Monster

That night, after Silvia had retired to rest, Strider's expression turned serious.

He sat in the dimly lit room, his fingers lightly tapping against the wooden table.

Edward Maxwell.

The youngest son of Duke Maxwell and one of the strongest competitors for the heir selection ceremony.

His words and demeanor had already exposed his ill intentions toward Silvia, but what concerned Strider the most was the deeper danger.

With his soul at the 7th layer of the Core Building Realm, Strider's senses were far beyond what any ordinary cultivator could comprehend.

He could perceive malice, read emotions, and predict intentions to a certain degree.

Edward didn't just see Silvia as a low-ranking noble girl.

He saw her as prey.

And that was something Strider could not allow.

Maxwell Duchy was one of the most powerful territories in the Stoneheart Empire, but it wasn't untouchable.

The strongest known expert supporting the Maxwell Family was a cultivator at the 4th layer of Core Building Realm—their old ancestor.

As for the Stoneheart Royal Family, rumors spoke of a legendary cultivator residing in the Spiritual Condensation Realm, the 4th Stage of Cultivation.

That was the true powerhouse of the empire.

But here, in Maxwell Duchy, there was no one who could stand against him.

Strider could act without fear.

Without hesitation, Strider closed his eyes and activated his specter abilities.

His body turned into mist, and the next moment, he transformed into a devilishly handsome young man—his true specter form.

A pair of crimson eyes, pale white skin, and flowing dark hair.

With a flicker, he disappeared from the room.

The streets of Maxwell Duchy were still lively at night, but no one noticed the shadowy figure moving through the air.

Within seconds, Strider arrived at Edward Maxwell's mansion.

The guards outside were alert, standing at attention with their weapons in hand.

Unfortunately for them—

They weren't strong enough to even sense his presence.

With a mere thought, dark mist spread across the mansion.

The guards' eyes widened in terror as shadows engulfed them, pulling them into eternal silence.

Under the veil of night, Strider moved like a shadow, his specter form blending seamlessly into the darkness.

The moon above cast a pale silver glow, but none of Edward's men would live to see another sunrise.

Two guards patrolled the outer walls of Edward's mansion, their hands resting lazily on their weapons.

They were relaxed, thinking no one would dare make a move against their young master.

Unfortunately for them—

They were the first to die.

Strider's spectral mist crept along the ground, coiling around the guards like a serpent.

Before they could react, shadowy hands shot up, covering their mouths and dragging them into the darkness.

Their bodies convulsed briefly before falling limp, their lifeforce drained entirely.

No screams. No alarms. No evidence.

Two more guards stood near the mansion entrance, speaking in hushed tones.

"Did you see Edward today? He was furious after what happened with that girl."

"Yeah, he was talking about making her suffer after the ceremony. He even—"

Before the man could finish his sentence, his companion's head twisted violently, snapping at an unnatural angle.

His lifeless body slumped to the ground, and his partner barely had time to widen his eyes before a ghostly claw pierced his chest.

The man choked, his face filled with disbelief, before his soul was ripped from his body.

Strider let his corpse drop beside the first.

"Talking about harming Silvia in front of me? A foolish mistake."

Inside the mansion, three of Edward's most trusted guards sat in a lavish lounge, drinking wine and boasting about their young master's power.

One of them, a bald man with a scar across his cheek, chuckled.

"Tomorrow, Edward will be closer to becoming Duke. And when that happens, we'll have everything we ever wanted."

Another laughed. "I heard he's interested in a girl from the Cromwell Barony. He always gets what he wants."

Strider appeared behind them like a nightmare made real.

"Is that so?" he whispered.

The guards froze, their wine cups slipping from their fingers.

The bald man whirled around, reaching for his weapon—

But dark claws tore through his throat, cutting off his scream.

The second guard managed to unsheathe his sword, but his blade only met empty air as Strider reappeared behind him, whispering:

"Too slow."

A cold hand clamped onto the guard's skull, and a wave of spectral energy drained the life from his body within seconds.

The last guard, now the only one left, staggered back in horror, his face pale as he watched his comrades collapse.

"M-Monster!" he stammered, reaching for the door.

Strider let him run.

For a few seconds, the man sprinted through the hallways, his heart hammering in his chest. He needed to reach Edward. He needed to warn—

His thoughts were cut short as an invisible force seized his throat, lifting him off the ground.

His body hovered in midair, his legs kicking frantically.

Strider's crimson eyes glowed as he watched the man struggle.

"You were right," he said, his voice eerily calm.

"I am a monster."

With a flick of his wrist, the man's neck snapped like a twig, and his body crashed lifelessly to the floor.

With every guard, goon, and minion dead, the mansion was silent.

No one remained between Strider and Edward Maxwell.

It was time for the main event.

One by one, every single goon that followed Edward Maxwell that day was erased.

By the time Strider entered Edward's personal chamber, the entire mansion was eerily silent.

The Death of Edward Maxwell

Edward was inside his lavish room, drinking wine while reclining on a luxurious silk couch.

He was completely unaware of the nightmare descending upon him.

Strider stood behind him, his cold crimson eyes locked onto his target.

At that moment—

Edward suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He turned around instinctively, but before he could react—

A spectral hand pierced through his chest.

His eyes widened in shock, his mouth opening as if to scream—

But no sound came out.

His life force drained rapidly, his body withering within seconds.

And then—

He was gone.

The once arrogant young noble had turned into nothing more than a lifeless husk.

Strider retracted his hand, watching the body crumble to the ground.

"This world doesn't need people like you."

Without wasting another moment, Strider turned back into mist and disappeared into the night.

By the time he returned to the residence provided for him, he had already transformed back into his original appearance.

He calmly lay down on his bed, closed his eyes, and prepared for the chaos that would unfold tomorrow.

Edward Maxwell was one of the most significant participants in the heir selection ceremony.

With his death, the entire power structure within the Maxwell Family would be thrown into disarray.

And the most obvious suspects?

The other heirs.

With the power struggle between them already tense, Edward's assassination would only serve to intensify their conflicts.

Moreover, Edward's maternal background was massive.

His mother came from a powerful noble family, and his death would not be taken lightly.

By the time morning arrived, the entire duchy would be in turmoil.

And Strider?

He would simply sit back and watch it all unfold.