Blood was everywhere. A creature was emerging from a tub, and human bodies were scattered all around. I moved forward.
Seeing me, the king panicked and started shouting, "How dare you come here!"
I instantly took out my daggers. Seeing this, he panicked even more, fell to the ground, and started crawling backward.
The creature was now standing. It was small in size but looked exactly like Baal, although much weaker.
I moved forward with daggers in my hand. It tried to attack me, but it was useless. I slit its throat.
The king shouted, and guards rushed into the basement. Xeyo was standing behind me.
The king ordered them to kill both of us, but no soldier moved. They knew my power and respected Xeyo.
I pointed toward the human bodies and asked, "What is this?"
He remained silent.
I released my aura and raised my daggers.
"Answer me, or I will kill you."
He looked toward Xeyo and the soldiers, but no one spoke.
I started moving toward him. He panicked and began explaining.
"I sacrificed them for Baal."
"Why?" Xeyo shouted.
"For power," the king replied. "He made me king because I offered him sacrifices."
"Then why were we fighting demons?" Xeyo asked.
"It was his tactic. When the army left the city, his demons entered and kidnapped children for sacrifice."
Xeyo was shocked. His eyes widened in disbelief.
I moved forward. The king started shouting, "Save me, Xeyo! Save me!" He begged the soldiers, but no one moved.
I stepped forward and killed him.
After this, everything was announced in the city, and the entire city agreed to make Xeyo the new king.
I met him and told him I was leaving.
He insisted that I stay, but we both knew I had to go. I warned him that although many demon generals were killed, he must remain careful from now on.
I started moving toward the battlefield. A gate appeared, and I quickly cleared the remaining tower floors.
Soon, I cleared Floor 30.
My level was now 57, and my bloodline awakening had reached 43%.
A system option appeared:
You can leave the tower now and return when the time arrives.
I teleported back to the place where I had entered the tower.
I started moving toward the guild because I had received a message from the Hunters Association to report there.
After some time, I reached the guild and saw a young man shouting.
"You are too old to be our leader! The leader should be changed now!" he shouted at a middle-aged man.
The man released his aura, and everyone felt intense pressure.
Harry moved slowly, and in the next second, Saye was thrown into the wall. He was the recently awakened S-rank hunter. Harry's single punch injured him badly.
"You are just a boy who thinks he can rule the world alone. You don't know the monsters hiding in this world. This is a lesson for you," Harry said.
Then he noticed me and waved.
"Hello, Austin. How are you?"
He walked toward me.
Suddenly, Saye took out a knife coated with venom and rushed forward. I sensed Harry's aura change, as if he would kill him with one punch.
I used Shadow Teleport and appeared in front of Saye, blocking his attack with my blade. I was pushed back, but I blocked it successfully.
Everyone in the room was shocked.
How could a boy younger than Saye block his strike without injury?
Harry released his aura, and Saye fell to his knees.
"You are an S-rank, so I am letting you go. You are an asset to our country. Don't do something you will regret later," Harry said.
"I know you want to become a leader, but this is not the right way. Work on your skills."
Saye felt ashamed and left the guild, but before leaving, he stared at me and Harry.
Harry took me to his office.
"Can I ask where you were for the last week?" he asked.
"I was training. I was too busy to inform anyone."
"I know you have secrets, and your powers are not ordinary. I will not ask about your training, but we have found another person like you—your companion. We contacted him last week. He was coming here, but due to dungeon events, he couldn't arrive. He will be here in two days, so please be present."
"Okay, sir. May I leave now?" I asked.
"No," he said with a smile. "You told me about your training, so I will test you. Your growth is important for humanity."
We moved toward the Hunters Arena.
Harry removed his coat and prepared his fists.
"Attack with all your strength. I will not go easy on you."
A crowd gathered around.
"What is happening? Mr. President is fighting someone!"
Everyone became excited.
"This is the kid who challenged Harry by clearing dungeons."
Some called me arrogant, while others were excited.
I used Shadow Shift and appeared on Harry's left side, punching him. Dust spread, but when it cleared, he was completely unharmed.
He punched me. I tried to block with my daggers.
Crack.
I was thrown back, and my daggers were damaged.
I stepped back and used Shadow Grabbing. Shadows emerged from his shadow and held him. I jumped into the air and used Shadow Slash.
A dark energy slash moved toward Harry, creating pressure across the arena.
Harry casually made a slash with his hand. His attack destroyed mine and moved toward me.
I barely dodged using Shadow Dash.
"Use all your skills, kid. Otherwise, you are no match for me," Harry said.
He was right.
I used Curse Shadow Hand and Shadow Control together and opened my domain.
"What is happening? We can't see them!" the hunters shouted.
Inside the domain, shadows grabbed Harry. Mana bullets rained down. Curse Shadow Hand descended from the sky, and Shadow Lightning struck toward him.
Still, I knew it was not enough.
I combined Curse Shadow Hand with Shadow Lightning again. A massive finger of absolute darkness, surrounded by three-colored thunder, descended toward Harry. Spikes moved toward him as well.
I took out my daggers and used Shadow Slash with full power.
A loud explosion echoed.
The domain disappeared.
Everyone stared at the arena.
As the mist cleared, I was standing in front of Harry.
Harry was on one knee.
Suddenly, I fell to the ground, panting. Harry stood up with a small cut on his chest.
The hunters were shocked.
I had managed to injure Harry.
We both walked back toward his office.
"You didn't use your full power or your weapon," I said. "I felt like an ant."
"Austin, remember when you first awakened? You were a C-rank. A C-rank couldn't even touch my shadow. You have improved a lot in just a few months. At this rate, you will surpass me," Harry said calmly.
He was right.
As I walked out of the association, I asked, "You are not an S-rank. There are ranks beyond S, and you are beyond them, right?"
He smiled.
I left.
I already knew the answer.
— End of Chapter 13 —
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