meant? Roland stared into Buck¡¯s deep and calm black eyes and gradually confirmed that Buck fully understood the significance. "So, Buck, what do you want?" This was the key question Roland needed to figure out. "Power," Buck answered without hesitation. He had no interest in the royal power struggle, and neither wealth nor secular power were his goals. With the ongoing dark forces attacking, only power, taken to the extreme, was the eternal truth. What Prince Roland could offer was a shortcut to power. Buck had suffered from the curse for a long time, and no matter how many monsters he killed or how much life energy he absorbed, he made little progress against that mysterious threat. He was like a newborn with only "health" but no extraordinary power or secret knowledge like Viddens the Hunter. Even if he were connected to more limbs, he still couldn¡¯t truly release their power. He often felt that he couldn''t fully unleash the strength from those attachments! So, he had to step out and venture into a broader world to seek the true path to power, even if it meant being dragged into an endless vortex. Roland gently plucked a blood-red rose from in front of him, the petals glistening with dew, emitting a faint fragrance. He said softly, "In that case, come with me to the north. You¡¯ll find what you¡¯re longing for there." And I, too, am ready to return to the center of the power vortex. "Alright." Buck nodded decisively, without any hesitation. "McKinley said you are a very devout follower of the goddess," the prince suddenly smiled, his expression warm and gentle. "Would you like to become a holy church hunter?" "I¡¯d be glad to," Buck replied. Going north with the prince, getting close to the imperial capital of the Goliath Empire, and using the prince¡¯s influence to directly infiltrate the Church¡¯s hunters¡ªeverything was just as Buck had hoped. At least in the past year in the viscount¡¯s territory, he had never been able to find a way to solve his problems. The cultists¡¯ half-baked knowledge of the dark arts could not help him. Now, he was left with only one final path: to delve into the core of all the empire''s extraordinary beings and obtain the knowledge of legitimate mystical rituals. Moreover, he also wanted to uncover the origins of the Hand of the God¡¯s Corpse. So far, all he knew was that it came from the north. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The Fourth Prince quietly left the Viscount''s territory in the night. He had obtained everything he wanted, including the potential loyalty of the entire border nobility. Even though Viscount Hein had not yet explicitly chosen a side, as long as Buck Frank was willing to leave with him, it would be enough to signal an attitude to everyone. ¡­ Perhaps Viscount Hein had witnessed Buck''s interaction with the prince in the castle. When Buck informed him of his decision to go to the imperial capital, the viscount seemed a bit lonely, yet his gaze remained cold as frost. "Do as you wish," were the last words the viscount spoke to Buck. The next day, Buck, accompanied by his twin maids and Doug, left the Viscount''s territory with a light and simple departure. They met up with the prince¡¯s entourage at the Greenfield City steam train station. While the prince was still bidding farewell to the local nobles, Buck, acting low-key as usual, led the two maids onto the train first, with Doug once again acting as the porter, handling their luggage. The steam locomotive was quite similar to the steam trains from Buck''s past life, with one notable difference: it featured a much larger engine and employed a steam circulation pressurization principle that Buck had never seen or understood before. This power system consumed less fuel yet was capable of generating tremendous force. Clearly, it was a form of alchemical black technology unique to this world. As a noble, Buck had a private compartment in the front car. He sat by the window, quietly gazing out at the vast fields, waiting for the train to start. Meanwhile, Roland, under the strict guard of the royal guards, boarded the train and entered the most spacious compartment, casually opening a letter in his hand. It was an urgent message from the imperial capital, delivered just before he left Greenfield City. "Fifth-tier Fallen Hunter, Undead Montette has escaped from the Death Prison and is heading south." Roland read the brief but shocking message in the letter, his eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of caution and thought. "Fenris, has there been any progress on the investigation you were looking into?" He asked, turning to a middle-aged man dressed in splendid silver hunter attire standing beside him. "Your Highness, we''ve been thoroughly investigating the suspicious ritual activities you mentioned, but we haven''t found any related clues near Greenfield City in the past year." The hunter named Fenris replied quietly. Behind him stood a whole team of superhumans responsible for escorting Prince Roland back to the capital, a total of thirteen individuals. Not only that, but this exclusive train for Roland was also accompanied by a three-hundred-strong royal guard. The royal guards were all tall and imposing, always clad in heavy armor and equipped with steam-powered rifles, truly armed to the teeth. However, even seeing the letter, Roland still didn¡¯t feel entirely safe... At the back of the hunter team, Veronica''s lips moved slightly, as though she wanted to say something. She had also been involved in the investigation task given to the Hunter Guild by Roland. Almost a year ago, they had tracked down similar clues, following them all the way to the border, until a sudden surge of dark forces appeared. However, in the end, those cultists were brutally silenced by the Void Hounds, and the site of their suspicious ritual activities had long since exceeded the scope Prince Roland had specified. She hesitated and ultimately kept silent. The young female hunter was also a member of this train¡¯s crew. In reality, she was a failure who hadn¡¯t passed her trial mission and had been sent back to the capital. Veronica¡¯s mentor, Viddens, had died outside the border, and she and Muken¡¯s trial mission had been suspended. In the year that followed, they had repeatedly failed two more missions, and eventually, Muken had been seriously injured and bedridden. Left without companions, Veronica could only endure a tough year in Greenfield City, ultimately receiving a "failure" evaluation. As a "failure" hunter, she really had no face to speak in front of the prince... ... The train slowly started with a rumbling and the sharp sound of a whistle. Buck gazed out the window at the scenery moving backwards and, for some reason, his mind suddenly flashed with the image of his unfamiliar father, Count Hein Frank. The poor relationship between Buck and his father stemmed from his long-dead mother. As a child, Buck Frank had deeply loved his mother, the beautiful and gentle Countess. Until he was eight, when the Countess suddenly contracted a strange incurable disease. At that time, the Count, occupied with a border disturbance, was unable to bring his wife back to the capital for medical treatment. In Buck Frank''s view, his mother could have been saved. With the mysterious powers of the Church of Light and the Empire¡¯s advanced alchemy, she should have been able to be revived. However, his father had abandoned his mother''s life for the sake of land, power, and wealth. Since then, Buck Frank had harbored resentment toward Count Hein. Yet, when he decided to leave that night, he caught a glimpse of something different in his father¡¯s gaze. Sometime during the years, the Count''s hair had turned gray. As Buck sank into deep thought, an annoying creaking sound suddenly pierced through the air, like someone slowly sawing through bone and flesh with a saw, sending chills down his spine. Frowning, he glanced toward the partition at the front of the compartment, wondering if the dining car was ahead, with the chefs preparing lunch. Then came a louder crash, as though something heavy had fallen in the car ahead. Buck stiffened, and just then, the door to his compartment was violently pulled open, revealing a tall figure clad in a blood-stained brown coat and a filthy hunter¡¯s hat. He tightly gripped a blood-dripping saw blade, and his beast-like eyes flashed with murderous intent, locking onto Buck sitting in the compartment... Chapter 15: Bloodstained Tracks "Life energy 1000 points. Hunter? Enemy?" The moment Buck saw the unexpected guest in front of him, this thought flashed through his mind. A strong and dangerously intense aura surged toward him, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up instantly. It was as if an invisible hand had gently brushed past him, sending a bone-chilling cold through his body. The hunter who opened the door showed no hesitation, nor did he utter a word. He suddenly raised the chainsaw high, the sharp gust of wind accompanying the strike, as he fiercely swung it toward Buck! The chainsaw¡¯s swing was as fast as lightning, cutting through the air with a sharp whistle. However, it was no match for the divine corpse hand. Almost at the same time the hunter attacked, Buck¡¯s divine corpse hand shot out like a dark red lightning bolt. The arm, glowing with eerie light, left a lingering afterimage in the air and precisely grabbed the hunter¡¯s head. There was a dull explosion, like a watermelon being crushed, and the hunter¡¯s head instantly turned into a pool of blood and shattered bones. Buck calmly stood up, his expression unruffled, as if what had just happened was a trivial matter. He controlled the divine corpse hand to forcefully tear off the hunter¡¯s arm, then casually threw it away. The body flew like a rag, shattering the window of the compartment corridor with a crash. It spun and fell out of the speeding train, disappearing into the distant tracks. Inside the compartment, the two maids and Doug were terrified by the sudden bloodbath. Their faces turned pale, bodies trembling uncontrollably, huddled together with fear in their eyes. ¡°Hide in the luggage compartment and don¡¯t come out,¡± Buck turned and solemnly instructed them. Seeing Doug trying to hide in the same compartment with the twin maids, he added, ¡°You, hide in another one.¡± Doug recoiled and hurriedly followed his instructions, his legs weak, nearly crawling into another luggage compartment. Buck closed the compartment door, took a deep breath, and walked steadily toward the front of the train. He had already anticipated that a bloody scene awaited him ahead. Sure enough, when he stepped into the next car, a gruesome sight met his eyes. The bloodstained chainsaw had silently claimed the lives of many people in the front part of the train, including the conductor and more than ten royal guards tasked with protecting the train. Their bodies lay scattered on the floor, blood pooling in dark red puddles, the air thick with the stench of blood, enough to make one gag. It seemed that this train had been targeted by a powerful and dangerous enemy, Buck thought to himself. The steam locomotive was speeding at fifty to sixty kilometers per hour on the tracks. If it were a high-level hunter, with their extraordinary agility, it would be possible to leap onto the train from the sides of the tracks. It seemed that the journey with Prince Roland to the capital would not be peaceful. Without hesitation, Buck decisively turned around and marched toward the rear section of the train where Roland was. Not long after, he encountered royal guards blocking his way. ¡°The train has been attacked by hunters. Everyone ahead is dead,¡± Buck said with a cold expression and a low voice. The guards¡¯ faces turned pale upon hearing this, and one of them immediately sent someone to confirm the situation. ¡°I must see Prince Roland,¡± Buck added. This time, he was not stopped. After all, he was a noble, and it was completely reasonable for him to request shelter after such a dangerous attack. However, Buck''s purpose was not to seek shelter. He had a strong intuition that Prince Roland was in extreme danger, and he couldn¡¯t let this crucial ¡°long-term ticket¡± face any problems. When Buck walked into the luxurious compartment made of entire train cars and saw the prince, before he could even speak, there was a sudden burst of intense gunfire from behind. The dense gunfire echoed through the narrow train car like firecrackers. At the same time, the terrifying sound of chainsaws slicing through flesh and bone could be heard, sharp and eerie, sending a chill down one¡¯s spine, as if demons from hell were roaring. The enemy had arrived. Buck narrowed his eyes, a look of vigilance and resolve flashing across his gaze. He slowly turned around. Several hunters disguised as supernatural beings in the compartment exchanged glances. At Fenris¡¯s signal, they immediately rushed forward like arrows, prepared to engage in a deadly battle with the enemy. However, once they left, it was as if they had vanished into thin air, never to return. The royal guards quickly set up a rotating steam rifle at the door of the spacious buffer car in front. This heavy weapon was connected to a metal backpack on the guards'' backs and was powered by a winch and steam compression, seemingly capable of continuous fire. The rifle¡¯s cold metallic sheen gave it the appearance of a sleeping beast, ready to unleash a deadly roar at any moment. Just then, the door of the opposing car was suddenly kicked open with great force, emitting a muffled crash. A tall figure appeared in Buck¡¯s sight, causing his pupils to contract slightly. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Wasn¡¯t he already dead?¡± Buck¡¯s mind was filled with shock and confusion. The blood-soaked hunter standing before him was the very same one whose head he had crushed with his divine corpse hand moments ago! Buck had even consumed the hunter''s arm, absorbing some of his life energy, yet now this hunter was standing alive in front of him. The hunter had beast-like pupils glowing with an eerie light, as if he could see through people¡¯s hearts. His face was gaunt, lined with deep grooves, as if he had endured countless years of hardship. When he saw Buck in the distance through the crowd, a cruel smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, filled with malice and murderous intent that sent a chill down one¡¯s spine. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. The royal guards¡¯ steam rifles roared as bullets rained down on the hunter. For a moment, smoke filled the train car, and the acrid scent of gunpowder permeated the air. However, the enemy suddenly moved. His actions were strange and swift, like a ghost. In the not-so-spacious car, he darted left and right, his movements as agile as a leopard. With just a few steps, he covered a large distance and easily avoided the barrage of gunfire. The hunter¡¯s movements appeared so graceful and deadly in Buck¡¯s eyes. He immediately judged that these guards would not be able to withstand the enemy¡¯s attack. Sure enough, as the hunter rapidly moved along the side of the car, his chainsaw gleamed coldly in the air, effortlessly decapitating a guard who had been shooting. The head flew up with a burst of blood, then fell heavily to the ground. The soldiers in the rear, seeing the situation, swiftly drew their blades, preparing for close combat with the enemy. However, their movements were too slow, and before they could strike, the sawblade in the hunter''s hand slashed through their throats, blood gushing out like a fountain, instantly staining the floor of the carriage. Every attack from the hunter was a lethal blow. He seemed like an emotionless killing machine, leaving a trail of blood and death in his wake. Buck began to slowly retreat, fully aware that this enemy was far too powerful for him to deal with alone. Meanwhile, Fenris in the carriage, upon seeing the enemy, widened his eyes in fear and panic. It seemed that he recognized the hunter¡¯s identity, his lips trembling in disbelief, almost unable to believe his own eyes. A Fifth-Stage Hunter, the Undying Montette! Why is he here? Fenris¡¯ heart was filled with confusion and terror. But there was no time to think further. In the span of just a few breaths, an entire squad of royal guards had already fallen, their bodies piling up in the carriage to form a mountain of flesh. Swords and bullets lodged into Montette¡¯s body, but he seemed completely unfazed, still grinning manically, advancing through the carnage. His body was now drenched in blood, and the floor of the carriage was also soaked, transforming the entire carriage into a living hell. Fenris glanced back at Prince Roland, who had risen to his feet, his face filled with determination. Fenris knew the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders¡ªhe could not let Prince Roland be harmed, even if it cost him his life. He lifted his cloak, drew his ornate short gun and silver sword, and without hesitation, charged at Montette. ¡°Even if I die here, I cannot let Prince Roland be harmed!¡± Fenris shouted, his voice filled with unwavering resolve. The remaining five or six hunters also drew their weapons and followed him, their eyes filled with the same determination and courage. They all knew the enemy¡¯s strength, but they were also fearless hunters¡ªtheir whole lives intertwined with death, hunting the dark supernatural. There was only one exception: Veronica, who huddled in the corner, looking at the terrifying enemy with a heart full of fear and despair. No matter how hard she tried, she could not summon the courage to face the sawblade. Her body trembled violently, her eyes filled with helplessness and confusion, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. The hunters joined the battle with swift steps, their steel blades flashing coldly in the narrow buffer carriage, almost filling the entire space. The desperate battle raged fiercely in the confined space, where both sides¡¯ agility advantages were minimized. Yet, in terms of raw strength, the hunters were still no match for Montette. The sawblade carried immense force, cleaving through the hunters¡¯ silver swords and even severing their arms with its lightning-fast, vicious strikes. Montette¡¯s combat skill seemed to have surpassed all the hunters; every movement he made was fluid and deadly, leaving no chance to counter. Even Fenris, the most experienced Third-Stage Hunter, was thoroughly suppressed and pushed into a corner. When casualties reached a critical point, the hunters finally discarded all restrictions, pulling the triggers of their short guns. The deafening roars of gunfire erupted as powerful blood-red bullets flew through the carriage, blasting large holes in the sidewalls. The bullets whizzed by, creating a fierce gust of wind that caused the hunters¡¯ clothing to flutter. Fenris thrust a sword into himself, and the spurting blood instantly vaporized into steaming white mist, enveloping his entire body. The next moment, his form seemed to blur, and he passed through every obstacle around him, heading straight for the enemy¡¯s heart! With all his strength and resolve, Fenris¡¯ silver sword pierced Montette¡¯s body. Immediately, four more blades stabbed in, creating multiple blood holes in the Fifth-Stage Hunter¡¯s body. Blood poured out from these holes, staining Montette¡¯s clothing. The hunter holding the sawblade collapsed, still wearing a vicious grin. ¡°Dead?¡± The hunters were momentarily stunned, their eyes showing a mix of confusion and surprise. But the next moment, a sawblade flashed beneath their feet, moving as fast as lightning, severing several of their ankles. The hunters screamed in agony and fell to the ground. Fenris suddenly realized something, shouting, ¡°We can¡¯t kill him! Trap him!¡± But it was too late. No one could contain the beast that remained unharmed. Montette stood up, his body seemingly untouched, the sawblade in his hand cutting elegant arcs as he swiftly severed head after head. The hunters'' screams echoed through the carriage, striking terror into anyone who heard them. Buck, hearing the hunters¡¯ screams, slowly closed the large door to the front carriage. His face was grim, his eyes filled with shock and worry. He had just witnessed something shocking¡ªthis monstrous being, whose health had been completely depleted, suddenly fully restored after falling, his life energy quickly replenishing! Rebirth. Immortality. Such an enemy was the perfect counter to him. His Divine Corpse Hand could crush Montette, but it couldn¡¯t prevent him from standing up again. Buck quickly approached Prince Roland, his expression cold, and spoke in a low voice, ¡°Your Highness, please come with me to the rear carriage.¡± ¡°It¡¯s useless,¡± Roland replied with a bitter smile. The door behind him was opened, and a squad of royal guards rushed in to set up a defense. More guards were attempting to charge in but were stopped by Roland¡¯s raised hand. ¡°Even if all my men die, we won¡¯t stop that thing.¡± ¡°Your Highness, do you know his identity?¡± Buck frowned, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Roland nodded. ¡°The Undying Montette, a fallen one who should have been imprisoned in the Death Prison.¡± ¡°Undying? Your Highness, do you know how many times he can revive?¡± ¡°No one knows.¡± ¡­ In the front carriage, the sidewalls were completely destroyed by immense force, and only the floor remained. All the hunters were dead, and only Fenris, captured by Montette, remained. Fenris gritted his teeth, blood constantly flowing from his mouth, and in truth, he was only half alive. His eyes were filled with frustration and rage, yet he was powerless. ¡°May you find eternal life in death.¡± Montette stared at Fenris¡¯ dilating pupils, a cruel smile forming at the corner of his lips. He casually tossed Fenris¡¯ half-dead body out of the train¡­ Chapter 16: Unyielding Hunter The door of the carriage was suddenly slammed open with a tremendous force, creating a deafening roar. The tall hunter Montette, with one hand tightly gripping a serrated blade that glinted with cold light and the other holding Fenris''s short gun, appeared before the crowd like a ghost. His gaze was cold and vicious, like a hungry beast, instantly sweeping toward the fourth prince Roland at the back of the carriage. Roland¡¯s expression was as calm as water, staring back at Montette without any fear, his eyes devoid of panic or terror, as if he had already resigned himself to the fate that was about to come. The soldiers inside the carriage immediately roared and charged forward. They knew the prince''s safety was paramount, and at this moment, they had thrown caution to the wind, disregarding their own lives. However, they dared not use firearms, as in the narrow confines of the carriage, any ricocheted bullet could hit the prince, and that would have consequences they could not bear. Some soldiers tried to drag the prince away from the danger, but Roland remained rooted to the spot, unwilling to budge. "Your Highness, do you have any way of dealing with this guy?" Buck stood in front of Roland, his eyes fixed on Montette. Watching the hunter efficiently slay soldier after soldier, Buck¡¯s pupils involuntarily trembled. Montette¡¯s combat power was terrifying. The serrated blade in his hand seemed invincible with each powerful swing, easily slicing through the soldiers'' heavy armor. Not to mention the blade itself¡ªif he were to pick up any knife or fork from the dining table, it would instantly become a deadly weapon in his hands, able to punch holes through the soldiers'' bodies. A series of blood splashes erupted, like a red fountain, spraying across the floor and walls of the carriage, the air thick with the nauseating stench of blood. ¡°No way,¡± Roland said expressionlessly, shaking his head lightly. His voice was deep and calm. When Buck looked back at him, Roland was staring into his eyes. Although he said there was no way, his gaze seemed to convey, "You are the last hope." Buck instantly understood Roland''s meaning. In this life-and-death moment, he had become everyone''s final hope. In the blink of an eye, all the soldiers in front had fallen, their bodies sprawled on the ground, blood pooling into rivers. Montette raised his beautiful short gun, and without hesitation, fired a shot at Roland¡¯s head. The blood-colored bullet shot through the air like a meteor, a sharp red line, carrying the scent of death, heading straight for Roland''s forehead. Roland¡¯s breath caught, his heart seemingly stopped for a moment. Yet, at that critical moment, Buck, like a black flash, dashed directly in front of Roland! He used his own body to block the fifth-tier hunter''s blood bullet! The terrifying kinetic energy carried by the bullet pushed Buck backward, like a surging tide, forcing the prince to slide backward as well until they crashed into the back wall of the carriage. A blood hole appeared on Buck¡¯s right shoulder, emitting white mist¡ªwhere the bullet had pierced his body. But under the surge of life energy, the wound rapidly closed at a visible speed. Surprisingly, the bullet hadn¡¯t fully penetrated his body! ¡°One blood bullet dealing over 5000 damage, as expected of a fifth-tier hunter.¡± Buck stood firm, his expression emotionless, his eyes revealing a hint of determination. He casually drew a long sword from a nearby soldier''s waist and strode toward Montette, each step strong and decisive, as if declaring to the enemy, ¡°You¡¯ve met your match today!¡± Behind him, Prince Roland took a deep breath, his eyes full of shock and gratitude. The royal guards beside him stared at Buck''s back, their faces filled with disbelief. They seemed to be seeing another monster, a monster with life energy reaching 310,000. ¡°Interesting,¡± Montette grinned, exposing a row of sharp teeth, a hint of excitement flickering across his face. His figure flickered, charging forward like a ghost, his speed so fast that it was almost impossible to see his movement. Buck also charged forward, his weapon flashing in the sunlight as he swung it towards Montette¡¯s chest! But Montette shifted his body, vanishing like smoke before the sword could touch him. Just as Buck was stunned, Montette appeared beside him, his serrated blade flashing cold light. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. A vicious cut appeared along Buck¡¯s waist, blood instantly spurting out. With a great force behind it, Buck was sent flying by the slash, crashing into the side wall of the carriage like a cannonball, leaving a large dent in the wall. Montette was somewhat surprised. He had expected the slash to sever Buck in half, but the sensation upon hitting the target felt unusually stiff. This guy¡¯s body was strong enough to absorb the full force of his strike! This stirred a surge of inexplicable anger and frustration in Montette. A cyan-colored arm suddenly swung out from behind Buck! It was the Demon Creature''s Arm, its sharp claws flashing with cold light, tearing through the carriage¡¯s inner wall and ripping apart the deck. The five claws were like five legendary weapons, howling through the air toward Montette! ¡°Here we go again?¡± Unfortunately, this time, Montette was prepared. With a flicker of his body, he avoided the Demon Creature''s Arm''s attack. Having already experienced the devastating power of the God''s Corpse''s Hand, Montette had made an evasive move before the attack even arrived. Buck used the force from the carriage wall to propel himself forward once more, continuing to press Montette with his sword. He knew that Montette¡¯s speed and strength far surpassed his own in all aspects, but there was one thing he could match the enemy with. That was the Demon Creature''s Arm, which had reached level 5 over the past year! ¡¾Demon Creature''s Arm V: Requires 10 spirit or life energy to activate, cooldown time: 1 second.