"Surprised?" Blood Rakshasa's voice was collected and composed. "Did you think you could send your minions to Rackaham and we wouldn't dare to step foot in your stronghold?""You're courting death!" bellowed the Ghost Blood Demon King. "Lucky for me, you've saved me a trip to Rackaham!" After his declaration, he glared at Howard and his two companions. "Unless I'm mistaken, Bexleigh's crew met their end at your hands, didn't they? You've got some nerve, offing my girl and brazenly showing up here. You must have a death wish!"Today, your blood will honor the fallen of my Dark Ebon Corp!""Just end it yourself, and I'll let you keep your body intact!"Before the Demon King could finish, Howard responded calmly."What?" The Demon King snapped his gaze to Howard, surprised. "Are you talking to me?" "If you'd rather not end up in pieces like Bexleigh, you'd best heed my words," Howard warned once more. "So, you're the one who killed Bexleigh?" The Demon King's presence surged to
In an instant, Howard's wrist twisted, unleashing the Blood Shadow Saber in a fierce arc that cut through the air with a screech.As Howard struck, a chilling sense of doom flooded the Ghost Blood Demon King, tingling through his every pore.Only then did he grasp the grave mistake he had made in underestimating Howard's might.That guy was no mere martial god. He was a colossus of the martial knight, his prowess towering over his own.A tidal wave of shock crashed within him. Could Rackaham really be that formidable, where even the most random stranger was a top-tier titan?No time to ponder—he snapped into defense mode, crossing his arms and lining up his Iron Wolf Bar like a shield, hoping to fend off Howard's deadly blow.However, once again, he had misjudged the force behind Howard. His Iron Wolf Bar, supposedly indestructible, crumbled like brittle chalk. The saber's glow did not falter, slicing past his arm in a swift, brutal streak.His arm hit the ground, a fountain of
"Spill it. Why did you want Blood Rakshasa alive? Talk, and I might let your body stay in one piece," Howard pressed on.Back in Mendorra's park, when Blood Rakshasa used her own life as leverage to get Bexleigh to back off, Howard felt something was suspicious.If it was just about revenge, killing her should have been enough. Why the need to take her alive?It was obvious. Blood Rakshasa was hiding something big."The Dark World forever seeks one crucial item, possibly in her possession..." Ghost Blood Demon King panted as he dashed through the night."What is it?" Howard's eyebrows knitted together, sensing the complexity of the situation."A map..." the Demon King gasped out."A map of what?" Howard's surprise was evident."I... I'm clueless. It's all hearsay to me! I've never laid eyes on the actual map..." replied the Demon King.Howard's expression turned skeptical. "You think I'm naive? You don't have a clue about the map, yet you send your goons on a wild chase to Rac
"You think you can just forget about what you did in The Dark World a year ago? We haven't settled the score, and if you insist on going down this path, you might not make it back this time!""Really? You're oozing confidence," Howard retorted. "It doesn't matter who you are. If you try to stop me from taking down the Ghost Blood Demon King, then I'm sorry, but you're going down with him."With those words, Howard's presence intensified, and he darted toward the two men like a ghostly apparition.His wrist flicked with lightning speed, and the Blood Shadow Saber carved arcs of chilling light through the air, striking with lethal intent."Your arrogance knows no bounds!" the man bellowed, unleashing his power in a furious burst.He threw his hands forward, unleashing a barrage of wild, forceful winds that clashed with Howard's blade, a spectacle as impressive as a rainbow.However, he sorely miscalculated his own strength.The barrage of saber light tore through his assault, cutt
A minute had passed before Howard stepped back into the castle.The courtyard was a gruesome sight, with bodies strewn everywhere and blood painting the ground. The Dark Ebon Corp had fought fiercely, but they all fell to Howard's blade.Those men from The Dark World had lived by the sword, their hands soaked in the blood of innocents. Yoel and his companions had shown no mercy, for none was deserved."Sir!""Young Master Howard!"Their voices rang out as they saw him.Howard gave a slight nod. "We need to get out of here.""Right!" They all agreed, and within minutes, they were speeding away in their car.Just like that, the Dark Ebon Corp, once feared and formidable, was then a thing of the past."Sir, how are your wounds?" Yoel asked with concern as they drove on.The Judge glanced over at Howard, his face etched with worry, mirroring Yoel's sentiment.He could see the pain etched on Howard's face, a clear sign of the toll taken by the clash with the Ghost Blood Demon King
"I can't say I know the whole story," Blood Rakshasa replied with another shake of her head."It was only later that I pieced together that he'd been roughed up over the map. By then, it seemed like a bunch of folks already knew he had it on him."So, my guess is the Dark Ebon Corp crowd that was after me figured I'd crossed paths with him and thought maybe I had the map."Blood Rakshasa looked over at Howard with a twinge of guilt. "I apologize, Young Master Howard. I didn't mean to keep secrets from you, and I never imagined that the Dark Ebon Corp would...""Stop," Howard cut her off sharply.For him, it did not matter whether Blood Rakshasa had shared the information or not. He knew all too well that ever since he had taken down two martial generals from the Dark Ebon Corp, a showdown with them was unavoidable.Moreover, the intel he gathered revealed that over the previous year, several nations with hidden agendas had utilized the forces of The Dark World to infiltrate Racka
