Chapter Three: The Path of the Unknown
The dark glass of the car reflected the faint lights of the night as John sat motionless in the back seat.
His long black coat flowed over his body like a heavy shadow. The hat hid half his face, and the glasses reflected the passing glow of the streetlights.
Between his fingers burned a cigarette.
He wasn't smoking it so much as watching it burn… slowly.
As if he were measuring time itself.
Smoke rose into the air, carrying his thoughts with it.
The Pharaoh Family isn't foolish.
He said it coldly in his mind.
They will assume the possibility of our betrayal.
Not today… but soon.
He exhaled slowly.
And they will need a guarantee.
Something that cannot easily be broken.
He knew the answer before finishing the thought.
Path Binding.
Something inside his chest trembled.
Not fear…
Disgust.
Path Binding was not merely a contract.
It was an existential oath.
A promise made by an Awakened to his very Path.
If the oath were broken…
the Path would collapse.
The aura would shatter.
And years of progress would vanish in a single moment.
Perfect chains.
And a method of killing without blood.
John turned his head slightly, watching his reflection in the dark glass.
But… there is no system without a flaw.
A single image appeared in his mind.
The face of a young man.
Calm eyes.
Far too calm for someone his age.
And a smile that did not belong to youth.
Romeo.
His nephew.
The genius who had not been born at the wrong time…
but at the most dangerous one.
Sixteen years old.
Walker Rank.
Talent beyond his generation.
But that wasn't what made him important.
John crushed the cigarette slowly between his fingers.
The Path of Blood.
One of the oldest…
and most dangerous Paths.
A Path that never gave without taking.
A Path that had never known stability.
And yet…
Romeo had invented something.
Something no one had ever done before.
The Blood and Soul Renewal Technique.
Not healing.
Not sacrifice.
But rewriting.
Altering the structure of blood.
Realigning the soul.
And shattering any contract—
even those tied to the Path itself.
A faint smile appeared on John's lips.
Barely there.
If there is one person capable of breaking Path Binding…
it is Romeo.
The driver's voice interrupted him calmly.
"We've arrived, sir."
The cigarette died between John's fingers.
He opened the door and stepped out.
Before him stood a massive gate stretching so far that its edges disappeared into the darkness.
Towering walls carved with ancient symbols.
An invisible aura pressed against the chest.
Above the gate, carved in huge stone letters:
PATH ACADEMY
John stared at it for a long moment.
"…It's been a long time since I last entered this place."
He walked forward steadily.
From his pocket, he pulled out an old metallic entry card, still carrying a faint aura.
The guard glanced at it.
Then immediately stepped aside without a word.
The gate opened.
John entered.
And the academy…
was exactly the same.
A place that did not merely create the strong.
It decided…
who deserved to remain alive.
John walked through the academy corridors slowly.
The marble floors reflected his long shadow.
Symbols carved into the walls whispered a history only those who lived through it could hear.
The place was exactly as he remembered.
Beautiful.
Cruel.
And merciless to those who fell behind.
He stopped suddenly.
A girl stood before him.
Her hair shone golden like strands of sunlight.
Her eyes carried the same color—sharp, yet strangely warm.
She studied him for a moment.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"John… it's been a long time."
John raised his head.
He looked at her for a moment, then removed his hat and bowed respectfully.
"Melissa… how have you been?"
"Good," she replied.
Then tilted her head slightly.
"But… why are you here?"
John placed the hat back on his head.
"I wanted to check on my family here."
A brief silence followed.
Then Melissa's expression changed slightly.
"Yes… I heard about the deaths among the third-rank noble families."
She hesitated.
"And I also heard that you and Robert were attacked."
"Are you alright?"
John waved dismissively.
"Just minor injuries."
"They're nothing serious."
She studied him carefully, as if trying to read the truth behind his words.
Then she said confidently,
"The Empire will find the culprit. Things like this never go unanswered."
She sighed lightly.
"Anyway… I should go. I came here because I was appointed as an instructor."
John's eyes widened slightly.
"An instructor?"
He stared at her closely.
"Does that mean… you reached Adept Rank?"
Melissa nodded with a calm smile.
"Yes."
Silence fell for a moment.
"Goodbye, John."
"I'll see you later."
She turned and walked away, her footsteps fading into the corridors.
John remained where he stood.
"Adept… at twenty years old."
