Arjun walked through the arena gates like nothing had happened.
Like he didn't just eat a domain.
Like he didn't turn a priest into ash.
Like he didn't break an entire city's confidence with one massacre.
But the streets outside…
weren't normal anymore.
They were quiet.
Too quiet.
Red lanterns still glowed.
Shops still stood open.
But everyone had moved back.
Doors half-closed.
Faces hidden behind curtains.
Even the loudest street killers had disappeared into alleys like rats sensing fire.
Arjun walked calmly.
His hands were clean now.
His robe was dark.
His sword was wrapped.
But his presence still smelled like fresh death.
The System flashed.
🔊 [WARNING: CITY-LEVEL HOSTILITY RISING]
✅ Blood Market Pavilion neutrality suspended
✅ Multiple kill squads forming
✅ Arena master making announcement
⚠️ "Kill-on-sight" may be activated
Arjun's lips curved slightly.
"So they finally decided."
He didn't run.
Running was for prey.
Arjun was the reason people ran.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
A thunderous gong echoed across the city.
DOOOOONG!
A massive projection lit up the sky above Blood Market Pavilion.
A blood-red screen of spiritual light.
And a voice boomed, loud enough to shake windows.
It was Mako, the arena master.
But his tone wasn't excited anymore.
It wasn't entertainment anymore.
It was fear disguised as authority.
📢 "ATTENTION, BLOOD MARKET PAVILION!"
The streets froze.
Even merchants stopped breathing.
Mako continued:
📢 "THE DEVOURER HAS BROKEN THE MARKET'S ORDER!"
📢 "HE HAS KILLED A VIP GUEST UNDER NEUTRAL LAW!"
📢 "HE HAS CAUSED MASS PANIC AND PROPERTY LOSS!"
A pause.
Then Mako's voice sharpened like a blade.
📢 "FROM THIS MOMENT…"
📢 "ARJUN IS DECLARED: CITY ENEMY!"
The projection flashed.
A new bounty appeared.
Not from Iron Mountain Sect.
Not from a guild.
From Blood Market Pavilion itself.
CITY KILL ORDER: ARJUN
Reward: 300,000 Spirit Stones
Bonus: Blood Arena Ownership Token
Special: One 'Soul-Cleanse' service FREE
The last line made many cultivators swallow hard.
Soul-Cleanse service…
That meant removing curses, marks, bindings.
Rare.
Expensive.
A treasure itself.
Arjun smiled.
So the market offered exactly what he needed.
A cleanse.
But it came with a price.
His head.
Mako's voice boomed again:
📢 "ALL KILL SQUADS MOBILIZE!"
📢 "CAPTURE OR KILL!"
📢 "NO MERCY INSIDE THE CITY TONIGHT!"
The crowd didn't cheer.
They roared like predators released from cages.
Because this bounty was too large.
And because Arjun's existence threatened the market itself.
If a monster could walk in and kill priests…
Then what was Blood Market Pavilion worth?
It had to crush him.
Not for money.
For reputation.
THE HUNTERS MOVE
Arjun walked down the street.
And slowly—
figures appeared.
Not random bounty hunters.
Organized squads.
Professional killers.
Mercenary groups.
Arena champions.
Masked assassins.
They blocked alleys.
They sealed rooftops.
They climbed walls.
They formed a net around him.
A woman with twin blades stepped forward first.
Her aura was sharp, clean, controlled.
Rank: high.
Not elder-level, but close.
She spoke calmly:
"Arjun."
"Hand over the masks and the scroll."
"And I'll let you die quickly."
Arjun looked at her.
Then asked:
"Who are you?"
She smirked.
"Red Fang Squad captain."
"I've killed sixty inner disciples."
Arjun nodded.
"Not bad."
Then he smiled faintly.
"But you've never killed a devourer."
Her smile vanished.
"Kill him."
The entire squad attacked at once.
STREET SLAUGHTER
Blades flashed.
Spears stabbed.
Needles flew.
Poison fog spread.
Arjun moved.
✨ SHADOW STEP
He appeared behind the first assassin.
His fist struck.
🦴💥 BONE KING FIST
CRACK!
Instant death.
Another assassin swung—
Arjun caught the blade barehanded.
CLANG!
His hand didn't bleed.
The assassin froze in horror.
Arjun whispered:
"Iron Body."
Then he headbutted him.
BAM!
Skull shattered.
Dead.
The Red Fang Captain screamed and spun her twin blades.
A technique formed.
🔥 DOUBLE FANG CROSS-SLASH!
Two blade arcs flew toward Arjun's neck.
Arjun raised his sword.
⚫ VOID-CUT (Fragment)
One clean slash.
The blade arcs disappeared.
The captain's eyes widened.
"No—!"
Arjun vanished again.
✨
He appeared in front of her.
Palm on her chest.
🩸 TRUE DEVOURING BODY — PARTIAL DEVOUR
Her aura collapsed instantly.
Her bloodline energy drained.
Her legs went weak.
She fell to her knees.
Alive.
But empty.
Arjun leaned closer.
"Tell your market…"
"I'm not trapped here."
"I'm feeding here."
Then he punched her throat lightly.
Not to explode.
Just enough.
CRACK.
She collapsed.
Dead.
The squad behind her broke.
Some screamed and ran.
Some tried to fight.
Arjun didn't chase all of them.
He killed enough.
Because fear needed survivors.
And bodies needed witnesses.
The System chimed nonstop.
🔊 +600
🔊 +800
🔊 +1000
✅ Iron Body Stage: 9.9/10 → 10/10
Arjun's eyes widened slightly.
A breakthrough.
Now.
His body pulsed.
Bones thickened.
Skin hardened.
His aura changed like metal being forged.
🔊 [BREAKTHROUGH!]
✅ IRON BODY STAGE COMPLETED: 10/10
✅ NEW REALM UNLOCKED: STEEL BODY STAGE (1/10)
Arjun exhaled.
The air around him rang like steel being struck.
He smiled.
"Good."
THE CITY'S TRUE WEAPON
At that moment—
a heavy aura dropped onto the street.
Not an elder.
Not a priest.
Something else.
A hired weapon.
A man wearing a white mask with no expression.
His robe was black, but trimmed in gold.
He carried a long chain weapon—black metal links dripping with strange poison.
He didn't speak.
He didn't threaten.
He just walked forward like an executioner.
The System flashed red.
🔊 [DANGER: CITY EXECUTIONER DETECTED]
☠️ Name: No-Face Chain Reaper
Realm: High (Unknown)
Threat: EXTREME
✅ Note: He has killed elders before
Arjun's smile widened.
So Blood Market Pavilion wasn't just a marketplace.
It had monsters too.
The No-Face Chain Reaper swung his chain once.
The air screamed.
A black chain link cut through a stone wall like butter.
Arjun stared.
Then whispered:
"Finally."
"A worthy meal."
The Reaper raised his chain.
And the city held its breath.
Because now…
it wasn't a hunt anymore.
It was a battle between monsters.