Smoke drifted slowly through the ruined remains of Glaze Moon Village.
Burning houses collapsed into glowing embers.
Ash fell from the sky like black snow.
And in the middle of the destruction…
two figures stood facing each other.
A killer.
And a child who should have been dead.
The assassin slowly lifted his sword.
Then—
his aura exploded.
Crimson energy erupted outward like a raging storm.
The ground beneath his feet cracked as violent pressure spread across the battlefield.
Behind him, the phantom beast formed again.
But this time it was complete.
Larger.
Darker.
More terrifying.
Two massive horns curved upward from its skull as its shadowy body towered over the village ruins.
The phantom creature released a deafening roar.
The assassin spoke coldly.
"You are dangerous."
Crimson light crawled across his blade.
A terrifying technique activated.
Assassin Technique — Blood Phantom Manifestation.
The phantom beast behind him merged partially with his aura.
His killing intent became suffocating.
"So I will erase you completely."
Saltraf stood silently.
His breathing was uneven.
His small body trembled from exhaustion.
But his eyes…
his eyes had changed.
The frightened child had disappeared.
In his place stood something colder.
Something older.
Something that had only just awakened.
Inside his mind, the system spoke.
Primordial Zeroth System Active
Host Condition: Unstable
Energy Output: Rising
The symbol on Saltraf's chest pulsed.
The First Zeroth Mark burned beneath his skin like a hidden sun.
Each pulse sent strange power through his veins.
His muscles tightened.
His senses sharpened.
The world suddenly felt clearer.
Sharper.
Slower.
The assassin moved.
He vanished instantly.
Assassin Technique — Voidstep Execution.
His figure dissolved into crimson mist.
The speed was terrifying.
Faster than ordinary cultivators could even perceive.
But Saltraf saw him.
Not with his eyes.
Something deeper had awakened.
Something instinctive.
The system reacted.
Threat Vector Detected
Predictive Adaptation Activated
Saltraf stepped sideways.
A crimson blade tore through the air where his head had been.
BOOM!
Wind pressure exploded across the battlefield.
The assassin appeared behind him instantly.
His sword spun downward in a deadly arc.
Assassin Technique — Crimson Guillotine.
The strike aimed directly for Saltraf's neck.
Saltraf reacted instinctively.
He raised the wooden weapon.
CLANG!
A metallic explosion echoed across the village.
Shockwaves ripped through the ground as dust blasted into the air.
The assassin's eyes narrowed.
A wooden weapon…
had blocked his blade.
Saltraf pushed forward.
His movements were still rough.
Still imperfect.
But something terrifying was happening.
Every second…
he was improving.
His footwork stabilized.
His reactions sharpened.
His timing became precise.
Inside his mind the system continued.
Adaptation Progress: 42%
Host Evolution: Ongoing
The assassin retreated several steps.
For the first time, he truly studied the boy.
His instincts screamed danger.
"This power…"
His voice was low.
"…it doesn't belong to this universe."
Saltraf didn't answer.
He barely understood what was happening himself.
Only one thought remained in his mind.
The man before him had killed his mother.
His chest burned.
The Zeroth Mark pulsed again.
Then—
something deeper awakened.
A strange sensation exploded within his blood.
Like ancient chains snapping apart.
Something that had slept for endless ages…
was opening its eyes.
The system detected it instantly.
Warning
Bloodline Reaction Detected
Unknown Bloodline Awakening
Saltraf gasped.
Pain flooded through his body.
But this pain was different.
It was not injury.
It was transformation.
His heartbeat thundered violently.
His blood surged like molten fire.
Strange symbols appeared briefly across his skin.
Ancient markings.
Dark patterns.
Symbols that had not existed in the universe for countless ages.
The assassin stepped back.
For the first time…
fear appeared in his eyes.
"What… is that?"
Even the phantom beast behind him reacted.
The enormous creature roared violently.
But its body flickered.
As if something unseen was suppressing it.
Inside Saltraf's mind, the system spoke again.
Bloodline Classification Attempt Failed
Universal Record: Deleted
Bloodline Status: Forbidden
Then—
a new message appeared.
Designation Identified
Primordial Bloodline: Paradox Origin
Saltraf's eyes widened.
Power surged through him again.
Stronger.
Darker.
Deeper.
The air around him distorted.
Reality itself seemed unstable.
The assassin felt cold sweat run down his back.
His instincts screamed danger.
If the boy continued evolving…
he would become something uncontrollable.
Something catastrophic.
"I won't allow that."
His aura erupted violently.
This time he released everything.
Every ounce of power within the Peak Zeroth Dominion Realm.
Crimson energy spiraled around him like a violent hurricane.
The phantom beast grew enormous.
Its roar shook the ruins.
The assassin raised his blade.
"This ends now!"
He charged.
Faster than lightning.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
His sword descended with overwhelming force.
Assassin Technique — Scarlet Execution Heavenfall.
The attack was meant to split the earth itself.
At that exact moment—
the system reacted.
Host Survival Probability: 6%
Emergency Evolution Activated
The First Zeroth Mark exploded with light.
Dark energy surged across Saltraf's body.
Then—
his bloodline awakened.
Saltraf stepped forward.
Not away.
Forward.
The assassin's eyes widened.
Why wasn't he dodging?
Why wasn't he running?
Then Saltraf moved.
For the first time in the battle…
his movement was perfect.
Effortless.
Precise.
He stepped directly inside the attack.
Inside the arc of the sword.
Inside the assassin's killing range.
The assassin's instincts screamed too late.
He had overextended.
Saltraf's wooden weapon moved.
Not fast.
But inevitable.
Like destiny itself.
It thrust forward toward the assassin's chest.
The assassin tried to block.
But something strange happened.
His movements slowed.
Not physically.
But conceptually.
As if reality itself rejected his victory.
The wooden weapon struck.
CRACK.
The sound echoed across the ruined village.
The mark on the assassin's chest shattered.
Fragments of energy exploded outward.
The assassin froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Behind him, the phantom beast shattered into fading particles.
He looked down slowly.
The wooden weapon had pierced straight through his heart.
Impossible.
A cultivator of the Zeroth Dominion Realm…
killed by a child.
With a piece of wood.
His vision darkened.
But before collapsing…
he looked at Saltraf one final time.
"What… are you…?"
Saltraf's eyes were cold.
Emotionless.
Endless.
He pulled the weapon free.
The assassin's body collapsed onto the ground.
Lifeless.
Silence fell over Glaze Moon Village.
Only the distant crackling of burning houses remained.
Saltraf stood there breathing heavily.
The strange energy inside him slowly faded.
His legs trembled violently.
Inside his mind, the system spoke again.
Threat Eliminated
First Zeroth Trial Completed
Saltraf barely understood the words.
His gaze slowly drifted across the village.
Across the destroyed houses.
Across the bodies.
Across the place that had once been his home.
Then his eyes stopped.
His mother.
She still lay where she had fallen.
Unmoving.
The power inside him disappeared completely.
His body collapsed to his knees.
For a long moment…
he said nothing.
Then quietly—
he whispered.
"I'll become stronger."
His voice trembled.
But his eyes did not.
"I'll become strong enough… that this never happens again."
Inside his mind, the system responded.
New Path Registered
Primordial Zeroth Cultivation Path Initiated
Far beyond existence…
beyond time…
beyond the Rock of Eternity…
the ancient entity watched silently.
Its smile slowly widened.
Because the boy the universe tried to erase…
had taken his first step.
And one day—
the entire cosmos would regret it.