CHAPTER 59: COMING BACK.

Chapter 98

A woman stood before a clearing, her white hair revealing the years she had lived.

She sat there, gazing at the garden before her, as a voice echoed from behind.

"Grandmother, I am leaving."

The old woman didn’t answer at first, only nodding before asking,"Did you find everything you were looking for?"

"Yes, Grandmother. And my time with Uncle was great. I learned a lot, and I improved a lot, so yes—I am very grateful for your wisdom and for my Uncle’s guidance," the young man replied.

The woman’s black eyes turned red as she spoke,"My grandson, do remember: a farmer can’t protect his crop without becoming a warrior. And a warrior can’t always protect his crop without a kingdom. And to have a kingdom is to become... a King. Even when you do become a King, remember—you are nothing more than a mere mortal."

"I will always remember that, Grandma. I’ll be taking my leave," the young man said as his figure began to walk away.

The old woman smiled and said,"It’s good that I was able to spend time with you, my grandson. But I forgot to say—we gardeners grow crops to feed ourselves and our loved ones. That’s why we fight to protect them... so they can save our loved ones. But you already know that."

At the street,

A man with dark skin, black hair, and black eyes stood in front of a car.

He was staring toward a house that seemed both old and somehow not.

His expression was unreadable as he smoked, eyes fixed on the building.

This man was Leo—tall and broad, though now marked by a scar stretching from his face down to his neck.

Before long, the door of the house opened.

A young man stepped out.

His skin was a rich chocolate tone, his eyes the color of blood—deep red—and his black hair shimmered under the sun.

He was strikingly handsome, appearing around eighteen years old.

A bag hung at his side, and his physique was lean but powerful—perfect from head to toe.

"Well then, shall we go?" Elijah asked with a smirk on his face.

"Yeah. Let’s go," Leo answered, opening the door and stepping into the car.

In the brown car, they drove off. From the moment Elijah sat down, he closed his eyes, trying to sleep while he looked at his status screen.

[Status]

Name: Elijah Havor

Cultivation: Advanced Knight Stage (Initial)

Ki: 100%

Element: Blood Tier 1

Level: 22

{Stats}

Strength: 80

Agility: 77

Endurance: 66

Defense: 61

Senses: 55

Free Stat Points: 0

System Points: 20,500

Abilities:

[Counter] – Allows the user to counter an incoming attack—physical or magical—redirecting it back at the caster. Cooldown: 1 hour.

[Regeneration] – Grants rapid regeneration from any injury. Scars vanish, limbs regrow, stamina refills near-limitlessly.

[Telekinesis] – Grants mental control over physical objects. Strength scales with mental energy

[Phantom Veil] – The user can become invisible at will. Only those with three times more Ki than the user can detect them. Otherwise, they can only be found if they touch someone or are touched.

Class Skills:

[The Monarch] – Suppresses all unnecessary emotions, allowing Elijah to act with unwavering focus. Fear, doubt, hesitation—none of it can cloud his judgment. Though he retains awareness of emotions, they no longer affect his decisions, ensuring absolute resolve.

[Zenith] – A temporary state where all of Elijah’s stats increase by 200%. However, once deactivated, extreme exhaustion follows, making it a skill that must be used wisely.

[One] – A devastating sword attack capable of killing an opponent a realm above Elijah and grievously injuring those more than two realms above. This attack transcends normal strikes, cutting through even the strongest defenses. Can only be used once per week. (Requires a sword.)

[King’s Aura] – A presence that spreads fear and pressure to those weaker than Elijah. Opponents below or within one realm above him experience intense suppression, their movements hindered by his sheer presence. The stronger the opponent, the less effective the aura becomes.

Technique Skills:

{(Tier 1) Flash Step} – A low-level technique that enhances leg strength, increasing movement speed by 10%.]

{(Tier 3) Blood Shield} – Reinforced shield made from your own blood. Can withstand two full-power attacks from an Advanced Stage opponent.

{(Tier 3) Iron Body} – A defensive technique that increases body durability by 30%. An upgraded version of your existing Tier 2 Iron Body.

{(Tier 3) Crimson Arrow} – Creates a blood-forged arrow capable of piercing any opponent below the Advanced Stage.

{(Tier 3) Wind Walk} – Boosts movement speed by 30% using Ki to propel wind beneath your feet. Usable once per dash before requiring reactivation.

(Tier 4) Blood Lure – The user manipulates their own blood into a swirling, pheromone-like mist that draws in enemies or beasts, either sensing danger or something alluring. It can be used to trap. Who can be attracted depends on the user’s mental strength.

(Tier 4) Crimson Bind – By manipulating spilled blood—either their own or from the battlefield—the user forms tendrils that lash out to bind or restrain targets. These bindings are hard to break and can harden into spikes if the target resists too strongly. Can only bind those below Master Knight Stage without being destroyed.

(Tier 4) Sanguine Armor – The user coats their body in hardened blood, forming a temporary armor that boosts defense by 50%. It can absorb 20% of physical blows and even some magic (10%), but it slowly drains the user’s Ki the longer it’s used.

(Tier 5) Blood Ray – A devastating ki-based technique that consumes a significant amount of energy. It fires a concentrated ray of blood capable of piercing through most defenses—strong enough to kill even someone at the Expert Knight Stage. A crimson beam shoots forward, tearing through anything in its path.

(Tier 5) Blood Scourge – A high-level area attack that causes the user’s blood to explode into hundreds of razor-thin needles, covering a wide radius. Each needle homes in on nearby life force, making dodging extremely difficult. The more blood the user sacrifices, the more lethal the barrage. It can kill anyone below Master Knight Stage and possibly injure those at Master Knight Stage.