The jungle path was long.
A cold wind blew… but mixed within it was a strange scent.
Blood.
It was the kind of dense, ancient forest you'd see in fantasy visual games—where behind every massive rock and old tree, a centuries-old secret might be hiding.
Siyam walked slowly.
His silver hair and red eyes scanned every shadow and the slightest movement.
Beside him—Dhiyano.
Silent. Alert.
Like a loyal shadow.
"Dhiyano…" Siyam asked casually, "Why does this jungle feel so empty…?"
"Where are all the monsters?"
Before Dhiyano could respond—
Siyam stopped.
He slowly turned back.
His eyes widened slightly.
Behind them… not two, not ten—
but dozens of monsters.
Black-red eyes glowed in the darkness.
A massive snake slithered forward like something from ancient temple ruins.
A tiger-like beast… but larger.
More terrifying.
Small… large… all of them.
And all of them…
silently following.
Siyam spoke slowly—
"…what is this…?"
"Master…?" Dhiyano turned back.
In the next moment, his breath halted for a second.
Then slowly…
he lowered his head.
"They… are following you."
Siyam raised an eyebrow.
"Following…?"
"Because…" Dhiyano's voice carried deep respect,
"…they see you as their King."
Silence.
"King…?" Siyam repeated softly.
Then—
a dark smile formed on his lips.
(Yeah… I've read comics like this… Weak monsters… choose someone strong as their king… So they chose me…)
Dhiyano saw that smile…
and his expression slowly changed.
His mind flashed—Queen and Raman's words.
(That… smile isn't normal… If he gets angry… no one will survive… But if we stay with him… we could become the Monster King… maybe even the Demon King…)
He took a slow breath.
Then—
he raised his hand.
A simple signal.
And instantly—
all the monsters stopped…
and slowly disappeared into the depths of the jungle.
Siyam blinked.
Then looked back.
"Where did they go…?"
"They left, Master."
"Hmm… good."
He walked forward—
as if nothing had happened.
Dhiyano followed beside him.
The jungle grew denser.
Massive golden trees stood tall, with coiled snakes resting on them like guardians.
A quiet river flowed nearby.
The wind picked up.
The sunlight grew brighter.
Siyam narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Isn't the light a bit too strong today…?"
Dhiyano looked at the sky.
"Master… maybe heaven is in a good mood today."
Siyam replied plainly—
"Hmm… a little too good."
"It should reduce."
Casual.
Completely normal tone.
Dhiyano chuckled lightly.
"It doesn't work like tha—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
The sky…
slowly began to darken.
The light dimmed…
and within seconds—
day turned into evening.
Dhiyano's face stiffened.
Sweat began to run down his neck.
(Heaven… obeyed him…? Who… is he…?)
Siyam spoke calmly—
"That's better."
"Dhiyano… why are you sweating so much?"
But Dhiyano wasn't listening.
He was just staring at his Master's back—
as if he wasn't walking beside a human…
but a God.
---
"Dhiyano."
"Ah—Yes, Master!"
Siyam's expression suddenly changed.
From calm…
to serious.
His red eye glowed from behind his silver hair.
"Stay alert."
Dhiyano instantly prepared.
His heavy axe was already in his hand, grip tightened.
"There's someone here."
"But Master… I can't see any—"
"Breathing," Siyam said softly.
"Within 12 meters… someone else is here."
"Hidden."
WHOOSH—
A sharp sound cut through the air.
A dry leaf sliced forward like a blade—
aimed straight at Siyam's face.
TAK—
The leaf hit his cheek…
and fell aside like trash.
Siyam blinked.
Not even a wrinkle appeared on his face.
"A leaf… attack…?"
He tilted his head, slightly bored.
"Feels like some kid ran away from home…"
Dhiyano stood behind him, his face filled with shock and pride.
(Master… ignored such a deadly prana-infused attack like it was nothing…)
WHOOSH—
A dark shadow emerged from behind a tree.
CLANG—
Siyam's finger moved slightly.
