Ponytailed Yannick, who had followed Kane, stuck out his tongue in amazement.
"He fights disgustingly well."
His eyes never left Kane.
Using the goblin that appeared to be the leader as a shield, Kane was killing monsters one by one.
It was a battle where he understood his limits and made the most of his surroundings.
"That is impressive. That's a strategy that can only be learned by spending a lot of time on the battlefield."
Ponytailed Yannick could do the same as Kane.
The Guardian Knights had a wealth of battlefield experience, after all.
However, it was quite difficult to take an enemy's life instantly with minimal mana.
Kane's sword was… one could say it was a sword of extreme efficiency.
"It even shows the habits unique to assassins. If Vice Commander Fabi saw this, he would faint."
Vice Commander Fabi was someone very interested in his surroundings, especially someone who lived for conversations.
If he had witnessed Kane's sword firsthand, his mouth would have never stopped moving.
"There's not a single unnecessary movement, he's fucking amazing."
The Dark Tribe goblins were nearly annihilated by the sword that pursued extreme efficiency.
However, due to the thick smell of blood, monsters kept flocking in.
The number being killed was greater than those arriving.
Then it happened.
"Ugh!"
Yannick swallowed his breath.
Despite being far from Kane, he felt a sinister aura emanating.
"Could it be another skill?"
He was surprised but also excited.
How would the Young Master surprise him this time?
He felt a thrill.
Without blinking, he kept his eyes on Kane.
But then.
"Huh?"
He tilted his head.
Kane swung his sword in the air from left to right.
But nothing happened.
Instead, the sword Kane was holding began to slowly disappear.
"Did he run out of mana?"
He quickly checked Kane's condition.
As he suspected, Kane's body was devoid of mana.
"In that state, he would be in danger."
He stood up at that moment, but…
Something unexpected happened.
He was too shocked to make any sound.
* * *
The front of the gate was filled with silence.
The movements of the monsters.
The sound of the wind.
The rustle of leaves.
Nothing could be heard.
It was as if only the space where Kane stood had frozen.
It was tranquil.
Kane lowered his empty hand.
Then.
Pop!
A sound like a balloon bursting echoed.
All the upper bodies of the Dark Tribe goblins exploded simultaneously.
Every single one of them, without exception, had their upper bodies swell and burst.
"Haah."
Kane could barely stand.
His legs were trembling.
The tips of his fingers were shaking.
He was on the verge of collapse due to pushing his abilities to the extreme.
It was truly a wonder that he was still standing.
"…I should start recovering my strength soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a notification sounded.
[You have completed the quest 'Who is the Demon, Who is the Savior!'.]
[Rewards will be given shortly.]
Kane's body was enveloped in light.
His exhausted strength was instantly restored.
Not only that.
His depleted mana was also replenished.
[You have advanced to the hidden class 'Blood Knight'.]
[Kane Rehinar's Grade has increased to 4 stars.]
[The skill 'Blood Wave'' has been strengthened immensely'.]
[The skill 'Blood Flame' has been registered in Blood Dance.]
[You can now use 'Blood Dance (S) 3rd Move- Blood Flame'.]
[The skill 'Blood Void' has been registered in Blood Dance.]
[You can now use 'Blood Dance (S) 4th Move – Blood Void'.]
[All attributes have been adjusted.]
Kane's right eye flashed violet.
The energy flowing from his eye formed a blood rune, then increased….
One… two… three…!
[The Blood Mark (2 Runes) has evolved into Blood Bond (3 Runes).]
The light in his right eye subsided.
['Blue Tiger's Breath (D)' has been deleted.]
['Phoenix's Breath (D)' has been deleted.]
['Breath of the Blood Tiger (S)' has been registered.]
['Breath of the Blood Phoenix (S)' has been registered.]
***
"This is a first."
He had also advanced to Blood Knight when he was Ray.
But 'Breath of the Phoenix' remained the same.
Yet now, it had changed to Breath of the Blood Tiger and Breath of the Blood Phoenix instead of the Blue Tiger or the Phoenix.
[Breath of the Blood Tiger]
Type: Breathing Technique
Rank: S (Growth Type)
Description: A breathing technique used by the ancestor of the Rehinar family who borrowed the power of a demon.
Effect: Allows the use of all Rehinar skills
[Breath of the Blood Phoenix]
Type: Breathing Technique
Rank: S (Growth Type)
Description: A breathing technique used by the ancestor of Hatzfeld who borrowed the power of a demon.
Effect: Allows the use of all Hatzfeld skills
'Was my previous advancement to Blood Knight incomplete?'
He felt a power distinctly different from before.
[Kane Rehinar (Lv.1)]
Grade: ★★★★☆
Age: 21
Class: Blood Knight
Mana Affinity: Blood Bond (A) (3 Runes)
– Base Stats-
[Health: C-]
[Mana: C-]
[Physical Strength: S]
[Strength: C-]
[Agility: C-]
– Unique Traits:
[Pure-Blooded (UR)]
– General Traits:
[Timid (C-) ↓]
[Fragile (C-) ↓]
[Kindness (C-) ↓]
[Endurance (A)]
[Concentration (A)]
– Unique Skills:
[Breath of the Blood Tiger (S)]
[Breath of the Blood Phoenix (S)]
[Blood Dance (SSR)]
– General Skills:
[Phoenix Spear technique (SR)]
[Magic Engraving of Masherin (S)]
[Twin Swords of Protection (A)]
"Advancing to 4 stars and transitioning to Blood Knight has elevated me from mid-tier 3rd Class Knight to beginner-tier 4th Class knight in one leap."
