The body of the Ironclaw Beast lay motionless in the clearing.
Leon sat on the ground nearby, breathing heavily.
Every muscle in his body ached.
"That thing was way stronger than the wolf…"
A few meters away, Aether calmly carved open the beast's chest.
With a single precise cut of the Void Sword, he removed a large crystal glowing faintly blue.
Leon looked up.
"Another mana core?"
"Yes."
Aether tossed it toward him.
Leon caught it with tired hands.
"This one feels… stronger."
"That is because the monster was stronger."
Leon nodded slowly.
He could feel faint energy flowing from the crystal.
But before he could say anything else—
Aether suddenly froze.
Leon immediately noticed the change.
"What's wrong?"
Aether raised one hand.
A signal to stay quiet.
Leon stopped moving instantly.
The forest had become strangely silent.
No birds.
No insects.
No wind.
Only the faint rustling of leaves.
Leon whispered,
"Is there another monster?"
Aether shook his head slowly.
"No."
Leon felt a chill run down his spine.
"Then what is it?"
Aether's voice became colder.
"Someone is watching us."
For several seconds nothing happened.
The forest remained silent.
Leon looked around nervously.
"I don't see anyone."
"That does not mean they are not there."
Aether's eyes scanned the trees.
His senses spread outward like invisible threads.
Then—
He spoke calmly.
"You have three seconds."
"Reveal yourself."
"Or die."
A soft laugh echoed from the trees.
"Well… that's terrifying."
A figure dropped down from a high branch.
The man landed silently on the ground a short distance away.
He wore dark clothing that blended perfectly with the shadows.
His face was partially covered by a mask.
But his eyes were sharp and amused.
Leon immediately realized something.
This man wasn't ordinary.
The way he moved…
The way he appeared without making a sound…
It reminded Leon of a predator.
Aether looked completely unsurprised.
"You took your time."
The masked man shrugged.
"I wanted to see the boy fight."
Leon blinked.
"You were watching the whole time?"
"Yes."
Leon frowned.
"That's creepy."
The masked man chuckled.
"Relax, kid."
"I'm not your enemy."
The man removed his mask.
His face revealed a calm, slightly mischievous expression.
Leon tilted his head.
"Who are you?"
The man bowed slightly.
"Allow me to introduce myself."
"I am Kael Vire, one of the commanders of the Night Veil."
Leon blinked.
"The Night Veil?"
Aether answered calmly.
"The empire's assassin corps."
Leon's eyes widened.
"Wait… assassins?!"
Kael laughed.
"Not the kind you're thinking."
He leaned casually against a tree.
"The Night Veil protects the empire from the shadows."
"Spies, traitors, enemy infiltrators."
Leon nodded slowly.
"That sounds important."
"It is."
Kael looked toward Aether.
"The old man sent me."
Leon frowned.
"Old man?"
Aether didn't react.
But Leon had a strange feeling he knew exactly who Kael meant.
Kael smiled slightly.
"You know… the one watching everything."
Leon's eyes widened.
"You mean—"
"Yes."
The founder of the empire.
Caelus Aurelion.
Kael crossed his arms.
"The First Sovereign noticed something interesting."
Leon gulped.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Kael pointed at him.
"You."
Leon scratched his head nervously.
"That's… intimidating."
Kael shrugged.
"Relax."
"He's just curious."
Leon didn't look reassured.
Kael's expression suddenly became more serious.
"However…"
"There's another reason I came."
Aether's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What happened?"
Kael looked toward the deeper forest.
"Something strange is moving on the frontier."
Leon felt uneasy.
"What kind of strange?"
Kael's voice became colder.
"Several villages near the border have disappeared."
Leon froze.
"Disappeared?"
"Yes."
Kael continued.
"No survivors."
"No bodies."
"No signs of battle."
Only silence remained in the forest.
Leon felt a chill run down his spine.
"What could do that?"
Kael looked toward the distant mountains.
"That's what we're trying to find out."
Aether turned toward the mountains as well.
His expression remained calm.
But Leon could tell something had changed.
The training journey that had begun as simple monster hunting…
Might be about to become something much more dangerous.
Kael pushed away from the tree.
"Well, I've delivered the message."
He looked at Leon again.
"Kid."
Leon blinked.
"Yes?"
Kael smiled slightly.
"You've got talent."
Leon scratched his head.
"…Thanks?"
Kael pulled his mask back on.
"Try not to die."
Then he vanished into the trees.
Just like that.
Leon stared at the empty forest.
"…Assassins are weird."
Aether turned and began walking.
"Come."
Leon hurried after him.
"Where are we going?"
Aether answered calmly.
"To investigate."
Leon sighed.
"Of course we are."
But deep down…
Leon felt something strange.
The peaceful training days were already ending.
And whatever had caused entire villages to disappear…
Was probably far more dangerous than any monster he had faced so far.