Dustin stood motionless, his black robes blending into the dusk of the forest. Before him, Onyx, the archer, nocked an arrow, his sharp gaze tracking every breath Dustin took. Behind, Kao, a seasoned hunter, had already drawn his sword. Their coordination was seamless—a well-practiced pincer attack meant to overwhelm and kill.
Among their group, Lennox, the leader, was the strongest at the eighth level of Body Refinement, but neither Onyx nor Kao were weak. Both had honed their combat skills through countless battles against ferocious beasts in the wilderness. They were no strangers to death.
However, they weren't fools either.
Dustin had slain an Iron-Tailed Tiger Demon alone, and that was no ordinary feat. Kao knew it. But there was one undeniable truth—monsters were different from humans. Humans lacked the hardened hides of beasts, their flesh was frail, and their bones were brittle.
And that was why they dared to act.
This boy—despite his strength—was still human.
A sneer twisted Kao's lips. "Leave your sword and your belongings, and we'll let you go."
Dustin chuckled. The sound was deep, unsettling—almost amused.
Kao's expression darkened. "What's so funny, brat?"
"You think trash like you is worthy of robbing me?" Dustin's voice carried undisguised contempt.
Kao's patience snapped. "Since you refuse to be sensible, don't blame us for what happens next!"
With a cold laugh, he lunged, his sword flashing.
"Shadow Sword!"
A dozen afterimages trailed the blade as he executed a third-rank sword technique, his footwork precise and deadly. At the same time, Onyx loosed his arrows, each aimed at Dustin's vitals.
In Novaridge City, third-rank martial techniques were common among hunters—precious yet accessible for those willing to risk their lives. Kao had trained his swordplay to perfection, and he was confident.
This strike would end it.
Yet, before his sword even touched flesh, Dustin disappeared.
WHOOSH!
Kao's pupils shrank. "Where...?!"
A shadow flickered.
Dustin reappeared in front of him, his movement technique at High Level Mastery making him faster than Kao could follow.
Kao's breath hitched.
"Impossible! A mere sixth-level cultivator—how can he be this fast?!"
But there was no time to dwell on his shock. Kao gritted his teeth, forcing his body to twist mid-air, his sword slashing once more.
"Let's see you dodge this!"
The blade descended. This time, he was sure Dustin couldn't escape. The distance was too short.
Then—
"Tiger Stance."
Dustin's aura shifted violently.
Kao's instincts screamed—danger!
Before he could react, a ferocious power exploded from Dustin's fist, like the roar of a primordial beast.
CRACK!
Kao's chest caved inward. The impact sent him flying like a ragdoll. Blood sprayed from his lips, his ribs shattered to dust.
His back slammed into a tree with a sickening thud.
A choked gasp escaped him. How? How could Dragon Tiger Fist be this strong?
His mind reeled. He had assumed that Dustin was merely proficient in second-rank techniques. But now, a terrifying realization dawned—
Dustin had mastered them to Great Accomplishment!
His lips trembled.
I should've listened to Lennox… I should never have tried to kill him!
But it was too late.
Dustin's fist blurred once more, growing larger in Kao's vision.
"No!"
BOOM!
A sickening crunch. Kao's skull shattered like brittle glass. Blood gushed from his orifices. His body convulsed, then went still.
Dead.
In an instant.
Dustin barely had time to withdraw before two arrows embedded into the ground where he had just stood.
He turned sharply. Onyx.
The archer's hands trembled as he watched his companion die in one blow.
His chest heaved.
Run.
The thought struck like lightning. He didn't hesitate.
Onyx turned and bolted, weaving between trees with practiced agility.
I have to escape!
He knew his archery was useless against that speed. If he let Dustin get close, he was dead.
But behind him, Dustin stood still—his breathing rapid.
His heart pounded violently, almost deafening in his ears.
A strange sensation crawled through his veins.
He had killed.
His gaze fell upon Kao's lifeless body, blood still seeping from the ruined forehead.
His fingers trembled. Not from fear.
It was something… different.
This wasn't like killing a beast.
This was a human.
And he had ended a life.
Memories surfaced—his days at the Martial Hall, the teacher's words.
"The moment you walk the path of a warrior, the fate of killing or being killed is already sealed."
Back then, someone had asked—"Why do we have to kill?"
the teacher had smiled. "Because if you don't kill, others will kill you."
"They might kill you for your weapons, your treasures… or just because they don't like you."
"Power is the only truth." Dustin clenched his fists.
This was reality, his mind steadied. When he looked at Kao's corpse again, there was no hesitation.
Instead, a cold light flickered in his gaze.
No one will ever bully me again.
He reached down, prying Kao's sword from his lifeless grip. Then, he turned toward the direction Onyx had fled.
A dangerous smile crept onto his lips.
"The hunt begins."
Onyx gasped for breath as he tore through the underbrush. His mind raced. Was he still following?!
He risked a glance over his shoulder—nothing. Empty.
His pulse slowed, but unease gnawed at him.
"Damn monster…" he muttered under his breath.
Then
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A rhythmic sound echoed through the trees.
Footsteps.
His body went rigid. Dustin's shadow loomed.
Onyx's pupils shrank in horror. How?. He had taken every precaution to lose his pursuer!
Yet Dustin had tracked him flawlessly.
"It's not possible!"
Panic surged. Desperate, he nocked an arrow, his fingers trembling. His lips parted—just as he released the shot.
The arrow whistled through the air only to miss by a hair's breadth.
Dustin had already moved. A streak of silver cut across the moonlight.
And then, silence.
Onyx's body crumpled, his lifeblood pooling beneath him.
Dustin exhaled, his grip on the sword firm.
The second kill.
This time, his hands barely trembled.
Night fell over Shiwu Mountain, and under the cover of darkness, Dustin cultivated—drawing the essence of life from the forest, tempering his body.
By dawn, he returned to Novaridge City, his bags heavy with spoils.
At a merchant's shop, he sold the Iron-Tailed Tiger Demon materials, walking away with over 30,000 coins of silver.
Holding the weight of the silver in his palm, his thoughts sharpened.
This is just the beginning.
He needed to grow stronger.
And for that—he needed more power.