Small, beady eyes stared at Kang Oh and Asu.

Chirp!

It was clearly a chick.

However, a normal chick shouldn't have come out of a Phoenix Egg! Plus, an SS-rank weapon's flames had been used to feed it.

[You are the first two people the Phoenix Chick has seen. It regards you as its parents.]

Kang Oh carefully picked up the Phoenix and looked over its information.

[Phoenix (Chick)]

A Phoenix Chick. The Phoenix is a mythical bird, and is known as the Eternal Flame and the Judgment of Flame. However, the Phoenix Chick is nowhere near its full strength and is extremely weak. In order to trick those who'd attempt to take its power for their own, the Phoenix was born looking like a chick.

Parents: Kang Oh, Asu.

Food: High quality flames or delicious meat.

'It is a Phoenix.'

After reading the explanation, Kang Oh understood why it looked like a chick.

Chirp!

It cutely looked at Kang Oh and Asu with its beady eyes.

"Ah, my heart!" Asu grabbed her chest. It was just too cute.

[The Phoenix Chick requires constant care and supervision.]

[Would you like to class change from Demonic Swordsman to Phoenix's Protector?]

[If you refuse, then the Phoenix Chick will return to being an egg.]

"Huh? Oppa, it's asking me if I should switch classes." Asu looked shocked.

"Would you like to raise this chick?" Kang Oh asked.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I can't raise it after all."

If he became a Phoenix's Protector, then he would give up his current class, Demonic Swordsman. He wouldn't be able to have several classes unless he mastered his current class.

"Sounds good to me! Take good care of me." Asu kissed the yellow chick's beak.

[You have become a Phoenix's Protector.]

[Your original class was Knight, so you have class changed into a Phoenix's Knight.]

[You have learned Resurrection (Passive/Skill).]

[You have learned Sun Sword (Active/Skill).]

[You have learned Phoenix's Fluttering Wings (Active/Skill).]

[You have learned Firebird's Armor (Active/Skill).]

[Main Stats +50]

[HP has increased significantly.]

[Not only are you completely immune to fire, but you can also absorb flames to replenish your HP and MP.]

[You will grow even faster from now on. You acquire more experience and proficiency.]

Her body radiated faint light. It reminded him of sunlight.

"Ah!"

Asu gaped at the system messages.

Phoenix's Knight!

It was clearly no ordinary class.

Above all...

Chirp!

She was happy that she'd be able to raise a cute Phoenix Chick from now on.

[Please give the Phoenix a name.]

"Mm, how about Rudy," Asu said.

Chirp!

The Phoenix, no, Rudy, seemed happy with the name choice, as it shuffled around.

"Raise him well," Kang Oh said.

"Of course."

Chirp! Chirp!

Rudy cried out, as if it were whining about something.

"He must be hungry." Asu took a look around. 'What should I feed him?'

"He eats fire or meat," Kang Oh said.

"Meat? Oppa, do you have any meat on you? I don't have any with me right now. Do I have to go to the kitchen..."

"I don't have any on me. But this should probably work." Kang Oh softly shook Fire's Heart, and it spat out flames.

Chirp!

Rudy immediately flapped its tiny wings, rising up into the air, and sucked in the flames with its small beak.

As expected of a Phoenix, which disguised itself as a chick!

Chirp!

In an instant, Rudy was completely full. He also looked extremely happy.

"Hehe, was it good?" Asu petted his head.

Not only was he full now, but Asu's hand was quite comfortable, so he began to doze off. He really does whatever he wants, doesn't he?

Kang Oh turned his attention to the Fire's Heart and stroked it.

'Nothing happened, right?'

He really treasured the Fire's Heart. After all, it was an extremely expensive item.

[Fire's Heart]

A flame-shaped sword crafted by the great Elvish Blacksmith, Sunlei. Contains the mystery of metal.

The more flames it absorbs, the more powerful the blade becomes. For hundreds of years, it has remained deep within the Deskein Volcano's lava, and has absorbed its flames. The Phoenix has taken much of its power. Once the Phoenix is fully grown, however, the blade will become much stronger than before.

+ Fire Accumulation: Absorbs fire. The more fire it absorbs, the more powerful the sword becomes.

+ Evolving Fire: The power of all fire attacks, skills, and magic is doubled.

+ Flame Emperor: For 5 minutes, you become the incarnation of fire, the Flame Emperor. Cooldown: 1 hour.

Rank: SS.

Abilities: Attack Power +346, Fire Damage +200, Physical +150. Completely nullifies fire damage.

Minimum Requirements: Level 300, Physical 500, Fire Resistance 95%.

"Oh my god!" Kang Oh said.

Fire's Heart had originally been a top-tier weapon that possessed a level 400 equip requirement. It had an attack power of 600, and added 400 fire damage to every attack.

However, its abilities had dropped significantly. And the reason for this was clear. 'The Phoenix has taken much of its power.'

'Now it's just a good sword!'

Who cares if its abilities were good? The sword's abilities had dropped across the board. Its price had been cut in half.

"What's wrong?" Asu asked.

"Rudy ate some really expensive flames," Kang Oh said, forcing himself to smile.

"Really?"

"Yeah. So you take this sword." Kang Oh passed her Fire's Heart.

"Me?" Asu looked shocked.

"Yeah. You should be able to equip it."

True to his word, Asu was able to equip it immediately.

Rudy had not only weakened the Fire's Heart, he had also reduced its equip requirement. Plus, by becoming a Phoenix's Knight, Asu gained the fire resistance necessary to equip it.

