"W-what!?"
Ciro said shockingly.
"But that energy just now, it felt more overwhelming than Kaiser's, maybe it's possible with this man."
Ciro said to himself.
After the newcomers were welcomed, Baek Ri-hyun was brought to the farms of the cartel where the drug plant was produced.
"So this is the plant, just by the scent of it, it's enough to make somebody crazy.
Ri-hyun leaned over for a closer look.
He was then kicked to the side by one of the guards of the farm.
"Keep working!"
The man swung the whip to scare Ri-hyun.
Ri-hyun obediently followed, remembering all the faces of the guards, every member of the cartel he walked past by.
"Temperature here is also cold because we're in the mountains."
"I'll share my energy to warm up the people, a little more and they would've been frozen to death."
Ri-hyun extended his energy to the people working in the farm, giving them a lukewarm feeling in the cold.
He then waited and waited, not even lunch was prepared for the slaves, they forced them to work continuously in the cold temperature.
Afternoon came, Ri-hyun's attention was caught by the cries of the hunters.
"What's happening?"
Ri-hyun asked Ciro beside him.
"Their father fell down."
"He was the chief of the village and the father Ael, the one that leads the hunts."
"He was already worn down by his age and the drugs they used him for caused him to weaken even more."
Ri-hyun continued to watch from behind the crowd.
"Please stop... I'll do his work for him, so please stop this!"
The men of the cartel laughed but Kaiser's daughter even more so.
"To think our dogs would start to bark."
She chuckled.
"Who's she?"
Ri-hyun stared at her furiously.
"Lilith. Kaiser's daughter and the one that manages the slave when Kaiser's away."
Ri-hyun continued to watch with a furious gaze.
"Here, a present for your father's contributions."
She placed a nyx flower beside Ael's father. He started to grumble, his eyes staring at the flower with addiction and craving, his mouth watering, his hands trying to reach despite weakened.
"No!"
The men held Ael down
Ael's father started to tear down as he looked at Ael's eyes from the ground.
He closed his eyes and took a bite of the flower's petal.
His body started to spasm aggressively, his eyes turning purple and veins popped out.
Before slowly, drawing his final breath.
The villagers turned slaves closed their eyes.
Ael's attention turned to Lilith as she started to pick something from her back.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing, bring me a torch."
In Lilith's hands were bottle of alcohol and a torch.
She poured the alcohol on the body and threw the torch.
"NO!"
Ael tried to force his way out of the men's grasps but his weakened body from hunger and exhaustion took control.
"Father!"
He watched as the body burn and the smoke rise to the sky.
"Take him to the dungeon."
Lilith ordered.
They dragged Ael to their self made dungeon inside a mountain cave beside the village.
With no light, Ael sat there with a hopeless expression.
But light soon came, from an enormous golden energy that lit up the whole cave.
Ciro wondered where Ri-hyun disappeared to.
He stood in front of Ael from outside the cage.
"Who are you?"
Ael asked. His soul torn in pieces.
"My name's Baek Ri-hyun."
"What do you want?"
"Wait no, how did you get inside? There were people standing guard in front."
"That's not important. Do you want revenge?"
"What?"
Ri-hyun looked at him with a serious gaze.
"Yes."
Ael cried.
"Tonight, I'll bring you your revenge."
Ri-hyun broke the cage in a single sweep of his hand.
"But in order to exact your revenge, you'll need the power to do so."
"Sit properly."
He stood behind him and placed both of his hands at his back.
"I'll open your meridians. It would be painful but endure it."
Ael tensed, gulped his fear and readied himself.
Soon after, Ri-hyun forced his energy inside Ael's body, entering through his blood vessels on to the clogged meridians.
Ael gritted his teeth, feeling the heat of Ri-hyun's energy circulating in his body.
Night came, and all the slaves were gathered at a single house without the eyes of the cartel.
All of their eyes widened in shock as Ael entered.
"But how!?"
Behind him was Ri-hyun, smiling, waiting for Ael to take the lead. Ael gathered all the hunters of the village and proposed a revolt.
"What, are you crazy? We're not gonna win!"
"It may sound impossible, but the victory is in front of you."
Ael looked at Ri-hyun.
"Baek Ri-hyun, if you offer us our enemy's heads, I- no we will offer our absolute loyalty."
Ael knelt down in front of Ri-hyun.
Ciro felt confused at first but he clenched his teeth and bowed down as well.
"I will also offer my loyalty in exchange for their punishments!"
The others followed and knelt down.
"Ael stand up, we will return with freedom in our hands."
"Yes!"
Ael looked at Ri-hyun with reverence, his silhouette under the bright moonlight.
Soon after, one of the men spotted them and sounded their horn.
"Oh no!"
The slaves started panicking but Ael's stood firm.
"Ael, go."
Without any further, Ael grabbed his hatchet and launched himself towards the men gathering in front of them, like blood crazed man.
Ri-hyun walked in front of the great house where the Kaiser stood as he watched the riot unfold.
"So you're the mastermind,"
He picked up his black colored sword and pointed it at Ri-hyun.
"I will take your head as a reminder."
Ri-hyun clenched his fist.
"It's been a long time since somebody dared to point their sword at me."
"Come warrior, show me you are worthy of the Martial God's approval."