The streets of Blackthorn City stirred awake under the midnight alarm.
The bells from the prison tower tolled like thunder, echoing through every district. From the slums to the merchant quarters, shutters slammed closed, lanterns flickered out, and whispers spread like wildfire.
"Someone escaped the prison."
"They say he killed the guards."
"No… I heard he butchered everyone."
Fear crawled through the veins of the city.
Lian walked calmly through the bloodstained alleys, his crimson eyes faintly glowing. He carried his spear lazily on his shoulder, its tip leaving a trail of dark red droplets behind him.
The system interface floated before his vision:
[Quest: Escape the Prison – Progress: 65%.]
[Objective: Reach the Outer City Gate.]
[Warning: Reinforcement Squads Converging.]
He chuckled.
"So, the hounds are coming. Good. A wolf only grows sharper when surrounded."
His body still hummed with the remnants of Blood Fury. Every heartbeat pounded like war drums in his chest, feeding him with a savage thrill. Yet, even amidst that ecstasy, his mind was cold, calculating.
If he wanted true freedom, he could not simply flee. No—he had to dominate, to leave such terror behind that none would dare pursue him again.
As he neared a wide square, the rhythm of marching boots echoed ahead. Torches flared, illuminating a unit of nearly thirty guardsmen forming a blockade across the street. Their shields overlapped in a wall of steel, spears jutting outward like the teeth of a beast.
A tall man stepped forward—his armor blackened steel, his cape crimson. His presence radiated authority.
"Fugitive! You've spilled enough blood for one night. Surrender, and your execution will be swift."
Lian tilted his head, amusement curling his lips.
"Execution? Do you people rehearse these lines? Or is it simply the fate of every insect to buzz the same words before I crush them?"
A murmur rippled through the soldiers. The captain's eyes narrowed, but he didn't waver.
"Then you leave me no choice. Archers!"
Bows creaked. Dozens of arrows were raised, their steel tips glinting in the torchlight.
Lian's crimson gaze sharpened.
[Warning: Incoming Ranged Attack.]
[Suggestion: Activate Skill – Crimson Howl.]
He inhaled slowly, spear tightening in his grip. Then he unleashed it.
[Crimson Howl Activated.]
The roar tore from his throat like a beast unchained, a sound that shattered the night. A crimson wave of bloodlust surged outward. The soldiers faltered; hands trembled; a few archers loosed early, their shots flying wild.
Lian moved.
He darted forward with inhuman speed, arrows grazing past him as his spear whirled in arcs of steel and shadow. He crashed into the shield wall with unstoppable force, his weapon piercing through armor and flesh alike.
Screams erupted. The square became a storm of chaos.
Lian's movements were merciless, precise, but wild with bloodlust. He thrust, spun, and shattered the formation, dragging men to the ground with every strike. The spear tore through shields as if they were paper.
[+10 Sin Points.]
[+10 Sin Points.]
[Skill EXP +6%.]
The captain roared, swinging a heavy broadsword at Lian's head. Sparks flew as steel met steel, the force shaking the ground beneath them. Unlike the others, this man was strong—his aura thick with killing intent, his swordsmanship honed through war.
Lian grinned, eyes alight with hunger.
"Finally… a worthy opponent."
Their clash resounded like thunder. Each strike from the captain was heavy, precise, meant to kill. But Lian danced through them, his movements erratic yet lethal, spear thrusts darting like a serpent.
The captain bellowed, pressing forward with brute strength.
"You're just a beast drunk on blood!"
Lian's laughter echoed, cold and sharp.
"Wrong. I am the storm that drowns the world in sin."
With a sudden twist, he deflected the captain's blade and drove his spear upward, piercing through the man's chest. Blood gushed, his body stiffening before collapsing to the cobblestones.
[Elite Enemy Defeated: Captain of the Watch.]
[Reward: +50 Sin Points, +200 EXP.]
The remaining soldiers faltered, their courage crumbling at the sight of their leader's corpse.
Lian raised his blood-soaked spear, crimson eyes blazing.
"Run, insects. Spread my name through your city. Tell them the Lord of Sin has returned."
They broke. Shields and spears clattered to the ground as the survivors fled into the alleys, screams trailing behind them.
The square fell silent, save for the crackle of torches and the dripping of blood.
The system chimed once more.
[Quest Progress: 80%.]
[Total Sin Points: 220.]
[New Feature Unlocked: Sin Shop.]
Lian's heart throbbed with anticipation.
"Finally."
A dark interface unfolded before him, filled with eerie symbols and shimmering text.
[Sin Shop: Exchange Sin Points for Power.]
– Minor Regeneration (50 SP)
– Blood Fury Lv.2 Upgrade (150 SP)
– Shadow Step (200 SP)
– Crimson Fang Spear (300 SP)
Lian's eyes gleamed as he scanned the list.
So many paths, so much potential.
But his attention locked on Shadow Step. A skill that would allow him to traverse shadows like a ghost—perfect for hunting and escaping alike. His lips curved into a wicked smile.
"Soon," he whispered. "This world will drown in fear, and I will rise above it all."
For now, he continued forward, each step echoing on the bloodstained stones. The outer city gate awaited—and beyond it, a world that had long forgotten his name.
They would remember soon.