¡¿ With only a 1-second cooldown, the Demon Creature''s Arm allowed Buck to fight with greater flexibility and unpredictability in close combat. The arm contained immense power, its muscles as tough as steel, and its sharp claws even sparked fire as they clashed with the serrated blade. ¡°Come on!¡± Montette finally met a worthy opponent on the train, and he roared with excitement. He swung his sword, cleaving the Demon Creature''s claws, and quickly raised his gun, firing repeatedly at Buck¡¯s forehead. The powerful blood bullets seemed to be shot without regard for cost, tearing through the carriage. The bullets roared through the air, creating a strong wind that rustled people¡¯s clothes. Buck''s body was thrown around by the immense force, and he could only barely raise his demonic arm to protect his face. Under the fierce assault, his health rapidly dropped during the fight, losing a third of it in the blink of an eye! However, Montette himself was also surprised. No human had ever dared to endure his deathly gunfire like this! Even the Apostles of God, if they couldn''t avoid his bullets, would perish on the spot from such an attack. How is this guy still alive? Montette suddenly entertained a ridiculous thought, Could he also be a follower of the Goddess of Death? He swung his blade again, trying to cut down Buck, who just wouldn''t die and kept coming back. With a swift motion, Montette turned toward the stunned onlookers at the back of the carriage. He decided to stop dealing with Buck for now and focus on his primary target¡ªPrince Roland, the Fourth Prince! As Montette surged forward, he raised his gun. The blood-colored bullet quickly formed in the barrel, and the immense power of death infused it. This shot would kill any mortal! But just as he was about to pull the trigger, a pale hand with six fingers suddenly grabbed his shoulder from behind. It was the hand of a heretic! This hand was faster than the Demon Creature¡¯s Arm! Its reach was longer! The sudden attack completely caught Montette off guard. He was immediately ensnared by the Touch of the Fool, his body plunged into a dazed stupor. ¡°I¡¯ve finally caught you,¡± Buck spat out blood, a victorious smile tugging at his lips. He quickly flipped over, the cyan claws of his Demon Creature''s Arm stabbing straight through Montette¡¯s back. The immense strength of the arm sent Montette crashing against the side wall of the carriage, breaking through the reinforced steel and creating a massive hole! The immortal Montette was once again sent flying out of the train¡­ ¡­¡­ ¡°Buck Frank, how are you feeling?¡± Prince Roland was the first to walk over to Buck, his voice filled with concern. He and Buck both looked out at the large hole in the train, where a blurry landscape awaited¡ªseemingly hiding endless unknowns and dangers. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Buck wiped the blood off his face expressionlessly, his gaze still resolute. His injuries were within tolerable limits. A vast surge of life energy coursed through his body like a roaring tide, white mist rising from his wounds, quickly healing the surface injuries. Seeing that Buck was not in immediate danger, Roland asked in a deep voice, ¡°How many more times can you defeat him?¡± This was his most pressing concern. While everyone was astonished at Buck Frank¡¯s strength, before this, no one besides the prince had known that Buck had the power to stand against a fifth-tier Fallen Hunter. But Roland was clear that Buck was not another immortal. His strength, though immense, had its limits. ¡°Defeat him?¡± Buck scoffed, responding, ¡°He¡¯ll come again, won¡¯t he? He really can¡¯t be killed?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be killed. At least, Death¡¯s Prison hasn¡¯t found a way to kill him,¡± Roland squinted, his eyes revealing a trace of worry. He knew just how terrifying Montette was. This immortal was like an ever-present nightmare that could never be escaped. ¡°Well then, Your Highness, in the short term, I can only stop him once more,¡± Buck exhaled softly, looking at the scenery outside the train. He noticed that the train had entered a thick fog at some point. The dense mist, like a massive curtain, enveloped everything, creating an eerie sense of oppression and unease. ¡°Once¡­ Very well.¡± Chapter 17: The Star of Goliath: A Gamble for Survival Roland nodded, his expression grave as he turned back to command the Royal Guards to head toward the front of the train, attempting to regain control. Though Buck claimed he could still hold off the undead Montette once more, even he was uncertain. After all, he had already revealed all his trump cards. The next time Montette attacked, he would undoubtedly be wary of his three arms'' abilities. Now, his only true advantage lay in his unfathomable life energy. With over 310,000 life energy points, a qualitative transformation had occurred, granting him an incredibly resilient and hardened body¡ªordinary attacks could hardly leave a scratch. Moreover, as long as he wasn''t gravely injured, he could regenerate at nearly 1% of his total health per minute, recovering thousands of points in mere moments. It wouldn''t take long before he was back to peak condition. However, the black formal attire he wore, now soaked in blood, was beyond repair. "Listen, Buck." The prince looked at him with a solemn expression and warned, "If possible, do not kill Montette outright. The only way to subdue him is to cripple his limbs and prevent him from committing suicide. Otherwise, he will resurrect each time in his peak condition." "Your Highness, I can''t do that." Buck shook his head helplessly, openly admitting his lack of means. That hunter possessed an unyielding will¡ªHeretic''s Arm could only restrain him for a fleeting moment, just enough to throw him out of the carriage. Hearing this, Roland fell silent for a few moments. Eventually, as if reaching a difficult decision, he let out a slow sigh. Just then, a royal guard rushed over with urgency. "Your Highness, our train has somehow entered a dense fog, and the front car is no longer visible," the soldier reported, his face stricken with fear. "Moreover, we seem to be trapped¡ªthe train keeps traveling along the same stretch of track in an endless loop." ... The fog had entirely engulfed the train and the tracks. Standing by the window, Buck noticed a recurring landmark appearing at intervals along the railway. Just as the guard had said, they were stuck in a loop¡ªno matter how the train advanced, it remained within this confined stretch of track. Clearly, the enemy had employed some kind of mysterious force. Without a word, Roland sat back in his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose, a hint of exhaustion in his demeanor. "Stay vigilant," he ordered, dismissing the others in the carriage, leaving only Buck behind. "You are the only one on this train capable of holding back a Fifth-Tier Hunter." Roland''s deep blue eyes met his. Though weary, he remained composed. "Your Highness, I¡¯m not as powerful as you think," Buck said bluntly, hoping to temper his expectations. "I know." The prince smiled faintly. "Perhaps you are not invincible, but in the eyes of our enemy, you are far from weak." Buck remained silent, unsure how to respond. "This is a battle of caged beasts," Roland continued, casually unfastening the collar of his shirt. "And you must become a true threat to our enemy." As he spoke, a mysterious glow caught Buck¡¯s eye, causing his pupils to dilate slightly. Around the prince¡¯s neck hung a gemstone necklace, its brilliance emanating from an enormous gem, nearly half the size of a palm. It radiated alternating hues of red and blue, as if a vast ocean surged within its depths. The sheer life force contained within it was so immense that even Buck¡ªa being brimming with monstrous vitality¡ªfelt insignificant in its presence. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It was the aura of something beyond mortal comprehension... "This is a Forbidden Relic¡ªGoliath¡¯s Star, also known as the ¡®Dual Celestial Star,¡¯" Roland murmured, cradling the gemstone in his palm. "A Forbidden Relic?" Buck was taken aback. "Indeed. It can unleash an almost infinite surge of life energy in an instant to ensure my survival." So that was why the prince was so bold. A Forbidden Relic capable of preserving his life¡ªBuck nodded silently, reassessing the situation. "But, as with all Forbidden Relics, it comes with severe drawbacks," Roland added indifferently. "Not that it matters to me anymore." Buck had heard much about these relics¡ªartifacts of immense power, often bearing great risks, thus earning the title of ''Forbidden.'' Despite their dangers, they granted abilities beyond imagination, making them highly sought-after by noble families in the royal capital, who secretly coveted and collected them. Roland sighed, then lifted his gaze, his eyes firm as he said, ¡°I will use it to buy you a single opportunity. Remember, you only have one chance.¡± This made Buck hesitate. It seemed the prince intended to gamble with his own life. Instead of responding directly, Buck asked another question: ¡°Your Highness, is there any way to dispel the fog? Perhaps we can escape this predicament.¡± ¡°That ritual covers an extensive area. Since we are trapped within it, we cannot break it. The core of the ritual is most likely the undead Montette.¡± Roland shook his head slightly, a trace of helplessness in his eyes. ¡°There are people in the royal capital who don¡¯t want me to return. It¡¯s undoubtedly my brothers. They know me too well. To trap me, they may have set this up beyond my sphere of control as early as a year ago. The only thing I didn¡¯t expect was that they would go so far as to release a fallen one from Death Prison. They really chose a troublesome opponent.¡± Buck looked at the prince, who wore a self-mocking smile, somewhat puzzled. ¡°Buck, do you know?¡± Roland continued. ¡°Those who have truly set foot on the path of transcendence care little for power and wealth. Worldly interests cannot drive them. The only thing they seek¡ª¡± he paused, his gaze deep and unwavering, ¡°¡ªis strength. Just like you.¡± Buck immediately understood what Roland was implying and pressed further, ¡°Then how did they make the undead obey?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. They only had to tell him that I have something he wants¡ªthe Goliath¡¯s Star.¡± Roland shrugged. ¡°Montette has long since fallen into the ranks of the Goddess of Death¡¯s followers. He desperately seeks to advance further, to complete his ascension to the Sixth Tier. This gemstone is one of the ritual components required for that. It is also something the Goddess of Death covets.¡± ¡°So Montette¡¯s true goal isn¡¯t to kill you, but to seize the gemstone?¡± ¡°You could say that. But I¡¯m certain that if nothing stands in his way, he would be more than happy to kill me while he¡¯s at it.¡± The prince calmly grasped the Goliath¡¯s Star, a resolute gleam in his eyes. Buck pondered this, glancing at Roland, only to find that the prince¡¯s deep blue eyes were slowly shifting, lost in thought. Suddenly, without warning, the rear door of the carriage was violently pulled open. The towering figure of the undead Montette once again loomed into view. Beneath his filthy, tattered hunter¡¯s hat, his face was deeply creased with scars, and his uneven, jagged teeth twisted his grin into something grotesque. He was here again! Buck¡¯s heart tensed as he flickered forward, positioning himself between Montette and the prince. In the blink of an eye, Montette had already lunged, raising a short-barreled firearm and aiming it directly at Buck¡¯s forehead. Buck quickly noticed that he had switched weapons¡ªthis one had a larger bore, resembling a sawed-off shotgun. At close range, its impact would be even more devastating! Demon Creature¡¯s Claw shot out like lightning, pressing firmly against the barrel. A deafening blast erupted. A crimson explosion of blood and force sent Buck hurtling backward. With nothing left in his way, Montette brought his serrated blade down in a deadly arc toward the prince¡¯s neck. Suddenly, a radiant burst of blinding light erupted from Roland¡¯s body. The instant the blade touched his throat, an immense surge of energy gushed forth from the Goliath¡¯s Star, violently repelling the hunter¡¯s weapon. The blade had already cut into the prince¡¯s vulnerable neck, its serrated edge drawing a thin line of blood¡ªbut within that protective shield of energy, the wound healed instantly! ¡°Goliath¡¯s Star! I found it!¡± Montette¡¯s eyes were engulfed in the overwhelming glow, yet his pupils seemed magnetically drawn to the gemstone on the prince¡¯s chest, unable to look away. At last, he had found the object of his deepest obsession... ¡°Now!¡± Roland¡¯s sudden shout rang out like a command. The surging life energy formed a localized force field, ensnaring half of Montette¡¯s body, locking him in place. This was the opportunity Roland had spoken of. Launched backward, Buck rebounded like a streak of black lightning. The Demon Creature¡¯s Arm slashed through the air, leaving afterimages in its wake. Startled, Montette quickly turned and aimed his unfettered hand to fire¡ªbut before he could pull the trigger, his wrist was severed. Demon Creature¡¯s Claw, like an unrivaled blade, had sliced through his arm in a single, decisive strike! Chapter 18: Princes Secret The impact from Goliath''s Star clearly shook Montette''s mind, creating a slight opening in his movements. Buck seized the opportunity and launched a successful surprise attack. However, even with one hand lost, Montette still had a leg to act. With a sudden whip-like motion, his leg lashed out like a bolt of black lightning, striking Buck''s waist with immense force. Buck was sent flying once again, his body tracing an arc in the air before crashing heavily against the carriage wall. "You can''t use that powerful red arm of yours in quick succession, can you?" Montette grinned viciously. As he sent Buck flying, he raised his severed arm without hesitation and stabbed it toward his own eye socket. He intended to commit suicide using the sharp bone spur of his severed limb, knowing that only death could free him from his current predicament, allowing him to return at full strength. Like a flash of pale lightning, the Heretic¡¯s Arm shot out, grabbing Montette''s leg. Mid-air, Buck used the Heretic¡¯s Arm¡¯s power to pull himself back toward his target. [Heretic¡¯s Arm III: Consumes 80 points of spirit energy or life force to activate ¡°Fool¡¯s Touch.¡± Cooldown: 3 minutes.] Over the past year, Buck had hunted down cultists in the viscount¡¯s domain, upgrading the Heretic¡¯s Arm to level three, reducing its cooldown even further. Since Montette¡¯s two attacks had been spaced several minutes apart, the arm was already ready for use again. However, it could only restrain Montette for one second! The moment Buck pulled himself back, he grabbed Montette''s arm. As soon as Fool¡¯s Touch ended, he immediately activated the Demon Creature¡¯s Arm, slicing off Montette¡¯s leg in one swift motion. Despite being an undead, Montette was still made of flesh and blood. With his sawblade locked in place by the life force field, he had no way to stop Buck''s attack. In the instant he regained consciousness, Montette let out a beastly roar. A terrifying, mysterious force erupted from within him. Buck paid no heed, swinging the Demon Creature¡¯s Arm once more, attempting to rip off Montette''s remaining arm. However, a black-and-white flame suddenly ignited across Montette¡¯s body. The moment Demon Creature¡¯s Arm touched the flames, it instinctively recoiled. A dreadful aura of death engulfed Buck, making him feel as though he had plunged into an icy abyss. His very soul seemed to burn, the agony overwhelming. He had no choice but to release Montette. The Flames of Death! A power from the Fifth-Tier Death Ritual¡ªThe Gaze of the Death Goddess! Montette''s entire body was now wreathed in black flames. His severed limbs reappeared, fully intact within the dark blaze. This was not regeneration¡ªit was as if a divine force had returned his body to its original state. However, in Buck¡¯s eyes, Montette had fallen into a bizarre condition. His life force bar flickered wildly, like a roller coaster¡ªdraining to zero in an instant, then filling back up completely, only to drain again. Montette screamed in agony. He was experiencing the same burning torment from the Flames of Death. Every time his life bar emptied, it meant he had died once. In just a few short moments, he had already died more than ten times! Such was the terrifying power of divine flames¡ªthey even burned through Goliath¡¯s Star¡¯s life field, scorching away the radiant protection surrounding the prince. Montette howled in pain. The self-destructive nature of the flames robbed him of reason, leaving only one desire¡ªto claim the gem. With great difficulty, he extended his flame-wrapped hand and seized Goliath¡¯s Star from the prince¡¯s chest. The deadly fire crept toward Roland¡¯s body. A mere mortal would turn to ash within seconds. Buck charged forward and tackled the burning Montette against the carriage wall. In such close contact, the flames wrapped around Buck¡¯s body, incinerating more than ten thousand points of his life force in an instant. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Gritting his teeth against the excruciating pain, Buck summoned Demon Creature¡¯s Arm and punched Montette square in the chest. The impact pierced through the carriage wall, blowing a hole through the steel plating. The flaming Montette was sent flying into the mist outside. Freed from the Flames of Death, Buck finally exhaled in relief. In just a few seconds, the divine fire had burned away nearly half of his remaining 280,000 HP. So this was the power of a Fifth-Tier Hunter. Panting, Buck slumped onto the ground and turned toward the prince, who had also collapsed. At that moment, the royal guards from the front and rear carriages rushed in, panicked, trying to help the prince up, but Roland waved them away once more. Buck¡¯s gaze fell upon the prince¡¯s now-empty chest, where Goliath¡¯s Star once hung. In Roland¡¯s hand was only a broken half of the necklace. Montette had ripped the gem away during the moment the flames broke through the life force field. The prince was now unprotected by the forbidden artifact. And Buck had failed to stop the enemy. There was no more chance to retrieve it. ¡°Relax,¡± Roland said, smiling at him. ¡°I don¡¯t think he¡¯s coming back.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Buck asked, frowning. ¡°He only wanted the forbidden artifact,¡± Roland replied, ¡°but the Flames of Death won¡¯t fade anytime soon. Right now, that so-called Undying One hasn¡¯t even recovered to his peak. He doesn¡¯t have the strength to chase us anymore.¡± ¡°¡­Wait.¡± Buck¡¯s eyes widened in realization. ¡°Did you give him the gem on purpose?¡± Roland remained noncommittal, gazing out at the dissipating mist beyond the carriage. "Only by forcing his flames to emerge could we rid ourselves of him. In that case, what does losing a single forbidden artifact matter? Those fools who released him will soon learn the consequences of nurturing a tiger only to be devoured by it. Compared to me, an insignificant mortal, Montette harbors far greater hatred for those who imprisoned him in the Death Prison." Buck nodded thoughtfully. After enduring the lingering burn, he managed to stand and extended a hand toward Roland. "Your Highness¡¯s wisdom and magnanimity truly command my respect." Roland smiled, clasping Buck¡¯s hand. "This isn¡¯t about magnanimity. Though I have lost the Goliath''s Star, I have gained you." Suddenly, Buck noticed something unusual¡ªthe prince¡¯s hand felt surprisingly soft. A strange feeling stirred in his heart, and when he looked into Roland¡¯s eyes, he saw an unfamiliar gleam flickering within them. What shocked him even more was that Roland''s features were subtly shifting. His emerald eyes were growing larger and rounder, his chiseled face softening into a more delicate beauty, and his golden hair, now cascading down, seemed lighter and more fluid. Most striking of all, as Buck pulled him up, he realized that Roland¡¯s body had become noticeably lighter, his previously firm frame shrinking into something more¡­ delicate. His once well-fitted clothes now hung loosely, while¡ª His chest¡­ was slightly swelling? He¡­ she? What was happening?! Buck was dumbfounded, staring in disbelief as the prince before him transformed into a breathtakingly beautiful woman. He forgot to breathe. "You are not Prince Roland?" "I am Roland." The golden-haired, green-eyed woman smiled serenely, her voice now a melodious, distinctly feminine tone. "I am Roland O¡¯Brien Goliath." "You''re not a prince?" "I can be." Roland paid no heed to Buck¡¯s bewildered expression. She turned, retrieving a large black cloak from a nearby shelf and draping it over herself, concealing her now undeniably feminine features. "I told you before, wearing the Goliath¡¯s Star comes with side effects." Buck¡¯s mouth hung open. A ridiculous thought formed in his mind¡ªcould a forbidden artifact really have such an absurd effect? "The Dual Celestial Star has two side effects," she explained, lounging back onto the sofa and elegantly crossing her legs. "First, it permanently distorts a certain desire within the wearer¡¯s soul. Second, it temporarily alters part of the wearer¡¯s physical characteristics." With a chuckle, she added, "To protect me, my father had me wear the Goliath''s Star since childhood. And then, I found myself¡­ turned into a man. This is a royal secret¡ªvery few know of it." Buck suddenly realized he had stumbled upon an enormous secret¡ªthe kind that usually ended with someone being silenced. However, Roland didn¡¯t seem inclined to eliminate him. A question burned in his mind: what exactly had the other side effect twisted within her? But as he met the princess-prince¡¯s knowing smile, he wisely chose to hold his tongue. Now he fully understood what Roland had meant earlier by "gaining him." Buck Frank, a man capable of withstanding a fifth-tier Fallen Hunter¡¯s blood bullet with his bare body, was undoubtedly more valuable than a mere forbidden artifact. And now, knowing the prince¡¯s¡ªno, the princess¡¯s¡ªtrue identity, he could never betray this secret. In fact, as long as he wanted to stay alive, he had no choice but to align himself with the Fourth Prince¡¯s ambitions. Until the day Roland became the Emperor of the Goliath Empire. But could a "prince" who was, in truth, a princess really ascend to the throne? A female emperor? Buck swallowed hard, forcing himself to tear his gaze away from Roland¡¯s chest, which his traitorous eyes had unconsciously fixated on. Roland, unconcerned by Buck¡¯s peculiar stare, was already contemplating her next steps¡ªhow to return to the capital, and more importantly, how to exact revenge on her dear brothers. Perhaps¡­ she truly could claim that throne. Chapter 19: The Silver Dragon鈥檚 Honor The train slowly emerged from the fearsome mist, just as Roland had predicted¡ªMontette, the Undying, never appeared again. As night fell, Buck dragged his weary body back to his compartment, where he found his three maids trembling in the cabinet all day. "I''m hungry. LeftYi, RightYi, go prepare dinner," Buck ordered, his voice carrying both exhaustion and undeniable authority. The maids quickly composed themselves and obediently followed his command. Interestingly, the three maids were not the only ones hiding in Buck''s compartment. In the corner, Veronica, the female hunter, was crouching and sobbing quietly. The moment she saw Buck enter, relief first washed over her face, only to be replaced by hesitation. The train¡¯s cook had long perished in Montette¡¯s attack. Buck, who had endured the torment of the Devourers, finally had a chance to enjoy a proper meal, carefully prepared by the twin maids. He filled the table with food and devoured it ravenously, stuffing mouthfuls with no regard for noble etiquette. Across from him, Veronica watched, dumbfounded. Seeing Buck eat like a starved beast, she found that she had completely lost her appetite. "Pardon my curiosity, Miss Veronica, but why did you choose to become a hunter?" Halfway through his meal, Buck, having barely suppressed the gnawing hunger inside him, finally had the energy to look at her properly. In truth, ever since he had entered the room, his gaze had drifted toward her multiple times. But only now did he directly meet her eyes. That morning, Buck had noticed something¡ªVeronica was the only hunter who hadn''t charged forward to fight Montette to the death. Because of this, she was also the only hunter left alive on the train. Buck did not look down on her for it. He was simply curious¡ªif she couldn¡¯t face the darkness head-on, why had she chosen a path that required her to battle it? Veronica''s expression stiffened, and after a long hesitation, she lowered her head and spoke with a trembling voice. "My hometown was destroyed by dark creatures. My parents were killed by their claws, my siblings devoured by monsters. At the final, desperate moment, a hunter saved me. So¡­" "So, you decided to become a hunter?" Buck said, stuffing another piece of meat into his mouth. Veronica silently nodded. Recalling everything that had happened before, she realized that Buck had saved her three times now. In front of him, she had no courage to speak of her past resolve to become a hunter. She knew very well¡ªshe was nothing but a failure. "You will become a great hunter," Buck suddenly said, completely contradicting her own thoughts. Veronica was stunned. "At the very least, you survived, didn¡¯t you?" The nobleman continued eating without stopping his hands or his mouth. Somehow, even while wolfing down food, he managed to speak clearly. "A good hunter is one who stays alive. What about your companion? Is he still alive?" Buck asked, referring to Muken. Veronica nodded slightly. But from her expression, it was clear that even if Muken had survived, his condition was far from optimistic. Buck shrugged and continued, "Courage and fearlessness are admirable qualities, but even more precious is knowing how to use them to stay alive. Advance when needed, retreat when necessary. When it comes to the fundamental decision between life and death, you have already done well." Was he¡­ comforting her? Veronica¡¯s gaze wavered, a complex emotion rising in her heart. "May I ask¡ªwhat was your ritual to become an Extraordinary?" Buck suddenly asked with curiosity. Veronica hesitated before answering slowly, "It was the Ritual of Fate." Buck set down his knife and fork, a slight smile appearing on his lips. