Reon couldn't hold back anymore.
The rage in his chest felt like lava ready to erupt and burn the whole guild to ash. He turned to Seryth, voice low and sharp, eyes locked on hers like he was burning the words into her soul.
"Stay hidden. Don't show yourself. No matter what happens. Promise me."
Seryth's silver-black eyes narrowed for a second, lips parting like she wanted to argue, to snap back with some sharp remark about how she could handle herself. But she saw the fire in his eyes and gave one slow nod. "Fine. But if you die, I'm dragging your ghost back just to kick your ass."
She melted back into the shadows near the guild wall, her body blending like smoke until she was gone, leaving only the faint scent of night-blooming flowers behind.
Reon stepped out into the open.
The whole guild froze like someone hit pause on the entire room.
Hundreds of eyes snapped toward him at once. Hunters stopped mid-drink, mugs halfway to their lips, foam dripping down their chins. Receptionists dropped their pens with soft clatters that echoed like gunshots in the sudden quiet. The air went thick with sudden whispers and the faint click of recording crystals lighting up everywhere. Someone in the back muttered, "Who the hell is that crazy bastard?" Another voice answered, low and nervous, "Looks like trouble. Real trouble."
Shizu was still trapped.
The Celestial Noble's hand rested possessively on her waist, fingers digging in just enough to remind her she wasn't free. She looked uncomfortable, cheeks flushed hot, body stiff, trying to pull away without making a scene. Her damp sports bra clung to her skin, outlining every curve, and she kept shifting her weight like she wanted to knee him in the balls but didn't dare.
The noble's silver eyes flicked to Reon and widened for half a heartbeat before he recovered with a lazy, arrogant smile that made Reon's blood boil hotter than the jungle fire he'd left behind.
"Well, well… who do we have here?" he said, voice smooth and measured, like he was sizing up a new toy he might break for fun. "A street rat interrupting my conversation. Bold. Stupid, but bold. You got balls, kid. I'll give you that."
He didn't remove his hand from Shizu. If anything, he pulled her closer, thumb brushing the curve of her hip like he already owned every inch of her body and was just waiting to claim it.
Shizu's voice came out tight and shaky, but there was steel in it.
"Reon… what are you doing? Get out of here. This isn't your fight. You don't have to—"
But her eyes said something else — a flash of relief mixed with fear, like she was terrified he'd get hurt and terrified he'd leave her alone with this creep.
Reon didn't answer her. His gaze locked on the noble's hand like it was a target painted in blood. His voice came out low, dangerous, each word dripping with venom.
"Get your filthy fingers off her. Now. Or I'll break every single one of them and feed them to you."
The noble laughed softly, the sound echoing through the suddenly quiet hall like he was genuinely amused.
"Or what, boy? You're unarmed. No magic. No weapons. Just a pathetic little cockroach who thinks he can interrupt a Celestial. Look at you — bleeding already and you haven't even started. Pathetic."
He turned to Shizu, voice dropping into that honey-smooth pervert tone again, loud enough for half the guild to hear every filthy word.
"Don't worry, little tomboy. This trash will be gone soon. Then you and I can continue our… private conversation. I still want to see what's under that sports bra. I bet your skin tastes like honey and fire. My carriage has a bed big enough for both of us. I'll make you moan so loud the whole guild will hear. Maybe even make you beg for it while your little friend watches from the floor."
Shizu's breath hitched. She felt exposed, hot, angry, and a tiny unwanted spark of heat from the way he looked at her. The man's gaze was so blatant, so hungry, it made her skin tingle even as she tried to twist away. "Get your hands off me, you sick fuck."
The crowd started murmuring louder. Some people raised their crystals higher, recording every second like it was the best show they'd seen all year.
Reon took one step forward, fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white.
The noble's smirk grew, eyes gleaming with cruel delight.
"Guards."
Fifteen elite guards stepped out from the shadows like trained killers. They moved with perfect discipline — tall, armored in glowing silver plates, weapons drawn. Swords that hummed with magic. Heavy hammers crackling with lightning. Long whips made of braided animal skin, the kind used to torture prisoners until they begged for death. One of them cracked his whip experimentally, the sound echoing like a gunshot.
The lead guard smirked, cracking his neck with a loud pop.
"Orders, my lord?"
The noble waved lazily, still holding Shizu against him like a trophy.
"Beat him. Break every bone. Make it slow. I want the girl to watch what happens when trash tries to play hero. And if he survives… bring him to me. I'll finish him myself while she watches. Maybe even let her clean up the mess with that pretty mouth of hers."
Shizu's heart hammered so hard she could hear it in her ears.
"Reon… don't. Please. Just run. You don't have to do this for me."
Reon's eyes burned brighter, the faint red glow flaring like dying embers.
He couldn't use the system. The update was still running — everything inside his head was dark and silent. No Void Binding. No Anium tricks. No map, no missions, nothing.
But his body…
His body was different now.
He had rebuilt it with Void Binding. Every muscle, every bone, every tendon was stronger than before. He could feel the raw power humming in his veins even without the system. His new body wasn't fragile anymore. It was a weapon. A monster waiting to be unleashed.
