The mountaintop blazed with the light of the soaring flames, thick smoke billowing into the sky and obscuring the path. When Higard’s team finally arrived, they found their once-recognizable home reduced to a smoldering ruin.

From the smoke, a familiar silhouette emerged—a figure cradling another. K stumbled out of the haze, his breath ragged and desperate for air, clutching none other than their young leader, Lyra. She lay unconscious in his arms, her body marred by bruises and burn marks.

K called out to Higard as he reached them. "Higard, you’re finally here," he gasped, his voice strained. "Hurry, take Miss Lyra away," he urged, struggling to speak through the thick, choking smoke that surrounded them.

"That thing… it’s too powerful. I couldn’t do anything to stop it from slaughtering everyone here," K said as he collapsed to the ground, sitting with a shattered expression. "All I could do was grab Miss Lyra and run. That thing—it jumped down from here."

Higard, holding Lyra in his arms, murmured to himself, "I—you… this doesn’t make any sense." He turned to K, his face a mix of disbelief and anguish. "Why would you go so far to help someone who kidnapped you?"

Still breathing heavily, K slumped forward, his head bowed, a grin spreading across his face. He stood up slowly, his innocent smile masking the truth. "I understand your predicament," he said softly. "No one wants to be the bad guy if they have a choice."

"It’s true you once kidnapped me, but we wayward souls need to stick together to survive in this cruel world." With a gentle urgency, he waved Higard and his group off. "Go, my friend, before the knights arrive. Find a safe place and lie low for a while. I’ll come to see you soon," he added, his tone carrying the grace of someone who understands the burdens others carry.

Higard and his crew were completely swayed by K’s silver tongue, fully convinced by his performance. Higard nodded with conviction, a tear nearly escaping his eye. "Y-you are truly… Thank you. My friend, I, Higard, will never forget your help." The others in his group nodded in agreement, with some even bowing in respect. Higard then turned and led his men around the main path, away from the mountain.

As soon as they were out of sight, K’s expression shifted faster than the turn of a page. "See you soon, my friend. Hehehe." He chuckled softly to himself as the sound of distant footsteps drew nearer. Glancing toward the main road, he muttered with glee, "Act one is complete. Now, onto Act Two." With that, he quickly got into position.

When the group led by Davis and Instructor Ryan arrived, they were greeted by a blazing inferno, its flames burning brighter than the morning sun. In front of the ruins, K lay on the ground, covered in dirt, barely conscious, with parts of his clothes singed and burnt.

"K!" Davis shouted, rushing forward with Skye close behind to check on him. Instructor Ryan and his team approached more cautiously, unaware of the impending doom that was about to befall their town.

With a few shakes, K was jolted awake. "H-huh? Wha—what… Davis? Skye?" Barely able to open his eyes, K chuckled softly with palpable pain. "It would seem that I… I made quite the blunder, haha."

Instructor Ryan leaned down and gently asked, "Mr. K, I know you’re in pain right now, but could you tell us what happened here?"

K shifted his gaze from Ryan to the ground, his expression somber. "I was too eager to hunt this creature, so I arrived before everyone else. I wasn’t injured by the monster, but I inhaled too much smoke. Before I collapsed, I saw… OH NO!" His eyes widened in apparent fear as he quickly looked back at them.

"The Kelpie—I saw it staring at the town, and then it howled angrily before leaping off the mountain. It might have headed there."

The group was visibly shaken by this revelation. Most of them hadn’t encountered the monster yet, but if it could decimate a bandit hideout so quickly, it was a serious threat. "If what Mr. K says is true, we need to return to the town immediately," Instructor Ryan urged, and without hesitation, the group sprinted down the mountain.

They couldn’t be sure if K’s words were true, given his condition, but the risk was too great to ignore. "Go, Davis, Skye. I’ll be fine—it’ll take more than this to take me out… haha," K said with a strained laugh, his voice laced with exhaustion, coughing, and groaning as he encouraged them to leave him behind.

"Alright, we’ll leave you here then… be careful," Davis replied before rushing off with Skye. Together with Ryan’s group, they headed toward the town, driven by a single goal: to protect it.

As their footsteps faded into the wind and disappeared from view, K chuckled softly, rising to his feet and brushing the dust off his singed outfit. "You can come out now, Vincent. The show’s over," K called into the darkness of the trees untouched by the flames.

A figure draped in a black robe emerged from the shadows, stepping forward to kneel respectfully before K. "Greetings, Master. Your humble servant has completed the tasks you assigned," Vincent intoned.

"I have eliminated all the rats from the Pillar’s House who were trailing you," Vincent reported, then produced a blade from a spatial pouch. "As instructed, Master, I found a blacksmith skilled enough to forge this blade according to your specifications, using the black dragon scales."