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. "See? Fate is already watching over you." ¡ª In the dead of night, at the edge of the railway leading north, a small village was engulfed in raging flames. Screams of agony and desperate cries for help echoed endlessly through the inferno. A tall hunter stepped out from the burning village, leaving behind a gruesome trail of blood. The fire illuminated the deep scars on his face beneath his tattered hunter¡¯s hat, as well as his twisted, fanatical smile. "I¡¯ve found it¡­ Finally, I¡¯ve found it¡­" He murmured to himself, clutching a gemstone that glowed with intertwining hues of red and blue. "Daughter, wait for me. I will bring you back to life." With the gemstone in hand, he walked southward. The Dead Prison had stripped him of too much power. It had been far too long since he had tasted death. But now¡ªno one could stop him. ¡ª The train continued its steady journey north, departing from the remote southern border. In the days that followed, Prince Roland remained unseen. Buck could only receive updates on his orders through the prince¡¯s attendants. As the train drew closer to the imperial capital, the scenery outside the window gradually changed. Endless plains and barren lands gave way to vast fields of golden wheat and lush, verdant farms. And whenever the train passed near a town, Buck could see sprawling alchemical factories dominating the landscape. Thick smoke billowed from the chimneys of the factories, gathering in the sky to form dense clouds. The closer they got to the imperial capital, the less frequent the sight of clear skies became. The cities where they stopped for resupply grew increasingly prosperous, giving Buck the illusion of having traveled back to the Industrial Revolution era of his previous life. After nearly a month of safe travel, they finally entered the territory of the imperial capital. The capital of the Goliath Empire no longer had city walls. The moment the train crossed the Lionheart River on the iron bridge, the northern jewel of the empire gradually unfolded before Buck¡¯s eyes. Yet, this jewel was somewhat dim. The sky was shrouded in thick black clouds, and in the distance, against a relatively brighter horizon, countless smokestacks loomed, emitting plumes of smoke. An endless stream of steamships traversed the waters of the Lionheart River, while the bustling docks teemed with people, creating a lively and vibrant scene. On the wide streets of the city, horse-drawn carriages and small steam-powered automobiles brimming with gears sped back and forth. Along the roadsides stood rows of steeply pitched-roof houses and towering clock towers. Residential buildings, shops, and workshops stretched endlessly toward the horizon, sketching the grand outline of an immense metropolis. The city had already taken on the shape of a modern supercity from his past life, filling Buck with both a sense of strangeness and familiarity. The train tracks ran along the boundary between the city and the countryside. After crossing the river, the prince¡¯s exclusive express train instead veered toward the outskirts. Buck would not be following Roland to the final stop. According to the prince¡¯s instructions, he was to disembark at the southern district station of the capital. The fourth prince¡¯s emissary had already arrived in the capital ahead of time, meticulously arranging for Buck to directly enter the Holy Light Church and become a church hunter. But before that, those who had come to receive Buck held a brief yet solemn conferral ceremony. A royal court emissary, dressed in crimson robes, led a squad of ceremonial guards, welcoming Buck Frank with the most formal imperial royal etiquette. At the station, aside from Buck and his three servants, there were no other spectators for this ceremony. After a brief but impassioned speech, the emissary solemnly handed Buck a silver medal. The pure silver medal was engraved with a silver dragon spreading its wings, symbolizing a high honor bestowed by the royal family¡ª the Silver Dragon Medal. In the nearly sixty-year history of the Goliath Empire, Buck was the only person ever to receive this medal, and it was awarded by none other than the aged emperor himself, Timur O¡¯Brien Goliath. The reason Buck received such a great honor was, of course, his heroic rescue of the empire¡¯s fourth prince, Roland, aboard the train. Most crucially, on the surface, Buck was neither an official hunter nor a member of the royal guard¡ª he was merely the son of a minor noble from the empire¡¯s borderlands. Naturally, Roland¡¯s influence was at play behind the scenes. She was already paving the way for Buck¡¯s entrance into the empire¡¯s core power structure. Examining the dragon emblem on the medal, Buck noticed that it was half of the emblem of the Goliath royal family. The full insignia consisted of a lion, a dragon, and a crossed spear and sword. He had seen various military honors in his father¡¯s study, most of which were lion-shaped. This made it clear just how rare the Silver Dragon Medal truly was. "I wonder how much I could sell this for?" At that moment, Buck and Doug, the servant burdened with carrying luggage behind him, shared the same lowly thought. Tucking the medal away, Buck boarded the carriage prepared to escort him to the headquarters of the Holy Light Church in the southern district. Through the carriage windows, the sight of elegant, ancient, steep-roofed buildings left Buck in awe. Their intricate carvings seamlessly blended the patterns of the blazing sun with the delicate craftsmanship of clockwork gears, forming a unique and mesmerizing aesthetic. A strange feeling crept over him¡ª now that he had arrived in the imperial capital, he was no different from a country noble¡¯s son setting foot in the city for the first time, finally witnessing the true face of this world. Oh, right¡ª he really was just a country noble¡¯s son¡­ Chapter 20: The Path of Ascension Prince Roland¡¯s arrangements for Buck were meticulous and exceptionally thoughtful. When considering the noble young man¡¯s lodging, she made a grand gesture¡ªgifting him an entire townhouse. The residence was in a prime location, situated along Michelin Avenue, which ran through the ecclesiastical district. From there, the journey to the Church¡¯s headquarters was but a short distance. Michelin Avenue No. 9¡ªa three-story townhouse standing quietly by the street. For Buck, who had never harbored excessive material desires, such a dwelling was more than satisfactory. The carriage came to a gentle halt in front of Buck¡¯s new home. While the twin maids and Doug busied themselves unloading the luggage, Buck merely straightened his attire before boarding the carriage once more, heading toward the Church headquarters to report in. The carriage sped through the city streets and soon arrived at the grand plaza of the Church of Light. The vast expanse of the square stretched endlessly into the distance. With steady steps, Buck traversed the plaza, making his way toward the side entrance of the Radiant Cathedral. Along the way, clergy members acted as silent guides, leading him through the towering structures steeped in religious solemnity. From the moment he stepped through the cathedral¡¯s great doors, the countless emblems of the Solar Goddess embedded in the walls emanated a soft, warm glow. The gentle radiance enveloped him, akin to the embrace of spring sunlight, instantly easing the fatigue from his travels. At the same time, Buck felt a surge of inner relief. The malicious spirits that ceaselessly plagued him were now truly suppressed by the overwhelming power of the Church. Letting out a long breath, he felt deeply moved, murmuring to himself, ¡°A cathedral should indeed be this grand and magnificent to match its divine authority.¡± A cleric leading the way overheard his whispered words of piety and cast him a curious glance, a flicker of doubt crossing their eyes. However, they chose not to comment and simply continued forward. Before long, Buck was guided into the depths of the Church. Descending a spiraling staircase, he found himself in an underground chamber¡ªan enclosed space, yet not at all stifling. There, he met two hunters of the Church. More precisely, they belonged to a hunting order jointly governed by the Church and the Hunters¡¯ Guild. They were members of the Church¡¯s Demon Hunting Corps. Prior to this meeting, the Fourth Prince had already formally recommended Buck Frank to the Corps. To put it bluntly, he had used his influence to push Buck into the organization. Because of this, the two demon hunters regarded Buck with cold indifference when they first laid eyes on him. Their disdain only deepened when they noticed his peculiar appearance, carrying an air of arrogance and aloofness. To prevent his unruly eyes from wandering where they shouldn¡¯t, Buck had tightly bound a black cloth around his eyes, making him appear as though he were blind. Thanks to the presence of the Watcher Spirit, however, he could still vaguely perceive his surroundings and navigate his way. The greatest advantage of this disguise was that others would be less likely to notice his occasional inappropriate glances. When Buck realized that one of the hunters before him was a woman, he felt an immense sense of relief for his foresight. He was well aware that if his uncontrolled gaze were to be discovered, the consequences would be dire. This female hunter, who already looked difficult to deal with, might very well gouge his eyes out on the spot. ¡°The Vice Commander of the Demon Hunting Corps, a member of the Royal Capital¡¯s Council of Light, and a Sixth-Tier Hunter¡ªOlivia.¡± It was then that the elderly hunter in a black cloak finally spoke, introducing the woman¡¯s identity. Buck¡¯s breath hitched slightly at the mention of her titles. Even setting aside her illustrious ranks and affiliations, the mere mention of a Sixth-Tier Hunter was enough to send a chill down his spine. To Buck¡¯s knowledge, such a title was shrouded in mystery and signified immense power. He had no idea what it truly entailed, but the fact that even the Watcher Spirit failed to see through her was enough proof of her terrifying might. Through his spectral sight, Olivia¡¯s figure¡ªclad in her form-fitting black hunter¡¯s coat¡ªappeared shrouded in a mist-like blur, as if an invisible barrier shielded her from his gaze. The sheer presence of her aura was akin to a bottomless abyss, far more terrifying than that of Montette, the deranged immortal. In Buck¡¯s eyes, the only thing he could truly see¡ªthe only thing he was allowed to see¡ªwas Olivia¡¯s face. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. What greeted him was an astonishingly youthful countenance. Her shoulder-length black hair was neatly trimmed, and she looked no older than twenty. Her delicate features resembled the first bloom of spring, while her fair skin possessed the luster of fine jade. However, the most striking aspect of her appearance was undoubtedly her golden eyes¡ªbrilliant orbs of light reminiscent of twin suns, radiating a divine warmth that could captivate anyone who beheld them. ¡°And I am Fernandez, Third Representative of the Southern Ecclesiastical District of the Royal Capital.¡± Before Buck could fully absorb Olivia¡¯s presence, the elderly, beardless man beside her continued speaking. ¡°Honorable Buck Frank, we have already heard of your valorous deeds from His Highness, the Fourth Prince. Furthermore, His Highness has attested that you are a devout believer in the Goddess, which is why he has recommended you to the Demon Hunting Corps. Now, I ask you one final time¡ªBuck Frank, do you willingly pledge yourself to the Corps, to become a blade that strikes at the darkness on behalf of the Church, the Empire, and all of humanity?¡± The Fernandez hoarse yet exceedingly calm voice echoed through the underground chamber like a resounding bell, instantly jolting Buck out of his momentary daze. He hurriedly tore his attention away from Olivia¡¯s golden eyes. Clearing his throat, Buck made an effort to steady himself and performed a standard noble¡¯s bow to the two esteemed hunters. With unwavering determination in his voice, he solemnly declared, ¡°I am willing.¡± His tone carried an undeniable resolve, as if he were proclaiming his choice to the entire world. Perhaps due to the connections involved, Fernandes skipped all the formalities and unnecessary rituals. He merely had Buck recite an oath, handed him a booklet that all members of the Order were required to study, and thus concluded all the necessary procedures. Both parties were well aware that Buck Frank¡¯s entry into the Order was merely the first step in Prince Roland¡¯s expansion of influence into the Church. Behind this arrangement lay the intricate struggles and compromises of various factions within the upper echelons. Undoubtedly, no matter what happened in the future, Buck would remain a blade in Roland¡¯s hands. As for Fernandes, he was, at his core, a pure-hearted veteran hunter, wholly devoted to nurturing fresh blood for the Order. He held no particular aversion to someone like Buck, who had entered through special connections. In his eyes, as long as Buck was not an incarnation of an evil deity and had the courage to wield his sword against the darkness, that was enough. With the formalities out of the way, it was time for the true ceremony¡ªthe Ascension Ritual. Ordinary people could not simply join the Order of Demon Hunters. To this end, the Church provided a single opportunity for an extraordinary ascension. However, whether one could successfully attain transcendence during the ritual depended entirely on fate. Generally speaking, the chances of success were exceedingly low, and this was precisely the key to becoming a Church hunter. Fernandes knew that Buck was unique. He was no longer an ordinary mortal but had already acquired supernatural powers through other means. Yet, this did not mean he was ineligible to partake in the Ascension Ritual. In truth, the Church preferred for its hunters to ascend using its own sanctioned methods, rather than relying on unknown and potentially heretical sources of power. But reality was far from ideal. Many Church hunters, faced with the brutalities of battle and the despair of confronting evil, often strayed from the original path of light, willing to sacrifice everything in their fight against darkness. As a result, the more pragmatic members of the Order had no choice but to turn a blind eye to such occurrences. Buck Frank¡¯s power was mysterious, but it was not inherently evil. At the very least, Olivia, who had remained silent and composed throughout, showed no signs of concern. Hence, Fernandes chose to ignore the lingering traces of suppressed spectral energy emanating from Buck. Leading Buck to the stone table in the center of the chamber, Fernandes unfurled eight scrolls, each detailing a different path of transcendence, and laid them out before him, gesturing for him to choose freely. ¡°These are the extraordinary paths the Church can offer you. Choose one, and we will immediately conduct the first phase of the ritual,¡± Fernandes stated, his deep and resonant voice carrying the weight of a gateway opening to an entirely new world. Buck¡¯s eyes darted across the names of the rituals, feeling momentarily overwhelmed. The Radiant Blessing Ritual, the Goddess¡¯ Benediction Ritual, the Solar Ascension Ritual, the Fate Ritual, the Night Ritual, the Light of Nature Ritual, the Guardian of Order Ritual, and the Ironheart Ritual. Even from their names and brief descriptions, he could roughly discern the nature of each extraordinary path. This feels just like choosing a starting class in a game, Buck thought to himself. Yet, for all his amusement, he found himself hesitating. He turned to Fernandes and posed a question before making his choice. ¡°If I¡¯ve already undergone a ritual before, can I still ascend using the Church¡¯s method?¡± His eyes flickered with concern, as though afraid his past experiences would become an obstacle. ¡°Of course you can,¡± Fernandes responded with a sidelong glance, his lips curling slightly in mild disdain. ¡°Unless, of course, you believe that the power of the divine is weaker than those chaotic, wretched specters, or that you wish to keep fostering the spirits lurking within you. In that case, you are free to abandon your entry into the Order.¡± His sharp gaze seemed to pierce through Buck¡¯s thoughts. After a brief pause, he added, ¡°Only ascension rituals from the dark gods will conflict with the power of the divine. Any other forces you¡¯ve acquired will be purified¡ªso long as the gods accept you.¡± ¡°What happens if there is a conflict or an anomaly?¡± Buck asked cautiously, his voice tinged with apprehension. At that moment, he felt as though he stood at a crossroads of fate, where every choice could determine his survival. ¡°You will become a monster.¡± The chilling voice that answered him this time belonged to Olivia, who had been silent until now. Her tone was as cold as the winter wind, sending a shiver down Buck¡¯s spine. There was no doubt¡ªturning into a monster meant death. Chapter 21: Divine Blessing and Shattered Wings The question of whether or not to undergo the ascension ceremony lingered in Buck''s mind like a cloud of fog. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep, prolonged thought. After a long while, he finally gritted his teeth, as if making a fateful decision, and refocused all his attention on the scrolls spread out before him. He knew he had to be brave and give it a try. On one hand, in order to purify the terrifying evil spirits, he urgently needed the powerful strength of the Goddess of the Sun; on the other hand, if he wanted to continue receiving Roland''s unwavering support, joining the order had become an unavoidable choice. However, the three grafting ceremonies he had gone through in the past lingered in his mind like ghosts, making him feel uncertain. Could those ceremonies be considered ceremonies of the evil gods? Buck had studied some information about rituals, and in his view, if evil gods were truly behind the ceremonies, the result should be the malicious curses of the evil gods, not just some nauseating evil spirits. Moreover, the panel that had abruptly appeared in his line of sight seemed, from every angle, to have nothing to do with the evil gods. Based on these observations, Buck felt he could boldly take a chance. Just as he was agonizing over which of the eight ceremonies to choose, Olivia, who had been quietly sitting to the side, suddenly stood up as if driven by some invisible force. She walked lightly to the stone table, extended her slender, willow-like finger, and tapped one of the scrolls decisively. Then, she threw a casual remark to the elderly Fernandez: "Fernandez, I have something to attend to. I''ll leave now," and without looking back, she walked straight out. Buck, full of confusion, followed Olivia''s direction with his gaze. When he carefully examined the description of the ritual on the scroll, his eyes widened in astonishment. It turned out to be the "Goddess Blessing Ritual." At first glance, this seemed to be the most inconspicuous and useless path, but it contained an effect that could be considered game-changing for Buck. The first-tier Goddess Blessing Ritual could instantly double the life energy of the participant and also grant the same amount of spiritual energy as the life energy. For an ordinary person, this might not mean much, but Buck already possessed over three hundred thousand life energy. The immense boost this could offer was too tempting for him to ignore. Buck''s expression became strange, a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Slowly, he extended his finger toward the scroll, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "This one." Fernandez nodded expressionlessly, but inwardly, he was filled with ripples of thought. Olivia was usually indifferent to everything, yet she had actively pointed out this ritual to this young man. Could there really be something extraordinary about him? What had Olivia seen? Fernandez was filled with doubt. He knew he lacked Olivia''s ability to see through everything, but he was certain that he would soon discover the reason behind her actions. Guided by Fernandez, Buck was led into a larger underground room. After waiting briefly, Fernandez had the materials required for the ritual delivered. The materials for the first-tier Goddess Blessing Ritual were not particularly rare; all that was needed was a flower that always grows toward the sun¡ª"Heaven''s Flower," a vial of blessed holy water, and a jar of powder finely ground from Sunstones. Additionally, a vial of potion for altering a hunter''s blood, and Buck''s first ascension ritual was ready. Buck took a deep breath to calm his nerves and, following the instructions, slowly knelt in front of the exquisitely carved statue of the goddess in the center of the room. He began to recite the incantations of the ritual with reverence. In an instant, a warm, radiant light from the highest realm enveloped him like a tidal wave. The three ritual materials before him began to emit a soft glow within the circular Sun array, gradually merging into a brilliant ball of light as if drawn by an invisible hand. At the same time, Buck was surprised to see a prompt panel suddenly pop up in his vision, displaying: [Ritual Power Detected. Do you wish to begin the Goddess Blessing Ritual? Warning: Current Success Rate: 30%.] "Success rate? Why is it only 30%?" Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Buck was shocked but quickly realized that this prompt panel could respond to other rituals as well! This was undoubtedly good news, as it proved that the ritual would not conflict with the mysterious power within him. But why was the success rate so low? He quickly focused all his attention on the light before him, and an indescribable feeling surged in his heart. The issue was with the ritual materials¡ªthey were clearly not of high enough quality! However, there was no time to change this now. He had to take a leap of faith. Without hesitation, Buck chose to proceed with the ritual. The moment he made his decision, the ball of light before him exploded like ignited dynamite, and the intense glow instantly filled the entire room, turning it as bright as day. The statue of the Goddess of the Sun gradually transformed into a golden illusion amidst the radiant light. The illusion resembled a pair of massive golden wings, which slowly unfolded in the light and then gently descended toward Buck below. Fernandez, seeing this, couldn''t help but widen his eyes in astonishment. What he was witnessing indicated that the Goddess''s power had fully accepted Buck Frank. Not only that, but the "Messenger of the Goddess" summoned by Buck through the ritual was far more spectacular than any blessing ceremony Fernandez had ever seen. It even completely surpassed his imagination. A colossal, trembling divine power surged through the golden wings, continuously pouring forth as if the statue had transformed into a gateway to the realm of the gods, with an endless torrent of power rushing out from behind that gate. This power quickly condensed into an extraordinary life force, surging like a tidal wave into Buck''s body, attempting to double his already overwhelming life energy. However, fate seemed to play a cruel joke on Buck at this moment. [Warning! Ritual failed.] With the clear sound of an alert, Buck suddenly felt something light yet crucial shatter within the overwhelming flow of life energy. He struggled to lift his head amidst the torrent of life energy, only to be astonished to find that the golden wings, which had symbolized the blessing, now had cracks forming within them. As the light grew more intense, the cracks became more apparent, and eventually, the wings shattered completely. Fernandez, who was also stunned by the sight before him, could hardly believe his eyes. The manifestation of the Messenger had shattered! How could such a blasphemous event occur? But as he stood there, shocked and furious, he suddenly realized that the broken wings of light gently floated down and softly landed on Buck''s shoulder, as if tenderly comforting the failure of the ritual. Not only did the Goddess not impose a terrible divine punishment, but it seemed as if she was offering comfort to Buck instead? This entire situation was so bizarre that Fernandez was momentarily at a loss. Buck stared blankly at the fading light of the broken wings until they vanished. Then, feeling somewhat confused, he turned his head toward Fernandez and nervously asked, "Can I try again?" Fernandez, equally unsure of what to do, blinked and hesitated for a moment before replying, "I suppose you can..." Normally, when a ritual failed, there would be no second chance. But Buck was different; after all, he had some connections. More importantly, Fernandez now realized that the failure of Buck''s ritual wasn''t due to the Goddess rejecting him, but rather a problem with the conduit of divine power. Clearly, the issue lay with the ritual materials, which made Fernandez feel somewhat embarrassed, his face turning slightly red. After Buck shared his suspicions with Fernandez, the elder listened quietly and nodded slowly. He then turned to leave the room, saying, "Follow me." This time, he planned to have Buck select the ritual materials himself. In the tradition of hunters, all materials for ascension rituals should be gathered by the individual. Only then could the resonance with the mysterious power be maximized. The Church had plenty of materials for such first-tier ascension rituals, and Fernandez was determined to have a contest with this special person, Buck! "That area there is the bed of Heaven''s Flowers, pick the best one," Fernandez said, pointing to a giant glass greenhouse in the church''s back garden. Inside, numerous Heaven''s Flowers were cultivated, creating a stunningly colorful scene. Fernandez gestured to the flowerbed, signaling Buck to pick as he pleased. Buck blinked, wondering to himself, "How do I know which one is the ''best''?" As he pondered, his gaze was drawn to an unusually large Heaven''s Flower in the center of the bed. The flower bloomed vigorously toward the sun, its orange-yellow petals translucent like glass, shaped like a trumpet, emitting a breathtaking beauty. "This one!" Buck declared without hesitation and walked straight toward the large flower, plucking it from its stem. Fernandez suddenly remembered something and moved his lips as though he wanted to say something, but Buck''s actions were too quick. Before Fernandez could speak, Buck had already returned with the flower. Fernandez''s expression twitched involuntarily. He sighed deeply, forcing the words back down. He had forgotten that the largest Heaven''s Flower was planted by Her Highness the Saintess herself and had always been regarded as a treasure. Oh well, the little lady might forget about it in a few days. Fernandez thought to himself, glancing around furtively as if he were a thief. Seeing that no one was nearby, he quickly grabbed Buck and led him out of the greenhouse, saying, "Let''s go, to the next place." Chapter 22: Ritual of Blessing Buck couldn''t help but admire Fernandez''s vitality, despite his old age. The elderly man, who looked to be in his seventies or eighties, had deep wrinkles carved by time on his face, but his movements were so quick and agile that it was astonishing. Each step he took seemed to create a gust of wind, his pace so swift that Buck had to almost jog just to keep up. Moreover, the old man seemed to have an innate ability for stealth, almost as if he were born to be a thief. He led Buck through the vast, labyrinthine church, winding through corridors with the agility of a sly raccoon. Along the way, they skillfully avoided the gaze of any clergy, moving silently between the various storage rooms for materials. Before long, they had visited several warehouses. As Buck watched Fernandez¡¯s deft movements, he couldn''t help but wonder if the old man had truly been a thief in his younger years. Lost in thought, Fernandez led Buck into another underground warehouse. A mysterious, musty aura filled the air, and the shelves were lined with beautifully crafted crystal bottles containing sparkling liquids, shimmering under the dim light. Without a change in his expression, Fernandez pointed directly to the shelf and said, ¡°Holy water, take the one from the topmost row.