Kiera slept dreamlessly, an unusual fact considering the radical emotional and physical trauma she just experienced. However, this detail signified the sheer mental fatigue she suffered, making her mind blank from any type of thoughts.

Unbeknownst to her, Kiera was out cold for several days, the hard stone akin to a comfortable bed to her resting body. She was utterly still, easily passed for a corpse unless one checked her pulse.

And just as peaceful as she slept, her awakening was the same. She stood up slowly, changing her filthy dress into a new one before an instantaneous burst of lightning scorched all the filth on her into ash.

Kiera was always a cold person, but her coldness was fiery and violent— an emotional coldness that channeled fear in others. Yet now, her violet orbs held a different type of coldness— a detached, tranquil coldness that held no emotions.

Even she wasn’t left unscathed, while neither insanity nor despair took hold of her, a fundamental part of her personality was suppressed.

She looked around, finding herself in a staircase surrounded by a void although she could swear she woke up in the cell a moment ago. The action prompting her hair to cover her ears, bringing the several snow-white locks on the right side of her hair to her attention.

“Marie Antoinette Syndrome,” she calmly judged, albeit her case was more severe as several whole locks lost their pigmentation, and not just her scalp hair. Then, she simply brushed her hair behind her ear, unbothered by the change.

Now, no longer barred by any obstacles, her eyes caught sight of the smiling figure in front of her, gazing at her form with a pair of eyes darker than the void around. And as if the sight was a trigger and Kiera a bullet, her indifferent demeanor was dwarfed by palpable killing intent as her body shot forward.

Her fist cut through the air as {Eruption}'s lightning coat left a trail of violet, the killing intent in her eyes so thick it threatened to materialize.

However, the figure merely raised one finger in return, lightly tapping Kiera's fist, causing her to stop in her place.

"The violence is needless, tender one, I have simply come to return you this toy." the Living's Terror said, holding Kiera's sheathed dagger between his fingers before strapping it to her thigh with a move she couldn't even detect.

He turned around, climbing the stairs with his hands behind his back, not leaving a second glance at the still frozen Kiera.

"Your mind has been fatally injured," his voice suddenly resounded. "As a result, your emotions are hidden deep within, and uncontrollable once triggered. An undesirable state of mind for a fighter."

"However, I suggest you gaze at your lightning and proceed to open the notifications board afterward, the answer to your problem lies there."

The moment the last syllable dissipated, the man disappeared. Regaining her movement, Kiera stomped the marble stairs in anger and helplessness. She hated to admit it, but he was right— the second her eyes caught his form, fury took over her mind and body, prompting her to involuntarily attack without assessing the situation.

Previously, she could hide her hatred perfectly. Now even thinking about the Darkness Exalt made her want to shred other living beings, inflict the same pain he left her in on them.

With great efforts, she heeded his last suggestion and carefully looked at the lighting that enveloped her body, crackling in streaks of violet and slight crimson. Yes, crimson, the lightning bolts had a tinge of crimson mixed with their shining violet.

Surprised, she immediately opened the notifications board, more surprised there was anything in it at all.

[Second Floor objective completed. Please proceed to the Second Royal Hall.]

[Your entire being was repeatedly destroyed and healed, for this, you are strengthened. +150 for all battle stats.]

[Skill upgrade! {Tyrannical Lightning Body Lv.8} advanced into {Tyrannical Lightning Body Lv.10}. +10 to all battle stats, +20% to the passive bonus.]

[You endured under the hands of the Living’s Terror, EXP awarded for accomplishing something few ever did.]

[Level up! Bronze Apprentice Magician Lv.17, +30 for all battle stats.]

[Skill Evolution! {Pain Resistance Lv.24} evolved into {Pain Resistance (Adv) Lv.1}]

[Skill Upgrade! {Pain Resistance (Adv) Lv.1} advanced into {Pain Resistance (Adv) Lv.12}]

[Passive General Skill: {Pain Resistance (Adv)}

The advanced stage of the {Pain Resistance} skill. Grants a higher resistance to offensive skills, resistance-sealing skills, and the ability to shut one’s pain receptors on will.]

[Conditions met, Passive General Skill {Darkness Resistance} acquired.]

[Passive General Skill: {Darkness Resistance}.

A general support skill. Grants resistance to the Darkness Attribute and all branched attributes such as the Curse, Death, and Corrosion Attributes.]

[Skill Upgrade! {Darkness Resistance Lv.1} advanced into {Darkness Resistance Lv.30 (MAX)}]

[Conditions met, Passive General skill {Mental Resistance} acquired.]

[Passive General Skill: {Mental Resistance}

A general support skill. Grants resistance to mentally harsh experiences.]

