Tiger Clarkson’s brows furrowed tightly once more. Was this guy insane? Did he truly think he could defeat him? Tiger Clarkson, a renowned fighter, was confident in his own strength. Sure, the man before him might be a skilled doctor, but in combat? That would be like an egg smashing against a rock-a complete joke. It was nothing short of seeking death.
Just as Tiger was basking in his confidence, he caught sight of the rusty blade hurtling toward him.
“Hmph!” He let out a disdainful snort. A corroded, battered knife? What could that possibly do? Tiger Clarkson calmly raised his hand, gathering his energy to block the incoming weapon. The knife approached swiftly, closing the distance between them in an instant. But then, something changed.
Tiger Clarkson’s eyes widened with sudden realization. This wasn’t an ordinary blade. It carried an overwhelming, unstoppable force, as if a thousand troops charged behind it. The momentum was terrifying. Alarmed, he braced himself with all the energy he could muster.
But it was futile.
His energy, as powerful as it seemed, crumbled like foam against a tidal wave. The blade’s trajectory was unstoppable, piercing through his defenses as though they didn’t exist. With a sharp whoosh, the knife plunged directly into his chest. It struck with precision, dead center, unyielding.
Tiger Clarkson staggered back, his eyes bulging in disbelief as he stared at Kayden. He barely managed to choke out, “You… you… you’re-!” But the words never came. His body wavered, and he stumbled back several steps before collapsing to his knees. Blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth, and with a dull thud, he fell to the ground.
Kayden’s expression remained cold and detached as he gazed at Tiger Clarkson. “Killing you is as easy as reaching into my pocket. To me, you were never an opponent,” he said flatly. “You were nothing more than trash-something to dispose of whenever I pleased.”
He took a step closer, his tone even and unhurried. “Do you want to know why I healed you before killing you?”
Tiger Clarkson’s face was painted with confusion. He couldn’t speak, his throat constricted by the unbearable pain, but his eyes were full of questions. Why indeed?
Kayden answered with a chilling calmness, his voice like the whisper of death itself. “Because a man confined to a wheelchair wasn’t worth killing. I wanted to kill the confident, arrogant version of you. Only by doing so could I truly enjoy it.”
The words were like daggers, sharp and unforgiving. Kayden’s tone was so cold, so devoid of emotion, it felt as though the Grim Reaper himself had spoken. His methods were cruel, his reasoning even crueler.
“How does it feel to fall from heaven to hell?” Kayden asked, his face still emotionless. “Did you enjoy it?”
Tiger Clarkson had indeed fallen from grace. Just moments ago, he had ascended to the rank of Grand Level, his pride soaring to new heights. He hadn’t even had time to celebrate, to show off his newfound power, before being struck down. The irony was unbearable. If this was his fate, he would have preferred to die as he was before. To be promoted only to be killed-it was a fate worse than death. It wasn’t just murder; it was humiliation.
Overwhelmed, Tiger Clarkson coughed violently, blood spilling from his mouth. His body seized for a moment, and then the light in his eyes faded. He was dead. One strike. That was all Kayden needed. Tiger Clarkson was too fragile, unable to withstand even a single blow.
Kayden extended his hand, and the rusty knife flew back into his grasp like a loyal companion. His gaze swept over the group of stunned disciples, their faces pale with terror. “All of you,” he said in a low, icy voice, “die.”
Before they could react, Kayden flung the blade. It moved like a phantom, slicing through the air with deadly precision. One by one, throats were slit. There was no time to scream, no chance to flee. In an instant, the disciples who had been alive just moments ago were reduced to lifeless corpses. All except one-Hailey Clarkson.
Hailey stood frozen in place, paralyzed by fear. Her father lay dead, her comrades slaughtered. She couldn’t even muster the strength to grieve or look at the carnage surrounding her. Her entire body trembled, her arrogance completely stripped away. All that remained was raw, unfiltered terror.
She had always thought her father was cruel. She had always thought of herself as ruthless. But now, standing before this man, she understood what true cruelty looked like. Kayden’s eyes held no regard for life. To him, humans were nothing more than ants-insignificant, disposable. He could kill with a flick of his wrist, without so much as blinking.
Dozens of lives were extinguished in mere moments, and Kayden’s expression hadn’t changed. His indifference was terrifying.
Coleman, however, wasn’t surprised. He was well-acquainted with Kayden’s cold, decisive nature. But his two sons were left dumbfounded, unable to process what they had just witnessed. For the first time, they felt an overwhelming sense of respect for Kayden-born entirely out of fear. They silently thanked their luck that they weren’t his enemies. If they had been, they would have died countless times over by now.
Erika, having already experienced Kayden’s brutal ways in the past, was less shaken. While fear lingered in her heart, it was overshadowed by admiration. To her, Kayden was a master worthy of respect, even if he had never formally acknowledged her as his disciple. She revered him deeply, with an unshakable loyalty.
Kayden’s gaze shifted to Hailey Clarkson. His piercing eyes were cold and filled with murderous intent. Hailey felt a chill run down her spine. She gulped hard, her voice trembling as she stammered, “Y-you… what are you going to do?”
The answer was clear. Everyone else was dead. It didn’t take much to guess what he intended. After all, Hailey herself had sworn to kill him not long ago.
Kayden took a slow step forward, his tone calm and deliberate. “Didn’t you say you wanted to kill me? What’s wrong? Are you afraid now?”
“You’re insane! A complete lunatic!” Hailey shouted, shaking her head defiantly. Despite her fear, she clung stubbornly to her pride. Even as her body trembled uncontrollably, she refused to back down.
Kayden smirked slightly. “It seems you still think you have a chance to kill me. Fine. I’ll give you one.”
He paused, letting his words sink in. “Go back. Tell that so-called Golden Threshold Society what happened here today. Then, bring them to kill me.”
Hailey blinked in disbelief, staring at the confident man before her. Did he truly believe he could escape the Golden Threshold Society’s wrath? Once they issued a bounty, no one could evade them-not even someone with wings.
“You’ll really let me go?” Hailey asked hesitantly. Her voice was laced with doubt. Kayden wasn’t the type to leave loose ends. Why would he let her live?
Kayden nodded. “Of course. I don’t lie. But before I let you go, I want to leave you with something. Otherwise, how will the Golden Threshold Society believe your story?”
His words struck Hailey like a bucket of cold water. Her face turned pale. “What… what are you going to do?” she whispered.
Kayden drew his rusty knife, its blade gleaming ominously. “I want to leave you with a lasting impression.”
Before Hailey could react, the knife slashed across her arm. In one swift motion, her hand was severed from her body. Blood spurted from the wound after a brief pause, painting the ground red.
“Ahhh!” Hailey screamed, the pain and terror overwhelming her.
Kayden remained calm, his tone devoid of sympathy. “It’s just a hand. You won’t die. Now go. Tell the Golden Threshold Society I’ll be waiting for them. And remember my name-I’m Kayden Scott.”