A transparent, deadly pranic sword manifested—
right at the point of impact.
The attack was blocked.
The shadow jumped back.
Now clear—
a girl.
Dressed in black.
Agile like an assassin.
"You… saw me…?" she asked in shock, breathing heavily.
Siyam smiled faintly.
"I didn't need to see."
"I felt it."
"Master…?" Dhiyano steadied his axe.
"Enemy," Siyam said coldly.
The girl tightened her grip on her daggers.
(My stealth… failed…? How is that possible?)
---
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Two figures stepped out of the darkness.
A black, poisonous aura swirled around them—
like beasts carrying death itself.
No humanity in their eyes.
Only hunger.
"Found you…" the man laughed grotesquely.
"Finally."
The woman looked at the girl with hatred.
"Raunak… what are you doing here?"
Raunak trembled.
Siyam stood silently, observing.
No fear on his face.
"Master…" Dhiyano said quietly, body tense,
"These two are dangerous. Their energy isn't normal."
Siyam's lips curved.
"Good."
"I was getting bored."
"Who's this clown? Daring to speak between us?" the man mocked.
Silence.
Siyam looked straight into their eyes.
"You two… talk too much."
[INSULT REGISTERED: +20 Points]
"Nice…" Siyam muttered.
"Dog! You'll die!" the woman screamed.
A terrifying energy blast erupted—
cracking the ground beneath them.
"Try it," Siyam said—
without moving.
BLAST—
A powerful punch came toward him—
But midway—
Dhiyano caught it with one hand.
With the other—
he placed his axe at her neck.
CRACK—
"AAAAAH!"
The woman screamed.
Everyone froze.
Raunak's eyes widened.
(Is he… human… or a monster…?)
Dhiyano's eyes turned dark.
Death lingered around him.
"My turn—"
"Stop."
Siyam's voice froze the air.
Silence.
"Let's give them one chance," Siyam said.
Raunak shouted desperately—
"Kill them! They won't spare you!"
Dhiyano glanced at her—
cold.
Deadly.
"Don't move."
Raunak froze.
---
Siyam stepped forward.
"Simple question."
"What's the name of this jungle?"
They stared at him—
as if he was insane.
Siyam scratched his head.
"Fine… that was a joke."
"How many levels are there in cultivation?"
The woman answered, trembling—
"7 realms."
"Cross the 7th… and you reach the Immortal world."
"Beyond that… we don't know."
"Hmm."
Siyam turned.
"Let's go, Dhiyano."
They walked away.
---
The man and woman stood there—
confused.
Shocked.
How could they just leave like that?
Raunak stood frozen.
(Who… is he…?)
The next second—
THUD.
THUD.
Two heads rolled across the ground.
Blood flowed.
Raunak froze completely.
(He… did that…? But he didn't even move…)
Siyam kept walking.
As if nothing had happened.
---
System flashed.
+400 Insult Points.
Siyam frowned slightly.
(How? I only got +120 before…)
Then he remembered—
the system mission required both insult…
and fear.
(I couldn't fight… but through Dhiyano, I made them fear me…)
(It's like I used him… but these points came from my communication skill.)
---
Dhiyano stood frozen behind.
Then—
a memory flashed in his mind.
---
Flashback
Siyam stood calmly,
staring at the system window.
A new mission appeared:
Reach Prana Seeker realm today.
He accepted.
Reward:
Nether Flash.
Siyam moved his hand—
just slightly.
Almost invisible.
And in that moment—
a thin purple energy slash cut through the air.
Unseen.
Silent.
But it had already passed through both their necks.
---
Dhiyano's heart pounded.
(Master… how dangerous are you…?)
---
Later…
In a quiet corner of the jungle—
filled with broken temple ruins—
Siyam and Dhiyano were collecting herbs.
"Master," Dhiyano said, slightly tired,
"I still haven't found the Crimson Flower."
Then—
she appeared again.
The same girl.
Holding a glowing flower.
"This one…?"
Siyam took the yellow flower from her hand.
"Yes, this one."
"Where did you find it?"
