As they walked the road ended.

  One moment, Ryusei and Lumielle were following a cracked stone path half-swallowed by weeds. The next, it simply… stopped. Ahead of them stretched a wide basin of broken terrain—jagged rocks, dead trees twisted like claws, and fog that clung low to the ground as if afraid to rise.

  The air stank of mana.

  Not clean mana.

  Wild mana.

  Lumielle slowed instinctively. “This place…”

  Ryusei nodded. He felt it too.

  “This land is saturated,” he said. “Unregulated mana flow. That’s why monsters gather.”

  As if answering him, something howled in the distance.

  Then another.

  Then many.

  Shapes moved through the fog—large, fast, wrong.

  Lumielle gets near to Ryusei. “They're here, the monsters.”

  Ryusei stepped forward instead.

  “This is it.”

  [SYSTEM — AREA SCAN ACTIVATED]

  ? Region: Blackroot Expanse (Forbidden Zone)

  ? Threat Density: Extreme

  ? Settlement Probability: 0.03%

  [Hostile Entities Detected]

  ? Dreadfang Ravagers (Lv. 70)

  ? Hollowbone Colossi (Lv. 75)

  ? Abyss-Touched Beasts (Lv. 80+)

  ? Unknown Signatures (Multiple)

  Conclusion:

  ?Territory unsuitable for habitation

  ?Survival probability for civilians: 0%

  Ryusei read the screen.

  Then smiled.

  “…Perfect.”

  Lumielle stared at him. “Why are you smiling?”

  “Nothing,” he said calmly.

  A massive shape burst from the fog.

  A Dreadfang Ravager—all bone plating, serrated limbs, and a jaw that split open vertically, drooling corrosive ichor. Its eyes locked onto Ryusei instantly.

  Then three more emerged.

  Then six.

  Lumielle panicked. “We’re surrounded!”

  Ryusei stepped forward, drawing his sword halfway.

  "I'm glad I brought this sword. I think I also need to start looking for my own weapon that I can use," he thought to himself.

  He focused again on the enemy when it roared.

  “I’ll clear the perimeter,” he said.

  “Watch your back.”

  The monsters charged.

  The first Ravager leapt.

  Ryusei moved.

  He stepped through the attack.

  His blade flashed once.

  The Ravager froze mid-air.

  Then its entire skeletal frame shattered inward, collapsing into dust before it hit the ground.

  The others hesitated.

  Ryusei advanced.

  "Where are all of you heading?” He smirked.

  Each step bent the ground slightly, his presence alone pushing back the wild mana. His sword moved in precise arcs—efficient, merciless.

  One Ravager lost its head without the blade ever touching it.

  Another imploded as resonance tore through its core.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  A third tried to flee—and was erased by a backhanded swing that split the fog itself.

  Lumielle watched, stunned.

  Then suddenly a deeper tremor rolled through the basin.

  The ground cracked as something massive rose—

  A Hollowbone Colossus, towering, stitched together from petrified bone and black crystal. Mana bled from its joints like smoke.

  [Threat Identified]

  ? Hollowbone Colossus

  ? Level: 75

  ? Classification: Siege-Type Monster

  ? Warning: High Durability / Regeneration

  It slammed a fist into the ground.

  The shockwave ripped outward.

  Ryusei planted his foot and absorbed it.

  He exhaled.

  “…Is that it?.”

  He raised his sword.

  [Sword Technique — Impact Resonance]

  One downward slash.

  The Colossus folded.

  Its internal structure collapsed as resonance raced through every bone at once. The giant creature buckled, then shattered into a mountain of debris.

  “That monster didn't even have time to regenerate from that attack, even me I'm scared of my own strength”

  The basin fell silent.

  Mana settled.

  The system chimed softly.

  [Territory Status Updated]

  ? Dominant Presence Detected

  ? Monsters Remaining: Retreating

  ? Conclusion: Area temporarily pacified

  “Are these monsters a coward?” Ryusei sounds disappointed.

  Ryusei lowered his sword.

  Lumielle opened her mouth to respond—

  Then froze.

  “…Ryusei.”

  He turned. “What is it?”

  She was crouched near a pile of broken stone, staring.

  Something small peeked out.

