A mountain in the distance shook, Laizer's clothes were all torn apart, and where Laizer and Nizaan had been standing, a five-foot-deep pit formed from the impactful pressure of Nizaan's punch.
"Hey, is everything a joke to you?"
His bloody eyes were burning with rage, his face was twisted with anger, and his eyes were red.
"Do you think you can make fun of whatever you want?
Who do you think you are?!" His killing intent covers everything around him; the air becomes heavy and uncomfortable to breathe.
"Think whatever you want. I meant every word I said, and I will do it — whether you believe me or not.
Laizer replied in a calm and firm voice.
The hatred and anger you're showing me… I know it's not truly for me. Hold it a little longer. I will give you a chance to let it go completely.
This is your last warning: if you show me this kind of disrespect again, I will shatter your bones and throw you to the jungle beasts for dinner. Laizer passes glare at Nizaan with confidence.
Now execute my order."
Laizer turned and walked away.
The ground was shattered with their 1-second clash.
Nizaan was frozen in place, and tears showed up on his face. He tried to hold them back, but couldn't. It was an endless sea of hatred and grudges for the world itself that he was holding; something deep in him was triggered somehow with lazier words.
"I will kill you with my own hands if you're just playing with this,
without knowing what you're trying to pull!"
His blood-lusting eyes burned.
"But… if you fulfill even one of the promises you've made, I, Nizaan, promise to swear an oath to you. I will kill for you. I will die for you. Let's see — either you will die under my sword, or you will become my true master." Nizaan murmured to himself.
Now Nizaan's vision was clear. All he had to do was wait and see. He wiped his tears and ran toward the villages to fulfill Laizer's orders.
"Bastard… I really meant what I said. I will prove that nothing can stop me from creating a world where no rule and authority can bind me to anything I want!" Laizer spoke with a smile on his face; he had heard Nizaan's words through his skill-sensitive senses.
"Hey, System — teach me how to use the system's power. The time has come… to make Heaven kneel!" He raised his fist high, a bright, shining smile on his face.
Ding:"Why not, Master?"
Ding:"Heaven shall kneel!"
Meanwhile, Nizaan was running toward the village area to spread the news. Doubts were roaming in his mind. If I don't fully believe, how can I make them believe? And worse, not a single villager even knows about this sect master or his sect. Everyone is going to laugh at me!
Nizaan murmured with a gloomy face.
These thoughts consumed him as he crossed through the forest; his heart was beating fast. But then, slowly, a bright smile spread across his face.
I used my full power without holding back, yet he didn't budge. I couldn't even bend a single hair on his head. The result would have been the same even if I had used my sword.
He's not all bark and no bite, huh!
Nizaan has a slim thread of faith in Laizer. Even so, he kept his trump card hidden — something he could use if things went wrong, at least to save the villagers' lives.
Before he knew it, Nizaan had arrived at one of the villages in the Cursed Valley. He entered the village and shouted for the village chief. People began gathering as he was approaching the village center, and the chief appeared.
"Young man, why are you creating a scene here? We have already paid our taxes to the Zura Sect and the others."
"Ah, old man — I'm not here to collect any tax!"
The villagers muttered. "He's not here for tax? Then why is he here? He clearly looks like a martial artist!"
"I'm here to tell you something hard — impossible — to believe. But I have to tell you anyway. It's up to you if you believe me or not." His face was gloomy, his tone was low.
The chief's sharp eyes studied the young man; his gaze was piercing, but he still couldn't imagine what Nizaan had come to say.
"Haa. Hey, old man, pull back that stare. You're going to slay me with your gaze. Alright — I'm here to give you a proposal."
"What kind of proposal?"
"Change your sect guardian. Join the Nameless Sect."
Nizaan said with a serious and determined look. Suddenly, the atmosphere of the village changed. Everyone went silent, their facial expressions were gone, and they didn't say anything. They just walked away—some sighed, and some said:
"What a joke… so he is a lunatic who lost his head and way!"
"He… hey… wait! Listen! I am not telling a lie, I'm serious! Nzaan got flustered and start shouting.
There is a sect master who is willing to take you guys under his wings, and he promised to give you shelter, food, and full security. He will take responsibility for your lives!
Everyone was listening but ignoring him.
"Who is that idiot who is willing to give all that?
Is there any person alive in this world who is this much saint?"
The villagers muttered.
The chief asked, "Young man, what does he demand in return?"
"Chief, I am telling you the truth, believe m… me… huh? You believe me?"
"Why? I shouldn't?"
"Nah! I was just shocked you're believing my nonsense," Nizaan said with a sad and hopeless voice.
The chief replied, "Young man, if you believe yourself that this is nonsense, then why have you come here and told us to believe?"
"Chief, I don't know what I should do myself. But at least for now, I am telling you the truth! I cannot guarantee that what I say is 100% true,
and you will find all this. But think about it—if not all true, but even 1 is true, isn't it worth it?
If that man provides you guys shelter, or food, or security… even one of these is worth believing!" Nizaan said with a sad expression on his face and with his eyes down.
