Capital · Armand Family Study
Night cloaked the capital when One Leaf Knows Autumn slipped into the study. The old man of the Armand clan sat beneath a banker's lamp, his cloudy eyes half‑lidded, but the weight of authority still clung to him like armor.
"Father," One Leaf Knows Autumn said, voice low. "Tonight, that 'Shura' pulled another Super‑God rating. Nightmare‑difficulty dungeon."
The old man's rheumy gaze snapped sharp.
Though the old man had never personally entered Samsara Space, he'd commanded enough intelligence networks in his prime to understand it far better than most active Samsaras. He had only recently learned that SSS existed above "S" and "SS." Until Shura exploded onto the scene, even top monsters like Adam and Aurora Morwyn had capped at S.
He exhaled slowly. "This one is heaven‑favored. Born for Samsara."
A pause. Then, dry contempt: "With time, he will eclipse that foreign brat Adam."
One Leaf Knows Autumn hesitated. "Then what… should I do?"
Instead of answering, the old man parried: "What do you think should be done?"
Fists clenched, then opened. One Leaf Knows Autumn forced himself to speak plainly. "His talent is the strongest I've seen. For now I can't contain him. Not in the same tier; not among our peers. None of us can stop his rise unless we catch him low and cripple him outright."
The old man nodded, satisfied. "You can still think."
Understanding flickered in One Leaf Knows Autumn's eyes. "Father means…?"
Eyes closed, the old man's lined face briefly showed unwillingness—then hardened. "Withdraw the bounty."
One Leaf Knows Autumn's jaw tightens. "And my nephew Solis' blood debt? Gone?"
The old man cut him a glance. "You care about your nephew… or your face?"
"..."
Silence.
"At your level," the old man went on, "image matters—but survival matters more. With that man's talent, even Central Council elders will covet him. Persisting openly as his enemy is foolish—unless you are absolutely certain you can kill him. Are you?"
"…No."
"Then rescind it. Publicly." His thin fingers tapped the desk. "As for the debt—of course it doesn't vanish. A genius like that cannot remain invisible forever. However low‑key he plays, breadcrumbs will fall. I'll put people on it. If we never find his identity, we swallow the loss. If we do…"
He left the rest unsaid.
But One Leaf Knows Autumn understood perfectly. "Yes, Father."
Samsara Space
Back in Samsara, Fenric stood bathed in healing scarlet light. Warmth flooded his nerves; severed flesh writhed and reknit. In mere breaths his left arm regrew from stump to fully articulate limb.
He flexed experimentally. Grip strength normal. No lag. System therapy—reliable as ever.
Then came the reward cascade:
Dear Samsara player "Shura," mission complete. Rewards:
• Samsara Points: +50,000.
• +30 Physical Attribute Points (distributed).
• Dungeon Cooldown Refresh Card ×1 (stored in Personal Warehouse).
• Golden Treasure Chest ×1 (stored).
Fenric's eyes lit. Now that was a Nightmare payout. Just the raw points dwarfed his haul from World War Z. And this didn't include the mystery bracelet he'd looted off Renée Chu's remains.
Worth the risk? Absolutely.
He materialized on Samsara Plaza—and the pings began instantly.
Incoming video request: Friend "Arke."
Incoming video request: Friend "Aurora Morwyn."
Good thing he'd pre‑blocked unknowns, or his comms would be a crater right now.
"Decline for now," he told the System. "Reply: I'm tied up—will contact you later."
With that handled, he slipped straight into his Personal Warehouse interface.
Time to check my Treasure chest.
In another sector of Samsara, a masked girl frowned as the prompt chimed:
"Your video call was declined. Response from party 'Shura': I'm tied up—will contact you later."
Her shoulders slumped. She exhaled, long and tired, then logged off without replying.
Elsewhere, Aurora Morwyn received the same message—and blinked. Stunned, not offended.
World Rank #2. People lined up to flatter her. Even Adam usually returned contact. This was the first time anyone had flatly bounced her call.
She wasn't angry. If anything, she was intrigued.
"System," she said mildly, "leave a message. Tell Shura I'd like to speak when he's free."
She had reasons to move quickly. Word of Shura's Nightmare clearance had already reached the Central Elders, and interest burned hot. She needed to gauge his stance before some other faction snapped him up.
Everyone could see it now: surpassing Adam was only a matter of time.
Adam alone had forced whole nations to bow their heads. If he chose, a surgical strike program of decapitation raids would leave governments helpless.
And Shura? With even higher growth ceiling?
Every major power wanted him. Some to court. Some to chain. Some to erase.