A smile spread across his face.
He could hardly contain the overflowing power.
Though it seemed like 4th Class, the level felt much higher.
"With this power, I can overcome any future obstacles."
The uprising of mutated monsters was just beginning.
Kane was brimming with confidence.
With this power, He was certain he could single-handedly thwart the first wave of the mutated monster uprising.
"Blood Sword."
As Kane raised his hand and muttered, blood quickly coalesced above his palm.
A blood sword formed in an instant.
It was created effortlessly, unlike before.
Of course, it was made using the Blood Bond, so…
He couldn't help but look pale.
But.
"'Blood Void'."
He cast the fourth move of Blood Dance.
Blood flowed from the corpses into the air.
The blood coalesced and was absorbed into Kane's other hand.
At this phenomenon, Kane smiled.
"That's incredible."
He couldn't help but be amazed.
The mana he had used was replenished in an instant.
"The biggest issue with 'Blood Sword' was that it used to require his life force as collateral, but that's gone now."
Now he could use 'Blood Sword' without any worry.
"But there's a new problem."
With the Blood Bond (3 Runes), it was emitting powerful energy.
Although he tried to contain the mana as much as possible.
Even the slightest movement revealed his presence.
"I never intend to hide my power, but this might cause some inconvenience."
Sure enough.
The Blood Tigers were trembling just feeling Kane's aura.
Kane's gaze fell on one of them.
The tiger whined.
It rolled over, showing its belly in complete surrender.
"Don't be too scared; I don't intend to kill you."
At Kane's voice, the Blood Tiger struggled even more.
A hundred ferocious monsters were rolling on the ground.
It was an absurd sight.
[Egg's Status: Eating]
Meanwhile, little bro egg was calmly feasting.
Absorbing the demonic energy and spirit from the monster corpses.
"These guys belong to me now."
[Egg's Status: Not even a dog bothers someone while they eat.]
"I'll take that as your acceptance."
Kane turned to the Blood Tigers.
"All of you, come with me."
The mutated monsters understood human speech.
One of them quickly disappeared into the forest, probably because it had been scared away by Kane.
"Haha, the rest of you, follow me. And someone call that scared kitty as well."
The Blood Tigers, which had been rolling on the ground, started wagging their tails like puppies.
The once ferocious mutated monsters had become pets in an instant.
Kane called out to the soldier standing in shock on the wall.
"Bring all the corpses and start the disassembly process."
"…"
"Didn't you hear me?"
The soldier, startled from his daze, responded quickly.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
* * *
The soldiers rushed outside the castle gates to retrieve the corpses.
The corpses of the monsters were as valuable as gold.
Every part of them could be sold for money.
Especially the corpses of mutated monsters, which fetched exorbitant prices.
"Holy Shit! There are so many mana stones!"
"How many mana stones are there in each corpse?"
Each corpse had at least two mana stones.
"How much are all these worth?"
The soldiers couldn't stop expressing their amazement.
But something even more astonishing happened.
"Look at the Young Master!"
"He's bringing the Blood Tigers inside the castle…?"
The soldier working on the disassembly froze.
To them, mutated monsters were enemies to be killed.
They had never considered being in the same space with them.
"Ignore it and continue with your work."
Despite Kane's words, the soldiers were still anxious.
"Young Master!"
Yannick, the ponytailed Guardian Knight, urgently appeared in front of him.
"We can't let living mutated monsters into the territory."
"Is there a rule that says mutated monsters can't be brought into the territory?"
"Well, no… but mutated monsters are dangerous."
"I will handle it."
"But, Young Master… sir."
Yannick hesitated.
'He's changed again.'
Previously, his aura had been faint.
He was difficult to approach simply because of his status as a Young Master.
But now, it was different.
This wasn't just the pressure of a status difference.
"Are you questioning me?"
Kane's tone was calm as he asked.
Though not oppressive, it made Yannick feel small.
"…"
He wanted to say something, but no words came out.
"Your job is not to interfere with my affairs but to report and observe what you see to your superiors."
Kane, having said what he needed, led the Blood Tigers toward the newly built stables.
"Haa!"
Yannick exhaled heavily.
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
His back was also drenched.
"…What is this?"
Yannick was a beginner-tier 4th class knight.
Though the youngest in the Guardian Knight Order.
He was soon expected to rise to mid-tier 4th class.
Yet here he was, unable to breathe properly in front of Kane.
It was an unbelievable situation.
He felt confused.
'For a moment, I felt fear…'
His sweat-drenched back and clammy palms confirmed it.
He had been tense with fear.
'How am I supposed to explain this to Vice-Commander Fabi?'
What would Vice Commander say if he admitted of being afraid of the Young Master?
He would likely dismiss it as nonsense.
But!
He had seen it.
The ferocious beast engraved in the Young Master's eyes.
As Yannick stood there sweating, a soldier approached cautiously.
"Um… are you alright?"
"…Ah, I was just lost in thought for a moment. Don't mind me."
"But is it really okay to bring those mutated monsters into the territory…?"
"The Young Master will handle it. The Guardian Knight Order is here, so don't worry too much."
Having finished the conversation, he took a step.
'Bruh, even I don't know what Young Master intends to do.'
His mission was simple.
To observe Kane and report what he witnessed to his superiors...