Chapter 18: The Last Breath of Fevay
Kai stepped forward and spoke calmly."Alright old man, let's begin. There is something I want to show you."
The old man narrowed his eyes with curiosity."And what would that be, Kai?"
"You'll see. Just watch." Kai replied with a confident smirk.
The two walked together to the place where the massive boulder stood. Kai turned to his master."I'm starting now, Master."
"Go ahead, Kai. I'm curious to see what you've learned," the old man replied.
Kai closed his eyes and whispered, "Come… power within me… share your strength with me. You must obey…"
His eyes snapped open.
With a mighty roar, he shouted:
"SOUL SHOCK!"
A blinding white aura burst from Kai's hand—pure spiritual energy. He slammed his palm against the enormous boulder. In an instant, the rock—three times larger than the previous one he destroyed—shattered into dust, scattering into the wind.
The old man froze, stunned by what he had just witnessed.
"What… what in the world was that?" he muttered, unable to believe his eyes.
Kai turned and grinned."So? How was that, Master?"
The old man coughed to regain his composure."Ahem… Ahem… Well done, Kai. That was truly impressive. I honestly did not expect such power from you."But deep inside, he was still asking himself—How did he achieve that so quickly…?
He finally spoke again."Congratulations, Kai. You've completed your fourth stage of training."
Kai tilted his head, surprised."What? How is the fourth stage already complete?"
The old man explained:"You already finished the first two stages. The third stage was to awaken a new ability—which you just did. Therefore, the first three stages are complete, meaning the fourth stage—mastery of your awakened power—is also done. Now it's time for the fifth stage."
"And what is that?" Kai asked.
"Opening a domain is still too early for you, and your current power isn't enough for it. Instead, you must now create your Ultimate Technique—your strongest attack."
Kai asked, "And how do I do that?"
The old man smirked."Simple. The best way… is to fight someone far stronger than you."
Kai clenched his fists. "You mean… you?"
"Correct," the old man replied. "From now on, we are enemies. Prepare yourself. I will show you no mercy—only through pain will you grow."
Kai took a deep breath and stepped forward, taking a combat stance."Fine then—come at me."
Meanwhile, Morde stood in the ruins of Fevay Kingdom, rising to his feet to finish his mission. He saw three injured soldiers struggling to breathe on the ground.
"So you're still alive," he muttered coldly.
A dark blade formed in his hand—Black Sword—and in one swift motion he cut down all three soldiers without hesitation. Then, step by step, he began destroying the entire kingdom with that same blade.
Half of the kingdom's population had already been evacuated. Of the remaining half, 20% were now dead because of Morde. The final 30% desperately tried to escape to the castle, but the feudal lord refused to let them in, abandoning his own people.
The last three scouts of Fevay fled at full speed, choosing escape over death.
Elsewhere, a fierce battle had erupted. Neros and Diana faced each other.
Neros made the first move."Ash Chains!"
Three chains made of burning ash shot toward Diana. She quickly realized she could not block them physically. She reacted instantly.
"Hunter's Claw!"
A golden light shaped like a massive bear's claw tore through the air, crushing Neros's ash chains to pieces.
Neros grinned."Good. This won't be boring after all."
"Ash Step."
He vanished in a blur, teleporting short distances in rapid succession. Then he activated another ability.
"Ash Body."
His body turned into smoke-like ash, immune to all physical attacks.
Diana panicked. Her next move was a mistake.
"Triple Life Arrows!"
Three golden arrows shot toward Neros—but they passed straight through his ash body.
Neros appeared beside her in an instant.
"Ash Explosion!"
Ash-infused power ignited around his fist as he struck Diana in the stomach, sending her crashing five meters away. She fell, coughing, but stood again—barely.
"This… isn't… over!" she growled.
"Hunter's Traps!"
Dozens of massive bear traps materialized across the battlefield. Neros' ash body began to fade, returning to normal.
Diana smirked."So you can't use that ash form forever."
Neros tried to move—but his legs were caught."Hmph."
"Hunter's Control."
Three massive spectral bears appeared and rushed at Neros with tremendous force.
"What the hell is this?" Neros growled.
Diana smirked."These are the souls of the people I've hunted. You will be the fourth!"
But Neros only smiled."Looks like I'll have to use that."
"Ultimate Technique—Funeral of Ashes!"
A deadly ash storm descended from the sky—each falling ash particle burned everything it touched. The three spectral bears were instantly erased.
Diana's eyes widened."It's… it's really raining ash… everything it touches… burns…"
But she noticed something—Neros had transformed into ash body again.
She shouted,"So you have to use Ash Body to survive your own attack! And with this technique—you can't move, can you?"
Neros only grinned."Doesn't matter anymore."
The ash rain intensified. Diana used her last defense.
"Hunt Shield!"
A temporary barrier formed—but began dissolving under the ash. She screamed in pain as her protection evaporated.
"This is the end!" Neros roared.
"Ash Step!"
He teleported behind Diana, leaving his ash form for one risky moment—just long enough to attack.
"Ash Explosion!"
His punch landed on her spine. She flew forward—but a single ash drop fell on Neros' arm, burning him.
He didn't care.
Because Diana was already dead, her body burned alive by the Funeral of Ashes.
Neros ended the technique and sighed.
"Damn woman… what a nuisance. I need to get to Fevay—now."
Just then—a distant sound reached him.
BOOOOM!
The castle of Fevay had fallen.
At that same time in Fevay, Morde stood among the ruins. Every soldier was dead. He glared at the panicking civilians.
"You are all guilty. You oppressed anyone weaker than you. Now—you feel what you made others feel."
""Dark Sword - Black Slash."."
Fifteen percent of the remaining survivors died instantly. The rest screamed and tried to flee—but Morde allowed no one to escape.
Finally, only the feudal lord and two soldiers remained.
The lord trembled."W-What are you…? You're a monster!"
Morde laughed."I am Morde. Remember that name. And you... you abandoned your people. You deserve death."
He impaled the lord with Black Blade—killing him instantly.
He turned to the remaining soldiers."Now tell me—who is the King of Nexan Region?"
The two soldiers answered in terror."King Reacherd!"
"Good. Go tell him what happened here. Tell him… he is next."
The soldiers fled in fear.
Moments later—Neros arrived at the ruined kingdom. Corpses and smoke filled the shattered land.
At the center of the destruction stood one lone figure.
The Lord of Darkness—Morde.