Essence of Perfection

Rua nodded, acknowledging Elder Ji's words, then turned to leave. Though his reassurance eased her, the lingering resentment toward her father refused to fade. Five months had passed since his departure, and she still had no clue where he was. Even when she asked her mother, Kayna remained tight-lipped.

Rua, however, didn't dwell on it. She had no attachment to a man who chose to abandon his family. Instead, she focused on what mattered—the impending birth of her sibling.

The Black ForestMeanwhile, deep within the Black Forest, a domain of gnarled trees and ever-present shadows, Leo fought for survival. His once-pristine clothes were now shredded rags, barely clinging to his battered frame. Fresh wounds littered his body, each a painful reminder of his struggle.

"Ugh… How long have I been fighting?" he muttered, breath ragged. Days? Weeks? Months? He had lost track of time.

Leo had entered the forest seeking monster cores to sell, but fate had trapped him in an unending battle against relentless beasts. His mana reserves had long since dwindled, his movements sluggish from exhaustion.

Still, amidst the pain, his thoughts wandered to Kayna.

"I miss her… I hope she isn't lonely without me."

A sharp rustling snapped him back to reality. His instincts flared in warning.

From the darkness, a monstrous black tiger lunged—its body wreathed in malevolent mana.

"GRAAAAR!" The beast roared, its glowing crimson eyes locked onto its prey.

Leo barely evaded the strike, rolling across the damp forest floor. He steadied himself, though his legs trembled from fatigue.

"Damn it... At this rate, I won't last much longer."

Summoning his last vestiges of strength, Leo roared into the night.

"Lunar Apex Style—Activate!"

Silver energy ignited around him, his claws extending, senses sharpening, muscles surging with newfound strength. His body moved with deadly precision, as if guided by instinct itself.

With a single, decisive slash—the black tiger fell, its massive frame severed into three clean pieces.

"THWACK!"

Leo exhaled heavily, triumphant yet weary. He glared at the corpse.

"A mere C-rank beast… You were never worthy of fighting me."

Yet, victory came at a cost. The surge of power faded, leaving Leo drained. His vision blurred, his legs buckling beneath him.

He slumped against a nearby tree, resignation settling in.

"I'm sorry, Kayna… Rua... I never wanted to leave you both like this."

As he prepared for the inevitable—a new presence emerged.

The oppressive aura of monsters vanished, replaced by the steady footsteps of humans.

A voice rang through the clearing.

"Commander, we found a survivor. A demi-human."

A knight in silver armor stepped forward, surveying the scene. Leo's silver hair and noble features did not go unnoticed.

The knight commander, a man of white hair and commanding presence, studied him in silence before nodding.

"Take him with us. Treat his wounds. But keep him restrained until we confirm his identity."

Glade VillageBack in the village, Kayna's labor had begun.

The small home was filled with elders and skilled women, their focus trained on ensuring a safe delivery. Rua, ever composed, watched silently from the corner.

Despite her blank expression, her heart pounded.

She had faced death in her past life, taken countless lives with her own hands—but nothing had ever made her this anxious.

She clenched her fists.

"I'm not afraid of blood or battle… So why does this make me uneasy?"

She exhaled, pushing the thoughts aside. For now, her priority was ensuring her mother's safety.

The Captive PrinceBound to a thick tree within the knights' encampment, Leo's silver hair shimmered under the pale moonlight. His body remained weak, his strength still recovering from battle.

Nearby, knights kept watch, their discipline evident in their well-coordinated shifts.

An hour passed.

Leo stirred. His stamina had partially recovered, and he felt mana slowly flowing back into him. He cracked open his eyes, scanning his surroundings.

A lone knight sat against a tree nearby—asleep.

Leo's lips curled into a smirk.

"Big mistake."

With a whisper, he activated his ability.

"Lunar Apex Style."

A faint, wolf-shaped aura materialized behind him, its ethereal claws carefully unraveling the ropes binding him.

A few moments later—he was free.

He stretched his stiff limbs, scanning the area. A large tent sat at the center of the encampment, housing elite knights whose very presence radiated power.

Leo's brows furrowed.

"I may be a B-rank fighter, but against that many knights? I wouldn't stand a chance."

Just as he turned to leave—

A voice stopped him cold.

"Clever. But you're not going anywhere."

Leo stiffened. The voice was calm, yet carried a weight of undeniable authority.

He immediately recognized the danger.

"An A-rank… No, possibly S-rank swordmaster."

His instincts screamed at him to flee, but he knew better. Running would be futile.

The voice spoke again.

"Relax, young prince of the White Wolf Clan. I mean you no harm."

Leo's breath caught.

"They know… who I am?"

Suppressing his surprise, he replied cautiously. "What do you want?"

The voice chuckled. "Cooperation. That's all. Come to the tent—we have questions."

A pause.

Leo narrowed his eyes but nodded. "Fine. I'll listen."

As he entered the tent, a man sat casually on a wooden log. He wore simple, worn-out clothing, yet his aura spoke volumes of his immense strength.

"Call me Commander. Let's not waste time—have you seen a girl? Blonde, thirteen, likely terrified."

Leo frowned. "No. I've been fighting monsters non-stop. I haven't seen anyone like that."

The commander exhaled, a storm of restrained frustration brewing behind his eyes.

"So the demon general wasn't lying…" he muttered.

Leo tensed.

"Demon general?"

Before he could question further, an overwhelming surge of mana filled the room.

The very ground trembled beneath its weight.

Leo's breath hitched.

"This guy... is far stronger than I thought."

Then, just as quickly as it came, the pressure faded.

The commander sighed. "Apologies. That was unbecoming of me."

Leo said nothing. This man was terrifying.

Deep in the Black ForestFar from the knights' camp, in a clearing soaked in blood, a young girl trembled.

Her golden hair clung to her tear-streaked face, her body bound tightly to a wooden stake.

Before her, a towering demon loomed, his curved horns casting long shadows in the dim moonlight.

The girl's voice was weak.

"Mom… Father… Please… help me…"

The demon general sneered.

"Don't worry, princess." His voice dripped with malice.

"You'll live… for three more days."

He leaned closer, his grin widening.

"By then, war will have begun. Your kingdom will burn, and Her Majesty, the Demon King, will claim everything."

The girl shut her eyes, her silent sobs swallowed by the demon's laughter.