[Skill Evolution! {Mental Resistance Lv.1} evolved into {Mental Resistance (Adv) Lv.1}]

[Skill Upgrade! {Mental Resistance (Adv) Lv.1} advanced into {Mental Resistance (Adv) Lv.7}]

[General Support Skill: {Mental Resistance (Adv)}

The advanced stage of the {Mental Resistance} skill. Grants a powerful mind, control, and the active ability to extend one’s will on others.]

[Conditions met, Passive General Skill {Climatal Aura Shift} acquired.]

[Passive General Skill: {Climatal Aura Shift}

A general support skill. Enhances the user’s attribute by using their powerful negative emotions in order to bend the world's mana to their will.

Effect: up to +10% to attack power when activated, according to the level of negativity.

Drawback: emotional distortion +100%]

Kiera blinked, unable to muster much joy at the stat increases as they costed her immensely. However, she knew the stats and skills were but an additional, small compensation to her suffering, an ‘along the way’ type of progress.

The true, undoubted purpose of the whole ordeal— the ruthless trampling on her mind and body, was for her to acquire this skill.

“WHAT A JOKE!” her control slipped again as violet-crimson lightning involuntarily flared from her small body. All this pain, humiliation, and helplessness was for a single skill? A skill that messed up her mind even further for a little boost in power?

Her eyes lost all reason, the distant coldness replaced by maniacal rage that begged to destroy as Kiera unconsciously charged Destruction in her foot, stomping as hard as she could.

BOOM

An explosion rocked the surrounding void as Kiera’s shin snapped, becoming v-shaped before regenerating instantly.

Suddenly, she shivered, the action seemingly dissipating her power before she sat down slowly. It was as if a different person stood there, the previous manifestation of fury and violence abruptly changing into an expressionless doll.

It was the advanced {Mental Resistance} which helped her regain control, passively culling her emotions when they peaked.

“Well, I assume the drawback will decrease as it levels up. And I learned skills have stages, and the first stage maxes at level thirty.” Kiera muttered, her voice monotonous and without ripples.

Climbing up the stairs, the former assassin refused to acknowledge the earlier burst.

…

Kiera stood in a standard hall, looking indifferently at the statue of the second king she’d fight in the Royal Blood Palace.

Unlike the Corrupted Light King, his build was sturdy— with lean, nearly-perfect muscles covering his 190 centimeters tall and shirtless body like flesh armor.

She lightly mouthed “start,” the word signifying her willingness to fight as the man was released from his stone prison.

He possessed the same snow-white hair and crimson-blood eyes as the Corrupted Light King, helping Kiera understand it was the trademark of every pureblood vampire.

[King of Fallen Flame- Bronze Apprentice Magician Lv.17 (Pureblood Vampire)]

“King of Fallen Flame, the Second Vampiric King, bearer of Nirvanic Fire and Darkness, a Sovereign ranked attribute— the lmmortalized Darkfire Attribute.” Tynan’s recorded voice introduced the opponent.

“A cockroach… Both regeneration and stealth, annoying,” she spoke, her calm demeanor unbefitting her assessment.

Nirvanic Fire was a Unique Attribute, a direct branch of the Light Attribute. It granted its bearer superb regenerative power and the powerful blazing power of fire enhanced by the Light Attribute’s strong heat.

She activated Eruption and Eye of the Tyrant and began the duel without hesitation. Slightly surprised to see the black flame that enveloped her opponent’s body didn’t trigger her wrath.

“Maybe it is only reserved to THAT BASTARD,” the thought made lines of crimson appear on her lightning before vanishing— a slight loss of restraint triggered by the figure that showed up in her mind.

In the meantime, the King did not wait for her to arrive, dashing toward her at a slightly inferior speed, black flames bursting from his feet with each step. Within a split second, fists of violet and black collided within a split second as Kiera battled the vampire in hand-to-hand combat.

Unnoticed by her, the changed state of mind did have other effects other than on her demeanor, revealed in her different fighting style. Previously, Kiera used to attack in frenzied, wild aggressiveness.

Now, while still aggressive, her attacks had a certain calmness to them she lacked before, giving her battling form a deadly yet mesmerizing grace.

She long understood his technique and experience were obviously superior to her, but she covered the gap with superior stats and attributes. She unsheathed her dagger and stabbing toward the man’s stomach in a violet-silver flash unsurprise when he side-stepped as quickly, staring indifferently at the thin, straight lightning bolt that came from the dagger’s blade. Finally trying out her new skill, Kiera nodded with satisfaction at the skill’s power and unleashed Destruction with a side-kick.