¡± Buck did not hesitate for a moment. He reached out and grabbed the first bottle from the top row. At that very instant, Fernandez¡¯s eyes twitched violently. That bottle of holy water had been cherished by the Archbishop of the southern diocese for 82 years! Buck noticed the bishop¡¯s emblem on the bottle and suddenly realized that they were, in fact, stealing! They exchanged a quick, nervous glance, both realizing what they had just done. After a moment, they silently checked their surroundings before quickly leaving the warehouse, looking like two cats who had successfully stolen something. The process of obtaining the sunstone powder was much simpler. Buck stood beneath the towering dome of the cathedral, gazing up at the huge sunstone embedded in the ceiling, his gaze resolute. He looked around to ensure no one was paying attention and then suddenly jumped up, knocking loose the largest sunstone from the ceiling. Afterward, he found a corner and personally ground the stone into powder. Meanwhile, Fernandez wasn¡¯t idle. He came up with a plausible excuse, using much persuasion to clear the cathedral of all its occupants. Once everyone was gone, he carefully shut the cathedral¡¯s large doors, as if he were preparing for some highly secretive task. Fernandez seemed to have become somewhat obsessed at this point. He planned to have Buck perform the ritual right there in the cathedral. Buck slowly knelt before the enormous statue of the Sun Goddess, which stood as tall as a three-story building. Even before the ritual began, he could already feel the overwhelming, almost tangible divine presence surrounding him, as if gentle hands were caressing his soul. Fernandez bent down and carefully drew the ritual formation for Buck, each stroke meticulous, as if he were painting a mysterious picture that held the key to destiny. Once the formation was complete, he placed all the carefully collected materials into it. Only after doing so did he let out a long breath, his voice carrying a note of expectation as he said, ¡°Let¡¯s try again.¡± Buck nodded solemnly, his gaze shifting toward the altar, his emotions mixed. These precious materials were the result of their risky theft. At that moment, the prompt for the ritual appeared before Buck¡¯s eyes: [Ritual power detected. Do you wish to begin the Sun Goddess¡¯s blessing ritual?] Unlike the previous time, there was no warning about success rates this time. Buck silently hoped that there wouldn¡¯t be any problems this time. With a mix of unease and hope, he selected ¡°Start Ritual¡± and began chanting the ancient, mysterious incantation. As the words echoed, the materials in the formation seemed to be activated by some mysterious force, gathering into a dazzling light so bright that Buck almost had to squint. This light quickly intertwined with the glow radiating from the statue of the goddess, together forming a brilliant tapestry. In an instant, it felt as though a gate to a mysterious realm had been opened, and a torrent of divine energy surged from beyond. The massive energy, as overwhelming as a tidal wave, poured out of the statue. Buck was completely bathed in this radiant divine light, feeling as though every cell in his body was celebrating in euphoria. The enormous golden wings above him slowly unfolded, shimmering with divine brilliance, as life energy began to pour into his body at an astonishing rate. The effects of the ritual were like a magic spell, instantly doubling the vast life force Buck already possessed! This wasn¡¯t some illusory increase¡ªit was a real, tangible doubling! Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Soon after, the goddess¡¯s blessing began to grant him an equal amount of spiritual energy to match his life force. Buck was left in awe, unable to fathom how incomprehensibly large the figure of 600,000 spiritual energy was. It was mind-boggling and incredible. [Infusion of Ritual Power: Life Energy Maximum +317,384.] [Infusion of Ritual Power: Spiritual Energy Maximum¡­] However, fate seemed to enjoy playing tricks. Just as the ritual was halfway through, the golden wings that were releasing boundless spiritual energy suddenly emitted a sharp crack! Buck¡¯s expression changed instantly, his joyful smile freezing. His heart sank as though he had fallen into an endless ice pit. ¡°It¡¯s not going to explode again, is it?¡± he thought in panic. Sure enough, the next moment, a clear, sharp sound of something breaking reached his ears. Buck hurriedly looked up, only to see the golden wings, now covered in cracks along their edges, like a delicate porcelain item that could shatter at any moment. Seeing this, Fernandez couldn''t help but swallow nervously. His heart sank as he thought, This is bad... I can¡¯t possibly get another bottle of the 82-year-old holy water for Buck! Buck watched nervously as the wings trembled, as if they might fall apart at any moment. His heart felt as though it was being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand, and his chest trembled slightly. However, after a while, the glow wavered but did not shatter completely; it only caused the flow of spiritual energy to come to a halt. The cracked wings slowly descended, and as they touched Buck, they dissolved like snowflakes into tiny glowing specks, merging into his body. At this moment, the full notification finally rang out in Buck''s view. ¡¾The power of the ritual infuses: Maximum spiritual energy +111847.¡¿ ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem right,¡± Buck muttered, confused. ¡°Didn¡¯t the goddess know how to count?¡± According to the rules of the blessing ritual, it should have granted him spiritual energy equal to his life energy. However, he quickly realized that it wasn¡¯t because the goddess couldn¡¯t count, but rather because the amount of spiritual energy was too vast, already beyond the capacity of the ritual¡¯s medium. If more spiritual energy had been infused, the ritual would undoubtedly have failed again, so the goddess¡¯s blessing was reduced. ¡¾First-tier Goddess Blessing Ritual complete, gained first-tier ritual power: Blessing.¡¿ ¡¾Spirit of the Ritual Possession: Sound of Blessing.¡¿ ¡¾Due to ¡°Goddess Blessing¡± effect, the ritual demon ¡°Devourer¡± is purified.¡¿ As these notifications appeared, Buck felt his exhaustion vanish instantly. He felt as though his entire body had been reborn, and he could no longer hold himself up. He collapsed onto the floor. He could clearly sense the Sound of Blessing from the broken light wings entering his body. The divine energy emanating from the wings formed an invisible net, enveloping the hateful Devourer, making it cry out in pain. In the blink of an eye, the evil spirit that had tormented Buck for an entire year was completely silenced and disappeared from his senses. Finally, Buck shouted in his heart. He had finally rid himself of one of the evil spirits that had tortured him for a whole year! As for the other two spirits, they hid deep within Buck¡¯s soul, as if frightened mice. It seemed that to draw them out, he would need to find another way. However, at that moment, Buck felt completely satisfied. Looking at the values on his status screen, he lay back in exhaustion, feeling a sense of relief. ¡¾Life energy: 634768/634768¡¿ ¡¾Spiritual energy: 111947/111947¡¿ ¡¾God''s Corpse''s Hand ¢ñ: Requires an undefined amount of spiritual energy or life energy to activate, cooldown: 60 minutes.¡¿ ¡¾Demon Creature''s Arm ¢õ: Requires 10 spiritual energy or life energy to activate, cooldown: 1 second.¡¿ ¡¾Heretic''s Arm III: Can consume 80 spiritual energy or life energy to activate ¡°Touch of Fools,¡± cooldown: 3 minutes.¡¿ The three arms obtained through the grafting ritual were unaffected by the disappearance of the evil spirit, which allowed Buck to finally relax his tense nerves. At that moment, Fernandez¡¯s wrinkled face appeared above Buck, holding a bottle of potion that gleamed with strange light in the dim glow. ¡°Don¡¯t forget this,¡± Fernandez said, swiftly pouring the potion into Buck¡¯s mouth. A sweet, fishy liquid flowed down Buck¡¯s throat, and an intense, burning sensation exploded inside him. It felt as if a blazing fire was ravaging through his organs, giving him the sensation that he was being burned alive. The powerful stimulation made Buck tense every muscle in his body, beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he struggled on the ground in agony. The mysterious substance in the potion was working together with the divine energy left over from the promotion ritual, rapidly transforming his blood. From this moment on, Buck Frank officially became a Hunter. Then, everything went black, and he lost consciousness. ¡­ When Buck woke up again, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar large bed, with one of the twin maids sitting by his side. ¡°Are you left or right?¡± Buck rubbed his aching head, feeling groggy, and asked in a dazed manner. ¡°Master, I¡¯m LeftYi,¡± the maid answered softly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze. Buck instinctively glanced at the maid''s chest, confirming her identity. ¡°Where am I?¡± he asked next. ¡°This is your new home, Master. The people from the church brought you back after you fell unconscious. It¡¯s already evening. Are you feeling alright?¡± LeftYi looked at Buck with concern in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡­¡± Buck quickly recalled everything that had happened earlier, struggling to sit up in bed. ¡°Master, the church also sent many things. I¡¯ve placed them on your desk,¡± LeftYi added. ¡°Great. You can leave now. Oh, and prepare some food for me¡­¡± Buck started to speak but paused halfway through. He took a deep breath and reached toward his abdomen. He felt a little hungry, but it was a normal physical reaction, not the endless hunger caused by the evil spirits. He froze for a moment, then slowly smiled, a genuine, happy smile. ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll soon deal with your other two companions too!¡± he swore silently. LeftYi gave him a puzzled look, not understanding why he was so happy, but she quietly exited. After closing the door, she let out a quiet sigh of relief. The Master¡¯s smile was no longer as frightening. This was probably the happiest smile he had given in the entire year. Inside the room, after smiling to his heart¡¯s content, Buck climbed out of bed and, with somewhat unsteady steps, walked to the desk. His gaze immediately fixed on a letter sealed with golden wax. He picked up the letter opener beside him and carefully sliced open the envelope. Pulling out the parchment letter, a line of text caught his eye. ¡°Hunter Trial¡­¡± Chapter 23: Twin Soul Mirror The members of the church had sent a variety of items, including the crucial letter, along with a set of attire that perfectly embodied the style of a church hunter. A long black coat with white trimming at the edges, the fabric stiff and intricate, each crease seeming to tell the story of a hunter''s resolve. The cuffs of the coat were slightly rolled up, revealing the exquisite stitching inside. Matching the coat was a belt made of supple leather, its metal buckle gleaming coldly with intricate engravings that signified the wearer''s identity as a church hunter. A pair of shiny polished leather boots with high shafts that reached up to the calves, their durable leather clearly visible, each step echoing a steady sound on the ground. There was also a black triangular hat, its brim slightly turned down, perfectly concealing part of the wearer''s face, adding a mysterious aura to the hunter. Accompanying these items was a special emblem for the church hunters. Crafted from metal, it was finely shaped, with a unique pattern engraved on the surface, gleaming with a cold yet solemn light under the sun, as if carrying countless honors and missions. Among the items was a standard silver sword, long and straight with a glinting blade. A gentle swing of the sword cut through the air with a sharp whistle, displaying its unparalleled sharpness. However, the gun that Buck had been anticipating did not appear. The letter informed him that he would need to go to the church the next day to collect it. Of all the items, the most unique was a silver pocket watch. The watch¡¯s case was meticulously carved with intricate patterns, each line smooth and natural, showcasing the craftsmanship. The dial featured two red and blue rings, with a clever design. By pressing his thumb lightly on the top of the watch, the dials below would clearly display his life energy and mana levels. For ordinary people, they wouldn¡¯t have a mysterious panel that appeared directly on their retina, like Buck did. If a hunter hadn¡¯t gained the ability to perceive their own state, this pocket watch would be immensely useful in helping them accurately understand their condition. Of course, with long-term training and fierce battles, hunters would gradually improve their control over their own status, and the pocket watch would eventually become more of an auxiliary tool. Curious, Buck pressed his finger onto the watch, and immediately the two dials spun rapidly, quickly exceeding the 99999 display limit and no longer being able to show a specific value. He frowned slightly, gently set the watch down, and sat on a nearby chair, deep in thought. The "Hunter Trial" mentioned in the letter was an essential assessment for all hunters. As with Veronica and Muken, only by passing this trial could one earn the corresponding privileges as a hunter. Otherwise, they would remain as interns, lingering at the edge of the hunter world. Perhaps due to some backdoor dealings, Buck¡¯s trial seemed relatively simple¡ªhe only needed to complete a task assigned by the church. ... The next day, the soft sunlight shone on the church square, causing the stone slabs on the ground to faintly gleam. Buck entered the church through the side door once again, tightly holding a small booklet in his hand. The pages were yellowed, and the route instructions inside were clear and precise. Following the directions in the booklet, he walked steadily and smoothly, as if in his element, to the church''s underground location where the church''s inner circle was. Fernandez had been waiting there for a while, standing straight, his face lined with wrinkles, but his gaze was still sharp as an eagle¡¯s. "Buck Frank, from today onwards, I¡¯ll be assigning your tasks," Fernandez said, looking Buck up and down as he examined the hunter¡¯s attire. Buck was wearing the new hunter outfit, standing tall, the coat billowing gently in the wind, emanating a unique aura. Fernandez nodded slightly in acknowledgment. He knew of Buck¡¯s bravery when he single-handedly confronted the Undying Montette, so he had no doubts about Buck¡¯s abilities. "In fact, before she left, Olivia specifically told me she wanted to be your mentor. This is rare, but since she¡¯s tied up with other matters, it¡¯s unlikely she¡¯ll return soon, so I¡¯ll take care of your affairs for now." As Fernandez spoke, he led Buck further into the underground. "But I¡¯m quite busy as well, so unless it¡¯s urgent, don¡¯t disturb me." "I understand." Buck lowered the brim of his hat slightly and responded calmly. "Don¡¯t think that just because you can act as a competent defender against the Fallen, you¡¯re something special. There¡¯s still much for you to learn. I¡¯ve found someone with slightly more experience than you to be your partner. If you have any common-sense questions, you can ask her." "Her?" Buck raised an eyebrow, confused. Before he could ask further, Fernandez pushed open a heavy metallic door. Immediately, a strong smell of oil wafted through, dissipating the unpleasant mildew scent of the underground passage. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Hello, Mr. Buck Frank, welcome to the church''s firearms workshop," said a bald man who appeared from behind the door, a warm smile on his face as he extended a hand to welcome Buck inside. Inside the workshop, there was a busy scene. Numerous technicians were focused on maintaining and assembling firearms. Disassembled hunter pistols and various delicate parts were scattered across the floor, glinting under the light, creating a dazzling sight. For Buck, learning the structural principles of hunter pistols was a mandatory course, but at this moment, he knew almost nothing about them. The bald man led Buck into a room filled with all kinds of firearms, an array of them gleaming with variety. After scanning the surroundings, Fernandez impatiently threw out a sentence: "Ketch, this guy is all yours. I have urgent matters to attend to." "Safe travels, Lord Fernandez," Ketch replied respectfully. After seeing Fernandez off, Ketch smiled and waved his hand at Buck, saying, "Lord Frank, you can choose any firearm you like. Once you complete the hunter trial, it will stay with you from now on." Buck, with sharp eyes, quickly scanned the shelves and soon noticed the longest and most substantial gun. To be precise, it looked more like a small cannon, almost as long as an arm. "I want that one," Buck said with an expressionless face, but his tone was firm. Ketch''s smile immediately became somewhat awkward as he realized he had forgotten to put away the experimental item he had carelessly created while bored. Originally, it was just a strange product made to show off how "tough and gigantic" the workshop''s products were in a bet. "Are you sure? This gun imposes a huge burden on the user." "No problem, I¡¯ll take it," Buck insisted decisively. Ketch, unable to persuade Buck otherwise, reluctantly handed over the gun with a 0.85 caliber. He thought to himself that once the boy experienced how it drained energy like a pump, he¡¯d surely return it. However, Ketch quickly realized how wrong he was. In the underground shooting range, he witnessed Buck shooting continuously without changing his expression. The gun in Buck''s hands spat fire with every shot, accompanied by deafening noises. The targets on the opposite side were instantly turned to dust by the barrage of gunfire. Ketch stood stunned, his mouth hanging open, as if he could fit another bald head in. It turned out that after the transformation with the hunter potion, Buck¡¯s blood could perfectly activate this specialized hunter weapon. The short gun, named "Hammer," consumed 200 mana points with each shot. If the mana was exhausted, it would start drawing life energy. This was a lethal drain for ordinary hunters, who couldn¡¯t withstand it. But for Buck, who had immense reserves of both life and mana energy, it was no trouble at all. He didn¡¯t even need to reload, as his own blood could form the bullets effortlessly. The massive energy consumption of "Hammer" resulted in even more destructive power than regular pistols. When dealing with ordinary flesh, a single bullet could cause a grenade-like effect. Buck was extremely satisfied with this gun. To him, it was undoubtedly the perfect weapon for himself. He casually holstered the gun with a flourish, leaving the workshop with confident strides, all while Ketch stared in astonishment. ... In the underground passage, Buck saw his partner, who had been assigned to work with him on the task. As he drew nearer, he realized it was an old acquaintance¡ªVeronica. The female hunter had her fiery red hair tied up high, held in place by a hunter''s hat. She wore a fitted long coat that perfectly outlined her figure, giving her a bold and heroic appearance. It had been a while since they last met, and Veronica seemed to have regained her confidence. Upon seeing Buck dressed in the church hunter attire, she flashed him a bright smile, like a flower blooming in spring. "Hello, Lord Buck. From today, I¡¯ll be your new partner, Veronica," she greeted politely. Buck lowered his hat slightly, and in a soft voice, said, "You really didn¡¯t give up." Veronica nodded, her eyes shining with determination. "His Highness gave me a second chance." "So now you¡¯re serving Lord Roland?" Buck asked. "Not just me, but us," Veronica smiled meaningfully. Then, she turned and began to lead the way. "Lord Buck, your hunter trial is also my trial task. We need to act quickly. At the same time, we have another important task to complete for His Highness." Buck raised an eyebrow, inwardly speculating: The main event is coming. It seems Roland''s placing him in the church has deeper meaning. "What¡¯s the task?" he asked. "We need to secretly assist His Highness in retrieving a missing fourth-tier forbidden item¡ªthe Twin Soul Mirror," Veronica said as she handed Buck a simple document. The paper was rough, listing basic information about the Twin Soul Mirror, with a sketch of its appearance. The outline of the magic mirror was sleek, and the reflective surface seemed to contain endless mysterious power. Just looking at the sketch, one could feel its extraordinary nature. "Is our task related to this forbidden item?" Buck quickly scanned the document, his thoughts stirring, but his face remained calm. "Let¡¯s just say there¡¯s a bit of a connection, but it¡¯s not the core task. The search for the forbidden item is being handled by other high-level hunters. We¡¯re only tasked with dealing with a peripheral issue." "So, His Highness wants us to get ahead of those high-level hunters and retrieve the mirror before they do?" Buck¡¯s lips curled up slightly in a smile. "And we need to do it quietly, avoiding the other group, while secretly searching for clues and breakthroughs?" "Smart," Veronica nodded approvingly. "Lord Fernandez told me that my last partner was a fool with nothing but passion, which is why I failed my trial. It seems this time, he found me a capable partner." Buck remained noncommittal, once again lowering his hat to shield his occasionally wandering gaze. "Well, let¡¯s hear about our specific task." "Our task is to help Master Julius the Alchemist retrieve a potion stolen by his apprentice. The employer of that alchemist is the original owner of the Twin Soul Mirror, Count Kingsley." "A theft, recovering stolen property? Isn¡¯t that the work of police and detectives?" Buck asked, puzzled. "Normally, yes," Veronica winked playfully, adding, "But this isn¡¯t just any potion. Master Julius said his apprentice has likely turned into a monster under the influence of the potion." Chapter 24: Shadows of the Alchemists Deception The day after arriving in the imperial capital, Buck immediately embarked on his first mission as a hunter. The bustling capital was filled with novelty and the unknown, but he had no time to familiarize himself with the environment and had to rely on Veronica to lead the way. They first took a carriage and, after a bumpy ride, arrived at the docks. The dock was crowded with people, noisy and chaotic, with workers carrying heavy loads and ships anchored along the shore, gently swaying with the waves. Soon, the two boarded a steamship billowing black smoke. The ship rumbled as it slowly made its way toward the center of the Lionheart River, finally docking at a massive vessel. The issuer of this mission, the renowned alchemist genius of the capital, Julius, was aboard this large ship. As Buck stepped into the cabin, he saw it filled with various strange alchemical equipment, bottles and jars glowing with mysterious light and emitting a pungent chemical smell. Among the clutter of equipment, Buck met the elderly alchemist, Julius. His unkempt, fluffy white hair stood out as if it hadn''t been groomed for a long time, yet his sharp, intelligent eyes reminded Buck of a brilliant scientist from his past life. The two seemed to share a similar aura. "My apprentice Dick stole most of the newly refined potions. You must retrieve them quickly¡ªdon¡¯t wait until he causes a disaster," Julius¡¯s voice echoed with a hint of urgency. "Do you know why Dick stole your potions?" Veronica stepped forward, politely asking. "Who knows? Maybe for money. After all, those potions are incredibly valuable, especially my new invention, Liquefied Thunder¡ªit¡¯s worth a fortune," Julius said, his attention focused on a dropper in his hand, not bothering to turn around, his tone dismissive. "Could you tell us more specifically about the potions Dick stole?" Veronica persisted patiently. Julius glanced at her, then reached for a small box nearby. In an instant, a strange light burst out from the box, illuminating the dim cabin. Buck''s gaze was immediately drawn to a vial of liquid inside the box, which sparkled with dazzling lightning. He squinted his eyes in shock. It turned out that the Liquefied Thunder Julius had mentioned was indeed as its name suggested¡ªthe power of thunder had been condensed into a liquid form in a small bottle. The liquid inside flickered with lightning, constantly jumping, as though it could break free of the bottle and unleash world-destroying power at any moment. Buck was stunned in his heart, wondering what kind of otherworldly technology this was. "Liquefied Thunder, Crystallized Sunshine, Roar Juice of the Garolong Herb, and various other enhancement potions, including some specifically for hunters. He stole an entire box," Julius closed the box, his expression serious. "It doesn¡¯t matter if the other potions are lost, but Liquefied Thunder must be recovered no matter what." "Where do you think Dick is most likely to have fled to?" Veronica asked. "How would I know? He¡¯ll go wherever it¡¯s easiest to hide," Julius paused, then hesitated before saying, "Maybe you should check out the Earl¡¯s old alchemy factory. He used to stay there often." At this moment, Buck, who had been listening quietly, suddenly asked, "Do you know anything about the Earl¡¯s missing Twin Soul Mirror?" "Magic mirror? I don¡¯t know, don¡¯t ask me," Julius¡¯s expression immediately changed, his calm demeanor replaced with tension, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes. He waved his hand impatiently, trying to dismiss them. "You hunters have so many questions. Some other people already came earlier asking about these bizarre things. I told you, I¡¯m just an alchemist helping the Earl with potions. What the Earl lost has nothing to do with me!" ¡­ Soon, Buck and Veronica arrived at the docks. The sky was darkening, and the evening glow tinged half of the sky red. The two boarded a carriage again, heading toward the Earl¡¯s old alchemy workshop, as suggested by Julius. The noble Kingsley Earl of the imperial capital had long been a major investor in the alchemist Julius. However, unfortunately, the Earl had recently lost a long-sealed taboo object from his family, the Twin Soul Mirror. