After vowing to erase the Blackhorn Guild from existence, Dong sat cross-legged on the cold marble floor.
The faint golden scroll hovered before him, its chained seal pulsing with a heartbeat-like rhythm.
He exhaled slowly.
> "Let's begin."
As Dong pressed his palm against the scroll, the chains shattered with a deafening crack.
A surge of crimson and black energy exploded outward, wrapping around him like a storm of living fire.
The air grew heavy the room itself trembling under the pressure of the forbidden power.
The red-dark aura coiled around him, thickening until his entire body vanished within it.
His shadow stretched across the walls, twisting unnaturally as the aura howled like the cries of a thousand tormented souls.
---
Meanwhile, at the royal ballroom
The nobles were laughing and drinking, still discussing the young hero's might.
> "I wonder what kind of power that scroll holds…"
"If even the ancestors feared to touch it, then it must be beyond divine."
At the throne, the King leaned closer to his butler, his smile thin and sharp.
> "I'm waiting," he murmured, eyes glinting. "That boy doesn't have the strength to absorb the scroll. Sooner or later, the power will consume him."
---
But before the butler could respond
A thunderous shockwave erupted through the palace.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground trembled violently.
The chandeliers shattered, raining crystal shards across the ballroom.
Plates and glasses exploded into dust as a wave of pure energy burst outward from Dong's chamber.
Nobles screamed and covered their ears as the sound tore through the air. Even seasoned knights staggered, blood dripping from their noses.
> "What's happening!?"
"The power it's coming from the prince's room!"
Moments later…
The violent storm of energy began to fade.
The deafening roars quieted, and the air settled into an eerie stillness.
The once-grand palace now lay in ruin walls cracked, windows shattered, and pillars scorched black.
Fires flickered weakly where the shockwave had passed, and smoke drifted through the air like the breath of a dying beast.
Some nobles were on the floor, injured or dazed. Others stood trembling, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
> "W-what was that explosion?"
"Did he… did Dong try to absorb the scroll?"
"If so… there's no way he survived. That power could kill even an emperor!"
Whispers filled the hall like frightened insects.
The King, face unreadable, rose slowly from his throne.
> "General," he said in a low, cold tone. "We're going to see him."
The General bowed deeply.
> "Yes, Your Majesty."
At once, the King, General, and several Elite Knights hurried toward Dong's chamber. The path was filled with destruction walls reduced to dust, flames crawling across the broken floor, and a crushing aura still lingering in the air.
When they finally arrived, the sight froze them.
The entire area was destroyed beyond recognition.
The ground had turned pitch-black from the sheer pressure and fire. Heat waves shimmered through the air, distorting everything like a mirage.
One Elite Knight stepped forward, eyes wide.
> "G-General… look there!"
The King and General turned toward where the knight pointed.
Amidst the smoke and rubble, a lone figure sat motionless on the floor.
His half-burned clothes clung to his body, and faint red light glowed around him like dying embers.
The King's eyes widened, and for the first time, his voice cracked
> "Y-You bastard… he's alive!? That's Dong!"
The group rushed closer.
Dong's head was lowered, his hair shadowing his eyes.
But then
He started laughing.
At first it was low, almost silent. Then it grew louder, deeper, until the entire hall echoed with his laughter.
> "Hahahaha… finally…"
He lifted his head. His eyes glowed crimson, swirling with dark flames.
> "Finally, I've absorbed it. I've obtained it…"
His grin widened, pure madness and triumph mixed together.
> "The Hellfire Illusion Technique."
The king, the general, and the elite knights stood frozen.
The blazing ruins around them crackled softly, but none dared move.
Their eyes were fixed on Dong the boy sitting amid destruction, surrounded by faint red smoke and traces of hellish energy that twisted the air around him.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
The king's pupils trembled. For the first time, he saw not the young prodigy he had praised before… but something else.
Something far beyond human.
Dong's laughter slowly died down, echoing off the shattered walls.
He took one more breath then his body gave out.
With a dull thud, he collapsed onto the scorched ground.
The Elite Knights immediately rushed forward.
> "He's unconscious!"
"Be careful don't touch the flames directly!"
Two knights carefully lifted Dong, avoiding the faint heat still radiating from his body.
The King remained silent, eyes locked on the boy's faintly glowing hand.
> "I thought this brat would die trying to absorb that scroll…"
He exhaled slowly, disbelief in his voice.
"But what happened here… is far beyond anything I imagined."
The General, standing beside him, clenched his fist. His thoughts churned with confusion and fear.
> How did he absorb a scroll that even ancient scholars failed to withstand?
Could he have… made a deal with a devil?
He glanced at Dong's still form, unease twisting in his chest.
> If that's true… he's a traitor to humanity itself.
But without proof… I can't do anything.
The King turned, his royal cloak brushing the burned floor.
> "Take him to the healing chamber," he ordered. "And not a single word of this incident leaves this place. Understand?"
> "Yes, Your Majesty!" the knights replied in unison.
As they carried Dong away, the king cast one last look at the boy the child who had absorbed a forbidden power that should have destroyed him.
His eyes narrowed.
> "Dong… just what are you becoming?"
The healing chamber smelled of herb steam and disinfectant. Silent attendants moved quickly around Dong's body as they tended to scorched skin and drained the last traces of unstable aura from his limbs.
He lay still, wrapped in linen, his chest rising in shallow, even breaths.