Vincent presented the weapon with both hands. K took it and unsheathed the blade, inspecting it with a satisfied smile. "A fine katana indeed. It will work wonders in Davis’s hands." Turning to Vincent, he laughed lightly. "My friend, there’s no need to be so old-fashioned. Come now, kneeling like that—it’s not a great sight, and you’re making me feel old," K said casually, helping Vincent to his feet.

"Speaking of sights… Vincent, care to tell me what you’ve witnessed?" K’s tone sharpened as he asked the question, his nonchalant demeanor belying the deadly intent in his words, which struck Vincent like daggers, sending a chill down his spine.

"Ehehe, don’t lie to me now, my boy. I enjoy misleading others, but I’m not so fond of it when the tables are turned," K said with a gleaming smile, though his words carried a casual warning.

Vincent hesitated briefly before answering in a shaky tone, "I—I saw you, Master… subduing the beast before you pointed it toward the town and let it go." The more he spoke, the harder it became to get the words out.

K paused, his eyes narrowing as he scanned Vincent from head to toe, his head slowly tilting to the side. "There you go, that wasn’t so hard, was it?" He shook his head, chuckling in disbelief. "Oh, calm down, my dearest follower. It was just a small massacre. But here’s the thing, Vincent… Tell me, do you know why I did it?"

Vincent shook his head. "No, Master, I can’t begin to fathom what you’re thinking. But I’m certain your plan is nothing short of profound."

K laughed louder. "There’s nothing profound about it. Licking my boots won’t get you far, but I won’t condemn it either," he remarked his tone a mix of amusement and subtle menace.

K turned his gaze toward the quiet town, blissfully unaware of the nightmare about to descend upon it. "Look at them—so peaceful, so content in their little world. We can’t have that now, can we? Haha," he mused, standing tall on the mountaintop like a god surveying his creation. "What I crave is pure, unadulterated entertainment… the soaring screams of burning souls, rivers of blood that will be remembered in legend, and the chaos that will soon unfold."

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He then turned with innocent eyes to the dumbfounded Vincent. "In other words, I’m bored… and hungry for some chaos." K laughed, and as if on cue, a deafening boom echoed across the valley, followed by the distant, unified screams of terror rising from the direction of the town.

"And so, the show begins," K declared eagerly, presenting the scene as if it were a masterpiece. Vincent watched his master with a mix of awe and fear, overwhelmed by K’s total disregard for human life.

"Now that the show is underway, it’s time for the hero to make his debut," K added with a cheeky grin, turning to Vincent. "Pardon me, master. But what do you mean by that?" Vincent asked with an understandable confusion.

"The pillars of Celestia are now vying for control over the people, which is why they’ve sent so many spies to trail Davis and me," K explained. "They’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to recruit, and this massacre in the town near the main city will cause quite the uproar. If a hero were to rise in these desperate times, then those annoying bastards would shift their focus away from me and Davis for a while."

K gestured toward the destruction below. "Humans are weak, flawed, and easily swayed. The best time to tempt them is when hope seems lost, and when a light appears before them, they’ll cling to it desperately. You, Vincent, will be that light—you were my eyes and ears but now you’ll be my claws and fangs."

He leaned in closer, his tone taking on a more sinister edge. "Don’t you want revenge on Typhon, Vincent? Become their hero, and slowly dismantle his web of followers. Force him to rear his ugly little head. My false messiah, go forth and bring about the light of corruption. Whereas I will be your guide, shining you through your path"

"But master… the innocent," Vincent murmured, his voice barely audible.

K's smile faltered. "Innocent…" He turned to the starry sky. "I was once in love with that word, as I claimed to be it." K took a deep breath before letting out a sigh his smile reappeared, but it felt forced. "In war, sacrifices are unavoidable. But you don’t need to worry about them. As for I, who was forsaken by him." He waved Vincent off. "Go, and finish your task."

Without further question, Vincent obeyed and prepared to join the action, playing the knight bathed in a glistening light. K’s gaze lingered on the stars for a long moment. "Innocent? I wonder… If he were here now, how would he feel? Angry? Sad? Apathetic? Hatred? No… He wouldn’t feel anything."

K turned around and walked away, his hand clenching into a tight fist. His smile turned grimace, his eyes filled with pure hatred. "No, he wouldn’t feel anything," He thought before releasing his anger. "His feelings are too precious to be wasted on something he deemed a mere pet."

The town was engulfed in pure chaos—people ran in every direction, trampling one another, and cries of pain and agony filled the air. The monster made its presence known with a thunderous crash, tearing through numerous houses as it arrived.

It sliced through every building in its path, leaving destruction in its wake. The nearby guards on patrol came face to face with the fleshy abomination. It turned its head toward them and roared. They charged at it blindly, but the monster's tail sent them flying.

