Betrayed

A man stood before him.

His clothes were in tatters, his body smeared with blood.

Wounds covered his face, yet his eyes held an eerie calmness.

A chilling calmness.

Eryon.

Eryon extended his hand, and instantly, a suffocating gravitational force pressed the creature down. Over time and through dozens of battles, his control over gravity had improved. At the very least, he no longer coughed up blood like he did the first time he used it.

The creature thrashed, but the crushing pressure rendered it completely immobile. As Eryon approached, Durandal—his black sword—began absorbing the gravitational energy, further enhancing its destructive power.

Slash!

With a single slash, the creature's head was severed cleanly, rolling onto the ground with a soft thud. Its lifeless body collapsed, no longer moving.

Adam, still sitting on the ground with one hand clutching his broken leg, stared at Eryon with a mixture of awe and frustration. His breaths were ragged, but the anger in his eyes was unmistakable.

"Hey, I appreciate you saving me, but that creature was mine," he said sharply.

Eryon didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the holographic screen that appeared before him.

[You have obtained the skill: Poisonous Bite]

[Description: A potent venom capable of rapidly decaying flesh]

A look of disgust crossed Eryon's face.

"Come on… Do I seriously have this poison in my body now? And the only way to use it is by biting?" He shook his head.

Even though the skill sounded powerful, having to bite his enemies made it an absolute last resort.

"Hey, are you even listening to me?"

The voice snapped Eryon out of his thoughts. He lifted his head, turning with an unreadable expression. Without warning, he stepped forward, raising Durandal, and pointed its tip at Adam's throat.

Adam's eyes widened, his body tensing up.

"You're from Emberwing Academy," Eryon said coldly, his voice carrying an undeniable threat. "I have a few questions for you. Answer them, or your head will part from your body."

Adam swallowed hard, cold sweat trickling down his temple. He had no other choice. With a hoarse voice, he nodded.

"Alright."

Eryon gave a small nod.

"First, are you alone out here?"

"No, I came with four of my friends."

"For what purpose?"

Adam hesitated for a moment, but the cold steel at his throat erased any doubt.

"We were looking for a flower called Saffron Nightfade."

Eryon narrowed his eyes. "And what's so special about this flower?"

"I don't know exactly," Adam admitted, frustration creeping into his tone. "But according to one of my friends, it's used to cure a rare disease."

Eryon studied him for a moment before asking, "What else were you searching for?"

Adam fell silent, his expression shifting as realization dawned upon him. His gaze hardened.

"We were also looking for treasure."

Eryon raised an eyebrow. "Treasure?"

Adam nodded, letting out a tired sigh.

"One of us found a map leading to this forest. We stuck together at first, but..." His fists clenched, his tone filled with anger. "I was left behind to deal with that monster alone."

The disappointment and fury in Adam's voice were evident. He knew it had been intentional. His so-called friends had abandoned him, leaving him in this pathetic state.

Eryon, on the other hand, seemed intrigued.

Treasure, huh? Now that was interesting.

Changing the topic, he asked, "Next, have you ever seen someone from Emberwing Academy wielding a black spear with blood-red patterns?"

Adam thought for a moment before shaking his head.

"I have no idea. Emberwing Academy is huge, you know?"

Eryon gave a small nod, accepting the answer.

Adam stared at him intently before speaking, his tone filled with hope.

"I've told you everything. Now, let me go."

Eryon was silent for a moment. Then, his lips curled into a dangerous smirk.

"I've changed my mind."

A pulsating violet aura began to radiate from him, his killing intent becoming suffocating.

Adam's eyes widened.

"Wait, you—"

Without warning, Durandal plunged straight through his throat.

Adam's mouth opened in shock, blood pouring from the fatal wound, staining the ground beneath him. His trembling hands instinctively tried to cover the gash, but it was useless.

A few seconds later, his body collapsed.

Eryon stared down at Adam's corpse, his expression unreadable. His hands trembled slightly.

This was the first time he had killed a human.

And it felt... different.

Not like killing a monster.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

"I have to get used to this feeling."

He needed to adapt to killing and cruelty. Not because he wanted to become a ruthless murderer, but because in a world where strength was everything, one had to be prepared for the worst.

Eryon crouched down, placing a hand on Adam's lifeless body.

[You have obtained the skill: Minor Energy Explosion]

[Description: Harness mana to accumulate energy and create a small explosion]

A satisfied smile tugged at Eryon's lips.

"Nice. This is much more useful."

He stood up, turning his gaze toward the depths of the forest.

"Looks like I won't be going home tonight."

A faint smirk formed on his face before he disappeared into the darkness.

The hunt continued.