After some time, Sai decided to leave the city. His transformation had altered him completely—not just his aura but even his physical appearance. However, with no mirror in the training room, he had yet to see the full extent of these changes. To avoid unnecessary attention, he retrieved a hooded cloak from his storage ring and pulled it over his head before stepping outside.

  The watchers stationed outside immediately grew alert as they noticed someone emerging. They had been keeping a close eye on the training room for days, yet they couldn't recognize this hooded figure. His features were different, his aura unfamiliar. Still, their instincts told them to remain cautious.

  Deciding to follow him, they discreetly moved to tail the stranger. However, Sai, whose senses had sharpened significantly after the transformation, detected their presence almost instantly. He turned in their direction, his newly crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light.

  For a moment, he considered approaching them calmly, hoping to clear up any misunderstanding. But the moment his gaze met theirs, an inexplicable pressure weighed down on them. Instincts screaming at them to retreat, the watchers quickly backed away and vanished into the crowd, unwilling to risk confrontation.

  Sai watched them leave, his expression unreadable. He had merely intended to talk, yet their fear was apparent. With a sigh, he adjusted his hood and continued walking, blending into the city streets.

  Sai kept his guard up as he moved through the city, quickly purchasing the necessities before his departure. Once he had everything he needed, he wasted no time and left without looking back.

  As soon as he stepped beyond the city gates, he broke into a sprint, heading straight for the forest. Excitement surged through him—his senses were sharper, his strength greater, and his body more refined than ever before. He didn’t know his next destination, nor did he care.

  All that mattered was his goal.

  And if anyone stood in his way he would destroy them.

  Sai had no idea, but deep down, the mysterious power coursing through his body was slowly altering his physique. His transformation was far from over—his cells were shifting, his essence evolving. Yet, he remained entirely unaware of the changes taking place within him.

  With each step, with every breath, he was becoming something else. Something more.

  But whether it was a blessing or a curse… even he did not know.

  Somewhere within the depths of the Blackthrone Abyss, in a land where relentless lightning tore through the skies and thunder never ceased, there lay a forgotten cave. Hidden within its depths stood an ancient throne, shrouded in silence and long abandoned by time itself.

  There stood a throne, veiled in deep mystery, its very presence an enigma lost to time. Surrounding it lay countless skeletons—humans, demons, and devils alike—silent remnants of those who once dared to tread too close.

  For a fleeting moment, the very air seemed to tremble, an unseen force stirring through the abyss. Then, as if bound by an unspoken command, everything fell still once more.

  Sai, who had been running through the forest, decided to slow down and sharpen his senses, trying to detect if someone was following him.

  In the ducal house of Vaelmont, an enraged man seethed, convinced that his plan had been thwarted by a mere peasant. He cursed under his breath, but the moment someone entered his room, his fury vanished. Meekly, he bowed his head in submission.

  He was none other than Duke Reynard Vaelmont, husband of Elira Vaelmont.

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  The unknown man watched as the duke bowed before him and said coldly, "So, the plan has failed, huh?"

  Hearing this, Duke Reynard shivered, his face paling. He fell to his knees, begging for another chance. Despite his noble title, he was nothing more than a shameless schemer. His rise to the dukedom had been paved with deceit, betrayal, and backstabbing. Though he hid his true nature well, a select few knew the kind of man he really was.

  Reynard had married Elira through ruthless scheming, eliminating anyone who stood in his way. His rise was not his own; he owed much of his power to the backing of a mysterious organization. Yet, despite his carefully crafted fa?ade, there was one man who saw through him—Aldric Vaelthorne.

  Aldric knew Reynard’s true nature, yet he still chose to wed his daughter to him. But it wasn’t out of ignorance or goodwill. It was a calculated political move, proving that he, too, was no better than the man he had given his daughter to.

  Reynard's trembling did not go unnoticed. The unknown man raised an eyebrow and spoke in a cold, commanding tone. "I'll give you another chance. I want the artifact—no matter what. And while you're at it, find out everything about the man who saved your wife."

  The mention of that man made Reynard’s anger flare. His fists clenched as he gritted his teeth. "If that bastard hadn’t interfered, the plan would have succeeded!" he seethed.

  Sai sat in the middle of the forest, roasting a bird over a small bonfire, lost in thought. He knew better than to trust any political figure—schemes and lies were their very nature. From the moment he came under the duke’s so-called protection, he had never truly trusted him. Reynard had wanted to pry into his past, but Sai had carefully controlled the flow of information, never revealing more than necessary.

  Now, the real problem lay ahead—he was caught between two unknown organizations. A lone man against forces he knew nothing about. Worse, the so-called "help" he had considered was now looking to use him as a scapegoat for their own gains.

  Just as his thoughts darkened, the nearby bushes trembled for a brief second. Sai's instincts flared. His grip tightened around his sword as he feigned ignorance, keeping his posture relaxed. But his sharpened senses had already picked up several presences lurking in the shadows.

  The bandits lurking in the shadows watched Sai closely. Seeing his seemingly ignorant demeanor, they smirked, believing they had found easy prey—a lone traveler, lost in thought, unaware of his surroundings. Without hesitation, they rushed in for the kill.

  But the moment they got close, their world turned upside down.

  A pair of cold, glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, freezing them in place. Before they could react, their vision blurred, and in an instant, their heads rolled cleanly off their bodies. The only one left standing was the last, trembling bandit, his body betraying him as he fell to his knees.

  Sai, unfazed, turned toward him, his expression eerily calm. Stepping closer, he knelt beside the terrified man and spoke in a quiet, almost gentle tone.

  "Take me to your base."

  The bandit hesitated, but one look into Sai’s emotionless red eyes crushed any thoughts of resistance. He nodded frantically and led Sai deeper into the forest, through winding paths known only to his kind. Eventually, they arrived at a hidden encampment, nestled in the shadows of towering trees.

  Sai observed the scene carefully. The Black Fang wasn’t just a group of petty criminals; they were well-organized, functioning as mercenaries who took on tasks ranging from assassinations to smuggling. Their operations were intertwined with underground factions, corrupt nobles, and even secretive organizations vying for power.

  As the night deepened, Sai laid the groundwork for his next move.

  The bandit led Sai deeper into the forest, guiding him to the hidden encampment of the Black Fang. As Sai observed their operations, a plan began to take shape in his mind.

  He wasn’t a cruel man—at least, not by nature. But survival had forced his hand. Two powerful organizations were after him, and he was just a lone man in the middle of it all. If he wanted to survive, he couldn’t afford to hesitate.

  And so, he made a choice.

  If he couldn’t bring himself to be ruthless, then he would create someone who could.

  A mask, an alter ego—one unbound by hesitation or restraint. A being who would do what needed to be done in his place.

  As he stood before the trembling bandit, Sai's expression shifted, his eyes darkening with an eerie detachment. A chilling smirk curled his lips, and when he spoke, his voice carried a weight it hadn’t before.

  "Tell me, do you want to live?"

  The bandit nodded desperately, clutching onto the sliver of hope Sai dangled before him.

  "Good," Sai continued, his tone devoid of warmth. "Then from now on, you follow my orders. I don’t care how you feel about them. You do as I say, and you live."

  The bandit gulped, nodding even faster.

  Sai exhaled slowly, embracing this new side of himself. This wasn't deception it was necessity. If his enemies wanted a monster, then he would give them one.

  And from the shadows of the Black Fang’s encampment, the legend of a new figure began to take shape.