"I've been trying to contact you for days," the man whispered, his voice calm yet firm. "And finally, I've got my chance."
"What do you mean by that?" Corin asked right away. He wasn't relieved at all by the presence of this mysterious figure. In fact, he wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Sensing Corin's unease, the man raised a hand to reassure him. "Like I said, I'm not your enemy. I'm an ally. I know how angry and frustrated you've been these past few weeks after losing three times in a row," he said, clearly referring to Corin's defeats—his two fights with Ethan and his loss in the recent competition.
"Your reputation is in ruins because of those losses, but don't worry. I've got something that will change everything for you, something that can bring back your glory," the man's voice was deep and full of promise, igniting a flicker of hope in Corin's eyes.
The man then pulled out a small cylindrical box, about 15 cm in length, along with two tiny, spiral-shaped essence stones. Before Corin could ask what they were, the man quickly explained.
"Tomorrow, all the participants who lost will get a second chance to fight. There's still time for you to make a comeback. With this," the man held up the box, "you can dominate the competition and win every single match."
Corin frowned. "What is this?" he asked, suspicion clouding his voice.
"In this box," the man replied, "is a special powder drug I've personally developed. It enhances both your magic and physical abilities. Not only that, but it also sharpens your instincts and reaction time. The more you take, the stronger the effects will be. But, I must warn you—take it in small doses."
He then pointed to the two essence stones. "These are space-path essence stones. The first one is called 'Input,' and the second is 'Output.' Here's how it works: You put the input essence stone into the box, and the output essence stone anywhere on your body."
Corin listened intently as the man continued. "Whenever you want to use the drug, you'll activate the output essence stone by channeling your mana. This will connect the two stones, and the drug will be sent directly into your bloodstream. Since you're using essence stones, it won't be considered cheating—it's perfectly fair."
Corin stared at the box and the essence stones, feeling conflicted. The promise of strength and a chance to regain his reputation tugged at him, but deep down, he knew there could be consequences.
Corin hesitated for a moment before voicing his concern. "What if there are side effects?" he asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
The man shook his head quickly, almost too quickly. "No... no, nothing like that," he replied, waving his hand dismissively. "I've tested this on several humans already. As long as you take it in moderation, everything will be fine!" His voice was confident, almost reassuring, as if he had all the answers Corin needed.
But Corin's mind wasn't at ease. Memories flooded back, sharp and painful. He remembered losing to Ethan—how humiliating it had been, how the crowd had looked down on him. Then there was the betrayal, his girlfriend choosing someone else. And Kaelith... that moment still haunted him, how she had defeated him effortlessly, like he wasn't even worth her time.
His heart burned. It wasn't just anger or frustration anymore—it was a deep, consuming need for revenge. He couldn't stop the fire inside him from growing, and he knew that without something drastic, nothing would change. He'd stay at the bottom, always the one who lost, always the one people pitied.
At this point, there was no reason to refuse the man's offer. He wanted power, and here it was, right in front of him. All he had to do was take it.
"I accept,"
-----------
At the bustling station in the capital of Anastasia Kingdom, a sense of tension filled the air. Several high-ranking knights and guards stood in place, their eyes locked on the tracks, waiting. They were all focused on the arrival of train number 1089, a sleek blue locomotive. In their hands, they clutched investigative essence stones, tools designed to detect any form of illusion or delusion. This time, they were prepared—there would be no escape for those onboard.
One of the guards, looking slightly puzzled, glanced at his subordinate. "I don't get it. Why are those killers so focused on hijacking a train? I mean, they never asked for money or treasure to release it. What's the point?"
The subordinate smirked confidently. "If they're taking this much risk, something valuable must be on that train. We've blocked every possible exit. They're trapped now, no way out," he chuckled, feeling certain of their plan.
---
Inside the train, Esdeath sat by the window, her cold gaze fixed on the passing scenery. The train was snaking along the side of a mountain, not at its peak but nestled midway down. Below stretched an endless forest, vast and untamed, home to various beastmen and barbarian tribes, including the infamous Vanara tribe.
Her expression darkened, a grim look of disappointment crossing her face as she watched the mountain slip by. "They've figured out that these guys are using illusions," she thought, glancing at the three men sitting near her.
"But it's too late now," she mused bitterly. "If they had realized it just one station earlier, maybe we could have made an escape. But now…"
Just as the thought passed through her mind, the train screeched violently, a loud crashing sound echoing through the carriage as the wheels ground to a halt. After a few moments of jarring stillness, the train came to a complete stop—right in the middle of the mountain pass.
Even at this point, Esdeath and Maruti were desperately trying to think of a way to escape. But before they could even come up with a plan, two of the three men acted quickly. One of them grabbed Maruti, and the other caught Esdeath by the back of her hoodie, lifting her into the air like a bag or a helpless kitten. Their bodies hung in the air in a comical, awkward way.
Esdeath's eyes narrowed in an annoyed, cat-like expression, her irritation clear. Escape wasn't an option now. They were stuck, and the men carried them out of the train with ease.
As they stepped off the train, three more figures emerged—one from the driver's compartment and two from different carriages. These were the masterminds behind the illusion and the continuous train ride. They all exchanged glances, and without a word, started descending the mountain path, still carrying Esdeath and Maruti.
Esdeath, dangling from the man's grip, couldn't resist making a sarcastic comment. "Predictor, since your dad went to all this trouble to capture you, he must be pretty important in his tribe. We could use this chance to grab some resources. What do you think?" she asked with a smirk.
Maruti, however, was still feeling down. "Bruh… that's a good idea and all, but my main problem is the marriage! , Even at that time, I chose to die than being called gay, I'd rather die than marry a guy. No way in hell am I gonna go through with that!" she snorted angrily.
Esdeath, knowing that her teasing had once led to Maruti's previous death, looked away awkwardly. "I was just joking back then. Who told you to take it so seriously?" she mumbled, feeling guilty.
Despite their bickering, the men kept walking, carrying Esdeath and Maruti as if they weighed nothing. The train was left behind, with no concern about what would happen to it. Their focus was now on the vast forest they were walking through.
The forest was dense, filled with the sounds of rustling leaves and the occasional growl of wild animals. As they continued through the woods, several groups of wolves and other beasts attacked, but these men were no ordinary travelers. They were barbarians, strong and fierce, and many of them were awakened warriors. Every attack from the beasts was swiftly dealt with, the men cutting down the creatures with ease, barely slowing their pace.
By the time they finally reached their destination, it was early morning. The golden rays of the sun gently bathed the landscape, and the peaceful chirping of birds could be heard in the distance.
In front of them was a large tribe village, sprawling with life. There were many houses, some even built high up in the trees, giving the village an unusual but impressive appearance. Fields of crops and resources were scattered around, along with various tools and equipment used by the tribespeople.
But what caught Esdeath's attention the most was the crowd waiting at the village's outskirts. Almost a thousand people had gathered, their eyes fixed on the newcomers. It was clear they had received word that Maruti was returning. Most of them appeared to be soldiers, armed with various weapons, standing ready.
Esdeath's eyes widened as her gaze fell on one figure standing at the front of the group. The man was massive, towering over everyone else. His muscular body seemed to radiate power, and he was more than seven feet tall. His skin was covered in intricate tattoos that gave him a fierce, menacing aura. His face was rugged but handsome, with a sharp jawline and an air of authority. His hair was brown, and though he appeared middle-aged, there was no mistaking his strength and presence.
Esdeath gasped, her heart skipping a beat. "I thought your father must be some high-ranking guy... but I never imagined you were the daughter of the *Patriarch* of the Vanara tribe!" she whispered in shock.