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. "Kingsley Earl¡¯s ancestor was once a Hunter Lord, so his family has the right to keep and use taboo objects," Veronica explained softly as she sat opposite Buck in the carriage, the wheels creaking as they rolled along the road. "Over time, the descendants of the Kingsley family have never had another Hunter Lord, so now they only have the right to seal taboo objects, but no longer the right to use them." A Hunter Lord refers to high-ranking hunters who have earned noble titles. Through their great achievements in battling the darkness, they have gained recognition from the imperial royal family and the church, which led to their titles. The family of a Hunter Lord has a special privilege¡ªthey can keep and use extremely dangerous taboo objects to enhance their own strength, while also bearing the significant responsibility of guarding these objects and preventing them from falling into chaos. "After the last taboo item, the Twin Soul Mirror, was sealed away and went missing from the Earl''s family, he chose to report it to the church, expressing his willingness for the order to retrieve it and absolve him of any related responsibility," Veronica explained. "The alchemist is suspicious," Buck suddenly interrupted, his voice low and certain. "He¡¯s lying." Though Buck''s mission should have had little to do with the case, when he questioned the alchemist, he keenly noticed the other¡¯s unusual reaction. Veronica blinked, a flicker of doubt crossing her eyes. "I noticed that too. Do you think Julius knows the whereabouts of the Twin Soul Mirror?" "No, he doesn''t know. His expression was tense and anxious¡ªhe seemed more concerned about the whereabouts of that taboo item than we were, yet he was doing everything he could to hide any connection between himself and it." Buck crossed his legs, lowering the brim of his hat so that shadows obscured his eyes. "So I speculate that he must have come into contact with the Twin Soul Mirror and then lost it." "Are you saying he secretly stole the Earl''s taboo item and used it without permission?" Veronica frowned. Although this theory had no solid evidence, it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. She suddenly realized that Buck¡¯s mind was sharper than she had imagined. In fact, Veronica herself was highly intelligent, or else they wouldn''t have so easily noticed the subtle connections between Buck, Frank, and the cult back in the Viscount¡¯s territory. Prompted by Buck, Veronica quickly pieced together an entire set of speculations. To her surprise, she realized they might be very close to finding the taboo item. ... The carriage slowly stopped in the outskirts of the southern city. By now, night had fallen, and darkness enveloped the surroundings, with only a few faint lights flickering in the distance. They had successfully arrived at the Kingsley family¡¯s old alchemy factory before it got completely dark. The factory had long been closed due to poor management, now nothing but a ruin of dilapidated buildings. The factory walls were peeling, revealing mottled bricks, the windows shattered with glass shards scattered on the ground. The area was overrun with wild grass, silent and eerie. Interestingly, when they arrived, they found that someone had already beaten them there, standing before the factory¡¯s entrance. The person was dressed in the church¡¯s hunter attire, with the church insignia pinned to his chest¡ªa third-tier hunter named Lucio. Veronica immediately recognized the hunter. He was one of the hunters responsible for searching for the stolen taboo items. The man with a small mustache looked at Buck and Veronica, paused for a moment, and then, recognizing Veronica, a disdainful smile spread across his face. "So, it¡¯s the failure. What are you doing here?" he sneered. Then, he turned his gaze toward Buck, a mocking glint in his eyes. "You must be the nobleman from the countryside, right?" Buck remained expressionless, silent as though the man¡¯s words had no effect on him. "A country noble, playing some tricks to sneak into the church, trying to add some color to his life. Being a hunter is no child¡¯s play. You should go back home and sleep," Lucio continued arrogantly. Veronica''s face darkened with anger, her face turning red as she stepped forward to argue, but Buck placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. "That''s right, that''s right. You interns should stay out of the way, so I don¡¯t have to come rescue you when you get hurt. Don¡¯t interfere with me completing my mission." Lucio''s tone was full of arrogance and contempt. He sneered, then turned and walked toward the factory doors, ignoring them. "How annoying," Veronica muttered, looking displeased. "Buck, why don¡¯t you rebut him?" "No need." Buck lowered the brim of his hat, slowly reaching for his waist and grasping the handle of his gun. "Prepare for battle." As soon as he finished speaking, the factory¡¯s old wooden door was smashed open, creating a large hole. Immediately after, Lucio¡¯s figure was sent flying from inside, crashing heavily to the ground in front of Buck and Veronica. Veronica stared, wide-eyed, at Lucio¡¯s disheveled state. Before she could react, the bearded hunter swiftly sprang to his feet, pulling out his gun and firing two shots at the hole in the door. A large, muscular, yet contorted figure charged out of the darkness, braving the gunfire. It wielded a massive steel bar that gleamed coldly in the dim light. With a fierce swing, it aimed the steel bar directly at the hunter. Veronica snapped back to her senses and hastily reached for her own handgun, ready to shoot, but Buck stopped her with a firm hand. "Don¡¯t rush. He¡¯s not dead yet." Buck¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes gleaming with a mysterious light, as if he was waiting for something. Chapter 25: Shadows of the Twin Soul Mirror Buck was not wrong. As a third-tier hunter, Lucio was by no means someone who could be easily defeated. The muscular mutant, whose body was twisted and contorted by mysterious powers, expanded to a height of three meters as soon as it charged out. At that moment, two small burning holes suddenly appeared on the creature, the result of Lucio quickly firing his gun. The steel bar in the creature¡¯s hand swung towards Lucio with a howling force, but the agile hunter dodged it effortlessly. Then, Lucio drew his silver sword, its cold gleam flashing as the blade cut through the creature¡¯s leg. The creature yelped in pain, and its movements slowed considerably. Just then, the parts of the creature that were on fire exploded violently! The enormous impact surged like a tidal wave, slamming the creature¡¯s body into the base of the factory wall. Through Buck¡¯s sharp eyes, the creature, with a life energy of 3000, had lost over two thousand hit points from Lucio¡¯s two explosive rounds. If Buck were more familiar with the Church¡¯s ritual powers, he would recognize this as a Burst Blessing from the Radiant Sun Ritual. At that moment, a large, horrifying crater appeared in the creature''s chest, and it collapsed to the ground, unable to move. Lucio took a step forward, stomping down on the creature¡¯s arm. His eyes, as sharp as an eagle''s, stared at the creature¡¯s head, which was barely recognizable as human. He coldly asked, ¡°You¡¯ve come into contact with the Magic Mirror, haven¡¯t you? Someone saw¡­¡± However, the creature showed an expression of fear, frustration, and despair, screaming frantically and interrupting Lucio''s question: ¡°No! I am the real one! I am... I¡¯m the real one, save me... Teacher, save me!!!¡± Lucio raised his gun, aiming directly at the creature¡¯s head. He was now absolutely certain that their mission was not in vain. The Church¡¯s seer had provided multiple possible locations where the clues might be found. Everyone had split up to search, and Lucio had tracked down this place using some strange rumors. Earlier, rumors had spread that two identical monsters had appeared in this abandoned factory. ¡°Where is the other one?¡± Lucio thought to himself just as the wall in front of him suddenly exploded without warning. A huge, twisted hand swept from the other side of the wall. The immense force instantly shattered the brick wall, and a heavy slap struck Lucio¡¯s body. Lucio was sent flying by this sudden attack, his health plummeting to zero, and even his hat was knocked off, flying through the air. Buck, who had been silently watching from a distance, finally took a slow step forward, heading towards the factory. A massive figure emerged from the fallen brick wall. It was a muscular monster, as huge as a mountain of flesh. Its height reached a staggering five meters, even more absurd than the previous creature. Its face was completely twisted, and compared to its enormous body, its head seemed like a tiny, deformed bean. Yet, the creature moved with a speed that was astonishing! The fallen Lucio struggled to grab a recovery potion, but the giant beast rushed toward him in the blink of an eye. Its massive fist, like a battering ram, came crashing down with tremendous force. Terrified, Lucio barely managed to roll out of the way. The ground trembled violently from the impact of the fist. Lucio narrowly avoided being turned into a pancake, but the potion in his hand was shaken loose. The giant monster, showing no mercy, swung its fist again. A sharp gunshot cut through the night air, and a burst of blood flashed as the powerful shockwave exploded behind the giant monster, sending it stumbling backward. The wounded Lucio looked up and saw a hunter approaching in the distance. It was Buck, the country nobleman he had previously mocked... Wait, what¡¯s that in his hand? Isn¡¯t that the hand cannon Ketch had been tinkering with? More specifically, it wasn¡¯t just a regular hand cannon¡ªit was Ketch¡¯s proud masterpiece¡ªthe Heavy Hammer. Buck strode forward without hesitation, raising his gun and aiming at the giant monster. Continuous shots rang out, each blood bullet hammering the giant monster¡¯s body like a flood bursting through a dam. The creature¡¯s massive form staggered backward with each impact, its tiny head roaring in rage, yet unable to break free from the relentless suppression. Buck¡¯s shooting wasn¡¯t exactly refined, but the target was so large that he didn¡¯t even need to aim. This scene stunned Lucio. He couldn¡¯t believe how recklessly Buck was using the ¡°Heavy Hammer.¡± Just how much spiritual energy did he possess to be able to waste it like this? This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. No one could answer Lucio¡¯s questions. The giant monster staggered under the continued bombardment of the Heavy Hammer and finally crashed into the wall behind it, falling into the factory. Buck ignored Lucio, who was on the ground, and with a sudden push, he shot forward into the factory like an arrow. On the other side, Veronica had already rushed to the fallen creature, hoping to extract more crucial information before it died. The creature that had fallen into the factory finally got a moment to breathe. It quickly turned, swinging its thick arms and punching toward the advancing Buck. The enormous force of its punch swept Buck off his feet, but blood bullets exploded on its fist, momentarily halting its attack. A cyan-colored demonic claw quickly extended from Buck''s back. It was the Level 5 Demon Creature''s Arm. The Demon Creature''s Arm struggled to block the giant monster''s second strike, but the enemy''s strength was overwhelming. The Demon Creature''s Arm emitted a sound of unbearable strain, as if its bones were about to shatter under the blow. Buck, however, paid no heed to the force, enduring the impact as he continued to fire at close range. Each of his blood bullets was able to take nearly 900 hit points off the enemy. The giant monster, with 30,000 life energy, had its health steadily plummet as Buck¡¯s relentless bombardment caused dozens of blood craters to appear on its body. The damage the giant monster inflicted on Buck, on the other hand, was negligible, like scratching the surface of a boot. Even if Buck allowed the creature to strike him freely, the mere few thousand points of damage posed no threat to him, given his immense life energy. Buck even grew lazy with reloading, letting the Heavy Hammer draw upon his life energy, infusing the gun with 200 spiritual energy and 200 health per shot, a steep cost to power the shots. The chamber of the gun clicked repeatedly, and the blood-infused, powerful bullets were now as potent as artillery shells. The giant monster struggled, swinging its massive hand, but it was firmly held back by the Demon Creature''s Arm. Its enormous body was relentlessly battered by the Heavy Hammer, like a large doll being tossed around. Buck seized the opportunity, extending his pale Heretic''s Arm to grab the creature and yank it forcefully. In the moment of the creature¡¯s brief hesitation, Buck used the momentum to leap onto the monster¡¯s body and aimed a final shot at its forehead. With a dull, resounding crash, the enormous body fell to the ground, smashing through the factory¡¯s ruined walls. This giant monster was clearly once human, but now it had lost all rationality and was completely uncommunicative. Buck, seizing the moment, used the Demon Creature''s Arm to rip off one of its arms, absorbing and merging it on the spot. A crisp notification sounded in Buck''s consciousness. ¡¾Devoured the Demon Creature''s Arm, absorbing life energy. Maximum Life Energy +30000.¡¿ ¡¾Heretic''s Arm IV: Consumes 70 spiritual energy or life energy to activate the ability ¡®Touch of Foolishness¡¯. Cooldown: 2 minutes.¡¿ ¡°The cooldown has decreased again. Not bad.¡± Compared to the upgrade of his Heretic''s Arm, Buck was more satisfied with the Heavy Hammer in his hands. This weapon seemed tailor-made for him, perfectly matching his abilities. His life energy had now increased to an extraordinary degree, but until now, he had lacked an effective way to use the excess health. The God¡¯s Arm could convert both health and spiritual energy into immense destructive power in one go, but its cooldown was too long, making it only suitable as a last-resort weapon. On the other hand, the Heavy Hammer, with its high consumption and great power, was just what he wanted. He even secretly thought to himself that if the weapon could be made even more powerful with a higher consumption rate, it would be perfect. Buck shook his head, stopping his unrealistic fantasies. Turning his head, he saw Veronica rushing in, holding a box. ¡°Lord Buck, I found what the alchemist master had stolen.¡± It seemed that while Buck was engaged in his fierce battle with the giant monster, Veronica had gathered more crucial clues. It turned out that the creature Lucio had knocked down was the apprentice Dick, who had stolen Julius''s potion. As for why he had turned into such a terrifying monster, no one knew. Moreover, before he died, he kept repeating words like ¡°I¡¯m the real one, save me¡­ Teacher, save me!¡± until he breathed his last. However, Veronica had successfully managed to extract information about the potions'' whereabouts. She placed the box in front of Buck, and they opened it together. Inside, several bottles of potions were neatly arranged. But the liquefied Thunder, the one Julius had specifically requested to be recovered, was missing. At this moment, Veronica, inadvertently glancing at the giant monster''s corpse, suddenly had a sharp realization. On one hand, she was astonished that Buck had effortlessly defeated such a terrifying creature without a scratch. On the other hand, the mark on the giant monster''s shoulder caught her attention. It seemed to be a birthmark, one that was identical to the one Dick had on the same spot. Despite the giant monster''s body having been completely distorted and expanded, Veronica¡¯s keen eyes immediately recognized it. Without realizing it, she stepped closer and reached out to touch the corpse. Just as her fingers were about to make contact, she suddenly saw strange cracks appear on the body. The cracks spread rapidly, quickly covering the entire corpse like a spider''s web. Then, the body shattered into countless pieces, disintegrating into nothingness. Buck and Veronica watched in astonishment as the bizarre scene unfolded before them, their eyes wide with surprise. Buck was momentarily confused by what he had just witnessed, while Veronica suddenly shouted, ¡°I think I know where the Twin Soul Mirror is. No, I should say, where it will appear.¡± Chapter 26: The Man in the Mirror At dusk, the setting sun''s afterglow draped the land like a delicate veil, casting a golden hue over the world. Buck and Veronica climbed back into the carriage, slowly leaving the outskirts of the southern city. The gravely injured Lucio had been left behind. Veronica still harbored resentment toward the mustached hunter for his previous arrogance, her mood filled with irritation. However, Buck displayed his usual kindness, thoughtfully administering a healing potion to Lucio before departing. It seemed that Lucio¡¯s bones had been shattered by the monster¡¯s devastating blow, and even as Buck turned to leave, the man remained on the ground, unable to move. Lucio''s gaze toward Buck had changed dramatically. He found it hard to believe that the person who had displayed such overwhelming power in battle was merely a first-rank hunter still in his apprenticeship. ¡­ Inside the carriage, the elegant d¨¦cor and the faint scent of leather from the plush seats created an atmosphere of comfort. Buck leaned back against the soft cushions, fully indulging in the moment of relaxation. For the first time after a battle, he felt a deep sense of ease and contentment. The malicious spirits that once rampaged within him were now subdued, tamed under the immense power of the goddess''s blessing, rendered as harmless as lambs. Even when channeling his psionic energy, he no longer suffered from their backlash. The long-lost tranquility filled him with silent reverence for the Sun Goddess¡¯s divine might. As he reflected, he became aware of the cracked, ethereal wings of light within him, gently unfurling and radiating a warm, soul-soothing power. Seated across from him, Veronica furrowed her brows slightly, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "Among the stolen alchemical potions, a portion of enhancement elixirs is missing. I suspect Dick consumed them. You must understand¡ªwithout the protection of divine rituals, an ordinary person recklessly ingesting such potions would inevitably transform into a monster. Apart from those, the missing items also include the Alchemy Master''s prized Liquid Thunder, as well as the enigmatic Roaring Essence of Galalon Grass." "What is that?" Buck had little knowledge of these obscure alchemical concoctions, another subject he would need to study in depth in the future. Tilting his head slightly, he asked in confusion. "As far as I know, the essence of Galalon Grass has the remarkable effect of temporarily awakening psionic energy, but its duration is extremely short. I suspect it was designed to grant ordinary people a fleeting moment of psionic power," Veronica explained softly, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze. "And with that power, they could activate forbidden artifacts." Buck raised an eyebrow. "You''re saying Dick used the Twin Soul Mirror?" "No," Veronica shook her head. "Your earlier assumption was correct. The one who used the Twin Soul Mirror was not Dick¡ªit was his teacher, Julius, the Alchemy Master." ¡­ Night had fallen. The dark sky stretched like a vast expanse of black silk, studded with stars that glimmered like embedded gemstones. Buck and Veronica returned to the docks. The harbor was eerily silent, save for the gentle lapping of waves against the shore. Moving with the stealth of shadows, they slipped unnoticed onto a small boat and rowed through the still waters toward Julius''s ship. Upon boarding, an unsettling silence enveloped them. The deck was devoid of life, so still it was almost unnerving. Even the alchemy workshop within the ship¡¯s cabin was deathly quiet, as if time itself had frozen in place. The once-thundering steam engine at the stern had also ceased its rumbling, leaving the entire vessel adrift like an isolated island in the middle of the river, exuding an ominous and enigmatic aura. Veronica felt a twinge of anxiety. According to her calculations, tonight marked the critical turning point of their mission. Yet, Buck remained utterly composed, his expression unbothered. He had always been fearless¡ªgiven his absurdly high vitality, even if every explosive on the ship detonated simultaneously, he was confident he wouldn¡¯t die. However, the thought of the Alchemy Master¡¯s terrifying Liquid Thunder did cause a flicker of doubt in his mind. Just then, a faint sound broke the oppressive silence from the rear of the ship. Buck and Veronica exchanged a glance, their eyes reflecting an unspoken understanding before they swiftly made their way toward the source of the disturbance. The door leading to the stern burst open as a disheveled old man stumbled in¡ªnone other than Julius himself. His face was twisted in agony, his features contorted as if enduring unbearable torment. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He staggered into the cabin, crashing heavily against the wall before collapsing onto the floor, his trembling lips muttering fragmented, incoherent words: "Impossible¡­ I am the real one¡­ I am¡­ How can this be¡­? I invented it! It was me!" Buck and Veronica stood at the opposite end of the room, halting their steps in cautious vigilance. Then, something even stranger happened. From the doorway behind Julius, another figure slowly stepped into view. This man was dressed in an impeccably tailored dark red suit, his striking white hair identical to that of Julius. In fact, his entire appearance was indistinguishable from the alchemist kneeling on the ground. Or rather, he was simply another Julius. In his hands, he held a mirror that emanated an air of mystery¡ªthe very object Buck and Veronica had been desperately searching for¡ªthe Fourth-Tier Forbidden Relic, Twin Soul Mirror. Upon seeing the two hunters inside the cabin, the Julius holding the mirror paused slightly, seemingly surprised. However, he did not falter in his movements. With steady and measured steps, he advanced toward the other Julius, who remained kneeling on the floor, dazed and lost. ¡°Stop.¡± Veronica reacted instantly, drawing her gun in a swift motion. The barrel aimed directly at the Julius with the mirror as her eyes narrowed, exuding both resolve and vigilance. ¡°Two¡­ Lord Julius, I believe I am owed a reasonable explanation.¡± ¡°There is nothing to explain,¡± the Julius holding the mirror replied, halting his steps under the threat of her gun. Yet, his expression remained unfazed, his voice calm and steady. ¡°And, young hunters, take heed¡ªthere is only one Julius here.¡± ¡°No! I am Julius! It¡¯s me!¡± The elder alchemist on the floor suddenly struggled, his voice hoarse with desperation. He tried to force himself up, but the moment his eyes fell upon the eerie, glowing mirror in his counterpart¡¯s hands, his entire body froze. It was as if an invisible spell had bound him in place. ¡°Well then, since there¡¯s only one Julius,¡± Buck said, his lips curling into a cold smile as he pulled out his gun, ¡°I¡¯ll just make you two into one.¡± The Julius holding the mirror glanced at the two hunters, who seemed ready to pull the trigger at any moment. He sighed in exasperation and took a step back. ¡°What a hassle. Fine, what kind of explanation do you want?¡± ¡°Perhaps you could start by explaining why there are two of you,¡± Buck took a step forward, his sharp gaze locked onto Julius. The old alchemist rolled his eyes in annoyance, then pointed a finger at his kneeling counterpart. ¡°He¡¯s a clone I created using the Twin Soul Mirror. It¡¯s that simple.¡± ¡°The Twin Soul Mirror shouldn¡¯t possess that kind of power,¡± Veronica countered without hesitation. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re ignorant.¡± The Julius with the mirror tapped his temple with a smirk. ¡°This mirror was sealed away by the Kingsley family for centuries. No one understands its powers better than they do.¡± He tilted his chin up slightly, his tone laced with arrogance. ¡°And unlike you fools, I actually know how to use my brain.¡± ¡°You merely experimented on your apprentice, Dick.¡± Buck lowered his gun slightly, stepping forward with measured strides, pressing the alchemist further. ¡°So tell me, why did you do this? Stealing a forbidden relic from the Count¡¯s estate, using it without permission¡ªyou do realize this crime could strip you of everything, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Or¡­ it could give me everything.¡± Julius remained unperturbed, his expression unwavering. ¡°I never experimented on my apprentice. I merely entrusted the mirror to him for safekeeping. He was the one who grew curious, used it recklessly, and ended up creating his own doppelg?nger. And then, of course, he turned himself into a monster. Curiosity is a foolish thing.¡± ¡°As for why I used the mirror¡­¡± Julius paused, a glint of fervent passion flickering in his eyes¡ªa fire burning deep within. ¡°It¡¯s because I needed a second mind as brilliant as mine.¡± Buck suddenly noticed that this Julius looked just as exhausted as the one on the ground. The only difference was that this one wore an expression of both satisfaction and exhilaration, as if he had just accomplished something monumental. ¡°I gambled, and I won,¡± Julius continued. ¡°My clone didn¡¯t disappoint me. He successfully refined Liquid Lightning¡ªa crucial breakthrough I never had the time to complete. And now, with this invention¡­¡± Julius let out a slow breath before shaking his head. ¡°There¡¯s no point in explaining further. All you need to know is that he was a temporary existence¡ªa creation to assist me in my work. And now that his task is complete¡­ I must reclaim what was never meant to exist.¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Buck stepped between the two Julius figures, his expression unreadable as he scrutinized them both. ¡°How do I know you¡¯re the real one?¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°Can you prove it?¡± ¡°Are you blind?¡± Julius deadpanned. ¡°I¡¯m the one holding the mirror. He¡¯s the one on the floor. What more proof do you need? Shall I let you shoot me and see if I shatter into glass fragments?¡± Truth be told, Buck had considered exactly that. The situation was riddled with inconsistencies. This Julius had appeared suddenly, while the other seemed completely unaware that he was merely a copy. Under such circumstances, Buck was inclined to believe that the man on the floor was the true Julius. But then, Julius dispelled all doubt. With a slow, deliberate motion, he raised the ancient mirror and tilted it toward his kneeling counterpart. And Buck saw nothing. The mirror did not reflect the Julius on the floor. ¡°See?¡± Julius said flatly. ¡°He has no soul.¡± ...... By the time Buck and Veronica set foot on solid ground once more, the night had deepened into a profound silence. The eerie scenes they had just witnessed replayed over and over in their minds. That clone¡ªcreated by a Forbidden Relic¡ªhad disintegrated into crystalline shards the moment he approached the Twin Soul Mirror. In a swirl of twisted light and his final, anguished cries, he was sucked into the mirror¡¯s depths. Julius had then tossed the mirror to them without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s of no use to me anymore. Take it.¡± Now, Twin Soul Mirror rested securely in Veronica¡¯s hands. Yet one question continued to gnaw at Buck¡¯s mind. Julius was, by all accounts, an ordinary man who had never stepped onto the path of the supernatural. He hadn¡¯t taken any alchemical enhancers. So how had he wielded the mirror? Buck pondered this for a moment, then dismissed the thought. There was something far more important for him to focus on now. His gaze drifted toward the ancient mirror in Veronica¡¯s grasp, and a strange feeling stirred within him¡ªa premonition. This relic¡­ It might just prove crucial to his future. Chapter 27: Reflections of Power "Veronica, it''s already quite late. Why don''t you rest at my place for the night and deliver the magic mirror to His Highness tomorrow?" Buck spoke in a deliberately casual manner as he walked toward the carriage. "You''re carrying a forbidden artifact. It''d be safer for us to stick together." Veronica pondered for a moment, finding Buck¡¯s words reasonable. Without overthinking it, she nodded in agreement. By now, it was well past midnight, and seeking out Prince Roland at this hour was unrealistic. Following Buck¡¯s suggestion to wait until morning seemed to be the only viable option. ... No. 9 Michelin Avenue. When Buck returned home, Doug, the usual glutton and slacker, had long since retreated to his room, snoring thunderously in deep sleep. However, the two maids, leftYi and rightYi, were still waiting quietly in the hall. Buck instructed leftYi to prepare a room for Veronica before turning to rightYi and saying, "If I don¡¯t return at night, you don¡¯t have to wait up for me. Just go to bed early." RightYi timidly raised her head, her eyes flickering as she suddenly asked, "Should I rest in Young Master''s bed first?" Buck¡¯s eye twitched involuntarily at her words, his gaze unconsciously drifting to certain parts of the maid¡¯s body. A wave of panic surged through him, and he quickly clarified, "No, you have your own rooms." "Understood, Young Master," rightYi replied obediently with a nod. ... Late at night, the world was shrouded in silence, as if all of existence had fallen into slumber. Buck sat alone in his room, his gaze fixed intently on the mirror resting on his desk¡ªa Fourth-Tier Forbidden Artifact, the Twin Soul Mirror. Superficially, it appeared to be nothing more than a palm-sized, antique dressing mirror with an exquisitely crafted copper frame and a smooth, polished surface. