"We already knew enemies had infiltrated thanks to the alarm, yet they still used a secret passage…"
Shakyulont chuckled dryly. "Looks like we should build another one."
Despite the surprise in his eyes when he saw Lock and the maid beside him, Shakyulont still had the composure to joke. Standing next to him, however, Aenpe Itivea was far less calm.
"What's the point of saying that now!? Kill them quickly!" Aenpe shrieked, his voice sharp with panic.
"Alright, alright."
Shakyulont stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Lock and Vier. "I don't know which noble house you crawled out of, but you must be with the troublemakers upstairs, right?"
He smiled cruelly.
"What a shame. A noble lord and a beautiful maid… looks like you'll be leaving your lives here."
Lock looked at them calmly.
"You are Shakyulont, the Phantom Demon of Six Arms. And he's the owner of this underground brothel. Correct?"
Shakyulont's eyebrows rose slightly. "That's right. I'm Shakyulont, whose strength rivals an Adamantite-ranked adventurer. If you're trying to beg—"
"That's enough."
Lock cut him off mid-sentence and casually took out a beginner's short sword from his storage space.
The reason he didn't use Dragon Spring was simple:
He refused to stain a sword of personal significance with the blood of trash.
"Although I know you're weak," Lock said with mild irritation, "could you stop mentioning Adamantite-ranked adventurers? My ears are getting tired."
"Hah! Ignorant brat!"
Shakyulont's eyes flashed with killing intent. To him, Lock looked like nothing more than a reckless noble with a big mouth.
"Regret it in hell!"
Without even activating his signature techniques, Shakyulont charged forward, confident his swordsmanship alone would suffice.
Lock didn't move.
Sword Domain
An invisible domain unfolded instantly.
The underground chamber fell silent.
White sword qi condensed in midair, taking shape as a blade of pure intent. Under Lock's will, it shot downward like divine punishment.
Shakyulont's instincts screamed.
He forcibly halted his charge and swung his mithril longsword to block—
Clang!
The sword qi was deflected, but the impact slammed Shakyulont violently into the wooden crates behind him, splintering them apart.
What… is this!?
Shakyulont staggered upright, his expression finally serious.
"That attack just now—was it magic? A martial art? No… it was neither."
"Use your full strength," Lock replied coldly.
"Prove you're worth keeping."
"Arrogant bastard!"
Multiple Afterimages!
Shakyulont roared, unleashing his illusion technique. Three figures rushed forward simultaneously, blades flashing.
To an ordinary opponent, this was a killing move.
To Lock—
"Pointless."
Lock slowly closed his eyes.
"Your combat ability is mediocre. Your illusions are sloppy. There's no reason to keep you alive."
Sword qi crisscrossed the domain.
A split second later—
Blood erupted.
The real body was exposed as sword qi tore through arms, shoulders, thighs, and ankles. Orichalcum chainmail was shredded as if it didn't exist.
Shakyulont screamed.
An arm flew off.
His Achilles tendon was severed.
He collapsed to the ground, writhing like a broken animal.
"Eek—!"
Aenpe Itivea shrieked, stumbling backward in terror.
Lock flicked his wrist.
The beginner's short sword flashed—
Thunk!
It pierced straight through Aenpe's clavicle, pinning him to the wall.
"Aaahhh!!!"
Aenpe screamed like a slaughtered pig, every movement tearing agony through his body.
Lock ignored him.
He stepped on Shakyulont's head, pressing it firmly into the floor.
"I don't enjoy wasting magic on trash," Lock said calmly.
"But I need someone to guide me."
A crimson magic circle bloomed.
Shakyulont screamed again as the Soul-Consuming Curse Mark carved itself into his being.
"Still as cruel as ever."
Clementine had appeared at the passage entrance, leaning casually against the wall, watching with delight.
"I can't compete with a former sadist," Lock replied dryly.
"That armor of yours—covered in adventurer plaques—still gives me chills."
Clementine smirked, pride and nostalgia flickering across her face.
"That thing just now," she said eagerly, "was that a martial art? It felt like Brain's domain—but you didn't swing your sword! Attacks from all directions… that's beautiful!"
Lock allowed himself a small smile.
"I combined Brain's sword qi and domain with some Qi-control techniques. I call it Sword Domain."
"Inside it, I can freely condense sword qi attacks. It looks impressive, but the energy cost is still high. I'll refine it later."
"Can I learn it?" Clementine asked eagerly.
"No," Lock replied immediately.
"You lack the mental control. You'd burn out instantly—best case, unconscious. Worst case, permanent brain damage."
"What a shame!" Clementine sighed theatrically.
"Slicing people into skeletons with flying sword qi would've been gorgeous!"
"…You're hopeless."
Submission
The curse is completed.
Shakyulont lay trembling, barely conscious.
"Vier," Lock said. "Heal him."
"Yes."
Holy light washed over Shakyulont, restoring his body—while Lock's foot remained firmly on his head.
"Your life is mine now," Lock said quietly.
"Obey, and you live."
Pain surged through Shakyulont's soul.
"Yes! Master! I will serve you until death!" he screamed.
Lock stepped back.
"Take the corpse. We're leaving."
"Yes, Master!"
A portal opened.
They vanished.
Aftermath
Minutes later, Sebas arrived.
Seeing the open passage and the sword marks carved into the walls, the old butler frowned deeply.
Royal Palace
Lakyus stared at Gaguran's battered armor, her expression stiff.
"…You fought him?"
Gaguran scratched her head awkwardly.
"Yeah. Ran into Lock and got my ass handed to me."
After hearing the full report, Lakyus's expression darkened.
"Everyone," she said coldly, "we're paying Baron Lock a visit."
"Whoa, leader," Gaguran blinked. "You sure you're the real Lakyus?"
"Am I the kind of leader who lets her teammates get humiliated and does nothing?"
She paused, eyes sharp.
And more importantly…
I need to know just how dangerous our opponent truly is.
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