A huge black axe materialized in the vampire’s hands, lighting up with black flames as he used the flat side to block Kiera’s kick. With a boom, the small foot crashed into the giant axe, the compressed lightning beam actually dispersing the nightly fire and causing the man to take a few steps back.

As soon as he stopped, the black flames lit anew before he simultaneously horizontally slashed with his axe and vertically clawed the air with his free hand. Six dark slashes split the air on their way to dismember Kiera’s small body, faintly swallowing the air around.

In return, Kiera unleashed Thunderstroke to dissipate the axe slash, but as a brand new skill— its Lv.1 power could only momentarily intercept it. Still enough time for Kiera to reconsider dodging rather than blocking as she vanished from her place, leaping above the six slashes.

She initiated close combat again, sending a flurry of stabs and slashes with Flashburst. The vampire learned his lesson and stopped outright blocking, easily dodging or deflecting her attacks with grace instead.

He then countered with a vertical slash that Kiera blocked with the flat of her dagger, her knees purposely bent and head bent back to avoid the axe blade’s long reach. Pouring strength from the balls of her feet to her hands, she pushed the axe aside and punched the vampire in the stomach with Destruction.

He deflected her punch and returned one of his own, black flames aiming to devour Kiera’s head. She circled with her left foot, bringing her body to the side, and slightly leaped, simultaneously dodging the attack and countering with a side whip kick to his head.

Crouching down, he looked as a lightning beam passed just where his head was. Exploiting her inability to move in the air, he aimed to bisect her with a slash, but Kiera easily avoided the brutal attack with a lightning burst that carried her further into the air.

She somersaulted and unleashed Thunderstroke twice in a flash, using another lightning burst to close in on her opponent together with her attacks. He dodged the two bolts but was almost too late to avoid Kiera’s advance, leaping backward only when her blade reached him— causing a diagonal, bloody line to appear on his torso.

Suddenly, a bright crimson fire lit at one end of his wound, spreading down to the other end as if it was on a trail of gasoline as the wound disappeared in its wake. Kiera’s cold eyes narrowed at the sight, slight jealousy disrupting her tranquil gaze, the girl envious of how natural and effortless his regeneration looked.

Unlike Nirvanic Fire, not Solar Lightning nor Power were attributes that boasted regeneration powers. As such, Tyrant Regeneration worked as its name suggested— it used the superiority of the two fused supreme attributes to make the mana of the surrounding environment surrender to her and accelerate Kiera’s natural healing pace. Thus, it was not as effective as other regeneration skills because she was too weak currently.

Kiera dashed toward him, actually pleased by the fact she drew the first blood. But she did not let it get to her head, as she saw how easily she was played by the Corrupted Light King.

Suddenly, the axe dematerialized before the vampire ran toward Kiera. She frowned, not understanding why he forsook his weapon.

She stabbed toward him but was surprised to see he did not dodge nor tried to deflect her hand, but actually punched toward the blade.

The dagger pierced his knuckle easily, the energy turning the bones inside into dust. He did not even wince in pain, forcibly opening his palm instead to firmly grasp Kiera’s hand. Black flames tried to erase her palm but were easily stopped in their tracks by the Tyrannical Lightning Attribute.

Unable to free herself for some reason, Kiera straightened her fingers and stabbed into his stomach with Thunderstroke.

He did not let ago to avoid the attack as she thought, but actually stepped forward and welcomed the attack into his stomach. Her entire arm puncturing his stomach instead of only her palm, exiting through his back while lightning ravaged his insides.

But he still did not let go, urging the Nirvanic Fire to dispel the destructive energy inside him while healing his wounds. Kiera’s surprise increasing when she felt muscle and skin grow around her arm, tightly holding it inside the vampire so she could not move freely.

And due to the massive height difference, her head was now open for him to freely destroy. The axe immediately appeared in his free, uninjured hand, its blade falling onto Kiera’s head.

However, Kiera learned her lesson already and although she did fall into his trap, she made countermeasures as soon as he caught her.

She unleashed the Destruction beam she charged in her caught hand, dispersing the flames that aimed to consumed it while vaporizing the vampire's palm, and then slapped the axe blade's flat side as hard as she could.

Her Power Attribute came into the scene, easily deflecting the axe strike, which was classified as a physical attack, disarming the vampire in the process.

She punched his chest with Destruction but her punch was averted by a newly regenerated hand. With one hand deflected and one hand strangely bound, Kiera’s guard was instantly broken and the vampire kneed her right in the stomach— expelling the air from her lungs.

He immediately kneed her again, but now— flames burst from his foot, accelerating his attack by several times. Her body folded, nearly turning into V-shape as she lost consciousness for a split second.

