The dim glow of a dying lantern revealed a nightmarish scene: a severed arm draped over a shattered chair, blood pooling beneath splintered wood, and walls smeared with crimson handprints. The air reeked of iron and death, and the flickering light cast grotesque shadows that danced across the carnage. Amidst the carnage stood a lone boy, an eerie, evil smile plastered across his face—a grin that could send chills down anyone's spine. Among the lifeless bodies, there was one man still alive, his eyes wide with terror, his breath coming in shallow gasps. He clutched at the ground as if trying to anchor himself, unable to look away from the boy who stood before him. Every instinct screamed at him to run, but his body was paralyzed, as though the sheer malevolence radiating from the boy had rooted him to the spot.
“Who... who are you? Or should I ask—what are you?” the terrified man stammered, his voice cracking with fear.
The man’s breath hitched as his eyes met the boy’s, where twin embers of malice seemed to burn. A wave of cold dread swept over him, and he instinctively recoiled, his body trembling uncontrollably under the weight of that unholy gaze. His posture was unnervingly calm, but the faint smirk tugging at his lips hinted at a sadistic pleasure, making his presence even more chilling. He chuckled softly before replying, “Oh, come on. You know the answer to that question, don’t you?”
The man’s breath quickened as he muttered, “You’re a monster... a monster who’s given up on humanity, aren’t you?”
The boy’s sinister grin widened as a low, chilling laugh escaped his lips. “See? I knew you had the answer all along. But you were playing dumb, weren’t you? You should be punished for that,” he said in a chilling tone.
Without hesitation, the boy stepped on the man’s neck, pinning him down with a force that made the man gag and claw at the ground in desperation. His eyes bulged as he let out a strangled cry, his hands flailing weakly against the crushing weight. The room seemed to shrink around him, the oppressive silence amplifying his futile struggles. He leaned in closer and whispered, “I’ll see you in hell.” With a swift motion, he snapped the man’s neck, silencing him forever.
As the boy disappeared into the shadows, his creepy smile lingered in the darkness, leaving behind only silence and death.
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In a dreamlike void, two figures emerged—a boy and a girl, both wearing unsettling, twisted smiles. A third figure, a cheerful boy radiating happiness, stood with them—a reflection of what Ken once was, a symbol of innocence long lost. To Ken, this boy wasn’t just a memory but a haunting representation of the purity and hope he had abandoned. The twisted smiles of the other two figures seemed to mock him, as if saying that the light he once carried was a weakness, now forever out of reach. Ken’s mind churned with guilt and anger, his subconscious punishing him for his choices, reminding him that the boy he used to be would despise the monster he had become. His bright demeanor was a stark contrast to the crumbling ground beneath their feet. His bright demeanor was a stark contrast to the crumbling ground beneath their feet. The cheerful boy’s face lit up as he looked at the pair, who seemed to bring him joy. But his joy was short-lived.
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The boy and girl turned to him, their smiles becoming menacing as they said in unison, “Now die, you worthless kid.”
The cheerful boy’s expression turned to horror as the ground beneath him gave way. Then, the slaughterer of the mercenary clan, the boy who had caused so much death, awoke from his nightmare, his face contorted with rage.
“I’ll give you a living hell far worse than death,” he growled, his lips curling into a creepy smile.
A soft knock broke the tension. The door opened, and a cute maid entered the room, her cheerful voice cutting through the darkness.
“Are you awake, Ken-sama?” she asked with a gentle smile.
Ken Ryu, the boy who hid his true nature, turned to her and responded warmly, “Good morning, Ririko. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I had a lovely sleep. What about you, Ken-sama?” Ririko replied, her voice full of concern.
“Yes, me too,” Ken lied smoothly, masking the horrors of his restless night. In truth, he hadn’t slept properly at all.
“So, Ken-sama, would you like to have breakfast first or take a bath?” Ririko asked.
“I’ll take a bath first,” Ken replied, rising from his bed.
As Ken walked to the bathroom, Ririko stood by, mumbling to herself, “He’s so kind as always. His smile can brighten anyone’s day.”
Hearing her words, Ken muttered under his breath, “I’m sorry, Ririko, but the Ken you knew died three years ago.” His mind briefly wandered to that fateful night—flashes of fire, screams, and betrayal. It was the night that stripped away everything he once held dear, replacing innocence with darkness and purpose with vengeance. The weight of those memories lingered, though his face betrayed none of it. With that, he entered the bathroom.
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After his bath, Ken returned to find Ririko waiting for him at the table, a warm breakfast prepared.
“How was your bath, Ken-sama?” she asked cheerfully.
“It was good. Were you waiting long?” Ken asked, sitting down.
“No, I just finished cooking. You’re right on time,” she said with a smile.
“Is that so? Then let’s eat,” Ken said, his tone light and casual. They began eating together.
Around them, the inn buzzed with conversation. Whispers of recent events filled the air.
“Hey, did you hear about the mercenary group called Sting? They were slaughtered,” one man said at a nearby table.
“Yeah. They say it must be the work of a crazy killer who enjoys carnage,” another replied.
“No way. The way they were torn to pieces? That wasn’t human. It had to be a monster,” a third chimed in.
Ken listened, hiding his amusement as he thought to himself, “Heh, they’re right. It was a monster.” A wicked grin briefly crossed his face.
Later, Ken went out for a walk. As he strolled through the bustling streets, a royal announcer’s voice boomed over the crowd.
“Hear ye, people of Iphera! The king has announced the Knight Imperia, a grand competition to determine the mightiest adventurer in the land!”
Ken’s lips curled into a small, enigmatic smile. “This should be interesting,” he murmured, disappearing into the crowd.