The silence that followed the explosion was louder than the blast itself. Dust particles danced in the moonlight that poured through the shattered roof of the mansion. Arlan stood amidst the debris, his breathing heavy but controlled. His red eyes slowly faded back to their original gold, but the coldness within them remained. At his feet lay the hollow shell of a man who was once the most feared person in Oakhaven—Elder Thorne.
[Level 8 Reached!]
[Strength: 25 | Agility: 22 | Intelligence: 30 | Stamina: 18]
[Exp: 1500/5000]
Arlan looked at his hands. They were trembling slightly, not from fear, but from the raw power still coursing through his veins. The Shadow Dagger hummed in its sheath, seemingly satisfied after tasting the corrupted mana of a High Mage.
"He... he killed the Elder," a voice whispered from the darkness. It was one of the noble guests who hadn't managed to flee. Soon, others joined in. The fear in their voices was delicious. For years, they had looked at Arlan as 'trash', a prince with no crown and no future. Now, they looked at him as a god.
Arlan ignored them. His focus was on the floating semi-transparent screen in front of him.
[System Notification: System Shop (Gold Grade) is now OPEN.]
[Available Currency: 1,500 System Points (Soul Fragments)]
"Open Shop," Arlan commanded internally.
Suddenly, a kaleidoscope of items appeared before his eyes. Weapons made of dragon bone, scrolls containing forbidden spells, and potions that could bring a man back from the brink of death. Everything he needed to take his revenge on the Imperial Family was right here—if he had the points.
Arlan scanned the list. He needed something to hide his presence. If he was to travel to the Imperial City of Valoria, he couldn't have every bounty hunter in the kingdom sensing his dark mana.
[Item: Cloak of the Void (Rank C) - 800 Points]
[Description: Completely masks the user's mana signature and provides a 20% boost to stealth.]
[Item: Elixir of Core Refinement (Rank B) - 1,200 Points]
[Description: Permanently increases mana capacity by 500 units.]
[Skill Book: Phantom Blade Mastery (Passive) - 1,500 Points]
[Description: Allows the user to create illusory copies of their weapon during combat.]
Arlan hesitated. The Phantom Blade Mastery was tempting, but his core was still weak from the ritual that had almost killed him. He chose the Cloak of the Void. As soon as he confirmed the purchase, a dark, silken fabric materialized in his hands. It felt like holding a piece of the night sky.
As he draped the cloak over his shoulders, Arlan felt his presence vanish. To anyone else, he was now just a shadow in the ruins.
"Arlan..."
He turned around. Elena was standing a few feet away, her face pale and tear-stained. She looked at the new cloak, then at his eyes. "What have you become?"
Arlan walked toward her. Each step made Marcus, who was still hiding behind her, whimper like a kicked dog. Arlan stopped just inches from Elena's face. He could smell her fear.
"I became what you made me, Elena," Arlan said, his voice a low vibration. "You wanted a prince who would sacrifice everything for you. Instead, you got the man who will slay the gods you worship."
He reached out and grabbed Marcus by the collar, lifting the 'hero' of the village off the ground with one hand. Marcus's sword, the one the village had gifted him for his 'bravery', fell to the floor with a pathetic clang.
"You have two choices, Marcus," Arlan hissed. "You can stay here and try to rebuild this nest of vipers, or you can run. But if I ever see your face in Valoria, I won't just break your sword. I'll break every bone in your body one by one."
He tossed Marcus aside like trash. The nobles watched, horrified, as Arlan turned his back on them and walked toward the exit of the mansion.
[New Quest: The Long Road]
[Objective: Reach the Border Town of Silverleaf.]
[Reward: 2,000 Exp, New Companion Unlock.]
Outside, the villagers had gathered. They had seen the fire and heard the screams. When they saw Arlan emerge—not as the boy they bullied, but as a warrior clad in shadows—they fell to their knees.
"The Elder is gone," Arlan announced to the crowd. "The taxes, the sacrifices, the fear... it ends tonight. But don't think I did this for you. I did this because he stood in my path."
Without looking back, Arlan began his walk toward the village gates. He had no horse, no gold, and no allies. But he had a System that hungered for souls, and a heart that was cold enough to burn a kingdom to the ground.