"But this is an SS-rank weapon." She stared at Kang Oh, her gaze seemingly saying, 'Why are you giving this to me instead of selling it?'.

"When Rudy's fully grown, that sword will become even stronger than it used to be. So you should be the one wielding it."

It didn't matter if he carried it around. He wouldn't be able to restore it to its original state. He couldn't dunk it back into the lava either.

"But remember, it's not free. You'll pay me back for it later. So make a ton of money. I'll take it back if you don't."

"Got it. That makes me feel better. I don't like getting free handouts."

The two stared at each other and laughed.

Chirp.

Rudy, who'd fallen asleep, let out a sound akin to a balloon leaking air.

* * *

The criminal organization, Red Moon.

They did a variety of jobs.

First, assassination. This was their main source of income. In exchange for money or some other price, they would assassinate a player or an NPC.

Stealing was nothing to them. Serious criminal offenses like mass killing, arson, pillaging, etc. were done without a care in the world.

If the game allowed them to sexually assault people, they would've done that too.

It was an organization of shitbags that did what they couldn't do in the real world.

'Here it is.'

Shion was the Hercules Guild's leader, so he had some information on Red Moon. For example, he knew how to get in contact with them.

He was inside a deserted house, which was far from the city. Only the table and the bowl on top of it were intact.

Clink.

Shion placed a gold coin into the bowl. Then, a black beast arose from the shadows.

It stared at Shion with its red eyes. Surprisingly, human speech came out of its mouth.

"Are you a client?"

That's right. This was a place that allowed you to commission Red Moon for an assassination.

"Who do you want dead?" the Black Beast said jokingly.

"Hernandez, Helena, and Kang Oh," Shion said, his voice cracking.

"The Spear King, Hernandez, the Witch of Annihilation, Helena, and Predator Kang Oh?"

"Yes."

"It isn't my place to answer this."

"I want to meet Red," Shion yelled.

"Then reveal your identity."

Shion pulled off his mask. "I'm the Hercules Guild's leader and Setinel's Sage, Shion."

"Hahaha, I see. It was you." The Black Beast began to laugh at him. Whoever was connected to it must be laughing.

"Shut up and contact Red. Tell him I want to see him."

"You must think you're still the leader of one of the 5 great guilds. You're so arrogant. Do you know what happened to all the people who talked to me like that? They all died. That'll happen to you too."

"You have some nerve. Tell me who you are."

"Taboo."

"Mm." Shion bit his lip. He wasn't what he'd expected.

Taboo!

He was one of Red Moon's four high rankers.

"I promise this on my name. I'll kill you."

"Sure, whatever. Just hurry up and call Red already," Shion replied, undeterred.

"Wait." The Black Beast's body became faint.

Shion restlessly waited for him.

How much time had passed?

All of a sudden, a hand popped out from beneath his feet, and Shion was pulled into the shadows.

Whoosh!

A strong wind suddenly blew. The sound of ghosts shrieking resounded throughout the deserted house.

* * *

One of an Assassin's skills was called Shadow Transfer.

It was a skill that allowed the user to travel between shadows. However, some people suspected that all these shadows were connected.

A passageway that connects shadows together; people called this the Shadow World or the Spirit World.

It was different from Ubist's original home, the Demon World.

The Arth continent and the Demon World were completely different worlds, but the Spirit World was akin to an unseeable place that was hidden by Arth's shadows. In other words, the Spirit World was Arth's back alleys!

There was an individual that could freely manipulate the Spirit World.

It was none other than Red!

Among criminals, he was called the Shadow King. After all, he was capable of opening and closing the door to the Spirit World whenever he wished.

Red ruled Red Moon as king, and brought Shion over to the Crow's Nest, which was the only city within the Spirit World.

The Crow's Nest was like a black and white TV. It was only natural. Only two colors existed within the Spirit World. Black and white.

"Hahaha." A man stared at Shion and laughed wickedly. This was Taboo, the one who'd pulled Shion into the Spirit World. He was bald, but was covered in tattoos from head to toe.

"What an invitation." Shion dusted himself off.

"You still have that pride of yours, huh. Follow me," Taboo said sarcastically, and turned around.

"Didn't you say you'd kill me?" Shion snarled.

He was inside the tiger's den, so he had to keep up his guard. If they messed with him, they'd pay!

"Don't be so impatient. If my master gives me the go ahead, then I'll kill you. Haha." Taboo turned back around and stared him in the eye. Shion just flipped him off.

"Follow me. You said you wanted to meet my master." Taboo didn't really care, and just turned around. Shion silently followed him in.

Sometime later...

Taboo led Shion to a giant castle, which was just as large as the Hercules Guild's base. The castle was completely black and white.

"I brought him," Taboo said.

They stood before a giant, skeletal throne. A man wearing a smile mask sat on the throne askew.

The man's facial expression was concealed by his mask, but the atmosphere around him was strange. Shion went rigid, as if he were a rat before a snake.

'That's Red!'

"You came with an interesting job for us." Red's voice rang out. It was a bizarre voice, one that sounded both masculine and feminine at the same time.

"Master, this guy wants us to kill Hernandez, Helena, and Kang Oh," Taboo said.

"Sounds like fun. Let's hear your story." Red's eyes glowed. However, in the Spirit World, they only contrasted with his surroundings.

Despite that, Shion could feel his heart pounding, and his blood flowing slowly.

Gulp.

Shion swallowed hard and barely managed to say, "I... want... revenge!"