"Let her go. Now." Rowan's voice dropped to a deadly calm.
His aura exploded outward.
Blue light burst from his body.
His eyes glowed an intense blue.
The ground trembled under his feet.
"Hahaha! You think we'll just let her go?" Darius laughed. "Move back, or we kill her. I'm no fool—you're way stronger than us. But maybe—"
Rowan didn't hear him anymore.
"I said…"
His aura surged—
"LET. HER. GO!!!"
The world shook from the force of his voice.
Suddenly, Rowan wasn't seeing Velqira.
He wasn't seeing Darius.
He was seeing a memory—
From his previous world.
The Demon Lord Ling Ming, taking someone precious hostage…
A moment Rowan had sworn would never happen again.
And Velqira…
She looked exactly like Ling Ming did when she was young.
He would not let history repeat itself.
"Now… be prepared to lose your life," Rowan said.
Darius stared at him—shaking.
This kid… he isn't bluffing.
I'm holding someone hostage, but he doesn't care.
All I see in his eyes is pure killing intent…
I need to escape.
Darius swallowed hard, then forced a smile.
"Heh… if you think I'm joking—"
He tightened his grip around Velqira's neck.
"Let go of me! Let go!" Velqira struggled, trying to pull away.
Moonlight poured through the broken windows.
Darius raised his blade toward her throat.
"Don't move!" he warned.
But Rowan had already lifted his sword, letting out a slow breath.
"Time… cutting blade."
"His sword glowed with a golden energy."
He slashed the air.
Time froze.
Or rather—slowed to a near stop.
Rowan moved in an instant, grabbed Velqira from Darius's grip, and pulled her aside.
Time snapped back to normal.
"What—?! When did you take her?!" Darius shouted, eyes wide.
Rowan gently placed Velqira down behind him.
"You were about to take a life," Rowan said quietly.
"So… the only thing left for you is death.
Nothing like that is happening in this world. Not again."
He raised his blade.
And in less than two seconds, Rowan's sword flashed 10,000 times.
A storm of blue streaks filled the air.
SLASH.
SLASH.
SLASH.
SLASH—
Darius didn't even scream.
His body fell apart piece by piece, sliced into fragments before he could react.
Blood sprayed across the grass.
Rowan appeared behind him and delivered the final strike—
splitting Calus from head to waist in a single clean motion.
Calus died instantly.
The assassin, who had been frozen, suddenly felt his legs move again.
"This is my chance—!"
He bolted.
He made it three steps—
Then Rowan appeared in front of him.
SHIIING—
Rowan's blade took the assassin's head clean off.
The head hit the ground before the body realized it was dead.
Velqira didn't scream.
She only stared, breath trembling.
Someone my age… defeated grown men like they were insects…
No wonder I lost when I challenged him.
She ran toward Rowan just as his aura flickered.
Rowan blinked.
"Oh no… I snapped."
His knees wobbled.
"I used… too many techniques.
This body can't handle my real strength yet…"
He collapsed.
His sword slipped from his fingers.
Velqira caught him in her arms before he hit the ground.
Rowan looked up at her face, confused and dazed.
"For a moment… I thought you were…"
He blinked.
"…never mind."
Then he passed out.
---
30 minutes later
Rowan slowly opened his eyes.
His head was resting on Velqira's lap.