Han Sen crouched in a secluded ravine, hastily digging a hole. The Golden Double-Bitted Battle-Axe needed to disappear. While his Bloody Butcher fusion transformation had saved him from Divine Scion's pursuit, it had a critical limitation: time.
Fusion Transformation Soul Beasts were among the most potent, granting humans the terrifying physicality of the creatures themselves. But this power came at a cost. The transformation placed immense strain on the human body. Without sufficient genetic strength and physical resilience, the process could be crippling, even fatal.
The rule was simple: stronger transformations demanded stronger genes. For a Primal-tier fusion, one Primal Gene point allowed roughly one minute of safe transformation; ten points granted ten minutes. Mutant Genes were more potent – one point could sustain a Primal fusion for ten minutes. Conversely, possessing ten Primal Gene points might sustain a Mutant-tier fusion for just one minute.
The Bloody Butcher was Sacred Blood. Han Sen's eight Sacred Genes bought him a mere eight minutes of safe transformation. Even adding all his Common, Primal, and Mutant genes wouldn't push it past ten. Enough for a desperate escape, but not for fighting Divine Scion's entire elite guard. He'd be lucky to take down one or two before being overwhelmed.
The Soul Beast itself was invisible, safely stored in the ether. The Axe, however, was a tangible, gleaming liability. While Divine Scion was his primary enemy, the Axe represented loot from a joint operation involving Fist Brother and Qin Xuan. Han Sen had effectively stolen from all three Steelhold powers. Bringing the Axe back openly was suicide. Burial was the only option.
If I could sell this Axe... the two million credits would be solved overnight, Han Sen thought, tamping down the last clods of earth over his hidden treasure, a thrill still buzzing in his veins. A Sacred Blood Relic, while not as uniquely versatile as a Soul Beast, was still worth a planetary fortune. Two million credits would be pocket change.
The Bloody Butcher Soul Beast? Selling it never crossed his mind. It was his foundation, his key to survival in the Sanctuary. Selling it would be the ultimate self-sabotage.
Approaching Steelhold, he saw Skyfist and his enforcers manning the gates, scrutinizing everyone entering or leaving. A tense atmosphere crackled in the air.
They can't see Soul Beasts. And the Axe is buried. Han Sen walked straight towards the checkpoint, projecting weary indifference.
A young enforcer stepped forward, ready to search him. Skyfist, leaning against the gate frame, snorted dismissively. "Don't waste time on that trash. You think that waste of space is Gold Coin?"
"Move it, scum! You're blocking the line!" The enforcer shoved Han Sen roughly aside, turning his attention to the next person in line.
Han Sen met Skyfist's contemptuous gaze for a split second, a cold smirk touching his lips beneath the hood he'd pulled low. He walked into the sanctuary, the insults washing over him like dirty water.
Inside, the buzz was deafening. Every corner echoed with the name "Butcher's Bane" or the more colloquial "B Bro." Hearing his accidental alias repeated with awe and amusement was jarring. Damn you, Su Xiaoqiao. 'Coin Bro'? Really? Now I'm 'B Bro'? So classy... Yet, the gossip held a sweet kernel: Divine Scion had reportedly flown into a volcanic rage upon returning, trashing his quarters in fury. The image brought a surge of grim satisfaction. Han Sen walked a little taller towards his room.
In a well-appointed room within Steelhold, Su Xiaoqiao stood before Qin Xuan, looking like a man facing the gallows. "Boss, I swear! I told you everything I know! I met him once! Bought some Windblades! Gave the meat to the crew! Ask Liu! He helped me carry it! That's it!"
Qin Xuan regarded him coolly. "I'm not accusing you. I'm tasking you. Find Gold Coin. Tell him I want to buy his Sacred Blood Soul Beast and the Relic. Name his price. Any price."
"But I don't know where he is!" Su Xiaoqiao wailed.
"Then find him," Qin Xuan stated flatly, her tone brooking no argument. "Discreetly. No leaks. Succeed, and you'll be rewarded handsomely." She dismissed him with a wave before he could protest further.
Alone, Qin Xuan tapped a finger on her desk, brow furrowed. Who is Gold Coin? Fist Brother's hidden ace? Or is this Divine Scion's elaborate ploy – sacrificing a mount and arrow for some deeper scheme? The possibilities swirled. If he's truly independent... could he be recruited? If not... securing that Soul Beast and Relic would be worth any fortune.
Almost simultaneously, in a different part of the sanctuary, Fist Brother gave similar, hushed orders to his own trusted lieutenants. Find Gold Coin. Buy the prizes. While the hunt was technically a joint effort, only Divine Scion had paid the catastrophic price. Without his Venomblast Hornet arrow, the Sacred Blood creature would have escaped, leaving Qin Xuan and Fist Brother with nothing. Getting a share of the Butcher's flesh was already a windfall. Divine Scion, however, had lost a priceless Mutant-tier mount, expended a one-shot Sacred Blood Soul Beast, and watched his rightful prizes – the Fusion Beast Soul and the Axe Relic – vanish into the hands of a phantom. It was a loss staggering enough to make anyone hemorrhage internally.
The entire sanctuary hunted "Gold Coin," a frantic, whispered search echoing through its corridors. Yet, the idea that "Gold Coin" and the ridiculed "Butt King" could be the same person was utterly inconceivable. The chasm between the legendary thief and the pathetic outcast was too vast to bridge.
Divine Scion even offered a staggering bounty – information leading to Gold Coin's capture, or even just verified sightings, commanded sums that made Han Sen's head spin. He briefly, darkly fantasized about turning himself in for the reward.
*<< Consumed: Primal-Tier Scaled Lizard Jerky. Primal Gene +1 >>*
Crouched in dense undergrowth near the edge of a deep, murky pool, Han Sen chewed methodically on the tough jerky. His stats were slowly climbing: 91 Common Genes, 26 Primal Genes, zero Mutant Genes, and still 8 Sacred Genes. The Bronze Tusk was still slowly evolving back in its cage. Hunting Primals in the wild was his only current path to boosting his Primal count.
He couldn't risk using the conspicuous Golden Carapace armor near populated areas. Divine Scion's bounty hunters were everywhere. So he ventured deep into the uncharted mountains and valleys – vast, trackless wilderness where humanity felt insignificant, a mere speck in the immense, unexplored tapestry of the Sanctuary. Getting lost here was easy. Getting found was nearly impossible.
He focused on the still water of the pool, watching for signs of Primal-tier aquatic life. Suddenly, his senses snapped to attention. Distant voices. Human voices. Cutting through the primal silence of the deep woods.
Han Sen's blood ran cold. He instantly flattened himself deeper into the ferns, every muscle tense, his hand instinctively closing around the hilt of his worn dagger. Who found me here?