She coughed blood and some remnants of her guts and liver, bloodlust and anger blooming in her violet eyes. She stared at her confined arm and greeted her teeth, severing it from the shoulder down with Thunderstroke.

An immense of blood erupted as Kiera leaped hundreds of meters back in a flash. She hoped Lv.23 Tyrant Regeneration could regrow limbs, but to her disappointment— it only closed the wound.

Nonetheless, now that she was free she could execute her revenge! With bloodshot eyes, she rushed toward the vampire, who casually pulled out her severed arm from his stomach and threw it aside, healing the gaping hole instantly.

“YOU MANIACAL BUG, WHAT KIND OF A BRAIN DAMAGE MADE YOU CHOOSE TO FIGHT LIKE THIS?!” violet-crimson lightning flared as Kiera raised her voice at the simulated vampire, anger empowering her.

When she heard he had the Immortalized Darkfire attribute, she expected an unkillable assassin that could vanish from existence within a heartbeat. Not a berserker-like warrior that traded his safety for a chance to kill his opponent!

The two resumed their close-quarters battle, both losing their earlier grace as they battled like feral hyenas, with Kiera having an obvious difficulty coping with one arm.

Especially when he did not dodge any of her attacks, letting her kicks and punches hit him in exchange for injuring Kiera.

Kiera was getting more and more enraged as the fight went on, if she had to describe him with a single sentence, she would choose "the bane of every boss monster!" without hesitation.

No matter how much she injured him, he never fell, it was as if he had unlimited HP and SP. Her need to stop her attacks before they connected because she perceived it would be fatal to continue also did not help. At least, even in her fury, {Mental Resistance} helped her become more or less sane.

Subsequently sidestepping a cleaving attack, she sighed deeply, understanding it couldn’t go on like that— sanity wouldn’t help now. The manic light in her eyes increased when she opened them, the violet now almost overshadowed by crimson.

The sane, cold part of her had its own worries over doing it, but to win this fight she clearly had to embrace her own crazy side.

She punched toward his heart with Destruction but was not surprised when the vampire chose to dodge it— his heart was a fatally vulnerable spot unlike his limbs after all.

Dark flames erupted on the axe blade, subsequently solidifying on its edge to enlarge it. The extended edge was decorated with jagged saw teeth that seemed unconventionally sharp.

He fell back a dozen meters and cleaved the air, forming an X-shaped twin slash. Kiera could see the air around it vibrating as it flew toward her, followed by a claw strike he previously used.

She side-stepped the two attacks and blocked a subsequent punch with her forearm. The bastard actually tried to sneak attack her by drawing her attention!

She front kicked his thigh with Thunderstroke to disengage but her foot pierced through it instead. Holding her in place with her footing unstable, the vampire cleaved toward her head.

Kiera did not try to unbind herself and went through with her earlier choice, tilting her body in a way the armless shoulder blocked the axe instead of her skull. The blade instantly became stuck in her titanium-like shoulder bone, Eruption's lightning coat blocking the dark flames from melting her.

She caught his wrist and destroyed it with Destruction, pulling the axe from her shoulder and slashed into his hip without an ounce of form.

Before the attack could connect, however, the axe abruptly vibrated in her hands, bursting with dark flames that made Kiera let go of it.

She jumped a hundred meters backward, afraid it would suddenly explode but slapped her forehead when she saw the vampire simply picked it up.

Letting out a low growl, Kiera covered the distance between them and reengaged. She decided to finish it, as her mana pool was beginning to decrease below the thousands.

Furthermore, her health was below 40% as the injury on her shoulder could not heal and actually began to worsen.

Grinning maniacally, an insane plan formed in her mind as she charged Destruction in her remaining hand.

Striking toward his stomach, she chuckled internally as he stepped forward to bind her arm again. Her arm pierced his stomach, flesh and muscle tightening around it.

He cleaved toward her head again but she used her injured shoulder to block the attack again, her shoulder blade almost parted from her body completely in the process.

Charging Destruction more and more, Kiera concentrated the energy in her forearm's mana veins. Greeting her teeth, she tried to ignore the excruciating pain of having her mana veins unnaturally widen from too much energy.

She did not let go even when he kneed her and only when he parted her entire shoulder blade in a way that her lungs could be seen, did she unleash the skill.

BOOM

A terrifying explosion occurred as the vampire's upper body vaporized together with Kiera's remaining arm.

Her body was blasted dozens of meters away, crashing into the ground with a boom. She layed there in a pool of blood, armless, unceasingly coughing a mixture of blood and internals.

Her health and stamina pool decreased to approximately 2% but she won! Then, the adrenaline rush subsided, {Mental Resistance} killing her anger and she then fully realized she was armless.

"Fuck..."