"Young man, our lives are not ours. They are under 3 sects that rule in Cursed Valley.
We couldn't make this decision. If we dare, we will be killed!" the chief said with firm expression.
"I know it also," Nizaan replied with his head down and crumbled voice.
"But I am not asking for a decision, I am asking for your lives to bet. If you guys are lucky, you can live like humans. And if not, then you guys will be free from this hell-like life and humiliation that your generations are facing."
The chief went silent. After some seconds, he spoke:
"Okay."
"Huh?" shocked Nizaan
"I said I agree with you."
"Chief? Are you gone mad?"
"If you're tired of living, then go and die yourself, don't drag us!"
"Yes, yes! We're following your order because sects select you village chief. We are not your soldiers to die for you!"
"Yes! We are not doing it!"
All the villagers started screaming, shouting, and cursing the chief.
"I am not saying for you—you guys are free to do whatever you want. I am talking about myself. This old man is willing to bet his life, because what is left there for me to live?
I have already reached my age, so even if I die, it will be a blessing for me! But, young man, I believe that person did not send you here just for our village, right?"
"Haha… ha, old man, you're not a simple old man. Nizaan got amazed by the old chief's observation skill.
Yes, that bastard ordered me to pass his word all over the valley to all 20 villages!"
The chief doubted, because this is not simple. But now, hearing from Nizaan's mouth, he was surprised. For the first time in years, his heart beat fast. And his eyes start shining with hope,
The next thing he said:
"Hohoho! Young man, I think you should believe in that man. He is telling you the truth!"
Nizaan's eyes went wide open, in surprise, his heart start beating fast.
"Wh… what are you saying, old man? You don't even meet him. How can you tell it's true or not?" Nizaan asked with a shaky voice and hesitantly.
"Hohohoh! Young man, if you had told me that this person had told you to just pass his words to 1 or 2 villages, then it was crystal clear that he wanted to just use villagers as his plaything,
to meddle with sect or any other means, I don't know. But you're saying he asked you to pass this to all Cursed Valley, to 20 villages, means he wasn't afraid of the 3 sects!
No, not just sects—he is not afraid to even make Heaven his enemy and doesn't care if even the world goes against him. He clearly challenges these world rules! So there are two outcomes: either he has some sort of trump card, but he overestimates himself and underestimates the power of sects and other houses, or he is really ready to play this brutal game! Now you tell me which it is?—you have met this person!" right?
"Whaaaaaaattttttt? Who the hell is this old man?
He predicted all this and came up with different situations and outcomes in a few seconds—even though he didn't know a single thing about who this person is, he didn't even know his name, he hadn't met him!
So how???
Nizaan's mouth was wide open in shock to listen old man words, he was too surprised to know how impressively the old man handled it.
This old man is really something. He makes all the fog in my mind clear in a few seconds. So now I understand what was meant by making enemies of this world…" Nizaan remembered Laizer's words that he said to him in the hall.
"Old man, if what you said is true, then there's a chance that he is not deceiving you guys. Because I have decided to sail on this boat already. Now all I have to do is just wait!"
"Hohoho! Young man, then this old man also requests to make a seat on this boat. I also want to board on."
"Hehe! Old man, welcome!" Nizaan said with a happy and calm expression.
"Hey! Did you hear the chief and this man talk?"
"Ah! Yes, but…"
"We all know what will happen if things don't go our way!"
"Yes, but… if things go as they say, and we lose this opportunity, we will regret this. No—even our generations will curse us to lose this last hope!"
"Yes! I am also on it. Hey, good sir, please watch my face—I am also with you!"
"Ye… yes, yes, I am also with you!"
"Let's do it. If we die, then it's over; we will not be there to even feel sorry for us. But if we survive, we can give a better life to our children!"
"Yes, yes! I am ready to bet my life on it! Also"
These were all the cheers and comments of the villagers. Even though they were saying it with their mouths, deep down they were trembling in fear.
"Hohoho! Young man, I think you have to extend your boat."
"Hahahaha! I couldn't do it, I am just a sailor," Nizaan replied, lifting his shoulders.
"Then, chief, take those people who are with you and head over that direction. After 5km, you will see a huge sect—go there and wait for me to return. Maybe you could meet the master there!"
Nizaan clearly guided them to the sect way. After that, he left the village and headed for the next villages.
He went to every village, but no one agreed to submit and change their sect guardian. They were too terrified. Like that, he had completed 19 villages. Now only the last was left.
He stopped at the doors.
"Huff… huff ff… AAA! I am too tired. Finally, this is the last, and then I can get some sleep!"
He entered the village. But here the atmosphere was not peaceful. He saw many people injured, children crying, and people holding sticks, dull axes, and some even bare-handed—but their gazes were sharp and fear-free. But who were they facing? Nizaan wondered.
"Whaaaaaaaaat?????"
"The helllll? Are they going mad!"
"Why are they opposing the Zura Sect??? What's gotten into them?"