The Stitcher profession had virtually no combat ability in its lower and middle tiers, making them barely distinguishable from ordinary people.
But once they reached the high level, the Stitcher underwent a qualitative transformation.
In the future, the Stitcher would become infamous for being one of the most difficult enemies to deal with, and now Luca had the misfortune of running into one…
“Tch, quick reflexes for someone so young. You even managed to dodge that,” the old man muttered, surprised that Luca had avoided being killed instantly. But he wasn’t concerned—dodging once didn’t mean Luca could dodge ten times.
“You talk too much for an old geezer,” Luca spat blood to the side, wiping away the crimson trickling from his nose. The silver thread had pierced through his lung, making it hard for him to breathe. If this continued, death was inevitable.
Before he could catch his breath, ten silver threads shot toward him again, weaving into a vast net that left him with no room to escape!
Seeing death looming, Luca gritted his teeth fiercely, his eyes flashing with black light. Dark lines appeared in his eyes, forming two eerie black symbols.
Undead Coffin!
Tendrils of black demonic energy began to rise from Luca’s body, swirling like dark flames before coalescing into the shape of a massive black coffin behind him.
The silver threads shot into Luca’s body, but the old man let out a surprised grunt. It felt as though the threads had passed through thin air.
“This kid’s a bit odd,” he muttered, retracting the silver threads.
By now, thick black mist had turned into roaring dark flames, completely consuming Luca’s form. His power surged, and the ground beneath him scorched from the sheer heat of the flames.
At that very moment, a pair of crimson eyes snapped open within the swirling black mist!
Those eyes blazed with unrestrained fury and killing intent, demonic flames roaring like a tempest!
Demonic Awakening!
The power of the Undead Coffin had been activated, and in the blink of an eye, Luca’s wounds healed almost entirely. The old man couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of such terrifying regeneration.
“Damn… is this guy a monster?” the old man muttered to himself. He had lived for many years and encountered countless prodigies, killing more than his fair share, but he had never seen someone as strange as Luca. The demonic aura surrounding him was thicker than any monster he had ever encountered!
“So this is the power of the demonic transformation, huh?” Luca exhaled deeply, looking at the black flames flickering in his hands.
Though he felt the immense strength coursing through him, there was no excitement. The Undead Coffin was indeed powerful, but this power came from the Witch of Desire, Pandora, and who knew what kind of trouble it would bring in the future.
If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he wouldn’t have used this power. But in this situation, he didn’t have much of a choice.
“So, old man, how do you want to die?” Luca cracked his neck, the sound of his bones snapping echoed as the black magic runes spread across his face. His crimson eyes were full of defiance, and his tone was arrogant and wild, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
“You’ve got some nerve, kid! Alright, today I’ll teach you some manners on behalf of Orf!” The old man chuckled in disbelief, more amused than angry. After all, even with Luca’s enhancements through secret arts, his Gold Grade strength couldn’t possibly defeat a seasoned Diamond-level powerhouse like him.
In the next moment, the immense pressure of a Diamond-level expert surged from the old man. Countless silver threads spread from beneath his feet like a spider’s web, rapidly coalescing into a massive spider over a hundred meters tall.
“ROAR!!!” The silver spider let out a deafening roar at Luca, opening its maw to spew forth countless silver threads. The threads merged into a shining river of silver, glittering under the sunlight like a roaring galaxy, surging toward Luca.
“And you think you’re worthy?!” Luca sneered, twisting his wrist as the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear appeared in his hand, blazing with demonic flames. His entire body was engulfed in a torrent of dark energy.
With a powerful push of his feet, Luca didn’t retreat but instead charged directly into the oncoming silver torrent.
In the blink of an eye, the two forces collided.
BOOM!!!
The black demonic flames clashed violently with the silver river, causing the ground beneath them to cave in. A deafening explosion echoed across the entire Outer District, sending shockwaves ripping through the surrounding area. The resulting blast obliterated every building on the nearby streets. People, who had been hiding inside, rushed out in panic, trying to flee for their lives.
Those who couldn’t escape were left in the rubble, staring at the devastating scene in front of them, their faces etched with despair.
Was this the end of the world?
The powerful fighters of Southwind City, who had been paying attention to Tia and Ian, were suddenly jolted by the commotion.
When they saw the colossal battle between the towering black flames and the silver flood, they collectively gasped.
What the hell?! Two more high-level professionals?!
What kind of day is this? Did all the top-tier powerhouses decide to throw a party in the city?!
From various points across Southwind City, eyes turned toward the normally insignificant Outer District, now the center of a massive spectacle.
While no one knew exactly why these powerful figures were fighting, one thing was certain:
Today, Southwind City would be anything but calm!
On the other side of the Outer District, Lady Lina had just left the black market and was sitting in a nearby café, anxiously waiting for news.
Suddenly, she heard the deafening sound of the explosion in the distance.
At first, Lina didn’t think much of it. But soon, the café filled with noise and chatter as everyone turned their attention toward the source of the sound, pointing in the same direction.
Lady Lina was filled with confusion as she followed the crowd’s gaze.
