“Shit, shit, shit!” Helial cursed as he gaped at the pack of countless Seagulls. Things were getting rowdy. They couldn’t defeat all those Seagulls. They were just too many. For how outstanding was their group’s talent, those Seagulls were by far too many to bear.

“Shit!” Helial lost his temper. “Vlad, what the fuck! Wake up, we gotta go!”

They needed to find a way out of there.

Helial decided to ignore Vlad. He jumped right beside Snowflake, leaving his side of the formation unguarded and breaking the ranks. “I’ll generate another flaming cyclone, but I must warn you I’ll lose consciousness. You’re in charge of the group. Make sure you all escape from this Dungeon. Frankenstein will clear a path and lead you out. Can you run away while carrying me on your back, unconscious?” It was a humiliating solution. He could use without being carries on a cat’s back like a sack of potatoes, but neither him of Snowflake said anything. The latter was still embarrassed about the trouble he had stirred up by farting.

Snowflake quickly did his math. He tried to figure the gait of the Seagulls, then said: “I can easily make it to the entry. But the path must be wide enough. With too many Seagulls in the way, it will be hard to get us out of here.”

Helial’s eyes sparkled as he began to gather the Mental Energy left. He was ready to make an even greater hell out of that place.

Everyone held in their breath as they waited for Helial to give them the chance to survive. Though, as they all waited in an eerie silence only shattered by the crackle of the flames and the shrieks of the Seagulls from afar, the sound of rustling leaves echoed out.

Frsh Frash Frsh

Footsteps.

They all turned towards the sound.

Before them stood a young boy with crimson hair. He had just brought a hand to his mouth to cover a yawn, unconcerned by the others’ glares and scorn. According to Circe, Vlad was extremely strong. Yet he did nothing. They all gave him a disdainful look. They were still covered in wounds from the fights he hadn’t helped them with. Helial was turned and paid him no attention, as he gathered ever more Mental Energy to convey in this last attack.

Frsh Frsh Frsh

Vlad’s footsteps were closer. Helial frowned and cast him a glance out of the corner of his eyes. He caught sight of a strange bow Vlad was holding, inlaid in red and gold.

***

A few years before

“So you’re not gonna train, brat, huh?” Circe said, an arrogant expression on her face.

Before her was a skinny boy who seemed about to be swept off his feet by any gust of wind. He was sitting on the ground, his back leaned against a wall. His cousin had just woken, talking to him as if she were his mother.

“Fuck off, Circe,” Vlad said. He turned towards the wall and lay down as if nothing had happened. For that boy, marble seemed to be softer than cushions. Most likely, he could have taken a nap even over pointed rocks.

“If today I don’t make you raise that skinny little ass of yours, I am no longer Circe,” she said in a furiously despotic voice. Circe had always had questionable ways, and she would never take no as an answer. Even Big, the Guild Leader of the Guild of Life and Death, could do much against the stubbornness of his daughter.

Circe raised a hand and evoked a little flaming globe. She wasn’t yet in the First Phase, though she could already master Mana as if she were born with a complete inner knowledge on how to. Everyone already appraised her as the greatest genius ever been in Orma. Even Caesar and Aure didn’t boast such talent when they were in her same age. Therefore, Circe grew up bloated, always ready to look up down.

Circe cast the flaming globe towards Vlad. It wouldn’t be enough to actually injure him, but it still would burnt that rebel ass painfully enough. Maybe it could serve him some discipline.

And yet, Vlad moved slightly away and casually dodged the flaming globe.

Circe tapped her feet in anger. She was standing only three meters away from Vlad. How could she miss him?

She cast another flaming globe.

Missed.

One more.

Missed.

Again, over and over.

Missed, over and over.

Down the corridor, Big was looking for his beloved wife to ask her why would she deplete the funds of the Guild to provide their house with satin and doilies, when suddenly his nostrils smelled burning. His eyebrows furrowed, Big stepped closer to an ajar door and peered inside. He perceived his daughter’s Aura from outside, but he had no idea what she might be doing. Was she planning on setting on fire the entire Guild of Life and Death?

