Despite the cheap black humour, Emperal was really fed up with the Dragon Princess. Not satisfied with humiliating him in front of everyone, she even dared to put a bounty on his head!

The gall!

"Alright, it’s decided. Dragon Princess...you should be put down." Emperal muttered inwardly, his eyes shifting and taking a darker shade.

The manager was stunned when he heard Emperal’s words, thinking that the man was mistaking his situation. He once again attempted to speak.

"Youn–No, Emperal, right? Do you realize your situation right now?"

He said, puffing another bunch of smoke.

"I do. Before you capture me, can I ask you one thing?" Emperal said, his tone still carrying that eerie calmness that the alchemist failed to notice.

"Heh, last words of a dying man, huh? It’s good you know your place and situation. Now ask, what is it?"

"Do any other people know about this bounty in the town?"

"Huh? Of course not, why would I do such a foolish—"

Sling!!!!

The shadows behind him moved just in time to deflect the blade that was mere inches away from his face.

"W-What!!?"

The alchemist stumbled back in horror, and just now his entire life flashed in front of his eyes. He hurriedly backed a few steps away.

Seeing that the two were standing and staring at Emperal, he barked.

"You fools! I didn’t pay you to just stand there and watch! Go and bring me his head!"

Emperal smiled slightly when he saw that. "Ah, this is really different from before. Instead of analysing and predicting everything, now my eyes can do all the extra work."

Before, he used to rely solely on instinct when fighting. Unlike others, who can concentrate on Verth in their eyes and analyse moves that the naked eye could not.

"I suppose this isn’t needed any longer."

Saying that, he took his black mask off and untied his hair. His dark eyes gleamed as he saw the two shadows. As the dim light fell on them, Emperal immediately analysed their features.

The Verth Seeker in the left corner had wolf blood flowing in him, evident by his sharp amber eyes. His ears pressed flat against the small bandana he was wearing, and a short blade in a forward grip that had seen...real use.

But the second one, the Verth Wielder, was larger, broader across the shoulders, and the faint...hardened pigments like stone along the back of his hands easily marked him as Titan Blood. Impure and diluted. But it was enough to scare the masses.

"Good choice, not gonna lie."

Emperal stepped forward, his eyes immediately snapping back to the Stage three Verth Seeker on the left who had moved first. His body radiated raw aggression as his form suggested his specific purpose.

Gripping the short blade, he didn’t say anything but dashed towards Emperal. The Stage One Verth Wielder didn’t move, just stood there and observed.

Emperal noted both of them. The wolf-kin’s blade came forward with a short horizontal slash, which was aimed to push Emperal back to the center of the room,

It successfully did. The slash went past his shoulder.

Concentrating Verth in his soles, Emperal moved sideways and punched forward, straight at the liver, a nasty hook.

The wolf immediately ducked below with a surreal instinct. Just as he was about to raise his blade.

Emperal caught his wrist and twisted it back. Emperal’s muscles tightened as his elbow descended on his spine!

CRACK!!

At the last moment, the wolf managed to twist his body. But the elbow still hit his shoulders.

A loud crack echoed through the room as the wolf-kin’s shoulder bones cracked.

"Ugh.."

A low growl escaped the wolfman. He hurriedly backed away. His eyes shone with cautiousness as he looked at the young man standing before him.

Emperal didn’t bother to look at him as the Verth Wielder was already on the move. Stepping back, he created some space and adjusted his center of gravity. The Verth Wielder stepped towards Emperal with measured steps.

"Not bad, for a mere Stage Two Verth Seeker. You really are something else, despite that...trash Spirit Root of yours."

He remarked, nodding at his skills and lethality. It wasn’t every day you saw a lower realm Verth Practitioner overpower a high realm practitioner to such a degree. Even a single stage difference makes the battle unpredictable and dangerous.

Emperal merely snorted. He obviously wouldn’t lower himself to respond to such an obvious low-level jab.

"But...unfortunately, you really can’t do anything against the Verth Wielders. Let’s not even mention the Spirit Root, even a single Verth pool will be enough to last duri—"

WHOOOOSH!!

BAMMM!

Before he could complete his sentence, a heel crashed onto his shoulders, blasting him a few steps back. His gaze widened as he looked at his arms, they...they were slightly caved in!

"You are an embarrassment to that Titan blood flowing through your veins. Now, shut your mouth and die."

Tilting his head back, he dashed forward! The Verth Wielder hurriedly raised his arms together and took a defensive stance.

The stone texture along his knuckles deepened and spread up his forearms in a span of two seconds.

The Titan bloodline responded to his intent the way muscles respond when exerted. Almost immediately, Emperal’s fist crashed into his arms, once again blasting him back.

"...Ouch, now that hurts slightly."

Emperal muttered as he jumped high, just in time to dodge a blade aimed at his legs.

Emperal’s smile widened, still in mid-air. He twisted his body at an unnatural angle and kicked the wolfman’s head hard.

"ARGHH!!!"

A cry of agony tore through his throat as the impact of Emperal’s kick shattered half his skull. His vision suddenly darkened, and in the next moment unimaginable pain surged through his entire body...from his chest. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

In his final moments, he managed to open his eyes to at least see the cause of his death. His eyes widened when he saw a glowing crystal stuck deep in his chest...puncturing his heart.

"The thing for which I worked my entire life...has ended me. What an irony."

Those were his last thoughts, as his body slid lifelessly from the wall.