After some time, Ming slowly opened his eyes. As his vision cleared, he saw a boy sitting in front of him — and he froze in shock. The boy had the exact same face as him. Fear shot through Ming's chest, and he quickly jumped to his feet, taking a fighting stance.
"Who are you?" Ming demanded.
That copy glared at him, then lunged forward and kicked him hard in the stomach.
"How dare a human question me!" he shouted.
In his eyes, Ming could clearly see hostility — but he had no idea what he had done to deserve it
Groaning in pain, Ming pushed himself back up.
"What do you want from me?" he asked.
The copy stepped closer, a faint smirk on his face.
"Oh? And why do you think I want something from you?"
"Because you didn't kill me," Ming said through gritted teeth. "If you didn't want anything, then why did you guide me here?"
Hearing that, he smiled.
"I want you to give up your humanity. I can see you hate humans, and in return I'll give you the power to rule — or to destroy — all of humanity."
Ming went still, unsure how to answer.
"If you refuse," the copy continued, "I'll send you past the Red Line. There are people waiting for you there — you know what that means: a certain death at your enemies' hands."
Ming didn't care about honor or pity anymore; revenge mattered most.
"Giving up my humanity is a small price," he muttered, surprising even himself with how calm he sounded.
The copy tilted his head, studying him. "I expected you'd accept. Your condition suits me. I like you—not enough to trust you, but enough to... use you."
He smiled, then drew his palm across his wrist. Black blood welled from the cut like ink. drank it Without hesitation, Ming reached out and drank.
"That blood will obey me whenever I command it," He said, eyes cold. "It will kill you in an instant — so you'd better not try to deceive me."
"Now then, Ming," the copy said, his voice echoing like it came from a hollow pit. "I suppose I should introduce myself."
He smiled — a cold, knowing smile that made the air feel heavier.
"I'm an Abyssal… and my name is Lyssar."
"are you're not going to thank me? I healed you," Lyssar said calmly.
Ming looked down at his hand and froze — the wound was gone, completely vanished as if it had never existed.
"…Thanks," he muttered. Then, after a short pause, he frowned.
"I've never even heard of Abyssal before."
"My people no longer exist.
" Where did they all go?" Ming asked. "Surely they didn't go extinct — not when you're this strong. If you're any example, your race must've been powerful."
"You're right — my race was strong," he said quietly. "But one of us… betrayed the rest. He mingled with humans and annihilated all the Abyssals."
"So you're telling me someone killed his own race? But why would he do that?" Ming asked, confusion and disbelief mixing in his voice.
Lyssar looked at him silently for a moment, then opened his mouth to speak. "He was half-human… and half-Abyssal," he said softly. "All he ever wanted was to be accepted by someone. But because he was a half-breed, both sides hated him. Then, one day, a group of humans came to him. They told him he could become one of them." Lyssar's eyes darkened. "You can't imagine how happy he was to hear that. But… there was a condition."
Ming stayed silent as Lyssar went on.
"He didn't want to live alone anymore," Lyssar said softly. "So he accepted their offer. He created the most powerful martial art ever known — and with it, he slaughtered every single Abyssal that walked this land."
Lyssar's voice darkened. "When the last of us had fallen, the humans told him his work was done. They said, 'We have shown you mercy because you helped us annihilate them.'"
His eyes flared with rage. "But it was a lie. The truth is, they never had the strength to kill him. So they only sealed him away — for eternity."
Ming's eyes widened as realization struck. The story Lyssar was telling — was about himself.
"So you don't want to take revenge for what they did to you?" Ming asked.
Lyssar laughed—short and hollow. "Revenge? I think about it every day. It's the only reason I stayed alive: to kill them." He stared at the distant horizon, voice flat. "But that seal… I can't break it. A thousand years have passed. I never thought any of them would still be alive." He turned back to Ming, eyes unreadable. "So what should I take my revenge on?"
Ming's reply cut the air like a blade. "Humans."
Lyssar's face tightened with anger. "Yes — you're right. I lacked the strength, and my life ended in fear. that I would never be able to take my revenge on them and That's why I'll pass my power to you, but it comes with a curse. Whenever you look on a human, the urge to kill will rise. "It won't work on your subordinate. You won't be left to fight them by yourself."
"If the taint hit everyone — friend or enemy alike — you'd end up wanting to kill them all, even your closest allies."