Big’s eyes peered through the hole and caught a glimpse of his daughter lying exhausted on the floor, drenched in sweat. He frowned in concern yet did not step in. After all, it’s a long way to the top. He knew the path of success is scattered with hard work and pain. And none of these couldn’t be healed by rest. Looking closer, he took notice of a wall which was now covered in burn wounds and black stains. At the very feet of the wall lay Vlad, his cousin, deep into a peaceful dreamless slumber.

***

Inside the Seagull Dungeon

Vlad slowly raised his bow and said: “Stop.”

He didn’t say anything more. Helial knew Vlad was speaking to him yet decided not to pay him mind. He went on gathering Mental Energy, ready to clear an escape route. How could he leave the lives of his most loyal friends in the hands of a guy whose only thought was sleep?

Vlad shook his head and suddenly disappeared. He darted away towards the pack of Seagulls. Helial’s gaze was stolen by him. He heaved a sigh. “Even more insane than his cousin…”

Helial interrupted his preparation for the attack, his eyes fixed on Vlad’s swift and precise movements. Vlad’s red hair seemed to have come to life. They were now glistening in shades as crimson as those of his eyes.

“He owns an extremely powerful legacy,” was the laconic comment which resounded out from Helial’s Soul.

“What?” Helial was taken aback.

“Wait and see.” Iblis was too busy to bless Helial with a real answer.

Hisssssss!

A hellish moan rouse up. Everyone covered their ears to not turn deaf. The sonic wave though had no effect on Helial, who stared at Vlad in bafflement.

Vlad was now covered in a bloody Aura which could be neatly seen. It engulfed his body from head to toe. In striking clash with his pale complexion and skinny build, it gave him the most demoniac look.

Skill Activated:

Lv. 3

Grade: White

Howl of the Lord of Blood

It helps Reflowing Mana through your Meridians to your Soul.

Exp: 12.6%

Vlad slightly raised his bow. Suddenly, over his head appeared the illusion of a crux.

Skill Activated:

Lv: 2

Crux of the Blood Sinker

Grade: White

Knowledge Grade: Suffering of the Cycle of Life

Damage: /

Effects:

Crux of the Blood Sinker gives you Bonus proportionate to your Mana Control.

Immediate Effects:

+300% Speed

+200% Strength

+200 Dexterity

+400% Damage caused by Bow-related Skills

Cost: 200 Mana/sec

Efficiency: 100%

Suffering is strength’s starting point. Those who carry the heaviest crux will redeem the mankind.

Vlad disappeared all of a sudden. All the Seagulls within one hundred meters from him blasted away.

The only one whose eyes could keep up with his movements were Helial, Snowflake and Lumia. Frankenstein couldn’t see what was happening, nor could Lulu make out the bloody figure dashing through the valley.

Vlad was claiming victims at a terrifying speed with no intent of slowing his pace. As the lord of death, he was ceaselessly slaughtering his way through the sky. His expression though was as blunt as that of who is merely talking a stroll down the park.

Snowflake felt a shiver down his spine. Vlad’s current speed was equal to his. Among lesser creatures, It was actually common for two individuals to boast equal speed; what was not possible, let alone common, was for a bastard like Vlad to match the speed of Snowflake. Besides being an Heavenly Star Tiger, the cat was the owner of the greatest Speed-related Skill in the universe. He was born to be an unmatchable swift creature.

And yet, Snowflake was staring at the downpour of death in bafflement. What he was admiring could only be defined by one word; talent. Talent, and nothing more. That Vlad’s talent was so terrifying even Helial’s couldn’t hope to compete with it. Despite him knowing that Helial hadn’t yet showcased all the aces up his sleeve, no doubt was left on whose of them was the most talented.

A great Skill, utter luck, and expert as a master. This was all shadowed by the outstanding talent of Vlad, not fed off studies and training, but rather thrived on sheer sloth. This was enough for Snowflake to acknowledge that it was the greatest, crystal-clearest talent he had seen in his entire life.