A week passed after Ash absorbed the Rune of Harmony.

Hidden from the eyes of the black market, Ash moved through the forest like a shadow.

He travelled a long distance during that week, cutting through dense undergrowth and uneven terrain without allowing a single creature to sense his presence.

Occasionally, he bumped into the black market hunters. They were scattered across the entire continent, moving like beasts with no rest. Their eyes were wild, their movements frantic, as if someone had unleashed them with a single order: find Ash.

He also encountered several rogue criminals. One group even staged a scene where a terrified girl was being surrounded by three men, pretending she needed help. They were waiting for someone to step in so they could use it as bait and rob them. Ash saw through the act instantly.

With a single swing of his sword, coated with the fused power of Space, Lightning, and Death, the criminals died without understanding what had killed them. Their bodies dropped silently. The girl, who had been acting scared moments ago, froze in place, realizing the danger she had almost dragged herself into.

Monsters also appeared often along the way. There were many species roaming the forest, and the deeper he went, the stronger they became.

Ash did not engage them. Fighting would attract attention, and right now, black market pursuers were everywhere, sniffing the air like mad hounds.

So he slipped past the monsters without a sound.

Thanks to the harmony of the three elements, Ash could easily kill a Grandmaster-level enemy with a single strike. However, if many of them attacked at once, he knew that prolonged combat might become dangerous.

He still did not know how he would fare against a Legendary rank opponent.

Yet he believed that even if he could not kill one outright, he could at least deal damage and escape. And with a decisive strike, he might even be able to end a Legendary rank life.

Being able to escape from, or possibly kill, someone of Legendary rank was an outrageous thing on its own.

After days of travelling and experimenting with his new powers, Ash finally arrived at the edge of a boundless valley.

A massive darkness stretched out before him, swallowing the world into silence.

Well, seeing is believing....although I knew it was big...but even I did not expect it to be this big...

There was nothing ahead of him except a vast pit with no visible bottom. The drop was endless, like staring into the throat of a world that never stopped falling.

Even the novel didn't mention how this valley was formed....

He forced himself out of his thoughts and teleported. One long jump, then another, covering enormous distances in seconds. After several more teleports in quick succession, he reached the other side of the Bottomless Valley.

Without any delay, he disappeared into the forest again. His destination was getting closer.

---

Meanwhile...

At the base of the Black Serpents, a notorious criminal organization.

-CRACK!!!!

A flower vase shattered against the wall, pieces scattering across the marble floor.

"Damn those thugs, how dare they do this to us!!!!"

Max's rage boiled over. His body trembled with anger.

After the sudden interruption at the auction by the unknown thief, the black market became furious. They did not treat even their VIP guests with basic respect.

The Black Serpents were met with cold stares, questions, and attempts to corner them. If not for their influence inthe Neutral Continent, they might have been detained permanently.

They were only released because the black market did not want new enemies while they were hunting the thief.

"I don't know why Father is so calm. It was a direct attempt to make us lose face in front of everyone....."

A knock echoed across the room.

-Knock!!

Max walked to the door, his steps heavy and uneven. His face was flushed from anger. Even though he was furious at his father's lack of reaction, he still respected him enough to believe there had to be a reason for his silence.

He opened the door, holding back his emotions.

A maid stood there, shoulders trembling, head lowered. She struggled to speak, her voice shaking.

"Y-Young m-master.....Lord Black has s-summoned you to the dining h-hall..."

Her reaction made it obvious she had overheard his earlier yelling. She knew his reputation. Max was well known for his lust and dominant nature, and the possibility of being summoned to his room terrified her.

"I received your message, you may leave now..."

Max frowned and moved to shut the door.

The maid bowed quickly and turned around. Relief flooded her face the moment her back was to him, and she picked up her pace, eager to get far away.

Just then...

"..And also, come to my room at night...."

-Thud!!!

The door closed behind her. Her body froze mid-step. The light in her eyes vanished, replaced by dread. Her expression collapsed, as if all the strength drained out of her spirit at once.

****

Getting ready for dinner, Max walked toward the dining hall, hoping that this time he could finally talk to his father at length. He wanted answers.

He wanted to know why his father had stayed silent after everything that happened at the auction. Yet the moment he entered the hall, he paused. Two more people were already seated at the table.

Emily and her father.

Her black hair, with streaks of faint orange catching the dim light from the chandelier, made her stand out in the serious atmosphere of the room.

Max raised his eyebrows in surprise. He had not expected guests.

Max greeted them politely and then sat down. The large dining table was arranged so that the leaders of both organizations faced each other, while their children sat opposite one another. The setting felt formal, almost cold, and nobody spoke. Only the soft sound of utensils touching plates echoed throughout the quiet hall.

Halfway through the meal, Max could no longer hold back his frustration. He finally voiced the question that had been burning in his mind.

"Father, Uncle... are you not angry at the behavior of the black market towards us?"

The movement around the table stopped. Even Emily froze, surprised that Max spoke so suddenly and did not wait until the meal was finished.

Black and Crimson slowly looked at each other. Those names were codenames, not their real ones. Over the years, people started using these titles more than their actual names, until their original identities faded into the background.

They resumed eating, and after a brief moment, Black finally responded.

"Indeed, I am not happy with how they treated us."

Max raised his head, confusion and disbelief in his eyes. His father's calmness felt impossible to understand.

This time, Crimson spoke.

"But liking or not liking does not matter. The black market has many fighters at Mythical Rank. There are even rumors of a rising Saint among them. With that kind of strength on their side, we can do nothing but comply."

Max clenched his jaw. "But we are the strongest organization on the entire Neutral Continent. Shouldn't we deserve at least a bit of respect?"

His voice rose against his will. Max's nature had always leaned toward dominance. He hated being forced into a corner. He hated being powerless. To him, being treated this way was humiliation.

Both leaders understood his personality, so they did not take his tone as disrespectful.

Black placed his spoon down and asked slowly, "Max, do you remember what I told you when you were little? Something I said you should always keep in your heart."

Max inhaled, steadying himself. He repeated the words without hesitation.

"Yes. That power is everything in this world. With power, you can achieve anything. Overwhelming power can break any wall. Power, great power, can make the world kneel."

He had lived by those words. They shaped him, molded his personality, and fueled his hunger to dominate others. But somewhere along the way, he focused only on the part about domination, ignoring the part about power being the foundation of that dominance.

As he spoke them aloud now, he finally seemed to understand the deeper meaning behind those words.

There is a saying. Humans don't value what they have in the present. They either cling to the past or chase the future, and this makes them blind to reality.

Max realized that although they were strong, the black market was far stronger. Even if his father and Emily's father were Mythical Rank, it changed nothing.

The black market had many Mythical Rank fighters as well. They held influence, fear, and reputation. They did not care who Max was, nor who he belonged to.

They were subordinates of the black market just like the other organizations, not the other way around.

That realization felt like a bucket of cold water thrown onto Max's expectations. His breathing slowed, and he stared blankly at the table, stunned by the truth he had refused to see until now.

Both Black and Crimson noticed the shift in Max, but neither interrupted his moment of clarity. Some realizations needed to be reached personally, not taught.

Even Emily lowered her gaze. The conversation had not been long, but it was enough to crush their illusions and force them to face reality.

Her hands, beneath the table, were clenched. With flames of hunger burning brighter in her eyes

I.....also need power...

***

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