  A creature no bigger than a cat—round-bodied, slate-gray fur, glowing teal eyes far too intelligent for its size. A small crystalline horn curved from its forehead, pulsing faintly.

  It squeaked.

  [New Entity Detected]

  ? Name: Unregistered

  ? Classification: Companion-Type Monster

  ? Threat Level: Minimal

  ? Potential: Unknown

  Lumielle’s expression softened instantly.

  “…It’s hiding,” she said quietly. “And it’s injured.”

  The creature looked at Ryusei.

  It tilted its head.

  “…Huh,” Ryusei muttered.

  The system flickered again.

  [Compatibility Detected]

  ? Companion Contract Possible

  Ryusei exhaled slowly.

  “You want to take care of that Lumielle?” Ryusei asked softly.

  “Yes!” Lumielle said happily.

  “…I guess we have a new companion,” he said.

  Lumielle carefully wraps a strip of cloth around the tiny creature’s injured leg. The small horned beast chirped softly, glowing teal eyes blinking with curious intelligence.

  “There,” Lumielle said gently. “You’ll be fine.”

  The creature squeaked happily and curled into her lap.

  "Just stay there for now, Lumielle. I'm gonna scan the surroundings to find a good spot for our village.” Ryusei said.

  After several minutes of scanning the surroundings, Ryusei felt something was wrong.

  Something closer.

  His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword.

  “Lumielle!” He ran towards Lumielle.

  She was startled and looked up.

  “Is something wrong?” Lumielle sounds worried.

  Ryusei didn’t answer immediately.

  Because he couldn’t see anything.

  But the system flickered.

  [WARNING]

  ? Unknown Presence Detected

  ? Threat Level: ???

  ? Detection Method: Instinct / Combat Intuition

  ? Recommendation: Prepare for immediate engagement

  Ryusei’s eyes narrowed.

  “…Someone’s here.” His breath was shallow as worry gnawed at him.

  Lumielle stood slowly, clutching the small creature.

  “I don’t see—”

  “Don’t move.”

  The words came out sharp.

  The air shifted.

  Just slightly.

  A faint ripple passed through the fog like a shadow blinking.

  Then—

  A voice appeared from nowhere.

  Calm.

  Amused.

  “Well now… this is interesting.”

  The fog parted.

  A man stepped forward as if he had simply walked out of empty space.

  Tall. Lean. Relaxed.

  Black coat draped loosely over his shoulders. Crimson hair fell across sharp eyes that gleamed with lazy amusement.

  Vance Slade.

  One of the Seven.

  The Absolute Assassin.

  His gaze settled on Ryusei.

  Then the clearing.

  Then the piles of monster corpses.

  “…You’ve been busy.”

  Ryusei didn’t move.

  Lumielle whispered under her breath, “Ryusei… something about him—”

  “I know.”

  The system screamed again.

  [THREAT IDENTIFIED]

  ? Name: Vance Slade

  ? Class: Absolute Assassin

  ? Level: 93

  Threat Assessment:

  ? EXTREME

  ? SURVIVAL PROBABILITY: UNKNOWN

  Ryusei exhaled slowly.

  “…You’re not a monster.”

  Vance grinned.

  “Funny. I was just about to say the same thing.”

  His gaze sharpened slightly.

  “So you’re the one who destroyed that estate.”

  Ryusei didn’t answer.

  Vance tilted his head.

  He grinned.

  Then he vanished.

  Ryusei’s instincts exploded.

  He twisted sideways—

  A black blade appeared where his heart had been.

  The attack missed by centimeters.

  Ryusei countered instantly, sword flashing upward in a vicious arc.

  Vance reappeared mid-strike, steel meeting steel with a violent shockwave that ripped through the fog.

  CLANG

  The ground cracked beneath their feet.

  Vance jumped backward lightly, boots skidding across the dirt.

  His grin widened.

  “Oh,” he said softly.

  “You’re fast.”

  Ryusei didn’t respond.

  He moved.

  The distance between them vanished.

  His sword cut forward in three rapid arcs—high, mid, low—each strike carrying controlled resonance.

  Vance blurred.

  Every strike missed by a hair.

  Not dodged.

  Avoided before they existed.

  The assassin stepped through the attacks like he already knew where they would land.

  Then he flicked his wrist.

