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Chapter 7 - Chapter 7 – The Name Carved in Blood

For twenty years, silence had been his companion.

The forest had grown used to his presence, its monsters vanishing or fleeing whenever the faint pressure of his aura spilled into the air. Yet, the System within his soul never allowed true stillness.

That night, as he sat cross-legged atop a boulder streaked with dried blood, the cold mechanical voice whispered once again.

[Sign-In Location generated.]

[Current Location: Twilight Abyss Forest.]

[New Sign-In Target: The Forgotten Altar of Blood, buried deep within the Twilight Abyss.]

[Reward upon completion: ??? (Hidden Grade).]

His violet-crimson eyes slowly opened, glinting with predatory light.

"...The Forgotten Altar of Blood," he muttered, his voice low and calm, carrying both youth and ancient weariness. "So this forest still hides treasures worthy of me."

He rose, scythe in hand, its edge gleaming with faint, hungry ripples.

But fate never allowed him to move quietly.

As he approached the altar's rumored location, his sharpened senses caught something unusual—voices.

Human voices.

He paused atop a cliff, gazing downward. Below, a group of cultivators moved cautiously through the undergrowth, torches in hand, spirit weapons glinting under moonlight. Their robes bore the insignia of a minor branch of the Azure Sky Sect.

His eyes narrowed. He remembered them.

The Azure Sky Sect had once ventured into his domain with arrogance, believing themselves untouchable. Their patrols had tried to claim the Twilight Abyss as their hunting grounds. He had answered with blood, tearing through their elites and leaving only a handful alive.

The survivors had fled, carrying rumors of a "Shadow in the Forest." Ever since, disciples of the sect had come in small groups, seeking vengeance, proof, or glory. None had succeeded.

"Keep moving," one of them hissed. "The divination was clear. A great treasure lies here. If we can seize it, the Sect Master will finally acknowledge us."

Another, younger one, laughed nervously. "But… senior, what about the rumors? The Shadow of the Forest—"

"Fools' tales," the leader spat. "Our sect's honor was once sullied here. Tonight, we restore it. And even if that creature does exist, we will be the ones to slay it."

Above them, the young man's expression did not change. His hand caressed the shaft of his scythe, eyes glimmering faintly in the moonlight.

So. The Azure Sky Sect still dared to crawl into his domain.

The scythe pulsed with hunger.

For the first time in decades, he descended.

The cultivators heard nothing at first. Only when a cold wind swept through did the youngest look up and freeze.

A figure stood at the edge of the cliff, shrouded in shadows, violet-crimson eyes gleaming like two abyssal flames.

"Wh—who goes there?!" the leader demanded, drawing his blade. His qi flared, but his voice shook.

The figure stepped forward, his voice calm, yet cutting deeper than any blade.

"My name…"

The scythe glimmered, and the air thickened with death.

"...is Aezrael."

The moment the name was spoken, the forest trembled. It was not merely sound—it was declaration, a carving of existence into the world itself.

The cultivators faltered, instincts screaming. The Shadow had a name.

And then, silence.

One step. A flash of violet. The scythe fell.

By the time the moon broke free of the clouds, the clearing was painted red. Not a single cultivator drew another breath.

Only Aezrael remained, standing amidst the corpses, his blade dripping. His expression was calm, detached—yet somewhere, deep within, a strange satisfaction stirred.

The System chimed softly in his mind.

[System Notification: First human massacre completed.]

[Reputation Unlocked: Calamity of Twilight Abyss.]

[Reputation Effect: The name 'Aezrael' will now spread across the Southern Lands.]

He looked down at the corpses and whispered, almost tenderly:

"Now the world will remember me."

The scythe pulsed, drinking deeply. Somewhere in the distance, the hidden altar called.

And Aezrael walked on, leaving only silence and bones in his wake.

The era of shadows had ended.

The era of Aezrael had begun.

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