Eryke had tried it countless times before, yet success always slipped through his fingers.

As time dragged on, the sky darkened, clouds gathering until flashes of lightning split the heavens, each one followed by the rumble of distant thunder.

"Sigh." He exhaled softly, turning back before stepping inside. "Let's go."

"Yes, master." The little devil grinned and skipped after him. "I was bored as hell practicing the sword."

Eryke stopped mid-step, an eyebrow arching. "And when did you start using words like that?"

"Oh, I picked it up from you," she said with a mischievous chuckle.

"..." He stared at her for a beat, shook his head, and continued inside.

Once home, he settled onto the cushion, closed his eyes, and sank quietly back into meditation.

"Master, you always go into meditation. Don't you ever get bored?" she pouted, watching him.

Eryke slowly opened his eyes and frowned at the little girl. "No. I don't get bored."

"But it's so boring," she pressed.

"I don't get bored," he said calmly. "I used to be like you, but the Sword Will sharpened my mind."

"Sharpening your mind means… you have to practice all the time?" she whined.

"Yeah." Eryke's answer was short, firm.

"Hmm?" The little girl touched her chin thoughtfully. "But isn't the greatest practice just enjoying life and experiencing the real world?"

Eryke shook his head. If it was about experiencing the real world, he had no need, his clones were already wandering across the lands. Even if he never touched grass himself, they would.

Besides, a deeper urgency gnawed at him: the need to return to Earth.

"Master, why don't we go outside and see the world for a while?" the little girl suggested, her eyes bright. "Maybe you'll gain enlightenment from it. Aren't there stories of Martial Heroes who did just that?"

"Hmm?" Eryke paused, raising a brow at her. After a moment of thought, he gave a small nod. "Alright. Tomorrow."

"Yay!" she cheered, then skipped off to bed, leaving Eryke seated in still meditation, his mind as steady as stone.

"Man… an otaku like me would have never thought I'd go sleepless like this." Eryke sighed helplessly, remaining perfectly still.

Soon, the moon hung high, its silvery light spilling across the earth. The world seemed hushed, wrapped in a heavy stillness.

Then, five fingers pressed soundlessly against the floor. A shadow slipped into the house, moving with predatory silence.

Eryke sat cross-legged as before, unmoving, as though he hadn't heard a thing.

"Is he here?" the first assassin whispered with an uneasy voice.

"Yes," the second replied, his tone hushed but steady. "They say the target is a genius, only at the Second Stage of Martial Arts, yet rumored to have the strength of a First Stage expert."

"You really believe that nonsense?" the third assassin sneered.

"We can't afford to underestimate him. The bounty's too high for this to be a bluff," the second said sternly.

In the blink of an eye, the windows were sliced open without a sound. A small orb was tossed inside.

It landed softly, bounced once, and rolled to a halt. A faint hiss followed as invisible smoke began to seep into the room.

It was sleeping smoke. Against martial artists, who cultivated bodies with strong resistance to poison, it was one of the few effective tools.

Potent toxins couldn't be refined into such a subtle form, but sleep-inducing vapors could. For assassins, it was the surest way to catch even a vigilant warrior off guard.

As the sleeping smoke spread through the room, the assassins felt their earlier worries begin to ease.

This amount alone was more than enough to put an ordinary First-Stage Martial Artist into a deep slumber.

"Should we go inside?" the first assassin whispered.

"Yes, of course, you idiot," the second hissed, his voice dripping with disappointment.

"Huh? Why are you disappointed in me?" the first asked, scratching his head in confusion.

"Because there's such a thing as common sense," the second replied sharply. "The smoke is already thinning. If we don't move now and he wakes up, we'll be digging our own graves."

With a shake of his head, he pushed the door open in silence while the first was still confused why everyone always considered him an idiot?

The five assassins fanned out, melting into the shadows until their forms were nearly indistinguishable from the darkness itself.

Inside, Eryke sat cross-legged upon his mattress, eyes closed. His head drooped low, bent at an odd angle, as though he were already lost to sleep.

"The bounty's mine," the first assassin muttered with a grin, darting from the shadows to strike.