Meanwhile, the King and the General returned to the grand hall, where nobles clustered in tight knots, buzzing with rumors and fear.
As the royal pair entered, dozens of voices rose at once.
"Is the prince alive? Did he survive the scroll?"
"Why are you late, Majesty?"
"Those sounds some of our guests are dead!"
The King's face hardened. He slammed the nearest table with a palm; the clamor died.
"Silence!" His voice cut through the murmurs like a blade.
The General steered closer, his tone low. "Your Majesty, please calm them.
These are nobles. They aren't ordinary citizens; they have influence. You must not inflame them."
The King's lips curled into a practiced smile as he relaxed his posture. "There is no cause for panic," he announced, voice smooth and controlled.
"By a miracle, the prince lives. He is exhausted and injured from attempting to absorb the scroll. He failed. That's why I was delayed I secured the scroll in the old vault."
The hall erupted into a dozen shocked questions.
"He failed? But that scroll killed scholars of old how is he even alive?" whispers and fearful speculation spread like wildfire.
At that moment, Kira burst from the corridor, breathless, and raced toward the healing wing. He looked furious and relieved all at once.
Near a fountain, the First Prince and Mira and their circle laughed openly, voices dripping with scorn.
"I told you," the First Prince sneered. "That brat could never handle that power. How convenient he returns broken pathetic."
The General leaned close and hissed, voice barely audible to the King. "Majesty, are you sure about this lie?
If the nobles discover you lied about the scroll, about the prince there will be consequences. They will not forgive deception."
The King's eyes flashed cold. He leaned in and spoke quietly, as if repeating a lesson. "You don't understand politics
General Imagine if the world alliance learns we entrusted a forbidden scroll to a child and he absorbed it.
They would unite against us. Our kingdom cannot survive that alignment. This isn't about Dong. It's about survival mine, ours."
The General swallowed, then, with forced admiration: "Majesty… your strategy is still unmatched."
A thought struck him. "What about the Elite Knights who witnessed those three? If they speak"
The King's smile turned merciless. "They are only three. Give them coin. Buy their silence.
If they dare to blackmail us eliminate them quietly."
The General nodded, voice solemn. "Your command is law. I will obey."
The King straightened and turned back to his guests, smoothing his expression.
The music swelled. Goblets were refilled. Conversation resumed, louder and brighter than before even brazen,
as if the banquet could erase the rupture that had just occurred in the palace.
In the marble glow of the ballroom, the party roared back to life.
No one spared another thought for the prince tucked away in the healing chamber. The revelry continued as if nothing had happened.
Morning sunlight spilled through the tall glass windows of the healing chamber, casting pale gold over the bandages wrapped around Dong's arms.
His eyes fluttered open, vision hazy. The faint scent of herbs and smoke lingered in the air.
At the side of the bed, Kira sat slumped in a chair, asleep. A small smile flickered across Dong's face as he stared at his brother's tired expression. He must've been here all night…
Then the memories rushed back the explosion, the scroll, the unbearable pain.
Dong's gaze darkened.
So, this is the cost of power…
He whispered under his breath, "That scroll drained more than half of my mana… and worse, six percent of my soul energy."
His voice was calm, but his expression hardened as he continued his analysis.
"The soul energy is the foundation of life itself.
If it drops by fifteen percent, death is instant. That cursed scroll tried to consume twenty percent of mine.
I only survived because I forced it back but even so, losing six percent is no small thing. My body's weakened,
I've grown thinner, and my mana capacity dropped by thirty percent."
He clenched his trembling hand, faint sparks of flame dancing across his fingers before fading.
"That's why I can't fully use my skills now… Lion's Fear, Domain of Fire, even that dragon ability they'll consume too much mana in this state."
His tone dropped to a bitter whisper.
"To gain something great… I always have to lose something first."
For a moment, only silence filled the room.
Then, a soft yawn broke it.
Kira stirred awake, blinking sleepily.
When he saw Dong sitting up, he rushed to his side and hugged him tightly.
"Dong! You're awake!" Kira's voice cracked with relief.
"Don't be sad, alright? You couldn't absorb the scroll it's fine. Nothing is more important than your life!"
Dong froze, his eyes widening. Then, slowly, realization dawned on his face.
He smiled faintly, the corners of his lips curling in knowing amusement.
So that's it… The King lied. He doesn't want the world alliance to know I succeeded. He's afraid.
He placed a hand on Kira's shoulder. "I'm fine, brother. Really. You don't have to worry."
Kira let out a long sigh of relief. "Good. I was so scared you'd end up in depression or something.
Anyway, I have something important to do I'll see you later, okay? Rest well."
Dong nodded. "Go ahead."
As soon as Kira left, the air turned colder.
The door opened again, and two figures stepped in the First Prince and Mira.
Their expressions were smug, voices dripping with mockery.
"Well, well," the First Prince sneered. "So the mighty dragon slayer couldn't handle a simple scroll after all."
Mira giggled softly. "Poor Dong. I heard even the healers said you might not be able to use your aura properly for a while. How tragic for our 'hero'."
Dong only smiled weakly, lowering his eyes as if embarrassed.
He coughed lightly, hiding his true aura completely. "You're right," he said quietly. "I failed… and I guess I was too arrogant."
The First Prince smirked in satisfaction. "Good. You should learn your place."
As they left, Dong's smile faded, replaced by a calm, dangerous expression. His purple eyes flickered faintly beneath his lashes.
Let them laugh.