"Hehehe, I caught you."
Under the astonished gaze of the crowd, "Anya" let out a strange, eerie laugh. Her skin twisted unnaturally, becoming dark, rough, and hideous. In the shadows, you watched it unfold, and realization struck you like a bolt of lightning.
Now you understood. The vision of "Grayson" being pierced through the chest had not been a random image—it was a prophecy. The strange, unsettling feeling you had earlier wasn't without cause either.
The person standing in front of everyone, disguised as Anya, was none other than the Thousand Shadow Assassin, the killer who had once been lurking outside the hotel, biding her time and waiting to strike. She had been practicing the forbidden Thousand Shadow Magic Skill, the perfect technique to conceal herself until the moment was right.
Originally, she had planned to strike during the previous encounter. However, since you hadn't participated in the main game at that time, she chose patience, lurking in the dark and waiting. Today, she finally acted—and what an act it was.
This Thousand Shadow Assassin wasn't just another killer; she was clearly the ultimate secret weapon meant to ensure your death in this so-called "killing game."
The onlookers instinctively tried to intervene, but they were utterly powerless. In just a few heartbeats, they were brutally slaughtered by the assassin, whose strength was at the terrifying level of the Sixth Realm. Only Charles managed to barely escape with his life.
The assassin let out another laugh, savoring the moment. Victory was within her grasp. She was moments away from ripping out your spine as a trophy. But suddenly, she froze.
Something was wrong.
"Ahem, ahem… If you kill me, the Grierson family won't forgive you!" shouted "Grayson," blood pouring from the gaping wound in his chest. Despite his pain, he managed to pull out a special item from his sleeve—a shimmering talisman.
"No! It's a self-destruct talisman!" someone gasped in horror.
BOOM!
A violent explosion rocked the entire area. "Grayson" was engulfed in roaring flames, his body obliterated without leaving a single trace behind.
The Thousand Shadow Assassin, who had been laughing a second ago, was blasted away by the force of the explosion, crashing into a nearby wall. Her mind reeled in confusion.
Wait... why did the target explode? Wasn't he supposed to die at her hands?
Far above the chaos, Shawn, who had been watching from a distance, was shaking with rage. His veins bulged, and the aura he emitted was suffocating. The black-clad man who had been blocking his way felt his knees buckle under the pressure.
But to the black-clad man's utter confusion, Shawn did not unleash a devastating attack as expected. Instead, he turned around and fled like a frightened beast!
Black-clad man: ???
In the shadows, you witnessed it all and smiled grimly. Though not perfect, your plan had succeeded halfway.
The double had self-destructed, eliminating one threat. Shawn had fled, avoiding direct confrontation. However, one major problem remained—the Thousand Shadow Assassin.
Even though she was injured, she remained a formidable danger. Worse yet, she seemed to be catching on that something wasn't right.
You narrowed your eyes and turned toward Luke—the destined protagonist. He had just finished killing Brook with casual ease, standing triumphantly in the clearing.
A wicked idea slithered into your mind.
Still hidden, you disguised your voice and roared at the top of your lungs:
"Monster! You killed Anya and disguised yourself as her! You killed Young Master Grayson! The Grierson family will never let you go!"
Luke, still standing with his blood-dripping knife over Brook's corpse, flinched at the accusation. Confusion crossed his face for a split second. Then, he looked up and saw the grotesque, monstrous figure wearing Anya's bloodstained clothes.
His blood boiled.
"BASTARD! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ANYA?! I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Tread! Heaven! Nine! Steps!"
In a flash, Luke erupted with power. The bloodstained knife gleamed like a red comet in his hands as he took a step forward, then another, each footfall shaking the ground.
Fourth Realm: Magical Power Surge!
…
Fifth Realm: Mountains and Rivers Unleashed!
…
Sixth Realm: Extraordinary Might!
…
You cursed silently in your heart.
Dig a hole! Hide somewhere!
You had seen hints of Luke's potential during the second villain simulation. Back then, he had displayed almost monstrous growth. But this… this was another level entirely. Luke's strength exploded upward, leaping across two entire cultivation realms in an instant!
Your mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Is this even human?!
What the hell is that secret method he used? "Nine Steps to Heaven?"
You quickly pieced together the scattered clues.
During the last simulation, you hadn't noticed this terrifying skill. That meant Luke had acquired it recently. Your memory flashed—someone had casually mentioned a mysterious secret realm appearing off the coast of the Ironwood Empire's capital, Demon City.
Both Anya and your double, Jude, had mentioned it before during previous simulations. At the time, you had assumed it was a trap laid by the mastermind behind the scenes. But now…
Now it all made terrifying sense.
Luke had vanished for days after his injury during the second simulation. Despite flipping Demon City upside down, no one had found him.
He must have entered that secret realm!
There, he had seized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—this Nine Steps to Heaven technique. A terrifying secret method that could forcibly propel cultivation levels sky-high in a very short time.
And what about the mysterious token still tucked away in your storage bag?
It had reacted the moment Luke used Nine Steps to Heaven.
That's it! That token must be the "key" to the secret realm!
The realization sent adrenaline rushing through your veins.
Next time. Next simulation. I must seize that opportunity before Luke does.
Even if the method carried unknown side effects, you didn't care.
The potential gains were too enormous.
This makes perfect sense now…
You clenched your fists in excitement. Watching from the shadows, you mentally prepared your next move.
Meanwhile, the battle raged on.
The Thousand Shadow Assassin, sensing imminent danger, tried to flee. But it was far too late.
SPLAT!
Luke's blood knife cleaved her body in two, ending her life with a single devastating blow.
A stunned silence enveloped the clearing.
No one had expected such violence, such ferocity.
For a brief moment, Luke stood victorious, radiating unimaginable power. But the backlash hit him almost instantly. His body trembled violently, and blood oozed from his pores.
He stumbled, paled, and before anyone could react, he dissolved into a flash of white light and fled the scene.
Even the black-clad man watching from above was utterly baffled.
What was happening?
A second ago, Grayson had been alive.
The next, he self-destructed.
Shawn, his protector, fled.
The assassin supposed to kill Grayson was slaughtered by Luke.
And now Luke had vanished too!
As if that weren't chaotic enough, Brook—who was supposed to serve as the scapegoat—had been casually slaughtered by Luke as well.
The delicate balance of the game had collapsed.
Now, everything was well and truly messed up.
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