"Let’s solve the food problem too."

With that, I began distributing the Mana Wheat Seeds.

The moment the bags opened, the villagers crowded around in excitement.

Within minutes, all ten bags had been distributed.

"Good."

A satisfied smile appeared on my face.

I raised one of the remaining seeds and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.

"These aren’t ordinary wheat seeds."

The crowd immediately became attentive.

"I specifically brought these here."

"This wheat grows nearly ten times faster than normal crops."

"It also requires very little water and maintenance."

The moment those words left my mouth—

The entire crowd froze.

Their eyes widened.

Several farmers looked at the seeds in their hands as though they were holding treasure.

Because they understood exactly what this meant.

Normally, they would spend months waiting for a harvest.

Months of hard labor.

Months of uncertainty.

Months of praying that droughts, monsters, or bad weather wouldn’t destroy everything.

But now...

They could harvest far sooner.

Food shortages could finally ease.

For many families, this meant survival.

"Thank you, Sir!"

A middle-aged farmer suddenly shouted.

Soon others joined.

"Thank you!"

"Thank you, Young Master!"

"We’ll never forget this!"

I smiled and waved my hand.

Then I instructed Noah to organize the seed distribution and make sure everyone planted them today.

Noah nodded enthusiastically.

"I’ll take care of it, Young Master."

After everything was settled, I finally left the village alone and started walking back toward the mansion.

The sun had already begun setting.

Golden light stretched across the fields.

A cool breeze rustled the grass.

For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.

Then—

Crunch.

A branch snapped.

I stopped walking.

My eyes narrowed.

Several armored figures stepped out from behind nearby trees.

Others casually emerged from the shadows.

Five men.

All wearing steel knight armor.

Their armor bore traces of long service.

Numerous scratches.

Dried blood stains.

Battle-worn capes.

Most importantly—

Every one of them radiated the aura of a Peak Iron Knight.

One of them smirked.

"Took you long enough, Young Master."

He paused before mocking laughter escaped his mouth.

"Or should I say..."

"Talentless Hero."

"Hahahahaha!"

The other four immediately burst into laughter.

I remained silent.

My eyes carefully observed each of them.

Professional soldiers.

Not bandits.

Not mercenaries.

These men had killed before.

A lot.

"Who sent you?"

I asked calmly.

The leader grinned and said something.

"You touched something that belongs to our lord."

His expression gradually became colder.

"The Baroness."

"Our lord has wanted her for years."

He slowly drew his sword.

CLING.

The blade reflected the evening sunlight.

"Now he wants your hands."

He pointed the sword toward me.

"And your manhood."

The others began surrounding me.

Like wolves cornering prey.

"Take your punishment."

BOOM!

Golden energy erupted from my body.

Titan Physique activated.

The ground beneath my feet cracked.

The five knights’ expressions changed slightly.

Then the leader charged.

BANG!

My fist slammed directly into his chest armor.

The steel immediately bent inward.

CRASH!

His body shot backward like a cannonball and smashed into the ground.

But before I could capitalize—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The remaining four attacked simultaneously.

Their coordination was excellent.

One targeted my head.

One my legs.

One my back.

One aimed directly for my heart.

CLANG!

I caught a sword with my bare hand.

Blood immediately appeared.

The blade cut through my skin despite the golden energy coating it.

"Damn."

BANG!

I punched the attacker across the jaw.

His helmet dented inward.

But another sword immediately slashed across my back.

SLASH!

Pain exploded through my body.

Blood sprayed.

A third knight stabbed toward my shoulder.

PHUCH!

The blade pierced flesh.

I gritted my teeth.

These weren’t weak opponents.

They were experienced Iron Knights attacking together.

BAM!

I kicked one away.

CRASH!

He smashed into a tree.

But moments later he stood again.

Injured.

Yet still fighting.

The first knight I had punched also staggered back to his feet.

Blood dripped from his mouth.

Yet his eyes remained vicious.

Five against one.

And they knew exactly how to work together.

"This is bad."

I dodged another thrust.

A sword barely missed my throat.

The tip sliced my cheek.

Blood trickled down.

Another attack came immediately after.

No openings.

No hesitation.

Only relentless pressure.

Then—

The System’s voice echoed.

[Luke.]

[You have reached Body Tempering Realm.]

[Second Form Available.]

[Summon the first armour.]

[Do it quickly.]

For the first time—

I heard urgency in the System’s voice.

I didn’t hesitate.

I raised my hand.

The surrounding world suddenly became silent.

"From the forgotten Void beyond time..."

The five knights paused.

The air itself felt wrong.

"Heed my command..."

Darkness spread.

Not physical darkness.

Something deeper.

Older.

A darkness that existed before light.

"Velzareth..."

Far above.

Beyond mortal sight.

Ancient beings sleeping in forgotten dimensions slowly opened their eyes.

