Kain's journey as a slave did not last long.
The nobleman who had bought him—a man driven by greed—traveled with only a handful of guards. He had expected an easy trip back to his estate, but reality was cruel.
Bandits struck.
Screams filled the night as steel clashed against steel. Kain watched in silence as the guards fell one by one, their blood soaking the dirt road. The nobleman, panicked and trembling, shouted orders, but his words meant nothing. He was nothing.
One by one, the guards died.
The nobleman himself was next, his cries of agony cut short as a blade ran through his chest. The bandits, victorious, laughed as they looted the corpses.
And Kain watched.
Not in fear, but in fascination.
As the last guard's body fell, something awakened within him. His blank eyes followed the movements of the bandits—their footwork, their strikes, their techniques. He memorized it all.
Then, the leader of the bandits turned to him, grinning.
"A one-armed brat? Looks like this one's worthless."
Laughter erupted from the group, their guard lowered, their confidence absolute.
Kain moved.
In a single moment, he lunged forward, snatching a fallen sword from the ground. The bandit's smirk vanished.
A single strike.
A head flew.
Silence. The laughter stopped. Blood splattered across Kain's face, and something inside him snapped.
The other bandits rushed at him in blind rage. But Kain was not afraid. He had already seen their movements, their styles, their weaknesses. His body moved on its own, executing the techniques he had just observed.
Shadow Fang Style. A deadly technique that relied on feints and speed, aiming for vital points. He used it flawlessly.
One by one, the bandits fell. Some died instantly, others lay paralyzed, gasping for air as life drained from their bodies. One managed to escape, running into the darkness, his mind shattered by the horror he had just witnessed.
Kain stood amongst the corpses, his sword dripping red. His body trembled—not from fear, but from pleasure.
But he was still weak. The battle had drained him. As the bloodlust faded, exhaustion overtook him, and he collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground.
When he awoke, the world was silent.
He was still there, alone, surrounded by death. He looted the corpses, taking whatever he could—gold, weapons, supplies. Among his findings, he discovered a map leading to the kingdom.
As he walked away, he came across a river. The blood clung to his skin, but the cold water washed it away. He stared at his reflection, at his shaking hands, at his hollow eyes.
And then, for the first time since he was sold, he cried.
For what he had done. For what he had become.
But the tears did not last long. Reality had no room for weakness.
He wiped his face, took a deep breath, and continued forward.
Days passed as he followed the map, navigating through dense forests and treacherous paths. His supplies were limited, and his body, though revitalized by the potion he found, was still weak. He needed strength. He needed a purpose.
Then, he heard it.
A scream.
Following the sound, Kain arrived at a clearing where a group of monsters had surrounded an elf—a beautiful elf, her golden sword gleaming, her armor adorned with mystical engravings. She fought bravely, but the numbers were against her.
At first, Kain planned to ignore the scene and walk away.
Then, he saw her equipment. Expensive. Valuable. Worth stealing.
Without hesitation, he moved. The monsters barely had time to react before Kain struck, cutting them down with brutal efficiency. His sword danced through the air, piercing vital points, leaving only corpses in his wake.
The elf, stunned, turned to him. "You… saved me."
Kain said nothing. He simply stared at her, his blank expression betraying no emotion.
Then, before she could react—
Her head flew.
Blood splattered across his face once more, warm and fresh. He didn't flinch. Didn't hesitate. Killing had become too easy.
As her lifeless body crumpled to the ground, Kain calmly looted her belongings, pocketing the gold and taking her sword for himself.
No regrets. No hesitation. ,Kain continued his journey, disappearing into the darkness.
End of Part 2.