"Who DARES! To touch MY treasures?"

A man stood there with a furious look on his face. The air around him was dense and heavy; people on the street fell on their knees, unable to breathe.

Aron scanned his surroundings, and when he saw the slave collar in the hand of the giant man who tried to touch Kasumi, Aron's rage rose, and a killing intent exploded from his body.

Moments ago, Aron didn't have time to understand or think about the situation. He just heard Kasumi shouting, and when he saw behind the store glass that a giant man was going to touch her, Aron's reasoning flew out the window. He immediately summoned Python and threw it at the man, effectively cutting his arm in the process.

And now, when he saw an ugly, fat old man wearing expensive clothes, clearly a noble, and a slave collar in the servant's hand, he formed a basic idea of the situation and what the two men intended.

And that broke something inside Aron.

'They dare touch the dragon's hoard. They need to die... NO, burn slowly.'

"Aron," Kasumi called to him with teary eyes. She didn't use 'Master' since she's feeling... Well, a lot of feelings. Her emotions are in chaos now, mainly fear. Fear of going back to being a slave. However, Aron's appearance calmed her a bit since she knew for sure that he wouldn't let that happen.

Aron narrowed his eyes when he saw the two girls. Pethra was fine; she had a small smile on her face as she leaned on her staff. Kasumi, on the other hand, had tears streaming down her cheeks, and her legs were shaking slightly. And that didn't please Aron.

"What happened?" He asked with the same deep voice.

Pethra pointed to the fat, ugly man. "He tried to take Kasumi as a slave, and that man is his servant."

"Hmm! I see." Then he began taking steps toward Kasumi, and with each step, the pressure around him grew. Some people on the street had passed out by now. Even Pethra and Kasumi felt some of Aron's pressure—not like the rest, but the pressure was there.

Aron stood in front of Kasumi, and the little fox immediately hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest.

"Aron!" She cried his name, and Aron felt tears on his shirt. Then he wrapped his arms around her protectively and spoke softly into her ear.

"No one is going to take you away from me, my little fox."

"!!!" Kasumi visibly shivered when she felt him close to her ear and listened to his words.

Then Aron held her face gently with both hands and gazed into her violet eyes. He brought his face close to hers, really close, his skin was almost touching hers.

Badump. Badump.

Kasumi's heart began to race as she blushed slightly.

'Close!... Close!... Is this what I think it is?...But this is my First!...Close!' honestly she was excited for his next action; however, Aron did something that no one expected.

BAAAM!

He gave her a strong headbutt.

"O-Ouch! What was that fo-" Holding her head in both hands, Kasumi tried to ask why he hit her, but Aron interrupted.

"Weak."

"!!!" Kasumi shivered when she sensed the seriousness in his deep voice.

"...Is this how you show me strength?" He asked.

"???" Kasumi didn't understand the meaning behind his words.

As if he could read her thoughts, Aron explained, "Someone tried to take away your freedom; what did you do?"

"...NOTHING!"

Kasumi lowered her head and bit her lips, she couldn't deny his words, even if she's an assassin and fighting head-on wasn't her strong point. She must fight. She was trained to sneak in, assassinate, and leave no Trace behind. However, an assassin must adapt to any situation.

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"I think I made myself clear last time, I told you I despise weakness, and what did you show now? Answer me!"

Kasumi clenched her fist. "Weakness," she replied, with her head lowered.

"Exactly. If you want to be my shadow, you need to be strong, stronger than anyone else. Only I stand above you; the rest is beneath you."

Kasumi opened her eyes in shock and understood the deep meaning behind his words.

Aron then lifted her chin gently and gazed into her eyes.

"No one is allowed to order you except me. You bow to no one, and no one is allowed to touch you but me. If they try, you cut off their hands and feed it to them. Understand?"

Kasumi kept silent, watching the crimson flames dancing in his eyes.

"You're mine, Kasumi. My treasure. Never forget that."

Kasumi widens her eyes as she senses an overwhelming feeling coming from Aron.

Obsession and protection.

Badump. Badump.

Her heart raced. She had never seen this level of intensity and possessiveness, as well as the fierce display of protection before. Not even from her clan members, her own flesh and blood.

Aron's intense emotions and actions left her in shock and with mixed emotions. She didn't know how to react to this, but deep down, she loved it. His possessive nature awakened a dormant fire within her, and she knew that she would do whatever it took to become stronger and to stand by his side as his shadow.