  A dagger of condensed darkness shot forward.

  Ryusei deflected it—

  Too late.

  A second blade materialized behind his ribs.

  He twisted—

  The dagger sliced across his side.

  Blood splashed across the dirt.

  Lumielle gasped.

  Ryusei slid back, sword raised again.

  Vance examined the blood on his blade.

  “…Regeneration.”

  The wound on Ryusei’s side was already closing.

  “Interesting,” Vance murmured.

  Ryusei’s eyes hardened.

  “Who ordered you to kill me?”

  Vance shrugged.

  “Don’t ask me, you fool!” he said in a mocking tone.

  Then he stepped forward again.

  This time the air warped.

  Ryusei felt it immediately.

  a killing intent.

  His heart felt… targeted.

  Like reality itself was lining up a blade.

  “Don’t blink,” Vance advised casually.

  Then he moved.

  The attack came from everywhere.

  Left. Right. Above. Behind.

  “He's so fast,” Ryusei muttered.

  But his body reacted.

  He slammed his sword downward.

  The ground exploded outward in a circular shockwave.

  Vance appeared mid-air, forced back by the blast.

  But he was smiling.

  “You're pretty good too,” he said.

  Then he vanished again.

  The fight accelerated.

  Ryusei slashed.

  Vance slipped through the strike and appeared behind him.

  Ryusei pivoted, blade cutting backward.

  Vance ducked under it and kicked Ryusei across the clearing.

  Ryusei crashed through a boulder, dust erupting into the air.

  He rose immediately.

  The system flashed warnings faster now.

  [Combat Analysis Running]

  ? Opponent Strength: Superior speed

  ? Opponent Weakness: Unknown

  ? Recommended Action: Survive

  Ryusei wiped blood from his lip.

  “…You’re strong.”

  Vance laughed.

  “You're strong too..i guess.”

  Then his voice dropped.

  “But I'm the one who's far superior to you…”

  He lunged again.

  This time his blade reached Ryusei’s chest.

  And stopped.

  The sword in Ryusei’s hand intercepted it at the last possible moment.

  For a brief second—

  The two stood locked together.

  Steel grinding against steel.

  Vance’s eyes narrowed.

  Ryusei stared back.

  Kael’s grin returned slowly.

  “You feel exactly like him.”

  The pressure between their blades intensified.

  Then Vance suddenly disengaged, flipping backward several meters.

  He landed lightly, brushing dust from his coat.

  “That’s enough for today.”

  Lumielle shouted, “You’re running?!”

  Vance chuckled.

  “No.”

  He pointed casually at Ryusei.

  "I just wanted to check how strong you really are. And honestly? I have a feeling you two are just the same.”

  Ryusei was confused, “Same, who?”

  “That Caleum bastard – it feels like I'm still fighting him even now, did you know him? Are you his apprentice?, because you two are so much alike and I know you didn't even use half of your strength” Vance grinned.

  Ryusei got nervous for a second about what Vance said.

  “I must not show any sign that I got nervous – this guy is extremely sharp, and he might even find out that I'm actually Caleum.” he thought.

  "Yeah, I've heard some stuff about that guy – but I don't know him. And don't you dare compare me to him!” Ryusei sounds annoyed.

  “Yo chill out, so you're also one of the people who hate that guy!?” Vance laughed primarily maniacally.

  “I guess this is where the fun stops, cause I gotta go now” His gaze sharpened “but the next time we meet…”

  His smile faded slightly.

  “…I'm gonna kill you for real.”

  He stepped backward.

  His body dissolved into shadow.

  Then he was gone.

  The clearing fell silent again.

  Ryusei lowered his sword slowly.

  His heart was still racing.

  Lumielle ran over. “Ryusei! Are you hurt?”

  “Don't worry I'm okay”

  But his expression remained tense.

  “…That man.”

  He looked toward the fog where Vance vanished.

  “He wasn’t fighting seriously.”

  Lumielle swallowed.

  “Then why attack at all?”

  Ryusei exhaled slowly.

  “…To measure me.”

  Far away, Vance Slade stood on a cliff overlooking the basin.

  “Well,” he muttered.

  “This hunt might actually be fun.”

  And deep beneath the capital, the other six are waiting to hear his report.