-- Qian Xin's POV --
As darkness fell, I set out. I had donned the sword and armor I had kept hidden for so long. Fate was on my side tonight. I would unleash all my hatred upon them.
At last, I arrived at their hideout. Some had already volunteered to greet me.
"Who are you? This side of the forest belongs to us. Get lost!"
Two GrandMasters had already stepped forward to face me. Meanwhile, a commotion had erupted inside the hideout. Everyone was arming themselves. I had apparently made my intentions far too obvious.
At that moment, my eyes gleamed again and again. I could see their weak points. Gripping my sword tightly, I lunged at the one closest to me. They had nothing in their hands or on their bodies—these two GrandMasters were easy prey for me.
The man I attacked stretched out his hands in a desperate attempt to block my blade...
At that moment, my mask, armor, and sword were stained with human blood for the first time. His severed hand and head hit the ground before his body did.
I followed up with a second strike, lunging at the other GrandMaster. His face contorted in terror. Even I was surprised by how quickly I had dispatched his friend. This technique I had learned... was this powerful?
As he tried to flee, he turned his back to me. I swiftly swung my heavy steel sword.
A clean cut. I had severed him from his shoulders, his head and torso separated at the shoulder level.
"AGGHHHHH!!!"
My ears rang again... His agonized screams echoed throughout the entire forest.
Leaving the corpse behind, I continued my march into the hideout. Thanks to "Fatal Step," I could feel my power increasing.
I had already started running inside the hideout... I killed every cultivator I encountered.
With each strike, time seemed to slow down... I paused for a few seconds to catch my breath.
Looking around, I finally took in my surroundings. The floor was littered with grievously wounded bodies. But I had only struck each person once. Those who hadn't died from a single slash—I had left them. If they were to die, it would be from that one cut alone.
The monster within me was growing. This power had turned me into something... demonic.
At that moment, my armor felt like nothing more than a burden. I removed it and tossed it aside.
Gripping my sword once more, I noticed something... Had wielding a sword always felt like this?
My blade felt heavier. As I advanced deeper into the hideout, my kill count increased.
Killing people so effortlessly... It didn't feel right. But most of them were criminals. I was here for revenge—not just for myself, but for people like me.
Then, suddenly, I felt someone sprinting toward me from behind. A chilling sensation ran down my spine. A crimson figure was rushing toward me.
And they weren't alone... Two more crimson figures flanked them. I tightened my grip on my sword. I would counter their attack and...
"CHHHNNNG!"
They were fast... I could see their weak points, yet the man's sheer speed was starting to overwhelm me. I had to kill him before the others joined the fight.
"CHHHNNNG!"
My stamina was running out... My breathing became erratic.
"Old man, who are you? Why are you attacking our little men?"
The voice belonged to a woman. Her face was covered with cloth. Her words made us all pause for a moment.
"Your men? Are the people I killed your dogs?"
I had no intention of lowering my sword... It was clear they had come to save the hideout's members.
I took deep breaths. I needed to regain my energy.
Then, all at once, they attacked me together. Fighting all three at once was impossible.
I thought about grabbing my children and running... I had to help Master. I would swing my sword for him... But revenge... Revenge wouldn't be difficult for Master.
The power he had granted me with just a mask was tremendous. He could raise an immortal army... But what if his masks were limited? I couldn't afford to let the enemy take mine.
As my thoughts wandered, I felt my body being cut open. It burned... Every wound burned... Blood filled my lungs...
[Ding! User Qian Xin has broken through to a new threshold! Upon reaching "Spirit Core Realm," your Personal Soul Technique will take shape.]
["Voice of Death" - With a single death wail, you can condemn everyone around you to a slow and agonizing death.]
[Normal Activation Condition: Suffer a fatal wound. Be on the verge of death.
Special Activation Condition: Sacrifice your fingers for a total of 20 uses]