"Damn it, that bastard…!" the other four cursed in unison, leaping through the air after him.

It became a race. Whoever reached Eryke first would claim the prize… or so they thought.

Just then, Eryke lifted his head. His lips curled into a slow, sharp grin, aimed directly at the first assassin.

"Wh—!?"

Before the first assassin could react, a colossal sword, manifested behind Eryke. It tore through the roof, its edge soaring skyward, piercing into the night.

The assassins froze in despair.

"H-how could a sword… be so large?" one whispered, his voice trembling.

Swish!

The very air screamed as the blade descended without mercy.

In an instant, the house was cleaved apart. The strike carved through the land, splitting nearly half a hill as if it were nothing but paper.

The stones crumbled. Earth collapsed. Everything within reach was annihilated.

"…Eh?"

At the center of the destruction, Eryke blinked, stunned. His eyes flickered with disbelief.

"I just wanted to end them instantly… I didn't expect my sword strike to be that strong or cause such a commotion."

Eryke's gaze swept over the battlefield. As expected, the five assassins were gone, deader than dead. Not even a trace of their remains lingered.

That single sword strike hadn't just slain them, it had erased their very existence.

The sharpness, the swiftness, the overwhelming force of his Sword Will… it was beyond even what he had imagined possible.

"I didn't expect this at all." Eryke sighed, shaking his head. With quiet steps, he turned back inside, seeking to calm his thoughts.

But outside, the world was far from calm.

The commotion had roused the entire sect. Disciples and elders alike stared at the colossal sword mark carved into the land, terror etched across their faces.

Even standing near it, they could feel the invisible edge, an unending sharpness that threatened to tear them apart if they lingered too long.

"Who did this?!" Elder Fubo fell to the ground, shouting in disbelief.

A swift investigation ensued, and all clues pointed to the house where Eryke and the little girl lived.

The Sect Leader, panic written across his face, hurried to the scene. "Are you alright?!" he called out, his voice trembling.

Eryke, having heard the shout, stood up with a bitter expression. "They ruined my precious rest," he muttered.

Stepping outside, he was met with a sea of Mount-Hua Sect Martial Artists, all wearing looks of worry and fear.

Raising an eyebrow, he asked casually, "What's wrong?"

"What happened here, Guest Elder Eryke?" the Sect Leader asked, smiling gently with a polite voice.

"Well…" Eryke paused briefly, letting a strange tension settle over the gathering. "Five assassins appeared. I killed them easily with my Sword Will."

"That's it?" the Sect Leader asked, struggling to keep his composure.

"Yes." Eryke shrugged casually.

"You mean… this destruction was all from your Sword Will?"

"That's right," Eryke replied, his tone was completely innocent.

"This… this…" Shock made the Sect Leader's heart race. "…How is this even possible?"

Eryke tilted his head, confusion evident on his face, as if he couldn't understand the question.

"Ho…" The Sect Leader took a deep breath, forcing his mind to calm. "Thank you."

"For what?" Eryke asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Nothing," the Sect Leader replied with a smile. Earlier, he had hesitated, but now, after witnessing Eryke's strength firsthand, any doubts vanished.

Despite this person's unusual name, his power was undeniable. If the Sect could learn the method that allowed healing while wielding a Sword Will…

Everything would be worth it.

The Sect Leader turned to the others, his voice firm. "Everyone, let's leave."

"But—" the elders began to protest, but the Sect Leader gave a firm nod, and they reluctantly obeyed.

Left alone, Eryke shrugged and returned to rest.

Morning came swiftly. Though his sleep had been short, Eryke awoke refreshed, as lively and alert as ever.

"Master, today is the sect meeting! Let's hurry and go!"

The little devil had somehow woken earlier than him and was already pattering around energetically.

Eryke's brows twitched at the constant noise. 'Oh well, at least there's some benefit to this,' he sighed inwardly.

He glanced at his Destiny Points:

…

Destiny Points: 2,687,002

…

An absolutely massive amount earned just from teaching this little devil. At least it served as a small consolation for the headache she constantly caused him.

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