The village lay in the shadow of the Chakran Mountains, a once-prosperous settlement now drowning in despair. The people who lived there were a reflection of the land itself—weathered, resilient, but burdened by a heavy and seemingly inescapable yoke. The noble who ruled over them, a man by the name of Lord Krenn, had once been a protector of this village, revered by his people for his wisdom and fairness. But over time, something had shifted within him. His desire for wealth and power had grown insatiable, twisting him into a tyrant whose greed consumed not only him but everything he touched.
Cire's footsteps crunched on the dry, cracked earth as he approached the outskirts of the village. The fields, once fertile and green, lay barren under a gray sky. The air was thick with dust and the smell of decay. Here and there, withered crops clung to life, but they were few and far between. The farmers who toiled in the fields were gaunt and hollow-eyed, their faces lined with exhaustion and hopelessness. They barely looked up as Cire passed by, their shoulders hunched as if the weight of their lives had bowed them permanently.
The Warden System pulsed faintly within him, a steady rhythm that mirrored his own heartbeat. It was as if the system could sense the pervasive greed that hung over the village like a dark cloud, its presence a constant reminder of the task ahead. Cire had already witnessed the power of the Warden System, but he still didn't fully understand it. He could feel it guiding him, pulling him toward something greater, but the nature of that something remained frustratingly elusive.
As Cire entered the village, he was struck by the stark contrast between the dilapidated homes and the grandeur of Lord Krenn's estate, which loomed on a hill in the distance like a dark sentinel. The mansion was a sprawling stone fortress, its tall, imposing walls casting long shadows over the village below. The windows were dark and uninviting, and a heavy iron gate stood at the entrance, guarded by men who looked every bit as hard and unyielding as the stone walls they protected.
The people of the village moved about in silence, their faces downcast, their eyes hollow. Cire felt a pang of sympathy as he watched a woman shuffle by, clutching a thin bundle of rags to her chest. Her child, barely more than a skeleton wrapped in skin, peered out from the folds of the cloth, its eyes wide and unblinking. The woman glanced at Cire briefly, her gaze lingering for a moment before she hurried on, disappearing into the shadows of a nearby alley.
Cire's heart tightened in his chest. He knew that Lord Krenn was responsible for the suffering of these people, and he knew that it was his task—his duty—to stop him. But the thought of facing the nobleman filled Cire with a sense of dread. The Warden System had given him power, but it was a power he still didn't fully understand. Could he control it? Could he wield it without losing himself in the process?
The closer he got to Lord Krenn's estate, the more the Warden System pulsed, feeding off the greed that saturated the air. Cire could feel the system growing stronger with each step, its energy coiling within him like a serpent waiting to strike. But with that power came a sense of unease, a nagging feeling that the system was not entirely his to control—that it had its own agenda, its own desires.
When Cire reached the base of the hill, he paused, taking in the sight of the mansion before him. The gates were heavily guarded, and beyond them, he could see the flicker of movement as soldiers patrolled the grounds. The nobleman clearly feared an uprising, though it seemed that the villagers were too broken to rise against him. Cire would have to be careful. His acupuncture skills would allow him to neutralize his enemies without killing them, but stealth was key.
Drawing in a deep breath, Cire scanned the perimeter of the estate, his mind working through potential entry points. He could see a side gate, less heavily guarded than the main entrance, but still fortified. Beyond it, there were tall trees lining the path—an ideal spot for cover if he could reach it unseen.
With quiet determination, Cire slipped into the shadows, moving with the fluid grace that his grandmother had taught him during his years of training. His body was agile and light, his movements barely stirring the air as he approached the side gate. He crouched low, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. One of the guards moved closer to the gate, and in a flash, Cire sprang from his hiding place.
His hand shot out, and before the guard could react, a needle was buried in the man's neck. The guard's body stiffened, then collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Cire caught him before he could fall with a thud, dragging him into the shadows. He worked quickly, disabling the remaining guards with precision strikes, his needles finding the pressure points that would render them unconscious without causing permanent harm.
Once the path was clear, Cire scaled the side gate and slipped into the estate grounds. The mansion loomed ahead, its towering stone walls cold and foreboding. The gardens that surrounded the mansion were overgrown and untended, a reflection of the neglect that had plagued the village. Thorny vines crawled up the walls, and the once-pristine hedges were now wild and overgrown.
Cire moved swiftly through the gardens, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of more guards. He could feel the Warden System pulsing within him, urging him forward. It was as if the system could sense the klesha that awaited it, the greed that had corrupted Lord Krenn so completely.
When Cire finally reached the mansion, he found a small servant's entrance at the back of the building. The door was unlocked, and he slipped inside, moving through the dimly lit corridors with practiced stealth. The interior of the mansion was a stark contrast to the suffering of the villagers outside. The floors were polished marble, and the walls were adorned with expensive tapestries and artwork. But despite the grandeur, there was an air of decay, of something rotten festering beneath the surface.
As Cire made his way deeper into the mansion, he could hear the sound of voices coming from one of the rooms ahead. He slowed his pace, moving closer to the source of the noise. The door to the room was slightly ajar, and through the crack, Cire could see Lord Krenn seated at a lavishly set dining table, surrounded by his most trusted advisors. They were laughing and drinking, their goblets overflowing with wine as they feasted on the finest food the land had to offer.
Cire's stomach turned as he watched them. The people outside were starving, and here, Lord Krenn and his advisors were living in excess, their greed and gluttony on full display. The Warden System pulsed with a renewed sense of urgency, its energy coiling tighter within Cire's chest.
He knew what he had to do.
Taking a deep breath, Cire slipped into the shadows, positioning himself just outside the room. He waited patiently, his senses heightened, his mind focused on the task ahead. One by one, the advisors left the dining room, their laughter echoing down the corridors as they made their way to their quarters. Soon, only Lord Krenn remained, seated alone at the table, his goblet in hand.
Cire moved silently, slipping into the room like a shadow. Lord Krenn didn't notice him at first, too engrossed in his own thoughts. But when Cire stepped closer, the nobleman looked up, his eyes widening in shock.
"Who are you?" Lord Krenn demanded, his voice slurred from the wine. "How dare you enter my home uninvited?"
Cire's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his voice low and steady. "I'm here to stop you, Krenn. Your greed has destroyed this village. You've taken everything from these people—now it's time to face the consequences."
The nobleman sneered, his lips curling into a twisted smile. "You think you can stop me? Do you have any idea who I am? I am Lord Krenn, ruler of this land! These people are mine to do with as I please."
Cire's heart pounded in his chest, but he remained calm, his hand hovering over the needles tucked into his belt. "Your power doesn't make you invincible. You've let your greed consume you, and now it's time to pay for your sins."
Lord Krenn rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury. "You fool! You think you can take me down? I will crush you like the insect you are!"
With a roar, Krenn lunged at Cire, his hand reaching for the dagger at his side. But Cire was faster. In one swift motion, he struck, his needles finding the pressure points on Krenn's body with deadly accuracy. The nobleman let out a strangled cry as his body went rigid, his limbs frozen in place.
The Warden System surged to life, its energy flooding into Krenn's body, drawing out the greed that had corrupted him. Cire could feel the system absorbing the klesha, feeding off the dark energy that had twisted Krenn's soul. It was an intoxicating feeling, the power of the system coursing through Cire's veins, but it was also terrifying.
Krenn's eyes widened in terror as the energy drained from his body. His skin grew pale, his once-powerful form withering before Cire's eyes. The Warden System was relentless,