The night air grew heavier the closer Lian approached the outer gate of Blackthorn.
The streets behind him still burned with chaos—the square drenched in blood, soldiers scattering like broken dogs, bells crying in despair. But here, at the city's edge, the silence felt unnatural.
The towering gate loomed ahead, forged of black iron and bound by chains thicker than a man's arm. Rows of spiked barricades lined the road, and at its center stood a formation unlike any he had yet faced.
The Blackthorn Enforcers.
Clad in dark steel and scarlet cloaks, these were not simple guards but the executioners of the Duke's law. Each carried a halberd humming faintly with enchantments. Behind them stood a robed figure, staff in hand, hood drawn low.
The system pulsed a crimson warning:
[Final Obstacle Detected.]
[Boss Encounter: Enforcer Captain and City Magus.]
[Quest Progress: 90%.]
Lian's lips curved into a grin.
"So this city does have teeth after all."
The Enforcer Captain raised his halberd, voice booming.
"Fugitive! By decree of Duke Veylan, you will die here. Not one step beyond this gate."
The robed magus lifted his staff, runes glowing pale blue. The air shimmered as an ethereal barrier rose behind them, sealing the gate shut.
Lian chuckled, twirling his blood-soaked spear.
"Do you think chains can hold back sin? You fools will become the proof of your Duke's weakness."
The Enforcers advanced in unison, their halberds thrusting in a deadly rhythm, each strike enhanced by martial aura. Lian weaved between them, spear flashing, movements fluid as a shadow. Sparks flew as steel clashed, the ground trembling beneath their power.
Yet he was outnumbered.
Each Enforcer was stronger than the guards he had slaughtered before. Their formation was precise, trained to trap monsters and criminals alike. Blades whistled past his cheek, halberds slammed against his guard, forcing him back step by step.
And then—
[Warning: High-level Magic Detected.]
The magus thrust his staff forward. A torrent of ice surged forth, freezing the cobblestones, shards of frost slicing through the air.
Lian cursed, twisting mid-step, barely avoiding a spike that could have skewered his heart. His body burned from shallow cuts as blood streaked across his skin.
The Enforcers pressed closer. Their captain roared, striking downward with a halberd crackling with black lightning.
Lian caught it with his spear, the clash rattling his bones. The captain's strength was monstrous, forcing him to one knee.
But in that moment of crushing weight, the system whispered:
[Sin Points Available: 220.]
[Shadow Step – 200 SP.]
[Would you like to purchase?]
His grin widened, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Yes."
[Purchase Confirmed.]
[Skill Unlocked: Shadow Step.]
The world bent.
Shadows thickened around his feet, writhing like serpents. In an instant, his body dissolved into darkness, vanishing from beneath the captain's halberd.
Gasps erupted as he emerged behind the formation, spear already lunging forward. One Enforcer barely turned before the weapon pierced through his throat, crimson spraying across his comrades.
Chaos broke their unity.
Lian blurred through the shadows again and again, striking from impossible angles, his laughter echoing through the gate's walls. The Enforcers faltered, their formation collapsing under the storm of darkness and blood.
The magus snarled, slamming his staff into the ground. A dome of ice expanded outward, forcing Lian to halt. Shards of frozen air formed into jagged spears, launching toward him in a deadly barrage.
But shadows clung to his skin now, bending his body unnaturally fast. He flickered from one pool of darkness to the next, weaving through the icy death with savage grace.
He appeared before the magus in a blur, spear raised high.
The robed man's eyes widened in terror.
"Impossible—!"
Steel ripped through his chest. His scream cut short as blood splattered against the barrier behind him. The light in his runes faded, and the magical dome shattered like glass.
The captain bellowed in rage, his halberd charged with lightning as he hurled himself at Lian. Their clash shook the ground, sparks dancing across the stones.
But Lian was different now. Shadows surged at his command, carrying his body in and out of reach, striking with unrelenting fury.
The captain fought valiantly, every strike a testament to years of training, but against the embodiment of sin itself, he stood no chance.
Lian feinted, vanished, and reappeared at his side. His spear plunged deep into the man's chest. The captain's eyes widened, mouth opening in a silent roar before blood choked it off.
With a final push, Lian tore his weapon free. The captain crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
[Bosses Defeated.]
[Quest Complete: Escape the Prison.]
[Reward: +500 EXP, +300 Sin Points.]
[Level Up! Current Level: 6.]
The chains of the gate rattled, then fell apart as if surrendering to his will. The massive doors creaked open, revealing the dark wilderness beyond.
The system chimed again:
[Main Quest Updated.]
[New Objective: Spread Fear Across the Kingdom of Veylan.]
[Sub-Quest: Establish Your First Domain of Sin.]
Lian stepped past the threshold, the night wind washing over his bloodstained body. He gazed at the endless land stretching before him—forests, mountains, and cities yet to be drowned in terror.
His crimson eyes burned with promise.
"The world has forgotten my name. I will carve it into their flesh until none dare speak without trembling."
Behind him, Blackthorn burned in silence.
Before him, destiny awaited.
The Lord of Sin had been reborn.