A man stepped out of his house and was immediately bitten by the creature. It then turned its fiery gaze to his wife and son, hot smoke billowing from its nostrils. With a terrifying breath, it unleashed a fiery inferno, incinerating them and everything nearby. Another woman, peeking out from behind her window, was spotted by the monster. She ducked down, her body trembling with fear.

She heard the sound of destruction continuing outside, but then it suddenly fell silent. Slowly, she got off the ground and cautiously raised her head to take a peek. There, just beyond the window, was the monster’s red, fleshy face, its hollow eyes staring directly at her.

Before she could react, the monster's jaw smashed through the wall. Time seemed to stand still. The world slowed down as if to force her to savor her final moment. All she could see was the gaping maw of death closing in before everything faded to black.

The kelpie's body swelled with the red, fleshy remains of those it had devoured. Without pause, it continued its rampage.

The group finally arrived at the town entrance where the monster had struck hardest. "Help me—Dad, Mom—My leg!" The desperate cries of those fortunate enough to survive the Kelpie’s rampage created a cacophony of despair.

"Instructor Ryan commanded, "Davis, join me in capturing this Kelpie! Everyone else, spread out and help the citizens!" Before following Instructor Ryan to where the Kelpie is, Davis stopped Skye. "Skye, stay here and help them save the citizens."

Skye barked in protest*

Davis didn't back down. "Don't worry, Skye. I'll be alright. You're needed here to help those in need. Can you do that for me?" he asked. Skye hesitated, then nodded before running off. In truth, Davis didn’t want to risk Skye’s safety.

Davis followed Instructor Ryan deeper into the heart of the town, where the monster continued its rampage. They quickened their pace, dashing through the destruction that surrounded them.

At the town’s center, the monster’s rampage persisted. It moved slowly down the street, devouring and killing those it chose, while inexplicably leaving others alive.

A group of survivors huddled in a narrow alley, watching in terror as the monster passed by. "Shh! Shut up, brat, or it’ll hear you," a guard whispered urgently, trying to quiet a crying boy. But a low growl suddenly rumbled from above. Before the guard could react, he was swallowed whole by the Kelpie, which had been lurking on the roof above them.

A unified scream rang out as the group fled in terror. A young girl was intentionally tripped by one of the knights, hoping to slow the Kelpie down. When the girl raised her head, she found herself face-to-face with the creature. But after a brief moment, it turned away and pursued the fleeing crowd, leaving her unharmed.

The Kelpie leaped into the air and landed in front of the group, cutting off their escape. It leaned its massive head down and roared, revealing a demonic symbol glowing on its tongue—a serpent biting its tail in an infinite loop, the mark of Leviathan.

With a swift motion, the monster bit the knight who had tripped the girl clean in half. It then shifted its attention to the scattering humans, its eyes scanning the crowd as if searching for something—or someone. It zeroed in on a couple who had dashed into a nearby building.

The Knight Captain appeared from behind the Kelpie, slashing at its leg. The attack distracted it just long enough for her to slip into the building with the couple.

With a single swipe of its claw, the kelpie demolished the structure, sending the couple tumbling to the ground, clinging to each other in fear. The Knight Captain stood protectively in front of them. The Kelpie stared at her, then shifted its gaze to the couple. It opened its mouth, and a small spark of flame began to charge, growing steadily in intensity.

"Ilva, my love, I’ll love you until the end," the man whispered, his voice trembling as he tried to shield her with his body.

Ilva, moved by his embrace, cried out, "I’m sorry, Vizke, but I’ve cheated on you with someone. It only happened once I promised, and I’ve regretted it ever since. I’m so sorry."

Vizke was shaken, but his grip on her tightened. "It’s okay. I forgive you."

The moment those words left his lips, the Kelpie's fiery breath subsided, and it pulled its head back slightly as its hollow eye watched the purple light on the girl that no one else could see slowly disappearing.

Lightning God's Sword Technique, First Form: Sky Piercer*

A bolt of lightning shot forth, striking the Kelpie directly in the side of its head. Instructor Ryan leaped forward, his aura-infused sword gleaming as he slashed at the Kelpie’s belly leaving a deep cut. As he landed, he quickly spun around, slicing its leg and causing the beast to stagger backward in pain.

Davis’s body crackled with blue lightning as he swiftly scaled the Kelpie’s massive frame. With a powerful strike to its face, he sent a surge of electricity coursing through its body. The creature wailed in agony, spinning wildly before collapsing backward onto a nearby building.

Davis landed and joined the others, but they didn’t have time to talk as the kelpie quickly rose again, its wounds healing at an unbelievable speed. Embedded in its head was Davis’s sword, lodged deep in the Kelpie’s flesh.

Despite not seeing the glowing purple light that surrounded those it had devoured, the Kelpie now deemed Davis, Instructor Ryan, the Knight Captain, and the couple as enemies. It howled in fury, and flames erupted around its body, engulfing it in fire as it prepared for battle.