Born In Ashes: The Enigma

(You have comprehended an Intent)

(Your unique intent is resonating with the World)

(The World itself is bestowing a name upon your Intent)

(Your Intent shall be called... The Tyrant's Intent)

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Azrael didn't even glance at the notifications flashing before him, his entire focus fixed on the attack he had just launched.

The moment he exploded with all his power, covering twenty meters in an instant and appearing right behind Harris, even in his chaotic state, Harris instinctively sensed a lethal threat.

Acting purely on reflex, he immediately turned around—only to see a black greatsword, gleaming with cosmic energy and surrounded by a strange scarlet aura coming straight toward his head.

Harris's inky black eyes gleamed with cruelty as he immediately brought the earth hammer in his hand up to block the descending blade.

As soon as the scarlet aura appeared around the Fallen Star, Azrael felt all of his spiritual energy vanish into thin air.

A splitting headache slammed into him, as though a nail were being drilled into his skull.

Yet even under the excruciating pain, his face remained utterly emotionless as he activated The World.

Rumble!

The surroundings seemed to tremble under the pressure of Fallen Star as it made contact with the earth hammer.

The moment the sword struck the hammer, it stopped—for just a microsecond. But then, the scarlet aura representing the Tyrant's Intent rioted violently, as if enraged by the fact that it had been blocked.

Boom!

A destructive power burst forth from the Tyrant's Intent— a power that seemed determined to crush everything in its path.

And since it was being channeled through Fallen Star as a sword strike, its destructive force was increased by 50% thanks to the effect of Sword Domination.

The moment the Tyrant's Intent exploded, the earth hammer shattered into countless fragments and the sword continued its downward slash, unobstructed.

Harris's inky eyes widened in disbelief and under the looming threat of death, a trace of rationality returned to them.

He hastily attempted to coat himself in earth armor to resist the attack. However—

Swish!

The Fallen Star, wrapped in cosmic energy and the Tyrant's Intent sliced through the earth armor as if it were paper.

Rip!

A wet tearing sound echoed through the surroundings as a body was split cleanly in half from head to toe.

A fountain of blood erupted into the air and with disbelief still etched into his expression, both halves of Harris's body dropped heavily to the ground.

Azrael felt all the energy drain from his body.

Whether it was cosmic energy, physical energy, or spiritual energy—he had poured everything he had into that last attack.

The world spun around him, and even staying upright became a struggle.

Though he felt like collapsing then and there, Azrael held himself together with sheer willpower as he knew this wasn't the time to fall.

'Now that the trial is completed, Eonrift should send me out immediately,' Azrael muttered inwardly as he waited to be teleported out of the Eonrift.

(You have killed Level 17 Vessel of Corruption: Harris. +3 Strength, +4 Stamina, +3 Agility, +9 Cosmic Energy)

(You have leveled up to Level 10)

(You have reached the peak of Apprentice Warrior)

(To continue leveling up, please complete your Class Ritual and become a Class Warrior.)

Azrael felt a wave of strength return to his body as soon as he leveled up and his stats increased.

The dizziness faded slightly, and he could finally stand properly.

However, even after the boost in power, his expression showed no hint of joy.

'Why am I still here?' He frowned.

From what Ashara had told him, he should have been immediately removed from the Eonrift the moment he completed his trial.

Yet the fact that he was still standing here meant only one thing— his trial wasn't completed.

'Does that mean Harris isn't dead?'

The thought instantly crossed Azrael's mind. But then he looked at the notification again—the one confirming Harris's death—and even glanced at his increased stat points.

No. Harris was definitely dead.

He brought up the details of the trial he had received on the first day he entered the Eonrift.

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----) Your Eonrift Trial Task Has Been Issued— Find and kill the Vessel of Corruption among the three Tower Masters of the New Moon City.

---) Time Limit: One Month

---) Reward for Completing Your Trial— Activation of Your Powers, ???

=====

"What's the problem here? I clearly killed Harris, who was the Vessel of Corrupt—"

Azrael suddenly paused mid-sentence as a new thought entered his mind.

'Harris was definitely a Vessel of Corruption... but what if... What if he was a Vessel of Corruption, but not a Tower Master?'

Azrael's trial stated that he must kill the Vessel of Corruption among the three Tower Masters.

Sure, he had killed Harris—who was undeniably a Vessel of Corruption—and in the eyes of the public, he was the Tower Master of the Juri Tower.

But what if Harris had only been the Tower Master in name, while someone else held the true position behind the scenes?

In that moment, under the effect of Infinite Comprehension, all the information Azrael had gathered about Harris surged into his mind.

And within just a few seconds, he understood what was going on.

'Damn... so that's how it is,' He muttered, clenching his fist and taking a deep breath. 'I was careless. Instead of relying on the things I heard from people, I should've investigated everything myself.'

Alex, who had been frozen in disbelief until now finally returned to his senses.

He looked at Azrael with wide eyes, clearly shaken.

He could feel it—this young man standing just a short distance away was only a level 10 Apprentice Warrior.

And yet, that same young man had killed Harris with a single strike… a feat even Alex couldn't achieve.

His gaze dropped to the Fallen Star in Azrael's hand— the sword that had released that terrifying, tyrannical aura and for a brief moment, greed flashed in his eyes.

He opened his mouth to say something when—

Clack. Clack. Clack.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the area as someone was calmly walking toward them.

Hearing the approaching steps, Azrael sighed inwardly and turned around, already knowing who was coming.

'F**k my damn life.'

Even though he had already predicted it, he couldn't stop himself from cursing internally the moment he saw the figure walking toward him and Alex—with a smile on their face.