He murmured quietly.
"Melissa… the gap between us has grown quite large."
He organized his thoughts again and continued walking.
The deeper he entered the academy, the heavier the aura became.
Training towers.
Open arenas.
Students passing by without noticing him.
An entire world moving forward without waiting for anyone.
He finally stopped before a simple door.
A small metal plate above it read:
Room 67
He knocked.
The door opened instantly.
A young man stood there.
Long red hair like flowing blood.
Red eyes.
Calm… yet sharp.
As if they saw more than they should.
The young man smiled.
"Uncle John… welcome. Please come in."
John entered and closed the door behind him.
"Romeo… how are you?"
They exchanged brief conversation.
Small talk about the academy.
About training.
About the calm before storms.
Then John's tone changed.
Heavier.
Colder.
"The situation isn't good."
He said directly.
"The family needs you."
Romeo didn't look surprised.
"Alright, Uncle."
He replied calmly.
"I will do my best for the family."
Then he hesitated slightly.
"Did something happen to my father… or mother?"
John answered immediately.
"No. They're fine."
Romeo exhaled in relief.
"Come."
John turned toward the door.
"We're leaving now."
"We must return to the family immediately… and you'll see them yourself."
They left the room together.
As they walked, a thought passed through John's mind.
Romeo's hair…
used to be black.
Normal.
A child without a terrifying aura.
Then he awakened at thirteen.
From that day forward…
his hair and eyes had turned red.
John tightened his coat slightly.
As if the Path of Blood had not merely chosen him.
But rebuilt him.
When the black car stopped before the Runt Family gate, night had already swallowed the world.
The iron gate loomed tall.
Ancient.
Half eroded by time.
Half still sharp enough to resist collapse.
Dim lights flickered along the stone walls.
The estate felt heavy.
As if the house itself were waiting for bad news.
John stepped out first.
His long coat reached his knees.
The hat hid half his face.
Dark glasses concealed restless eyes.
He crushed his cigarette beneath his shoe slowly.
Behind him, Romeo stepped out.
His long red hair fell across his shoulders.
His crimson eyes silently examined the mansion.
The gate opened with a heavy creak.
As if the family itself breathed with difficulty.
They entered.
Servants stood along the courtyard.
Heads lowered.
Some avoided looking at Romeo.
Some looked at him with fear.
Others with awe.
A guard approached hesitantly.
"Sir John… Sir Romeo… the patriarch is in the grand hall. Everyone is waiting."
John nodded silently.
They walked inside.
The Grand Hall was lit by ancient torches.
Orange flames danced across massive stone pillars.
Family banners hung on the walls—
faded… more than ever before.
At the head of the hall sat Barathium.
White hair flowed over his shoulders.
His back straight despite his age.
His eyes sharp like blades.
The entire family sat around the table.
Silence dominated the room.
When John entered, heads turned.
When Romeo entered…
the atmosphere changed.
A faint blood-colored aura spread through the air.
Barely noticeable.
But enough to tighten chests.
Barathium stood slowly.
His cane struck the ground once.
"You've returned… at last."
His gaze shifted to Romeo.
"And you… child of blood."
Romeo stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Grandfather."
Silence.
Then a chair scraped.
Kara Runt stood.
His black coat hung open.
Gray hair mixed with black made his face harsher.
He studied Romeo carefully.
"The aura around you…"
He said quietly.
"It is no longer that of an ordinary Walker."
Some people stiffened.
John broke the silence.
"This is not the time for tests."
Then he looked at his father.
"We were attacked again on the way back."
"Professional assassins."
Barathium's grip tightened on his cane.
"Their rank?"
"Walker… possibly higher."
"How many?"
"More than there should be."
Whispers spread through the hall.
Barathium struck the floor again.
"Then this is no longer a threat…"
"It is the beginning of extermination."
Everyone looked at Romeo unconsciously.
As if his presence alone was an answer.
Romeo stepped forward.
His voice calm beyond his age.
"Uncle John said the family needs me."
He raised his red eyes.
"I'm here."
In that moment, everyone felt something strange.
Not raw power.
Not direct threat.
But a subtle shift.
As if the balance of the family had begun to change.
Barathium slowly sat down again.
He pointed to the seat opposite him.
"Then… let us begin."
Outside the mansion, the night deepened
As if the world itself waited for the decision of the Runt Family.