Ryker's hand moved to his sword in one fluid motion. The blade sang as it left its sheath, cutting through the air toward Jake's enhanced arm. The metal gleamed with an almost hungry light - this was Greed's work, after all.
'Does he think a shabby sword will cut through my reinforced arm? Dream on,' Jake thought smugly as the blade descended. His Stonekin bloodline had never failed him before. His arm was harder than solid rock, and he was a level 2 ability user - as strong as D-rank raiders. Some street kid with a cheap sword was no threat.
The blade passed through his arm like it was cutting through butter.
"Huh?" The smoking guard stared in confusion. He could have sworn he saw the sword slice cleanly through Jake's supposedly impenetrable defense. Jake himself looked just as confused, staring at his arm, then at the blade, then back at his arm.
With a wet thud, his forearm hit the ground. Blood immediately began spurting from the clean-cut wound in powerful jets.
"Ahhh!" Jake's scream echoed through the forest entrance. Tears streamed down his face as he stared at his severed limb on the dirt. The pain hadn't even hit yet, but seeing his own arm lying there made his mind crack with horror.
This was impossible. His Stonekin bloodline was supposed to make him untouchable by normal weapons. He was level 2, for crying out loud. Street thugs feared him. How had some random kid just cut through his defenses like they were made of paper?
Ryker stared at the spurting blood with fascination. According to the novel, Bloodbound users grew stronger by absorbing blood from other sources. The more blood they took in, the more powerful they became. He'd never tested this ability before, but the opportunity was right in front of him.
Still, something felt wrong about drinking this man's blood. It seemed too barbaric, too evil. He wasn't ready to cross that line yet.
"Hey, why are you screaming all of a sudden?" Ryker asked calmly, his voice cutting through Jake's panicked sobs. "I'm not done yet."
He closed his eyes and reached inward, feeling for his mana core. It was like having a ball of warm energy in his chest, waiting to be drawn out through his body. Most people struggled with this process for years, but thanks to the novel's detailed explanations, Ryker understood exactly how it worked.
Mana flowed through different channels than blood, but both were pumped continuously through the body. The difference was control. Right now, Ryker's body lacked the efficient mana control needed for automatic flow. He had to manually draw power from his core, like using a muscle he'd never exercised before.
The blood spurting from Jake's wound suddenly stopped in mid-air. Crimson droplets hung suspended like ruby beads, defying gravity. With a flick of his wrist, Ryker guided the blood toward his sword. The liquid began condensing around the blade, forming a thin coating that made the metal gleam with dark promise.
"That... that ability," the smoking guard whispered, his voice filled with sharp terror. "It's a noble from the Validos family."
The name hit both guards like a physical blow. The Validos family was known throughout the continent for their Bloodbound abilities. They were feared, respected, and absolutely not the kind of people you wanted to cross.
Jake's face went completely white as he stared at Ryker like he was looking at a demon wearing human skin. "Le— let me off! I beg of you!" He collapsed to his knees, his remaining hand pressed against his bleeding stump. "Please, I didn't know! I'm sorry!"
But Ryker was already moving. "[Blood Swipe]" he called out, swinging his sword vertically. The condensed blood on the blade flew forward like a crescent-shaped projectile, striking Jake square in the chest.
The impact created a massive vertical slash that tore through clothing and flesh alike. Jake's white chest bone became visible through the gaping wound, with more blood leaking out to pool on the ground beneath him.
Fortunately for Jake, his attacker hadn't aimed to kill. Ryker was testing his abilities, not committing murder. But the guard was in critical condition - without immediate medical attention, he would bleed out within the hour.
"You," Ryker said, turning his cold gray eyes toward the smoking guard, who was now trembling so hard he could barely stand. "I'm letting both of you go today because I don't want to stain my hands with useless blood. But if you ever cross my path again, you'll become nothing but a corpse."
His voice carried a weight that made the air itself seem heavier. The surviving guard nodded frantically, already planning how to get his partner to a healer before it was too late.
But Ryker's mercy wasn't born from kindness. He had calculated reasons for letting them live.
First, he was the last person seen heading toward the forest. If these guards died, he would be the obvious suspect. A criminal record would get him expelled from Veil Academy before he even arrived. His plans required him to stay enrolled, at least for now.
Second, and more importantly, he wanted his name to spread. He might be weak now, but by the time word of this encounter reached the right ears, he would be much stronger. Unlike other extras who kept low profiles and tried to blend in, Ryker was going to be the most famous villain in all of Halo.
Fear was a tool, and these guards would be his messengers.
"Remember this day," he said quietly, wiping the blood from his sword with a cloth before sheathing it. "Remember what happens when you disrespect me, Ryker."
With that, he turned toward the forest path, leaving the two guards behind him. One was barely conscious and bleeding heavily, while the other was desperately trying to stop the blood flow with torn pieces of his own shirt.
As Ryker disappeared into the shadow of the ancient trees, he could hear the surviving guard frantically calling for help. The man's voice echoed through the forest, growing fainter with each step.
The path ahead was dark and dangerous, filled with beasts that could kill an unprepared traveler. But Ryker's smile had returned. This was just the beginning of his legend.
In the original story, this forest held secrets that the protagonist wouldn't discover for months. Ancient artifacts, hidden techniques, and creatures that could make someone incredibly powerful - if they were smart enough to know where to look.
And Ryker knew exactly where to look.
The hunt was about to begin.