Maike made her way to the gathering hall, feeling a mix of anticipation and unease. Kael had summoned everyone to address what had happened to Thalion—and something entirely new that, would change their lives forever. Maike was skeptical.

She couldn’t believe the story circulating among the guards. According to the official account, Thalion had suddenly gone mad, burning a group of low-level hunters to ashes.

Yet to Maike, it didn’t add up. Thalion was intense, yes, and he had used her to switch tokens, but he wasn’t a monster. If he had been, why hadn’t he simply killed her and left no loose ends? Something felt deeply wrong here.

Some of the guards shared her doubt, showing subtle signs of distrust as they awaited Kael’s speech.

Others, though, were focused on the reward Kael had offered for information on Thalion, shifting their loyalty toward Kael's side in exchange for safety and personal gain.

Maike was curious to hear what the commander had to say but wary of what truths might be bent in the process.

When she entered the grand, ancient hall—a former training facility that had since been remodeled to accommodate up to 4,000 people—she was amazed anew.

She marveled at the walls; it fascinated her that entire buildings could be created from the system shop with such ease. She had seen the building process once, though "construction" hardly felt like the right term. It was more like a chicken egg hatching—a crystal placed at the desired spot would break open, and the building would rise from nothing.

As she took her seat on the second floor, Kael walked onto the stage, accompanied by Sylas and Kai. His voice, amplified by mana, resonated through the massive hall.

“Thank you all for coming. Much has happened in the past few days, and you all deserve to know the truth,” he began.

Kael’s voice held the attention of everyone present. “To start with, the Great Aeta has blessed me with an upgrade to a legendary blessing.” Some of the audience applauded, while most remained silent, hanging on his every word.

“Beyond the boost to my own power, this blessing allows me to baptize others, opening new doors and opportunities for all of you,” Kael continued. “With this extra strength, your odds of survival against the undead rise considerably. Of course, choosing this honor is entirely up to you.”

The hall erupted into enthusiastic applause, with many rising to their feet and cheering his name.

Maike observed how the lure of these “extra stats” had already swayed many in the audience to trust Kael unconditionally.

“For my second announcement,” he continued after the applause had quieted, “we have seven days until our teleport to the next stage. For those wishing to stay behind, know that we will leave nothing here. All resources are essential for the battle against the undead.”

A tense silence fell as Kael transitioned to the next part of his speech. “Lastly, we’ve gathered here to acknowledge a tragic loss. Thalion, one of our strongest fighters and my close friend, has fallen.

He... he lost himself and murdered a group of low-level hunters. Now, he has joined the undead.” Kael’s voice trembled, though his face remained stern. “Our mission for the coming days is to find him and end him before he gains enough credits to advance to the fourth stage. The hunters who bring me his body, dead or alive, will receive my unwavering support.”

The hall buzzed with murmurs. Greed flickered in the eyes of many—Kael’s offer of support was invaluable. But Maike watched uneasily as numerous guards, whom she’d noticed questioning the official story earlier, seemed to shift their beliefs, allured by Kael’s rewards.

She, however, remained steadfast in her suspicion. This puzzle intrigued her, and now, with Kael so determined to hunt Thalion, she felt more driven than ever to uncover the truth.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out as a group of scouts entered the hall. They escorted a teenage boy, a woman, and a man with one arm and no legs toward the stage.

“Kael, we found these three in the forest. They claim to have encountered Thalion,” one scout called out.

“There, you see?” Kael announced, his voice dripping with contempt. “This is proof of Thalion’s monstrous nature. We must act quickly!”

“That’s not true!” shouted Hanako, the teenage boy, his voice defiant and fierce. The hall fell silent, with whispers erupting as the audience turned their attention to the boy.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“We were attacked by three onyx scorpions—level 50, maybe higher—and two giant tarantulas, one over level 60! One of the scorpions started eating my dad alive.

Then Thalion appeared and saved us. He wore a black robe, used blood magic, and after killing the beasts, he directed us here for safety.”

As Hanako finished, the hall broke out in heated debate. One side argued for Thalion’s innocence, while others insisted he was a traitor who had sided with the undead.

“Silence!” Kael shouted. “This is clearly a trick meant to sow doubt in our ranks.” He paused, allowing his words to sink in. “The bounty stands.

We will not force anyone to join the hunt, but remember—this man is cunning, capable of manipulating you into seeing him as a savior while plotting your downfall. Let me remind you: Thalion is none other than the elusive umbral predator we’ve been tracking all along.”

Shouts and discussions filled the air until Kael raised his hand for silence. “I understand if some of you are hesitant to fully trust me. But rest assured, my actions speak for my commitment to our collective survival.”

