One-Eyed Monster

Kuren's fingers trembled involuntarily. It had been a long time since his body had felt this excited.

The last time he felt this way was on the battlefield, which now seemed so distant.

He even felt he had almost forgotten this sensation…

But now, his blood was gradually accelerating within him. Just a little more stimulation, and it might boil.

That long-lost feeling had returned.

Once again, that feeling, which had once plunged him into endless pain, crept into his heart.

Back then, the damp, sticky, slightly warm touch had made his body unable to resist.

The taste of blood always made him yearn for it uncontrollably.

Bloodthirsty, obsessed with slaughter—in others' eyes, he was a demon back then.

A demon on the battlefield, a madman in life…

That was his past self, constantly struggling in pain…

Whenever he recalled those moments of struggling in pain, Kuren's hands couldn't help but tremble.

Slaughter, he knew it all too well. As a member of the Empire's Guardian Army, he was supposed to be one of the most outstanding Soldiers. Every time the Guardian Army fought a defensive war, he would be the first to rush to the front lines. People said that his bravery in battle stemmed from a unique skill, because no matter the outcome, he miraculously survived every time. Some even joked that he was a witness to the Empire's defensive wars, a living history book.

Indeed, since joining the army, he had participated in countless battles, both large and small. Whenever conflict arose at the Empire's borders, he would rush there at the first opportunity. No one knew why he did it, nor how he managed to reach the battlefield so quickly. In the end, all people saw was a man, covered in blood, walking down from a pile of corpses with a smile on his face. That smile, warm upon his face, didn't seem to be the relief of a survivor, but rather a kind of enjoyment—an enjoyment of the entire process.

Slayer Kuren—this title unknowingly spread throughout the continent…

Slayer… Kuren thought of this title now and laughed bitterly internally. The truth is, I don't even dare kill a chicken, so how could I enjoy slaughter? This is just fate playing a cruel joke on me. There is another self living within my body, one that always awakens at a specific moment—that is the true slayer. This is also the reason for my painful struggle. I know I'm just Kuren, the one who doesn't dare kill a chicken. The slayer is not me. So whenever that one inside me begins to stir, I always try to fight back. But the slayer is the slayer, after all. How could I, someone who doesn't even dare kill a chicken, possibly resist… Time and again, I am ravaged by the slayer. This body of mine relentlessly craves blood, then more blood; slaughter, then more slaughter.

I once thought about ending it all, just finishing myself off to stop this pain, this struggle. But every time I tried, I found that my trembling hands couldn't even lift a small dagger. The mockery, the slayer's mockery from within my body, made me suffer even more, struggle even harder. There are many ways to reach the Eternal Tranquility Realm, I always consoled myself. After consoling myself, I began to try various ways to reach the Eternal Tranquility Realm… But whether it was drowning myself, hanging myself, or jumping off a cliff… Every attempt was ruthlessly thwarted by the slayer. That bastard seemed to be watching me constantly, always managing to awaken at the critical moment.

I am Kuren, not the slayer. But others don't see it that way. The murderous demon of the defensive wars not only became a legend in the Empire but also a hero in the King's eyes. The Empire needs a slayer, not a civilian who lacks the strength to even truss a chicken. This contrast makes me very sad. I just want to be myself, the one who doesn't even dare kill a chicken, but fate insists on making me someone else. This contradiction makes me melancholic in my daily life. But because of my identity as the slayer, no one dares to approach me. This alienation directly results in having no one to confide in. I can only struggle on like this in pain, playing the role of the slayer, accepting people's awe and fear, accepting the King's praise and rewards. I watch myself being enveloped by a circle of lies, and it's incredibly painful because I know that everything about me, everything I have, is a lie.

Wanting to be oneself is truly a difficult thing. Many things cannot be decided by one's own desires. The demon within troubles me, the lies without surround me; all of this obstructs me from being my true self. But maintaining that heart, the desire to be oneself, is a very important thing. Only by continuously maintaining it can hope emerge. And this hope appeared very suddenly.

Kuren narrowed his eyes, unwilling to dwell further on the time he encountered that hope. This long-lost sensation had already brought back enough memories. He needed time to process them.

It was precisely these memories that gradually calmed the blood in Kuren's veins, no longer rushing as it had initially. I know this is just an instinctive reaction of my body. Although the slayer is distant now, he has never truly left. That fellow has always been a part of my body. It's inevitable that the slayer would be excited by this current situation.

Kuren was not worried about the slayer now. I trapped that fellow in another dimension long ago. He won't be able to come back anytime soon.

At this moment, he was Kuren, the true Kuren.

The Kuren of now was the guardian of Dawn Peak on Guru Mountain.

Protecting Dawn Peak is also protecting myself.

Dawn Peak had not been peaceful lately. Too many Exchange Beasts had appeared. These Exchange Beasts were constantly leaving Markers and establishing positions on the mountain, evidently setting up an array.

Kuren had removed many of the Markers placed by the Exchange Beasts, causing their meticulously planned Alchemy Array to fail time and again.

Besides the Exchange Beasts, who were persistently trying to set up an array, there were also some other strange individuals. These people hadn't come up the mountain seeking treasure; it seemed more like they were searching for someone.

In the past, whenever anything unusual occurred on Dawn Peak, Kuren would drive the troublemakers off the mountain. But now, this group before me... not a single one of them will be leaving this mountain. They captured Kadi and clashed with Dastan. No matter what, I cannot let them leave the mountain.

World Setting Technique… Kuren stood up and rubbed his face. This technique I've mastered has already brought me so many surprises. Now, let me use it again to firmly trap these remarkably strong bastards. Even the slayer was trapped by this World Setting Technique; why would I fear these reckless Treasure Hunters?

Kuren rubbed his fingers. It had been a long time since he had encountered such powerful Treasure Hunters. This time, it's truly been an eye-opener. Too bad for that fellow's impressive abilities; now those abilities will be trapped here on Guru Mountain along with him.