"Judge, the Shadow Demon Shrine is full of tough characters. We shouldn't underestimate them," Blood Rakshasa warned once more."How come I didn't see any of them when I was taking out that faction last year?" Howard interjected."There could be two reasons," replied Blood Rakshasa after a brief hesitation. "For one, maybe their envoy wasn't in the area when you struck, so they couldn't respond in time."Second, their ties with the Shadow Demon Shrine are on the rocks, and I wouldn't put it past the Shrine to use you to take them out.""Mm-hm," Howard nodded, mulling it over before saying, "Get your crew to put together some intel on the Shadow Demon Shrine for me."He was surprised to find such an organized outfit operating in the mayhem of The Dark World. It was intriguing, to say the least."Got it!" Blood Rakshasa, taken aback for a second, responded resolutely."Now that Dark Ebon Corp's gone under, you're out of the woods. What's your next move?" Howard asked."You saved
"Blood Rakshasa, what's holding you back? Thank the boss! With his backing, not only the top three but even the top spot could be within reach!""Blood Rakshasa, the Judge isn't wrong. This could be the chance of a lifetime!" Yoel chimed in.Both of them finally understood Howard's grand plan. He was looking to create an overseas contingent—a compact version of the Blood Shadow Force."Thank you for putting your faith in me, Howard!" Blood Rakshasa could hardly contain her excitement as she realized what Howard was proposing.Yoel was right—this was the chance of a lifetime."If you're in, you've got to be all in. I don't want you quitting halfway," Howard said firmly."Count on me, Howard. I'll pour my heart and soul into this. I won't let you down," Blood Rakshasa replied, her voice steady and full of determination."Great!" Howard nodded in approval. "Let's get your account details. I'll send over some funds to get you started.""Howard, I've got some cash to tide me over. M
"And look at that bracelet, it's stunning! Oh, and the compact has such a unique charm! Should we get one of each to decorate our homes?""Yuffie, you're still in school. How can you afford all this?" Talia chided gently. "You have a hundred fifty-dollar budget. Spend more, and it's coming out of your allowance.""What? Only a hundred fifty dollars? You're being too tight-fisted, sis!" Yuffie's complaint was lighthearted as she playfully turned to Howard. "Howard...""Don't even think about it. His wallet is in my hands!" Talia cut her off, fully aware of her little sister's ploy."Fine..." Yuffie's pout was all in good fun."Haha! It's not every day we get to do this, honey. If Yuffie finds something she loves, let's get it for her. Who knows if it'll be here next time?" Howard chuckled."Yay! You're the best, bro-in-law!" Yuffie cheered, her face lighting up with joy."You're just making her more spoiled!" Talia gave Howard a playful eye roll and turned her attention away from
Howard's willingness to visit the antique market was not solely to assist the sisters in their quest for a legendary blade. Such weapons were treasures often stumbled upon by chance, rarely found by those who sought them.His real intent was to immerse the sisters in the rich culture of the martial arts clans they were then a part of. More exposure to the ways of the warrior guilds could only benefit them on their chosen path.The following morning, Howard's group of five set off in the direction of Nathanael. Talia and Yuffie buzzed with excitement throughout the journey, their minds alive with wonder.Nathanael, nestled in the mountains to the northeast of Mendorra and a couple hundred kilometers away, awaited them.By 10 a.m., they arrived, parking at the gates of a sprawling estate on the city's outskirts—the site of the famed market.Stepping out, they were greeted by a lively throng at the estate's entrance, many adorned in traditional robes, weapons hanging from their belts
"And that's not all. They might even be a bona fide king-level warrior." Howard's brow furrowed with uncertainty."It looks like The Dark World is a whole lot more tangled than we thought," Yoel mused aloud.Then, turning back to Howard, he inquired, "Sir, did the old man ever share anything with you about The Dark World?""Not a word," Howard replied, shaking his head."Sir, do you think our mystery person could be from one of the elite families or sects, maybe just there on some errand?" Mystical Chubby chimed in.His speculation was not unfounded. Most of the king-level warriors from Rackaham were known to hail from the secretive clans and sects."It's unlikely." Howard dismissed the idea with another shake of his head. "From what Sabertooth described, our guy seems to know The Dark World like the back of his hand.""Who's that supposed to be?" Mystical Chubby scrunched his brow in confusion."Let it go for now. We'll head back to The Dark World in a little while," said Howa