As the gathering concluded, many lingered, eager to be baptized by Kael, leaving the hall with visible satisfaction after each ceremony. Maike noticed that the little family still stood in the center, exchanging glances and unsure of their place.

As they moved to leave, they were met with skeptical stares. Some asked them for further details on Thalion, like his level, but most seemed more interested in the bounty.

Maike swiftly made her way toward them, using her assassin skills to slip through the crowd with ease. “Hello! I’m Maike,” she greeted the family with a warm smile. “Let me show you to your quarters. You must be exhausted after such an ordeal.”

“That would be wonderful,” Sachiko replied. “It’s been two days since Thalion saved us.”

“Oh, you must be exhausted! Let’s go to my place; I can tell you more about this base and arrange for a healer to help with your recovery.” With that, Maike led them out of the hall.

Meanwhile, Kargul, Evelyn, and Vorlok watched from a distance. They had witnessed the entire gathering but held their own council.

“What do we do now?” Kargul asked Evelyn.

Evelyn took a moment before responding. “Staying here is our best option. The defenses are unmatched, and I’m not keen on wandering through forests with possible vampires around every corner.”

“I suppose,” Kargul conceded. “Should we head out for another hunting trip?”

“Yes! I can’t wait to explore the jungle. If we’re lucky, we might even meet Thalion and get our answers firsthand.” Evelyn’s eyes gleamed with determination as they set out for the exit.

Kael, Sylas, and Kai sat together in Kael's quarters later that day, deep in discussion about their next steps. "Do you really think we even stand a chance of tracking him down? He defeated Sylas, after all," Kai remarked, his expression shadowed by doubt.

"Yes, but remember," Kael replied, his tone unwavering, "my patron, Aeta, granted me the upgraded blessing for a reason. Regardless, Thalion must be stopped." He shook his head, frustration evident.

Sylas, defensive, interjected, "That cursed sword of his— it was unlike anything I’ve encountered. It blocked my spells effortlessly and even absorbed some, enhancing his abilities beyond reason."He clenched his fists, reliving the encounter. "But next time, it will be different. My patron has helped me secure new items and manuals, so our next clash will end in my favor."

"Good. I’ve already sent out scouts to locate him," Kael informed them, "and in the meantime, we’ll collect the sky crystals Thalion previously found."

"Oh, did you go ahead and purchase the flying ships?" Sylas asked, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"I did," Kael replied with a satisfied smile, "three large vessels, all equipped with multiple defensive wards and magic circles." He continued, "Along with those, I bought a fleet of thirty smaller ships built primarily for speed."

"That's incredible!" Sylas exclaimed eagerly. "I can’t wait to use one."

Kai, more serious, raised a point. "Didn’t we overlook something? What do we do about those who think we’re lying?"

Kael shrugged, "Nothing. My intentions are only for their benefit. We need every fighter we can muster for the fourth stage. And did you see how many were ready to hunt for him? They need this focus."

"They’re not strong enough to defeat him," Kai countered firmly.

"True, but I’ve expanded the range of our communication crystals and tokens," Kael explained. "We’ll now know immediately when a hunting party has been eliminated."

"Smart. With that, we might actually take him down before the fourth stage," Kai said, nodding. "So, when do we set out with the flying ships?"

"Tomorrow morning," Kael answered. "The sooner we can start harvesting those crystals, the better."

Sylas smirked. "There’s something else: after you told everyone Thalion was the infamous umbral predator, about fifty shapeshifters are now fervently tracking him down."

"Perfect. I ordered them to come with us tomorrow. They need a proper flying form, not those insect shapes they’ve been using," Kael explained.

Sylas, curious, asked, "How confident are you two in a one-on-one against Thalion?"

"He stands no chance if I get close," Kael replied, his voice full of conviction.

Kai nodded, adding, "He has his strengths, but I have divine guidance, and I'm an expert in duels."

Kael nodded, his gaze hardening. "Most of our elite fighters are now capable of defeating him. Thalion’s progress simply can’t keep up with ours."

He continued, "And we needn’t worry about him seeking revenge. Shapeshifters need excessive resources to cultivate all their forms and become elite fighters. Their primary value is in reconnaissance and adopting powerful beasts’ shapes, but true elite fighters? They’re not."

"Agreed," Sylas said, emptying his glass of wine. "I need to get some body-tempering done, so I’ll take my leave."

"Yes, see you tomorrow," Kael replied, and they all departed for another round of cultivation.

Kael lingered alone in his chambers, staring into the flickering fire. One thing still bothered him—how had Thalion known they were plotting his death?

He had just recently purchased that item from the system shop, nearly exhausting his credits, and shortly afterward, Thalion made his request for blood. He was missing a piece of the puzzle, and that uncertainty gnawed at him.