Liyo Griffin stood there, his mind still half-trapped in his own absurd imagination.
In his head, he could clearly picture it—
Princess Zoya, expressionless as always, beating the hell out of that unlucky guy behind her… and then dragging him here like discarded trash.
The more he imagined it, the colder his spine felt.
Just what kind of terrifying situation had that guy gone through?
Meanwhile—
Zoya's attention was fixed entirely on Yang Kai.
Her brows narrowed slightly, though her face remained mostly expressionless.
She couldn't understand it.
From the moment she dragged him here, he had been completely broken.
Like a man who had lost the will to live.
On the other hand—
Yang Kai himself wasn't thinking about the battlefield.
He wasn't thinking about weapons.
He wasn't even thinking about survival.
His entire mind was consumed by a single word.
Ugly.
It echoed again and again.
Relentless.
Crushing.
Suddenly—
His senses twitched.
A sharp killing intent pierced through the forest ahead.
Yang Kai's dull eyes snapped open.
He lifted his head and stared straight into the trees.
A few seconds later—
Zoya felt it too.
Her body shifted slightly as she turned toward the forest, her gaze turning sharp and focused.
Liyo followed immediately.
His relaxed posture vanished, replaced by readiness.
Something was coming.
Something dangerous.
And then—
The axe.
The massive weapon that Zoya had been holding suddenly trembled.
Without warning, it slipped from her grip.
It flew through the air—
Straight toward Yang Kai.
Zoya didn't react.
She simply watched.
But Liyo's eyes widened in shock.
That weapon… belonged to him?!
Before the axe could fall, Yang Kai raised his hand and caught it cleanly.
The moment his fingers wrapped around it—
A faint crimson-black energy flickered from his eyes.
His expression changed.
The depression vanished.
Replaced by something darker.
Colder.
Focused.
Forget about looks…
I need to become powerful first.
Zoya pulled out both of her daggers smoothly, her gaze still fixed on the forest.
"So," she said calmly, "you're back to your senses."
Yang Kai stood up slowly.
He cracked his neck once, the sound sharp in the tense silence.
"Yeah," he replied. "I thought I looked pathetic… so I should at least behave myself."
Before anyone could say another word—
Something burst out from the forest.
A human head.
It flew through the air, spinning before landing near Yang Kai's feet and rolling past him.
Blood trailed behind it.
Silence fell for a split second.
Then—
A voice echoed from deep within the forest.
Calm.
Sharp.
Confident.
"Don't think we're weak and try to attack us," said the man with the katana. "My partner has a bad temper."
Liyo's lips curled into a smile.
"Oh?" he said, a hint of amusement in his tone. "He's got guts to challenge me… huh."
But the vein bulging on his forehead told a different story.
He was pissed.
Before he could move—
A familiar voice came from beside him.
"Well…" Rose Alfard stepped closer, her hammer resting lazily on her shoulder. "You are a weakling. Just use my body and give me your sword. Isn't that a great offer?"
Liyo froze.
On the outside, his expression remained controlled.
But inside—
His thoughts went completely off track.
Her chest…
Her legs…
That face…
For a brief moment, his mind betrayed him.
Then—
He violently shook his head.
Clearing everything.
His face twisted with anger.
"You witch," he snapped. "Get the fuck out of here."
Rose blinked.
Then smiled.
Because his reaction only made things more interesting.
Above the forest, the number continued to fall—faster than before.
009,675,022
009,332,236
The drop was no longer gradual.
It was collapsing.
Because the center of the forest—
Was no longer safe.
People had started leaving.
Not because they wanted to.
But because they couldn't fight here.
And outside this place—
Death was waiting.
Back in the clearing, Yang Kai slowly scanned the crowd.
His eyes moved from one group to another.
Nervous faces.
Fake confidence.
Hidden fear.
Then he turned slightly toward Zoya.
"Why are there so many people here… and why the hell are they not fighting?"
Zoya's gaze shifted toward the staff.
"We're in the center of the forest," she said calmly. "Everyone came here for that weapon. And people agreed on a rule—no fighting in this place."
Liyo crossed his arms and added casually, "And no one's been able to take it anyway."
Rose smirked, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Do you see these people?" she said. "Most of them don't even want to fight. They're just hiding here, hoping to survive."
Yang Kai looked again.
This time, more carefully.
Some people stood tall, pretending to be strong.
But sweat dripped down their faces.
Their hands trembled slightly.
Others were clearly injured—cuts, bruises, dried blood covering their bodies.
Exhausted.
Desperate.
Pathetic.
Yang Kai exhaled slowly.
"Judging by their numbers… there must be thousands here," he muttered. "At this rate, we need to finish this test fast. It's already been four days."
Zoya's eyes flickered slightly.
She understood what he meant.
"You really think you can win," she asked, "if you fight all of them? Even if they're weaklings?"
Yang Kai answered instantly.
"Of course not."
Then he turned his head.
His gaze moved across Zoya… Liyo… and Rose.
"But if you help me," he continued, "then we can."
Rose tilted her head, curious.
"Like a team?"
Before Yang Kai could respond—
Liyo scoffed.
"Nah. I disagree. I'm not staying in the same team as this witch."
Rose immediately turned toward him with a pitiful expression.