She nodded silently, with red cheeks and her voice caught in her throat.

Aron flashed a smile, a gentle smile that he showed only to Raum and Pethra, the only ones that he cared about.

Aron released her from his grip. He turned his attention to Lord William and Boldar, who froze in fear, unable to comprehend the overwhelming pressure exuding from Aron.

"You." Aron's voice carried a dangerous edge as he directed his gaze at Boldar, who was still holding onto his missing arm and bleeding to death. "Do you have any last words before I erase you from existence?"

Boldar, pale and trembling, struggled to find his voice under the weight of Aron's gaze and his killing intent.

"I... I..." Boldar stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "Please... have mercy... I was just following orders."

Aron narrowed his eyes, and the flames inside them glowed brighter.

"Mercy is a luxury I do not extend to those who violate what is mine."

Boldar felt the pressure around him double as he found it hard to stay on his knees, so he had no choice but to slam his face to the ground.

Aron grabbed Python and walked toward the half-giant. He stood on top of him and pointed the tip of Python at his neck.

Boldar tried to plead for mercy, but Aron didn't care. In his mind, if you touch what's mine, prepare to die. It's that simple.

So he pierced Python into the half-giant's neck all the way to his throat. Soon, Python began to suck all of Boldar's blood, and his body began to age rapidly, much like what happened last time to Lord Julian.

Aron left Python sucking the blood since it was going to take a while due to Boldar's massive figure. Then, he walked to Lord William, who was kneeling on the ground.

Aron gazed at him. "Always a noble, huh?" he paused. "You're the third noble I've met, and as far as I can see, you all have the same sick attitude, always thinking that you're some kind of higher beings and have the right to do whatever you like to anyone."

"I..." Lord William trembled under Aron's penetrating gaze. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he struggled to speak.

"Silence!" Aron ordered.

Aron's expression remained stern, his crimson eyes ablaze with fury. He towered over Lord William, overpowering him with his presence.

"Just die." Aron raised his foot above Lord William's head, who was kneeling before him. As Aron was about to crush his head, a powerful voice echoed in the area.

"STOP!" Suddenly a voice was heard, followed by a bright golden light, momentarily blinding everyone.

When Aron regained his sight, he found himself unable to move. He looked down and found rings of pure golden light all over his body, preventing him from making any movement and putting heavy pressure on him.

Step. Step.

The sound of footsteps drew everyone's attention to a young man with short blond hair and extremely white, radiant skin. The young man was wearing a pure white robe with golden details all over it, mainly the symbol of a blazing sun.

The man was also wearing a blindfold with the sun symbol, and a golden rosary with the same symbol was on his wrist.

"Stop! I can't allow you to kill this man," the young man spoke, addressing Aron. His voice was calm and warm, like morning sunlight.

Regaining their sight, Pethra and Kasumi shook when they saw the golden rings around Aron.

"Aron/Master!" they shouted and took a few steps toward him. However, the young blind man raised his right hand.

"Remain still." Immediately, a golden light enveloped the two girls, creating the same rings and preventing them from moving.

"F-Father Valarian!" Lord William called with teary eyes.

"Silence," despite the calm voice, Lord William sensed the anger behind it.

'And why does everyone persist in silencing me? I am of noble birth!'He complained in his mind, but he had no courage to say it out loud now, not with an angry man's foot above his head.

Father Valarian approached Aron. The air around him held a sense of authority and power.

"I know this man is a pig, but I can't allow you to kill him. He has an important diplomatic mission."

"Who do you call pi-" Lord William tried to talk back, but Father Valarian raised his finger, and immediately a golden light covered William's mouth.

"You killed his servant, and I think that's enough-" He stopped when he saw Python and the state of Boldar's corpse.

'Hmm? ... Blood weapon!...Interesting!'

Suddenly, Aron's pressure and killing intent disappeared completely, and silence fell over the area.

Badump.

"...Eh?"

Everyone was confused for a second as they imagined themselves hearing the sound of heartbeats.

Badump. Badump.

This time, the sound was louder. They all looked in the direction of the sound, and it was Aron.

Badump. Badump. Badump. Badump.

It became louder and louder, and dark-red energy began leaking from Aron's body.

'Not good; something is coming!' Father Valarian thought as he prepared himself for any sudden danger.

Aron was lost in his own world; his vision blurred, and his mind was filled with

Rage.

Hatred.

And a system message was in front of him.

[Unique Skill detected]

[Skill: Pride]