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing unusual about it. Yet, upon looking into his reflection, subtle abnormalities could be detected. The mirror possessed an eerie power¡ªone that could reveal the hidden depths of a person¡¯s soul. Extraordinary forbidden artifacts were classified under a unique tiered evaluation system, and the Twin Soul Mirror was designated as Fourth-Tier. This meant it had the ability to interact with the rules of existence, a level of mystery even more profound than Third-Tier artifacts, which could transcend reality. Thus, the mirror¡¯s ability went far beyond merely reflecting one''s soul. Buck had acquired it for a specific purpose¡ªto rid himself of the "Shadow of the Apostate" that lurked deep within his spirit. At this moment, as Buck stared into the mirror, he saw more than just his own reflection. Behind him, a translucent black shadow loomed¡ªan evil spirit. Among the three entities that had once possessed him, only the Watcher had proven to be of some use; the other two had been nothing but a torment. This particular shadow, which had relentlessly tried to seize control of his body, was the most troublesome of all. To finally enjoy a peaceful night¡¯s sleep, he needed to eliminate it at any cost. Yet, as Buck racked his brain, he remained uncertain about how to properly utilize the mirror. The last thing he wanted was to end up like Julius, accidentally creating an uncontrollable doppelg?nger. That would be a disaster. Just as drowsiness began to overtake him, he noticed something strange¡ªthe reflection in the mirror had started to change. His mirrored self was smiling. Buck instinctively touched the corners of his mouth, confirming that he himself was not wearing such an eerie grin. Then, he saw the black shadow in the reflection slowly merging into his back. Buck¡¯s eyes widened in realization, a sudden insight flashing through his mind. "Mirror, mirror¡­" He grinned brightly at the magic mirror and asked, "Who is the real Buck Frank in this world?" The Buck in the mirror grinned even wider, opening his mouth in silence, mouthing a response: "Of course, it¡¯s me." Reacting swiftly, Buck slammed the mirror face down. In that instant, a weight seemed to lift off him as a stream of black mist was sucked into the mirror¡¯s distorting glow. He could even hear a distant, ghostly scream echoing through the void. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡¾Due to unknown effects, the ritual spirit ''Shadow of the Apostate'' has been extracted.¡¿ The notification on the interface was like divine music to Buck¡¯s ears. He pressed down hard on the Twin Soul Mirror, the corners of his lips curling into an uncontrollable smile. He could have laughed out loud in triumph. He had finally gotten rid of that wretched spirit! "Since you were so desperate to take over my body, enjoy staying inside the mirror instead, you fool! Hahaha¡­" At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. Holding a candle and dressed in a nightgown, leftYi peeked inside¡ªonly to see Buck laughing maniacally. She paused for a second, then silently blew out the candle, calmly stepped into the room, shut the door behind her, and¡ªwithout hesitation¡ªbegan undressing in one fluid motion. "No need to undress!" Buck sprang forward in alarm, scooped up the maid, and tossed her onto the bed before hastily climbing in himself. "I just want to sleep! Don¡¯t wake me up tonight." LeftYi, with her clothes half-removed, lay dazed in the soft blankets. After a brief pause, she nodded. "Understood." And just a few seconds later, Young Master Buck drifted into a deep, undisturbed sleep, his breathing steady, as peaceful as a newborn baby. ... The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with warmth. Feeling refreshed, Buck stretched lazily and descended the stairs, only to find that Veronica was already waiting for him in the living room, fully dressed and prepared. Buck smiled and handed her the Twin Soul Mirror, which was now tightly wrapped in thick cloth. "It is, after all, a forbidden artifact," he remarked casually. Veronica nodded in understanding. She also noticed something different¡ªthe noble young master, who had always seemed gloomy, appeared inexplicably radiant today. Oh, and his dark circles were gone. ...... The Twin Soul Mirror was taken away by Veronica. Before entering the sacred vault of the church, it would first fall into Prince Roland¡¯s hands. As for what Roland intended to do with it, no one knew. Deep within the palace, Fourth Prince Roland sat in the secret garden of his private residence, leisurely sipping his favorite osmanthus tea. The garden was filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers, birds singing merrily, and an atmosphere of serenity and harmony. At that moment, a maid approached, carefully carrying a heavy red box. She lowered her head respectfully and said, ¡°Your Highness, the item you requested has arrived.¡± Roland reached out and gently tucked his silky golden hair behind his ear, revealing a breathtaking side profile. He casually opened the box, and inside, the Twin Soul Mirror lay in quiet stillness. ¡°Very well. You may leave.¡± Once the surroundings were empty, Roland took out the mirror, placing a hand lightly on its edge. "Twin Soul Mirror, can you fulfill my wish?" In the reflection, the golden-haired, blue-eyed Roland appeared¡ªa face so stunningly beautiful that it outshone even the flowers in the garden. Yet, at that moment, the reflection began to change. The soft contours of his face grew sharper, the crystalline eyes deepened in color, and the delicate, arched eyebrows became sharper, more defined. Before long, a different Fourth Prince emerged in the mirror. The princess¡ªhad become a prince. Outside the mirror, the princess gazed at his own transformed reflection with a complicated expression. Gently stroking the mirror¡¯s surface, he murmured, "Mirror, mirror¡­ remember this. He is the real Roland O¡¯Brien Goliath." ...... Afternoon. Buck was at home, engrossed in his studies on various hunter skills, when Veronica unexpectedly returned¡ªwith the mirror. ¡°His Highness doesn¡¯t need it anymore?¡± Buck asked in surprise. Veronica responded, ¡°He said he¡¯s done with it.¡± ¡°Done with it?¡± Buck blinked. ¡°Then¡­ does that mean we can turn it in and complete the mission?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Veronica broke into a smile, excitement shining in her eyes. Their trial mission was finally over. She was about to shed the label of a failure¡ªa thought that filled her with exhilaration. Moreover, this time, both Prince Roland¡¯s task and the hunter trial had gone surprisingly smoothly. There had been none of the bizarre, near-death fiascos that plagued her past missions. And all of it was thanks to Buck Frank, whose formidable combat skills were so overwhelming, they bordered on unfathomable. As she looked at Buck, admiration flickered in her gaze. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said sincerely. Buck shook his head. ¡°No need to thank me. Your keen intuition was the key to our success. I told you before¡ªyou will become an outstanding hunter.¡± Veronica parted her lips, as if wanting to say something, then simply squinted her eyes and smiled. She realized she might have misunderstood Buck Frank all along. This man was nothing like the infamously wicked noble he was rumored to be. In fact, Buck Frank, with his dark hair and black eyes, seemed more refined and charismatic than most aristocrats she had encountered. ...... Without further delay, the two of them took the Twin Soul Mirror and hurried to the church, where they handed it over to the astonished Fernandez. The fate of this forbidden artifact was now sealed¡ªit would be locked away deep underground, where it would lie dormant in its designated prison. If nothing unexpected happened, it would remain untouched for centuries, carrying with it the many souls it had captured¡ªincluding that lingering evil spirit. With a heavy clang, the iron door imbued with divine power slammed shut, and the sealing enchantment activated instantly. As the clergy responsible for handling forbidden artifacts departed, only the mirror remained in the pitch-black chamber. Yet, at that moment¡ªwithin the darkness¡ªa strange, twisted glow flickered from the depths of the Twin Soul Mirror. Chapter 28: Path to Ascension ¡°You both have done an excellent job on your mission,¡± Fernandez said, sitting steadily behind his desk with a relaxed posture. He took a sip of the steaming tea, his gaze sharp and penetrating as it slowly swept over Buck and Veronica, who were seated across from him. The office was simply decorated, yet dignified, with bookshelves filled with ancient books and scrolls lining the walls, giving off the scent of age. ¡°You even completed someone else''s task as well,¡± Fernandez raised an eyebrow, a note of approval in his voice. ¡°It was just a convenient thing to do,¡± Buck shrugged lightly, his tone easygoing, as if completing such a challenging task were a mere trifle. He wore a brand-new hunter''s outfit, his posture upright, his face stern, exuding an air of composure. Veronica continued, ¡°The alchemist who was robbed was actually just a projection created by the forbidden object. The real Julius didn¡¯t lose any of his potions; he just retrieved the liquefied thunder from the projection with Dick¡¯s help. As for Dick, who turned into a monster¡­¡± ¡°I understand. No need for further elaboration.¡± Fernandez raised a hand and gently tapped the task report that Veronica had filled out, the paper yellowed with age and covered in dense writing detailing the mission''s progress. ¡°Your report is thorough, Hunter Veronica.¡± His voice was deep and forceful, echoing throughout the office. ¡°What will the Church do with Julius?¡± Buck leaned forward slightly, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. ¡°He won¡¯t be punished.¡± The old man sighed softly, a complex expression crossing his face. ¡°Although he used the forbidden object without authorization, he also created a remarkable invention. He has now submitted the formula for liquefied thunder to the Church and the Royal Family. Given that he voluntarily handed over the forbidden object, and since this incident didn¡¯t cause a major disaster, with the two monsters also successfully dealt with, Julius will not face any punishment. He will remain the highly respected alchemist he has always been.¡± Buck nodded thoughtfully. He wasn¡¯t surprised by this outcome. In his view, Julius''s invention was of undeniable value to the Church and the Royal Family, and considering that, this handling seemed reasonable. ¡°Then, both of you, I, Fernandez, hereby officially declare that your hunter trials have come to an end. From this day forward, you are officially hunters,¡± Fernandez said, rising from his seat, his expression solemn and his voice firm. Veronica could not contain her excitement, her face lighting up with a radiant smile, tears of joy gleaming in her eyes. After all the hardships she had faced, she was finally being recognized as a true hunter. How could she not feel overwhelmed with emotion? Buck remained calm, his expression unchanged. In contrast to Veronica¡¯s excitement, he was more concerned about what had been previously mentioned¡ªthe ¡°rights only granted to official hunters.¡± ¡°Lord Fernandez, may I ask when I can undergo the second stage of the Goddess Blessing Ceremony?¡± Buck asked, his voice steady as he looked directly into the old man¡¯s eyes. Fernandez looked at Buck, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth, and let out a soft laugh. ¡°You haven¡¯t even completed the first stage of the ceremony yet. Without that, you can¡¯t advance.¡± He returned to his chair, leaning back slightly, his hands crossed over his chest. ¡°Not completed?¡± Buck furrowed his brow, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s right. Once the ceremony is initiated, it cannot be interrupted. You think it¡¯s just a matter of collecting a few materials and reciting a chant to complete it?¡± Fernandez¡¯s gaze grew deep as he patiently explained. The so-called transcendent promotion ceremony was a long process intricately tied to the growth of the transcendent. It couldn¡¯t be interrupted. In theory, the promotion ceremony for all paths could be divided into nine stages, corresponding to the hunter levels from 1 to 9. However, among the hunters currently living in the Empire, there was no one above the seventh level. As Buck had seen with Olivia, she was already one of the top-tier transcendents among hunters, and such individuals were extremely rare. This situation arose because the promotion ceremony was highly complex, and the higher the stage, the more difficult it became. If a hunter failed to meet the requirements for the ceremony at any point, they could spend hundreds of years¡ªor even longer¡ªwithout advancing. ¡°To reach the second stage, you must first complete the subsequent steps of the first stage Goddess Blessing Ceremony, allowing the blessing of the Goddess to fully integrate with you. Here¡¯s a suggestion: you can try going to the church to pray sincerely, praising the Goddess who granted you the blessing, or offering true blessings to others until you can deeply understand the power of the ceremony. In fact, you can apply for the second stage promotion ceremony at any time, but whether you succeed or not depends entirely on you.¡± Fernandez explained at length, adding, ¡°You¡¯re lucky, boy. The Goddess Blessing Ceremony is the only complete nine-stage ceremony provided by the Church. As long as the Goddess continues to favor you, perhaps you can reach a level no one has ever achieved before.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Indeed, the ceremonies offered by the Church did not all include nine complete stages. Most transcendent paths lacked the subsequent steps after reaching higher levels. People had little knowledge of how to obtain those more mysterious and profound powers¡­ After leaving Fernandez¡¯s office, Buck suddenly realized why he had felt a warm power emanating from the light wings within him when praising the Goddess. It turned out that this was part of the ceremony¡¯s subsequent steps. According to his understanding, he must deeply merge with these wings, to the point where he can always feel the continuous flow of warm power from them, in order to meet the promotion conditions. This did sound somewhat mystical... ... Before leaving the Church, Buck and Veronica had to visit the Church¡¯s workshop to receive the iconic equipment marking them as true hunters¡ªthe ¡°Hunter¡¯s Blood¡± recovery potion. The silver vial had left a deep impression on Buck; it was called the second life of a hunter and was considered a powerful weapon against evil, second only to the blood bullet gun. Additionally, it was only today that Buck learned that this recovery potion required the hunter¡¯s own blood to be drawn and mixed. What delighted Buck even more was that the recovery amount of the potion was not based on a fixed life energy value, but rather restored a percentage of health! For someone like Buck, with several hundred thousand health points, the effect was almost absurdly powerful. Furthermore, the potion¡¯s effects were linked to the hunter¡¯s ceremony rank. High-ranking hunters could use more complex methods to add various unique effects to the Hunter¡¯s Blood potion. This meant that its uses were far beyond just healing. After a series of blood draws and potion preparation processes, Buck received his own initial version of Hunter¡¯s Blood from the pharmacist. The silver vial was only the size of a thumb, small and exquisite, attached to a delicate chain that could be worn around the neck and kept close. When used, the potion could be injected into the body via the silver needle at the bottom of the vial. Currently, Buck¡¯s Hunter¡¯s Blood potion could restore health equivalent to 30% of his maximum life energy, which was more than enough for him. ... In the days that followed, Fernandez did not assign any tasks to the newly promoted hunter. Each morning, Buck would immerse himself in studying the various knowledge that hunters needed to master, all of which was provided by the Church. The study room was filled with a faint smell of books, and sunlight filtered through the window, casting light on the pages. Buck was absorbed in it, eagerly soaking in the nourishment of knowledge. In the afternoon, he would walk into the Church¡¯s cathedral. The cathedral was solemn and majestic, with colorful stained-glass windows reflecting dazzling light under the sun. Buck knelt reverently on the floor, closed his eyes, and pressed his hands together, continuously feeling the warmth radiating from the light wings within him. It is worth mentioning that in the past, he could only restore his spiritual energy by fulfilling the desires of evil spirits. But after receiving the power of the ceremony, praying to the Goddess or to the light wings could also slowly restore his spiritual energy. This finally freed him from the awkward situation of having to spy on two maids to replenish his spiritual energy... At night, Buck was far from idle. He began to explore the dark side of the vast imperial capital, starting from the shadowy corners of Michelin Avenue, and gradually extending into the underground world of the southern district. Let¡¯s not forget, he also had another way to strengthen himself: devouring more arms from cultists or monsters. Buck was convinced that many hidden evil entities lurked in the darkness of this city. Doug could come in handy at this point. With his years of experience helping noble young masters access the underground black market, he could easily sniff out the scent of those places. Furthermore, Buck had another, more important purpose for exploring the dark side: investigating God¡¯s Corpse''s Hand. That dark-red arm, which served as his trump card, was the very source of Buck¡¯s entry into the realm of the transcendent. He had to find a way to uncover more information related to it. ¡°I¡¯m leaving these matters to you. Remember, you must infiltrate those circles as someone pursuing power, with no connection to me as a Church hunter. If the black market people discover that you were sent by me and turn against you, I won¡¯t intervene,¡± Buck warned Doug before he left. ¡°As long as you successfully complete the task and establish a stable channel for black market transactions, I¡¯ll grant you your freedom and let you roam as you please.¡± Upon hearing this, Doug¡¯s face immediately lit up with a grin as if pardoned, his eyes flashing with excitement. He could hardly wait to dive into the night and show off his skills. Buck thought for a moment, then, just before Doug left, said, ¡°Good luck, Doug.¡± Doug¡¯s smile slightly froze, but quickly returned to normal. Meanwhile, Buck felt a warm sensation surge in his chest. It seemed that blessing others could also activate the power of the ceremony. He nodded in satisfaction and waved Doug off. Then, he took out a piece of paper from the drawer and began writing a letter. It was a letter addressed to His Highness the Fourth Prince. The letter began with a direct request: ¡°Your Highness, I need a method to lift the slave memory seal, whether it be a potion or another ceremony.¡± Chapter 29: Unspoken Deals The collaboration between Buck and Prince Roland had always been a mutually beneficial arrangement. Buck never intended to serve the prince for free, so when he needed to rely on the prince¡¯s power, he never hesitated or hesitated to ask for it. The Fourth Prince was just as straightforward with Buck. The day after Buck sent the letter, Roland''s reply arrived in his hands. ¡°There is no such potion. The memories sealed in slaves cannot be restored through conventional means.¡± This answer surprised Buck. After reading the rest of the explanation, he learned that the so-called memory seal was a curse ritual that had been partially lost over time. This curse was extremely tricky, and unless they found the original caster, there was almost no way to break it. Slaves whose memories had been erased were usually drained of all their value before they lost their memories. For various reasons, some people wouldn¡¯t allow them to regain their memories easily. Many had tried to forcibly break the memory seal, but in the end, they only turned the slaves into fools. Buck felt a deep sense of disappointment, as his plan to explore the memory of the twin maids for clues about God''s Corpse''s Hand seemed to be falling through. However, as he reached the end of the letter, the prince had written a ¡°unless¡­¡± which reignited a glimmer of hope. ... In the afternoon, a beautifully designed yet understated carriage slowly stopped in front of Buck''s house. To Buck''s surprise, Prince Roland himself had come for a visit. When they met again, the prince had returned to his original form, just like when Buck first met him ¡ª a composed and radiant royal. The two dismissed all attendants and sat across from each other in the elegantly arranged parlor. The room was neat, with fine furniture and a few exquisite paintings hanging on the walls, exuding a faint aristocratic atmosphere. Buck said, ¡°Your Highness, I thought you would never return to this appearance.¡± ¡°In comparison to the princess identity, being a prince is indeed more convenient for many matters. For me, changing identities is not difficult; there are many ways to achieve it.¡± Roland shrugged slightly. On the path of power, the prince seemed willing to use any means necessary to achieve his goals. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the point. I¡¯m here today because of what you mentioned in your letter.¡± He pulled out a small, elegant long box from his coat and gently placed it on the coffee table. The table¡¯s smooth surface, carved with delicate patterns, shimmered softly in the sunlight. ¡°Normally, we truly cannot break the memory seal. But I found an ancient scroll in the royal treasury that describes a special promotion ritual.¡± The prince gently opened the box, revealing a strange blue scroll. The scroll had a special texture and emitted a mysterious aura, as though it carried the weight of time itself. ¡°From my investigation, this promotion ritual can enhance the human mind. Its ritual power is from the same source as the memory seal, and it might break the curse. However, I must warn you, this promotion ritual is of unknown origin, and it is only one tier. I do not know what kind of existence it communicates with or what unknown entities it might summon.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Buck reached out to take the scroll, examining it carefully before gently placing it down, resisting the urge to open it immediately. ¡°I understand Your Highness¡¯s meaning. Don¡¯t worry, I will handle this carefully.¡± The fact that such an ancient item had been buried deep within the royal treasury, almost forgotten, made Buck feel incredibly grateful for the prince¡¯s efforts in finding it. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me just yet, Buck Frank.¡± The prince smiled, crossed his legs, and elegantly sipped his tea. ¡°You know I¡¯ve investigated you, so I can guess your intentions behind asking for this.¡± Buck nodded slightly and silently waited for the prince to make his request. He knew well that there was no such thing as a free lunch, and the prince must have something to ask in return. ¡°The person you want to break the memory seal for must be the twin sisters, right?¡± Roland confessed. When he entered Buck''s home and saw the twin maids, even as a woman, ¡°she¡± couldn¡¯t help but be stunned by their beauty. Moreover, he knew that these maids had been purchased from a cult by Buck. ¡°Along with them, there was another very mysterious item, a deep red arm. Am I right?¡± As expected of the Fourth Prince, he had uncovered even this secret. Buck fell silent for a moment before nodding gently. ¡°I¡¯ve always been curious where your enormous life force comes from. Now it seems, it must be thanks to that arm.¡± The prince paused and gazed at Buck for a moment, seeing no change in his expression. He then continued with a sigh, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand, I have no interest in your extraordinary powers. I just want to understand your goal. You know, the royal treasury also has a similar red arm.¡± At this, Buck''s expression changed noticeably, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. ¡°Unfortunately, no one knows how to use that arm. Even with all my efforts, I couldn¡¯t uncover its origins. It seems to be a carefully buried secret, and with my current status, I¡¯m not yet qualified to approach it.¡± Buck extended his hand, and looking up, he saw Buck reaching out for something. ¡°You really aren¡¯t shy, are you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s only natural. Your Highness promised me.¡± Buck said with an air of justification. Roland laughed, shaking his head slightly. ¡°I remember our agreement. I can give you the scroll directly, but the arm, for now, is not possible.¡± His gaze suddenly turned deep and meaningful as he asked Buck a question: ¡°Buck Frank, are you ready?¡± Buck withdrew his hand in confusion. ¡°Once you¡¯re ready for tier-two promotion, I¡¯ll assign you another task. The reward for that task will be the arm.¡± ¡°Your Highness, if you want me to hunt a target, I don¡¯t think you need to wait until I promote to tier-two.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate your opponents, don¡¯t belittle the danger ahead, and don¡¯t underestimate my enemies. Be patient, and when you¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll tell you the target.¡± Roland stood up, bringing the meeting to an end with that statement. As the Fourth Prince left, he cast a peculiar glance at the twin maids once more. He felt as though their delicate faces were familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn¡¯t recall where. Could they be descendants of some noble family? The prince didn¡¯t dwell too much on this; he had more pressing issues to consider. At this moment, his focus was on the obstacles he faced in his pursuit of power. ... As night fell and silence descended, Buck sat alone in his study, taking out the scroll the prince had brought. The fact that there was a God''s Corpse''s Hand hidden in the royal treasury filled Buck with anticipation. However, understanding the origins of the arm remained the top priority. He looked at the deep blue scroll, which was covered in strange patterns. Only someone like Buck Frank, who had received a formal aristocratic education, could barely make out the ancient characters from hundreds of years ago. Just as Roland had said, this was a promotion ritual. Although the scroll only recorded the first-tier ritual, if he had the twins perform it, it would mean they would step onto the path of extraordinary beings. After a long period of contemplation, Buck finally decided to open it. ¡°Ritual, Foolish Angel.