Outside the Blood Sanctum, Lord Samus peered down below with a troubled frown before glancing toward the teal orb floating overhead.
When the damning images and recordings first surfaced, he had briefly considered recalling the device. However, he quickly dismissed the idea after remembering that the current footage wasn't being broadcast live.
He intended to alter the recording later, removing any incriminating evidence involving his associates and fellow conspirators.
'That damn rat bastard! How dare he try to make a fool of me? Tsk... how did he even acquire information that should've never seen the light of day? No matter. Once I get my hands on him, I'll search his soul myself.'
Despite this unexpected complication, Samus remained convinced that the situation was still firmly under his control. If anything, it provided an excellent opportunity to eliminate anyone capable of exposing their shared secrets.
His thoughts drifted toward his first wife, Ema Samus.
Once renowned for her beauty, the Stage 4 Grandmaster had become obsessed with preserving her fading youth after surpassing four centuries of age.
That obsession eventually drove her to participate in the sacrifice of an entire village in exchange for a forbidden Rejuvenation Pill supplied by a notorious Blood Cult elder.
When the scheme unraveled, Ema shifted the blame onto Zeke without hesitation.
The accusation was convenient.
She had always despised the bastard child of the Samus family.
Although Samus considered her actions reckless and embarrassing, publicly exposing one of his wives would have damaged the family's reputation.
So he chose the simpler option.
Protect Ema.
Condemn Zeke.
"Your pitiful act of provocation brings me more disappointment than anger. By using techniques associated with the Blood Cult, you've only further proven how low you've sunk. So allow me to reiterate something."
His voice boomed across the battlefield.
"If you've managed to convince yourself that your little stunt has created even the slightest chance of escape, then cast aside that foolish hope now. Any trick you can conceive will ultimately crumble before me!"
Not missing a beat, his Qi surged skyward.
The already gloomy heavens darkened further.
The surrounding land trembled beneath his presence.
An overwhelming golden aura erupted from his body, illuminating the environment like a second sun. Crossing one leg over the other, he pressed his palms together in prayer.
A colossal golden manifestation appeared behind him.
The divine image of Guanyin.
Ninety-nine majestic arms bloomed outward like a field of heavenly sunflowers.
The screaming earth suddenly fell silent.
The calm before the storm.
Then Samus made a subtle hand gesture.
Time itself seemed to freeze.
A moment later, countless thunderous palms descended from the heavens.
The silence shattered beneath a godlike bombardment.
Everything within a four-kilometer radius became collateral damage.
A nearby Divine Beast imploded from the pressure alone.
Ancient trees were uprooted and hurled through the air like scattered petals.
Thousands upon thousands of palm strikes crashed into the Blood Sanctum in mere seconds, forcefully reshaping the landscape.
Ripples spread throughout the crimson barrier.
The array visibly wavered under the relentless assault.
Samus estimated it wouldn't survive another minute.
The Blood Sanctum was infamous throughout the martial world.
Legends claimed a lone demonic cultivator once used the technique to withstand the combined might of several Stage 5 Grandmasters.
However, this situation was different.
Zeke was only a Stage 5 Disciple.
No matter how extraordinary the technique, he simply lacked the Qi necessary to maintain it indefinitely.
'My fame will soar to even greater heights once I personally destroy this piece of folklore.'
A smile spread across Samus's face.
"It's only a matter of time before I shatter that devilish shell of yours!"
Half a minute passed.
The power behind his ultimate technique never weakened.
Victory seemed assured.
Then everything changed.
A familiar figure suddenly burst out of the Blood Sanctum at breakneck speed.
"Kang-Min!?"
Samus shouted in disbelief.
Far below, a fellow Stage 5 Grandmaster rocketed toward him.
Although the distance between them remained vast, Kang-Min continued to close the gap while leaving behind a trail of afterimages.
From afar, he resembled a swarm of flies desperately trying to avoid being swatted.
Palm strikes rained down around him like lightning during a violent storm.
The sheer density of attacks made advancing nearly impossible.
Yet he somehow slipped through them.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Within three breaths, Samus had already lost count after Kang-Min dodged over six thousand attacks.
'Well, I'll be... how in the hell did I end up getting dragged into this sh**show?'
The thought had lingered in Kang-Min's mind ever since he emerged from the Blood Sanctum.
Unable to help himself, he recalled the arrangement he had made with Zeke moments earlier.
...
"Where am I?"
Kang-Min blurted the question the instant he found himself in unfamiliar surroundings.
The short elderly man scratched his balding head while looking around in confusion.
"No time for idle chatter. It's about time I cash in the favor you owe me."
Zeke sat cross-legged at the center of the crater, eyes closed as he focused on maintaining the formation.
"Oh, I remember you!"
Kang-Min snapped his fingers.
"We shared drinks at the White Crane Inn several times! What a pleasant surprise. Though, if I'm being honest, I heard through the grapevine that you've recently become public enemy number one."
He continued talking without pause.
"But don't worry. Anyone with a nose for corruption can smell the foul stench coming from those self-righteous bastards. Though... just between us..."
He leaned forward.
"You're innocent, right?"
Zeke opened one eye.
Kang-Min immediately waved the question away.
"Actually, forget I asked. That's your business. Still, it breaks my heart seeing such a fine drinking companion dragged into this mess. Didn't I warn you repeatedly about lowering your guard around that monster disguised in fine linen?"
The old man sighed dramatically.
"I told you your negligence would eventually bite you right in the backside. Shoot, before you were even born, your father was already known for being a sly devil. Speaking of which, did I ever tell you about the time—"
"Enough already!"
Zeke finally snapped.
"I should've expected this. You're famous for talking without end. Despite that, I trusted that a man of your integrity wouldn't take a sworn oath so lightly."
Finally recognizing the urgency of the situation, Kang-Min's expression became serious.
He nodded.
And, for once, stopped talking.
Zeke then spent the next several moments outlining his proposal.
The more Kang-Min listened, the more his expression shifted from amusement to disbelief.
"...You're serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Kang-Min stared at him for several seconds.
"Your father is trying to kill you."
"I'm aware."
"Thousands of people are probably watching."
"I'm aware."
"And your solution is..."
His voice trailed off.
"Actually, never mind. I don't think I want to hear myself say it out loud."
Zeke smirked.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Kang-Min released a long sigh.
"You really are your father's son."
"I'll pretend that's a compliment."
"It wasn't."
...
From then until now, Kang-Min had been faithfully carrying out his role.
Meanwhile, Samus diverted half of his attention toward suppressing his old rival while continuing to bombard the Blood Sanctum.
Several minutes passed.
Yet the battle remained deadlocked.
What surprised Samus wasn't Kang-Min's ability to keep up with him.
The true anomaly was the Blood Sanctum itself.
It was still standing.
'What kind of sorcery is this?'
His eyes narrowed.
'That formation should be nothing more than a paper dragon under Zeke's control.'
Then realization struck him.
'Sorcery...'
His pupils shrank.
'That's it!'
The world around him suddenly distorted.
The battlefield twisted.
The illusion shattered.
Reality reasserted itself.
And before Samus could react—
A diamond-encrusted blade appeared before his neck.
Wielded by Kang-Min.
And already in mid-swing.