"Oh honey… come on, don't be like that."
Her tone was soft.
Mocking.
Dangerous.
Liyo's jaw tightened.
Meanwhile—
Yang Kai and Zoya had already ignored them.
Both of them were looking at the staff.
Studying it.
Analyzing.
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes.
"You said no one can wield it, right?"
Zoya replied without hesitation.
"Correct."
Yang Kai nodded once.
Then he extended his arm toward her.
"Hold this for a moment."
Zoya didn't question him.
She calmly sheathed her daggers and took the axe from his hand.
The massive weapon looked heavy—but she held it steadily.
Yang Kai then stepped forward.
Toward the center.
Toward the staff.
His footsteps were slow.
Deliberate.
The crowd noticed immediately.
Eyes turned toward him.
Whispers spread.
Another one trying.
Another fool.
Yang Kai stopped just in front of the staff.
He raised his arm slightly.
His fingers hovered near the dark metal surface.
Behind him, a few steps away—
Zoya stood calmly.
Liyo watched with narrowed eyes.
Rose smiled, clearly entertained.
And at that moment—
Three more figures arrived.
Horikita.
Jhon.
And the boy with glasses.
They stopped beside Liyo and the others, their attention immediately drawn to Yang Kai.
The tension in the clearing tightened again.
Yang Kai didn't turn back.
Didn't hesitate.
He simply spoke, his voice calm but carrying across the silent clearing.
"Be ready for what I said."
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Because this is going to get interesting."
His fingers slowly reached forward.
"And I'm going to wield it."
Yang Kai stepped forward and placed his hand on the staff.
No hesitation.
No buildup.
Just a firm grip.
He held it with one hand.
Then—
He pulled.
His muscles tightened instantly. His arm flexed as he poured his full strength into it.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly from the force.
But the staff—
Did not move.
Not even a fraction.
Not even the slightest tremor.
For a moment, silence lingered.
Then—
Laughter erupted.
Mocking.
Harsh.
Unforgiving.
"What a fool."
"Even that monster guy used both hands!"
"And this idiot thinks he can pull it out with one?"
"Dumbass…"
The voices spread across the clearing, filled with ridicule.
But Yang Kai—
Didn't react.
He simply released the staff.
Calm.
Composed.
As if the failure meant nothing.
From behind him, Liyo let out a small chuckle.
"Brother, don't be sad."
Rose tilted her head, smiling playfully.
"Yeah… I think this weapon is just for showcase."
But Yang Kai wasn't listening.
His eyes were fixed on the staff.
Thinking.
Calculating.
Zoya observed him closely.
Her expression remained unchanged, but her thoughts shifted.
Interesting.
Then—
Yang Kai smiled.
Not out of embarrassment.
But excitement.
"This isn't a normal weapon."
His voice was low.
Certain.
Zoya narrowed her eyes slightly.
Liyo frowned.
Rose blinked, confused.
"What are you talking about?" Liyo muttered, stepping closer and scanning the staff with focused eyes.
A faint glow appeared in his pupils as he used his spiritual perception.
He examined every inch of the rod.
Nothing.
No energy.
No fluctuation.
No aura.
It was completely dead.
It's not a spiritual weapon…
Then what the fuck is different?
Before anyone could question further—
Yang Kai acted.
He raised his hand.
Then bit down on his index finger.
Hard.
Blood seeped out instantly.
Without hesitation, he let a drop fall onto the staff.
The moment it touched—
Something changed.
The blood didn't drip down.
It vanished.
Absorbed.
The staff… drank it.
A faint ripple spread across its dark surface.
Then—
It began.
The staff trembled slightly.
And suddenly—
It started pulling.
Not physically—
But something far worse.
Yang Kai's blood.
His body stiffened as he felt it.
His veins tensed.
His heartbeat spiked.
The staff was no longer passively absorbing—
It was draining him.
Zoya's eyes sharpened.
"It's a blood weapon."
Her voice cut through the air.
Rose tilted her head.
"A what?"
Horikita frowned.
Jhon looked confused.
But Liyo—
His expression darkened instantly.
He understood.
He turned his head toward Zoya.
"If that's true…" he said slowly, "then we can't do anything to save that ugly guy."
Zoya didn't respond.
Her gaze remained locked on Yang Kai.
Jhon couldn't hold it anymore.
"What the hell is a blood weapon?"
Liyo kept his eyes on Yang Kai as the staff continued draining him.
Then he spoke.
"Blood weapons… are forged from fragments of blood demon bones."
His tone was serious now.
"No spiritual energy. No aura. Just raw, monstrous weight—often over a ton."
He paused briefly.
Then continued.
"To claim it… you have to feed it blood."
"Not a drop."
"Not a little."
"As much as it wants."
The realization hit.
Horikita's eyes widened slightly.
Jhon clenched his fists.
Rose's smile faded for a moment.
Meanwhile—
The boy with glasses started laughing.
Loud.
Unrestrained.
"So he's digging his own grave," he said, grinning. "What a fucking idiot."
At the center—
Yang Kai stood still.
The staff continued to drain him.
Blood flowed from his finger… his palm… his veins.
His face began to pale.
But his eyes—
Remained calm.
Focused.
As if he had already made his decision.
And wasn't planning to stop.