"Um..." Blood Rakshasa nodded, the woman's earlier words still ringing in her head."Sir... Sir, was what you said earlier true?" Blood Rakshasa asked Sabertooth, her voice barely above a whisper."What did I say?" Sabertooth looked puzzled for a moment."You said... You said next time, we'd go back home together to get married..." Blood Rakshasa's cheeks turned a soft pink."Hehe, absolutely," Sabertooth chuckled, his smile warm and genuine. "The boss gave me the order, and I've given my word."Blood Rakshasa's smile was shy but filled with joy.Soon after, Qemal strode in."Sabertooth, I've tracked down the hideout of the Slaying Heaven Palace," Qemal announced upon arrival."Is that so?" Sabertooth's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Tell the crew to take a two-hour breather, then we move out!"The Slaying Heaven Palace's goons had nearly wiped out them today. Payback was due.With the Palace's top fighters gone, the rest were hardly a threat. It was time to cross the Slay
"Shadow Demon Shrine?" The woman's brow creased for a moment, but she quickly dropped the subject.She then turned to Sabertooth and observed, "You and your group have the vibe of soldiers. You're not originally from The Dark World, are you?""Speaking to our savior," Sabertooth gave a respectful nod, "we were part of the Rackaham Western Region's military before we came here."He was open with the woman who had saved over a hundred of his comrades."The Western Region's military?" The woman paused, a hint of recognition in her voice, "You're with the Blood Shadow Force?""That's us," Sabertooth confirmed with another bow."Is your leader the King of the West, Master Howard?" she inquired further."You know my boss?" Sabertooth looked surprised."Not personally, but I've heard the name," the woman replied with a shake of her head. "What's he got you doing in The Dark World?""Over the past couple of years, the world's heavy hitters have been funneling their muscle and resource
"You'll live to regret this, Dark Demon Lord!" Blood Rakshasa declared, locking eyes with her adversary. "Kill us, and Master Howard will avenge us by wiping out every last one of you in your cursed palace...""Ha! That Master Howard of yours better think twice before stepping into The Dark World again, or it'll be his grave!" The Dark Demon Lord mocked with an icy laugh."You're the fool!" Sabertooth growled. "No one in The Dark World has been born who can take down our boss. Your time's coming!""Is that so?" The Dark Demon Lord sneered with disdain. "You're clueless, all of you. You have no idea how powerful the Shadow Demon Shrine truly is!""Enough babbling. Time to end this. I'll send you both to join your boss," he declared, his presence intensifying as he prepared to strike them down."I love you," Blood Rakshasa whispered, her eyes closing."No, don't!" Qemal and others shouted in despair.Then there was a thunderous boom.However, the expected tragedy did not unfold.
Sabertooth sneered, watching the man's futile efforts. "You're such a fool!"He then declared solemnly, "Blood Shadow Technique, second form, Sky Slash!"With those words, he summoned all his strength, his saber carving a fierce arc of light through the air, striking like thunder at his foe.The Blood Shadow Technique was known for turning the tides against stronger adversaries.The white-haired elder's eyes narrowed in alarm. Caught mid-leap, he desperately wanted to dodge but could not. The saber's light bore down on him, a chilling aura of death shrouding him completely.In that instant, a wave of energy crashed through the air like a tidal wave, bringing a howling gale with it.Crash!Suddenly, Sabertooth was hurled away like a shell fired from a gun, blood spraying from his mouth as he flew, before he slammed into the earth, leaving a huge crater and falling silent."Sabertooth!" Blood Rakshasa's shout pierced the chaos as she spun and dashed to his side.She barely made
The man in black was sent hurtling through the air, slamming into the ground with such force that he lay there motionlessly, struggling to rise. A gaping wound, carved by the relentless sword, oozed blood profusely from his abdomen."What in the world is that sword technique?" he gasped after a torturous effort to stand, his face ashen.He had underestimated Blood Rakshasa's swordplay. Since her breakthrough to a higher echelon of mastery, her blade's might had surged, utterly dominating her seasoned adversary."The Sword Without a Name," Blood Rakshasa declared icily.Without wasting another second, she launched another assault. Sabertooth was in dire straits, and she was determined to aid him.Her blade danced again, weaving a web of sword energy that shot toward the white-haired elder, ensnaring him in an instant.The old man's eyes narrowed in a flash of panic, realizing he was trapped with no way out."This is it!" he snarled, brandishing his blade and lunging forward.How
With a thunderous explosion of energy, Blood Rakshasa's power surged, forcing the old man before her to stagger back in disbelief."Impossible! Have you broken through?" he gasped, steadying himself, his face a mask of astonishment."You bet I have!" Blood Rakshasa's face lit up with triumph.She had done it, just as the old man had surmised. Amid her swordplay, she felt a dormant core energy within her erupt, catapulting her to the zenith of martial knight at peak mastery stage.Master Howard's words rang in her head. The core energy left in her by a once-mighty warrior was too much to absorb at once. Back in that cave, she only managed a minor mastery in martial knight. However, Howard had predicted further advancements, and he was right."Let's see if you can handle a few more of my strikes!" Blood Rakshasa challenged, her spirit soaring not just from her newfound strength but also from a deeper connection to her swordsmanship."Bring it on!" the old man bellowed, his blade re