The ride back to Abigail's villa was completely silent.
For the first time, she didn't argue. She didn't question me, didn't insult me, didn't try to exert control.
She just sat there—staring out the window, her fingers lightly tapping against her leg, a sign of restlessness.
I glanced at her briefly, watching as she bit her lower lip, clearly lost in deep thought.
She wasn't the same woman who had arrogantly dragged me into this case hours ago.
Something in her had shifted.
I smirked slightly, returning my focus to the road. Good.
Maybe she was finally realizing who I was now.
As soon as I pulled up to the villa, I put the car in park and opened my door.
But Abigail just sat there.
She didn't move.
She made no effort to get out.
Instead, she suddenly asked—her voice **low, almost hesitant**:
**"Who… are you?"**
I froze for a split second before exhaling through my nose.
**"You already know who I am, Ms. Bardot,"** I replied coolly, stepping out of the car.
She followed, closing the door behind her.
But before I could reach the entrance, she grabbed my*wrist.
Her grip was tight, almost desperate.
I turned slowly, my emerald-green eyes meeting hers.
Her expression was different this time.
It wasn't filled with hatred, arrogance, or anger.
It was filled with something else.
Something she refused to admit.
"I don't know you anymore," she whispered.
I chuckled, tilting my head. "No, Abigail. You never knew me to begin with."
She flinched slightly, her fingers loosening but still holding on.
"You're not the same man," she murmured. "The Samuel I knew… he would have never—"
"Never what?" I cut her off, stepping closer. "Never fought back? Never stood up for himself? Never killed to protect others?"
She inhaled sharply.
I leaned down slightly, my voice dropping to a whisper.
"That Samuel is dead."
She looked up at me, her eyes flickering with conflict, regret… maybe even guilt.
For a moment, she looked like she wanted to say something—to admit something.
But then, as always, she swallowed it down.
I scoffed, finally shaking off her grip.
"Goodnight, Ms. Bardot," I said coldly, turning away.
And this time—she didn't stop me.
She just stood there, watching as I walked inside, her hands tightly clenched into fists.
The Reward for the Hunt – A Moment of Respite
As soon as I stepped into the guest room, I let out a deep sigh, rolling my shoulders as I shut the door behind me.
The night had been long, bloody, and full of surprises.
I had seen horrors in that mansion, shattered bones, and painted walls with blood—but none of that was what exhausted me.
It was Abigail.
Her silence on the way back. Her questions. Her hesitation.
She was breaking.
But I didn't have time to care.
I threw off my coat, tossing it over a chair before running a hand through my messy black hair.
Then, I gave the command.
"System, show me my reward for completing the quest and my stats."
A holographic screen immediately materialized in front of me, glowing with golden text.
---
[Quest Complete: The Cursed Manor]
You have successfully infiltrated the Cursed Mansion, uncovered the human trafficking operation, and eliminated the threats.
Reward:
+10 Agility
Hidden Ability Unlock
New Ability Unlocked: Phantom Step
Your footwork reaches supernatural levels.
Allows you to move in complete silence, leaving no trace.
Can evade enemy perception at high speeds.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Samuel Gebb
Possessed By: Heavenly Demon
Level: 50 (+5 from quest completion)
Strength: 159
Agility: 155 (+10 from quest)
Endurance: 150
Intelligence: 180
Charisma: 140
Abilities:
Eagle Eyes – Enhanced vision and perception.
Breath of Destruction – A powerful fire breath attack.
Black Bones – Unbreakable demonic bones.
Phantom Step (New) – Silent, traceless movement.
---
I stared at the new ability, my smirk growing wider.
"Phantom Step, huh? Now that's something useful."
This wasn't just about moving silently. This was a hunter's skill. An assassin's gift.
With this, I could strike before my enemies even knew I was there.
I flexed my fingers, feeling the rush of power settling into my body.
I was getting stronger.
And soon, no one would be able to stop me.
I chuckled to myself, finally collapsing onto the bed, letting my body relax.
As I stared at the ceiling, my mind drifted to the future. The next battle. The next hunt.
I knew one thing for sure—
The fun was just getting started.