¡± As the scroll slowly unrolled, Buck seemed to see a pure moonlight, like a sheer veil, quietly streaming in through the window. In an instant, it bathed the entire room in a cold, frosty white glow. He was filled with confusion and instinctively looked out the window at the night sky. After all, in this world, there should be no moon except for the terrifying celestial body in the southern sky... Chapter 30: A sewer dweller The nightfall descended like a heavy black satin, gently but decisively covering the entire mansion. The twin maids, leftYi and rightYi, after completing their day''s work and washing up, quietly sat in their small, dimly lit bedroom. The flickering candlelight swayed softly in the breeze, casting light on their weary but expectant faces. This scene had been the same every night recently. Master Buck sometimes summoned them to his room, ordering them to undress and display their bodies. However, a year had passed, and Master Buck had never gone beyond this¡ªmerely using his deep, cold gaze to wander over their bodies. This left leftYi puzzled, her mind clouded by an unsolvable fog, while rightYi felt a sense of relief, silently thankful that fate had not subjected them to the worst outcome. In truth, aside from the chilling gaze at night, Master Buck was generally kind to them. He never displayed the temper of other nobles, nor did he speak to them with malice or order them about. In the everyday moments of life, he showed them respect and had none of the despicable habits of the aristocracy. For two female slaves who had lost all memory of their past identities, floating like rootless weeds, having such a master was, in a way, a rare stroke of luck. leftYi had always naively believed that these calm days would continue like a peaceful lake, lasting until the end of their lives. But tonight, the wheel of fate quietly turned. When the familiar summons echoed again, the twin maids instinctively followed their usual routine. They blew out the flickering candle and slowly began to undress in the darkness. Their movements were mechanical and numb, as though it had become an inseparable part of their lives. "There''s no need to undress. I called you here tonight to ask you something," Master Buck''s calm voice echoed in the somewhat empty room as he stood, arms crossed, leaning against an old desk. His eyes were deep and mysterious, and one could not discern the meaning behind them. The twin sisters exchanged surprised glances, unsure of how to respond. Their eyes were filled with confusion and fear, like two startled fawns. The silence stretched on, making the air feel thick and still. "Don''t you want to restore your memories?" Master Buck raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of anticipation flickering in his gaze. leftYi did not answer immediately. Her expression grew complex as she slowly lowered her head. An intense internal struggle raged within her. What would restoring their memories even change? As female slaves, their lowly status was already deeply branded on their souls¡ªsomething they could never change. Even if they did remember everything, those past memories would only serve to wound their fragile hearts, like sharp blades. Furthermore, if they refused Master Buck''s request, what awaited them might be cold abandonment, and they would once again fall into endless darkness and despair. Just as leftYi was lost in thought, something unexpected happened. The normally timid and easily frightened rightYi, like someone empowered by a mysterious force, bravely lifted her head, nodded firmly, and said, "Master, I want to restore our memories. We both want to..." leftYi stared at her sister, rightYi, and saw that her sister was gazing at her with the same firm resolve. "Sister, we''ve already decided to live well. Let''s abandon the past and give it to Master," rightYi''s voice was soft but seemed to carry infinite strength. Looking into rightYi''s calm and determined eyes, leftYi felt a warm current surge in her heart. She saw deep trust in her sister''s eyes¡ªa trust in Buck Frank. It was the same trust she had shown a year ago when they courageously undressed in front of their master, despite the fear of the unknown. Tonight, rightYi had also bravely made this fateful decision for them. They had both made up their minds, and no matter the hardships ahead, they would fight to live. Master Buck nodded in satisfaction, a faint smile on his lips. "No need to rush. My method isn''t guaranteed to work." He gently waved his hand, signaling the twin maids to approach the desk. His long fingers pointed to the ancient scroll spread out on the desk, its patterns and writing glowing with mysterious light under the dim candlelight. "This is an ascension ritual. Before we can perform it, we need to gather the necessary materials. Do you understand what an ascension ritual is?" Master Buck then patiently began to explain the secrets of the extraordinary path. His voice was deep and magnetic, as if recounting an ancient and mysterious tale. As he spoke, the twin maids'' eyes gradually brightened, as though they had seen a glimmer of light in the darkness. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Perhaps, their fated lives, which had been imprisoned, really had a chance for change¡ªlike butterflies emerging from their cocoons, reborn. "The unknown effects of the ritual are something you must carefully consider. What I need from you are the memories of that arm. If, after completing the ritual, you gain enough power to resist the mundane world, I might even let you go." Master Buck''s words fell like a heavy bomb, stirring waves of shock in the hearts of the twin maids. Upon hearing Buck¡¯s promise, the two maids immediately made their decision and agreed to everything he asked. In their hearts, Master Buck was like a lighthouse in the darkness, providing them with hope and warmth. They firmly believed that he was someone they could trust. As for the unknown consequences the ritual might bring, they had already cast them aside in the face of this overwhelming temptation. Thus, the three of them sat around the table, carefully studying the ritual recorded on the scroll. This peculiar "Fool¡¯s Angel" ritual seemed to be part of the power system of some ancient and unknown deity, vaguely resembling the goddess blessing ritual described in the teachings of the Sun Goddess. However, the materials required for the ritual were extremely odd¡ªthree items that Buck had never heard of before: ¡°Firefly Stone Mask, Winged One¡¯s Tongue, and Tear of the Heart.¡± Looking at these mysterious materials, Buck couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brow. These items were not something he could casually seek out in the church¡¯s warehouse, given the strict rules of the church. Any mistake could lead to trouble. At times like these, he could only rely on his clever servant Doug. Doug was a master at flattery and opportunistic maneuvering. But there was no denying that he had a natural talent for sniffing out the dark and illicit. After receiving Master Buck¡¯s orders, he dived straight into the outskirts of the southern district, like a hound catching the scent of prey. That area was a labyrinth of filthy, chaotic slums, a cancerous growth on the city, exuding a stench of decay. In those maze-like streets, Doug asked around and finally stumbled upon a group of suspicious individuals in a nondescript tavern. He was secretly pleased, thinking he had found the right place. However, before he could approach, the group noticed him. After a flurry of punches and kicks, Doug was left bruised and battered, but his inherent toughness hadn¡¯t been broken. He gritted through the pain and wandered through the streets, eventually learning of a black market contact from a ragged beggar. Using this lead, Doug successfully infiltrated the black market disguised as a beggar. When he next appeared before Master Buck, he was in tatters, filthy and reeking. ¡°So why would they accept a beggar?¡± Buck looked at the disheveled Doug in disdain, wrinkling his nose at the unpleasant stench that almost made him cover his face. ¡°The beggar is just a cover. They operate through various beggar gangs on the streets. Now that I¡¯ve found the route, whatever you need, master, I¡¯ll get it for you, even if it costs me my life!¡± Doug said, wiping the dirt off his face with his filthy hands. Though he looked miserable, his face was lit with excitement, as if he had rediscovered his purpose in life. Most importantly, he enjoyed the sense of freedom that came with crawling through the underworld. He harbored an unrealistic dream in his heart: today a beggar, tomorrow perhaps a king. Even if he couldn¡¯t become a king, Doug believed that with his exceptional talent, he could make a name for himself in the underground world! Buck said nothing in response. He handed Doug the list of the three required items for the ritual, then took out a heavy pouch of money from his coat and handed it to him. It was a substantial amount, part of Buck Frank¡¯s accumulated savings from years of power and influence, and part from his hunting on the border last year. The materials of dark creatures had sold for a good amount on the black market. Buck wasn¡¯t worried that Doug would run off with the money. After all, he was a hunter of the church, with the fourth prince Roland backing him. Even if Doug ran to the ends of the earth, he would be found. ¡°This money is for you to use in the black market. Once you get the three items, the rest is yours to keep,¡± Buck¡¯s voice was low and firm, leaving no room for argument. Doug carefully took the pouch, weighed it in his hands, and a hint of joy crossed his face. He wasn¡¯t a greedy man; compared to money, he preferred women. As for spending his master¡¯s money to find women? That was something he certainly wouldn¡¯t do. As long as he completed his master¡¯s task, Buck would naturally satisfy his desires for women¡ªthat had always been their unspoken understanding between a scoundrel and his servant. ¡°Rest assured, Master, I won¡¯t disappoint you!¡± Doug vowed, then dashed back into the night. Buck stood by the window, quietly watching Doug¡¯s figure disappear down the dark street. The moonlight bathed his face, casting a deep, complex look in his eyes. Doug was a capable servant; if only he could rein in his impulses and settle down, Buck would have higher expectations for him. Perhaps finding him a wife who could discipline him might be a good idea? Time passed slowly in anticipation, and two days later, Doug finally returned with the results. Doug, looking tired and travel-worn, approached Buck, carefully pulling two items from his coat: a small bottle containing a clear liquid and a delicate box. ¡°Master, this tear is actually made from the tears of a girl in utter despair¡ªit¡¯s not very valuable. But this tongue, on the other hand, is the last one from the entire imperial city¡¯s black market. It¡¯s been preserved for many years, and finding another one would mean searching caves in the deep mountains for dark creatures,¡± he explained, placing the bottle and box on the desk in front of Buck. ¡°As for that firefly stone mask, the black market doesn¡¯t have it, but they did provide some information. They say there¡¯s a strange person in the vast sewer system beneath the imperial city who sells such masks,¡± Doug continued. ¡°A sewer dweller?¡± Buck frowned, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. ¡°They call him the Sculptor,¡± Doug scratched his head, a mysterious expression forming on his face. Chapter 31: The Sculptors Mask Buck''s figure was agile, like a shadow in the dark, as he leapt into the deep, shadowy sewers from the vertical shaft. As his feet landed firmly on the brick floor, the dull sound of his footsteps instantly echoed throughout the vast and empty underground space, reverberating like the beats of fate, hammering loudly. A pungent, nauseating stench, akin to rotten eggs, rushed toward him with overwhelming force. It seemed as if the odor itself had life, sticky and wriggling, trying to force its way into Buck¡¯s nostrils, attempting to suffocate him completely. Luckily, Buck had prepared beforehand, wearing a thick black mask, which helped to block some of the unbearable smell. He was further relieved to find that the sewer system in the imperial capital was extremely spacious, with walkways built on either side of the slowly flowing sewage, making it more navigable. However, this place was only frequented by rats and insects, with ordinary people having neither the courage nor the inclination to approach it. Deep within the sewer lurked countless dark and terrifying creatures. The first thing Buck did after stepping into the sewer was to quickly pull out a small bottle from his waist. His movements were smooth and practiced, as though he had done it countless times before. He then carefully twisted the bottle cap and slowly poured out a liquid that emitted a strange glow. This liquid was no ordinary substance. It was a concoction he had carefully prepared to attract monsters. After studying alchemy under the Hunter¡¯s Guild, making such potions had become second nature to him, as easy as breathing. Buck steadily ventured into the maze-like and enormous sewer. Before long, vague, moving shapes began to appear in the darkness. Unusually, the once calm sewage waters began to make unsettling sounds, clearly indicating that some unknown creatures were silently and steadily approaching him from beneath. According to the city hall''s statistics, every year, a considerable number of homeless people mysteriously disappeared in the imperial capital. In reality, most of these missing individuals were dragged deep into the sewers, never to be heard from again, their fate unknown. The church was well aware of the severity of this situation and frequently sent hunters into the sewers to eliminate the monsters lurking in the dark. However, the sewer system was interconnected with the vast Lionheart River and various complicated underground water channels, which provided the monsters with a constant source of replenishment. No matter how hard the hunters worked, they could never fully eradicate them. Suddenly, a pale, skeletal hand shot out from the sewage, followed by a swollen, grotesque face that slowly emerged, exuding an evil aura. These creatures, like ghosts, quietly approached Buck from behind, attempting a deadly ambush while he remained unaware. A deafening crash echoed throughout the sewer as the creature¡¯s attempt to sneak attack was immediately thwarted by a powerful strike, scattering it into countless fragments that vanished without a trace. Buck reacted swiftly, unhesitatingly turning his gun toward the endless darkness ahead. Without expression, his cold eyes locked on the shadows as he pulled the trigger. In an instant, gunshots rang out continuously, echoing through the narrow space. In recent times, whenever he had a spare moment, Buck would practice shooting at the church¡¯s underground shooting range. After much hard work, his shooting had improved somewhat, but he was still far from being a sharpshooter. He wasn¡¯t yet capable of pinpoint accuracy, but luckily, he wielded the powerful "Invincible Hammer." With this formidable weapon, he didn¡¯t need perfect shooting precision. Even if his bullets hit the surrounding bricks, the explosive force of the impact and the shattering debris were enough to instantly incapacitate the fragile, low-health monsters, rendering them useless in combat. The monsters drawn in by the scent of the potion were a terrifying species known as Water Ghosts. These creatures typically feasted on the blood and flesh of drowned victims. Their claws were venomous, and while they were fierce underwater, they were nearly powerless on land, resembling a weak, ordinary human. The Water Ghosts soon realized that the seemingly ordinary human before them possessed terrifying strength. Panicked by the relentless gunfire, they scrambled in every direction, trying to escape. Unfortunately, their speed could not match that of Buck, who was now more ruthless than the monsters, his eyes blazing with fury. Buck¡¯s eyes glinted coldly as he extended his blue Demon Creature''s Arm. With a swift motion, he ripped off one of the Water Ghost''s arms, effortlessly tearing it from its body. In the midst of this fierce battle, Buck continued to harvest more life energy. He knew well that no matter how small the gain, it was still a step forward. For him, every opportunity to strengthen himself was a chance he would never pass up. However, Buck was frustrated to find that after his Demon Creature''s Arm reached level 5, it seemed to hit an insurmountable bottleneck. Its potential appeared to be fully exhausted, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t seem to push it further. Soon, after his relentless attacks, the monsters surrounding him disappeared. Even the rats and disgusting insects that usually roamed the sewer were frightened away by the noise of the battle, scattering and vanishing without a trace. What remained before Buck was a seemingly clear path. Now, he could focus entirely on finding the mysterious and elusive Sculptor within the vast, complex underground maze. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. As Buck carefully proceeded deeper into the sewer, he pondered: Why would anyone choose to live in such a dirty, foul-smelling, and dangerous place? This question weighed heavily on his mind, leaving him perplexed. What confused him even more was that someone living in the sewer would engage in business. It seemed utterly inconceivable. According to the information Doug had painstakingly gathered, the Sculptor sold his mysterious artworks. To find him, one had to carefully search for specific marks he left behind in the sewer. Once a mark was found, blowing a whistle would summon the Sculptor, who would appear like a ghost. Buck mused to himself: Could this man have transformed from a sewer rat? Why would anyone choose to live here and conduct such peculiar business? However, the Sculptor was not as easy to find as the rumors suggested. Buck had been wandering the sewer aimlessly for three hours and had yet to spot any trace of the so-called marks. The deeper he went, starting from the entrance in the South District¡¯s first underground level, he wound his way down through the complex passageways for four or five levels. At this point, he had lost track of how far he had descended. When he cautiously peeked through some skylights formed by gathering water, all he could see was an endless void of darkness. Whether looking up or down, it was all the same, as if the entire world had been swallowed by the dark. Just as Buck began to doubt whether Doug had been deliberately misled, turning him into a complete fool, his attention was suddenly drawn to a wall at the corner. On that wall, a conspicuous red-painted mark appeared, and upon closer inspection, the mark took the shape of a mask. ¡°Finally found it.¡± Buck couldn¡¯t help but sigh softly, his voice mixed with both the relief of finding the target and a hint of exhaustion. He quickly took out a whistle from his pocket, placed it to his lips, and blew hard. The sharp sound of the whistle rang out crisply through the silent sewer, echoing into the distance. Afterward, a long and patient waiting process began. In the pitch-black darkness, Buck held his breath quietly, listening intently to the sounds in the distance. Faintly, he seemed to hear strange, creaking noises that were almost imperceptible. The sound seemed to be the rhythmic tapping of many appendages against the walls, sending chills down his spine. It was at that moment that he suddenly noticed, in the corners of the sewer, that dense webs had quietly appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. Seeing these webs, a sense of alertness surged in Buck¡¯s mind: Could there be spiders here? And not just any spiders, but large and dangerous ones? As he hesitated whether to approach and investigate these webs, a sudden, clear, and pleasant ringing sound pierced through the silence of the sewer. The bell rang sharply, as if calling from another world. With the sound of the bell, something with a bell attached seemed to be rapidly approaching him. Before long, a dim yellow light appeared, slicing through the darkness like a sword, illuminating the corner of the sewer. The moment the bell and light arrived, the creepy creaking noises seemed to vanish as if by magic, leaving the area eerily quiet. The sculptor had finally appeared. He was a slightly hunched old man, carrying a heavy pack on his back. He wore a large round hat, with a thick, scruffy beard covering his chin. The brim of the hat was low, obscuring his eyes and making it difficult for Buck to see his true face. However, from the perspective of an observer, the old man seemed like an ordinary person with no remarkable traits and a very average life energy level. ¡°Hello,¡± Buck said, quickly adjusting his own hat to make his voice sound deeper and more composed, greeting the old man politely. ¡°A hunter.¡± The sculptor responded in a raspy, low voice. As he spoke, he slowly lifted a dim, old lantern to illuminate Buck¡¯s figure. When he noticed the hunter''s attire from the Guild, his tone became calm. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Hunter.¡± ¡°Mister Sculptor, are you still running your business?¡± Buck asked directly, without hesitation. ¡°Of course, I am always at your service.¡± The sculptor replied quietly, slowly walking to Buck¡¯s side. He gently set the heavy pack on the ground, then looked up at Buck. ¡°What would you like?¡± ¡°Firefly Stone Mask.¡± Buck simply stated the name. To his surprise, the sculptor immediately seemed to understand what he needed. The old man quickly rummaged through his pack, retrieving a palm-sized stone that glowed faintly, and then pulled out a set of delicate carving tools. With the lantern light casting a yellow glow, he began carving the mask with calm precision. The sculptor¡¯s speed was remarkable, and his technique was flawless. Every movement was smooth and fluid, executed as if it were second nature. His skilled artistry was deeply ingrained in him, leaving anyone who watched in awe, as though they were witnessing a breathtaking performance. Unknowingly, several minutes passed. Under the sculptor¡¯s magical hands, a small, palm-sized mask was completed. Buck, staring at the mask, noticed it was half the size he had expected and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of doubt. He wondered silently: Is this strange old man messing with me on purpose? ¡°Please don¡¯t doubt it, Hunter. This is the Firefly Stone Mask you requested. The size, shape, and material are all correct. I carved it using the technique my teacher taught me.¡± The sculptor seemed to read Buck¡¯s mind, as he spoke while handing the mask to him. Then, he began to calmly pack away his carving tools. ¡°Wait, could I get another one?¡± Buck suddenly had an idea and asked. ¡°You want two?¡± The sculptor blinked, surprised. After thinking for a moment, he took back the mask he had just handed Buck and picked up his carving knife. He gently made a cut down the center of the mask. The mask was neatly sliced in half... ¡°What are you doing?¡± Buck asked in confusion, completely caught off guard by the sculptor¡¯s sudden action. ¡°My teacher said, if a customer needs two Firefly Stone Masks, we must cut one mask in half and give it to them. This is a long-standing tradition.¡± The sculptor explained calmly. Buck took the two halves of the mask, still unsure of what just happened. After blinking in confusion, he quickly recovered and asked, ¡°So, how should I pay for it?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to. You¡¯ve already helped me deal with quite a few monsters. That¡¯s the best payment I could ask for.¡± The sculptor replied as he packed his things, slinging his heavy pack back over his shoulder, ready to leave. ¡°Wait.¡± Buck quickly stopped him, his curiosity growing stronger. He couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯m here to kill you?¡± The sculptor calmly turned his head, his raspy voice responding, ¡°A hunter, why would he want to kill a sculptor in the sewers?¡± Buck was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, ¡°Or perhaps I¡¯m going to bring you back to the Guild.¡± ¡°No, you won¡¯t. If you weren¡¯t here for business, I wouldn¡¯t have appeared.¡± The sculptor said with finality. Then, with a soft jingle from his bell, he slowly walked away, his lantern light fading as he disappeared around the corner. Soon, only Buck remained, standing motionless. ¡°Strange guy.¡± Buck shook his head in disbelief, inwardly sighing. He stowed the two halves of the mask and was about to leave. But just as he lifted his foot to take a step, he froze. Suddenly, he remembered something important he had forgotten. He should have asked the old man for directions back. He had to admit that, at this moment, he was completely lost in this vast, maze-like underground world. Chapter 32: Steam Knight Lost deep within the labyrinthine sewer, Buck had only one thought in mind: to find the mysterious sculptor once again. He was convinced that as long as he kept searching, he would surely encounter the old man with the lantern and bell once more. After all, he was a hunter, and tracking prey was his specialty¡ªhe didn''t believe that he would fail at this task. However, reality quickly slapped him in the face like a loud, harsh blow. Two hours had passed, and Buck had been wandering through the complex sewer system, but he still hadn''t seen any trace of the sculptor. It was then that he had to admit, despite carrying the title of "hunter," he was actually a mere novice who had only just become one a month ago. When it came to tracking, he was almost completely clueless. Worse still, in his pursuit of the mysterious sculptor, he had unwittingly ventured deeper into the sewer. The passageways were twisting and turning, some wide like open highways, others so cramped it felt suffocating. The intricate layout had left him completely disoriented, as if trapped in a maze with no way out. At that moment, Buck felt an odd sensation in his heart; it was as if this sewer had become a completely separate world, distinct from the one above. This world was filled with foul-smelling sewage, dense pipes, and countless passageways, stretching on endlessly, as if there were no end to it. Moreover, he noticed that the spider webs around him were becoming more numerous, their fine threads shimmering with an eerie glow in the dim light. In the shadows, indistinct figures seemed to flicker, and upon closer inspection, he realized they were enormous, unimaginable eight-legged creatures. "Could these monsters have come into the royal city''s sewers from the outside? Perhaps if I follow them, I can find the way back to the surface," Buck thought to himself. After hesitating for a moment, he decided to follow the dark-moving figures. His heart held no fear, for he felt confident with his life force of over 600,000¡ªhow could these creatures possibly defeat him? However, reality soon gave him a harsh blow. If a person loses their respect for the darkness, they will inevitably be consumed by it. The spider monsters, about the size of small dogs, might not be able to pierce his skin with their fangs, but the webs they spat out had an inexplicable, eerie quality. As Buck ventured further, the webs began to spread across the walls of the sewer, forming what seemed like a massive, mysterious graffiti. In the deep darkness, a vague shape began to emerge. From different angles, it shifted and morphed, but no matter how hard Buck tried to observe it, he could never fully discern what it was. Before long, swarms of spiders surged like a tidal wave, their furry limbs tapping rhythmically on the walls, creating an unsettling sound. They bared their fangs and lunged at Buck, trying to overwhelm him with their venomous fangs and webs. Without hesitation, Buck extended his Demon Creature''s Arm, its claws glinting coldly as they tore through the webs in front of him. At the same time, his heavy hammer roared, sending bullets whistling through the air. While dodging the spiders'' attacks with agile sidesteps, he pressed forward, determined to break through. However, Buck quickly realized that these monsters were far more intelligent than he had anticipated. It seemed as though they were deliberately leading him toward a particular spot. At this point, it was too late for him to retreat. Giant spiders from all directions were closing in, and countless webs and strands of silk had sealed off his escape route. As the ammunition in his heavy hammer grew scarce, and the seemingly endless onslaught of enemies drained his stamina, Buck experienced for the first time just how inadequate his 100,000 energy points were in the face of this overwhelming tide. The number of giant spiders was simply too many, and they kept growing larger. What had once been the size of small dogs was now as large as bulls. The entire passageway was nearly packed with these enormous creatures, and the sheer density of them made Buck''s scalp tingle with unease. Buck''s mind was filled with confusion. He kept asking himself: What is going on? Why are there so many spiders? Where are they coming from? In this critical moment, Buck swiftly drew his silver sword. Both his gun and sword were now in play, and the Demon Creature''s Arm was swinging wildly behind him. The barrel of the heavy hammer was red-hot from the constant firing, and the claws of the Demon Creature''s Arm left afterimages as they slashed through the air. