The sun dipped low on the horizon as the three of them stood before the bounty board in the heart of Greywater Outpost — a rough, bustling town on the border of untamed lands. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, steel, and distant fire. Mercenaries and warriors crowded around the board, arguing over contracts.
But one bounty silenced them all.
"WANTED: Crimson Horn Marauder — Rank: Heaven-Class Threat
Reward: 1,000 Gold Bars + High-Grade Martial Manual"
The room went still when Seol-Yeong reached out and tore the bounty from the board.
"Are you insane?" someone hissed. "The Crimson Horn Marauder wiped out an entire sect last month!"
"He's at the peak of Sky-Reaching Realm," another said. "You'll be walking to your deaths."
Seol-Yeong didn't even glance at them. He turned the paper over in his hand, already calculating.
Yoon-Hee stepped closer, her voice soft but certain. "We can take him."
Hyeon grinned, his arms crossed. "Finally, a real fight."
The three of them walked out in silence, but the outpost was already alive with whispers. The group that took down a wyvern was now going after a legend.
And if they succeeded, they wouldn't just be feared. They'd be unstoppable.
—
Nightfall — The Deadwood Gorge
The Crimson Horn Marauder's hideout was an old fortress, half-buried in the rocky cliffs. Fires flickered along the walls, and the sound of laughter drifted through the cold night air. Dozens of bandits gathered within — men who had killed, burned, and destroyed without fear.
Seol-Yeong crouched on a ridge above, his eyes narrowing. "We take out the sentries first. No alarm."
"I'll cover the back entrance," Yoon-Hee whispered, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
"I'll take the gate," Hyeon said, stretching his shoulders. "It's been a while since I got to make an entrance."
Seol-Yeong didn't smile. But there was a glint in his eyes — the edge of anticipation.
"Let's end this."
—
The first sentry never saw the blade coming.
Seol-Yeong moved like a shadow, his sword slicing through the night. By the time the body hit the ground, he was already gone.
In the courtyard below, Hyeon dropped from the wall like a falling star. The Celestial Tyrant Edict roared through his blood, and with a single palm strike, the gate exploded inward in a shower of splinters and flame.
The bandits surged to their feet — and froze when the air grew cold.
Yoon-Hee stepped through the back entrance, her sword glowing with pale light. The Azure Lotus Scripture bloomed around her, and every step she took left frost in her wake.
Chaos erupted.
Seol-Yeong was a storm — his sword a flash of death as he cut through the panic. Dragonfang Strike, Heaven-Severing Steps, Black Wind Piercer — techniques from both righteous and demonic sects blended seamlessly in his hands, each one more lethal than the last.
Hyeon laughed as he waded into the fray, his fists shattering weapons and bones alike. The Celestial Tyrant Edict made him unstoppable — every strike a mountain crashing down.
And Yoon-Hee was grace and death combined. The Azure Lotus Scripture danced around her, ice blooming with every slash, freezing enemies where they stood.
But even with the bandits falling like wheat, the real fight was still ahead.
From the fortress steps, a figure emerged. Tall and armored, his crimson horned helm gleamed in the firelight. The air around him pulsed with killing intent.
"You've made a mistake coming here," the Crimson Horn Marauder growled, drawing a massive glaive. "But I'll thank you for the entertainment."
Seol-Yeong stepped forward without hesitation.
"Let's see how much you're worth."
—