The sun began to rise over the horizon, casting a long, dark shadow behind the Forsaken Prince. The journey to the capital was long, and the enemies ahead were far more dangerous than a corrupt village Elder. But Arlan smiled. For the first time in his life, he wasn't the prey. He was the hunter.
The grand hall of the mansion, once filled with the scent of expensive wine and roasted meat, now smelled only of ozone and burnt flesh. Arlan stood in the center of the wreckage, his boots crunching on the shattered remains of a crystal chandelier. The silence was absolute, broken only by the crackling of dying embers and the ragged, terrified breathing of the survivors.
Arlan looked down at his hands. The dark energy from the Shadow Dagger was still vibrating through his veins, a cold, pulsating hunger that seemed to whisper for more. He felt stronger, faster, and more alive than he had ever been in his previous life as a neglected prince.
[Level 8 Reached!]
[Strength: 25 | Agility: 22 | Intelligence: 30 | Stamina: 18]
[Exp: 1500/5000]
"Status," Arlan whispered. The holographic screen flickered into existence, its blue light reflecting in his golden eyes. He had gained a massive amount of Experience from defeating a Boss-level enemy like Elder Thorne.
[System Notification: System Shop (Gold Grade) is now OPEN.]
[Available Currency: 1,500 System Points (Soul Fragments)]
Arlan's gaze shifted to the nobles cowering in the shadows. These were the same people who had cheered when he was cast out of the royal palace. They were the same people who had stood by while Elena and Marcus conspired to use him as a sacrificial lamb.
"You all look so pathetic now," Arlan said, his voice echoing in the hollow hall. "Where is your pride? Where is the laughter you shared at my expense?"
No one dared to answer. Even Elena, who usually had a sharp tongue, could only stare at him with wide, trembling eyes. Marcus was curled into a ball, his 'Hero's Sword' lying forgotten in the dust—a symbol of his cowardice.
Arlan turned his attention back to the System. "Open Shop."
In an instant, his vision was filled with thousands of items. This wasn't a normal shop; it was a repository of forbidden knowledge and legendary artifacts.
[Category: Weapons]
[Category: Skills]
[Category: Consumables]
[Category: Special Artifacts]
He scrolled past the high-end legendary items that cost millions of points. He needed something practical, something for the long journey ahead to the Imperial City of Valoria.
[Item: Cloak of the Void (Rank C)]
[Cost: 800 System Points]
[Effect: Completely hides the user's presence and mana signature. Perfect for evading high-level hunters.]
[Item: Shadow Essence Elixir]
[Cost: 500 System Points]
[Effect: Increases Agility by +5 permanently and sharpens night vision.]
Arlan didn't hesitate. "Purchase Cloak of the Void and Shadow Essence Elixir."
[Transaction Successful!]
[700 Points Remaining.]
A heavy, pitch-black cloak materialized in his hands. It felt as light as a feather but as cold as ice. As he draped it over his shoulders, he felt a strange sensation—it was as if the world itself had forgotten he was there. Then, he uncorked the small vial of glowing purple liquid and drank it. A sharp, stinging heat raced through his limbs, making his muscles tighten and his senses sharpen.
He looked at Elena one last time. For a moment, a memory of their childhood flashed through his mind—a time when they were innocent. But he quickly crushed it. Mercy was a luxury he couldn't afford.
"Enjoy your 'prosperity', Elena," Arlan said coldly. "Because when I return, there won't be a stone left standing in this village."
He turned and walked out of the mansion. Outside, the village of Oakhaven was in chaos. People were running with torches, shouting about the explosion. But as Arlan stepped into the moonlight, draped in his new cloak, no one even noticed him. He moved like a ghost through the crowd.
At the village gates, he stopped and looked back.
[New Quest: Path of the God-Slayer]
[Objective: Reach the Capital and infiltrate the Royal Academy.]
[Reward: Unlock 'Soul Devour' Skill Branch.]
Arlan adjusted the hood of his cloak. The road to the capital would be dangerous, filled with monsters and royal assassins. But with the System by his side, he wasn't afraid. He was the one they should fear.
He stepped out of the gates and into the dark forest. The prince was gone. Only the God-Slayer remained.