The next day, we continued our journey. I sat in silence, thoughts twisting like vines through my mind.
This isn't enough… it barely scratches the surface of their strength.
They needed more. A test—a real one. One that would pull them past their limits, strip them down to raw instinct.
I smiled faintly.
---
Outside the carriage, Fiona and Jin rode side by side. Their cloaks fluttered behind them like wings, wind slicing through the silence.
"Fiona," Jin said, her voice edged with tension. "We need to report this. A mortal killing a Recognition Realmer like an insect? That's not normal."
Fiona's gaze stayed forward, sharp. "You think so?"
Jin frowned. "Don't tell me this is normal to you?"
Fiona exhaled through her nose. "No, not normal. But not surprising either. Since the Rejuvenation, the rules are changing. Reincarnators, transmigrators… hell, even ancient beasts—they're resurfacing. I've seen a few things. And Dax? He's not the first anomaly I've encountered."
Jin's eyes widened. "So... you really believe he's one of them?"
Fiona glanced at her. "Would explain his presence. His strength. That terrifying stillness."
They fell quiet.
---
Hours later, we arrived.
Before us stood the gate— The City of Black Water. Towering and obsidian, like a shard of midnight torn straight from the cosmos. Its surface shimmered faintly with runes that twisted and crawled just beyond recognition, vanishing when stared at directly.
The walls stretched endlessly in both directions, forged from seamless black metal that drank the moonlight. Even the air felt heavier here—as though the city itself bent gravity around it.
Guards patrolled the top, moving in eerie silence. Their black armor glinted, not a footstep out of place, not a breath wasted.
"We've arrived, Master Dax," Fiona said.
I stepped down from the carriage, my silver hair catching the glow of the moon. The moment my feet touched the ground, eyes turned toward me.
"Young master," a voice called.
A middle-aged man in uniform descended from above with surgical grace, landing without a sound. His face was stone—eyes unreadable.
"Welcome back," he said with mechanical formality.
Then, a sharp whistle.
From the shadows above, a snow-white wolf leapt down, landing beside him with regal poise. Its fur shimmered, its eyes cold with intelligence and power.
In my arms, the black kitten stirred, blinked once at the beast, then closed its eyes again with a yawn.
The man mounted the wolf. "Follow me."
---
As we made our way through the city, he began his report.
"In your absence, a strange event occurred the-blood rain. Because of this chaos surged across the continents. But more importantly... your grandfather has awakened. After fifty years of seclusion."
I said nothing, but my thoughts churned.
*Blood Rain… and Grandpa's awakening? The timing can't be a coincidence.*
He gestured down at the wolf. "This beast used to be a Grey Wolf. The rain changed it. Now it's a Lunar Wolf. And it's not the only one. The world is evolving."
I tilted my head. "So... did the Blood Rain help the world, or curse it?"
He blinked at me, puzzled. "Young master, do you mean to say you didn't know? This wasn't a regional event. It changed *everything.*"
Then he paused, lowering his voice. "The Great River Empire… six unicorns were spotted just days ago."
*Unicorns?* My mind reeled. *I thought dragons and gods were the last myths standing.*
The man chuckled grimly. "That used to be true. But not anymore. Even your third uncle—he regained memories from a past life. He's aiming for the clan head's seat now."
That cold demeanor cracked. The man wouldn't stop talking, like he'd forgotten who he was speaking to.
"What did you just say?" I said, stunned.
*This world... I didn't just stumble into it by chance, did I?*
He froze. "Shit—I said too much." But instead of backpedaling, he laughed nervously and shrugged it off.
No respect. Not even the bare minimum.
But I didn't care. Not right now. Only one thought lingered: **My third uncle…**
*I need to see for myself.*
I turned to him. "Take them to the guest house."
Then, facing Fiona and Jin: "Ladies, I won't be joining you. You'll be well cared for."
Before they could reply, I was gone—vanishing into the night like a shadow cut from wind.
---
Ten minutes later, I stood before the gates of the Godfall Clan.
"Father!" I shouted, my voice echoing. "Your unfilial son has returned!"
One by one, figures emerged. Elders. Relatives. All cloaked in arrogance.
A middle-aged man in blue robes stepped forward, handsome and sneering. "So the shame has returned," my second uncle muttered.
"Why come back?" barked the Sixth Elder. "You should have died out there."
He spat at the floor.
Even my second uncle cast him a side glance. His look said it all—*that was too much.
I stepped forward. "Am I not welcome in my own home?"
"I return, and you greet me with curses?" I spread my arms. "How low this family has fallen."
"You dare?" The Sixth Elder roared.
His aura burst—thick, suffocating. The ground trembled beneath its weight. I dropped to one knee, breath knocked from my lungs.
Late Ascension Realm.
"You still look down on me…"
A weak meow echoed. The kitten in my arms cried out, crushed under the pressure.
The others watched in silence, intrigued.
"He has no mana… yet he resists?" my second uncle murmured.
I clenched my jaw, blood rising in my chest. Rage coiled like a beast.
"I won't kneel for you."
My foot pressed into the ground—I stood. Shaking, but upright.
I locked eyes with the elder. "Mark this day." I said. "I'll kill you."
*Boom!*
The pressure vanished—ripped away like a curtain.
The Sixth Elder dropped, knees smashing into the ground.
Gasps rang out.
Two figures descended from the sky.
One: a white-haired elder whose presence felt like gravity incarnate.
The other: a tall man in battle robes, face almost identical to mine.
Father…
I stood frozen. *He's… absurdly powerful.*
The elder landed beside me, gently resting his hand on my shoulder.
"Elder Mo…" he said, voice calm but carrying raw command beneath its stillness. "Have you forgotten your place?"
With a slow, almost lazy motion, he clenched his left fist.
"No—please, Lord Omin!" Elder Mo shrieked. "Spare me!"
He turned toward the others, eyes wild, looking for help—but none came. They looked away. Even his closest allies abandoned him.
Only a whisper remained in his eyes—I wish I never listened to that man.
*Snap.*
A sound like cracking ice.
"Ahhh! Please! P-please, forgive—"
*Crack. Pop. Snap.*
His eyes exploded first, blood pouring like melted wax. Then his bones—one after another—folded, twisted, crunched.
His body bent into a grotesque shape, like dough molded by invisible hands.
The air grew thick. The scent of blood was iron and fire.
A spray of red burst toward me—but never touched me.
A transparent barrier caught it. When did he?
I turned slowly. The old man smiled down at me like a grandfather offering candy. His hand
rested gently on my head.
Before me… Elder Mo was a twitching mass of ruined flesh.
My second uncle chuckled dryly. "Brother… you're too ruthless."
But his eyes betrayed him.
He wasn't afraid.
He relished every second.