Kingdom: The Black Moon Assassin

In the deep darkness of the forest, at its center, was a barren field.

The clash of metal could be heard, and after a few minutes, there was silence.

A dead silence—uncommon, as just moments ago, the sound of metal against metal suggested that there were many people here.

Jun sat on a rock in the middle of the barren field and took in what was happening around him. Covered in bleeding wounds, he gazed upon the bodies of numerous assassins, sliced to pieces—these were the first ones to have reached him.

The scent of blood lingered heavily in the air.

But, of course, things were far from over.

'The other assassins are coming here.'

The fastest way to cross the border through the hill was by taking this forest path, so there was no way they wouldn't come here.

There was only one reason to wait for them.

It was to deal with them before the girl Jun had grown fond of could be harmed.

"In the eternal darkness, where the breeze floats between springs, the blood-red color will shine like the cold moon on a clear night."

Jun's body screamed with pain, but he was here, on the verge of facing more assassins without rest.

Stronger and deadlier.

This was what he had trained for all these years.

If Jun runs away now, then what was the point of all his sacrifices if, in the end, he can't protect his life? Everything he fought for would be meaningless.

The fact that a group of assassins reached this place meant that other groups would soon follow.

But it didn't end there. The Great War seemed to be beginning. If any disturbance occurred while blocking the assassins near the Wei border, it would also attract the attention of other groups.

In other words, the number of enemies he would need to fend off would increase as time passed, and if he delayed in the fight, he might even lose his life.

Crack!

Jun's hand gripped the sword hilt.

He knew it.

The decision he was making now was that of a fool.

He was waiting for them—waiting for the assassins to arrive so he could face them all and prove that he could still survive, no matter how many came for his head.

It was a decision based on his emotions.

Yet, ultimately, it was Jun's faith in his integrity that led him to make this choice. He believed in his strength.

If it came to his life, he believed he could stand up on his own and walk firmly amid despair, so he thought he shouldn't dare ignore his own will.

The confidence he was so convinced of should not be tested.

"All together, or you won't have a chance."

It was an emotion tied to fear as well.

If he ignored his will and acted according to the most common instinct for survival, wouldn't that create resentment?

Maybe this time, his confidence would turn its back on him.

This was because fear—a feeling Jun hadn't experienced since leaving the Asura village—was present.

Jun felt his breath catch deep within himself at that overwhelming thought.

If he dies now, everything ends.

Kyou Kai would never see him again, and he would forget everything he had lived up to this point.

"I need to calm down." Jun had to calm his mind.

He had been diligent so far. Everything had been for this.

Of course, he not only realized that he was arrogant and ignorant, but he also steadily grew his strength.

He was able to systematically use the internal energy he had originally infused throughout his body to slow the bleeding from his wounds.

He put more effort into strengthening his body than he had in the past.

In terms of sheer strength, he had risen to a level comparable to a true dragon among men.

Jun closed his eyes and looked within his own soul, erasing the anxiety that engulfed him.

In his dark soul, there was an aura still shining intensely.

His will was not yet dead, so he could still fight.

It was a vow written by his own will.

Jun gazed intently at his energy, then opened his eyes and looked forward again.

At the edge of his vision, assassins were approaching at a hurried pace. Jun squinted, focusing on the enemies who were drawing closer much faster.

'Fifteen.'

They were assertive enough to be clearly visible even in the dark.

Dark scales emerged over their half-naked bodies. Their eyes, shining under the moonlight, made them look like complete demons.

But they were drugged, something that made them unfearful of death.

Confirming their approach, Jun rose from the rock where he had been sitting and drew his sword.

Clang!

"I simply have to kill them," murmured Jun, his gaze severe.

It didn't matter if there were hundreds or thousands; he was enough to stop them.

He wasn't so weak that he couldn't do it.

He still wielded a beast's sword.

It was a sword more suited for taking life than for protecting it.

However, even a sword like that was enough to buy some time so he could stand on his own.

In the midst of contemplation, the assassins stopped in front of the barren field.

Jun looked at the fifteen figures showing signs of caution toward him and unleashed the aura he had kept tightly suppressed within.

It was a manifestation of his intent to kill and the idea that there was no need to give them any respite.

A brief confrontation. A following silence.

Soon, a solemn voice echoed.

"You who are hunting me will become the hunted."

Crack!

A monstrous energy, more fearsome than that of Hou Ken himself, burst forth from Jun's body.

"From now on, you are all sentenced to death."

The inner energy, invisible to those who couldn't control their body's energy, manifested in a dark color.

A feeling of reinforcement took over his body. Muscles throughout his body awakened. Jun felt the overflowing power and fixed his gaze on the assassins before him.

"No one has enemies until they find them."

The assassins, his enemies, took a step forward. Their eyes wavered.

They must have sensed something strange in the changed air.

He hoped they weren't fools. Jun felt a slight pity for them.

Jun, feeling his energy gather within him according to his own laws, lifted his sword and leaned forward.

It wasn't a very favorable situation for Jun.

As assassins skilled in killing, they were all formidable enemies, likely armed with numerous killing techniques.

However…

"This is fun."

That wasn't reason enough for Jun to lose.

"Argh!"

The assassins on the far right attacked with a speed that kept them on the edge of perception.

However, Jun was fast enough to counter.

Jun swung his sword in a short, controlled motion and instantly decapitated the first assassin who approached.

Clang!

A cutting sound was heard, and in the next moment, a head flew into the air. The decapitated head and its splattered blood fell to the dirt-covered ground.

'Fourteen.'

Jun's gaze shifted forward.

The assassins looked at him in panic as he stared them down, positioning his sword with a manic smile on his face.

No matter how strong they became, in the end, it didn't matter.

As always, for Jun, slashing was the thing he trusted most.