The moonlight bathed the **royal palace backyard**, where family and friends had gathered—Supra Yan, Gator Yan, Kin, General Fin, Naran, and Arie. The night was peaceful.
Until—
Rudra stepped into the backyard, spotted the gathering... and froze.
He turned to leave, ignoring everyone.
> **Gator Yan:** "Rudra!"
No response.
> **Arie:** "Rudra, wait—!"
Rudra suddenly **sensed danger**. A violent presence—cold and cloaked in shadow—lurking nearby.
His eyes narrowed.
⚡ **Lightning surged through his body**.
> **Rudra (shouting):** "How dare you come here!"
He grabbed his **lightning spear**, spinning it with precision. With a loud roar, he launched a powerful **Thunder Slash** forward.
But—
> **Arie was directly in front of him.**
Everyone gasped.
In a blink, Rudra **leapt forward**, vaulting over Arie's head, and **slammed his spear down on a figure** cloaked in magic.
**SPLASH!**
Monster blood splattered across the ground as the spear pierced a creature now visible in the moonlight.
A **Rank-1 Shadow Monster**, its invisibility broken.
The spear rested on Rudra's shoulder, blood dripping slowly.
> **Arie** looked at the crimson trail, her eyes trembling with fear and tears.
> **Rudra (coldly):**
> "If you cry from seeing blood, how will you save your mother?"
> "How will you ever become a Spiritual Master… or a Beast Knight?"
He raised his spear high and **stabbed it into the earth**.
**⚡ BOOM!**
A burst of **lightning-infused flame** surged from the ground—revealing **dozens** of cloaked enemies. Shadows twisted and unraveled as more monsters appeared—**20 to 30 Rank-1 Shadow Beasts**, each with **glowing green horns** and twisted claws.
The night erupted into battle.
---
### ⚔️ Allies Join the Fight
> **Naran** rushed forward with his **ice halberd**.
> **"Half-Moon Cut!"**
> A sweeping arc of frozen energy sliced through multiple enemies, freezing many in place.
> **Kin** raised both her **twin wind blades**, chanting:
> "Mitormash!"
A blazing **flame eagle** formed and dived toward the frozen enemies, smashing them into icy shards.
> **General Fin (grinning):**
> "Good coordination, kids!"
> **Supra Yan (serious):**
> "How did monsters breach the palace?!"
---
### 👿 A Greater Threat Appears
Rudra narrowed his eyes. He sensed something far stronger—hidden.
> **Rudra (gritting his teeth):**
> "Enough hiding… come out, Kharaxis."
He turned to a nearby tree and infused his spear with both lightning and fire energy.
> **"Skyfang Slash!"**
The strike shot forward—but disappeared midway through the air.
A **distortion shimmered**, revealing a tall, graceful **female monster** cloaked in dark armor with **crimson horns**, leathery wings, and a crooked smile.
> **\[Monster Name: Kharaxis the Soul Harvester]**
> **Rank: 9 – Monster King**
> **Kharaxis (mocking):**
> "Oh? You're still alive, Rudra… I thought I tore you apart three years ago."
> "Impressive. You detected my invisible kin through elemental sense alone."
The atmosphere tensed. Gator Yan and General Fin immediately released their auras.
> **Supra Yan** summoned a glowing golden barrier—activating a **defensive formation** around the others.
> **Kharaxis:**
> "My, my… all the famed warriors in one place."
> "Two Mythic Beast Knights below 50. A Spiritual Sage. But you still can't stop me."
> "Give me the girl—**Arie**—and I'll spare your lives."
---
### 🔥 A Divine Entry
> **Gator Yan (furious):**
> "How dare you threaten my family!"
Flames erupted from his palms.
> **Kharaxis smirked.**
> "You're not even worth my claws—"
Suddenly—
> **A deafening voice echoed from above:**
> "And you're not even worth a scar on my family!"
A **blazing sword of golden fire** slashed from the sky—**severing Kharaxis's arm**.
She screamed, reeling back in shock and pain.
Descending with radiant might was none other than—
> **Durga Yan – Rudra's grandmother.**
> **Rank: 9 – Godkin Beast Knight**
> **Durga (calmly):**
> "Rudra. Shall I kill her, or capture her?"
> **Rudra:**
> "Capture her. We need to know where they're coming from."
Durga summoned her **Heavenflame Shield** and trapped the Monster King in four flaming barriers.
> **Kharaxis screamed:**
> "No—NO! My seal—!"
A glowing mark appeared on her back. The monster began to **self-destruct**.
> **Rudra (realizing):**
> "She's going to explode!"
He roared and tried to rush forward—but a violent **surge of power** overwhelmed his spiritual core.
His body trembled—and he **collapsed unconscious**.
> **BOOM!**
The monster exploded within the flaming shields. Durga absorbed the impact with divine precision.
---
### 🛏️ Rudra's Mind Awakens
Supra Yan ran to Rudra, placing her hand on his pulse.
> "He's okay… just completely drained. He used too much energy."
Durga carried him inside the palace.
> "Let him rest. He'll wake up stronger."
---
### 🌊 Inside Rudra's Spiritual Sea
Rudra opened his eyes.
He saw the mighty form of the **Skyclaw Beast Spirit** floating before him. Behind it—**18 sealed techniques**.
Two were now unlocked.
> "So… my Granth releases two techniques with each rank…"
Then, something darker pulsed behind him.
A **sphere of dark energy** hovered above the water.
Drawn toward it, Rudra touched the sphere.
It pulsed—and seven black techniques emerged from it.
One unlocked.
> "Where did this come from…?"
He began refining the first technique in silence.
---
### 🕯️ Outside His Room
Supra Yan, Gator Yan, Kin, Naran, and Arie sat outside, anxiously waiting.
When Rudra finally emerged, he looked distant—his aura darker than before.
> **Supra Yan:**
> "Are you okay?"
> **Rudra:**
> "I'm fine."
> **Gator Yan:**
> "How did that monster know you?"
> "What happened three years ago?"
> **Rudra (coldly):**
> "I don't remember anything."
> **Gator Yan (angry):**
> "Why did you visit Arie's home? Earlier you said her mother was alive. What do you know?!"
Rudra turned and looked away.
> **Rudra:**
> "Even if I know everything—I wouldn't tell you."
> "Focus on protecting the empire like you always do. Not me."
> **Gator Yan (shouting):**
> "Then at least tell Arie what happened to her mother!"
Rudra's memo
ry flickered—Arie's mother, gravely wounded, protecting him during the last teleport.
> **Rudra (quietly):**
> "I already gave her the Granth… that's enough."
He walked away, leaving them speechless.
---
**To Be Continued…**