Miha hovered above the cave floor, her cruel smile widening.
"I really feel sorry for you all," she said, her voice laced with malice. "Don't worry. I'll devour all your energy and emotions."
Suddenly, a massive aura pulsed through the cavern. Miha's eyes widened, a rare flicker of fear crossing her face.
"This… this presence…" she whispered. "I've never felt anything like it!"
From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. Calm, commanding, and cloaked in mystery.
"Disappear," said a deep voice.
Joe's body shook violently as Miha's control over him shattered. He blinked, free at last.
Miha hissed, her eyes narrowing. "Who… who are you?"
"I am Black ViSage," the figure replied, voice steady and cold. "And if you don't want to hurt yourself, release these people."
"No. Never," Miha spat, her aura flaring dangerously.
Black ViSage's gaze hardened. "I said it once. I'll say it again, and this is the last time. Release them."
"No. Never! Go home, bastard!" she screamed. "Or I'll make you my slave too!"
She stepped closer, her beauty radiant and terrifying, trying to intimidate him.
"Do you… want to be my slave?" Miha taunted.
All the adventurers and Wardens froze, certain he would submit. But Daniel's heart held onto hope.
Black ViSage's voice cut through the tension.
"Huh… do you really think I will become your slave?"
With lightning speed, he struck. Punch after kick, his movements a blur. Miha's eyes widened in shock at the speed and precision.
Black ViSage pressed the attack relentlessly, weaving through her defenses and using his paralyze skill to immobilize her.
"What can you do to me?" Miha spat, struggling against the invisible chains.
He drew his blade. The aura emanating from it was unlike anything she had seen before, pure and overwhelming.
Miha twisted, dodging his strike, breaking free from the paralyze skill.
"You will pay for this," she hissed, fury igniting her eyes.
She summoned a Hellfire Prison, chanting incantations to trap him.
Black ViSage leapt aside with effortless grace.
"You are strong," he said, calmly acknowledging her power.
"You… you are not human," she said, her voice trembling. "Humans are never this powerful. Who… who are you?"
Black ViSage used his paralyze skill again—but Miha anticipated it, dodging with sharp reflexes.
"Huh… you are…" she muttered, realizing something.
"I will leave for now," she declared, stepping back. "But I will return. Next time… my target is you. What is your name, man?"
"Black ViSage," he replied, voice calm.
"I asked your real name," she pressed.
"You do not need to interfere in my personal life. Be quiet," he said, mask hiding all expression.
She chuckled softly, her fascination apparent.
"I like your personality… and your mask. One day, I will open it and learn your name."
"Are you really going to try that?" he said. "I'll be waiting."
Then, with a swirl of dark energy, Miha vanished.
The adventurers and Wardens collapsed to the ground, released from her control.
Daniel rushed forward, tears and relief flooding him. "Thank you… thank you so much!"
Black ViSage's gaze fell on Joe. "I sense that your son is cursed by the Plesar. Do you want me to remove it?"
Daniel nodded immediately.
The other adventurers stared at him, awe and confusion written across their faces.
"Who… who are you? Are you an Official Adventurer? How did you defeat her?" one whispered.
Black ViSage ignored them. In a fluid motion, he paralyzed them, silencing their questions.
He knelt before Joe and struck his stomach lightly. Daniel froze, fear gripping his heart.
"What are you doing?!" he shouted.
Black ViSage remained silent. Then, slowly, a black curse emerged from Joe's body, dissolving into the air. The boy gasped as the dark energy vanished completely.
With a swirl of smoke, Black ViSage disappeared from sight, leaving everyone stunned.
The adventurers reported the incident to their manager immediately. The heads of Zeror Trav and government officials were thrown into a frenzy, tension and fear sweeping through their ranks.
One thing was clear: the mysterious Black ViSage was a force unlike any they had ever faced—or imagined.
Chains of Obedience
Seha stood in the dim chamber, her shadow stretching across the stone floor. A slave knelt before her, trembling, his body marked by exhaustion and fear.
She exhaled softly, her voice calm—almost bored.
"Huh… you're too boring."
She stepped closer, tilting her head slightly.
"Entertain me."
Her tone was gentle, but the weight behind it crushed the air.
"Hey," Seha whispered, "do something. I want to be entertained by you."
Tears streamed down the slave's face.
"Please… release me," he cried.
"I want to go home. Please…"
Seha smiled faintly.
"This is your home," she said coldly.
"And I am the owner."
The belt cracked through the air again and again. The slave screamed, his voice breaking.
"Please! Please don't attack me! I beg you!"
Seha stopped and looked down at him.
"Then entertain me."
The slave raised his head, shaking.
"How… how do I entertain you?"
Seha crouched in front of him, her eyes glimmering.
"Behave like a dog," she said.
"Say bau bau."
The slave hesitated—then fear won.
"Bau… bau…"
"I am your dog."
Seha laughed softly.
"Good. I love it."
She stood and turned away.
"From now on, you will always behave like a dog," she said.
"If you don't want to hurt yourself."
As the slave lowered his head in despair, a single thought echoed in his mind:
One day… someone will come to save me.
Meanwhile — The Masked Strategist
Elsewhere, Black ViSage stood alone, silent.
How can I free the slaves of Dancing Hollows?
A direct attack won't work.
His fingers tightened slightly.
I need a perfect plan.
A New Thread — New York
In a crowded city far from the shadows of adventurers, an eleven-year-old boy stood before his parents.
"Please, Mom… Dad…"
"Please let me become an adventurer."
His father's voice was firm.
"I told you already. You will not become an adventurer."
"But why?" Halex Handersson shouted.
"Why?!"
"Because I said so."
Anger and sadness mixed in Halex's chest. Without another word, he ran to his room and slammed the door shut.
The Next Day
Halex stood nervously inside the Official Adventurers' Office.
"Sir," he said to the manager, "I want to become an adventurer. Please accept my application."
The manager glanced at him.
"You are under eighteen," he said.
"Am I right?"
"Yes," Halex replied quietly.
The manager handed him a form.
"Fill this out and return it tomorrow."
As Halex read the paper, his heart sank.
Applicants under eighteen require parental signatures.
And fingerprint authentication.
His hands trembled.
They'll never sign it…
I can fake a signature—but not a fingerprint.
Hope slowly faded.
I'll never become an adventurer.
The Smile That Lied
Suddenly, a man approached him.
"Do you want to become an adventurer?" the man asked.
Halex's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
"Then come with me."
Halex hesitated, then followed.
"Please, sit in the carriage," the man said.
As soon as Halex entered, the carriage moved at terrifying speed.
"Hey!" Halex shouted.
"Where are we going?!"
The man only smiled.
In the next moment, the scenery changed.
A massive mansion stood before them.
"Where… where am I?" Halex asked, fear rising.
The man turned to him.
"Don't speak to me like I'm your friend," he said coldly.
"You're a slave."
Halex froze.
"S-slave? Who's a slave?"
The man smiled wider.
"You are."
"What?! You said you'd make me an adventurer!"
"I lied," the man replied calmly.
"Didn't you know, foolish slave?"
Halex clenched his fists.
"You're the foolish one! I'm leaving!"
He turned—
And pain exploded through his body.
The man struck him down effortlessly.
"Huh," he said, looking down at Halex.
"Did you really think I captured you for nothing?"