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The powerful bullets easily shattered the giant spiders'' bodies, while his claws and silver sword were enough to sever any limbs that tried to reach him. However, it felt like the spiders would never stop coming. For every one he killed, countless others emerged, threatening to swallow him whole. Gradually, Buck felt as though he had stepped into an endless abyss. The once omnipresent webs now seemed to turn into deep blackness. Under the spiders'' frenzied weaving, the webs had become a three-dimensional "darkness." Suddenly, a void-like presence leaked out from this "darkness." The black webs seemed to split, forming a crack-like gap. Through these fissures, Buck could vaguely make out terrifying figures¡ªtwisted and bizarre shapes, as if from another unknown world. Buck finally realized that behind all of this, there was a ritual so grand that it could summon an entity from the Void! The powerful shock from the Void instantly clouded his consciousness. He felt the world before him turning into chaos; the silver sword in his hand dropped without him noticing, the sound of the heavy hammer''s gunfire gradually faded, and even the claws of the Demon Creature were completely entangled by the black webs, unable to move. Countless spider limbs quickly obscured his vision, and then, he was dragged into the abyss of darkness by a powerful force. In the fading fog of his consciousness, Buck seemed to see an enormous figure. The figure was beyond imagination in size, coiling in the vast, endless darkness like a god that blocked out the sun. Countless spiders crawled from beneath it, like soldiers marching toward a fixed destination. Buck, whose body was tightly wrapped in spider webs, was swept forward by this surging tide. He understood that these spiders seemed to have a clear purpose, and that he, as an accidental intruder, was just a tiny stone on their path. Fortunately, the enormous entity seemed to have not noticed Buck''s presence, and he couldn''t help but feel relieved. With his current strength and level, he could not comprehend this being, nor was he qualified to approach it; he couldn''t even manage to look it in the eye. He knew that this entity was corrupting the world in a terrifying manner, using its army of spiders to try and breach the mysterious goal at the end of the sewer, much like how darkness relentlessly erodes the light. At this moment, the enormous entity made a startling move. Its humanoid upper body slowly extended a giant hand that seemed capable of reaching across the heavens, as if to pluck the stars from the dark sky. The next instant, its fingertip erupted in a dazzling light so bright that it was impossible to look at. Immediately after, a scorching sea of flames ignited the far end of the sewer. The massive roaring sound, the clash of metal, and the violent steam bursts intertwined, accompanied by heavy crashing noises, as if the entire world was shaking. The thunderous booms struck Buck¡¯s ears like heavy hammers, bringing him back to some semblance of clarity. Then, he found himself enveloped in a high-temperature cocoon. The intense flames quickly burned away the spider webs binding him, and the force restraining him was lifted. Buck gritted his teeth and, with all his strength, seized the sudden opportunity. He tore through the webbing around him and took deep breaths of the searing, burning air. The fire¡¯s burning pain fully brought Buck back to his senses. When he focused, he saw the countless corpses of spiders and a towering, mighty knight. It was a giant metal knight spewing fire! The spiders, charging one after another, were like moths to a flame, swiftly consumed by the firestorm without mercy. Some of the larger spider monsters tried to bite through the knight''s metal armor with the flames scorching them, but were shattered by spikes suddenly thrust out from the knight¡¯s massive arms, disintegrating into dust. Buck stood in stunned silence. The sheer destructive power released by the intense heat and pressure was enough to shake anyone to their core. Each heavy step the knight took caused the ground of the sewer to tremble as if the entire world was quaking beneath its feet. It was like a war god standing amidst the sea of fire, exuding an aura of awe. Soon, Buck realized that this metal knight could not possibly be human. Its massive five-meter frame, its full body brimming with power, was clearly driven by a mysterious steam-powered technology. Buck could even clearly hear the sound of gears turning within it as it swung its fists. He understood that this was a giant construct, created by those ancient and mysterious alchemists. In the present Goliath Empire, such a being was a legendary creation, known as the "Steam Knight." However, Buck didn¡¯t forget the god-like entity he had just glimpsed. He guessed that the Steam Knight was guarding something important in front of a great door at the end of the sewer. The army of spiders sent by that god was undoubtedly heading toward whatever lay beyond that door. This was no doubt going to be an epic battle between a god and a legendary creation. With this thought, Buck suddenly turned around and, disregarding everything, charged out of the edge of the firestorm, quickly veering into another passage, successfully escaping the flood of spiders. To his surprise, when he looked back, he didn¡¯t see the enormous entity looming in the darkness anymore. That black shadow seemed to have been nothing more than an illusion seen during his moment of blurred consciousness. But the Steam Knight and the spiders were real. The legendary creation unleashed an endless barrage of firepower, suppressing the numerous spiders with terrifying efficiency, clearing out an entire spider army in a way that far exceeded Buck¡¯s imagination. The knight moved with heavy and resolute steps, rounding a bend in the tunnel. Its helmet, adorned with a single horn, twisted slightly, and the countless red dots in its eye sockets suddenly lit up. Its fiery gaze immediately locked onto Buck in the distance. Chapter 33: Fury of the Steam Knight Since the moment Buck fell into the flood of spiders, a strong and resolute thought filled his mind: escape! This sudden, inexplicable war had nothing to do with him. He was neither interested in the dark entity hidden behind the spiders nor in the secrets behind the steel door guarded tightly by the steam knight. Any ordinary hunter would have perished by now, caught in the overwhelming webs and blazing infernos. However, Buck was still full of vitality, with 600,000 life energy remaining, meaning he had plenty of chances to escape this crisis. But the steam knight, who had locked onto him, seemed intent on not letting him go. This ancient knight followed some kind of established rule, never sparing any living being who dared approach the gate. A deafening explosion suddenly rang out behind him. As Buck was running, he felt a massive force push against his back, like an overwhelming avalanche. The sound of the explosion then thundered, ringing in his ears. The shockwave was so powerful that it sent Buck flying and crashing into a wall. The wall couldn¡¯t withstand the impact and collapsed, and Buck was immediately hurled into another sewer tunnel. It turned out the force that broke the wall wasn¡¯t Buck¡¯s body, but a high-speed cannonball that, after intense friction with the air, had become a superheated fireball. The cannon shot was astonishingly powerful, breaking through countless walls as if it were going to pierce the entire sewer world. For a moment, bricks and stones rained down like hail, and sewage was sent into a towering wave. The shockwave created by the cannonball flying past was enough to instantly tear a human body apart. Buck, who had rolled several times in the sewage wave, was dizzy but gritted his teeth and forced himself to get up. His ears rang, as if a swarm of bees were buzzing inside them. He quickly checked his health bar, only to be horrified to see it drop by 50,000 points! The cannonball hadn¡¯t even directly hit him¡ªit had just grazed him¡ªbut the damage was already terrifying. Buck couldn''t help but shiver as he thought, If I had been directly hit, could I have survived? He had no intention of testing that theory. Taking advantage of the moment before the second shot came, Buck ran like a scared rabbit. In the distance, the steam knight raised its right arm. Surprisingly, its arm transformed into a giant cannon. The cannon¡¯s barrel was large enough to fit a soccer ball, and it was glowing red from the intense heat, releasing steam. The knight¡¯s gears and bearings whirred, as if it were loading a second cannonball. Clearly, using the cannon was no longer an option. The knight¡¯s intelligence hadn¡¯t sunk that low. It decisively raised its left arm, and from its outer side, a dozen hooked claws shot out, connected by steel wires. The claws glittered coldly, like a group of snakes poised to strike. By now, Buck had already escaped from the hole in the wall and should have been out of the steam knight¡¯s sight. Yet, those claws seemed to have been given life, as if they had eyes. They slammed into the wall, ricocheted violently, and shot back and forth with incredible speed through the narrow sewer tunnel, leaving sparks in their wake. Even more astonishingly, the claws seemed to adjust their trajectories on their own through collision, finally covering Buck¡¯s escape route. In the blink of an eye, Buck felt the pressure on his body tighten, as four or five claws simultaneously grabbed him. "Damn it! Is this some kind of magic trick?" Buck cursed in his heart. There was no time to think. He quickly swung out the Demon Creature''s Arm, and his claws clashed with the steel cables, creating bright sparks. He managed to sever one of the claws. But this brief moment wasn¡¯t enough to deal with the other claws. From a distance, the knight exerted force, and the steel cables immediately tightened, pulling Buck back with tremendous force. ¡°Enough of this! Do they really think I''m easy to mess with?¡± This time, Buck was thoroughly enraged, and his anger burned like fire. No matter what legendary creation this was, since it dared to grab him, he would show it the power of God''s Corpse''s Hand! Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Just as he was consumed with rage, the claw pulling him back suddenly emitted an eerie high-frequency vibration. The strange wave was so powerful that it scattered all of Buck¡¯s strength, leaving his brain numb for a moment. What is this? Resonance? His consciousness grew blurry, and blood uncontrollably sprayed from his five orifices. His eyes turned blood-red, and his vision was completely obscured. At the same time, his life energy dropped by another 50,000 points. It was then that Buck realized the true strength of the legendary creation had far surpassed his imagination. For the first time, he lost confidence in his God''s Corpse''s Hand. The claw dragged Buck through the shattered corner of the wall and brought him straight to the knight. Then, a thick steel nail suddenly shot out from the steam knight¡¯s right arm. Its target was clear¡ªit was to pin the returning Buck directly to the ground. In the critical moment, Buck''s Demon Creature''s Arm shot out like lightning, meeting the steel nail head-on. Time seemed to slow down as Buck watched the transformed Demon Creature''s Arm crumble before the powerful weapon. The steel nail pierced through it effortlessly, not merely penetrating, but completely crushing and shattering it. The recoil was like a heavy blow, slamming Buck forcefully into the ground, cracking the sturdy floor beneath him. Almost simultaneously, Buck¡¯s Heretic¡¯s Arm stretched out and grabbed the steam knight''s head just before the steel nail would have impaled his chest. For the briefest moment, a moment so fleeting, the steam knight¡¯s movements seemed to freeze. Was it because Heretic''s Touch had activated, or had the knight¡¯s brain become rigid after centuries of existence? That question, perhaps, would never be answered. In any case, Buck seized that moment of opportunity, gathering all his strength to unleash God''s Corpse''s Hand. He poured all 89,447 remaining mana and 279,884 life energy into his arm without reservation. This blow, totaling over 360,000 equivalent damage that ignored defenses, was a desperate gamble. In truth, Buck couldn¡¯t even see the steam knight''s health bar; it seemed as if the knight had no life at all, or perhaps, with his low-tier "Watcher" spirit abilities, he couldn''t pierce the protective mystery surrounding the knight to get any structural information. But if this fatal strike, which sacrificed half of his remaining health, didn¡¯t deal a single point of damage to the enemy, then Buck felt there would be no reason to resist any longer. He might as well just wait to die. The dark red God¡¯s Corpse¡¯s Hand clenched into a fist, exuding an unstoppable force, and struck the steam knight¡¯s iron fist directly. As the two legendary punches collided, a silent but devastating shockwave exploded, scattering everything around them. Buck was once again sent flying like a kite with its string cut. He saw God¡¯s Corpse¡¯s Hand shatter under the intense impact, but at the same time, countless metal parts scattered in the explosion. The steam knight¡¯s entire right arm, and even the shoulder, were obliterated in the collision. Buck¡¯s body shot out like a cannonball, propelled at high speed. His mind was shaken, consciousness blurry. Just before he flew away, he thought he saw the steam knight¡¯s health bar light up, losing about one-fifth of its total. This is ridiculous, was Buck¡¯s last thought before he lost consciousness. Then, he was flung out of the massive hole created by the knight¡¯s cannonball, landing heavily in the surging sewage. The rushing water quickly swept him into a vertical shaft, and along with the sewage waterfall, he fell into a deep ravine. The steam knight still stood firm, seemingly stunned by the damage inflicted on it. For a moment, it didn¡¯t pursue. After all, its right arm had been completely destroyed, and the claw device was also broken¡ªit was unable to continue the chase. Yes, this ancient knight had a brain. From the torn shell, it was clear that its body was not entirely made of metal. Some strong, living blood and flesh tissue tightly wrapped around a mass of mechanical cylinders and metallic bones. These tissues and bones were moving and growing in a regular pattern. The steam knight was, in fact, a perfect fusion of flesh and metal. Moreover, its metallic body possessed the ability to grow and heal like a living organism. At this moment, the shredded right arm of the steam knight was visibly regenerating. It wouldn¡¯t take long before this legendary creation was restored to its former state. In the future, for a long time, the imposing figure of that legendary creation in the capital''s sewers would remain a lasting shadow in Buck¡¯s heart. From that point on, he never dared to venture too deep into the sewers to hunt monsters¡ªhe had been thoroughly frightened. But that was a story for later. Right now, Buck lay in the sewage, weak and exhausted, with no strength left. When the sewer walls had been breached, Buck inadvertently found a way to escape the labyrinthine tunnels. Strangely, as he regained consciousness in the water, he was astonished to find himself being swept upstream by the flow of sewage. A strange and indescribable sensation flooded his body, as if the entire space around him was being twisted. When this reverse flow ended, he fell once more into a foul, dirty sewage river. At the same time, he was delighted to see light filtering into the dark sewer from outside. A warm and strong hand reached out, grasping his limp body, and slowly pulled him from the drainage exit that led toward the Lionheart River. Chapter 34: Echoes of the Underground The person who pulled Buck out of the sewage was a man wearing a white lab coat. This sudden rescue should have made Buck feel grateful, but when his gaze drifted to the side, he couldn''t help but feel a little frustrated. The sewer sculptor he had spent so much effort searching for was now quietly standing beside this man in the white lab coat. Without any politeness, the man in the white lab coat threw the filthy and drenched Buck onto the ground. He then took two steps back in disgust, raised his hand to adjust the delicate glasses on his nose, and scrutinized Buck for a moment with a probing look before speaking, ¡°A Hunter from the Order?¡± He seemed to have noticed the prominent Order insignia on Buck''s attire, and after a brief thought, he added, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you before. You must be new, right?¡± Just as he finished speaking, it seemed like he suddenly remembered something important. His eyes lit up, and he said, ¡°I know now. You must be one of the two newcomers who retrieved the Fourth-Grade Forbidden Item. Let me think... your name is Buck Frank, right?¡± Buck exerted great effort to slowly get up from the ground. His movements were sluggish, as though all his energy had been drained in the previous struggle. He reached up and pulled off the mask that had clung tightly to his face from being soaked in the foul water, revealing a tired and expressionless face. He gazed silently at the man. To be honest, at this moment, Buck felt completely exhausted, mentally and physically. His mind was too weary to care about anything. All he wanted was to go home, take a hot shower, and wash away the stench and bad luck he had endured. But the person before him, since he could immediately recognize Buck as a Hunter from the Order, must also be a member of the Order. Moreover, it seemed there was some unknown connection between him and the sculptor. The man in the white lab coat smiled, his simple short brown hair slightly swaying with the movement. His slender face, paired with the smile, gave off a seemingly friendly vibe. ¡°Hello, Mr. Frank. My name is Floyd. I¡¯m a doctor and also a Hunter in the Order.¡± Floyd spoke while instinctively extending his hand, preparing to shake Buck¡¯s hand. However, just as his hand was about to touch Buck''s damp palm, he quickly retracted it as if he had been electrocuted, but his smile remained faint. Seeing this, Buck thought to himself, "Okay, this guy doesn''t seem as friendly as he looks. His personality seems a bit strange." "What did you encounter in the sewers?" Floyd asked curiously, his eyes gleaming with a hint of investigation. Buck casually shook his head and answered indifferently, ¡°A maze.¡± His gaze wandered to the sewage channel, and he happened to notice a hat floating toward him in the water. He immediately recognized it as his Hunter¡¯s hat. But at this moment, he had no interest in retrieving it. ¡°Are you talking about an endless maze world?¡± Unexpectedly, the sculptor, who had been silent until now, suddenly became interested after hearing Buck¡¯s response. He seemed completely indifferent to the foul odor emanating from Buck¡¯s body, taking a few steps toward him with eager eyes. ¡°Did you sense the boundary of the distorted space?¡± The sculptor¡¯s voice trembled slightly, as though anticipating a special answer. Buck furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and nodded. "That''s right, it¡¯s that one." The sculptor¡¯s beard beneath his hat slightly twitched. Although his expression was not visible, Buck could sense his excitement. ¡°It really exists, and it¡¯s beautiful, isn¡¯t it?¡± The sculptor¡¯s words were filled with an indescribable emotion, as though describing an extremely precious treasure. Buck was utterly confused and didn¡¯t understand what he was saying. In Buck¡¯s mind, the word ¡°beautiful¡± had no connection to the filthy, stinky sewers in front of him. ¡°What exactly are you talking about? What is ¡®it¡¯?¡± Buck couldn¡¯t help but ask. The sculptor suddenly chuckled in a strange way. His laugh echoed eerily in the empty place. ¡°Mr. Hunter, it¡¯s a world called the sewers, formed and constructed by a magnificent piece of artwork.¡± With that, he quickly dropped his backpack and began rummaging through it with some urgency. After a while, he took out something from his bag¡ªa large magic cube, about the size of a football. Buck narrowed his eyes and scrutinized the cube. It appeared to be an unfinished work, yet it was made with incredible precision, consisting of countless small cubes tightly assembled together, seemingly capable of performing highly complex transformations. However, some areas had cracks and flaws, which made the entire device look precariously close to falling apart. ¡°It¡¯s the teacher¡¯s masterpiece. I¡¯ve been staying in the sewers for many years, trying to replicate it, but unfortunately, my skills are not up to par.¡± The sculptor carefully held the cube with both hands, his eyes fixed on it, filled with obsession and longing, as though lost in deep memories, his entire being almost entranced. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°So, the space in the sewers was distorted by something?¡± Buck suddenly realized, feeling a sense of enlightenment. No wonder he had become completely disoriented in there¡ªit turned out to be because of this. Floyd, standing nearby, watched Buck¡¯s reaction and smiled faintly, even giving him a subtle wink, as if hinting at something. At this moment, the sculptor seemed to snap back to his senses. His movements became slightly frantic as he quickly stored the cube back in his bag, then nodded at the two of them without saying anything, turning to step into the darkness. He was returning to that lightless, dangerous sewer again. ¡°Good luck, Mr. Sculptor.¡± Buck watched his departing figure and gently shook his head. After enduring the dangers of the sewers, Buck had come to a firm conclusion: this person was nothing but a madman. "A magical madman," Floyd, who was standing nearby, seemed to have read Buck''s thoughts and added a fitting description. "Frank, no matter what you encountered deep in the sewers, forget about it. That distorted space actually guards a secret¡ªone neither you nor I are qualified to touch," Floyd''s tone grew serious, and there was a trace of reverence in his gaze. Buck nodded silently. He was well aware that he wasn''t qualified to deal with that secret. After all, the legendary creation that had completely overwhelmed him, making him powerless, had already shown him the vast disparity in their strengths. "As for the sculptor, he''s also one of the targets under the church''s surveillance. The church doesn''t care about his grand ideal of replicating that artwork, but we must check in on him regularly to ensure he''s not causing any trouble," Floyd continued, shrugging helplessly. "So, this task has fallen to me, the doctor." He looked at Buck again, a wry smile spreading across his face. "And, from a doctor''s perspective, I suggest you go home and wash up quickly, Buck." Buck silently thought, I was already planning to do that. He coldly nodded at Floyd and turned to walk towards the exit that led to the river. The sky outside had already brightened. The soft sunlight poured over the earth, dispelling the darkness of the night. Having been trapped in the sewers all night, Buck felt an indescribable sense of relief as he saw the sunlight again and breathed in the fresh air. He couldn''t help but silently praise the Goddess of the Sun in his heart. Floyd didn''t inquire about Buck''s purpose for entering the sewers. He knew that some hunters liked to venture into the sewers to hunt monsters and hone their combat skills. However, there were also unsettling rumors¡ªsome hunters, if they ventured too deep into the sewers, became completely lost in the darkness and never returned. No one knew for sure what lay hidden in the depths of the sewers, for those who did know had all died. Therefore, Floyd never tried to explore that mysterious world. He stood quietly at the boundary of light and shadow, watching Buck''s retreating figure with a strange smile on his face. ...... No. 9 Michelin Avenue. Buck returned home and hurried into the bathroom, eager to wash away the stench with a satisfying hot shower. The water poured from the showerhead, cascading over his exhausted body, as though washing away all his fatigue and fear. The adventure had left him physically and mentally drained, and the terrifying sensation of narrowly escaping death still lingered in his mind, not fading easily. He had originally thought that with over six hundred thousand blood, he was practically "invincible" in this world. But the countless spider legions and the fearsome steam knight had given him a harsh reminder¡ªhe was still too weak. During the final confrontation with the steam knight, his life energy had dropped to a dangerously low level, with just over thirty thousand remaining. The powerful shockwave had nearly torn his body apart. I need to figure out how to get stronger, Buck muttered to himself as he wiped his body. He shook his head and clenched his slightly trembling hand as if trying to encourage himself. He then turned his gaze to the desk, where two Firefly Stone Masks sat quietly. These two masks were the only things he had brought back from the sewers. In the intense battle, he had unfortunately lost both his heavy hammer and silver sword, which made Buck feel regretful. That gun was so easy to handle and powerful, but just the thought of facing the terrifying steam knight again sent chills down his spine. He wouldn''t risk another adventure just to retrieve the gun. Now, the materials needed for the ritual were ready, and it was time to use the Firefly Stone Masks¡ªthose masks he had nearly lost his life for¡ªto conduct the ascension ritual for the twins. Buck silently swore to himself that if the ritual failed because of the masks, he would grab Floyd by the neck and force him to find that sculptor, then beat him senseless! ...... As the sun slowly descended beneath the horizon, and the Goddess of the Sun''s gaze left the earth, the night enveloped the world. Buck called the twins into his room. The air was thick with mystery and tension. The dim light flickered gently in the breeze, as if signaling that what was about to happen was full of uncertainty and change. Buck took out the ancient scroll again, and the patterns and words on the scroll glowed with a mysterious light under the lamp. He began to follow the instructions and symbols, using his own blood to draw two formations on the floor of the room. The reason he drew two was that he intended to perform the ritual for both twins. This way, even if one of them failed, it wouldn''t matter¡ªif one succeeded, Buck would have the chance to gain important information about his arm. But as Buck was halfway through, he suddenly noticed something strange. He paused his movements, tilted his head, and walked around the formations he had drawn, frowning deeply. Then, Buck flipped the scroll over and turned it back again, repeating the process several times, and his expression grew even more puzzled. "Strange, should I be looking at this thing right side up or upside down?" Buck muttered to himself. Seeing the confusion on his face, the twins exchanged a furtive glance, their eyes flashing with unease. They began to feel anxious, realizing that their path into the mysterious world was destined to be full of obstacles and setbacks.