Ancient gods paused.

Primordial entities looked toward the mortal world.

Something they had not seen for countless ages...

Had awakened.

"Warden of the Void Path."

The world froze.

For a fraction of a second—

Reality itself seemed to stop breathing.

Then—

BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

Void energy erupted.

The sky darkened.

Azure-blue runes illuminated the surroundings.

The five knights instantly fell to one knee.

Their faces filled with terror.

"What... what is this?!"

The leader shouted.

Then it appeared.

Inside an endless black void behind me—

A suit of ancient armor floated silently.

Velzareth.

Matte black armor.

Azure-blue runes flowing across its surface like living veins.

A dark cape swayed gently despite the complete absence of wind.

The armor radiated neither holiness nor malice.

Neither light nor darkness.

Only inevitability.

Like a silent executioner that had waited countless ages for its master to return.

CLINK.

CLINK.

CLINK.

The sound of chains echoed through the battlefield.

Then—

Twelve enormous Void Chains materialized around my body.

Each chain stretched endlessly into the surrounding Void, disappearing into unseen depths beyond reality itself.

Ancient.

Heavy.

Oppressive.

Like restraints forged to bind something that should never have existed.

The sight alone caused the surrounding Iron Knights to instinctively step back.

Among the twelve chains, only a single chain was connected to Velzareth.

The remaining eleven vanished into the endless darkness beyond the Void.

No one knew what lay at their other ends.

No one could see it.

Yet merely looking at those chains filled the heart with an indescribable sense of dread.

As if unimaginably terrifying beings slumbered beyond them.

As if Velzareth was only the first thing being restrained.

Then—

CRACK.

The chain connected to Velzareth shattered.

The sound echoed like a divine decree across heaven and earth.

For a brief moment, the remaining eleven chains rattled violently.

As though something beyond the Void had stirred.

Then the armor moved.

The knights’ faces turned pale.

CLICK.

The chest plate attached itself.

CLACK.

The gauntlets formed.

RATTLE.

The greaves locked into place.

The helmet descended.

Everything fit perfectly.

Like it had always belonged to me.

A one-handed black longsword materialized beside me.

Voidfang.

Azure cracks glowed across its blade.

The surrounding air distorted around the weapon.

The knights stared in disbelief.

One actually took a step backward.

"W-What monster are you?"

I smiled beneath the helmet.

"Round Two, fuckers"

BOOOOOOM!!!

The ground exploded.

I vanished.

CLANG!!!

The nearest knight raised his sword.

Too late.

SHATTER!!!

His weapon exploded into fragments.

His eyes widened.

PHUCH!

Voidfang pierced directly through his heart.

THUD.

His body collapsed.

The remaining four immediately attacked together.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Sparks erupted everywhere.

Their swords struck my armor repeatedly.

But Velzareth remained untouched.

Not even a scratch.

Meanwhile—

SHATTER!

Another sword broke.

CRACK!

A punch caved in a knight’s breastplate.

Blood exploded from his mouth.

His internal organs shattered instantly.

The remaining three began panicking.

This wasn’t a battle anymore.

It was an execution.

"Retreat!"

One finally shouted.

The remaining knights immediately turned and ran.

PHUCH!

I threw Voidfang.

The sword became a streak of azure light.

One knight collapsed instantly.

The blade pierced directly through his back.

The final two desperately tried escaping.

"Impossible!"

"How is he this strong?!"

I activated Void Step.

WHOOOSH!

My body disappeared.

Then appeared directly behind one of them.

His entire body froze.

Cold sweat covered his face.

"How—"

BAM!

My fist smashed through his heart.

His chest exploded.

The last survivor immediately collapsed.

Fear had completely broken him.

"No!"

"Please!"

"I’ll become your slave!"

"I’ll tell you everything!"

He crawled backward desperately.

Blood covered his face.

His armor was completely ruined.

I slowly walked toward him.

As Voidfang teleport and appeared in my hands.

For a brief moment—

Hope appeared in his eyes.

Then I spoke.

"Interesting offer."

His face lit up.

"But I still prefer you dead."

"N-No wai—"

PHUCH!

Voidfang pierced his throat.

Silence returned.

The battlefield became still.

Five corpses.

Blood-stained grass.

Broken armor.

The setting sun.

I sighed.

"So much bloodshed."

I looked toward the distant mansion.

"Roland Ashenford."

I already knew who sent them.

No need to investigate.

After searching the bodies and collecting the silver coins, I dragged the corpses into nearby bushes.

Then I sat beneath a large tree.

The cool evening breeze brushed against my face.

Finally.

Some peace.

Then—

The System suddenly spoke.

[Reward calculated from emotional influence, Aurielle.]

[100x Return Activated.]

A grin slowly appeared on my face.

"Your timing really is perfect, System."

[Chapter End]