The Path Of A True King.-Chapter 14: An Enemy.

Chapter 54:

Elijah sat alone in his dimly lit room, mentally preparing for the battle ahead.

Tomorrow would mark a turning point in his life a test not just of his strength but of his resolve.

His younger sister was at school, his mother at work, leaving the house eerily silent.

For some, solitude was a source of peace, but for Elijah, it meant time to think, to prepare, to face the reality of what he had to do.

Tonight, he had only one goal in mind.

Tomorrow, he would kill.

The thought echoed in his mind like a drumbeat, steady but unrelenting.

It sounded simple, almost easy when phrased like that.

But deep down, he wasn’t entirely sure.

He had never taken a life before.

He had fought, bled, and stood victorious against opponents, but this... this was different.

His mind drifted back to Alter Elijah’s words: 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"The greatest choices require the greatest will."

Elijah clenched his fists, determination flaring in his crimson eyes.

Watch me.

He directed the thought to the voice inside him—the other him. This time, I won’t fail. I’ll show you my will.

Shoving those doubts aside, he focused on something within his control his strength.

Training had been a constant in Elijah’s life, but lately, his progress had slowed.

The gym helped, but even with heavier weights and relentless workouts, his stats barely increased.

It was frustrating, but he understood growth naturally became harder the stronger one got.

He needed something more.

That’s when his gaze fell upon the System.

A quick thought opened the familiar interface, the glowing text appearing before his eyes.

[System Store: Techniques Section]

His recent actions cutting Lisa out of his life, rescuing the kidnapped child from the orphanage had earned him a hefty amount of System Points.

His total now stood at 5,000.

Without hesitation, he navigated through the options.

Rows of techniques appeared before him, some familiar, others entirely new.

But he wasn’t here to browse—he already knew what he wanted.

[Stage 2 Farming Breathing Technique Purchased] (1,000 SP)

The moment he bought it, he felt a subtle shift in his body his breathing deepened, his chest expanding effortlessly.

He didn’t need to test it to know that this was a significant upgrade.

But he wasn’t done yet.

His eyes flickered toward two other techniques.

[(Tier 1) Flash Step – A low-level technique that enhances leg strength, increasing movement speed by 10%.] (1,000 SP)

[(Tier 2) Iron Body – A defensive technique that temporarily hardens the body, increasing durability by 30%. Requires the user to remain still while active.] (3,000 SP)

Without hesitation, he purchased both.

A wave of energy surged through his body, the sensation exhilarating.

His muscles felt lighter yet stronger, his skin slightly denser, almost like armor.

The difference wasn’t dramatic yet, but he knew these techniques would be vital in the fights to come.

Elijah’s gaze shifted toward something intriguing within the System—a new function he had yet to test.

[Upgrade Skills]

His interest piqued. He selected one of his lesser abilities to experiment.

(Swordsmanship Lv.1) – Increases sword learning speed by 30%.

A flicker of excitement crossed his face.

If upgrading skills could instantly boost his knowledge, then... could he master the sword in mere moments?

He pressed the option.

The system responded instantly.

[Upgrade unavailable: Insufficient System Points.]

His excitement faded into mild disappointment.

That would have been too overpowered.

He laughed at himself, shaking his head.

Still, the fact that the system even offered such an option was something he needed to explore further in the future.

Leaning back in his chair, he exhaled slowly, his fingers drumming against the armrest.

The anticipation was unbearable.

"I don’t know what will happen tomorrow... but I have to do this."

Tomorrow, everything would change.

Elsewhere...

The air inside the luxurious office was cool, the scent of lavender lingering in the atmosphere.

Behind a grand wooden desk sat a woman whose presence commanded attention.

Her silver hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face as beautiful as it was ruthless.

Dressed in an elegant white gown, she radiated an aura of power.

But her piercing blue eyes, cold as ice, were locked onto the shadows.

A man stood hidden within them, unseen but present.

With a voice smooth yet sharp as a dagger, the woman spoke.

"Where is the boy?"

A response came from the darkness, the voice belonging to a man who was both cautious and knowing.

"Miss Nora, after an extensive investigation, we discovered that the child was last seen entering a van with a teenager—black hair, red eyes, approximately sixteen or seventeen years old. Surveillance cameras place them in the Gangless Zone. The kidnapped children are being held in a hotel within that area."

Nora’s lips curled into a faint smile.

"Oh? So, a little hero thinks he can play savior?"

Her amusement was laced with something dangerous.

The voice from the shadows continued, unfazed.

"I’d advise caution, Miss Nora. That boy is under the protection of Crimson Blood Leo."

At those words, the air in the room shifted.

Nora’s amusement faded, replaced by mild irritation.

"Leo, huh?" Her fingers tapped against the desk, a rhythmic sound in the silence. "And why would that bastard be protecting him?"

The man in the shadows chuckled softly, his green eyes faintly glowing in the darkness.

"Who knows? But one thing is certain—if you move carelessly, you’ll make an enemy you really don’t want."

Nora’s lips twitched upward.

"Do you take me for a fool?"

"Not at all. Just a friendly warning."

Her expression hardened, the temperature in the room dropping.

A faint, icy aura began to radiate from her body.

"Underestimate me again, and you’ll regret it."

The man remained unbothered.

"Of course. But let me be clear—Leo would burn your entire gang to the ground if you make the wrong move."

Silence filled the room.

Then, after a moment, Nora leaned back with a sigh, her irritation melting into something more calculating.

"Fine. Send me everything you have on the teenager—his family, his friends, every little detail."

A pause. Then she added, "And one more thing. Can I hire you to retrieve the boy from the orphanage?"

The answer was immediate.

"No."

For the first time, genuine surprise flickered across Nora’s face.

"I don’t want to get involved in this mess," the man continued. "But another friendly warning—if you go after that kid’s family, you’ll only make things worse."

Nora’s icy aura intensified, her irritation returning.

"You think I’m scared?"

"No. But you should be smart."

The man moved toward the door, his face still obscured by the shadows.

Before stepping out, he left her with one final piece of information.

"The kid’s name is Elijah Havor."

At that, Nora’s eyes widened slightly.

"Havor, huh? So, he’s his son..."

The man’s smirk was almost audible.

"Now you understand."

Then, without another word, he vanished.

Nora sat in silence for a moment before a smirk tugged at her lips.

"I won’t kill him. That would start a war I can’t afford... but a lesson? Oh, that I can do."

And just like that, without Elijah even knowing it, he had made an enemy who would soon change his life forever.