Trusting a villain was impossible. Lee Seong-jun knew this from the start. Though Yoon Ki-seong, the S-rank villain, had proven insightful and even offered critical information, such a man could never be allowed full freedom. His tongue might speak truth today, but treachery was in his nature. To ensure loyalty, Seong-jun moved decisively.
In an instant, his figure blurred and vanished like wind, reappearing behind the villain. A hand pressed against Yoon Ki-seong's head, and an unseen force surged through his body. His limbs collapsed, powerless, as though his strings had been cut. Panic filled his eyes.
Scarlet energy threaded into his heart, weaving into the shape of a glowing ring. The crimson glow spread through his veins, binding him from within. It was the dreaded art of the Blood Demon—the True Blood Subordination. This martial technique enslaved the very lifeblood of its target, binding heart and soul alike. Lies would send signals to the caster, murderous thoughts would bring unbearable agony, and rebellion could end in instant death as the heart itself ruptured.
Yoon Ki-seong had no choice but submission. Pale-faced, he realized he now lived only at Seong-jun's mercy. From that point forward, every word he spoke rang true, stripped of deceit. His earlier ploys of hiding lies within truths crumbled under the weight of this enslavement.
For Seong-jun, this was not cruelty, but necessity. The villain's sensory intuition was unusual, sharp enough to sense dangers instinctively, and such a talent made him valuable. Better to bind such a tool than waste it. With the Scavenger Crew under Yoon Ki-seong, he could establish a foothold in the criminal underworld. His own power would guard the bright surface world, while Ki-seong's crew would dominate the shadows. Together, his family could be shielded from threats that even the Association's hidden guards might miss.
Yet even with plans set in motion, there remained the looming threat of Jo Se-hyeok, the SS-rank villain known as the Rookie Slayer. Ruthless and obsessed, he was infamous for targeting families to break his prey. Seong-jun had no illusions—if the man came, even elite guards might not be enough. He alerted the Association, doubled his family's security, and warned his loved ones directly, despite their unease. The Association, eager to restore its reputation, spared no effort, mobilizing top operatives and delaying official duties to ensure safety.
With the defenses secure, Seong-jun could finally focus on the true battle ahead.
Two nights later, while returning from a hunt, he felt it. A suffocating hostility leaked from a nearby alley—sharp, overwhelming, laced with madness. The murderous intent was so strong it seemed to slice the air itself. Only one man radiated such twisted killing will.
The Rookie Slayer had come.
Seong-jun's lips curved in anticipation. Kicking off the ground, he surged forward using the Wind and Thunder Footwork, leading the predator away from crowded streets. Behind him, Jo Se-hyeok followed with unnerving composure, never rushing, never straining—always keeping just the right distance, as though a beast toying with its prey.
Their chase ended at a desolate construction site, where shadows loomed over broken concrete. From the darkness stepped a man with wild mane-like hair and eyes glowing with insanity. His presence screamed of violence barely restrained.
Jo Se-hyeok had finally revealed himself.
His gaze locked on Seong-jun, voice carrying both disdain and excitement. A wolf had noticed another beast worth the hunt. His madness sharpened into killing intent, and the battle between the super rookie and the Rookie Slayer was about to begin.