Australia.
The Ninja League Headquarters.
As a master of endurance and illusion, Mandel Regan stood before a group of mid-level ninjas, demonstrating the terrifying power of his illusion techniques.
Bang!
A puff of smoke exploded around them, quickly enveloping the entire group.
When the smoke cleared, they found themselves in a desolate wasteland, littered with white bones. Above their heads hung a strange red moon—like a giant scarlet eye—watching them coldly from the sky.
It was an illusion.
A domain of spiritual manipulation, akin to a cultivator's array.
The trapped ninjas began to scatter, frantically searching for a way to break the illusion. If any of them succeeded, it would be a legendary feat—something worth boasting about for a lifetime.
"M–Mr. Regan!"
A sudden scream broke the eerie silence. One of the female ninjas, a voluptuous and attractive woman named Tiffany, cried out in alarm.
She had been focusing intently on avoiding the squirming bones that slithered like snakes across the ground when, without warning, Mandel appeared beside her like a ghost.
She gasped in shock.
"Tiffany," Mandel said, wearing a strange smile, "come to the moon with me."
Without waiting for her response, he wrapped an arm around her slender waist and pulled her up toward the crimson moon overhead.
But in the real world…
All of the ninjas stood frozen, unmoving. Yet beads of sweat dripped from their foreheads, and their breathing grew heavy and ragged.
Though only their spirits were engaged, the strain of the illusion was mirrored in their physical bodies. The sensations felt were real.
This was the terrifying depth of a high-level illusion.
Emotions generated within—pain, fear, even pleasure—could directly affect the physical body.
For example, if Mandel crafted an illusion of drowning in the deep sea, the victim in the real world would suffocate to death.
Such was the power of his illusion technique.
Within this fabricated world, Mandel took Tiffany to the red moon, and the two of them shed their clothes, indulging in a heated and passionate encounter.
When the session finally ended, they exited the illusion and returned to the real world.
Although their clothes remained perfectly intact, Tiffany's flushed cheeks and satisfied expression said it all.
In the illusion created by Mandel, he was omnipotent—a god.
And as a god, his abilities—especially in certain areas—could be elevated to inhuman levels.
Naturally, Tiffany was more than satisfied.
After experiencing seven or eight intense climaxes, she was the one who chose to leave the illusion. Had she stayed any longer, she might've actually died from overindulgence.
Back in the real world, the others remained locked in place, still trapped in Mandel's illusion. Not one of them had managed to break free.
Mandel stood proudly, then raised his hand again. Another cloud of white smoke burst into the air.
As it dispersed, the illusion lifted, and the entire group collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath and drenched in sweat.
They were utterly exhausted.
The illusion was just that powerful.
The mid-level ninjas marveled silently at Mr. Regan's terrifying skill.
Mandel looked down at them, satisfied. "You still have a long way to go," he said. "Once you truly master endurance, you'll see that this illusion was only a taste of what's possible."
"Yes, Mr. Regan!" one of them quickly replied. "We'll do our best to keep up with your teachings!"
"Good. When I was a mid-level ninja, I trained relentlessly. I looked up to my leader as a model and kept refining my techniques—especially illusion."
Just as Mandel was giving his impassioned speech, a low-ranking member suddenly rushed in, his expression serious.
"Mr. Regan, a man from Canada named Jeff Colter is here to see you."
Mandel's brow furrowed. "Jeff? He came alone?"
"Yes. He said he has something important to report to you."
Mandel's unease grew.
Of course, he knew who Jeff Colter was—not because Jeff was a world-renowned acupuncture master, but because his own son had gone to Canada to study under him.
Mandel had initially opposed the idea. He had wanted his son to follow in his footsteps and become a powerful ninja.
But his son had shown no aptitude for ninja techniques—and no interest in them, either.
In the end, Mandel relented and allowed him to go to Canada to pursue acupuncture.
The father and son had long since reconciled, so there was no lingering resentment between them.
There was no reason his son wouldn't return—unless something had gone terribly wrong.
A dark premonition settled over Mandel's heart.
"Bring him in," he ordered.
Moments later, Jeff rushed into the hall and dropped to his knees before Mandel.
"Mr. Regan," he said, voice trembling, "I'm so sorry… I wasn't able to protect your son."
Though Jeff held great status in Canada, he was terrified of the Australian Ninja League—and with good reason.
The League was not just a ninja organization; it was also a global assassin alliance.
And Mandel Regan… was one of its most fearsome figures.
If Mandel discovered that his son had died in the U.S., he would come for Jeff without hesitation. Hiding the truth would only make things worse.
So Jeff chose to confess.
Besides—
Though the League's headquarters was in Australia, its influence extended across the globe.
Everywhere except the United States.
Why?
Because of the Oracle Palace.
Ever since the Oracle Palace had emerged in the U.S., all the hidden powers operating within its borders had quietly withdrawn.
No one dared to challenge the Oracle King.
His fury alone was enough to obliterate entire organizations. Even the League couldn't withstand that kind of wrath.