[Author's Note: This takes place around ch 30]
[Country: Luminos]
Luminos, as the name suggests, is a beautiful place located in the middle of a desert. Everything is made out of crystals, from a fork to buildings and aircraft in the country.
Albert Wellington, the ruler of the Luminos, awakened a power to convert metals and rocks into energy crystals during the conflicts where everyone fought to get their hand on the richest new land. But he didn't fight for anything and went deep into the desert and rocky lands with his trusted people.
There he started to build his country from the ground up without any help or support from others. He converted stones and metals into crystals and sold them to the other superhumans who were desperately fighting over resources. And energy crystal was a precious item that the superhumans used to create weapons to fight against other countries.
Albert took advantage and sold the energy crystals in exchange for various resources and information about other superhumans he deemed a threat to him. At the same time, he trained his powers, and when he reached the apex limit, he used his ability to create the land of crystals.
In a single night, a country rose from the ground in the middle of a barren desert, shining so brightly under the sunlight that it could be seen from space.
Albert didn't lack resources since the world currency soon became void, and crystals took their place. He became the richest man in the new world. And soon, people showed a great interest in the crystal land. Some came to migrate. And some came to conquer that land since the energy crystal of that amount is like a diamond mine.
However, with Albert's wealth and information sources, he had already prepared defensive measures around the country beforehand. His enemies tried to take his land but ended up dead before reaching the country's border.
Soon, he declared Luminos his country's name. People migrated there, and within a couple of years, it became the world's number 1 richest country. Trade and commerce flourished, improving the lifestyle of the citizens.
Later, Albert made a thin crystal dome covering the entire country to prevent the scorching sun rays. The crystals absorb the sun's rays in the morning, creating a sparkling glow. The stored solar energy is used as electricity during nighttime.
Luminos country became one of the safest havens in the middle of a scorching desert. However, nothing remains forever. Even the tallest and strongest building falls one day, and the strongest person also breaks one day.
Ten years later, a lightning catastrophe emerged from a dungeon portal which no one noticed since it was inside one of the underground caves. The entire country got destroyed, and everyone died within a single day. The crystal heaven became a barren land of death.
[Location: Kennedy's Bar] [Present Time]
The land of crystal became a place for attraction for bandits and highly wanted criminals. After the destruction of the Luminos country, the scorching heat disappeared and a season of snow took over the place.
Kennedy, a superhuman with wine-making ability, opened a bar on the ashes of the Luminos. Everyone there respects the old man Kennedy since they get the best wine and drinks for cheap.
Although the main reason was absolutely different, Kennedy ranked 20 and was considered one of the highest-class assassins of the Night Walkers. Thus no one dares to fight among themselves in that area.
A man in his 40s was sitting at the corner of the bar, away from all the yelling and gossip. He was wearing heavy clothes like everyone in the area due to the bone-chilling cold.
"Gulp!!! Gulp!!!"
He chugged down a bottle of whiskey like it was plain water. His eyes looked dead, and liquor was dripping from his large beards. It was as if he was living because death had abandoned him. Everyone in the bar seemed to be avoiding him. And those who glanced at him by mistake ran out of the bar with a fearful expression.
"Mark..." Kennedy walked over to the lonely man in the corner and sat before him. He took out a letter and put it in front of him.
Mark took a glance at the letter and opened another bottle, "Leave, old man..." He said with a threatening tone, letting out a wave of bloodlust, making everyone inside the bar freeze in their place.
Kennedy signaled everyone to leave the bar. Soon, the bar became empty, leaving Mark and Kennedy. Mark began to chug the second bottle without any worries.
"So... You haven't lost your touch. Good..."
"It's good to see the Blood Player is still alive... I wonder how worse your skills have rotten without anyone to kill, and now with all these new freaking unexplainable superhumans around us..."
Kennedy said with a sinister smile. He felt as if his life is about to extinguish after facing Mark's bloodlust at such close range. It's been ages since he saw Mark's anger. But he never knew the reason behind his anger.
"That name... I don't go by that name anymore. I will kill you with this whisky bottle if you sprout any more of your nonsense..."
"I did everything Night Walkers asked me off... In the end, I failed. Go away... My killing days are over..."
Mark said with a slurry voice and took another gulp from the bottle.
"Haaa... Nevermind... Check that letter. I am sure you will be interested in that... Trust me... Just read it, and if it doesn't pique your interest... I will give you 5 more bottles for free..."
Kennedy stood up with a sigh and went inside the room after shutting the bar's door from inside.
After finishing his second bottle and continuously glancing at the letter, he finally opened it.
******
Mission: Assassination SSS+ [High value target]
Target: Ace Silver
Age: 15 years
Powers: Limitless Grade Unknown Abilities
Location: Silver World
Reward: 2 Ressurection Stones
**1 in advance and 1 after the job is done
******
[Ressurection stone brings back the dead to life at the cost of the user's soul.]
Inside the letter, a small rugged stone of around 2 inches was glowing with a dim red glow. Mark took it out. His hands were shaking, and tears were falling from his eyes.
He clenched the stone tightly, "They want to trade a kid's life... Those freaking bastards... But..." He mumbled after wiping his tears on his sleeves.
Mark disappeared from the bar with a flicker of white lightning on his chair. The letter was still on the table.
"The Blood Player is back in business. Consider your job done...," Kennedy called the contractor and gave them the good news. He noticed the letter on the table and found it weird since it's an important rule to burn the letter after accepting the contract.
He felt a chill down his spine. He disconnected the call and rushed over to the table, "Shit!!! A kid's contract... Those bastards are dead." He summoned a flicker of flames on his fingertip, burning the letter to ashes, "But the reward... I have never heard of such stone... Well, as long as he returns here safe..." He looked out through the window.
The moon is shining brightly, and the snowfall seems to have increased again. The sound of wind gushing by seemed to be frequent.
"A storm is coming..."
Kennedy muttered.
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Mark's Saga is coming soon... In the next Volume...
Around 50+ chapters are ready to launch for Mark's exclusive journey and how his fate is connected to Ace's...