Now—
he looked at her properly.
She was the same assassin—
but completely different.
An exotic pink-and-black outfit.
Long black hair flowing down her back.
Deep blue eyes…
shimmering with something strange.
She looked…
stunning.
"Who are you?" Siyam asked directly.
She blinked.
"You don't remember?"
Siyam frowned.
"Have we met before?"
"I don't remember."
She hesitated.
"I'm the same assassin…"
"…who attacked you 5 minutes ago."
Siyam looked her up and down.
"What?"
"That was you?"
"You look completely different."
Even Dhiyano was stunned.
"I didn't recognize her either, Master."
"But why is she here?"
Siyam turned.
"Yeah."
"Why are you here?"
---
She lowered her head.
"My name is Raunak Chandravanshi."
Dhiyano froze.
"Chandravanshi…?"
"You're from the royal family?"
Siyam's eyes lit up for a second.
(Royal family…? Wait… in my past life too—)
Then—
he calmed instantly.
"Alright."
"Thanks for this."
Dhiyano added casually—
"Master, maybe it happened because the weather changed."
Raunak frowned.
(The weather… changed because of him…?)
(No… maybe it's some kind of code…)
"Master… it's getting harder to find herbs—"
"The fog is increasing—"
Before he could finish—
Siyam looked at the sky.
(Again…?)
The sky cleared instantly.
Raunak's heart raced.
Her body trembled.
"This is normal," Dhiyano said casually.
"Normal…?" even Siyam looked slightly confused—
but didn't show it.
---
Raunak gathered her courage.
She stepped forward.
From her neck—
she pulled out a Yellow Ancient Amulet.
As soon as Siyam touched it—
it began to glow.
Bright.
"What—?" Siyam's eyes widened.
Tears rolled down Raunak's face.
"I… need your help."
Siyam's expression turned serious.
"How?"
---
She told him everything.
Her kingdom—
burning in corruption.
And the last warrior of her Assassin Clan—
Arjun Singh—
who had gone alone…
to fight the corrupted Emperor.
But he wasn't strong enough.
So she wandered.
Searching.
For someone…
who could do the impossible.
---
Siyam's face went pale.
"No."
"This is madness."
"You should leave."
Raunak stepped forward—
almost pleading.
"I'll risk my life…"
"Just save my people."
Dhiyano was stunned.
(She's ready to give everything… for her people…)
Siyam went silent.
(A corrupted king…)
(A stubborn warrior fighting death alone…)
(This is a suicide mission…)
---
Then—
System flashed.
[MISSION: Insult Arjun Singh 10 times
FAILURE: System Shutdown
REWARD: Instant 1-Realm Level Up]
Siyam took a deep breath.
Then—
he grabbed Raunak's hand.
Firm.
"Fine."
"Deal."
Raunak lowered her head.
"Deal."
"Deal…?" Siyam muttered under his breath.
Even he seemed unsure.
Dhiyano thought—
(Master… what game are you playing…?)
---
They moved forward.
Suddenly—
a monster lunged from the bushes.
In an instant—
Dhiyano killed it.
A glowing red crystal dropped.
Siyam absorbed it immediately.
(If not for this mission… I would never say yes…)
(But a full Realm upgrade… I can't miss this.)
---
As the crystal merged—
blue energy erupted from Siyam's body.
A powerful aura spread around him.
The jungle air grew heavy—
like crushing pressure.
[RANK UP: Prana Seeker (Early Stage)]
A new energy surged within him.
Hot.
Violent.
Alive.
A wicked smile formed on his lips.
"Now…"
"The real game begins."
---
"Destination—Maya-Ganj."
Siyam clenched his fist.
His red eye glowed in the darkness.
"Arjun Singh…"
A faint laugh escaped his lips.
"Warrior of a fallen kingdom…"
"The one who chose to fight without a system…"
His grip tightened.
"Let's see…"
"How long you last."
---
Then—
his voice turned cold.
"Get ready, King…"
"Because now…"
"your story won't end…"
A pause.
"It will be erased."