"Sir, you've become stronger," Montaser murmured, his voice trailing as he slowly approached Fray, his figure shrouded in darkness.
"Thanks for the compliment, Montaser. Did you gather any information about the stolen weapon?" Fray inquired, his voice carrying a somber tone.
"Apologies, sir. They took their own lives before divulging any information," Montaser confessed, his expression filled with remorse.
The stolen weapon must now be in the possession of that person, Fray pondered, his eyes narrowing with intensity. Although he knew its whereabouts, his current power rendered retrieving it impossible.
"Montaser, use your spiritual sense to ascertain if anyone survived," Fray commanded, his gaze fixed upon the ruins that once constituted a quaint village.
"There is one individual still alive," Montaser replied after employing his spiritual sense.
Within a vast and desolate cavern, shrouded in darkness,
A teenage girl stood before a small lifeless body, methodically wiping her sword clean, her face devoid of emotion.
"Hey, Sina, did you obtain the code?" Suddenly, the young girl heard a faint voice emanating from behind her.
"Isha, I acquired one. And you?" Sina inquired, turning to face a girl of similar age who approached her.
"Yes, but I had to kill Jonathan to obtain it," Isha lamented, her expression tinged with pathos.
"Let us seek refuge until the end of this..." Sina began to say.
"Din-Don'-Don-Din'-Don-Din-Don-Din-Don-Din-(Bell)"
Before their conversation could reach its conclusion, both girls were interrupted by the echoing toll of a bell in the distance.
"Why is the end-of-exam bell ringing now? Could the examination be ending prematurely?" Isha queried, her gaze directed toward the source of the sound.
"I am uncertain, but it certainly appears that way," Sina responded, her countenance marked by doubt.
"Then let us depart from this labyrinth," Isha declared.
Thus, the two of them navigated their way out of the maze, making their way toward the meeting platform. Upon arriving, they beheld a sight they had long forgotten.
"L... light," Sina uttered in awe, her eyes widening.
In Sina's vision, numerous magical lamps floated above the platform, casting their glow upon the surroundings. Sina and Isha were not the only ones taken aback by this spectacle. Every surviving child, having endured years of captivity in this dark realm, now moved toward the stage, their faces reflecting a mixture of emotions.
Each child present had been abducted and confined within this abysmal place for over nine years, never once encountering light. Some of them had even strengthened their eyes using their own energy to withstand the brilliance of the magical lamps.
Dek Dek Dek
Suddenly, the children discerned faint footsteps resonating from the stairs leading to the platform. All eyes turned toward the stage, their curiosity piqued.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the platform, a tall, muscular young man ascended the stairs with unwavering confidence, his face cold and impassive.
(He possesses remarkable control over his power, even from a distance), Fray thought, his gaze fixed upon the luminous magical lamps.
Fray and Montaser had managed to locate one of the surviving assassins—the one responsible for escorting the leaders. Having discovered that the children were held captive in a separate cave, a distance away from the stone village, they utilized an underground shortcut to reach their current location. Montaser and the remaining assassin had proceeded towards the sorority's warehouse upon the sound of the bell, while Fray stayed behind to confront one of the novel's most perilous characters—the future Queen of Assassins.
Thus, Fray reached the summit of the stage, casting a glance upon the assembled children below. As soon as he saw them, unwelcome memories flooded Fray's mind, and an unfamiliar expression crept upon his face after a long absence.
(Only twenty remain), Fray contemplated, studying the children intently.
"Greetings. I am Fray Parada, head of the Parada family and the Serpent Organization that held you captive. The organization has been dismantled," Fray enunciated slowly, his tone grave, while scrutinizing the adolescents.
Yet, despite hearing this revelation, none of the children displayed signs of joy. Their countenances remained cold and unyielding, for they knew better than anyone that nothing in life came without a price. They had no reason to place their hopes in a man they had encountered for the first time.
"Are you implying that you will set us free?" a black-haired girl cautiously interjected.
(So, she is the one destined to become the future Queen of Assassins), Fray mused, intrigued by the girl who spoke.
Sina Corine, also known as the Queen of Assassins, would emerge ten years hence, tasked with eliminating Luke, the protagonist. Although she would nearly succeed in her mission, a turn of events would compel her to spare his life. Over time, she would fall in love with him, becoming a secondary heroine within the novel.
One of the novel's chapters would shed light on Sina's past.
The "Killing Machine" project, conceived by the Serpent Organization, had gathered three thousand children aged between seven and ten, imprisoning them within this dark cavern. Here, they were subjected to rigorous training in the art of assassination, forced to partake in the organization's tests, which entailed eliminating one another, until a sole survivor emerged—the "Killing Machine."
Sina had become that Killing Machine, ultimately evolving into the most formidable assassin on the continent. She had even come perilously close to assassinating the most powerful figure at the time—Luke.
"Yes, you have two options. Firstly, you may choose to depart, and if that is your decision, I will guide you to the exit, ensuring no obstacles hinder your path," Fray offered. "Alternatively, you may elect to work for me as professional assassins."
These twenty children standing before him had weathered nine years of tormenting training, rendering them the elite of the "Killing Machine" project.
Upon interrogating the surviving assassin, Fray gleaned that the children had surpassed even the assassins themselves in terms of strength. The only individuals capable of controlling these children were the Serpent Brothers, which explained their absence from the stone village during Fray and Montaser's assault on the bunker—they had been guarding the children here.
Fray harbored no doubt that these children would soon become an unstoppable force. However, their expressions betrayed an understanding that they would not easily align themselves with him, for a simple reason.
"I am aware that your instincts, honed over years of survival, caution you against trusting me," Fray solemnly declared. "Indeed, your instincts are correct—I am no hero. On the contrary, I am a villain. Should you choose to follow me, I cannot promise you happiness or safety. Instead, I will employ you and expose you to perilous situations. But I can offer one assurance—a guarantee of power. Power sufficient to ensure that no one will ever oppress you again... and power enough to exact your revenge."
At the mention of "revenge," the children's cold expressions transformed instantly, giving way to anger and hatred.
Only these children truly understood the magnitude of their suffering over the past nine years and the sacrifices they had made to survive. Thus, they immersed themselves in contemplation, pondering the choice that lay before them. Each possessed enough intelligence to deduce that the Serpent Organization was not the mastermind behind the project—that a greater force lurked in the shadows. And they all yearned for revenge. But should they venture further down this dark path, joining hands with the very embodiment of evil, in order to attain it?