When her eyes landed on the silver threads surging into the sky, she froze in shock and muttered, “Kenneth acted so quickly?”
Kenneth was the name of the assassin she had hired from the black market—no one knew his real name.
But in the underground world of the Southern Territory, this old man was infamous.
They called him the Silver Assassin.
Though the name might be cliché, Kenneth was ranked in the top three of the Golden Assassin’s List, known for his deadly skills.
To ensure his services, Lady Lina had even paid an extra 100,000 gold coins.
But now the real question was: who was this person daring to face Kenneth?
She squinted, focusing on the figure fighting against him.
When she finally saw his face clearly, her eyes widened in disbelief. She shot up from her seat, her face filled with shock as she exclaimed, “Luca?!”
That little brat was only Gold Grade! How on earth was he holding his own against Kenneth?!
…
At the same time, in the headmaster’s office at Red Maple Academy…
Orf and Bronte were sipping tea and playing chess.
“Do they think I’m dead or something?” Bronte grumbled, sensing the overwhelming energy coming from the Outer District. His face darkened, and he crushed the chess piece in his hand to dust.
Causing trouble right under his nose—this was blatant disrespect.
As he stood up.
Preparing to remind these people who the real ruler of Southwind City was.
But Orf remained calm and unbothered.
With a smile, Orf said, “It’s just a minor scuffle. Let the underlings handle it. You’ve been the city lord of Southwind City for years, and yet you’re still so quick to jump to action.”
Bronte frowned, about to retort, when he suddenly paused, his expression shifting in surprise. “Luca? That kid is holding his own against Kenneth? But… what’s with that demonic aura around him?”
“Luca?” Orf blinked, confused for a moment before realization hit him.
The peaceful tea room suddenly exploded with a thunderous bang!
Orf’s figure blurred into a streak of light as he shot straight toward the Outer District, his enraged voice echoing through the skies of Southwind City.
His hair and beard bristled with fury as he roared, “You dare lay a hand on my student?! You’re courting death!!”
Back in the headmaster’s office, Bronte glanced at the massive hole in the ceiling.
His mouth twitched as he muttered, “That old fool, can’t he use the door like a normal person?”
With a shake of his head, Bronte vanished in an instant, disappearing from the room.
…
Meanwhile, back on the streets of the Outer District…
Boom! Two figures, one shrouded in black flames, the other glowing in silver light, collided with a force that shook the entire district.
Kenneth narrowly dodged the lightning-fast thrust of the Wind and Thunder Spell Spear, and with a swift motion, his silver threads coiled into a massive fist. He punched Luca with incredible force, sending him crashing into a nearby building. The structure couldn’t withstand the impact, and within moments, it collapsed into rubble.
Just as Kenneth was about to pursue, he suddenly winced in pain. He noticed that a dark flame, clinging to his arm like a relentless parasite, was burning through his flesh, sizzling and giving off the smell of charred meat.
“Damn it! If I’d known this brat was such a pain, I would’ve demanded more money from that woman!” he snarled, his face contorted with frustration. Wasting no time, he severed his entire arm with his silver threads to stop the flames from spreading.
Blood spurted from the wound, and the pain made his face twitch uncontrollably.
But there was no time to waste, and Kenneth quickly launched himself toward the wreckage where Luca lay.
Though Kenneth had lost an arm, Luca was in far worse condition. Despite the Undead Coffin’s terrifying healing ability, his body was riddled with countless slashes from the silver threads. His internal organs were severely damaged, his bones shattered—he could barely stand.
Fortunately, Luca had been smart enough to turn off his pain perception, or he wouldn’t have lasted this long.
“A mere mid-tier brat, forcing me this far—at least you can die proud,” Kenneth sneered, appearing next to Luca, his scarred and bloodied face twisted in a grim smile. With his disfigured arm and the scar on his face, he looked utterly menacing.
“…Heh,” Luca could only manage a weak laugh, too drained to speak. But his mocking tone was clear.
If only he had reached Platinum Grade, Kenneth wouldn’t have stood a chance against him.
But… he was still just short of that level.
Even after using advanced magic runes and undergoing Demonic Awakening, Luca couldn’t take down a true high-level powerhouse like Kenneth.
But… it didn’t matter. It was enough.
“Still so cocky, even at death’s door? Let’s see if you’re still so arrogant after I take your head!” Kenneth snarled, shooting out silver threads from his remaining hand, aiming directly for Luca’s head.
But something puzzled Kenneth. Despite facing certain death, Luca showed no fear.
Instead, his face was full of… mockery.
And then it happened.
Out of nowhere, Orf’s voice boomed in their ears like a thunderclap.
“HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY STUDENT! YOU’RE COURTING DEATH!”
At that very moment, a blinding white streak of light descended from the sky with tremendous force.
Boom!
Kenneth didn’t even have time to register what was happening. All he felt was an overwhelming force slamming into him, sending him crashing into the ground below.
Pfft! Blood sprayed from Kenneth’s mouth, and he felt as though an entire mountain had collapsed on top of him, crushing his organs and leaving him utterly immobilized.
It was over.
Despair filled Kenneth’s eyes.
He didn’t need to see who had arrived. He knew.
Orf was here.
