A month had passed since the battle at Mara Mountain. In that time, the village—once a ruin—was steadily reborn. Half of the reconstruction was already complete, not through miracles, but through sheer perseverance. The villagers, hardened by tragedy and inspired by newfound purpose, labored from sunrise to dusk.
Thanks to the martial techniques Ri-hyun had taught the village's hunters and security teams, their strength had multiplied. No longer mere survivors, they now moved and fought like seasoned warriors, each step steadier, each strike sharper. They had ascended to the veteran stage—the same realm Lilith had reached before her fall.
Among them, Ciro's progress was the most staggering. His natural agility bloomed into something supernatural. With each practice session, his speed grew, until he became a blur on the battlefield, his blade carving arcs of silver through the air. Ael, ever the composed second-in-command, had reached his own milestone. Rather than relying solely on brute force, he had uncovered the spiritual essence hidden within the martial teachings. The strength he forged was not just physical, but mental—a burning conviction that endured even in despair.
High above it all, Ri-hyun sat atop his usual perch in the massive pine tree overlooking the village. His gaze wandered into the endless sea of stars above, distant and eternal. The tranquility was broken by a familiar voice from below.
"My lord, the people would like to show you something," Ael said, his tone brimming with unspoken anticipation.
Ri-hyun rose without a word, landing beside him in a fluid motion.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Please, follow me."
They walked around the mountain's side, where something unexpected awaited—a small manor, sturdy and elegant, balanced on beams overlooking a deep chasm.
"The villagers built it... so you wouldn't have to sleep in the trees anymore," Ael said, pride softening his usually rigid demeanor.
Ri-hyun paused, studying the manor in silence. The angled roof, the symmetry of the walls, the balance of stone and wood—it all mirrored the architectural philosophy of his past life. It wasn't just a house. It was a reflection of his world.
"Let's go inside," he said.
The interior bore the unmistakable charm of Eastern aesthetics: clean lines, soft lantern light, and fragrant wooden floors. Though modest, every element was carefully chosen. Despite being larger than his old home, it still radiated the same sense of calm. For the first time in centuries, something stirred in Ri-hyun's heart.
"Thank you," he said. His voice, though soft, carried an unusual weight. A sliver of his ancient grief began to ease, replaced with something new—belonging.
"I should express my gratitude to the villagers."
---
Elsewhere, far beyond the mountain's peace, the roots of corruption twitched. The Nyx Cartel, deeply entrenched in the underworlds of many nations, had taken notice of the silence from one of its main branches—the one destroyed by Ri-hyun.
In filthy alleyways and slum dens, word spread like wildfire. They dispatched scouting parties to the Mara Mountains, brazen in their intent, confident that no village could oppose their might. They moved undeterred by kingdoms or empires, cloaked in the cartel's signature arrogance.
Back in the village, a rare feast was held. Ri-hyun, in an unexpected gesture of warmth, personally prepared a spread of roasted meats and wild herbs. The villagers ate, laughed, and for a moment, lived without fear. The night concluded with Ri-hyun returning to his tree, overlooking the starlit village.
Beneath the tree, Ael stood at attention. Ciro, never idle, flitted through the manor with his new speed, cleaning with almost theatrical grace.
"How are the watchtowers?" Ri-hyun asked.
"Archer squads are stationed and ready, my lord," Ael replied. Hidden along the main paths into the mountains, the towers had been Ri-hyun's command—silent sentinels watching for signs of intrusion.
Ri-hyun summoned his system panel. "These stat allocations… I can feel the difference," he thought. "There's real power in this world."
A shrill whistle tore through the night.
Crimson and emerald flares erupted across the sky—emergency signals from multiple towers.
"What is it?" Ri-hyun asked, his voice cold and sharp.
"Unknown forces are breaching the mountains," Ael said, tensing. "They're approaching from every road."
"Take charge," Ri-hyun ordered. "This is your lesson in leadership."
"Yes, my lord!" Ael saluted and sprinted down the mountain, rallying the hunters.
From the shadows of the trees and rocks, the Nyx Cartel emerged.
"Step aside, slaves!" barked one of the intruders, clad in black leather. "We come bearing a message for Lord Kaiser!"
Ael stepped forward, unwavering. "Kaiser is dead. Turn back, or die with him."
The mercenary's eyes flashed with fury. "How dare you—! I'll cut off your—"
He swung his blade, but Ael caught it. With his bare arm.
"You—!?"
Ael's battle cry thundered through the forest. "Hunters! Seize their heads for Lord Ri-hyun!"
Pain radiated down his arm, but he gritted his teeth, channeling his internal energy to numb it. The cartel enforcer tried to draw a knife, activating his own aura. Ael met him with a flaming fist—a strike born not just of strength, but of rage. The punch shattered the man's aura and sent him flying off the cliff.
The cartel captains surged toward Ael—but a thunderous shockwave knocked them off balance.
"You can do it, Ciro!" Ri-hyun called from above.
"M-My lord!" Ciro stammered, heart pounding.
"Take him down. I'll handle the one they call their leader."
True Heaven Flying Knife Art: One Mind, One Blade.
Ciro's movements were instinctual. His knife fused with his energy, slicing through air like lightning. It struck the captain's temple cleanly. Before the body even hit the ground, the knife returned to Ciro's hand with a flick of his wrist.
"Sir Ael!" a hunter cried. "If you fall, they'll break through!"
Ael clenched his fist. "Ciro, take the captains. I'll hold the line."
"That's… not what I meant…" Ciro muttered, but Ael had already charged back into the fray.
The hunters, though fewer, matched five cartel thugs each. They fought with honed precision, courtesy of Ri-hyun's harsh training. But the cartel's reinforcements kept coming.
"Die, you little—" A thug's sentence ended with his head soaring from Ael's vicious kick.
"Get up!" Ael roared at a downed hunter. "Our lord is watching! We will not fail!"
"I-I just tripped, alright?" the hunter grumbled, picking himself up with a grin.
With Ael's blazing return and Ciro's ruthless precision, the momentum shifted. The village warriors—no longer prey—now became predators.
The mountain burned with the fury of their defiance.