The first guard lunged with a whip.
CRACK!
The braided leather sliced through the air toward Reon's face, whistling like a promise of pain.
Reon dodged at the last second. The whip cracked past his ear and wrapped around his arm. He grabbed it, yanked hard, and pulled the guard off balance.
The man stumbled forward with a grunt.
Reon's fist met his jaw with a sickening THUD.
The guard flew back ten feet and slammed into a table, wood splintering under him. Blood sprayed from his mouth in a red arc. The crowd gasped.
Two more guards charged with swords raised high, blades gleaming.
Reon caught the first blade with his bare hand. The edge cut deep into his palm, blood dripping hot down his arm, but he didn't flinch. He twisted the sword out of the man's grip and slammed the hilt into his stomach. The guard doubled over, gasping for air, vomit mixing with blood on the floor.
The second sword came down fast. Reon ducked, drove his shoulder into the man's chest like a battering ram, and sent him crashing into the wall with a loud CRASH. The guard slid down, groaning, ribs cracked.
The crowd gasped louder.
Someone in the back shouted, "Holy shit — he's actually winning! That kid's a monster!"
The noble's smirk faltered for the first time, his silver eyes narrowing.
"More! All of you! Finish him! I want to hear him scream!"
Five guards rushed at once, weapons raised, faces twisted in rage.
Reon moved like a storm.
He grabbed one whip, spun it around the attacker's neck, and yanked. The man choked, eyes bulging, hands clawing at the leather. Reon kicked another in the knee — bone cracked with a sick POP. A third tried to stab him; Reon caught the blade again, blood running down his arm, and headbutted the man so hard his helmet dented and he dropped like a sack of bricks, nose shattered.
The hall was pure chaos now.
Tables flipped.
Chairs scattered.
People scrambled back, some cheering, some screaming. Recording crystals flashed nonstop. A few hunters started placing bets out loud.
"Ten gold on the street rat lasting another minute!"
"Twenty on the guards finishing him in thirty seconds! He's bleeding too much!"
Shizu watched with wide eyes, heart hammering in her throat.
"Reon… you idiot… you're bleeding everywhere… just run! Please!"
The noble laughed, but it sounded forced now. He pulled Shizu tighter against him, hand sliding lower on her waist, fingers brushing the edge of her sports bra.
"See? This is what happens when trash tries to play hero. Now be a good girl and stay still while my men finish him. After that… I'll make you forget all this mess with my tongue and hands. You'll be begging for it by the end."
Shizu's breath hitched. She felt trapped between anger and something warmer, something dangerous.
On the other side of the city, in the lord's mansion, Lady Elara sat alone in her room.
She was crying quietly, face buried in her hands, tears soaking the expensive silk of her dress. The room smelled of roses and despair.
A soft knock came at the door.
"Come in…" she whispered, wiping her tears fast and forcing her voice steady.
Her private maid entered, carrying a stack of luxurious dresses. The maid's uniform was torn at the shoulder, bruises visible on her neck.
"My lady, here are all the dresses for the prince's visit. Prince will come in three days. Madam told you to be prepared before that. The bath is ready. You can take it now."
Elara stared at the beautiful fabrics.
She felt like a curse on the family. No one wanted her. Even her mother and father looked at her like a bargaining chip. She wanted to end it all… but she didn't have the courage.
She just nodded weakly.
"Yes… yes, I'll take the bath."
The maid hesitated, eyes downcast. "The guards… they were here earlier. Sir Vohn… they took two of the younger maids. They said it was 'training.' The girls are still crying in the servant quarters."
Elara's stomach twisted. She knew what that meant. The lord's family and their guards treated the maids like toys — fucking them in the halls, in the baths, wherever they wanted. The girls had no choice. One wrong word and they were thrown out or worse.
"Tell them to stay quiet," Elara whispered. "It's the only way to survive here."
The maid nodded, tears in her eyes, and left.
Back at the guild, the fight was getting worse.
Reon was breathing hard, blood dripping from his arms and knuckles.
He was winning, but fifteen elite guards were too many.
One guard raised his sword high, aiming to cut Reon in half.
The blade came down.
Blood sprayed.
The crowd screamed.
Shizu's heart stopped.
"REON!"
The noble laughed.
"Finally. Trash is trash."
But Reon didn't fall.
He caught the sword with one bloody hand. The blade bit deep into his palm, but he grinned through the pain, teeth stained red.
He ripped the sword out of the guard's grip and swung it like a madman.
SLASH.
A guard's hand flew off in a spray of blood, the man screaming as he clutched the stump.
SLASH.
Another's leg buckled, cut clean at the knee. The man screamed and collapsed, blood pooling under him.
The hall erupted in panic.
People screamed. Tables overturned. Recording crystals flashed nonstop. A few hunters started cheering for Reon now, voices rising.
Shizu watched with wide eyes, heart hammering in her throat.
"Reon… you idiot… you're bleeding everywhere… just run! Please!"
The remaining guards charged, faces twisted in rage.
Reon's eyes burned brighter.
Even without the system, his new body was a weapon.
The fight was far from over.
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